Asus’ ROG Strix line of products is known for high performance and high value. It also regularly boasts new models, with monitors being no exception. Though the best OLED gaming monitors still represent a premium category, many newcomers are vying for attention.

If you want a premium 32-inch 4K OLED, expect to spend around $1,000 for something with maximum performance and perhaps not every single bell and whistle. The XG32UQWMS has all the speed and smoothness of the flagship Swift displays but gives up minor bits like LED lighting and internal speakers. You still get 240 Hz, frame rate boost to 480 Hz in FHD resolution, Adaptive-Sync, DisplayHDR 500 True Black and Tandem OLED tech for a super wide color gamut. Let’s take a look.

Asus ROG Strix XG32UWQMS Specs

Asus expands the XG32UQWMS’s color gamut with Tandem OLED tech rather than Quantum Dots. The twofold advantage is that you get more light output with lower power consumption, and you get the same color coverage. The XG32UQWMS easily tops 600 nits in HDR mode when measuring a 25% window pattern. A 3% window gets up to 1,500 nits. Color coverage is over 108% of DCI-P3, which puts it just ahead of most of the Quantum Dot OLEDs I’ve tested.

This version of Asus’ Tandem OLED has four layers, which not only make the panel brighter, but it also runs cooler, consumes less energy, and lasts longer. Asus estimates 60% longer panel life, equating to over 30,000 hours. That’s a really long time, as in over a decade with the panel going six hours a day.

The XG32UQWMS adds flexibility with a 240 Hz 4K panel and a frame rate boost feature that doubles the speed to 480 Hz and reduces resolution to 1920x1080. You can also reduce blur at low frame rates by opting for ELMB (black frame insertion) instead of Adaptive-Sync. As you’ll see in my response and lag tests, the XG32UQWMS is one of the quickest and smoothest 4K OLEDs you can buy.

To ensure no ambient light can spoil the image, Asus employs a screen coating called TrueBlack Glossy. Though the panel is shiny, it doesn’t pick up light from top or side angles easily. This does indeed keep blacks true.

To protect the panel, there are multiple OLED care options like pixel orbiting and refresh. You also get logo and perimeter dimming. A proximity sensor blanks the screen when you leave your desk. And the XG32UQWMS is backed by a three-year warranty that includes burn-in. All these features can be controlled from a comprehensive OSD or with Asus’ Display Widget Center app.

The port complement is stacked with two HDMI 2.1 and a DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression. Peripherals can be connected to the two downstream USB ports while a single upstream port makes the XG32UQWMS a hub. There are no internal speakers, but headphones can be plugged into the provided 3.5mm jack.

I didn’t have firm pricing information at this writing, but indications are that the XG32UQWMS will cost $1,099 to start. That puts it firmly in the thick of the high bang-for-the-buck genre against competitors like Acer, Dough, HP and MSI. The great part is that all the latest OLEDs are stellar displays. How does this new ROG Strix stack up? Let’s see what the tests say.

Assembly and Accessories

Like all ROG Strix products, the wrapper is plain brown and devoid of the colorful graphics found on Swift cartons. However, the contents are no less capable. The XG32UQWMS is packed in crumbly foam and ships in three parts. Assembly does not require tools. You get a solid stand and a thick steel mounting bracket with 100mm VESA lugs for use with aftermarket solutions. A zippered pouch contains an IEC power cord and a DisplayPort cable. A sheet of ROG stickers is there for those who like to decorate.

Product 360

Asus styles the Swift and Strix lines similarly with a thin metal-backed OLED panel attached to a component bulge which creates a two-box design. The profile of the thin part is just five millimeters. This isn’t just for show; it improves cooling with the metal backing acting as a heat sink. More heat sinks inside take care of the control boards and processors. This means no fans are required; temperature control is fully passive.

In the back are the familiar ROG graphics but without LED backlighting. They reflect enough light to glow white without any emitters required. In the top view, you can see a quarter-inch threaded fitting at the top of the stand, which is useful for headphone hooks, webcams, and the like.

The base is small but sturdy and made from a thick metal plate. The stand has a 4.5-inch height range plus 5/20 degrees tilt and 25 degrees swivel. There is no portrait mode. Movements are smooth and firm with quality on par with any premium display I’ve reviewed.

The I/O panel is on the bottom center and faces downward. You get two HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC). There are three USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and two downstream. And a 3.5mm headphone jack provides external audio. There are no built-in speakers.

OSD Features

The XG32UQWMS OSD is nearly identical to what I’ve seen from Asus ROG previously, except that a convenient quick menu has been added. It has four programmable functions with signal and picture mode info at the top.

The XG32UQWMS’s quick menu is large enough to see from across the room, which might suggest that a remote control would be useful, but there isn’t one. No matter because the joystick and two control buttons take care of business just fine. The OSD can be viewed in two different sizes though…

A second press of the joystick brings up the familiar Asus menu with its eight sections. Gaming is up first with Frame Rate Boost (refresh rate switch), VRR toggle, ELMB, GamePlus enhancements, GameVisual picture modes and Shadow Boost. Frame Rate Boost is most easily done by pressing the leftmost button for a one-click mode change. I would usually tell you that a visit to Nvidia or AMD Control Panel is required for a one-time setup, but that was not an issue this time. The XG32UQWMS communicated with my Windows 11 PC and configured itself automatically for the fastest refresh rate settings.

ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) is a black frame insertion feature, similar to backlight strobing in an LCD. It’s useful at low frame rates, and indeed, it only works at 120 Hz or less, and cancels Adaptive-Sync in the process. It’s another option to keep resolution at 4K and still have decent motion resolution. If you can keep the frame rate above 200fps in 4K, the XG32UQWMS won’t need any help to look amazing.

GamePlus includes a full set of extras with a frame rate counter, aiming points, sniper modes, timer, stopwatch and display alignment marks. GameVisual offers nine picture modes, of which Racing is the default and best choice. It can be calibrated for color temp and gamma, and there are gamut selections too.

In the Image menu, you’ll find standard luminance controls along with Uniform Brightness. Turning this off means smaller peak areas of the screen will be brighter, which adds some punch to highlights. You can expect around 550 nits in SDR mode and as much as 1,500 nits for HDR content. For workday tasks, leaving it on maintains steady output regardless of picture content. It peaks at around 327 nits.

HDR signals get four additional presets which can be adjusted for brightness and contrast. In testing, the XG32UQWMS shone brightest in True Black 500 or Gaming HDR mode with Adjustable HDR turned on and brightness set to 100%.

For color adjustments, you get three color space options plus color temperature presets and a user mode with RGB sliders. You can also adjust saturation globally or for each color. And five gamma curves range from 1.8 (lighter) to 2.6 (darker).

The XG32UQWMS has flexible PIP and PBP settings when you want to view two sources at once. The PIP window can live in any corner of the screen and have independent color settings.

The quick menu shown in the first photo above has four user slots that can be set to a variety of functions like GameVisual, ELMB, and others. You can also customize the behavior of the four joystick directions and the left control key. That one is set by default to frame rate boost, and it is the easiest way to switch refresh rates with a single button press. Finally, there are two memories where settings can be saved for later recall.

Asus ROG Strix XG32UQWMS Calibration Settings

Initial testing of my XG32UQWMS sample showed that it did not require calibration. I tried the user color temp and found a small gain that was barely visible in actual content. This is a very accurate monitor, albeit one with a huge color gamut that covers over 108% of DCI-P3. If you’re OK with that for SDR content, it is very colorful if not strictly accurate. If you’d rather use sRGB for SDR, you can either choose the sRGB Cal mode or select sRGB from the color space options in Racing mode. I did the latter to retain access to the calibration controls. My recommended settings are below. I noted that I could use the same brightness values whether Uniform Brightness was on or off.

For HDR content, there are four additional modes, all of which can be adjusted for brightness and contrast. Gaming HDR or True Black 500 are the best choices there.

Gaming and Hands-on

If you’re looking for the speediest possible gaming monitor, meaning smoothest and most responsive, nothing can hang with an OLED. I’ve experienced many 360 and 500 Hz LCDs, and while they are fast, they aren’t as smooth as an OLED running above 200fps. 4K resolution makes it even better by rendering an image that is super realistic and tactile.

The first time I powered on the XG32UQWMS, it prompted me to run the pixel refresh routine, which took about five minutes. I have encountered other OLED panels that benefited from an initial refresh to make the screen more uniform in tone.

Since I can keep the frame rate above 200fps with a GeForce RTX 4090, I did not need the XG32UQWMS’s frame rate boost feature, but I gave it due diligence. In my case, it only served to soften the image. It wasn’t any faster or more responsive. Indeed, in testing, the screen response and lag times are barely different. So, you won’t gain much from 480 Hz if you can already run at 240. Where it helps is with slower PCs where 4K would drag the rate down below 160fps. That’s where blur starts to show. Switching rates keeps motion smooth, but there’s no hiding the reduced pixel density, especially with a 32-inch monitor in front of you. 70ppi is visibly softer than 140. But at those lower frame rates, motion blur is enough that aiming accurately becomes more difficult.

Unlike many OLEDs, the XG32UQWMS includes ELMB in the form of black frame insertion. It’s another way to combat motion blur at low frame rates, and indeed, it is capped at 120 Hz. It also takes Adaptive-Sync out of the equation. But at those speeds, frame tears are the least of your problems. It’s nice to have options and the XG32UQWMS gives you more than anyone else. If you plan to pair it with a less stout video card, it can adapt and still deliver a good gaming experience.

Playing at the XG32UQWMS’s full capability is an impressive thing, even if you are spoiled by fast gaming screens like me. Moving and aiming is so much easier when motion is this smooth. Precision is automatic and requires no effort other than to pay attention to one’s surroundings. And that’s easy to do with such a large monitor. Though ultra-wide displays encompass more of the user’s peripheral vision, a 32-inch 16:9 panel has more height. That means you can fill your view and sit as close as you like thanks to the 4K resolution.

The picture in both SDR and HDR modes is stunning. There’s so much color available and it’s bright. You can crank the XG32UQWMS well past the point of visual fatigue, but setting it to 200 nits and turning off Uniform Brightness delivers highlights that make the image truly three-dimensional. You can see the glistening of blood and sweat on your enemies as you apply the chainsaw. It looks so good that I found myself using it more than other weapons just to get close-up views of the alien monsters in Doom Eternal. This monitor has an addictive quality.

Being a 32-inch 16:9 flat panel, the XG32UQWMS is ideal for any task, work or play. My everyday screen is the same size, so I’m used to its ability to display multiple documents and windows. This monitor size was made for multitasking and side-by-side comparisons. If you work with a lot of graphics and photos, it’s an ideal format for keeping lots of toolbars open in Photoshop.

To keep the price down, the XG32UQWMS doesn’t have quite all the bells and whistles of a Swift display. But it gives up nothing in performance. You don’t get the LED lighting or internal speakers. But you get everything else and a nice savings in cost.

Takeaway: The XG32UQWMS delivers addictive gameplay along with versatility and capability for every task or form of entertainment. It has a stunning picture that is unmatched by other panel technologies and stands out among OLEDs with high brightness and rich color. The True Black Glossy screen coating keeps ambient light from spoiling the party, and its styling and build quality will remind you why you never regret buying the best.

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I’m stacking the XG32UQWMS up against a group of 32-inch 4K OLEDs to compare input lag scores. They are Asus’ PG32UCDM3, Acer’s X32 X3, Dough’s Spectrum Black 32, MSI’s MPG 322UR X24, and HP’s Omen 32.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

For the response test, I didn’t have enough 32-inch 4K OLEDs from my Nvidia LDAT tests, so I mined the latest OLED monitors from the database. I’ve observed super close times from monitors running between 240 and 360 Hz. They’re so close that the human eye cannot tell a difference in smoothness. That said, the XG32UQWMS is a tad quicker than some at 0.20ms gray-to-gray. I noted that increasing the frame rate to 480 did not change the response time. This suggests that panel draw times may have reached their limit at 240 Hz, meaning faster OLEDs won’t render smoother motion resolution.

In the input lag test, the XG32UQWMS is quickest for both refresh rates, with 12.1ms at 240 Hz and 13.7ms at 480 Hz. This tells me that switching to 480 does not provide a significant advantage in speed or response. The dual mode switch is useful when 4K frame rates are lower, say below 160fps. But you can also smooth things out with ELMB at rates below 120 Hz.

Test Takeaway: The XG32UQWMS is one of the quickest and most responsive 4K OLED displays I’ve tested. While you can get a tad less input lag from LG’s and Philips’ 360 Hz models, it isn’t enough to make a perceivable difference. Among the 240 Hz screens I’ve tested, the XG32UQWMS is the king of speed.

Viewing Angles

The XG32UQWMS has excellent off-axis image quality that is on par with other OLED displays. There is a slight color shift at 45 degrees to the side, but the difference is more visible in a test pattern than in content. There is no change to gamma or brightness. The top view is also bright but with reduced gamma that washes out the image.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

OLED screens generally have excellent screen uniformity, but it seems that 32-inch flat panel models have slightly higher numbers than most of their 27-inch counterparts. This is nitpicking for sure because anything under 10% means you can’t see an issue. The XG32UQWMS is right in the middle at 7.36% deviation from the center zone. I noted that this was an improvement from the 11.56% I measured before running the panel refresh routing for the first time. This is recommended when you power it up for the first time.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The XG32UQWMS is one of the brightest OLEDs I’ve tested, with a 25% window pattern measuring 533 nits peak. A full field comes in at 327 nits. To get the 533-nit result, I turned Uniform Brightness off. You’ll want to do this for HDR content, but SDR images are less fatiguing to view when Uniform Brightness is engaged. As always, OLEDs have unmeasurable black levels so no contrast ratio can be calculated.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration doesn’t change the result. The XG32UQWMS still has undetermined contrast. I noted that I could use the same brightness values whether Uniform Brightness was on or off. This makes it easier to equalize peak luminance when switching modes. The ANSI test is also incalculable.

Test Takeaway: The XG32UQWMS has the same infinite contrast as any OLED but is brighter than most for both full field and window patterns. When toggling between Uniform Brightness on or off, it lets you set the same brightness value, which automatically equalizes light output between modes. Though I could not measure an effect from the screen’s TrueBlack Glossy coating, I did note that the panel was more tolerant of ambient room light.

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The XG32UQWMS ships in its Racing picture mode, which allows access to all calibration controls, gamma, color temp, and color space.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

As you can see in the first chart above, the XG32UQWMS does not require calibration out of the box. Gamma is a tad light but runs close to the reference line. The grayscale values just crack 3dE at 90 and 100% brightness, but I could not see any problems in either test patterns or actual content.

Calibration reduced the grayscale number slightly, but there was no visible difference. Gamma also got a tad darker, and that was a difference I could see, so the adjustments were worth making. This is excellent performance.

If you want sRGB for SDR content, there are two options. Either select the sRGB Cal mode or keep access to calibration by choosing sRGB from the Color Space options. In either case, gamma is a tad wonky with a slightly dark value at 10% and light values from 60% to 100%. This is a minor error that will not significantly affect content. But if you’re using the XG32UQWMS for color-critical tasks, an external lookup table might be a good idea.

Comparisons

OLEDs as a category are very color accurate, so the XG32UQWMS’s middle tier results aren’t a problem. With 1.65dE out of the box and 1.25dE after adjustment, there is nothing to complain about. In the gamma test, the range of values is very small at just 0.12 from lowest to highest. The deviation is 3.18%, equating to an actual score of 2.13. Gamma is a shade light, but values are in a tight range which mitigates the error.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The XG32UQWMS is a very colorful monitor with DCI-P3 coverage that’s a tad greater than the competition. You can see slight oversaturation in red and green and more in blue where the color is extremely vivid. The points are in line, though, which means the image is very colorful but not unnatural. Calibration barely made a difference in the chart and no difference to the eye. This is excellent performance.

The sRGB gamut result is almost perfect with just some slight hue errors in magenta. The numbers are well below the visible threshold of 3dE, so there’s nothing to see here but excellent color.

Comparisons

Ordinarily, the XG32UQWMS’s last place finish in the comparison would be a bummer, but since the number is 2.11dE, well below the visible threshold, there’s nothing to be sad about. OLEDs are a competitive category for color accuracy, which is great because you will be hard-pressed to find a bad one. The big win comes in the volume calculation where the XG32UQWMS renders more color than all the other screens. Though the margin of victory is small, it’s significant because it is achieved without Quantum Dot technology. Asus’ use of Tandem OLED is very effective and is brighter too. With ideal 100.26% coverage of sRGB, the XG32UQWMS can be used for color-critical tasks, though it would be best to use a software lookup table to compensate for the light gamma.

Test Takeaway: Aside from slightly light gamma, the XG32UQWMS displays excellent color accuracy both before and after calibration. It has the largest color gamut in the 32-inch 4K OLED category by a small margin, and it covers an ideal 100% of sRGB. Calibration is possible but only produces tiny gains.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The XG32UQWMS supports HDR10 signals with an automatic switch and four specific picture modes. By turning on a switch in the OSD, you can adjust brightness and contrast and toggle the Uniform Brightness option.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

In the 32-inch 4K category, only the Dough Spectrum Black 32 is brighter than the XG32UQWMS. At 622 nits, it is brighter than other Asus monitors and easily outshines the MSI, Acer, and HP. I measured a 25% window pattern to get this result. Asus’ claims of 1,500 nits for a 3% window are not in doubt. You can see the difference between screens in a side-by-side comparison where the XG32UQWMS’s highlights have more pop and texture. Ultimately, this broadens dynamic range and gives HDR content more impact.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The XG32UQWMS shows excellent grayscale tracking in both Gaming and True Black 500 HDR modes. There are slightly visible errors at 60% brightness and higher, but they are very hard to spot in actual content. The EOTF tracks the reference closely with slight darkness from zero to 25%. The tone-map transition point is at 65%, which is correct for the measured black and white levels.

In the color tests, the XG32UQWMS is a tad oversaturated in both the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. This adds to HDR’s impact without going too far. Color is bright and vivid but also natural and smooth. Hue points are on target except for yellow and magenta, which are a tad off-line. Again, this isn’t a significant error. In the 2020 test, the XG32UQWMS runs out of color at 90% red, 80% green, and 98% blue. It has more green and blue than nearly every HDR monitor I’ve tested. This is excellent performance.

Test Takeaway: The XG32UQWMS is a benchmark HDR monitor with high brightness, adjustability, and more color than its direct competitors. The image is punchy and vivid without becoming overblown or cartoonish. If you play HDR games or want to watch HDR content, you won’t find a better OLED gaming monitor.

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OLEDs remain premium priced, but their capabilities are such that in my mind, they’re more than worth the money. $1,100 is a lot for a 32-inch monitor, but when it has unmatched sharpness, contrast, brightness, and gaming performance, spending that money brings no regret.

Asus isn’t the most or the least expensive, but it always offers value when you shop the ROG Strix line. These displays offer the same performance as their flagship Swift cousins and only leave out a couple of minor features. And nothing that affects gameplay is missing. When you’re mowing through enemies or exploring virtual worlds, you won’t know the difference between Swift and Strix.

The XG32UQWMS is the latest in a long line of excellent OLED displays. It has a stunning picture that’s brighter and more colorful than its competitors. It isn’t unique in offering 240 Hz at 4K resolution, but the inclusion of frame rate boost to 480 Hz in FHD and ELMB blur reduction makes it more flexible. You can pair it with a wide variety of systems and enjoy smooth, responsive play.

With over 108% coverage of DCI-P3 and HDR peaks between 600 and 1,500 nits, the picture is dazzling and textural with natural color that has an addictive quality. And there’s added sharpness from the True Black Glossy coating.

If you have $1,100 to spend on a 32-inch 4K OLED, the Asus ROG Strix XG32UQWMS is one of the best you can buy at this writing. Definitely check it out.

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If you have been planning to upgrade your monitor, now might be a great time to invest in an OLED display. Prices have been pretty decent compared to last year, and one great option is the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B, which has dropped to $467.97 on Amazon from its original price of $999. The sale price saves you about $532, a 53% discount.

• Check out the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B on Amazon

The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B features a 27-inch WOLED panel with 1440p resolution, widely considered the sweet spot for gaming monitors. It also offers an impressive 480 Hz refresh rate and a 0.03 ms response time, plus support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, making it suitable for both cinematic and esports titles. Additionally, the monitor is ClearMR 21000 certified, VESA’s highest motion-clarity tier, which helps eliminate the faint blur that lingers around fast-moving objects.

