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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming with smoother motion and a larger screen size, the LG 32GQ950 is a solid choice with its good refresh rate and faster response. On the other hand, if your work involves digital photo editing or you desire sharper text and images for productivity, the LG UltraFine 5K with its higher resolution and best-in-class text quality would be better suited, despite its lower refresh rate and gaming performance. For vivid colors in print photo editing, neither monitor is ideal, but both can handle casual gaming and general media consumption well. Neither is particularly strong in HDR gaming and media. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the LG 32GQ950 (IPS)
- Good refresh rate
- Very good response time
Advantages of the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS)
- Good for media consumption
- Best in class text clarity
- Best in class image clarity
- Good brightness
Key differences
Productivity
8.1
8.7
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
5120 x 2880
139 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
218 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Glossy
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and LG 32GQ950 (IPS) are both very good for productivity, though the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is somewhat better.
Cost
$930
$1,179
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The LG 32GQ950 (IPS) has a price of $930 and the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) costs $1,179.
Key similarities
Casual Gaming
6.2
6.0
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
5120 x 2880
160Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
921:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1200:1
367 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
500 nits
1007 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
94.6 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
99.0 %
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Glossy
The LG 32GQ950 (IPS) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are both only fair for casual gaming.
Competitive Gaming
4.7
5.0
160Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
5.8 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
14.0 ms
20 - 160 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
N/A
No
STROBING / BFI
No
367 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
500 nits
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and LG 32GQ950 (IPS) are both poor for competitive gaming.
Media Consumption
6.6
7.0
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
5120 x 2880
921:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1200:1
367 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
500 nits
1007 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Glossy
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) to be good for media consumption, while the LG 32GQ950 (IPS) is only fair.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the LG 32GQ950 (IPS) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the LG 32GQ950 (IPS) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the LG 32GQ950 (IPS) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Print Photo Editing
No
No
Both the LG 32GQ950 (IPS) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are not suitable for print photo editing.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the LG 32GQ950 (IPS) and the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG 32GQ950 (IPS) | LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$930 | $1,179 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 32" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 5120 x 2880 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | IPS | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | 32 | N/A | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 921:1 | 1200:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 367 nits | 500 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 1007 nits | Unknown | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 99.5 % | 100 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 5.8 ms | 14 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 20 - 160 Hz | N/A | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 7/10 | 5/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 8.1/10 | 6/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 139 PPI | 218 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Semi-Gloss | Glossy | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 7.9/10 | 10/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7.9/10 | 10/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.1 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.1 Ports | 2 | 0 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Give feedback
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About the monitor team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Monitors Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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