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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If gaming, particularly with fast action and wide perspectives, is your focus, the LG 34GN850B, being less expensive and having a wider screen with a higher refresh rate, could enhance your experience. However, if your priority leans more towards professional photo editing or enjoying extremely detailed visuals with superior text clarity, the LG UltraFine 5K may justify its higher cost with its exceptional resolution and color performance. For productivity that benefits from a larger workspace, the LG 34GN850B's ultrawide format may be more appealing, while the UltraFine's 5K resolution is better suited for tasks requiring very high detail. 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 34GN850B (IPS)
- Very good response time
Advantages of the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS)
- Very good for productivity
- Good for media consumption
- Best in class text clarity
- Best in class image clarity
- Good brightness
Key differences
Productivity
5.9
8.7
3440 x 1440
RESOLUTION
5120 x 2880
108 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
218 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Matte
COATING
Glossy
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is very good for productivity, while the LG 34GN850B (IPS) is poor.
Media Consumption
5.9
7.0
3440 x 1440
RESOLUTION
5120 x 2880
950:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1200:1
359 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
500 nits
436 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
Matte
COATING
Glossy
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is good for media consumption, while the LG 34GN850B (IPS) is poor.
Cost
$750
$1,179
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The LG 34GN850B (IPS) has a price of $750 and the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) costs $1,179.
Digital Photo Editing
No
Yes
The LG 34GN850B (IPS) is not suitable for digital photo editing while the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is suitable for digital photo editing.
Key similarities
Casual Gaming
5.9
6.0
3440 x 1440
RESOLUTION
5120 x 2880
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
950:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1200:1
359 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
500 nits
436 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
94.5 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
99.0 %
Matte
COATING
Glossy
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) to be only fair for casual gaming, while the LG 34GN850B (IPS) is poor.
Competitive Gaming
4.5
5.0
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
6.2 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
14.0 ms
20 - 160 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
N/A
No
STROBING / BFI
No
359 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
500 nits
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and LG 34GN850B (IPS) are both poor for competitive gaming.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the LG 34GN850B (IPS) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the LG 34GN850B (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 34GN850B (IPS) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are not suitable for print photo editing.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the LG 34GN850B (IPS) and the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG 34GN850B (IPS) | LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$750 | $1,179 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 34" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3440 x 1440 | 5120 x 2880 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | IPS | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 950:1 | 1200:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 359 nits | 500 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 436 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 % | 100 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 6.2 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 | 6.6/10 | 5/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 108 PPI | 218 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Matte | Glossy | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 2 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.1 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.1 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
LG 34GN850B (IPS)
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Dig into reviews and images
TechSpot
Tim Schiesser | August 2020
"Mid-range 3440 x 1440 144Hz VA monitors are ~$500 to $600 these days. You are getting a much better product for the higher price of the LG, with faster response times and better colors (outside of the contrast ratio), but this is definitely a monitor that is reserved for those that want the best of the best and are willing to pay for it."
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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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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