LG claims that the panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, along with a 1.5M:1 contrast ratio and DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification. This ensures that visuals pop with deep blacks, brilliant highlights, and vibrant cinematic colors. For connectivity, the monitor offers two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 2.1 port, a USB Type-B upstream port, two USB Type-A downstream ports, and a 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack with support for 3D audio via DTS Headphone: X. The monitor has a slim profile and supports height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustments. The back of the monitor also features customizable RGB hexagonal backlighting, adding to its gaming aesthetic.

At its discounted price of $467.97, the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B is a compelling option for gamers looking to make the jump to OLED without spending close to $1,000. The combination of a 1440p WOLED panel, 480 Hz refresh rate, and strong HDR capabilities makes it particularly appealing for both competitive and visually demanding games.

LG Display has just unveiled perhaps the biggest innovation in OLED manufacturing in a while, aptly called "FLiPP" or FMM-less Innovative Pixel Patterning. FMM stands for Fine Metal Masks, and they're required as a stencil to deposit organic LEDs onto a glass substrate. FLiPP gets rid of these and instead relies on photolithography to vaporize unneeded areas from an RGB subpixel to produce a brighter panel that takes less power to drive and is ultimately cheaper to produce.

The main benefit of FLiPP is how it increases the subpixel surface area in an OLED stack. Instead of the metal mask taking up space, the subpixels are spread out much closer to each other, which improves their "aperture ratio" by up to 55%. In reality, that translates to 1.6x brighter panels with 2.4x longer lifespans. Since the panel doesn't have to work as hard to drive the pixels, its power consumption drops by 13% as well.

A metal mask is also heavy and can thus sag in the middle, leading to panel uniformity or color blending issues. It's expensive to make, too, because it features tiny holes that scale up in precision depending on resolution and size. FLiPP eliminates those constraints entirely, as it can, in theory, produce panels ranging from 1-100 inches for a broad range of devices and applications with any resolution in mind.

For instance, whenever new panel tech emerges, a new metal mask needs to be created to specifically accommodate its subpixel layout. A majority of the OLED materials are wasted during the stencil process; only about 30% make it through the stencil on the motherglass. Moreover, the motherglass needs to be cut in half for larger displays because of the mask's unstable structure just so be joined back together after deposition.

FLiPP uses a process akin to semiconductor manufacturing where UV light reacts with a photoresist layer through a micron-sharp photomask. A bed of organic material, such as the red subpixels, is first deposited, and a photoresist layer is applied on top. The UV changes the chemical bonds of the areas that should have red subpixels, hardening and locking them into place. The glass then goes through a chemical bath to dissolve away everything else.

The process is repeated for the green and blue subpixels until the desired layout is achieved. LG says this method utilizes 64% more of the motherglass when producing laptop-sized panels, leading to less wastage, which will make displays cheaper. The company has already internally produced an OLED panel that used an entire 8.5-Gen motherglass through FLiPP, which measures at 2,200mm x 2,500mm.

LG is currently looking to apply FLiPP to its RGB OLED technology, which means self-emissive red, green, and blue subpixels will be deposited directly onto a motherglass. Otherwise, in Samsung's QD-OLED and LG's WOLED, white (or blue) LEDs pass through color filters to produce red, green, and blue, instead. Therefore, the combination of RGB OLED and FLiPP could lead to panels with exceptional color volume and gamut coverage — traditionally weaknesses of OLED.

FLiPP is not the only FMM-less OLED deposition technique on the market, but it does seem to be the first to be commercialized on a massive scale. Japan Display Inc.'s eLEAP is actually the pioneer of maskless OLED photolithography, and LG was said to enter into some sort of partnership with them last year, though FLiPP is marketed entirely as an LG invention. China's Visionox also has its own version that it plans to release next year.

Inkjet printing is increasingly gaining traction in the OLED world as an alternative method, too, and TCL CSOT is currently at the forefront of its development. As far as FLiPP is concerned, LG promises to invest 3 trillion Won, or $2.15 billion, to begin production using this tech by late 2027. Laptops and monitors will be the first recipients of FLiPP OLED screens before expanding to smartwatches and ultra-large TVs.

Rtings.com is back with another longevity test for OLED TVs — this time, comparing newer models from 2020 to 2023 against an older model from 2017. Results show that units from either era develop similar burn-in after 10,000 hours of simulated news channel usage. But modern TVs are much brighter and use less power, which can mitigate the typical burn-in period and extend your TV's overall lifespan.

Rtings tested a single LG C7 from 2017, four models from 2020, six models from 2021, seven models from 2022, and just two models from 2023. At the end of the simulated longevity period, all TVs had suffered from image retention, as you can see above. Each TV was tested at its maximum SDR brightness rather than a universal luminance value matched across all models, to more accurately simulate daily usage.

This methodology makes sense when you consider that some panels are inherently brighter than others. For instance, a newer model could achieve the same luminance at 75%, whereas an older model would be pegged at 100%. People often use their TVs at their brightest setting, so this way, the testers are evaluating real-world usage rather than differences in panel durability over generations.

The results above show that the average 2023 OLED was 28% brighter than the 2017 OLED in terms of sustained brightness within 10% windows. When set to 100% window size (full-screen), the 2023 panel is more than twice as bright as the 2017 panel. These improvements don't come at the cost of power consumption either — in fact, quite the opposite. Models from 2023 are about 27% more efficient than those from 2017.

At 100 nits, the average OLED TV from 2017 consumed 130W, so 1.28 watts to power every nit, while the average OLED TV from 2023 only ate 95W, so 0.97W for every nit. If we go beyond the scope of the test and look at 2026 TVs, too, they are roughly twice as efficient as models from a decade ago while being much brighter, more feature-rich, and shipping with extra panel-care options.

The testers also compared the brightness capabilities of LCD TVs against OLED TVs and, as expected, saw the former dominate the latter. LCD panels have a backlight that can be supplied with more power to make the image brighter, and with the advent of mini-LEDs, that brightness is more controlled and precise as well. OLED panels cannot drive their organic pixels in the same way, because they'd wear out too quickly and cause burn-in.

OLED TVs have improved a lot in terms of brightness, to the point that the latest flagships can comfortably fight glare in a sunny room, but the brightest LCDs still outdo them. As such, Rtings asks whether panel preservation should've been prioritized over peak luminance for OLEDs. The answer is no because 10,000 hours of simulated usage works out to 5 hours per day for 10 years, and people don't just have static elements on-screen perpetually.

Instead, the data compels us to look at these results from a different perspective. Since these OLEDs have similar image retention vulnerabilities but at higher luminance levels, we now have more headroom to leverage. Instead of simply maxing out the panel's brightness, one can achieve the desired luminance at a lower level, giving the panel more breathing room. As we saw, that lower level will also use much less power.

The publication points out that this is "a risk-reduction measure rather than a guaranteed lifespan control" because organic pixels will always wear over time no matter what. Plus, the data does not quantify the difference between running a new OLED at lower brightness levels (so that it matches the peak luminance of older models) and at its maximum, though the obvious can be inferred.

The pixels will be under less cumulative stress, potentially allowing them to last longer. In other words — delay the point of no return for image retention. We haven't even talked about panel materials that enable improvements in the OLED stack beyond just pumping more voltage. The latest OLED TVs are more than twice as bright as their decade-old counterparts.

The ultimate takeaway is that, for most users, mixed usage on modern OLED TVs will not be an issue, despite them not showing a clear advantage in terms of burn-in. Static elements can bend any OLED to their will. As long as you're not manually interfering with the built-in self-care features, the TV is smart enough to manage its delicate pixels, and you will likely move on to a newer model before burn-in becomes an issue.

If you don't have the cash reserves to fund a new GPU, RAM, or SSD, then consider upgrading the visuals on your PC with a new monitor. Upgrading the size or the panel from IPS/VA to OLED can give your games a vivid visual boost. At Best Buy, you can currently grab the magnificent MSI MAG 321UPXB gaming monitor, returning to its lowest-ever price of $599.99. That's a saving of $130 from the original $729.99 list price on the Best Buy store page.

● Check out this deal at Best Buy

The MSI MAG 321UPXB is a premium gaming monitor with all the bells and whistles for producing stunning images. The monitor is a flat-panel with a 32-inch viewable area and a high-detail 4K (3,820 x 2,160) UHD resolution. The QD-OLED panel has a fast refresh rate up to 240Hz and a blisteringly fast 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time thanks to the OLED panel tech. The combination of fast refresh and response times produces very smooth motion in games and eliminates ghosting artifacts.

The display also has an anti-reflective treatment to avoid light sources disrupting your viewing experience, plus it is compatible with Nvidia's G-Sync technology to help eliminate screen tearing by matching the monitor's refresh rate to the output of the game you're playing. To hit the high refresh rates of this monitor, you will require a powerful graphics card or use frame-generation techniques to boost frame rates. So you don't need to worry about the refresh rate of this gaming monitor bottlenecking your gaming PC.

The MSI's panel is DisplayHDR True Black 400-certified and supports VRR (variable refresh rate) for gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Ports are also plentiful, with two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4a, and one USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode) to choose from. For peace of mind, there's also a 3-year manufacturer's warranty that includes coverage for the dreaded OLED burn-in.

The MAG 321UPXB has a list price of $729.99 at Best Buy, but is currently $599.99 for a limited time only.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.

Is now a good time to think about upgrading your PC or gaming monitor? As one of the only PC-related items that is still seeing discounts in the ever-increasing AI boom-related price inflation apocalypse, gaming monitors especially have become the best bang-for-buck upgrade for your gaming setup. With prices on OLED displays falling dramatically since the technology launched, and generational improvements in the panel technology and manufacturing making the screens cheaper, more resilient to burn-in, and offering large gains in refresh rates. A prime example is this deal on the 280Hz WOLED Gigabyte MO27Q28G 27-inch gaming monitor for $399.99, a massive $200 (33%) off its original listing price.

● Check out this deal at Newegg

You may be thinking about upgrading your CPU or GPU to improve your gaming experience, but honestly, none of that matters if your display doesn't do your hardware justice. Gigabyte's 27-inch MO27Q28G gaming monitor features a fast 280Hz refresh rate that requires powerful graphics cards to fully utilize, and a blisteringly fast 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time thanks to standard OLED tech. The Gigabyte MO27Q28G uses a colorful 4th-Gen WOLED display with 99.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 84% of BT 2020. With a decent pixel density, delivering a crisp image at a 2560x1440 QHD resolution.

The monitor also features a KVM switch, USB-C connectivity, and a bright HDR peak brightness of 1500 Nits. To complete the package of a gaming monitor, the MO27Q28G also features a "tactical switch" for switching between screen ratios and resolutions.

The Gigabyte MO27Q28G comes with a standard stand that allows for adjustments to height, tilt, swivel, and pivot, but if you fancy upgrading the stand to a monitor arm and are also running a second monitor, you can pick up this handy bundle offer on the Gigabyte MO27Q28G and the MSI MPG MT201DR V2 desk-mounted dual monitor arms.

The MSI MPG MT201DR V2 sell for $139.99 individually, but if you purchase them as part of the Gigabyte MO27Q28G combo bundle for $519.98, you can save $20 off the monitor mount.

Samsung Display has announced that it is now supplying its first mass-produced VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1400 monitor panels to laptop makers including Lenovo, Asus, Dell, and MSI. Get ready for the brightest and punchiest portable displays yet as these big-name laptop brands integrate Samsung’s latest tandem OLED displays into their designs. VESA only introduced this new standard earlier this month, and it is notable for requiring panels with at least 40% higher brightness than the previous top tier.

The VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1400 specs are rather strenuous. Earning this certification means that your display must “reproduce black levels of 0.0005 nits or lower while achieving peak brightness of 1,400 nits at a 10% On Pixel Ratio (OPR),” notes Samsung. Peak brightness is also boosted by 40% compared to VESA’s previous highest certification level, True Black 1000. In terms of actual brightness readings, Samsung’s new tandem OLEDs offer up to 1,600 nits, which is 40% higher than the 1,100-nit peak brightness of conventional OLED panels with a single emissive layer.

In case you haven’t heard of tandem OLED display panels, a big clue to their boosted visual performance is in the name. This display architecture stacks two organic emissive layers to improve light-emitting efficiency and achieve higher brightness. Another benefit is that the dual operation of the panels means a “tandem OLED can produce greater brightness using the same current or reduce the load on each emissive layer at the same brightness level, extending the panel’s lifespan,” notes Samsung in today’s press release. Thus, this kind of panel isn’t necessarily going to crater your laptop battery life when you only require modest brightness levels, as in a typical home/office environment, for example.

Lenovo’s Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition was the first device to feature Samsung’s new tandem OLED panel. Meanwhile, devices from Asus, Dell, and MSI are going to hit retail sometime in H2 this year.

We’ve already seen tandem OLED-enhanced desktop monitors launched from brands like Alienware, Gigabyte, and MSI. Samsung Display’s local rival, LG Display, is also gearing up to compete in this premium market segment.

TCL CSOT, a subsidiary of Chinese electronics and TV giant TCL, has been developing inkjet-printed (IJP) OLED displays since 2024, and it seems that it has finally brought it to market with the Lenovo Legion R9000P. Lenovo says that this is the first laptop in the world to feature the TCL CSOT technology, which marks a significant step towards “the commercialization of this next-generation display technology.”

This Lenovo Legion laptop will feature a 16-inch IJP OLED that can hit a 240 Hz refresh rate while also covering more than 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. This isn’t exactly groundbreaking when it comes to OLED monitors, but the biggest advantage that IJP OLED displays have over the traditional vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) method is that it’s cheaper and simpler to produce, resulting in higher yields. TCL CSOT’s IJP OLEDs also promise improved brightness, which is something that traditional OLED screens struggle with. This is especially important for laptops like the Legion R9000P, which are expected to face more varied lighting conditions due to their portable nature, compared to monitors and TVs that are often placed statically in one location for most of their lifetime.

If this technology catches on, it should reduce the cost of the best OLED gaming monitors, which, arguably, offer one of the best experiences when it comes to contrast and color. Unfortunately, Lenovo hasn’t revealed the specifications or the price of the Legion R9000P, so we cannot say for sure how the IJP OLED has affected its affordability and compare it with similar models that feature a more traditional OLED display.

While this is the first time that IJP OLED is being mass-produced for consumer electronics, TCL CSOT has been working on the technology for over 10 years now. In fact, the company has been mass-producing its 5.5-generation IJP OLED since 2024 (which is presumably used in commercial and industrial products like medical displays) and has started construction of its 8.6-generation IJP OLED production last year.

Aside from Lenovo, MSI is also using this new IJP OLED panel in the just-announced MSI Pro Max OLED 271UPJW12. While the company did not explicitly mention that it used a display from TCL CSOT, its specifications exactly match. Besides that, TCL CSOT is currently the only one manufacturing OLED screens using the inkjet printing technique.

Aside from laptops and monitors, we also expect to see this technology to eventually reach TVs and smartphones. This should make high-quality OLED TVs more affordable to more users and compete against cheaper TVs that use technologies like QLED and Mini LED. It could also allow for budget phones with beautiful screens that can give flagship models a run for their money.

OLED panels are quickly becoming a must-have item for desktop PCs. Most of us were introduced to the panel technology in smartphones, and it’s become increasingly popular on laptops. For desktop gamers seeking an immediate visual upgrade, OLED is the way to go, and fortunately, Prime Day is proving to be a great time to take the plunge. From massive DQHD panels on the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G93SC) to dual-mode offerings like the LG 27GX790B-B, we have you covered.

Here are the best OLED gaming monitors that we’ve come across so far:

• Check out all the best monitor deals for Prime Day

34-inch Ultrawide OLED Gaming Monitors

The Alienware 34 QD-OLED was the first mainstream QD-OLED monitor, and the updated version, sporting a newer QD-OLED panel and a faster 240Hz refresh rate, is on sale at its lowest price ever on Prime Day. It can now be had for $629.99, or 21% off its list price of $799.99.

We reviewed this model, the AW3425DW, last year and gave it immense praise. It excelled with incredibly accurate color, incredible black levels, and class-leading input lag. It also boasted a color error of only 1.33 based on our testing.

Alienware’s take on this panel has a few unique goodies, as well. It comes with a three-year warranty that covers burn-in, as well as built-in panel-saving features like pixel shifting. This model uses a newer QD-OLED panel that addresses some of the color fringing issues on earlier QD-OLED panels.

32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitors

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 (G80SD) hits the sweet spot for gaming monitors: it has a 32-inch screen, which is ideal for its 4K resolution (granted, while you'll find 4K in smaller 27-inch panels, 32-inch models are more popular).

You, of course, get a brilliant Samsung QD-OLED panel, which is known more for its rich colors and deep blacks than for extreme brightness. However, the G80SD does stick out like a sore thumb compared to most OLED gaming monitors because it has a matte, anti-glare coating on the panel instead of a glossy finish.

With that said, the G80SD offers a 240 Hz refresh rate at native resolution, is Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro-certified, and has a 0.03 ms response time. It includes two 10-watt speakers, Bluetooth audio support, DisplayPort 1.4, and HDMI 2.1 ports. You can even turn the G80SD into a multimedia hub thanks to its Smart TV integration with streaming apps and the Samsung Gaming Hub.

Right now, the G80SD is available for $657.77, 47% discount off its list price.

27-inch OLED Gaming Monitors

LG is a leading OLED panel supplier among high-refresh-rate gaming monitors (including some of its primary competitors in the monitor space). They’ve incorporated these panels into their gaming monitor lineup, including the 27GX790B-B. Originally priced at $999, it’s now available for $300 off for Amazon Prime Day, making it a great deal at just $684.99.

The LG 27GX790B-B features an RGB Tandem OLED panel, a 2560 x 1440 (QHD) resolution, and a native refresh rate of 540 Hz. However, if you’re an eSports enthusiast and willing to compromise on resolution to 720p, you can increase the refresh rate to an astonishing 720 Hz. This monitor is designed for gamers with powerful graphics cards capable of delivering over 700 FPS and who are comfortable with 720p resolution.

Asus is also a big player in the gaming monitor market, and it makes that point very clear with the XG27AQDMGR. Being that this is an "XG" monitor, it does away with some of the frills of its more premium siblings to reach a lower price point while still sporting a QD-OLED panel. You can now grab one for just $449 during Amazon Prime Day.

That price gets you a 27-inch 1440p panel with a 240 Hz refresh rate. And who makes that panel, you might ask? Well, LG, of course. The monitor still offers DisplayPort 2.1 despite its lower standing in Asus' monitor rankings, and includes the company's Neo Proximity Sensor to dim the display when you're not sitting in front of it (which goes a long way toward extending panel longevity).

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Dare I say it, prices on the best OLED gaming monitors are trending downward. They’ve been trickling down for a while, but recently I’ve received some new models that have lopped more than $100 off the prices of their predecessors. You’ll still pay more than an equivalent-spec LCD, but not a ton more.

ViewSonic has always delivered good value, and its latest entry is the VX2738-2K OLED. This 27-inch QHD 2560x1440-pixel panel boasts Quantum Dot color, 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and HDR for just $450 as I write this. Let’s take a look.

ViewSonic VX2738-2K OLED Specs

The VX2738-2K uses an OLED panel fronted by a Quantum Dot layer to deliver almost 109% DCI-P3 coverage, according to my measurements. That’s about average for the QD-OLEDs I’ve tested, and it is visibly more colorful than OLEDs or LCDs without the tech. Brightness is claimed to be 200 nits, which I verified with a full-field pattern, and I measured over 300 nits from a 25% window with variable brightness engaged. HDR reaches peaks over 400 nits, earning the VX2738-2K VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification.

Gaming performance is given equal attention with a 240 Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync. The VX2738-2K is certified by both AMD and Nvidia for tear-free operation. Being an OLED, it has super quick response as well. Motion resolution is perfect at speeds above 180 fps. And you can achieve that without spending a fortune on a high-end graphics card.

Despite its attractive price, the VX2738-2K isn’t a barebones monitor. You get four video inputs, two HDMI 2.1 and two DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC), along with a headphone jack and internal speakers. The only things left out are USB ports and LED lighting. But you do get a nice, solid stand and a premium DP cable. I also found an aiming point that turns on with a down-click of the OSD joystick. And there are plenty of OLED care options to keep the panel safe, along with variable brightness for SDR and HDR content.

ViewSonic is offering a solid display with a stunning picture and excellent gaming performance for $450. It wasn’t long ago that a 240 Hz QHD LCD cost that much. The era of affordable OLEDs may indeed be upon us.

Assembly and Accessories

ViewSonic doesn’t ship the VX2738-2K in look-at-me packaging, opting instead for a plain brown wrapper that just says, “ViewSonic Gaming.” The contents are encased in crumbly foam with the base, upright, and panel going together without tools. Build quality is high, and you get a three-year warranty too. The accessory bundle includes an external power supply and a DisplayPort cable.

