LG’s 39-Inch Ultrawide 5K2K OLED: The Gaming Monitor You Didn’t Know You Needed

In the age of endless screen time, LG's new UltraGear evo GX9 might be the splash gamers and creatives need. Unveiled back in January at CES, this 39-inch ultrawide beast promises a 5K2K OLED display that’s set to redefine your screen experience. It's the first of its kind, sporting a 21:9 aspect ratio and OLED technology known for its true blacks and high contrast. But at $1,799.99, does it deliver enough to justify the spend?

The Numbers Game

Let’s talk specs. The UltraGear evo GX9 is no slouch, offering a resolution of 5120 x 2160 at a 1500R curve. It’s packing a pixel density of 143 PPI, decent, though not quite at retina level. LG promises a contrast ratio of 1,850,000:1, courtesy of OLED, and a refresh rate of up to 165Hz. For gamers, it’s got AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-SYNC, along with lightning-fast 0.03ms response times. The real story? You're looking at a package designed to cover all bases, from the latest FPS games to intense productivity sessions.

What's the Catch?

Okay, here’s what they’re not saying as loudly: the typical brightness tops out at 335 nits. That's a bit dim compared to others in the space, like Apple's displays. Sure, it can hit 1,500 nits at peak HDR with 1.5% APL, but how often do real-world scenarios call for that? It's a minor letdown in an otherwise bold offering. The founder story is interesting. The metrics are more interesting.

Why It Matters

For those ready to game on this display, the connectivity is nothing to sneeze at. USB-C with 90-watt power delivery, DisplayPort 2.1, and HDMI 2.1 mean your setup won’t be lacking. But the real question is, who’s actually going to use all that ultrawide space regularly? It's a niche that’s growing, sure, but is it enough to drive adoption en masse? Fundraising isn’t traction. What matters is whether anyone's actually using this.

LG is set to start shipping these beauties next week, so if you’re keen, you can grab one on their site or Amazon. But before you drop nearly two grand, think hard about whether this screen is a need or just a very expensive want.