If you want better HDR adjustment controls
Choose LG 27GX790A-B. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for HDR adjustment controls, with a 4.0 overall score.
LG 27GX700A-B Monitor Review
Bottom Line
The 27GX700A-B delivers superbly fluid 1440p OLED gaming and punchy contrast, especially at a discount. Uneven HDR accuracy, possible dark-gray banding, and a divisive matte coating hold it back.
Competitive PC gamers wanting fluid 1440p OLED motion, and HDR game enthusiasts who value deep contrast and can buy at a meaningful discount. Bright-room players also benefit from the matte glare reduction.
HDR color graders, small-text coders, or people who need precise color without tuning. Work-laptop and multi-computer users seeking USB-C docking or integrated KVM should look elsewhere.
Verdict
The LG 27GX700A-B is at its best in fast 1440p games, where its 280Hz refresh rate, near-instant OLED response, and low input lag produce beautifully clear motion. The Tandem OLED panel brings vivid color, deep blacks, and stronger brightness than many older WOLED displays, while the matte surface helps with reflections. But the picture is not consistently faithful: HDR modes can brighten content unnaturally or lose shadow detail, and some units show vertical bands in dark gray scenes. The matte finish also divides opinion, ranging from pleasantly subtle to distractingly grainy. Console performance is broadly capable, though Xbox Dolby Vision is missing and 120Hz may require a menu adjustment. Everyday work is possible, but small text and missing USB-C/KVM conveniences make this less appealing as a productivity-first display. Its recommendation improves substantially when sale prices undercut better-equipped alternatives.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
65 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.017 (26%)
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Positive 3.5-4.424 (37%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.413 (20%)
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Negative 1.5-2.410 (15%)
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Very negative below 1.51 (2%)
Pros highlights
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The matte treatment significantly reduces mirror-like reflections and preserves black depth in bright rooms. The tradeoff is occasional diffuse haze or grain.
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There is strong HDR impact and deep contrast, but major disagreement about real-game brightness and accuracy. Very bright settings sometimes overexpose the image or crush dark detail.
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The fourth-generation Tandem OLED panel often looks brighter than older WOLED monitors, especially in SDR and very small HDR highlights. Not every tested game or HDR setting delivers the expected peak.
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Judgments vary sharply: several testers call it a favorite gaming OLED or an excellent sale purchase, while one strongly rejects its HDR tuning and grainy coating.
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The expanded gamut brings richly saturated colors and strong HDR color coverage, representing a clear improvement over older WOLED generations.
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The 280Hz refresh, exceptionally quick pixel response, and low lag make competitive games feel immediate and clear. Even faster esports models exist for players prioritizing refresh above image quality.
Cons highlights
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Gray bands and dirty-screen patterns can be visible, particularly in dim scenes and on dark-mode backgrounds; experiences differ notably across panels.
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The matte coating is divisive: some see a surprisingly clean image with low glare, while others find its grain and softened highlights highly distracting.
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The new subpixel arrangement reduces intrusive color edges around text, but small type can still look softer than on a high-resolution LCD.
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Several testers noticed brightness flicker when frame rates fluctuated, particularly in dark games. One sample had little obvious flicker, so severity varies.
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HDR tracking is among the biggest drawbacks: modes often brighten the whole image or crush shadows, and adjustments can trade accuracy against spectacular highlights.
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SDR sRGB accuracy earns praise from some testers, while others report substantial white-balance and gamma errors. HDR accuracy is especially contentious without careful adjustments.
Use Cases
Best for
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Unlike many OLED alternatives, the panel keeps blacks convincing in well-lit rooms and its matte coating reduces reflections. Sunlight can still create diffuse glare.
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Some testing and hands-on use found regular video editing comfortable, especially with the expanded gamut. Static timelines, dark-mode banding, and imperfect accuracy require consideration.
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Dark-room contrast is gorgeous, but visible gray banding, shadow crush, and occasional VRR flicker can be especially noticeable with dark material.
Not ideal for
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HDR color gradingThe wide color gamut is attractive, but inconsistent HDR tone mapping and lost shadow detail make exact grading a risky fit.