Product 360

The VX2738-2K features angular styling with simple shapes and slightly rounded corners. The front is all screen with a narrow flush bezel that ranges in width from eight to 23 millimeters. A badge graces the lower left corner, indicating Nvidia G-Sync certification. It also meets FreeSync Premium standards. Other bits include a small ViewSonic logo and a tiny power status LED.

In the back are more triangles and a central box containing the internals. A joystick operates the OSD along with a separate power toggle button. The stand snaps into place over a 100mm VESA mount. If you want to use an arm, ViewSonic provides four large fasteners that you can tighten by hand if you like.

The stand has full ergonomics with 5/20 degrees tilt, 45 degrees swivel, and a 90-degree portrait mode. The OSD can be rotated manually as well. The height range is 5.1 inches (130mm). Movements are smooth and firm, better than what you’ll find with most budget screens. The package with stand weighs 12 pounds and sits on a thick metal plate base.

Underneath are four video inputs, two HDMI 2.1 and two DisplayPort 1.4 that support Display Stream Compression (DSC), which keeps frame rates at their maximum potential. There are a pair of two-watt internal speakers, and you get a 3.5mm headphone jack.

OSD Features

The VX2738-2K’s OSD is very business-like with six sub-menu headers across the top. It’s reasonably intuitive and has plenty of picture modes and image options to tailor things to your liking.

The fun starts with seven picture modes. The Game mode includes four additional presets, one of which includes a black stabilization slider. This can be increased to brighten shadow areas for better visibility. While it makes the picture less dramatic, it helps you find hidden enemies more easily. Standard is the default mode, and it includes everything needed for a precise calibration. And that’s a good thing because the VX2738-2K isn’t quite on spec out of the box, more on that later.

There are five fixed color temps and a user color with RGB sliders. Don’t be fooled by the one labeled sRGB. It does not change the color gamut from the native space, which covers almost 109% of DCI-P3. You’ll see the VX2738-2K’s full color for all content, be it SDR or HDR. You also get three gamma presets. HDR has no options, but you can turn off the effect if you like. Leaving it on Auto means the VX2738-2K switches without user intervention.

Manual Image Adjust is where you’ll find OLED care options like pixel orbiting, screen refresh and static detection. The one labeled OLED APL is a variable brightness setting. Turning it on raises the peak white level for small areas of the screen.

The Setup menu includes an Adaptive-Sync toggle, OSD appearance options, and power settings. The second screen includes PIP and PBP for viewing two sources at once.

ViewSonic VX2738-2K OLED Calibration Settings

In the VX2738-2K’s Standard mode, I observed a slight purple tint in grayscale patterns and very dark gamma, which gave the image a murky appearance. Fixing the RGB sliders took care of the color, but gamma could only be corrected by turning the OLED APL option on. That means you’ll see variable brightness all the time. While this isn’t my favorite approach, ViewSonic’s VB isn’t super aggressive so there is no obvious image pumping or rapid changes in brightness. It is the way to the best image, so I recommend using it. It’s locked on by default for HDR content. Below are my recommended SDR settings. HDR has no provision for adjustment; just set the HDR option to Auto for an automatic switch.

Gaming and Hands-on

There is no activity that cannot be enhanced by an OLED monitor and the VX2738-2K proved that to me yet again. The broad contrast and saturated color offered by this technology cannot be completely duplicated by LCD, and that includes Mini LED panels.

The VX2738-2K isn’t the brightest OLED I’ve reviewed, but it is more than bright enough to be satisfying. I found that the variable brightness option was required for the best picture. Usually, I use constant brightness for work tasks and variable for entertainment. With OLED APL turned off, the picture was dull in comparison to other OLEDs. This turned out to be due to dark gamma, which you can learn more about on page four. Turning it on addressed my concerns. And it wasn’t aggressive in operation, there were no artifacts like pumping or changes in brightness that lagged behind the moving image. I left it engaged for all content. And it’s locked to on for HDR.

HDR looked spectacular as all OLEDs do. Color was rich and vibrant thanks to the Quantum Dot layer. It’s awesome to get this tech in a $450 monitor. Accuracy was excellent once I had calibrated. A few tweaks to the RGB slider took color, grayscale and gamma to reference-level. That showed in all areas, gaming, video and productivity.

Video processing was exemplary and with frame rates staying at or near the 240 Hz maximum, moving objects were rendered with perfect clarity and full detail. There was no smearing or blur of any kind. The VX2738-2K was extremely responsive to my inputs as well. You’ll see how good it is on the next page as it’s one of the fastest 240 Hz screens I’ve tested to date. To get visibly better performance, you’ll need to go to at least 360 Hz. And only the most skilled gamers would be able to tell a difference. My abilities are not at that level. I would happily frag all day and twice on Sunday. The VX2738-2K has that addictive quality.

For daily use, the VX2738-2K serves extremely well. 27 inches is ideal for QHD resolution; it’s a reasonably pixel-dense 109ppi but not so much that frame rates suffer. My GeForce RTX 4090 was more than stout enough to keep speeds at 240fps with games set to their highest detail levels. And the dot structure is invisible from more than two feet away. You can sit close when working in Photoshop or Premiere Pro. Or relax and sit back when watching videos on YouTube.

My only complaint is a small one. I was glad to see the inclusion of internal speakers but the VX2738-2K’s are quite tinny. At 50% volume, they were reasonably loud but somewhat distorted in the highest frequencies, which made them harsh. They’re fine for system sounds but for music or game audio, they don’t offer much impact or detail. I suggest plugging in your favorite headphones to the provided 3.5mm jack. Speaking of plugs, I noted the inclusion of four video inputs instead of the usual three with an extra DisplayPort in the mix, nice.

Takeaway: The VX2738-2K is an extremely versatile monitor with excellent gaming performance and enough brightness, color saturation and clarity to suit it for photo editing, web browsing or any computing task. It delivers fast and smooth video processing along with accurate and vivid color once calibrated. The internal speakers aren’t the greatest but plug in a pair of headphones and you’ll be fine. Above all, it’s a superlative value at just $450 and that’s the best part.

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27-inch QHD OLEDs come in a wide variety of refresh rates, up to 540 Hz in fact. I tried to find screens closer in speed to the VX2738-2K and came up with Alienware’s AW2726DM and AW2725D, Gigabyte’s MO27Q28G, Asus’ XG27AQWMG, and AOC’s Q27G4ZD.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

I didn’t have enough 27-inch QHD OLEDs to compare the VX2738-2K’s panel response, so I have a different group there. You can see that refresh rate doesn’t always go in lockstep with response time. The quickest screen is a 240 Hz Acer at 0.12ms, and the ViewSonic isn’t far behind at 0.20ms. Even at the slowest 0.24ms, you won’t be able to see any differences at speeds above 180fps. The Acer would have a slight edge between 150 and 180 fps. But these are tiny issues that are nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.

In the lag test, the VX2738-2K proved to be one of the faster screens available, with a total lag time of just 15.7ms averaged over 25 mouse clicks using Nvidia’s LDAT tester and utility. 240 Hz is in no way a limitation when compared to the 280 Hz screens in the group, which are a tad slower. Again, this is a minute difference that anyone outside the Jedi Order will be unable to distinguish.

Test Takeaway: The VX2738-2K is very quick with low input lag and smooth motion resolution. At frame rates above 180fps, moving objects render with the same clarity as stationary ones. It is quicker than at least two monitors with higher refresh rates. It’s safe to say that if you want to beat the VX2738-2K, you’ll need to go at least 360 Hz or faster.

Viewing Angles

Many Quantum Dot monitors show a slight red tint in the 45-degree side photo, but not the VX2738-2K. It looks the same as the head-on image with consistent color, brightness and gamma. The top view has slightly reduced gamma and luminance. This is excellent performance.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

When I first measured the VX2738-2K’s screen uniformity, it was an unimpressive 13.55%, which is much higher than average for an OLED. Some monitors need an initial pixel refresh cycle to look their best, so I ran the procedure and saw a significant improvement to 2.55%. I have encountered this issue before with Samsung monitors, so ViewSonic is not alone. And once I had done it, the uniformity value did not change. Once set up, the VX2738-2K delivers excellent performance.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

ViewSonic rates the VX2738-2K at 200 nits. This tracks when measuring a full field pattern with OLED APL (variable brightness) turned off. To see its full potential, I turned it on and measured a 25% window for 381 nits. This also improves gamma, which in turn improves image quality by quite a bit. I’ll show more detailed tests on the next page. Black levels and contrast cannot be measured.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration makes no difference to the contrast result. I set 200 nits based on a full field pattern so that meant brightness was turned up all the way. This maximizes the VX2738-2K’s image quality and fidelity. Black levels, static contrast and ANSI contrast cannot be measured.

Test Takeaway: The VX2738-2K delivers contrast performance that’s equal to any OLED monitor. With infinite black levels, the picture has a depth and quality that no LCD can match. To get the best result, I recommend leaving OLED APL (variable brightness) on all the time. It’s not aggressive in operation, so it is appropriate for productivity and color-critical tasks.

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For the grayscale, gamma and color tests, I used the VX2738-2K’s Standard picture mode, which is the default. It offers color temp presets, RGB sliders and gamma presets.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

You can see in the first chart what I meant earlier by skewed gamma. Grayscale tracking isn’t too far off, with just a bit of purple tint seen in steps above 50% brightness. But gamma is dark enough to make the picture look flat and undefined. I normally leave variable brightness off for all tests and calibration, but in this case, its use is necessary.

Turning it on and tweaking the RGB sliders makes the VX2738-2K a whole lot better. All grayscale errors are below 1dE, and gamma is visibly and measurably perfect. This is an improvement that is easy to see in an A/B comparison. With the proper settings, the VX2738-2K is capable of reference-level performance.

Comparisons

With a starting value of 5.01dE, the VX2738-2K needs some attention to look its best. In this group, only the AOC and Asus displays can be enjoyed without calibration. Once adjusted, all screens have perfect grayscale tracking. There would be no visible difference between them. In the gamma test, the VX2738-2K excels with a tiny 0.08 range of values and a perfect average of 2.2, 0% deviation. This is excellent performance.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

You can see how the VX2738-2K’s inaccurate gamma affects color in the first gamut chart. Every color is almost 20% oversaturated, with red looking a bit pink and cyan being too blue in tone. These are clearly visible errors.

With OLED APL turned on and the grayscale calibration in place, color is far better than before, with just some slight oversaturation in red and magenta that is well within visually tolerable limits.

Comparisons

The VX2738-2K’s gamut result goes from 4.49dE to 1.44dE with calibration, which is an obvious improvement. You’ll need to turn OLED APL on and tweak the RGB sliders to achieve this. If you don’t have the means, put in my settings from page one and you’ll be very close to the above result.

With a gamut volume of 108.86% of DCI-P3, the VX2738-2K is average among Quantum Dot OLEDs. The extra three-ish percent shown by the Alienware displays would be hard to spot in a side-by-side comparison. But it’s easy to tell the ViewSonic from a monitor without a QD layer. The sRGB volume is huge at 161.41%. This is because the VX2738-2K has no sRGB mode. There is an sRGB option in the color temp menu, but it doesn’t change the gamut size, and there is no other color space selection in the OSD. You can use it for a DCI-P3 reference only.

Test Takeaway: The VX2738-2K is very color accurate once calibrated. Out of the box, it has a slight purple tint and dark gamma. You must turn on the OLED APL option to fix gamma and adjust the RGB sliders for neutral grayscale tracking. Color covers almost 109% of DCI-P3, which is about average for Quantum Dot displays. And users needing the smaller sRGB gamut for color-critical work won’t find it here.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The VX2738-2K switches to HDR mode automatically if the HDR option is set to Auto in the OSD. There are no adjustments or additional picture modes available.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The VX2738-2K delivers its brightest possible picture in HDR mode with 419 nits measured from a 25% window pattern. Variable brightness is in operation and cannot be turned off. It easily qualifies for VESA DisplayHDR 400 like much of its competition. Asus and Gigabyte drive their panels a bit harder to get 580 and 653 nits peak, respectively. The VX2738-2K has decent impact with deep blacks and infinite contrast, but is not exceptionally bright.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The VX2738-2K’s HDR color is fixed with no provision for adjustment. Grayscale tracking is excellent in the darker parts of the image where there are no visible errors. At levels above 50%, it gets a bit warm in tone. These errors do not significantly diminish image quality. It would be nice to have the RGB sliders available, though. The EOTF runs a bit dark from zero to 40%, then stays close to the reference and a 65% tone-map transition point, which is correct given the measured black and white thresholds.

In the color tests, the VX2738-2K tracks hue points well with only slight variation in magenta. The chart is generally oversaturated like nearly all HDR monitors but with points that progress in a linear fashion. This approach keeps fine detail sharp and clear in all parts of the image. DCI-P3 is fully covered as it should be. BT.2020 runs the VX2738-2K out of color at 90% red, 80% green and 95% blue.

Test Takeaway: The VX2738-2K delivers an HDR image of average brightness with infinite black levels and contrast like any OLED display. With 419 nits peak, it has a satisfying impact and makes an obvious difference between SDR and HDR. Color is nicely saturated and accurate enough to be pleasing. No one will complain about the VX2738-2K’s HDR quality, it is very high. I noted slight grayscale errors that could not be corrected, but this did not affect the image in any significant way.

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There was a time when I couldn’t be sure desktop OLED monitors would ever exist. The tech only came in exotic TVs that cost $6,000 for a 55-inch panel. Today, they’re almost as common as bison were in the Wild West. And with the quantity of choice comes cost savings. Prices only trickled down for a time, but now we’re seeing some real values hitting the market. The ViewSonic VX2738-2K is a high-performance gaming OLED with Quantum Dot technology for $450. That’s almost all you need to know for a purchase decision.

Despite its low price, the VX2738-2K doesn’t skimp on image quality or performance. Though I noted some gamma anomalies out of the box, it just took the right settings and a quick calibration to bring it to reference-level. I achieved visually perfect color, grayscale and gamma with little effort. And with the extra color afforded by Quantum Dots, it delivered a great SDR and HDR image. The only miss there is the lack of an sRGB mode. Most users won’t care since they’ll prefer more color even if it isn’t strictly correct. But photographers needing that gamut choice won’t find it here.

Gamers definitely won’t complain about the VX2738-2K’s smooth motion response and low input lag. It’s one of the quickest 240 Hz monitors I’ve tested and it keeps up with its higher refresh rate competition. You’ll need to buy 360 Hz or more to beat it and that victory will be a slim one. Competition gamers looking to add a value-priced monitor to their toolkit should have a look.

The ViewSonic VX2783-2K OLED breaks price barriers by offering a high-performance gaming OLED display for $450. In perspective, that’s about what you’d have spent on an equivalent LCD a few years ago. That’s progress for sure. If you have been waiting for OLED prices to drop, now might be the time to pull the trigger. Definitely check it out.

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What makes a monitor professional-grade? There are many things that pros need to get the job done, and most screens billed as “professional” don’t cover all the bases. You can always expect accurate color, flexible calibration options, and rugged build quality. But do you get a fast refresh rate? Adaptive-Sync? Multiple stand options? Self-calibration?

That’s a lot to ask for, but Asus has baked all those qualities into the ProArt PA27USD. It’s a 27-inch QD-OLED panel with 4K resolution, professional image modes, auto-calibration, 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, and wide gamut color. And it’s ruggedly built with two stands included, cable management, a light hood, an SDI input, KVM, USB, and internal speakers — jeez, what doesn’t it have? And it’s not super expensive as far as pro monitors go. Let’s take a look.

Asus ProArt PA27USD Specs

From an image quality standpoint, we can all agree that OLED is the best technology currently available. It offers deeper contrast than any other panel, along with wide gamut color, excellent screen uniformity, and repeatable accuracy. Self-emissive pixels render the picture with minimal polarization, which means wider viewing angles and better clarity.

The PA27USD has a Quantum Dot panel with gamut coverage up to 102% of DCI-P3. It won’t quite do BT.2020, but for any P3 or smaller color space, it is spot on. And selecting parameters is as easy as finding what you want from the seven SDR and five HDR modes, including support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. SDR modes cover sRGB, Adobe RGB, BT.709 and 2020, plus Display and Cinema P3, and DICOM.

It’s rare for a professional panel to be game-worthy, but the PA27USD includes a 240 Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync. You won’t find aiming points or sniper modes, but when paired with a fast video card, it delivers low input lag and the smooth response that only a fast OLED can provide.

For video pros, there are a host of features that cater to use in the studio or on set. There are screen-fit markers to aid composition. You get two different stands and a large metal grab handle, which makes the PA27USD great for location shoots. And here’s something I haven’t seen before, an SDI input. SDI (Serial Digital Interface) has long been an industry standard for cameras and professional video. I’m sad that it never made it to the consumer side, and that is because it doesn’t include copy protection. Here, it’s a 12G input, which is sufficient bandwidth for 4K at 60 Hz. I’ll talk more about this later.

The PA27USD also follows current trends with the inclusion of a built-in calibrator. A tiny colorimeter swings up from the bottom of the screen and, using internal patterns and software, calibrates a picture mode in about five minutes. You can adjust any existing mode or create three of your own. You can also calibrate with Asus’ ProArt Calibration app or third-party solutions like Calman and ColourSpace. The ProArt Color Center app lets you manage multiple monitors to keep everything in line.

There are pro monitors less capable than the PA27USD that cost $5,000 or more. Asus is offering this one for $2,199. While that’s a lot for a 27-inch OLED, it’s a bargain in the pro-video world, especially considering its huge list of capabilities.

Assembly and Accessories

The PA27USD comes in a clamshell box packed in fully recyclable molded pulp. Two stands are included, one with two rotating legs and a traditional telescoping type with full ergonomics. You also get cable management bits that attach to the panel sides and the upright. A rigid light hood features light-absorbing felt on the inside, easy toolless attachment, and holes for cabling and light meters. The cable bundle includes three USB, HDMI, and DisplayPort, plus IEC for the internal power supply.

Product 360

The first photo shows the PA27USD’s default stand option. The feet snap into the bottom of the panel and swivel for easy storage. They are ruggedly constructed from cast aluminum. If you want to use the traditional desktop stand, it has a heavy metal base with an equally solid upright. To install it, you first have to pluck the tiny rubber plugs from the 100mm VESA mount threads on the panel, then bolt it up with the included Phillips-head screwdriver. It includes a 5/23-degree tilt, a 30-degree swivel, and a 90-degree portrait mode. The height adjustment range is 5.2 inches. Movements are smooth and solid, making the PA27USD feel nearly indestructible.

The panel is designed for location use with a large metal handle on the back and ports on the sides. On the right, you get a DisplayPort 2.1, two HDMI 2.1, two Thunderbolt 4, which are chainable, and USB-C and A ports for the KVM function. On the left is the 12G SDI port. This means that you can hook a camera or signal distribution hub directly to the PA27USD in tether mode. If you’ve ever watched the guy behind roving cameramen at football games on TV, he’s carrying a coaxial cable. SDI is robust and has a locking bayonet connector.

The PA27USD also includes audio support in the form of a 3.5mm headphone jack and a pair of internal speakers, which play to a reasonable volume in the upper midrange frequencies.

On the bottom front of the panel is the integrated colorimeter. It swings up into place when activated by the OSD. Calibrations can be performed manually or scheduled for later. Also in the front is a row of buttons for quick access to input selection, picture presets and other functions. A joystick controls the OSD and it can be accessed from the Windows or Mac desktop using Asus’ DisplayWidget Center app.

OSD Features

The PA27USD has a comprehensive OSD that covers its multitude of capabilities. It’s divided into nine sub-menus. Calling it up takes two clicks of the joystick.

First up are the image presets, labeled to match industry standards. Native is the default, and it is the same as Display P3 but with a little extra color saturation. The other modes are nearly spot-on with their respective specifications, though I found slight gamma anomalies that I’ll tell you about later. SDR signals get seven modes, while HDR gets five, including HDR10, Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG), and Dolby Vision support. There are also three user memories, which can be anything you like. You start with a target spec, then modify it in the OSD and run the calibration to save it.

The Palette field shows the parameters for each mode including the target brightness. You can adjust the white balance with a two-point RGB slider if you wish. You also get hue and saturation sliders for all six colors.

Remaining image controls are in the Image menu where you get sharpness (edge enhancement), aspect control, input range (black and white thresholds) and a blue light filter.

Calibration is super easy, you just pick a target, or all the modes if you want, make sure the PA27USD is warmed up for 30 minutes, then execute. Or you can schedule it for later when you’re not working.

