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What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If sharp text and image clarity are crucial for your work, the LG UltraFine with its higher resolution emerges as the superior choice, especially for digital photo editing due to its excellent color accuracy. However, it's not ideal for gaming due to its lower refresh rate. On the other hand, the Sony M9, while less expensive, excels in productivity and offers good gaming capabilities with its higher refresh rate and compatibility with high dynamic range (HDR) for immersive gaming and media consumption. It may not match the LG's ultra-sharp display, but it balances cost with performance for a variety of uses. 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)
- Best in class text clarity
- Best in class image clarity
Advantages of the Sony M9 (IPS FALD)
- Good for casual gaming
- Best in class for productivity
- Good contrast
- Good color volume
- Good response time
Key differences
Casual Gaming
6.0
7.3
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
1200:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1000:1
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
432 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
695 nits
99.0 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
67.7 %
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The Sony M9 (IPS FALD) is good for casual gaming, while the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is only fair.
Competitive Gaming
5.0
5.7
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
14.0 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
8.0 ms
N/A
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
24 - 144 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
432 nits
The Sony M9 (IPS FALD) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are both poor for competitive gaming, though the Sony M9 (IPS FALD) is somewhat better.
Productivity
8.7
9.6
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
218 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
163 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The Sony M9 (IPS FALD) is best in class for productivity, while the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is very good.
Media Consumption
7.0
7.5
5120 x 2880
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
1200:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1000:1
500 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
432 nits
Unknown
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
695 nits
Glossy
COATING
Matte
The Sony M9 (IPS FALD) and LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) are both good for media consumption, though the Sony M9 (IPS FALD) is somewhat better.
Cost
$1,179
$800
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) has a price of $1,179 and the Sony M9 (IPS FALD) costs $800.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
Yes
The LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the Sony M9 (IPS FALD) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Key similarities
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and Sony M9 (IPS FALD) are suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and Sony M9 (IPS FALD) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
Print Photo Editing
No
No
Both the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and Sony M9 (IPS FALD) are not suitable for print photo editing.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) and the Sony M9 (IPS FALD) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG UltraFine 5K 27MD5KL (IPS) | Sony M9 (IPS FALD) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,179 | $800 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 5120 x 2880 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | IPS FALD | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | N/A | 96 | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1200:1 | 1000:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 500 nits | 432 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | Unknown | 695 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | Yes | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 100 % | 100 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 14 ms | 8 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | N/A | 24 - 144 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 5/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 218 PPI | 163 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Glossy | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 1 | |
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
We're constantly perfecting our model
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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.
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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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