LG 32GK850G Review: 32″ 165Hz QHD Gaming Monitor with G-SYNC

The LG 32GK850G is the sibling model of the LG 32GK850F. Due to its G-SYNC module, it’s a bit more limited in some regards, but there are a few more differences from this as well.

If you are in the market for a large 32” 144Hz gaming monitor with support for G-Sync Overclocking to 165Hz, LG has made another winner with its 32GK850G model. If this monitor looks familiar, it’s because it is the NIVIDIA G-Sync version of the 32GK650F, which has been out for slightly longer. Unfortunately, this means it is slightly more expensive, but there are a few additions to the G-model that help justify its extra price.

The LG 32GK850G is proving to be a great option for gamers who want the responsiveness of a smaller gaming monitor, without having to give up their love of gaming on a large screen.

Image Quality

This monitor is perfect for making your games and computer come alive. The 32” panel has QHD clarity and beauty, with a 2560 x 1440 resolution or 93.24 PPI (pixels per square inch).

The monitor is based on LG’s VA panel that has a 3000:1 static-contrast ratio, 350 nits of brightness, 8-bits of color (16.7m colors), and a 5ms GTG response time.

This model is aimed squarely at serious gamers who are wanting something they can play in a dark room. VA panels are notorious for providing the best viewing experience in dark rooms, with negligible light bleed and good contrast ratios.

On top of that LG includes Dynamic Action Sync mode to provide a smoother gaming experience for those not utilizing NIVIDIA’s G-Sync. Also included is a Black Stabilizer setting to help see in darker scenes, or adding a crosshair feature to enhance accuracy in shooting games.

Gaming Performance

Gaming performance on the LG 32GK850G is fantastic. Mentioned before, the monitor sports a 5ms GTG response time in G-Sync mode, which is considered excellent at 165Hz (and also at 144Hz).

Many who prefer gaming in dark rooms will prefer the VA panel on this monitor when compared to an IPS or TN panel, which can be more washed out at darker settings.

Also worth noting is the LG 32GK850G utilizes NIVIDIA’s G-Sync to provide a variable refresh-rate range of 30-165Hz, which means that your frames will always be in sync should you ever run into a graphically intense scene – such as an explosion or multiplayer firefight.

This prevents your monitor from stuttering since it would still be set running at a certain frame-rate, even though the GPU is lagging behind.

Standout Features / Design

What make this monitor notable when compared to other 32” 144Hz monitors is it’s Sphere Lighting feature, and ultra-slim bezels.

With the Sphere lighting, you have the option to customize a ring shaped RGB LED light to whatever color you wish, or to sync it with your computer’s lighting scheme if you already have a color theme going on. We recommend blues/cool colors during the day and reds/ warm colors at night for gaming to prevent eyestrain.

The 3mm ultra slim bezels on this monitor are meant to provide a more immersive gaming experience, since there are no protruding edges from the screen. The matte finish flows seamlessly all the way to the edges, which is meant to make it easier for your eyes to refocus on the gaming content should they drift away from the screen at all.

This also makes the monitor an ideal candidate for a multi-monitor setup.

View / Ports

Ports on the back of the monitor include a DisplayPort 1.2, an HDMI 1.4, headphone jack, and 2 additional USB 3.0 ports (with fast charging).

Conclusion

In our opinion, the LG 32GK850G is one of the best gaming monitors currently available for mass-market gaming. Thanks to qualities such as its sleek design, and wonderfully integrated Sphere lighting feature, this monitor would look great in any room of your house.

Having a variable refresh rate all the way to 165Hz should satisfy even the most hardcore of gamers, especially if selecting this monitor as part of a multi-monitor setup. Combined with a fast 5ms response time, large 32” screen, great dark-room performance, and tiny bezels, this monitor will be a clear winner for many people.

Specifications (Overview)