The QuickFit menu is a staple for ProArt monitors and includes preset and custom markers to aid in camera composition and design tasks. You can also put up a center marker and rulers on the screen.

The input list shows that the SDI port is shared with HDMI 1, which means the total connections can be four at most. There are two Thunderbolt ports, and they are for daisy chaining multiple monitors.

The Settings menu is a catchall for everything else and includes the Dolby Vision and Uniform Brightness toggles. In the second screen of options is Light Sync which refers to the front-mounted sensors that can adjust brightness and color temperature to match changing ambient light conditions. You can adjust the sensitivity or turn the option off. Screen Saver is where you’ll find the panel care options, which include pixel orbiting, logo, and perimeter dimming. The KVM setup is also here and allows the binding of USB ports to specific video inputs.

Finally, two of the keys on the panel’s bezel can be programmed to different monitor functions.

Asus ProArt PA27USD Setup And Hands-on

The PA27USD arrives ready to go out of the box. All the presets are factory-calibrated before shipping. For my review, I set about measuring every mode to verify its accuracy. You can see all the results on page four. For HDR signals, you must choose a specific HDR standard. HDR10, PQ in Asus’ parlance, can be rendered with either P3 or BT.2020 color. If you want to work with HLG or Dolby Vision content, just choose that mode. I noted that for P3, you could choose between D65 and D63 color temps and 2.2 or 2.6 gamma. This corresponds to Display P3 and Cinema P3, respectively. Other SDR modes include sRGB, BT.709, Adobe RGB and BT.2020. Here is a rundown of the SDR modes and their default gamut, color temp and gamma settings.

The calibration procedure could not be easier. In the calibration menu, you simply choose a target and select execute. The meter flips up into place, and the patterns appear beneath it. It takes around five minutes per mode. I tried one run for Display P3 and found that it improved gamma tracking from the default. More on that later. You can also calibrate using Asus’ ProArt Calibration app. Any custom configurations you create are stored in one of the three Calibration memories.

The PA27USD includes a rigid light hood with light-absorbing felt on the inside. It installs easily by snapping it onto the bezel. I noted that the inside fittings used to hold it in place were not covered by felt and they reflected the image. I suspect that there will be users covering them with black tape.

For daily use, I chose the Native preset, which conforms to Display P3 but with a little extra color. The PA27USD covers 102% of DCI-P3 which is a nice bonus for things like web browsing and watching video for entertainment. I noted good sound quality from the internal speakers and easy access to the headphone jack and other inputs from the right side of the panel.

Interacting with the PA27USD’s menus is intuitive using the joystick and buttons but I would like to see a remote included with any pro monitor. There will inevitably be times when you’re not sitting directly in front of it, but you’ll want to control it, perhaps in a group setting in a location tent or a post-production studio.

Gaming had the same addictive quality I find with every fast OLED. My RTX 4090-equipped PC maintained around 220 fps, which is a must for the smoothest motion and lowest input lag. The image was gorgeous, too, and it was nice to finally experience a pro screen that is also a premium gaming display. My Nvidia LDAT tests revealed slightly more input lag than other 240 Hz OLEDs, but this did not affect gameplay in the slightest. Every turn and slide was instant and precise. Moving backgrounds stayed clear while moving objects retained their detail at the fastest speeds. If I had to complain, I’d say include a frame counter, but honestly, that’s a tiny nit at best.

When you look at HDR on a screen this good, it takes on a very different feel. The depth and realism are incredible thanks to spot-on tone-mapping and color tracking. Though the PA27USD isn’t a BT.2020 monitor, it was beautifully saturated for all types of content from rendered games to video from YouTube, Apple TV or 4K Blu-ray.

A monitor like this is certainly overkill for anything but content creation. But it looks so good, I’d gladly make it my everyday screen.

Takeaway: The PA27USD is the most capable and versatile professional monitor I’ve reviewed to date. It covers every color standard currently in use plus every form of HDR signal except HDR10+. The image is bright, clear and colorful in every scenario with excellent out-of-the-box accuracy. It also games well thanks to a 240 Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync. I also loved the side input panel and the inclusion of SDI support. And with two quality stands in the box, you have more installation options.

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Normally, I wouldn’t say much about a professional monitor’s speed and response because most of them top out at 60 Hz and don’t include Adaptive-Sync. The PA27USD has the latter and a 240 Hz refresh rate to go with it. It games just fine, extremely well in fact.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

· Response Time Full black to white transition – 0.24ms

· Absolute Input Lag Full black to white transition – 20.4ms

The PA27USD has panel response typical of the 240 Hz OLEDs I’ve tested. They all transition from black to white (one-inch square) in 0.12-0.24ms, a minute difference. This means motion resolution is visually perfect, moving objects render with the same clarity as stationary ones.

In the lag test, the PA27USD proved a tad slower than other 240 Hz Ultra OLEDs, but only by a few milliseconds. The closest competitor here is Dough’s Spectrum Black, which measured 20ms. The current speed king amongst 240 Hz 4K OLEDs is Asus’ XG32UCWMG, which scored 14ms in my test.

Test Takeaway: The PA27USD is by far the most game-worthy professional display I’ve tested. It isn’t super speedy, but it is more than speedy enough for skilled gamers. It has the same perfect motion resolution as any OLED gaming monitor running at 240 Hz or higher.

Viewing Angles

I’ve noted that Quantum Dot OLEDs show a slight green tint in the 45-degree horizontal photo. The QD layer creates a slight polarization. The PA27USD maintains consistent gamma and brightness though. From the top, light drops by around 10% and there is a loss of gamma which washes the image out a bit.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

· Screen Uniformity Deviation From Center 0% Black Field – 6.62%

I have yet to find an OLED with a non-uniform screen. The PA27USD is about average with its 6.62% deviation from the center zone. There are no visible issues in any field pattern of any brightness level or color. This is excellent performance.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Maximum Backlight Level

· Maximum White Luminance Native Mode – 446.755 nits

· Maximum Black Luminance Native Mode – Unmeasurable

· Maximum Contrast Ratio Native Mode – Unmeasurable

· ANSI Contrast Native Mode, Uniform Brightness off – Unmeasurable

· ANSI Contrast Native Mode, Uniform Brightness on – Unmeasurable

The PA27USD is certified for VESA DisplayHDR 400, and it delivers that same brightness for SDR content. Since it has the option for variable brightness, I measured a 25% window pattern to get 446 nits peak. Smaller windows would measure brighter. A full field pattern measured 301 nits. When uniform brightness is turned on, the brightness value in the OSD closely matches the actual light output. In other words, if you want 200 nits, set the slider to 200 nits. In all tests, the black level and contrast ratio cannot be measured by currently available methods.

Test Takeaway: The PA27USD delivers the same brightness and contrast performance as a typical Quantum Dot OLED display. It offers variable brightness which takes peak highlight values over 400 nits. Uniform Brightness delivers around 300 nits peak. The picture is stunning to look at thanks to deep contrast that is unmatched by any other display technology.

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The PA27USD is very easy to configure when creating content. Just pick the color standard you want from the list of presets. It’s calibrated at the factory before shipment and if you want to verify or modify any mode, that’s easy to do with the integrated calibrator.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

Above are the grayscale and gamma charts for the PA27USD’s default Native preset and all other SDR modes. Grayscale tracking is very consistent from mode to mode with no visible errors anywhere. However, gamma isn’t quite as solid as I expected. It’s a tad light in general with some variation in the 80-90% brightness steps. These errors aren’t huge, but given the precision I saw in the color tests, there is room for improvement. Luckily, it took me just five minutes to improve one mode. I got the gamma for Display P3 in line with the reference at every point except 10%, which was still a tad light.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

The color gamut charts are the definition of professional. This is what one expects from a reference display. All measured points are on target in every mode except for BT.2020 and Adobe RGB. 2020 is an easy one because the PA27USD isn’t a 2020 monitor. It tops out at 102% of DCI-P3. But it hits every point it is capable of. Adobe RGB is also a bit short in green, which is also typical of Quantum Dot screens. A true Adobe RGB monitor is rare these days, thanks to the advent of LED backlights. In the past, Adobe monitors had a special CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent) backlight, which gave the extra green required to meet the Adobe RGB spec. Modern-day LEDs and OLEDs can’t quite get there. But again, the PA27USD hits every target it can.

Grayscale, Gamma and Color Gamut Test Summary

Below is a table with all the measured results for grayscale tracking, gamma range and average, gamut accuracy and gamut volume. I tested the seven SDR modes that cover all signal formats currently used for video and game production

Test Takeaway: The PA27USD is extremely color accurate out of the box. Gamma was a little off the mark in all preses but could be corrected with the built-in calibrator in around five minutes per mode. I noted that P3 could be configured with either D63/2.6 cinema or D65/2.2 display settings. Gamut volume is nearly 100% for each mode except BT.2020 and Adobe RGB. The most colorful mode for non-critical use is Native with 102% coverage of DCI-P3.

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The PA27USD supports every HDR standard currently in use except for HDR10+. That includes HDR10 (PQ), Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) and Dolby Vision. It’s certified for VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

· HDR White Luminance – 452.1932 nits

· HDR Black Level – Unmeasurable

· HDR Sequential Contrast – Unmeasurable

The VESA DisplayHDR standards use a 25% window pattern to set their parameters and the PA27USD easily surpasses 400 nits with a score of 452 in my test. Smaller windows are claimed at 1,000 nits and I have no reason to doubt this. Black levels and contrast are immeasurable.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The PA27USD offers multiple EOTF options, including PQ Optimized, Clip or Basic. I found that Clip came closest to the reference when measured white and black levels are taken into account. This flexibility lets you master HDR for displays with less accurate tone-mapping. As expected, grayscale tracking is visually perfect. All the HDR modes can be calibrated with the built-in meter or outboard software just like SDR.

For the color test, I had the choice of P3 or BT.2020 gamuts. 2020 came the closest to all saturation targets for both P3 and 2020 references. The 2020 saturations remained linear so points over 50% appear undersaturated. This is a minor error. I also noted slight hue errors in magenta. All of these are easily corrected using whichever calibration method you choose. The BT.2020 chart tops out at 90% red, 75% green and 95% blue.

Test Takeaway: The PA27USD is very color accurate in all its HDR modes and can be calibrated to a high standard using the same methods as the SDR presets. It is a P3 monitor so it won’t fully cover BT.2020. You get three different EOTF options for HDR10, which is handy for content creation. It has a brightness similar to other 4K OLEDs I’ve tested, with effective variable brightness that pushes peak highlights up to 1,000 nits.

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I have reviewed many capable professional monitors that meet color standards and offer the flexibility necessary for all types of content creation. But I haven’t experienced one until now that could game well. A few have tried, but only the Asus ProArt PA27USD can truly call itself a high-performance gaming monitor. With 240 Hz and Adaptive-Sync, it stands head and shoulders above the competition.

As a professional content creation display, it excels. It delivers every color standard necessary for video, movie and game authoring. The built-in calibrator keeps it accurate with just five minutes needed to adjust and verify one preset. It also integrates with third-party solutions like Calman and ColourSpace so you can use it with the systems and hardware you already have. And with every possible video input, including SDI, you can connect to computers, distribution hubs, cameras and even gaming consoles.

The hardware is professional grade as well. You get two rugged stands in the box plus a large grab handle in the back and useful cable management with rubber and plastic looms. There’s a nice light hood too that installs and removes easily. I also loved the side inputs, making cable swaps super easy.

The best part here is that you get a tremendously capable and flexible display for $2,100. That sounds like a lot for a 27-inch OLED, but in the pro world, it’s a bargain. And the PA27USD has more features and abilities than any other pro monitor I’ve reviewed. If you’re looking for a do-it-all display for content creation, gaming, entertainment or workday tasks, and you have the budget, you should definitely check it out.

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A robotics and animatronic cosplay enthusiast known as Zibartas has made a real-life NUSA Infiltrator jacket. If you aren’t familiar with the jacket’s lore, it is a bomber jacket from Cyberpunk 2077 with a tall collar that houses a display, here recreated in the “super rare white version.” That feature collar alone packs in $1,200 worth of flexible OLED displays driven by a pair of Raspberry Pi 4 SBCs.

Zibartas begins the video by talking about the inspiration provided by Cyberpunk 2077. As a cosplay enthusiast, the now iconic game has provided a great deal of inspiration for him. With the NUSA Infiltrator jacket design in his sights, the obvious question was – how?

The finished collar is lined with a quartet of flexible OLED displays, costing ~$300 each. Zibartas began by trying to drive them from a pair of Raspberry Pi 5s for portability with enough graphics muscle. However, after a week of pixel wrangling found that the hardware decoders of the Pi 4 were better for this particular task.

Next, the work on syncing the two pairs of displays needed to be done. “At the start, I used direct gigabit network, but it added too much of an overhead. So, I moved to pure hardware GPIO pulses and Python,” explained Zibartas. “In the end, I think I got it to as close as it can get.”

With the techy side of the equation solved, Zibartas moved onto the scissors and sewing stuff cosplayers seem to do a lot of. However, the construction of the curved collar would soon precipitate a tech problem, as the first screen to be fitted was damaged when Zibartas attempted to slide it into its upholstered EVA foam housing. That was a $300 mistake.

After a purported few weeks of extra testing the cosplay fan came up with a semi-rigid understructure for the collar. This bendy new design featured side tracks that resist twisting, so it is expected to prevent the issues that broke one of the OLED screens previously.

With the collar feature of the NUSA Infiltrator jacket now ready to go, we see Zibartas work on other fine details of the design. For example he 3D printed a shoulder-mounted ‘radar jammer’ section in flexible resin. Four indicator LEDs are built into this section, too. All these extra jacket components are finished appropriately in black, chrome, and so on.

As the jacket is fully assembled and finessed we learn that the two Pi 4s and two power banks will be hidden in pockets on the mid-lower back of the jacket and provide about three hours of screen and LED power.

For simplicity, right now, the screens show a pre-baked animation loop. However, Zibartas notes that “since it is Linux and HDMI-capable screens, the sky is the limit.” To prove the point, the video then cuts to the maker and cosplayer enjoying a Cyberpunk 2077 gaming session on the collar display hooked up to a Steam Controller.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen an absolute explosion of activity in the OLED monitor space. What was once a niche panel option available on premium laptops has wonderfully spread to encompass the best gaming monitors for desktop PCs. That makes understanding the inner workings of the panels more important now than ever, especially when it comes to burn-in, the most common source of anxiety for potential customers. Below, we'll outline why this occurs, and this guide will also teach you how you can prevent it.

OLEDs differ from traditional LCDs because each pixel in the panel emits its own light when current passes through it. This design means there is no need for a separate backlight to illuminate each pixel, unlike LCDs. So, to display black, the individual pixels can be turned off, allowing true “inky” blacks, infinite contrast, and vibrant colors unmatched by LCD-based monitors. That means the necessary pixels are turned off when representing the color black.

The different types of OLED monitors

There are several types of OLED monitors, with WOLED and QD-OLED among the most popular. WOLED monitors feature red, green, blue, and white subpixels overlayed on a white OLED layer. The white light passes through the red, green, and blue filters to produce color, while the light passing through the unfiltered white subpixel can be used to enhance overall brightness (and to compensate for the inefficiency of the color filters).

QD-OLED monitors, on the other hand, use a blue-emitting layer instead of WOLED’s white layer. Furthermore, the light passes through a quantum dot layer without the need for color filters, which helps to boost color saturation compared to WOLEDs.

LG has been a big player in this space, supplying WOLED panels not only for its self-branded monitors, but also to third-party customers. The company recently announced at SID Display Week 2026 that it is launching 3rd generation Tandem OLED panel technology. LG’s development in this space has come at a rapid clip, as the company only announced its 2nd generation Tandem OLED technology back at CES 2026.

Tandem OLED is the successor to LG’s WOLED panel technology and offers some key advantages. It uses a four-layer stack (blue, green, blue, red) which passes through a filter. Whereas older WOLED panels use a separate white subpixel, the latest Tandem OLED panels use a Primary RGB layout, negating the need for the white subpixel. In practice, Tandem OLEDs tend to be brighter than their WOLED counterparts while offering improved color volume, putting them on more equal footing with QD-OLEDs.

According to LG, its 3rd-generation Tandem OLED panel technology offers peak brightness of 1200 nits and typical brightness of up to 500 nits. Despite these impressive figures (for an OLED), LG claims that it has reduced power consumption by 18 percent, while offering a panel service life of over 15,000 hours. That last figure is a 2x improvement over 2nd-generation panels.

“This advancement is enabled by a newly developed OLED element that optimizes hole and electron movement to minimize degradation while ensuring uniform picture quality, along with the application of a deep blue dopant to further improve color purity, color reproduction, brightness, low power consumption, and longevity,” LG wrote in a press release. “LG Display plans to begin mass production of the automotive panel within this year before later expanding into IT and other applications.”

Of course, these are just manufacturer claims, so we have to temper our expectations until we see the results in the real world. However, if the claims do hold up, the performance of the 3rd-generation panels should go a long way towards alleviating some of the reliability concerns some consumers have about OLED panels.

Should you be concerned about OLED burn-in?

Before we discuss OLED burn-in, we must first explain what exactly makes up an OLED. OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode. It’s the “organic” in the name that can cause issues with extended use. The use of organic compounds makes OLED panels more fragile and susceptible to power input and high sustained brightness levels.

In addition, OLEDs provide their own light source, as they are self-illuminating. Over time, these self-illuminating diodes will lose brightness and will appear dimmer to the naked eye as their luminescence degrades. When these overworked diodes sit next to diodes that haven’t seen such frequent use, what you’re witnessing is “burn-in.”

An easy example to explain how this can occur is with 24-7 TV news channels. These channels often have a mostly static banner sitting at the bottom of the screen. Because of the banner's persistence, with little movement of text and logos that can appear within it, the pixels see significantly more “power on” time than the surrounding pixels, where there is more dynamic action. If you leave that static banner in place for weeks or months at a time, you’ll eventually notice burn-in if you switch to a solid-color background.

However, there are some best practices you can implement in your daily workflow to help prevent burn-in in the first place.

OLED monitor care tips

• Set your OLED monitor to turn off or switch to a screensaver for 5 or 10 minutes if you’re not active.
• If you use a background on your computer, consider a dynamic background or a slideshow of images that rotate frequently.
• Rather than have a taskbar that is permanently docked, set it to auto-hide.
• Refrain from prolonged use of maximum brightness settings, as this can accelerate pixel decay.
• When possible, use dark mode in your operating system to limit the amount of power passing through pixels.
• When gaming, avoid using HUDs that are static in nature, as lengthy gaming sessions can accelerate image retention

Those are things you can do on your own that will go a long way towards reducing image retention. However, modern OLED monitors include automated mechanisms to help prevent and minimize image retention. For example, I personally use a Philips Evnia 8000 49-inch 240 Hz DQHD QD-OLED monitor for work and gaming. It offers a couple of tools for managing burn-in, including:

• Pixel orbiting/shifting: moves the image a couple of pixels left or right at regular intervals to prevent burn-in from static elements.
  
• Pixel refresh: this feature runs automatically after roughly 4 hours of screen on time, and it measures and adjusts voltage levels for individual pixels in the OLED screen. The feature runs for about 4 minutes.

Each OLED monitor manufacturer has their own specific tools for dealing with the same issues. For example, Asus offers Pixel Shift technology, controls for adjusting logo brightness, manual Pixel Cleaning, and automatic cleaning in standby mode.

I’ve owned my Evnia 8000 for roughly 18 months, and over that time have accumulated 1,800 hours of on-time according to the monitor’s OSD. I ran the XbitLabs Screen Burn-in Test and didn’t notice any issues, which was a relief.

Should you take the OLED plunge?

The two biggest knocks against OLED monitors are continually being addressed. There’s the issue of panel longevity, particularly with burn-in/image retention. However, sticking to common best practices when using OLEDs and enabling automatic panel refresh routines and mitigation strategies offered will go a long way toward ensuring that you get years of useful life out of your monitor. Manufacturers are also stepping up the quality of the components they’re using and reducing power consumption to help extend the life of OLED panels.

Another concern people have is cost. It’s true that OLEDs carry a premium over traditional IPS and VA panel technology. However, that premium is shrinking as production volume increases. We can’t be certain that OLED monitors will eventually reach price parity with their LCD counterparts, but the difference will likely shrink to the point where many customers will gladly fork over the extra money for a superior viewing experience (and given the popularity of OLED panels, many people are already making that jump).

With OLEDs having crossed over into nearly every facet of computing life, from smartphones to tablets, to laptops, to the best OLED gaming monitors, to productivity monitors, to portable monitors, I can say with confidence that it’s time to stop being leery of the technology and jump in with both feet.

