LG 27UD58-B Monitor Review

A Deep Dive into The LG 27UD58-B. The LG 27UD58-B is a very affordable 4K resolution monitor with crisp picture quality and a respectable color gamut (NTSC 72%). It operates as a pseudo-10-bit system (8 bits + FRC), capable of emulating over one billion colors at a pixel density of 163 pixels per inch.

First released in 2016, it is no longer manufactured, however, back-stocked models can still be found on the market. Currently, manufactured monitors of comparable quality and price by LG include the LG 27UL500-W.

Related Article: LG 32UD59-B Monitor Review

Who’s It For?

It is perfect for gamers, home video enthusiasts, or as a cost-effective office display product. The LG 27UD58-B is not intended as a workstation product for professional videographers and photo editors. As an entry-level monitor, however, it is surprisingly affordable (typically in the neighborhood of $300-400) and offers a variety of features typically found only on more expensive monitors.

What We Like About LG 27UD58-B

Affordable price and great value for a large, 4k monitor (3840 x 2160). The use of AH-IPS panels improves viewing to nearly a full hemisphere of viewing angle (178°). Low input lag time (9 ms) and fast response time (5 ms) eliminate most trailing effects for fast movement at 60 Hz refresh rates.

The Black Stabilizer feature, a low gamma image modifier, improves contrast for dark scenes, and the monitor also includes a low blue light mode for end-of-the-day work. In addition, there are several picture preset modes that provide the user with a variety of use-specific viewing options:

• Reader (enhanced screen brightness for document viewing
• Photo (optimized for photos)
• Cinema (optimized for video)
• Dark Room 1 (brightness adjusted for working in a dark environment)
• Dark Room 2 (lower brightness than Dark Room 1)
• Color Weakness (shifts red and green colors to optimize for individuals with red-green color blindness)
• FPS Game 1 (optimized for first-person shooter games)
• FPS Game 2 (Black Stabilizer feature with FPS Game 1 settings for very dark image scene games)
• RTS Game (optimized for real-time strategy games)
• Two custom options settings (one for general viewing and one for game-specific features).

The monitor boasts a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a peak brightness output of 250 nit. The screen backlighting is also free of screen flicker, which is a bonus for reducing eye strain during those long hours of gaming, writing, or graphic editing.

The LG 27UD58-B operates optimally at a 60 Hz screen refresh rate, with real-time screen rate variation (Variable Refresh Rate; VRR) of 40-60 Hz by using its Freesync feature, an AMD protocol that optimizes variable frame rate synchronization. It is also capable of split-screen display (up to 4 panels) for multitasking productivity or group gaming. The monitor menu can be accessed either through a PC or on-screen via a joystick located under the bottom screen bezel.

What We Don’t Like About LG 27UD58-B

Although rated at 72% NTSC color space (99%+ of the sRGB color space), some users report that they find the monitor falls short of a typical 90%+ Adobe RGB color space. There are hardware limits in that the monitor but cannot attain a 144 Hz screen refresh rate.

For fast display without screen chop and image blur at 4k resolutions, refresh rates of 144 Hz are preferable, however, this ability is only seen in much more expensive monitors (at least 3-4x the cost of the LG 27UD58-B). Although a nice touch, the Freesync VRR feature only works fully with AMD video cards (in extended mode: 40-60 Hz) and has reduced capabilities with Nvidia video cards (in basic mode: 48-60 Hz).

Furthermore, Freesync only operates through the Display Port, despite the monitor sporting two additional HDMI ports. This limitation makes the Freesync feature incapable of coordinating with standalone video gaming systems, such as Xbox One, despite the monitor being targeted towards gamers.

What’s Included?

• Driver CD
• Power cord
• HDMI cable
• Display port cable
• Stand base, body, screw cover, and screws (2)
• Cable holder strap

Review Summary

This is a fantastic monitor for the price, packed with features typically seen only in more expensive devices. Despite several cost-conservative measures to remain affordable (such as 8 bit + FRC and not true 10-bit color, port limitations for VRR, etc.), we feel you get a lot for your money with the LG 27UD58-B.

A 27” screen, 4k resolution, a variety of screen modes, split-screen capability, and variable refresh rate synchronization, all for under $400. This is one of those “sweet spot” pieces of tech that rests between the yacht and the dinghy, a skiff in a speed boat suit.