The LG 27UD58-B is a stellar 27-inch gaming monitor that undercuts most 4K monitors in the entry-level category. It uses an Ultra-High Definition (UHD) In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel, and AMD’s FreeSync to deliver vivid colors. It has an array of features, including On-Screen Control with Screen Split, two HDMI ports and a display port, both can be used to deliver 4K video over a single cable.
The display shows top-of-the-class performance in gaming and input-lag tests, making it a strong contender in the category. Additional features like game mode and black stabilizer give it an advantage over its peers, and the fact that its pricing isn’t exaggerated, make it quite appealing. If 27 inches for a monitor, the LG 24UD58-B is a 24-inch iteration of the same monitor, with the same performance and design.
Design and Features
LG has a tradition of producing aesthetically pleasing products, and the 27UD58-B gets exactly that. The 24-inch UHD (3,840-by-2,160) panel is enclosed in a black cabinet with a grayish trim. The cabinet is supported by a curved stand that provides height and tilt adjustments, but not swivel or pivot.
You can remove the stand and use the four VESA mounting holes with an optional wall-mounting kit. The 10-bit panel covers 72 percent of the sRGB color gamut and has a peak brightness of 250 cd/m2, a 16:9 aspect ratio, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 5ms GTG (gray-to-gray) pixel response.
Ports
All the I/O ports are located at the rear of the cabinet, facing outward. All you’ll find here are two HDMI and a DisplayPort, it doesn’t have any USB ports, which is a fatal design omission. Its stablemate, the 27-inch LG 27UD88-W offers better connectivity, with two HDMI inputs, a DisplayPort input, a USB-C port, two USB 3.0 ports and a 2.0 USB ports. Unlike most monitors, this one has on=screen controls so you’ll just adjust the settings, like you’d do on a typical TV.
Performance
The LG 27UD58-B is a solid performer in gaming tests. It delivers vibrant colors when tested with Grand Theft Auto V, played on Sony PlayStation 4, minus the usual issues of ghosting and screen tearing. Enabling FreeSync setting did eliminate the obvious minor blurs on the screen, and the black stabilizer feature enhances playability significantly.
There’s also Game Mode that makes the game even smoother, I tested it on the Acer Predator Helios 300, with a GeForce GTX 1060 GPU. Interestingly, the screen has a Screen Split 2.0 option that lets you customize the display for both play and work, with upto four picture-in-picture setups.
The IPS panel displays every shade of gray accurately, with all shadow highlights remaining sharp in 4K images and videos. When watching 4K videos online, the pictures are bright, with rich color tone, even when viewed from extreme angles. I tested the monitor with a trailer of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and the color quality was ideal, meaning it can get better on games and full episodes of 4K movies.
The 24UD58 consumes 40 watts of power in Standard mode, but it does go down while set to the sRGB preset. That’s more energy-efficient than most gaming monitors in the same category, which use upwards of 52 watts in Standard mode.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a gorgeous monitor with an assortment of features, you’ll appreciate LG’s 27UD58-B in every angle. For the price, you’re getting a monitors that fires sharp UHD picture, lets play games perfectly, among other features, including AMD’s FreeSync anti-tearing technology. The panel’s out-of-the-box color accuracy is slightly off, but that ca be worked out with a third-party calibration solution, which can correct the accuracy issues.
Yes, it doesn’t offer the vivid colors and speakers you’d get with the Acer XB271HK, but the LG 27UD58-B offers on-screen controls and is less expensive. If all you need is a monitor that performs as well as it looks stylish, have this panel at the top of your short list.