OLED monitors have been getting more and more accessible over the past few years as both LG and Samsung iterate on their respective panel technologies. Cheaper models were previously relegated to older panels, but throughout 2025, we regularly saw modern OLED displays for around $500. Now, Alienware has just launched its latest 'AW2727DM' OLED monitor for only $350, marking a new era of OLED accessibility.

• Get the Alienware AW2726DM for $350

The AW2726DM is a 27-inch, 1440p gaming monitor featuring a 3rd Gen QD-OLED panel from Samsung with the updated subpixel layout for improved text clarity. It has a 240 Hz refresh rate, with FreeSync Premium built in, so you're not getting entry-level barebones specs either. The only notable downside is the maximum brightness, rated at 200 nits. Keep in mind that's SDR brightness; your HDR content will still peak at around 1,000 nits and look incredible.

That's because this is still a QD-OLED panel with excellent color volume (better than competing WOLED options), perfect blacks, and a glossy coating to ensure clarity. Alienware is listing 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, and it's a 10-bit panel, so it can display over a billion colors. The perceived contrast enabled by OLED's pixel-level dimming helps make HDR pop more than you'd think, given its on-paper specs.

We've already reviewed the monitor and gave it an Editor's Choice award because there's simply nothing else on the market that challenges its value. Yes, you can find better specs, but you won't find them at this price. The cheapest OLED monitor on Amazon is the AOC Q27GAZD, which goes for $380 right now. The next step up from there is MSI's MAG 274QP X24, which is listed for $430, and that's on sale for $500.

For connectivity, you get 2x HDMI 2.0 ports, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There are extras such as a KVM, speakers, or even a USB port for firmware upgrades. But the monitor does come with a 3-year burn-in warranty, typical for OLED displays these days. The OSD also features various OLED care options, such as pixel refresh, to make sure the panel stays as good as new for a long time.

Not that it matters much, but design-wise, the AW2726DM is a clean-looking unit with no frills. Usually, you'd see RGB on the back of an Alienware monitor, but $350 doesn't buy you that. The build quality is, however, very solid, and we were impressed with the stand included in an otherwise basic package. It has tilt, height adjustment, rotation, and swivel capabilities; more than enough to get you started. Alienware is offering all this at a $350 MSRP; no discount required.

The ongoing component shortage and escalating geopolitical tensions have unleashed dire consequences on the PC hardware industry. But amidst all the chaos, one product category has remained notably unaffected: monitors. We're seeing some great deals on premium OLED models across the market, and we've spotted one that's 45% off list price — LG's 27GS93QE-B on sale for just $499 right now on Amazon.

Check out this deal on Amazon

Ignoring the almost meaningless naming scheme, the 27GS93QE-B is a 27-inch gaming monitor featuring a 3rd-gen, 10-bit WOLED panel from LG with a 240 Hz refresh rate. Being an OLED, it features self-emissive pixels that can display true blacks alongside vivid, punchy colors. This model has 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space and comes factory-calibrated out of the box.

Thanks to the Micro Lens Array+ (MLA+) tech inside, you'll get a fantastic HDR experience on the 27GS93QE-B. LG claims a peak brightness of 1,300 nits across 1.5% APL; the panel will hit that when the ratio of white content against a black background is around 1.5% in a scene. This is a distinct advantage of LG's WOLED, which features a white subpixel that lets the image get brighter than QD-OLED.

For gaming, you're getting a smooth 240 Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync support. OLED displays have near-instant response times, so 240 Hz on this monitor will feel faster than on an IPS or VA monitor. There's an HDMI 2.1 port onboard so you can comfortably use this monitor with a modern PC, and there's even a 3.5mm headphone jack (with DTS Headphone:X) for easy connection to speakers or headsets.

The 27GS93QE-B comes with a 2-year warranty, so it's not quite as encompassing as the 3-year burn-in warranty that new QD-OLED monitors have, but it's likely still adequate. On the Amazon page, you'll also see a 27GS95QE-B, which is about $100 more expensive just because it features RGB accent lighting on the back. The two models are otherwise identical, so make sure to choose the 27GS93QE-B that's listed for $499, and enjoy a fantastic all-around monitor at a brilliant sub-$500 price.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.

Remember when buying an OLED monitor meant taking out a second mortgage and living in constant, low-level anxiety about UI burn-in? Yeah, those days are (more or less) officially behind us. Users are finally upgrading to the instant response times and glorious, ink-black contrast of OLED in massive numbers, according to a fresh press release from market analysis firm TrendForce that reveals global OLED monitor shipments hit 2.735 million units in 2025. That is a massive 92% increase year-over-year.

The driving force behind this surge in organic LED display adoption? Well, according to TrendForce, it's mostly that brands are actually throwing their weight behind aggressive promotions combined with the explosive popularity of the current display sweet spot: 27-inch, 1440p (QHD) monitors with blistering 240Hz refresh rates. Throw in multiple highly publicized tests proving the durability of modern OLEDs as well as recent models sporting blistering 500Hz refresh rates and improved brightness versus older panels, and you've got a recipe for a market boom.

As for who is actually moving all these panels, ASUS has officially stolen the crown. TrendForce says that Team ROG secured a 21.6% market share for the year, successfully knocking Samsung (19.3%) down to second place. ASUS apparently managed this by blanketing the high-end gaming and creator spaces with genuinely competitive screens. Samsung didn't slouch, though; the Korean megacorp kept the pressure on with heavy year-end discounts on its own 27-inch panels and its ultra-high-end 49" ultrawide displays, like the Odyssey OLED G9.

MSI is sitting comfortably in third with 13.1%, which isn't a surprise; MSI has been incredibly aggressive with both design iteration and marketing over the last year, flooding the zone with rapid product iterations across multiple price tiers to tempt gamers on a budget while shouting from the rooftops about its latest models with smart advertising choices to reach PC gamers. LG (12.6%) and Dell (primarily through its Alienware brand, 9.9%) rounded out the top five, with LG leveraging its near-monopoly on massive 39-inch and 45-inch ultrawide form factors.

Here is the full breakdown of who owned the OLED space in 2025, according to the report:

1. ASUS: 21.6%
2. Samsung: 19.3%
3. MSI: 13.1%
4. LG Electronics: 12.6%
5. Dell/Alienware: 9.9%
6. Others: 23.5%

Looking ahead to 2026, TrendForce is projecting another 51% jump in total shipments. While the rest of the PC component market continues to be a rollercoaster of pricing anxiety, the monitor market is actively healing. If you've been holding out for the right excuse to ditch your aging LCD panel, the hardware gods are practically begging you to make the leap, and it might just be the biggest upgrade you make this decade.

Flagship gaming monitors come in many shapes and sizes, so focusing on one category is impractical. But it is generally accepted that the best format for do-it-all displays is a large 16:9 flat panel. 32 inches used to be the realm of the exotic, but now you can find the best gaming monitors for less than $1,300.

On my planet, flagship means OLED, and this world’s newest resident is Asus’ ROG Swift PG32UCDM3. It’s a 32-inch Quantum Dot OLED with 4K resolution, 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, ELMB, and wide gamut color. HDR carries a VESA DisplayHDR 500 certification, and in addition to HDR10 support, you get Dolby Vision too. Asus has added a technology called BlackShield that makes the screen’s front surface harder and improves perceived black levels. Let’s take a look.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM3 Specs

At its core, the PG32UCDM3 is the same tried-and-true 32-inch OLED that has headlined Asus’ ROG Swift series in the past. The resolution is 3840x2160, and the maximum refresh rate is 240 Hz. You also get ELMB, which is handy when you connect to a slower video card. To that end, it operates only up to 120 Hz and is effective at reducing motion blur at low frame rates.

If you have the latest GeForce 50-series or Radeon RX 7000, the PG32UCDM3 has a DisplayPort 2.1a input that supports a full 80Gbps bandwidth. It’s backward compatible with DP 1.4 and includes Display Stream Compression (DSC). Two HDMI 2.1 inputs also support 3840x2160 at 240 Hz, as does the single USB-C input.

The panel includes a Quantum Dot layer for wide-gamut operation, and in my tests, the PG32UCDM3 covered over 107% of DCI-P3, which is on par with the competition. You also get a spot-on sRGB mode if you prefer that gamut for SDR content. Full calibration controls are provided, though my sample proved nearly perfect out of the box. Each sample receives a factory adjustment, supported by a data sheet stored in the monitor’s internal memory.

The other screen layer of interest here is called BlackShield. It adds scratch protection with a higher hardness rating and better manages ambient light, which makes blacks deeper. While any OLED can do this in a dark room, most have a reflective screen that shows bright sources like lamps or sunny windows. Asus’ BlackShield mitigates that effect.

Video processing is top-shelf, with G-Sync and FreeSync support across all inputs at 240 Hz. You also get ELMB, which is rare in the OLED genre. It makes the PG32UCDM3 more flexible by allowing it to perform well with slower graphics boards.

Asus provides its large suite of OLED care options, including logo and perimeter detection, pixel orbiting, and a refresh routine with reminders. A proximity sensor can blank the screen when you leave your desk. There is no concern for burn-in here. Also included is the full array of GamePlus options, including aiming points, sniper modes, timers, a stopwatch, and multiple frame counters. And you get GameVisual with its nine picture modes.

Peripheral features include LED lighting, USB ports, programmable function keys, and Asus’ DisplayWidget desktop app, which lets you control the PG32UCDM3 from a PC or Mac desktop. The only thing missing are internal speakers, but you do get a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The PG32UCDM3 carries a flagship-appropriate price of $1,299 at this writing. That isn’t low but it is better than what a monitor like this would have cost just a few years ago. For that sum, you’re getting a monitor with every available gameplay and image-enhancing technology that is suited for any task, be it work or entertainment.

Assembly and Accessories

The PG32UCDM3 arrived in my studio packed in molded pulp with fully recyclable packaging, kudos, Asus. The screen is well protected by a no-friction sleeve and a plastic layer that peels away. The beefy stand assembles with a captive bolt, then the panel snaps on. The ROG pouch is bursting with cables, including IEC power, DisplayPort, HDMI, and two USBs. You also get extra lenses for the ROG logo projector that shows a graphic on your desktop from the bottom of the stand. If you’d rather use a mounting arm, an adapter bracket with 100mm VESA lugs is also in the box.

Product 360

The PG32UCDM3 maintains the latest ROG aesthetic with a component bulge and the OLED panel attached with its own metal backing. This helps with cooling, which is entirely passive; there are no fans in evidence. The back has multiple backlit elements, including the Lite-Brite ROG logo, the word “Swift” on the moving portion of the upright and the stand’s base, which has backlit trim and a logo projector with multiple lens options. The lens is attached with magnets, so it’s easy to make a change. All these bits can be controlled from the OSD or turned off if you like.

The front bezel is flush and thin, measuring 8 to 14 millimeters wide. With such a large screen and bright image, you barely notice the frame. A small ROG logo, backlit, of course, protrudes from underneath and indicates where the two buttons and the OSD joystick are. They control all monitor functions. Alternatively, you can use Asus’ DisplayWidget Center on the Windows or Mac desktop.

The stand is super solid, with a wide cast-aluminum base that is nearly 11 inches deep. It’s slender, though, so you can slide papers under it if you want. The upright swivels on it, just 15 degrees to either side. You also get 5/20 degrees tilt and a 3.3-inch height adjustment. There is no portrait mode.

The input panel is up and under and split between video and USB sections. For video, you get a DisplayPort 2.1a (UHBR20, 80 Gbps), two HDMI 2.1 (up to 3840x2160 @ 240 Hz), and a USB-C port that mimics DP functions and provides 90 W of power. USB 3.2 is supported with one upstream and two downstream ports. For audio, you get a 3.5mm headphone jack; there are no internal speakers.

OSD Features

The PG32UCDM3’s OSD is Asus ROG standard with nine sub-menus and signal info across the top and a volume level indicator at the bottom. It’s operated solely by the joystick, which gets the job done quickly and efficiently.

Gaming is up first with an Adaptive-Sync toggle, ELMB, GamePlus play aids, GameVisual picture modes and Shadow Boost, which is used to enhance dark area visibility. GamePlus includes aiming points, sniper modes, timers, a stopwatch and display alignment marks. The FPS counter can either be a numeral or a bar graph.

GameVisual has nine picture modes with Racing as the default. It’s close to the mark out of the box and matches the calibration data sheet, which is stored in the PG32UCDM3’s firmware. If you want sRGB, I recommend selecting that option from the Display Color Space menu rather than using the sRGB Cal Mode. That way, you can still calibrate. Using the full gamut for SDR delivers almost 108% coverage of DCI-P3. The PG32UCDM3 is very colorful.

In the Image menu is a new option I haven’t seen before, HDR Format. Yes, the PG32UCDM3 is one of the only gaming monitors available that supports Dolby Vision as well as HDR10. It’s found in games like Halo Infinite, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and Microsoft Flight Simulator. Its advantage over HDR10 is that it supports dynamic metadata, meaning it adapts its white threshold to whatever display it’s shown on. HDR10 has a fixed peak, usually 1,000 nits. If a display can’t hit 1,000 nits, it has to tone map, basically guess what the intended levels are. Bottom line, Dolby Vision looks better and more consistent from screen to screen. It’s ideal for OLEDs, which are not as bright as their Mini LED counterparts. The PG32UCDM3 offers four HDR10 modes, which can be adjusted for brightness and contrast if you like. Console HDR includes a toggle called Dynamic Brightness Boost, which does just what it says: it increases peak highlights to provide more impact.

For color control, you get color space options, color temp presets with RGB sliders, and gamma presets. You can also tweak each color individually for saturation.

OLED Care has many options to prevent burn-in like a screen saver, pixel refresh, pixel orbiter and detection of static logos and perimeter elements. The Neo Proximity Sensor, when activated, blanks the screen if you leave your desk. The PG32UCDM3 has full PIP and PBP options for those who want to view two video sources at once. Auro RGB and Light In Motion are the LED effects for the large ROG logo in the back. It can play in any color with multiple effects, or static if you prefer.

The four joystick directionals can be programmed to quick access functions like GameVisual, GamePlus, input selection and more. In the System Setup menu, you can see the DisplayPort options, ranging from version 1.2 to 2.1. This ensures backwards compatibility with older graphics boards.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM3 Calibration Settings

The PG32UCDM3 looks and measures well in its Racing picture mode. Calibration is not required, but some small gains are possible by dialing in the RGB sliders in the color temp menu. Gamma tracks on the reference, so no change is needed there. And color conforms to DCI-P3, sRGB or wide gamut, which covers over 107% of DCI-P3. You can also choose between fixed and variable brightness; the option is called Uniform Brightness. When it’s off, the SDR peak is just over 500 nits from a 25% window pattern. My settings below reflect both configurations and the monitor will remember the different brightness settings, so you can equalize the two modes.

HDR10 and Dolby Vision signals switch modes automatically. For HDR10, you get four modes and Dolby Vision has three of its own. They can’t be calibrated, but you can tweak brightness and contrast for HDR10 if you like.

Gaming and Hands-on

While there are more immersive gaming monitors like big curved ultra-wides, there are none more useful for a wide variety of tasks than a 32-inch 16:9 flat panel like the PG32UCDM3. And it has more height than a 34-inch 21:9 screen, so that’s a factor as well. There is nothing it cannot do well.

Gaming was super enjoyable thanks not only to the jumbo image, but the gorgeous contrast and color afforded by Asus’ BlackShield tech and the Quantum Dot layer in use. It is about as colorful as you can get for both SDR and HDR. With almost 108% DCI-P3 coverage, it is among the very best. I also noted its accuracy right away. There was no hurry to calibrate, and in fact, I didn’t touch anything except the brightness until the testing phase began. I enjoyed lots of fragging before getting down to work.

The PG32UCDM3 responds quickly to control inputs. Though my gaming skills are average at best, I benefit from a high-performance screen when playing. Movements are precise and instantaneous. A 180-degree turn is effortless and consistent, occurring with just a flick of the mouse. I was able to play at a fixed 240fps thanks to a GeForce RTX 4090. DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC provided enough bandwidth to prevent any hesitation in movement. Blur was non-existent as well. I tried out ELMB at 120 Hz and found it completely usable. Users with older video cards will be able to enjoy this monitor at 120fps with the same smoothness I saw at 240.

As for the effect of BlackShield, I had to turn on a few room lights to see its benefit. If you play in a dark or dim space, the PG32UCDM3 looks like every other premium OLED. But with a bright overhead light, its image is a little deeper than a monitor with a typical shiny front layer. I didn’t test its extra hardness, but the handling of ambient light is clearly superior to the competition. I won’t be surprised to see this tech appear elsewhere.

To check out the Dolby Vision support, I hooked up a Panasonic DP-UB9000 4K Blu-ray player and watched the demo material on Spears and Munsil 4K Benchmark suite. This allowed me to watch the same clips in HDR10 and DV. The difference was subtle but visible. Dolby Vision had more thoroughly rendered highlights which not only exposed more image detail, but it also increased the perception of contrast. Color was equally rich between the two formats, but the extra punch in Dolby Vision’s highlights was easy to see.

For the day to day, the PG32UCDM3 is just what I’m used to. My reference screen is a 32-inch UHD OLED, so the Asus made me feel right at home. Windows looks best to my eyes at a font scale value of 150%. That works well with the monitor’s 140ppi pixel density. You can see the dots at around eight inches away, but farther than that, and you won’t see any jaggies. No edge enhancement or other sharpening aids were required here.

I appreciated the PG32UCDM3’s variable brightness feature and the fact that it would remember each brightness setting, so I only had to adjust it once. That way, the peak is equalized between modes. Turning Uniform Brightness off makes video and games look a little more impactful, while turning it on is better for productivity. Not all OLEDs have this flexibility.

Physically, the PG32UCDM3 is premium all the way. It’s an expensive monitor and it feels that way. The movements of the stand, the button feel, it’s all high-end. You are definitely getting what you’re paying for here.

Takeaway: During my time with the PG32UCDM3, I found nothing to complain about besides the lack of internal speakers. This is a nit-pick on my part, but I feel that every monitor should have some kind of audio besides the headphone jack, even if it’s just for system sounds. But I loved everything else, especially gaming. This is a superlative gaming screen if you have the graphics horsepower to drive it to 240fps in 4K resolution. I can think of no better choice for a high-end PC or Mac if you need the best possible do-it-all display.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

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To compare the PG32UCDM3’s performance, I’ve rounded up a group of 32-inch 4K 240 Hz OLED screens. These are all flagship displays. They are Asus’ XG32UCWMG and PG32UCDP, Acer’s X32 X3, Dough’s Spectrum Black, and HP’s Omen 32 OLED.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

Thanks to Nvidia, I’ve recently acquired a new panel response testing instrument, the LDAT or Latency and Display Analysis Tool. It’s a photosensor that attaches to the screen, and with the included software, it can measure real-time input lag and panel response. The latter test has changed for me because Nvidia’s tool measures a small square at the center of the screen, not a full field as I had done previously. That means the new results are not comparable to the old. The PG32UCDM3 measured 0.24ms from black to white in a one-inch square. As I accumulate more data, I’ll be able to chart and compare these values.

The lag test is comparable to what I previously did with a high-speed camera. The sensor connects via a USB cable to my test PC and includes a button that emulates mouse input. I can press it as many times as I like, and the LDAT software will tell me the average lag time. The PG32UCDM3 measured 18ms of total lag (mouse input to screen flash, averaged from 25 clicks), which is on par with the fastest monitors in the segment.

Test Takeaway: The PG32UCDM3 is a very fast display with lower-than-average input lag and the near-instant panel response endemic to OLEDs. There is no motion blur at speeds over 200fps. If you engage ELMB at 120 Hz, it is also free of visible blur with only a slight drop in brightness. The PG32UCDM3’s video processing equals the current state of the art.

Viewing Angles

The PG32UCDM3 has the barely visible green tint common to Quantum Dot OLEDs when viewed at 45 degrees to the sides. This is almost impossible to see in content, so it is a non-issue. There is no change to brightness or gamma, so you can share one of these with a friend if you like. The top view is a tad warm in tone with a 20% brightness reduction and slightly reduced gamma.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

I’ve seen excellent screen uniformity from nearly all the premium OLEDs I’ve reviewed. The PG32UCDM3 sits right in the middle at 7.21%. This is well below the visible threshold of 10% where you might see a glow. The PG32UCDM3 has none of that. The image looks perfect from edge to edge at all brightness and color levels.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The PG32UCDM3 includes the option of variable or uniform brightness. Typically, the former is where you’ll see the highest peaks if you measure a 25% window pattern as I did. That delivered just over 500 nits in my test, making it the brightest monitor in the group for SDR content. In practice, you don’t need more than 250 nits for an indoor environment. With Uniform Brightness turned on, the PG32UCDM3 measured just over 300 nits peak brightness for a full-field white pattern. Black levels and contrast could not be measured. Though the BlackShield film improves perceived black levels, the effect cannot be measured by a contact luminance meter like the i1 Display.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration has no effect on black levels, static contrast or ANSI contrast, they are still unmeasurable. To equalize the white level, I set Uniform Brightness on with a field pattern and Uniform Brightness off with a 25% window. The PG32UCDM3 remembers the two settings, so once you get it to your liking so you don’t have to revisit the brightness slider every time.

