LG launches 45" and 39" OLED gaming monitors with smart TV features

[midian182]

What just happened? LG has launched two monitors that try to straddle the line between traditional gaming models and smart TVs. The new UltraGear OLEDs are large, curved screens with fast refresh rates. They also feature LG's WebOS platform, enabling access to integrated streaming apps and cloud gaming services. But if you want one, be prepared to pay a high price.

The UltraGear OLED 45GX90SA measures a hefty 45 inches, packs a 3440 x 1440 (21:9) resolution, and has an aggressive 800R curve. It also has a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms GTG response time, and 1,300 nits peak brightness for HDR (275-nits peak SDR brightness).

Other specs include AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync support, 10-bit colour depth, up to 98.5% of DCI-P3 color coverage, DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, and a 2-year limited warranty covering key components, including the OLED panel.

Port-wise, there are two HDMI 2.1 inputs, one DisplayPort 1.4, and one USB Type-C with 65W power delivery.

LG has also announced a 39-inch version of the monitor, the UltraGear OLED 39GX90SA, which has virtually identical specs to the larger version, aside from being six inches smaller.

One of the differentiating features of both these monitors is their inclusion of LG's WebOS 24 interface. Users can stream popular apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, the Apple TV app, Disney+, and HBO Max, along with 300 free LG Channels. They also offer access to Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and Blacknut game streaming directly from the WebOS home screen.

Large OLED monitors always carry a large price tag, and LG's latest UltraGears cost a small fortune: The 45-inch model is $1,699, while the 39-inch model is $1,599. LG will likely point to the smart TV features as one of the reasons for the high prices, and it's possible that the tariffs on Chinese products are having an effect.

LG isn't the only company to offer monitor/smart TV hybrids – it also has the MyView series. Samsung's series of Smart Monitors have been around since 2020 and HP has its Omen 32x Smart Gaming Monitor.

Permalink to story:

LG launches 45" and 39" OLED gaming monitors with smart TV features

 

[Squid Surprise]

If you’re also using it as a monitor, why do you need it to have “smart tv” stuff?

If it’s a monitor, it’s connected to your PC which will clearly also have any apps/features a smart tv would have - and offer FAR more versatility and power…

Honestly, smart TVs are rarely a good idea as the cpu inside will become obsolete far earlier than the TV itself. Better to get a “dumb” TV and just plug something into it that can offer smart TV features (PC, fire stick, Apple TV, Roku, etc). Those things can then be upgraded every few years without having to replace the tv itself.

 

[gamerk2]

If you’re also using it as a monitor, why do you need it to have “smart tv” stuff?

If it’s a monitor, it’s connected to your PC which will clearly also have any apps/features a smart tv would have - and offer FAR more versatility and power…

Honestly, smart TVs are rarely a good idea as the cpu inside will become obsolete far earlier than the TV itself. Better to get a “dumb” TV and just plug something into it that can offer smart TV features (PC, fire stick, Apple TV, Roku, etc). Those things can then be upgraded every few years without having to replace the tv itself.

It's not like the CPU is a limiting factor here; you're never going to upgrade a TV because "the CPU is too slow".

 

[NumberNine]

LG just can't get enough of that beautiful device telemetry. Maybe time for me to switch monitor brands when my LG needs to be replaced.

 

[Squid Surprise]

It's not like the CPU is a limiting factor here; you're never going to upgrade a TV because "the CPU is too slow".

If you have an old smart TV, you’ll probably notice that the interface seems to crawl… I suspect many upgrade their TVs at that time - which is dumb…

Better to buy a $50 firestick (or whatever brand you prefer) and plug it into an HDMI port…

 

[toooooot]

What is a smart TV? A usb drive size board with a tiny chip and few gig of ram.
It can fit in any modern monitor from 25' to 40'.
That is about 20 dollars more added to the price of a monitor.
The question is, how many people need it? I suppose you can use it as a TV if you do not need a computer anymore? But it cost significantly more than a good TV of this size.
Btw, LG still has 2y warranty unlike most OLED sellers. Why would anyone pick LG over something like MSI or Dell?

 

[gamerk2]

Btw, LG still has 2y warranty unlike most OLED sellers. Why would anyone pick LG over something like MSI or Dell?

Because MSI and Dell are using LGs OLED tech.

 

[NumberNine]

Because MSI and Dell are using LGs OLED tech.

This is correct. There are only a few companies making the actual panels. The rest wrap them in plastic shells with electronics and resell them under their own brand.

 

[EvilRebar]

I could have been a customer for this monitor when I lived in a studio apartment and would use my PC monitor as my TV.

Except why pay so much when you can snag an LG 42" C4 OLED for $900? Or a 48" B4 OLED for $550? Yes this tech is superior, but it's not worth the huge premium.

3440x1440 is also going to be a bit awkward on a 45" display at desktop distances.

 

[scoffer]

The ONLY reason that they want to sell you this over-priced garbage is...you guessed it.....ADS!!! They've decided that the gaming market is too big a slice of pie to miss. Just wait -they will be shoving ads down your throat before you know it. And, before too long, you won't be able to buy a simple monitor any more, from any manufacturer. Feel free to disagree -but deep down we all KNOW what's on the horizon.

 

[Eldrach]

I could have been a customer for this monitor when I lived in a studio apartment and would use my PC monitor as my TV.

Except why pay so much when you can snag an LG 42" C4 OLED for $900? Or a 48" B4 OLED for $550? Yes this tech is superior, but it's not worth the huge premium.

3440x1440 is also going to be a bit awkward on a 45" display at desktop distances.

Well - this monitor will be useless as a TV due to the agressive curve - pretty useless for gaming as well tbh with that amount of curvature. I’d not choose anything below 1800R - 800R, if that is correct, will be like sitting inside a snowglobe

 

[Antias]

LOL It's ironic that I'm sitting here with my 49", 32:9, 5120x1440 monitor with 3 browser tabs in separate windows open across it...
THIS website open and reading the news in the centre, QBittorent app on the left watching my torrents, and my local (Australian) free to air channel 10 app on the right watching the local news...
So there IS a place for ultrawide monitors for TV watching, especially when multitasking...

I'm considering adding a TV tuner card to my PLEX server so I can reduce the bandwidth strain on my internet connection and use the free to air airial and watch TV through my PLEX server... (they are strangely expensive though and not many options these days, Hauppauge seem to be the best option for the Aussie market)

 

[netman]

"LG will likely point to the smart TV features as one of the reasons for the high prices, and it's possible that the tariffs on Chinese products are having an effect."

A smart TV without a TV tuner... Laughable...!

 

[daffy duck]

WebOS is a steaming pile of crap. Would never buy one of their TV's let alone a computer monitor infested with this adware crap.