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What we think
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Updated April 23, 2024·
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL excels in delivering sharp text and image clarity, making it a strong choice for productivity tasks and digital photo editing where high resolution and color accuracy are crucial. However, its lower refresh rate and lack of variable refresh rate support make it less suitable for gaming. On the other hand, the MSI 45GS96QB provides exceptional contrast, a wider color gamut, and a higher refresh rate which is beneficial for HDR gaming and media consumption but may not offer the same level of detail for productivity due to its lower resolution. If gaming and watching movies are your priorities, the MSI might be the better choice despite the higher cost, while the LG would be more cost-effective for work-focused users needing high resolution and color precision. 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 UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS)
- Very good for productivity
- Good for media consumption
- Best in class text clarity
- Best in class image clarity
- Good brightness
Advantages of the MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- Very good refresh rate
- Best in class contrast
- Best in class response time
Key differences
Casual Gaming
6.0
9.5
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3440 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
1200:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
275 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
99.0 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
98.5 %
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is only fair.
Competitive Gaming
5.0
5.9
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
14.0 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
0.0 ms
N/A
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
48 - 240 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
275 nits
The MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are both poor for competitive gaming, though the MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) is somewhat better.
Productivity
8.7
2.7
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3440 x 1440
218 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is very good for productivity, while the MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) is poor.
Media Consumption
7.0
5.4
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3440 x 1440
1200:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
275 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is good for media consumption, while the MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) is poor.
Cost
$1,179
$1,700
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) has a price of $1,179 and the MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) costs $1,700.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
Yes
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is not suitable for print photo editing while the MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) are suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
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How the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and the MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) | MSI 45GS96QB (W-OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,179 | $1,700 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 45" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 5120 x 2880 | 3440 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | OLED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | W-OLED | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1200:1 | Inf:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 500 nits | 275 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | Unknown | Unknown | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | Yes | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 100 % | Unknown | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 14 ms | 0.03 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | N/A | 48 - 240 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5/10 | 8/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 218 PPI | ||
Coating | |||
Coating | Glossy | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 10/10 | 1.4/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 10/10 | 2.5/10 | |
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 | 0 | 2 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Give feedback
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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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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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