Test Takeaway: The PG32UCDM3 offers typical OLED contrast and image depth. It looks a little blacker to the eye but the effect of the BlackShield tech could not be measured by my instruments. In SDR mode, it’s a little brighter than its competitors with just over 500 nits peak. It also stands out with a uniform vs variable brightness option. Many OLEDs don’t offer this. Bottom line, it’s gorgeous with a picture befitting a premium display.

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Like all Asus ROG Swift monitors, the PG32UCDM3 is accurate out of the box and does not need calibration in its Racing mode. But everything you need is there if you want to take it to reference level.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

In the default chart, there are no visible grayscale or gamma errors. Red starts to move up as brightness increases, but it never cracks the 3dE line. Gamma is on the reference except for a small dip at the 90% step, which means it’s a tiny bit too bright there. Again, you won’t be able to see that in content. The PG32UCDM3 is visually perfect out of the box.

After a few changes to the RGB sliders, grayscale is now at reference-level with all errors at or below 2dE. Gamma is a little tighter as well. The monitor went from visually perfect to more visually perfect. This is excellent performance.

I measured sRGB by selecting that option in the Color Space menu rather than engaging the sRGB Cal mode. That way, calibration options remain available. The third chart above shows the default, which is free of errors over 3dE and just has a slight dip in gamma at 90% brightness. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Comparisons

Though the PG32UCDM3 starts out at an impressive 2.27dE in the grayscale test, its competitors are even better out of the box. Visually, there is no difference, but I’m picking nits here. Different samples might measure differently, too. After calibration, it moves up to fifth place with an impressive 0.78dE, awesome but just another day at the office for these OLEDs.

Gamma is very tight with a small 0.12 range of values and a 0.91% deviation from 2.2. The actual value is 2.22. This is on par with other premium OLEDs, which is to say, reference.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

In the color test, you can see the PG32UCDM3’s slight oversaturation of the DCI-P3 gamut. It’s only a little off and the average error is just 1.66dE, very low. There is general oversaturation but nothing that would inspire complaint. Calibration barely makes a difference in this test, but the average error is now 1.21dE. That’s pro-level accuracy.

I saw similar results in the sRGB test, where the error was 1.23dE, also reference level. This is about as close to perfect as it gets, so you can use the PG32UCDM3 for photo or graphics tasks that require correct color. It is completely qualified as a professional screen.

Comparisons

Again, the PG32UCDM3 posts superb color results that are on par with the other monitors. Ultimately, these differences are only visible to the meter, you won’t see any issues when viewing content.

In the volume test, the PG32UCDM3 sits just below 108% coverage of DCI-P3. That’s average for the Quantum Dot OLEDs I’ve tested. In practice, any of these screens would be called colorful, but the PG32UCDM3 and the HP would be more colorful, and fully qualified for color critical applications.

Test Takeaway: The PG32UCDM3 delivers accurate color in the DCI-P3 and sRGB realms both before and after calibration. It is fully qualified as a reference monitor, so you could save a lot of money by buying it over a dedicated pro screen. It switches easily between wide gamut and sRGB and supports individual calibrations for each color mode. Among its peers, it doesn’t break new ground, but it is clearly more colorful than a non-QD display.

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The PG32UCDM3 is one of the only gaming monitors that supports Dolby Vision with three dedicated picture modes. It also supports HDR10 with an automatic switch and four specific modes, which can be adjusted if you like.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The peak white level is about the same for all the HDR10 modes, just over 504 nits. This is expected given its VESA DisplayHDR 500 certification. I measured a 25% window pattern to get that result. Smaller areas of the screen will probably hit 800-1,000 nits. The top three monitors push a little harder, but in practice, the difference is almost invisible. The PG32UCDM3 is very bright and dynamic with HDR content. I was unable to test Dolby Vision here, but I did view some content from a disc player, which you can read about earlier in this review on page one. Black levels and contrast cannot be measured, so on that score, all the screens are equal.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The PG32UCDM3 completely aced my HDR color tests. Grayscale is visually flawless with no errors over 3dE. The EOTF tracks almost perfectly with the reference, with slight darkness below 30%, but not enough to obscure shadow detail. Every step is fully rendered and visible. The tone map transition is at 70%, which is correct for the measured black and white levels. This is in the default HDR10 mode, Gaming HDR. I did not turn on Adjustable HDR because it would skew the luminance tracking without making the monitor brighter. It should only be used for personal preference since it is not technically accurate.

In the gamut tests, the PG32UCDM3 shows a linear and general oversaturation like other Quantum Dot OLEDs. Red and blue are a little more vibrant, while green is on point. There are no significant hue errors in the secondary colors. In the BT.2020 test, the PG32UCDM3 runs out of color at 90% red, 75% green, and 95% blue.

Test Takeaway: The PG32UCDM3 is an exemplary HDR monitor with high brightness and accurate color. Since it nails the EOTF test, it can be relied on to show every bit of fine detail at every point in the brightness range from the blackest black to the whitest white. It reminds one why OLEDs are the best display tech for HDR.

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For users needing a great all-around display, the 32-inch 16:9 flat OLED is about as good as it gets. This category is still firmly priced at the premium level, but it also reinforces the axiom, “you never regret buying the best.” The Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM3 embodies that principle.

Gamers will love its stunning image and next-level performance. When comparing OLED monitors, there is no real difference in feel or smoothness at speeds over 200fps. While a 330 or 500 Hz OLED is cool, it won’t do much for gaming besides drop input lag by a few milliseconds. And the PG32UCDM3 managed 18ms in my test, making it one of the quickest 4K screens I’ve reviewed. And if you spring for one in hopes of upgrading your PC after the fact, it has ELMB for smooth operation at 120 Hz.

Image-wise, it has no competition outside the OLED genre. It’s colorful, accurate and bright with incredible depth and contrast. HDR looks amazing and the PG32UCDM3 is one of only a handful of monitors to support Dolby Vision. It also looks to the future with DisplayPort 2.1a and HDMI 2.1. Want to hook up peripherals? It has actual USB ports too, something that has been disappearing from screens of late.

If you have $1,299 to spend on a high-end gaming monitor, and you need it to do work too, the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM3 is a stellar choice. You will not regret buying the best in this case. If you have the opportunity, definitely check it out.

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Image retention, commonly known as burn-in, remains a major concern for prospective OLED buyers despite advances in countermeasures. The various benefits of self-lit pixels, such as infinite contrast ratio and instantaneous response times, are often overshadowed by longevity woes. This latest burn-in test from YouTuber Optimum shows that unless you're abusing your display, there's little to worry about.

For two years, Optimum has been using an LG 32GS95UE-B dual-mode 32-inch OLED monitor with native 4K resolution at 240 Hz, which can be doubled to 480 Hz at 1080p. He's logged over 3,000 hours on this bad boy, mostly playing Overwatch (2) and working on DaVinci Resolve and Fusion 360. All three apps have many static elements, so this should be a solid real-world test.

Optimum says they kept all the panel care features at their default settings, with pixel shift disabled. That's actually the most important one, but it can be annoying because the pixel refresh screen can pop up in the middle of a session and interrupt your flow. He keeps everything in dark mode, hides the taskbar, doesn't use window snapping, and prefers 80-100% brightness most of the time.

So, after all that wear, was there any burn in? The answer is yes, mainly from Overwatch, with close to 500 hours logged in the game. The health bar in the bottom-left corner was slightly retained and visible on a grey background, alongside the player card next to it. These dying pixels were very hard to notice, even on cherry-picked fullscreen colors, and Optimum had to edit the pictures to make them easier to see.

The only other burn-in was from DaVinci Resolve's scroll bars in the editing timeline, positioned at the bottom-right corner, but this was even less perceptible. There was no other sign of image retention across the screen, but the overall peak brightness dropped from 262 nits to 258 nits after 3,000 hours. That's still basically as good as new, a sentiment Optimum mirrored in his video.

This usage pattern was fairly realistic rather than the simulated stress applied to displays, as we've seen before with Rtings.com's testing. That's not to say those results aren't valid; if anything, roughing up these OLED screens better demonstrates how they'll hold up over time beyond their warranties. As such, Optimum even advises using the generous 3-year support window you get from most vendors these days if you notice burn-in.

Moreover, his routine included just one game and two apps, which would be a sort of torture-test scenario. If you're switching between different games and changing what's on your screen frequently, you're likely to see better results. At the same time, if you use snapped windows and don't hide your taskbar, those will be the first areas affected by image retention, likely before any in-app elements.

The video repeatedly states that slight image retention is not noticeable in everyday use, even if you look for it. That being said, the Overwatch bits burned-in were caused by an average of 30 minutes played per day, so if your playtime is higher than that for one specific game, there will be a heightened chance of burn-in.

Optimum ends the video by recommending keeping all the panel care features enabled, which we concur with, especially pixel refresh, which shifts individual pixels to help them wear down less easily. OLED burn-in is something that can never honestly go away — it's a byproduct of the tech rather than something conventionally "solvable" — so the best we can do is to be just a bit more careful with our expensive gear.

In these uncertain times, when a simple memory upgrade can become cause for bankruptcy, integrated devices like laptops have become even more enticing than before. Lenovo makes some of the best portable machines around, and they've got a new deal that's bound to turn heads. The excellent Legion 5i gaming laptop is on sale for just $1,259 with a coupon code, saving you $735 on a device featuring an RTX 5070, Core Ultra 7, and an OLED display.

• Check out this deal at Lenovo (Use the code "GAMINGDEALS" to grab this huge discount)

To get the deal, simply add the laptop to your cart and use the code "GAMINGDEALS" at checkout to apply the discount. As for the laptop, you're looking at a premium 15-inch chassis, powered by a 115W RTX 5070 mobile GPU, a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX CPU, and 16GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, with room to add in more. The same goes for storage, which is user-upgradable from the base 1TB you get out of the box.

That hardware paired with the gorgeous 15-inch 165 Hz OLED display is what rounds off the deal. This screen has 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, a higher-than-1440p resolution, and an HDR True Black 600 rating. In terms of connectivity, you get Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, plenty of fast USB-C and USB-A ports, HDMI and Ethernet. There's an 80Wh battery onboard with fast charging. Lenovo includes a standard 1-year warranty for peace of mind as well.

The benchmarks above are from the Framework Laptop 16 we recently took a look at, and even though it features a different CPU from AMD, Intel's Core Ultra 7 255HX sits in the same class — it's actually a little better when compared head-to-head. So, these numbers should give you an idea of roughly what to expect from the Lenovo Legion 5i, which is to say, smooth 1080p gaming and a bit of 1440p fun if you dial in the settings right.

The Legion 5i is also built well, with an aluminum lid ensuring one-handed operation. It doesn't have an outwardly gamer aesthetic, so it can blend in at all those performative cafés where you pretend you're working. It's not unwieldy either, coming it at around 4lbs, which is lighter than a 16-inch MacBook Pro. All in all, this Lenovo Legion 5i for just $1,249 with the "GAMINGDEALS" promo is an amazing all-rounder for both gamers and professionals.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.

Samsung Display and Intel have co-developed a new technology for OLED laptops, dubbed "SmartPower HDR," and it's exactly what it sounds like. Unlike traditional HDR-capable displays that keep the panel running at a fixed high voltage to account for brightness spikes, SmartPower HDR will dynamically adjust power to the panel, resulting in up to 22% decreases in battery consumption.

SPHDR will analyze the peak luminance of each frame, ensuring that the voltage remains as low as possible until the content calls for a sudden burst in brightness — only then will the display ramp up to provide the necessary juice. Even in peak brightness scenarios, compared to the regular HDR mode, SPHDR should consume a bit less power without affecting the actual brightness.

That's where the Intel part comes in: this tech is powered by the new Core Ultra Series 3 chips, aka Panther Lake. The integrated Xe2 iGPU will have more precise control over the Samsung-made OLED screen inside the laptop. The SoC will run an algorithm to deduct the required smart voltage draw and communicate with the display's timing controller in real-time to adjust power consumption.

The potential SmartPower HDR carries is enormous, considering how (poorly) Windows handles HDR. In non-color-managed apps like File Explorer, the OS simulates an SDR color space inside an HDR container, resulting in washed-out blacks. For this reason, many choose to keep HDR disabled until they're playing a game or watching something that actually needs it. System-wide, always-on HDR is still a distant reality for most Windows users.

On the other hand, Apple uses Extended Dynamic Range (EDR) inside its Mini-LED MacBook Pro displays, allowing it to handle SDR and HDR content side-by-side through sophisticated dimming zone control. The display's timing controller is aware of precisely which pixels need to be brighter and need more power. Not only is this beneficial for image quality, but it also helps save battery life, so SmartPower HDR is not too dissimilar in concept from this tech.

That ties into the entire point of HDR, which is mostly higher brightness, but those peaks can only be reached in content either natively mastered in HDR or upconverted using tools like AutoHDR or RTX HDR. So, whenever you're interacting with SDR content, simply having HDR enabled in Windows will still lead to higher power consumption since the display is always waiting for/expecting HDR peaks. SmartPower HDR fixes this by making the display intelligent and content-aware.

Samsung says this reduction in power draw can lead to 30-40 minutes of extra battery life, which would only add to Panther Lake's efficiency claims. We don't have details on when SmartPower HDR is actually launching, but we'll likely see it debut on Core Ultra 3 Series laptops shipping this year, including possibly Samsung's own Galaxy Book6 (Pro and Ultra) lineup, which does carry OLED displays.

Samsung is teasing some intriguing new OLED products, ready to showcase at CES 2026 over the next few days. Samsung Display’s press release highlights the flexible solutions that its latest OLED technologies can enable, by outlining “several speaker-type AI assistant concepts.” In addition to the (predictable) cute robot and mood lamps, it shared images of the eyebrow-raising AI OLED Cassette and AI OLED Turntable.

A next-gen lineup of OLED products is promised by Samsung Display for CES 2026, under the banner of ‘A New Era of Experience, Powered by AI & Display.’ The exhibition seems a reasonable proposition, but it is sometimes surprising what products have made it through brainstorming and multiple revisions (we would expect) to make it to the show floor.

What caught our attention in this latest news were the “Edge Device concept models that illustrate how OLED could elevate AI-driven lifestyles when applied to AI-enabled form factors.”

Samsung gently introduces the ideas of an AI OLED Bot and an AI OLED Mood Lamp as demo platforms for its circular OLED displays and AI assistant tech. These seem like well-trodden product ideas, even if the displays are quite special, some of the company’s most advanced.

Sadly, deep details of the headlining pair of devices are not available today. The AI OLED Cassette is built around a pair of 1.5-inch round OLED displays (or more). We can see one features a smartwatch style interactive display, and the other a status page. There also seems to be a lozenge shaped display above these circular OLEDs with an interactive tuning dial, or something like that.

Samsung Display’s AI OLED Turntable is even more intriguing, based around a circular 13.4-inch OLED. The second of its retro-analog devices appears to be touch controlled. What the practical, or fun, use of such a large circular touch display is, in an AI OLED turntable device, isn’t obvious at this time.

Other Samsung Display CES 2026 highlights

We’ve had fun looking at Samsung Display’s productized flights of fancy – even if it prefixes then all with ‘AI.’ However, there’s some really worthwhile advances highlighted in its PR.

For example, the firm is also producing tougher than ever OLEDs, with durability demonstrated by its robot basketball test, steel ball drop test, and refrigerator (cold temperature) tests.

In automotive, Samsung will also demonstrate multiple in-car displays such as an 18.1‑inch Flexible L‑shaped Center Display, a 30‑inch 32:9 Rear Seat Entertainment display, and - OLED tail lamp displays capable of showing warnings like ‘Accident Ahead.’

Road warriors may also appreciate the new UT One (Ultra Thin) OLED, which promises “30% thinner and 30% lighter” panels for laptops, using hybrid thin‑film layers and Oxide TFT for 1–120Hz variable refresh. Color fidelity isn’t neglected, with these 100% DCI-P3 color panels claimed to deliver “deeper blacks by eliminating the air gap between glass substrates.” Other new OLED monitors and TVs are set to offer new always-on modes and 4,500‑nits peak brightness levels.

Last but not least, we’d like to highlight Samsung’s new 1.4‑inch RGB OLEDoS. This XR microdisplay targets headsets with its compact 5,000 PPI display and wide viewing angles.

For a brief moment in time, Asus let one of its cats out of the bag. A webpage showed up on the company's website about a fancypants new 32" display, the ROG Swift PG32UCDM3. This new model has a 4K QD-OLED running panel at 240 Hz, complemented by a BlackShield filter that claims to offer an even deeper black level than the already-inky hue common in OLED displays and dramatically improved scratch prevention.

Technically speaking, the new display is the third generation of the existing PG32UCDM lineup. Note that the specs list we managed to dig up came from unofficial sources, but they all look in line with what we'd expect for a new revision.

The standard OLED fare is present, in the form of an effectively infinite 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, and factory calibration with a Delta-E average of 2 or under. Things get more interesting with Dolby Vision support, standard HDR10, and DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification, which guarantees at least 500 nits of brightness in HDR mode.

Those are pretty good specs already, especially with the assumption the monitor a fourth-gen LG QD-OLED panel with higher and more stable brightness versus previous offerings. The true star of the show here, though, is the BlackShield Film, which Asus purportedly says offers a 40% deeper black level, along with 2.5x higher scratch resistance than before.

Although OLED displays are self-emissive and have zero black level by nature (and superior to any other display type), any ambient light is reflected on the panel surface, making pure black colors look ever so slightly grey or purple, especially in brightly lit rooms. Glossy coatings are the best to fix that, but those introduce distracting screen reflections, so panel and monitor makers often have to find a balanced trade-off, or come up with novel ideas, as Asus apparently has done.

The rest of the specifications are about what you'd expect from a high-end OLED display: 90 W USB-C power delivery, connectivity options including Display HDR 2.1a UHBR20 and HDMI 2.1, and an integrated hub. It's safe enough to assume that the included stand will be height and tilt-adjustable, and there will be RGB lighting on tap.

Given the specs of this unit, don't expect it to be affordable. The current PG32UCDM is often priced at $900 to $1,000, so the new version should command a premium over that figure.

Ahead of CES 2026 (and just before Christmas), LG Display announced on Tuesday a seemingly revolutionary development in the OLED world — at least as far as its own panels are concerned.

The company has achieved a striped, true RGB subpixel layout in one of its upcoming monitors, a 27-inch 4K display with a 240-Hz native refresh rate, doubled by dual-mode capabilities.

To understand why this is such a big deal, we first have to look at how subpixel structures inform the image quality that you see. Every display has pixels, and each of those pixels are made up of tiny red, green, and blue (RGB) subpixels. However, LG's panels also add a fourth white subpixel in the equation to boost brightness.

See, OLED panels are inherently weak when it comes to being bright because driving those sweet organic pixels as hard as possible will wear them out quickly, leading to burn-in. Therefore, you need ingenuity to tackle this issue, and so far, LG has relied on that white subpixel for the most part, but that comes with a downside.

Even though the inherent luminance of the image is boosted, the color volume is hurt as a byproduct of what white subpixel essentially bleeding over the other colors. This is why Samsung's QD-OLED panels are touted for their superior color performance, since they don't have a white subpixel and instead emit blue light that passes through quantum dots to filter colors.

Now, getting rid of that white subpixel and reverting back to a true RGB structure does hurt brightness outright, at least in the first-gen implementation, but it could be a worthwhile tradeoff. That's why LG is quoting just 1,000 nits of peak brightness, with 250 nits full-screen APL, noticeably decreased from the 1,500 nits max their latest Tandem OLED panels can achieve.

That's one part of the equation; the other is that striped layout, which is just as important. Instead of putting the subpixels in a triangular or rectangular structure — or really any other pattern — LG places the red, green and blue subpixels right next to each other in a straight line, forming a "stripe." But, again, they've always had that white subpixel in the middle, creating a RGWB pattern instead.

