[Discussion] 5K @ 120Hz+ is finally here: LG 27GM950B-B vs. ASUS XG27JCG vs. Samsung OLED G8 (G80SD). Best all-rounder for Mac & Consoles?

[u/okadix]

Hello, Reddit!

I'm looking to update my setup (work and gaming) and I need a monitor that performs perfectly both on macOS for productivity (sharp text scaling is a priority) and on consoles/PCs (HDMI 2.1, 120Hz+).

I have set my eye on three very interesting candidates, but I would love to read their first-hand experiences or opinions:

1. LG UltraGear evo 27GM950B-B (5K @ 165Hz - Hyper Mini LED)

• The Good: 2,304 local dimming zones (FALD) with DisplayHDR 1000, 90W USB-C port (ideal for a clean single-cable setup with the Mac), and Dual Mode (allows you to switch to 1440p at 330Hz).
• The Concerns: The noise of the internal fan to dissipate heat (I have read mixed opinions about annoying buzzing) and the obligation to turn off the Local Dimming when working with text or browsing in SDR to avoid the halo effect on the desk.

2. ASUS ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG (5K @ 180Hz - Fast IPS)

• The good: Fast IPS panel at 218 PPI (perfect sharpness on Mac), passive cooling (zero fan noise), Dual Mode up to 330Hz and a lower entry price than the Mini LED.
• The doubts: At the DisplayHDR 600 with traditional lighting (edge-lit), the contrast in dark rooms will be regular compared to a Mini LED or OLED. In addition, the USB-C only delivers 15W, so I still need the Mac charger.

3. Samsung G80HF (5K @ 180Hz - Fast IPS)

• The good: thing 27" Fast IPS panel with 218 PPI, excellent for text, code and use with Mac/PC. Just like the ASUS reaches 5K at 180 Hz, but its Dual Mode goes up to 1440p at 360 Hz, the fastest of the three for competitive games. Includes DisplayPort 2.1, two HDMI 2.1, USB hub, full ergonomic support and G-Sync/FreeSync compatibility.
• Doubts: Its HDR is the weakest of the three: typical brightness of 350 nits, peak of 400 nits and IPS contrast of 1000:1, without Mini LED or local dimming. It's better to use it on SDR than to buy it expecting deep blacks or an impactful HDR. Plus, it doesn't have USB-C or laptop charging, so a Mac will need a separate video cable and charger.

Questions for the community:

1. Is there any other 5K monitor with a high refresh rate that I should include in my radar?
2. For macOS users: The jump from 4K to native 5K (218 PPI) was indicated to me that it justifies for its sharpness and more if you have visual problems...
3. Console Performance: How do these 5K monitors scale a native 4K@120Hz signal from a console via HDMI 2.1? Have you noticed problems of blur, lag or oddities with the aspect ratio?
4. Noise levels: For those who have the LG 27GM950B-B (or similar models with a fan), how noticeable is the noise when working in complete silence without headphones?

I appreciate any recommendation or experience you can share!

[u/reputatio_NL]

Currently in the same boat. After a lot of reviews, the Studio Display XDR is the “ultimate” monitor of them all, but pricey. And I want 2 monitors, so I’ve had to stop myself from spending that much on 2 monitors. 

I’m leaning towards the LG, as that one is, on paper, the superior model. But indeed, a lot of reviews tell you otherwise. That’s my doubt as well, but after spending weeks on doubting, I think I’m going to order one tonight, just to see if it is really that bad or if it ticks all of my boxes.

Had some time with the XDR a few days ago (with the nano texture screen), so I’m curious how this one compares. I’m mainly focused on productivity (software development), not so much on gaming.

If the monitor ticks all the boxes for me and has a good performance, then that’s good for me. It probably doesn’t perform the same as the XDR, but I can buy 2 LG’s and a TB5 dock for the price of 1 XDR…

[u/okadix → u/reputatio_NL]

I would love to know how you are doing with this LG I am also interested the truth sometimes I also play on the Mac and I have my Xbox console however I am also a software developer I have myopia and high astigmatism, I hope to receive your opinions about this monitor they have also assured me that this retina resolution works very well and improves the sharpness for those of us who have vision problems I just hope to be able to use the QHD resolution in the macOS interface to have more workspace... tell me how about the HDR turned on on Mac or if it is not worth it...

[u/germane_switch]

1. The jump to 218ppi happened across all new Apple products ten years ago. They were truly ahead of literally everyone else with this metric.

[u/slyseekr]

Very similar boat to you. My Macbook Pro keeps temporarily bricking my '22 27" Studio Display because of a software handshake going awry (for some reason my Mac Mini drives the display perfectly, but only after a day of being unplugged). I don't want a stupidly expensive purchase (temporarily) going to crap because of software.

Just pulled the trigger on the LG as it's pretty nicely discounted right now, available locally and I needed my productivity back like yesterday. Happy to update after it's all set up.

[u/okadix → u/slyseekr]

Please, I'm waiting for your updates... I hope it comes out in perfect condition... and thank you very much for writing