LG UltraFine Evo 6K 32-inch Monitor Review: More Pixels, Please

The UltraFine 6K also has a Nano IPS black display, which the Asus model doesn’t have. Nano IPS Black is actually a combination of two technologies that improve the image quality of IPS in different ways. Nano IPS enhances color coverage, while IPS enhances black contrast. The combination of the two is fantastic, especially on such a fast monitor. It covers sRGB and AdobeRGB at a full 100 percent, something I’ve never seen on an IPS monitor before. Color accuracy is also incredibly strong. Right out of the box, I measured average color error at a Delta-E of 0.62. Anything less than 1.0 is considered excellent, even for professional color graders. No further calibration is required here.

In terms of brightness, my review unit topped out at 480 nits in standard dynamic range (SDR), which is plenty bright. The screen has an anti-reflective, matte coating that prevents glare and reflections without dimming the screen too much. This is probably going to irritate some people coming from a shiny, old LG 5K display. Although I would have liked an even brighter display, LG’s solution is quite subtle. And while it’s certainly not a proper HDR monitor since it uses a traditional LED IPS panel, I was able to measure a peak brightness of 640 nits in HDR. This is a far cry from OLED or mini-LED. Remember: HDR effect is produced by high brightness And Difference. This is what makes OLED displays attractive. The UltraFine Evo 6K has a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, but I only got 1,720:1 in my testing. However, this is still better than average, as monitors like the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K use advanced IPS blacks to bring contrast closer to 3,000:1.

The refresh rate is a big problem with the UltraFine Evo 6K’s picture. It’s only 60Hz. It doesn’t matter how sharp, vibrant, and color-accurate your image is if motion feels harsh. Even fairly affordable monitors like my favorite, the Dell 27 Plus 4K ($300), have a 120-Hz refresh rate. This probably isn’t LG’s fault, as Asus’s 6K monitor is also stuck at 60Hz – but that’s the current limit of resolution on offer. I have no doubt that future 6K monitors will come with a 120-Hz refresh rate, but as of now, it’s a compromise you’ll be making for the extra pixels.

expensive offer

Photograph: Luke Larson

The LG UltraFine Evo 6K is priced at $2,000. Although it’s not as much as Apple’s ridiculous Pro Display XDR, it also lacks the HDR capabilities that make that monitor special. The price seems especially steep when you consider how cheap OLED monitors are getting. Dell’s first nongaming OLED, the Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED, is only $850 and is often on sale for less than $700. It’s only 4K, but it’s better for both viewing and producing HDR content.

Finally, if you’re set on 6K, there’s also the Asus ProArt PA32QCV to consider. I haven’t tested it yet, but it’s $600 cheaper than LG’s model, despite using the same 6K panel. What will that extra $700 buy you? An attractive design for one, but also more up-to-date ports. Although I like that Asus has kept its ports better than LG, it uses older specs like Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort 1.4. The biggest difference is the lack of Nano IPS Black, which means it probably doesn’t have the color performance and contrast of the LG model. These differences aren’t insignificant, but are they worth $700? It’s hard to say, especially since they’re otherwise the same panel. I can’t say for sure until I’ve tested the Asus model, but on the surface, it seems to cost a little more than the LG UltraFine 6K.

On the other hand, if you’re already spending so much money on a 6K monitor, image quality is paramount, and the inclusion of Nano IPS Black makes the LG UltraFine 6K a better alternative to an OLED or Pro Display XDR.