Therefore, this is the first time a high refresh OLED panel has had a true RGB stripe subpixel layout. This leads to reduced fringing and distortion in text, since the font engines rendering that expect a more conventional layout. LCDs and such have striped subpixel arrangements for ages, but OLEDs have suffered either because of the white subpixel or just a differently shaped layout altogether, such as in QD-OLED panels.

To be clear, OLEDs with this kind of a layout have existed before, but they're niche and limited to just 60Hz, as LG points out in its own press release, so achieving a 240 Hz refresh rate is quite impressive and nicely brings the tech into the modern day. Keep in mind that LG Display is a separate company from LG. This is just one gaming monitor, so it doesn't represent a broader shift away from WOLED from LG as a whole.

Speaking of, TFT Central reports that this monitor will be part of LG Display's 4th gen family, using a Tandem WOLED panel. The branding is a bit confusing, because the "W" in that WOLED doesn't mean it has a white subpixel; rather, the multi-stack method used by LG emits near-white light that is converted by color filters, which is what forms those RGB subpixels eventually.

Just to clarify, the other "Tandem OLED" designation is reserved for smaller format displays meant for phones, tablets, laptops and cars, and it's similar to LG's RGB OLED where each subpixel produces its own light instead of being filtered through a white base layer. That's what powers the new iPad Pros, but it's not meant for TVs or monitors.

All in all, combining 4K resolution at 27 inches with a 240 Hz refresh rate, on a panel with a striped true RGB subpixel layout that's powered by LG's Tandem WOLED tech — well, that's one heck of a combo and certainly fit for a next-gen flagship. We should learn more about pricing and availability as CES rolls around. Until then, you can check out Samsung's new monitors announcement as well.

The deals are really beginning to pop ahead of the Black Friday build-up, which is actually a change from previous years. The sales seem to be starting earlier than ever, which isn't so great, since the excitement burns out quickly, but if there are deals to be had on our favorite tech, we're here for that. Now's the time to make a list of any tech you're interested in picking up this year, and note down the prices so you can see how much of a discount you're getting. Today's deal features a Lenovo gaming laptop with great gaming specs and a competitive price while on sale.

• Grab this deal at Best Buy

Best Buy is offering $440 off the cost of the (Gen 10) Lenovo Legion 5i 16-inch 2.5K OLED Gaming Laptop, bringing the price to $1599.99. The original list price of this laptop is a hefty $2039.99, which is a steep amount for anyone's budget. The Legion 5i (2025) comes in a variety of configurations, but this seems to be the best bang-for-buck variant I could find.

The Lenovo Legion 5i (83F3000HUS) in this deal features a 16-inch OLED screen with a sharp 2560 x 1600-pixel resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits of brightness. This Gen 10 Legion 5i uses an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Series 2 processor with a 2.1GHz base clock and Nvidia's mobile RTX 5070 graphics with 8GB of VRAM. An ample 32GB of memory and a 1TB SSD fill out the main hardware specifications of this gaming laptop.

Other features of the Legion 5i include USB-C DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt, Wi-Fi 7, an RGB backlit keyboard, and a 5 megapixel webcam. The battery is rated for 8.7 hours of use, but, as we've commonly found with gaming laptops that use powerful GPUs and especially OLED screens, the battery can drain very quickly. Of course, for full gaming potential, this laptop should be plugged in.

It's an odd time to make purchases or look out for deals on your most-wanted pieces of tech. You are most probably holding out for Black Friday or Cyber Monday before committing to anything, but a large number of super early deals have already started popping up, and some companies have already gone all-in and embraced the Black Friday advertising. Today's deal features a large OLED gaming monitor from LG, with a substantial $500 knocked off the list price, and this is whilst we're still on the cusp of November, but there's always time for a good deal, no matter the time of year.

• Grab this deal at Best Buy

Today's deal is hosted by Best Buy, where they have the 32-inch LG UltraGear 32GX850A-B OLED gaming monitor on sale for just $799.99. This is a $500 discount from the $1299.99 list price. One of the main features of this monitor is the ability to switch resolution and refresh rates for different content. You can have a smooth 165 Hz refresh rate while watching or playing your content in 4K, or switch to a faster 330Hz refresh rate when using the lower-fidelity FHD resolution, a popular choice for gamers that prefer faster refresh rates in eSports gaming titles.

The LG UltraGear 32GX850A-B has a glossy 32-inch OLED panel, which trades better color and clarity for a higher chance of reflections compared to a matte finish. It has a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, with a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, 0.03 millisecond response time, and tight 140 pixels per inch pixel density. The screen is also VESA-certified DisplayHDR 400 True Black and HDR 10.

LG's UltraGear 32GX850A-B comes with gaming features such as "Crosshair," with a visual crosshair displayed in the center of the screen, to help provide enhanced vision and precision for increased accuracy in first-person shooter games when not looking down ADS sights. This gaming monitor is AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync compatible, for reducing screen tearing in games at variable refresh rates. For connectivity, the display connections on the UltraGear 32GX850A-B include 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 and 2 x HDMI 2.1 ports.

Researchers at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany, have developed a new form of an organic LED that is many times smaller than existing options - measuring just 300 x 300 nanometers, according to SciTechDaily. If scaled up and built into a standard display, it would enable a 1080p screen that measured just 1mm across.

In the quest for lighter, more detailed, and brighter displays for augmented reality headsets and smart glasses, the most compact individual light-emitting diodes available as of 2025 are micro OLEDs. These measure just under five by five micrometers each, which is absolutely tiny compared to even the mini-LEDs that power many modern high-end TVs. But the new nanometer-scale OLEDs out of this German university and more than 10 times smaller.

“With the help of a metallic contact that allows current injection into an organic light-emitting diode while simultaneously amplifying and emitting the generated light, we have created a pixel for orange light on an area measuring just 300 by 300 nanometers. This pixel is just as bright as a conventional OLED pixel with normal dimensions of 5 by 5 micrometers,” says Bert Hecht, in the study published in Science Advances.

As this technology matures, it has the potential to develop ultra-compact displays for portable devices, saving on weight and power enormously, as well as new, highly-detailed displays (all the better for gaming with). At this scale, enormous pixel densities could be achieved, unlocking lifelike visuals - if you could get the processing power to render it.

The researchers achieved this new feat by modifying existing OLED structures. Simply miniatuizing OLED designs leads to issues with the gold antenna at the heart of each OLED gradually leaching its gold surface into the surrounding organic material, causing a short circuit.

To prevent this, researchers introduced a specially developed insulating layer around the optical antenna within each diode, focusing the currents and enabling long-lasting operation of the nano-scale OLED. Still, this "long" length of time only accounted for two weeks of testing, so building this proof-of-concept technology into something that is viable for real-world products and economies is a whole other ball game.

Researchers will now work on increasing the color gamut that the diodes can emit to the full RGB spectrum and improving their efficiency. As it stands, it's only at one percent, which would make these displays extremely power hungry to run.

Still, if they can nail it, they'll bring about displays so small and light they could be integrated into just about anything, anywhere.

If you want to get your hands on one of our favorite gaming mechanical keyboards for less, then you're in luck. Right now, you can score the Asus ROG Azoth at Amazon for just $155, which is 44% off its usual list price and the lowest we've ever seen on this model.

Thanks to its excellent build, great typing feel, and cool OLED display, our Asus ROG Azoth review yielded a fantastic 4.5/5 star rating and an 'almost perfect' designation at its $249 original price tag. Now, with a 44% discount, this keyboard is a fantastic deal, and makes Asus' clunky Armoury Crate software a little easier to look past.

The ROG Azoth is a wireless mechanical keyboard with a 75% layout, featuring a nifty OLED display, hot-swappable switches, PBT keycaps, RGB support, and compatibility across Mac and Windows. Connectivity is provided by either Bluetooth or USB 2.0, and its excellent battery life was another standout feature in our review.

• Check out this deal at Amazon

As noted in our review, the Azoth scored handsomely for several reasons. We really like its sturdy build, and it comes with a box full of accessories, including a braided cable and a DIY switch lube kit to keep your keys buttery smooth. The keycaps are double-shot PBT, which means the keys are made from two pieces to stop them from wearing down over time.

Our review covered the ROG NX Red switches from Asus. These come with a 1.8mm actuation point and a 40gf initial force rating for snappy input while reducing accidental keystrokes. The ROG NX Snow switches on this particular board have the same actuation point and initial force rating, and a slightly lower total force of just 53gf (compared to 55gf in our review unit). As such, these will feel ever so lighter and more fluid, but ostensibly the same, and of course, with that trademark "thock" when you press them.

The Asus ROG Azoth is available now, sold and shipped directly from Amazon.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, or CPU Deals pages.

Over 100 TVs and a small cadre of monitors have been put through the ringer by review heavyweights RTINGS.com, as its legendary longevity burn-in test crosses the two-year mark. Forcing the tested panels to endure nonstop uptime, simulating 10 years of average usage, the test has revealed some key truths about recent trends in consumer screens.

We first covered the test's 10-month mark findings back in 2023, when the burn-in was just beginning and the monitors tested still looked good as new. Now, the above picture paints a clear image of the failure and agony stretching across many panels at the end of their lifespans.

RTINGS claims that the most significant finding from the test so far is that edge-lit TVs are prone to failure sooner than direct-lit panels. While edge-lit TVs are cheaper and thinner than direct-lit screens, and theoretically cool down faster after being turned off, nonstop usage subjects the panel to intense, concentrated heat that can warp and crack panels, causing LED burnouts and failures much sooner. In the long term, edge-lit TVs are a potential liability.

The long-term torture test's methodology is simple: each screen runs a 24/7 live stream of a CNN news feed on maximum panel brightness. This stream was chosen both for its accessibility and nonstop nature, as well as for the consistency of elements like the breaking news ticker and centrally-positioned talking heads, which are more likely to contribute to screen burn-in.

Screen burn-in is a phenomenon occurring on LED panels (especially OLED screens, but potentially any screen run for long and hard enough) where certain constantly-shown elements become seemingly baked into the display. While some burn-in goes away after a panel's refresh cycle, for the screens that have been running the gambit for over two years, the burn-in is permanent.

Monitors Tested and Other Major Findings

Three monitors have been part of the long-term research, joining the 24/7 torture test four months after the TVs began. The LG 27GR95QE-B, Alienware AW3423DWF, and Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 are a trio of OLED, 1440p, high refresh-rate monitors of 165Hz or higher that have all been subjected to testing. In contrast to the TVs, which have exhibited rising failure rates in recent months, all three monitors are still going, though burn-in has become incredibly obvious.

All three panels are now clearly showing signs of burn-in at the bottom row of the screen, where the CNN news ticker typically rests. Samsung's Odyssey OLED monitor has the CNN logo specifically burned into its bottom right corner. The LG panel is especially rough, also exhibiting clear evidence of the outline of a talking head in the center of the screen, and displaying colors with significantly less accuracy than either of the other two monitors. The burn-in becomes much starker when viewed in tandem with a look at the three monitors a few months into the test process.

Surprisingly, where most TV screens tested have seen a measured downward progression in their peak brightness values, the three monitors have held steady around their day 1 values. While both the LG and Samsung monitors experienced some fluctuation around the 3,600-hour mark, all three line graphs for these screens appear to be positively parallel with the x-axis. For a better look at these graphs, be sure to check the RTINGS.com written review.

Other noteworthy failures and observations in the test include a high occurrence of backlight failures, causing entire TVs to die. Where some screens saw large regions of their backlights completely die out, with the remainder staying lit, creating an odd half-on, broken look, many TVs in recent weeks of testing have had a single LED in the backlight die, causing the entire TV to be unable to power on.

For more stories of the test's crazy TV deaths, dying panel gore, and other general trends and observations, RTINGS.com's update YouTube video and written post both hold great value to consumers and panel trend followers.

We all start somewhere in our PC building journey, but seldom does an opportunity present itself to make our first system as unique as u/OkDebate6649. That's exactly what happened with the aforementioned Reddit user who built his computer literally brick-by-brick using Lego. Known as "Choi," our resident enthusiast took Lego-style bricks and made not only a full PC case, but also a monitor featuring an OLED panel, along with a mechanical keyboard — desktop terminal style.

One of the best parts is that this was Choi's first-ever custom PC, as he's only used pre-builts before this. You might think that he's some sort of Lego master builder, but he has no prior experience in that department either. In fact, the only reason he even got his hands on Lego in the first place was to hit the minimum requirement for a discount while shopping online. Once he got the bricks, though, he quickly figured this would make for a fun experiment and got to work.

Choi worked on the case, the monitor and the keyboard separately. Speaking to PC Gamer, he described how everything was constructed with modularity in mind. The monitor, which uses a 1080p OLED panel from AliExpress, is enclosed inside a custom body fully built from Lego. That frame can then attach to a similar keyboard housing and form a desktop terminal, akin to the Apple II. Not only that, but the case itself can be connected below the monitor.

Choi has posted his escapades across different subreddits; we embedded the most detailed post above where he showcases the build from the inside. As you can see, there's no dedicated GPU in there — the PC is powered by a Ryzen 5 5600G because Choi is sacrilegiously a PlayStation gamer and only needs this PC for office work. That 5600G is paired with equally-modest hardware like 16GB of memory, a basic ITX motherboard, and an AMD stock cooler. The build has two 120mm fans mounted externally for air intake.

Now, what if the transforming desktop terminal and the PC case were to get together and have a baby? Thankfully, our curious tinkerer has thought ahead and already made a "retro Commodore-style monitor case." Details on this project are scarce, but Choi has used a 4:3 monitor and put it inside a custom Lego housing that can also fit an entire PC in there. There's a USB hub up front, too, for quick access. Unlike the 5600G build, though, this one has space for a dedicated GPU, but Choi is only using it as a secondary monitor for now.

The DIY madness doesn't stop here, either. Clearly, Choi loved the Lego theme and ran with it even further, building projects like a desk clock powered by an iPhone 6, an audio deck made to look like an old radio, and also a Lego mouse that we spotted in the pictures, which Choi never mentioned in the text. Everything is neatly placed in the corner of a room, encapsulating the perfect Lego setup. Sure, there's no high-end hardware powering this stuff, but the ingenuity behind this is far beyond anything extra money alone could buy.

Monitors Unboxed is continuing its lengthy OLED monitor stress testing video series with a burn-in update at the 18-month mark. The YouTube channel's host, Tim Schiesser, published a new video detailing all of the burn-in effects his MSI's MPG 321URX is now displaying after a whopping 4,500 hours of use. Long story short: some of the display's burn-in artifacts are now showing up during day-to-day use.

For those unfamiliar with the video series, Monitors Unboxed began stress testing an MPG 321URX almost two years ago to record the burn-in susceptibility of OLED displays. To do this, Schiesser replaced his LCD display at work with an MSI MPG 321URX OLED gaming monitor and is using it for day-to-day tasks such as writing scripts, video editing, and photo editing.

The stress Schiesser is putting on his 321URX is significantly more demanding than what most 321URX owners put their monitors through. No gaming is being done on the monitor, and the monitor is being used for 8 hours per day — 250 hours per month. Additionally, Schiesser is further stressing the monitor by running Windows light mode (with the taskbar set to dark mode), calibrating the screen to 200 nits brightness, and setting the screen to only turn off after 2 hours of inactivity.

According to Monitor Unboxed's latest update, the MPG 321URX being used for this stress test is now developing burn-in effects that are visible in specific situations during day-to-day use. A line that has been burning down the center of the screen for months is now becoming visible in game footage. At first Schiesser thought the issue was coming from video corruption from game footage he recorded through a capture card, but, after double-checking, he realized the artifacts he was seeing were coming from the monitor itself. The issue is subtle and hard to spot, but the monitor's burn-in issues have technically reached a point where they are affecting his viewing experience.

Other burn-in effects are also becoming more prevalent at the 18-month mark, though they are not visible during day-to-day use — not yet, anyway. Using a digital enhancement filter, Monitors Unboxed demonstrated that taskbar burn is becoming more apparent compared to the channel's last burn-in update (published at the 15-month usage mark), despite using dark mode specifically for the taskbar in Windows 11. Uneven brightness uniformity has also become more apparent since the 15-month update, thanks to multiple windows being used side by side. This issue is an extension of the aforementioned burn-in line, since the line is created from one side of the display having worse brightness than the other side.

Monitors Unboxed's latest update confirms that modern OLED displays will eventually reach a point where burn-in effects affect the day-to-day viewing experience. The good news is that this subtle amount of visible burn-in took a long time to build — over 4,000 hours of use, all while running a workload composed almost entirely of static desktop windows.

If you've been holding out for a quality gaming display to go on sale, now is your chance. The Alienware AW3423DWF is one beefy display, and right now you can buy it for the lowest price we've ever seen for it. Recently it has been selling at $699, marked down from the $1,099 launch price, but today you can buy it for just $549. This is a great offer not only on this particular screen but in general for one in this class.

• Check out this deal on Amazon

The Alienware AW3423DWF is a curved gaming monitor that spans 34 inches across, making for a notably immersive experience. This monitor is packed with all the bells and whistles you want out of a gaming monitor. We had the opportunity to review it for ourselves, and we absolutely loved it — rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

If you're looking for something big and flashy with performance, you don't have to look much further. The Alienware AW3423DWF was definitely designed with gamers in mind. It's designed around a 34-inch quantum dot enhanced OLED (QD-OLED) panel with a curvature graded at 1800R. It features a WQHD resolution which measures in at 3440 x 1440px. The refresh rate can get as high as 165 Hz, which is ample without being groundbreaking, but the response time can reach an impressively low 0.1ms.

The AlIenware AW3423DWF is AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certified for its superior performance and ability to hit certain quality metrics, like providing low framerate compensation (LFC) support. It covers 99.3% of the DCI-P3 and 149% of the sRGB color gamuts, and can reach a peak brightness of 1,000 Nits. You get a USB Hub to play around with for peripherals and two video input options, including both an HDMI 2 port and two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs. A couple of 3.5mm jacks are thrown in for connecting audio devices, as well.

Check out our list of best gaming monitors if you want to see how well this offer stacks up against the rest of the market. You can also get an idea of what specs to look out for when picking out a new gaming monitor.

If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, or CPU Deals pages.

Samsung's 27-inch QHD 240 Hz OLED gaming monitor, the Odyssey OLED G6 (G61SD) is 31% off for Prime Day. This appealing entry into the world of rapid-response eye-pleasing OLED displays is now just $549, reduced from an MSRP of $799. We also spotted that the 360 Hz version of this monitor has been reduced to $649 from $899, which could future-proof your thirst for Hertz.

• Hundreds of dollars off gaming monitors at Amazon

In addition to their famously dense blacks, OLED displays can be a fantastic choice for gamers, with response times that put the best IPS displays to shame. In the case of the Odyssey G6 QD-OLED models, on offer during Prime Day, we'd like to highlight the wide color gamut, spectacular contrast, and vivid imagery, with the 0.03ms response time of the panels used.

Remember, these 1440p OLED monitors are no slouches in the refresh rates stakes, either. The Odyssey G6 can currently be had with either a 240 Hz panel at $549 or a faster 360 Hz panel for $649.

We reckon that the Samsung Odyssey G6 series presents a good entry level to the world of OLED gaming monitors. Furthermore, this 27-inch diagonal with 2,560 x 1,440 pixels (also commonly referred to as 1440p or QHD resolution) is generally regarded to be the sweet spot, delivering 110 pixels per inch.

With FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync Compatible certifications, you should enjoy smooth gaming using the most popular Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technologies.

Picking through the specs that are shared by Amazon, it is hinted that the 360 Hz version of this monitor can connect to devices via USB. However, there is no difference in this respect between the Odyssey G60SD and G61SD - neither offers USB monitor connections, but both have a USB hub built in.

Other important points to note are that these monitors don't have speakers, but they do have a 3.5mm audio out. Samsung highlights the OLED panel protection features to mitigate the chances of burn-in. It also features a screen-side dynamic cooling system in order to reduce such undesirable screen issues.

Whichever model you buy, you will get a decent matching stand which is adjustable for 120mm height, tilt, swivel, and pivoting. There is also the option to VESA 100x100 mount these displays.

We are working hard to find the best computer hardware deals for you this Amazon Prime Day. We cover the hottest deals in real-time at our Best Amazon Prime Day Deals Live page. If you're looking for more savings, check out our Amazon Prime Day deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, or CPU Deals pages.

A video chronicling the degradation of an OLED monitor over time has just been published, offering a 15-month update. The Monitors Unboxed update seems to deliver pretty good news, overall. After this quite considerable time of “worst-case scenario” OLED monitor use, key metrics are still acceptable. However, it is estimated that the MSI MPG 321URX under test may need to be replaced for color-sensitive professional usage as early as 9 months later. Also, please bear in mind that this interesting study is based on a single OLED monitor sample, unlike the work of organizations like Rtings.