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Single-cable laptop dockingIt cannot combine laptop video, peripherals, and power through one USB-C cable, so a separate docking arrangement is necessary.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Monitors, this product is above average in competitive gaming suitability, ghosting control, GPU demands, near average in HDR performance, console gaming compatibility, below average in USB-C power delivery, HDR adjustment controls, Gamma tracking.
Comparison summary
63 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher16 (25%)
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Same as average within 0.3 pts22 (35%)
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Below average 0.4+ pts lower25 (40%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-C power delivery | 1.0 | 3.6 | -2.6 |
| HDR adjustment controls | 2.0 | 4.0 | -2.0 |
| Gamma tracking | 1.8 | 3.6 | -1.8 |
| Shadow detail | 2.0 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
| warranty and support service | 2.0 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
| HDR highlight detail | 2.0 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
| Photo editing | 2.5 | 4.1 | -1.6 |
| screen uniformity | 2.4 | 3.9 | -1.4 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better warranty and support service
Choose ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W. It scores 4.3 vs 2.0 for warranty and support service, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better screen uniformity
Choose MSI MAG 274QPF X30MV. It scores 5.0 vs 2.4 for screen uniformity, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better HDR highlight detail
Choose Dell Alienware AW2725DF. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for HDR highlight detail, with a 4.2 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Compared: refresh speed and modes The faster dual-mode LG is more versatile for esports, while this model offers more accurate gaming presets.
ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQWMG
- Alternative: glossy Tandem OLED The ASUS is identified as a higher-priced glossy Tandem OLED option.
- Compared: glossy coating and HDR accuracy The ASUS has a clearer glossy finish and better accuracy, while the LG reduces reflections and boosts brightness.
GIGABYTE MO27Q28G
- Alternative: docking and warranty The Gigabyte offers USB-C, KVM, and a longer warranty, making it more versatile beyond gaming.
- Similar: shared panel and tuning The Gigabyte uses the same panel and delivers nearly identical results, with small tuning differences.
FAQ
Is the LG 27GX700A-B good for competitive gaming?
Yes. Its 280Hz refresh rate, near-instant pixel response, low input lag, and adaptive sync make fast PC games look sharp and feel responsive.
Is the HDR performance accurate?
It can look spectacular, but some test units and presets brighten the picture too aggressively or crush shadows. HDR tuning is a major tradeoff, especially for accuracy-focused viewing.
Does the matte coating affect picture clarity?
Opinions vary widely. It suppresses mirror reflections, but some users notice graininess or haze and prefer a glossy OLED.
Does it work well with PS5 and Xbox?
It supports useful 120Hz console modes, although a HDMI compatibility setting may need changing. Xbox users do not get Dolby Vision, and signal handling can differ by console.
Is it a good monitor for office work or content creation?
It is usable for occasional office and creative tasks, but fine text is softer than on 4K displays and exact color work may require calibration. The absence of USB-C docking and KVM also limits work-first desks.
Should I worry about gray banding or burn-in?
Near-black vertical banding can vary across panels and may appear in dark scenes. OLED burn-in risk also matters with long-running static interfaces, even with panel-care features.
When is it worth buying?
It is most compelling at a substantial discount for high-refresh 1440p gaming. At higher prices, compare glossy Tandem OLED monitors and alternatives with better docking features or warranty coverage.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - RTINGS Computer
- Review score
- 3.4
YouTube - Viktor's Reality
- Review score
- 4.3
YouTube - Viktor's Reality
- Review score
- 4.0
Article Reviews
thefasit.com
The 27GX700A pairs a 280 Hz ceiling with an OLED panel that can light a small highlight without lighting the pixels around it.
- Review score
- 3.9
displayninja.com
Looking for the best gaming monitor under 400 USD? In this guide, you'll find only the best of OLED, mini LED, ultrawide and other models.
- Review score
- 3.6
rottenwifi.com
The LG 27GX700A-B is a fast 280Hz 1440p OLED gaming monitor. Our review covers HDR brightness, text clarity, burn-in, uniformity, ports...
- Review score
- 3.8
gamesurf.it
LG UltraGear 27GX700A pushes gaming further: spectacular HDR and real differences between PS5 and Xbox in our test
- Review score
- 3.9
tftcentral.co.uk
Exploring issues reported on Tandem WOLED panels with banding artefacts in certain situations. Is this a widespread issue and why?
- Review score
- 2.7
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