During Monitors Unboxed testing, the MSI 4K OLED has been subjected to a daily use behavior described as “aggressively burning in.” The channel’s Tim Schiesser hasn’t been purposely causing damage to the display, though. Instead, the idea seems to be to use this OLED with the same amount of care you might with any LCD-technology alternative. It is also used primarily for work, with little to no full-screen media content consumption. Thus, it was probable that static Windows UI elements, and even often-used apps, could cause burn-in on some regions of the display. Indeed, this has happened.

Above, you can see a full rundown of the test conditions. In summary, while Schiesser didn’t try to cause max burn-in damage, and allowed the panel to complete its self-protection and maintenance cycles, he didn’t do anything in Windows to lessen potential burn. Therefore, he used Windows 11 in light mode (as some people prefer), didn’t set up a screensaver (just a 2-hour idle-time screen-off setting), and used apps on the same preferred areas of the screen 95% of the time. This activity takes place “8 hours a day, 7 days a week, 250 hours per month, 3,000 hours a year.”

During the video, you will see some interesting images that chart the extent of the 4K OLED display’s burn-in over 6, 9, 12, and 15 months. There’s little mention of the 3-month milestone, as any ill effects of the ‘aggressive’ use by then were very minor.

Trying to see the burn-in issues escalate over the 15 months isn’t that easy, something which we should be thankful for. Thus, Monitors Unboxed has manipulated or filtered the comparison images to show what is happening slightly below many folks’ perception levels when looking at captured image content in YouTube videos (lossy compression issues).

The major areas viewers should be aware of are the bottom of the screen, where the Windows taskbar remains in typical productivity workflows, and the vertical burn-in artifacts, which are caused by Schiesser’s unwavering app tiling preferences. He explained that much of the time, he will work with a browser on the left of the screen and a word processor to the right.

Color impact

Acer has a sizable range of new monitors at Computex 2025, and the new products sprawl across nearly all monitor segments, covering professional content creators, gamers, and digital road warriors. Thus, there are several new high-spec monitors introduced to Acer's ProCreator, Predator, and portable monitor portfolios. We also took a look at several new Nitro displays, which pack Google TV smart features.

Acer ProCreator monitors

Leading its new professional pack, Acer showcased the ProCreator PE320QXT at Computex. This is a 32-inch monitor with a 6K screen with 6,016 x 3,384 pixels. It has a smaller brother in the shape of the ProCreator PE270XT, offering an impressive 5K (5,120 x 2,880 pixels) resolution.

Both of these flagship ProCreator monitors from Acer can reproduce 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut and boast Delta E<1 color accuracy. They are VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified, too. The PE320QXT we saw was touch-enabled, but whichever model you grab, you will benefit from an integrated 8M webcam and flexible ErgoStand.

If you want an OLED monitor for your professional workflow, Acer also has the ProCreator PE320QK X monitor on show. This provides a 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) QD-OLED panel with true 10-bit color and dual color gamut support for 99% of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. Again, users will benefit from a Delta E<1, and this one has VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification. Game creators might also be drawn in by the PE320QK X’s AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible technology, 240 Hz refresh, and 0.01ms response time.

Acer Portable Monitors – dual-screen and large

If you make use of portable monitors, either on the road or in a multi-monitor setup, Acer has a few new interesting options for you, all with VESA mounting compatibility. The Acer PD163QT and Acer PD243Y E portable monitors, with wide viewing angles and dual-screen features, are claimed to be ideal for multitasking.

With these models, you get a pair of FHD 16-inch displays in a flexible clamshell form factor. The PD163QT features touch capability, while the PD243Y E may appeal if you prefer a faster refresh (100 Hz).

Acer’s PM191Q E monitor is a more traditional single-screen FHD monitor, except that it ‘goes large’ with a diagonal of 19-inches. It is purported to be ultra-thin, and this 100 Hz monitor has a convenient built-in kick-stand.

Acer Predator OLED gaming monitors

Acer has added a pair of new premium 27-inch OLED gaming monitors to its Predator series. The new Acer Predator X27U F5 offers an ultra-fast 500 Hz refresh rate at 1440p, while the Predator X27 X delivers 240 Hz at a super fine 4K resolution.

Both the new Predator displays benefit from a DCI-P3 99% color gamut, 0.03 ms (GTG) response times, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, great OLED contrast, built-in stereo speakers, and tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustable stands (or use a VESA mount).

Acer Nitro monitors get Google TV

Adding gaming and entertainment flexibility, the new Acer Nitro GA321QK P and Nitro GA341CUR W0 come with Google TV on board, supporting Google Cast and wireless connectivity for screen mirroring from multiple devices.

The 32-inch GA321QK features a 4K UHD display (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) with a 165 Hz refresh rate and up to a 0.05 ms (GTG) response time. Meanwhile, the Nitro GA341CUR W0 has an immersive 34-inch ultra-wide QHD display (3, 440 x 1440 pixels) with a fast 240 Hz refresh rate and 99% sRGB color.

Last but not least, Acer introduced the portable Nitro PG271K. It says 'portable,' but this is an undeniably large 27-inch monitor despite its “ultra-thin and space-saving” qualities. This monitor has a kick stand (and VESA mount compatibility again). An IPS panel is used here, and the screen offers dual-mode 4K at 72 Hz, or FHD at 144 Hz.

Acer says that precise specifications, prices, and availability of the above products will vary by region. So, if you are interested in any of the above, keep an eye on your local Acer retailer(s).

MSI has shown off its new MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 gaming monitor at Computex 2025. This display is particularly notable for packing in an AI Care Sensor, which detects human presence and modifies what’s on-screen to prevent the chance of image burn-in. Additionally, the X50 boasts great performance specs. Read on for more details of the X50 and several other new gaming monitors we saw at the MSI exhibition space.

MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50

At the heart of this 27-inch 1440p monitor is what MSI calls a 3rd-gen QD-OLED panel. This helps deliver a heady mix of great color and contrast, plus high performance.

In terms of color quality, the X50 delivers the striking contrast OLED panels are known for, with 99% DCI-P3 color coverage, and backed by certifications such as VESA ClearMR 21000 and DisplayHDR True Black 500.

Performance is also top-notch, with the QD-OLED panel capable of running up to 500 Hz, and with the characteristic speedy response of an OLED, said to be 0.03ms GTG in this model.

As mentioned, MSI has some special AI sauce to elevate the appeal of the X50. Probably the most practical and welcome new AI feature is dubbed the AI Care Sensor. This enables “real-time human detection, dynamically adjusting settings to protect the monitor and boost efficiency,” says MSI. It will also power down the screen when it detects no one is there to view it. This AI relies on the combination of an NPU-based IC with an always-on CMOS sensor, built into the X50.

The AI Care Sensor works in concert with MSI’s established OLED Care 2.0 system, which employs tricks like pixel shift, taskbar detection, multi-logo detection, and others to reduce the chance of burn-in. Last but not least, with respect to this feature, buyers are covered by a 3-year (OLED) burn-in warranty.

MSI’s AI Navigator puts all the new AI features in one place. Here you will find the AI Menu zone, to “effortlessly adjust and optimize MSI’s AI settings in one place,” plus the AI Care Sensor settings.

The X50's MSRP is $899, and it'll be available to buy on July 17.

MSI MPG 242R X60N with 'Rapid TN' panel

MSI also showcased the MPG 242R X60N in Taipei. You can probably decode MSI’s naming scheme yourself to conclude that this is a 24-inch monitor. However, it is aimed at a different gaming scene – those that demand the fastest 1080p performance possible.

The X60N eschews OLED and packs a ‘Rapid TN’ panel, which is capable of up to 600 Hz refresh, paired with a 0.1ms GTG response time. These panels are usually weaker in terms of color quality, so MSI’s specs card sidelined such things, and all we know is that the X60N has VESA DisplayHDR400 certification.

The X60N's MSRP is $999.

Other MSI monitors at Computex 2025

MSI has a new 27-inch dual-mode gaming monitor called the MPG 27RURDFW E16M. We are changing screen technology again, as this one packs a QD-enhanced Mini LED display with 1,152 zones.

As a dual mode, this monitor facilitates one-click switching between 4K / 160 Hz and FHD / 120 Hz modes. Whichever you choose, the response time is 0.5ms GTG.

MSI has a bit more to crow about with the color quality specs here. This model supports VESA DisplayHDR 1000, and has a quoted 98% DCI-P3 gamut, and Delta-E of less than 2.

Samsung has finally announced that its 2025 OLED TV line-up will feature compatibility for Nvidia G-Sync, in what could be a major upgrade for gaming on the big screen. Samsung says that, paired with Motion Xcelerator technology, it will deliver improved visuals and clarity for players.

Nvidia G-sync synchronizes the display refresh rate with your GPU's frame rate to reduce screen tearing and stuttering. Samsung says that when paired with its Motion Xcelerator technology, with support for up to 165Hz, it will deliver "exceptionally fluid visuals and sharp clarity during fast-paced action scenes."

Kevin Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Customer Experience Team at Samsung Electronics, says the 2025 OLED range from Samsung would "deliver elite-level performance for even the most competitive players."

Today's news also heralds the inclusion of AMD FreeSync Premium Pro into the line-up, building on the support for FreeSync that Samsung has offered for a number of years.

The highest tier of AMD's FreeSync tech, Premium Pro is the only offering to deliver AMD FreeSync HDR, as well as a 120Hz max refresh rate in 4K, the latter is also available for FreeSync Premium.

Samsung says Premium Pro's inclusion will increase compatibility and adaptive sync performance across more GPUs. As Samsung notes, FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync support join its Auto Low Latency Mode and Samsung Gaming Hub to form an impressive core suite of gaming features.

Samsung's 2025 OLED TVs will also introduce a new AI Auto Game Mode that can analyze game genres and scene content to make real-time picture and sound optimizations, allegedly eliminating the need for manual adjustments.

A new Game Bar will let users make on-the-fly changes without exiting their game.

Enthusiasts and purists probably won't be replacing their best gaming monitor with a Samsung OLED TV anytime soon, but the announced improvements are great news for those who want a quick cloud gaming session on the big green.

Samsung's G-Sync compatibility feature will be available starting on the S95F, with subsequent rollout to additional models in the 2025 OLED line-up later this year.

When it comes to gaming monitors, it helps to know what specs you want to prioritize when looking for a deal. In general, we recommend a panel-type suitable for fast refresh and response times, a high resolution, and HDR support with good contrast. Today we've come across a deal on the 27-Inch LG 27GX790A-B OLED QHD gaming monitor which hits all of those points and then some. This screen has plenty of quality specs that are more than well-suited for a gamer looking to spoil themselves with a little treat. It released late last year to the tune of $999, but it's currently discounted at Amazon to just $799.

We reported on the release of the LG 27GX790A-B in November of 2024 and were excited about the array of high quality specs, but not particularly blown away by the price. That said, today's discount more than shakes things up a bit. If you want to get an idea of how well this monitor compares to others on the market, check out our list of best gaming monitors to see which ones we personally recommend.

Asus has two new glossy OLED monitors on the way - the new ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG and ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWG. If we take the firm’s PR at face value, these new monitors have been precipitated by popular demand. It indicates that “gamers were quick to ask us for additional options” to the ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG, last year. So, here we are with a brace of new 32-inch glossy screen OLED models.

Not everyone likes glossy monitors, but preferences are often rooted in your ‘working’ environment. Monitor (and laptop/tablet) users who have experienced the gamut of glossy vs matte screen coating types will weigh up the more vibrant color, denser blacks, and crisper visuals glossy screens can deliver against potentially suffering from screen reflection misery.

WOLED not OLED?

Asus also makes the distinction between WOLED and OLED here. Its new OLED gaming monitors use the former, which addresses some of the traditional drawbacks of the best OLED gaming monitors by using a single white light layer (hence WOLED), with color filters to build up the visual spectrum.

This LG-designed solution to issues like OLED screen burn is also boosted in brightness by LG’s Micro Lens Array, or MLA, and this may be a key enabler of Asus TrueBlack Glossy tech. In brief, the reasoning seems to be that the Asus “TrueBlack Glossy film pairs a zero-haze optical layer with an advanced anti-reflective stack,” and combined with the extra brightness from MLA, it can make reflections less problematic.

Beyond the WOLED

What else do we know about the new Asus ROG glossy OLED displays? Firstly, we know these monitors offer a 32-inch diagonal screen, with 3,840 x 2,160 ‘4K’ resolution. They also join the burgeoning ranks of displays that can switch down to an FHD mode for faster refresh gaming. Specifically, the new ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWMG lets you pick between 4K 165 Hz and FHD 330 Hz modes, whereas the XG32UCWG gives the choice between 4K 240 Hz and FHD 480 Hz.

Asus is targeting DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification for its new OLED gaming monitors. However, we don’t have some key visual quality metrics at this time, so we can’t quote max brightness or color gamut figures, for example.

Not surprisingly, both new ROG gaming monitors come with G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync Premium Pro tech. OLED displays are renowned for their fast response times, and the quoted ultra-low 0.03ms (GTG) here makes these no exception.

Asus has worked to make these large-ish displays as compact as possible, consuming less desktop real estate, with the fully assembled product boasting a 30% reduced depth. Both new monitors also feature two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, and USB DP Alt-mode connectivity. KVM functionality and a two-port USB hub is also standard, with up to 15W charging.

Samsung Electronics is lifting the veil off its latest lineup of monitors which it showed off at CES earlier this year. The Odyssey lineup sees a new addition in the form of a glasses-free 3D gaming monitor, alongside Samsung's first high-density 27-inch 4K OLED offering, and a new 49-inch variant under the G9 family, supposedly designed to be more accessible. However, official prices have not been listed as of writing.

Under the new Odyssey 3D sub-brand, Samsung is debuting the G90XF which is a 4K, 27-inch monitor that boasts a 165 Hz refresh rate, designed to deliver a convincing 3D effect without the need for traditional 3D glasses, also known as an autostereoscopic display. The panel technology is currently unspecified. Samsung achieves this 3D effect through a combination of advanced eye-tracking, a light field display, and lenticular lens tech on the front panel that direct light rays at different angles to create a perception of depth.

Samsung recommends installing the Reality Hub software, which can transform select games to give you an immersive 3D experience. The G90XF also packs an AI video conversion tool that harnesses your GPU's (Nvidia-only) power to convert 2D videos or movies to 3D on the fly, as long as the content is not DRM-protected, much like Nvidia's RTX HDR and VSR technologies.

Next up is a new refresh of Samsung's Odyssey G8 OLED monitor dubbed G81SF. The G81SF carries a 4K QD-OLED panel running at 240 Hz, available in 27 and 32-inch options, with a DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400 and a Glare Free certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Samsung is a tad late to the party, as similar high pixel-density offerings from Asus, MSI, and Dell are already available in the market. The 27-inch flavor offers a pixel density of 166 pixels per inch, currently the highest in the industry for this size, matching other competitors.

For heat dissipation - needed to cool this high-performance display - Samsung advertises the use of its proprietary Pulsating Heat Pipe (PHP) based technology. PHP is claimed to diffuse five times more heat than standard Graphite sheets.

Following is Samsung's Odyssey G9 G91F which aims to bring ultrawide gaming to the masses. Compared to the original model, which launched in 2020 at nearly $1,500, the G91F cuts down on several specifications to save costs. While the monitor retains its staple 49-inch dual QHD panel, it drops the refresh rate to 144 Hz and the HDR specification to DisplayHDR 600, a step back from the original's 1,000 nits of peak luminance. Although you do get HDR10+ certification which is a welcome addition.

Lastly, professionals can expect to see Samsung's new ViewFinity S8 (S80UD) hit shelves shortly. This monitor carries a large 37-inch, 4K display with a 16:9 aspect ratio alongside Ergonomic Workspace Display and Intelligent Eye Care certifications from TUV. Devices can be connected through a 90W USB Type-C connection, while you can plug in peripherals via the included KVM switch.

The Odyssey 3D, Odyssey OLED G8, and Odyssey G9 are available for pre-order starting today. Pricing and product listings are currently available only on Samsung's South Korean site, though global listings should go live shortly.

Laptop manufacturer Compal Electronics has won an iF Design Award 2025 for a previously unseen design with an extending screen (h/t Liliputing). Unlike the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus we saw in December, and the ThinkBook Codename Flip we saw at MWC earlier in the week, the Compal Infinite Laptop's screen extends horizontally, expanding from a 14- to an 18-inch diagonal.

Purchasing a laptop involves some hard decisions and compromises. However, specs that were once set in stone post-purchase are now easier to sidestep than ever. For example, portable monitors are more common and cheaper than ever, so you can have more screen space in your laptop backpack when you need it. Similarly, if you decide on a thin and light with integrated graphics, there are lots of portable eGPU docks around in 2025.

Using the latest rollable OLED screen technology to give laptop buyers a way to summon more working screen space at their will, is even better than having to pack a second screen, though. Lenovo teased laptops with vertically extending and flipping screens for months before showing off the aforementioned ThinkBook Codename Flip. Now ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) Compal has shown there's another way to use the same technology. What do you prefer? Don't say a diagonally extending screen.

The Lenovo ThinkBook Codename Flip screen can be as compact as 12.8-inches at minimum, and up to 18.1-inches when fully unfurled. Its ThinkBook Plus could extend from a 14- to a 16.7-inch diagonal, according to our last report. The iF Design Award pages say that Compal's Infinite Laptop is 14-inches in diagonal, but it can extend to 18-inches.

Sadly, there aren't a lot of tech details shared by the award pages. In the description, it is claimed the Compal Infinite Laptop balances portability and productivity thanks to its screen expansion capabilities, which sounds fair enough, if your workflow can make good use of very wide aspect ratio screens.

Laptop lid LED alerts

We can see in Compal's images that the screen expands both left and right, keeping the machine nicely balanced when fully extended. Compal boasts that the extension mechanism is 'seamless' and ensures both screen quality and durability, which is good. Last but not least, we can see the laptop lid has two arrays of LEDs, which appear to be configurable to show custom alerts like emails arriving.

We've reported on fascinating Compal concepts emerging previously but, sadly, these things sometimes never get commercialized. This innovation seems genuinely useful, though. If it doesn't add too much weight to a laptop, it would be great if the concept technology was picked up by one of the brands that uses Compal as a manufacturer.

Earlier this morning, Samsung Display announced and previewed its participation in Mobile World Congress 2025, where it will be going all-in on showcasing its OLED technology across a wide spread of screen sizes and potential use cases. Among the highlights included a 500 Hz QD-OLED monitor, 240 Hz OLED laptops, a foldable OLED handheld, flexible OLEDs, and the "Seamless Color Studio" - an advancement only made possible by further improvements made to OLEDs at smaller screen sizes.

Looking at the "world's first 27-inch 500 Hz QD-OLED monitor" first, this device promises gamers a superfast refresh, ultra responsive, and color-rich gaming experience. We first heard about this awesome display from Korean sources back in November, last year. Hopefully with this showing at MWC, it is now much closer to retail.

Samsung's "Seamless Color Studio" exhibit, pictured below, uses an OLED smartphone and large monitor on both sides, but highlights how an LCD-based laptop display on the left can't keep consistency with the surrounding displays even when calibrated with the same color accuracy as the OLED laptop display on the right.

This wouldn't be possible if Samsung hadn't further refined its OLED manufacturing capabilities to allow for truly high-brightness (1,000 nit) OLED panels at handheld (6.7-inch) screen sizes, as highlighted in the second slide.

For those unfamiliar, OLED panels are commonly agreed to offer the best visual quality of any modern panel type, but particularly in comparison to IPS (which suffers from poor contrast despite great color accuracy and viewing angles), TN (which shares great responsiveness with OLED, but cheap and with horrendous color compared to higher-end contemporaries), and VA (a technology which benefits from great contrast, but doesn't look as vibrant as IPS or OLED).

Aside from concerns of burn-in and high prices, OLED has long been considered the ideal panel type for gaming monitors, media consumption, and pro work, so long as you get one correctly calibrated for your needs. It's rather impressive that Samsung has managed to get this degree of OLED parity across its range of devices, and its work on flexible and bezel-less OLEDs also looks quite interesting for the future of the market.

Highlighting these advancements in bezel-less and flexible OLEDs, we've included three key images below. There's a Samsung "Flex Gaming" handheld that's fully bendable, a "Flexible Cabinbag" foldable OLED briefcase with a total screen size of 18.1 inches, and bezel-less "OLED Tiles" creating a single display from the use of ten 6.8-inch OLED tiles attached together.