The LG 27GX700A Is Awesome… and Bad (Tandem OLED Review)

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The LG 27GX700A Is Awesome… and Bad (Tandem OLED Review) In this review of the LG 27GX700A-B, LG’s first 4th-generation tandem W-OLED / 4-layer WOLED gaming monitor, I test its real-world performance as a 27-inch 1440p 280Hz OLED gaming monitor with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 to see if it actually delivers on LG’s claims of higher brightness, better HDR, and wider color gamut. I walk through SDR color accuracy, HDR accuracy, brightness, motion clarity, input lag, subpixel layout, matte coating, and overall usability for gaming, content creation, and everyday desktop use. On the positive side, this new 4-layer W-OLED panel is a massive jump in color performance compared to older 3-layer LG WOLED panels, with wide color gamut coverage around 85% BT.2020 that gets surprisingly close to QD-OLED in most normal viewing, and the near-instant OLED response time plus 280Hz refresh rate gives elite motion clarity, super low latency (around 24ms total system latency), and fantastic target tracking in fast FPS gameplay. It also handles ambient light well with great perceived contrast in a bright room thanks to extremely low black levels, and the new RGWB subpixel layout helps with text clarity compared to older OLED gaming monitors. But HDR is a huge problem: HDR tone mapping and EOTF tracking are way off out of the box in basically every Gamer preset, with crushed shadow detail, under-tracked highlights, bad RGB balance, and overall inaccurate HDR color and luminance that I would not trust for HDR gaming, HDR video, or HDR editing, and even SDR grayscale and gamma tracking were weak with too much red and lifted shadows. Brightness is also disappointing for an HDR monitor in 2025: even though full-screen brightness can hit 300+ nits, 10% window peak brightness is not meaningfully better than last-gen WOLED and in some cases is actually dimmer than older MLA WOLED panels like the Spectrum Black 27, meaning real-scene HDR often looks too dim and closer to typical QD-OLED brightness instead of being a big upgrade. On top of that, LG uses a super grainy matte anti-glare coating that makes the image look smeared, sparkly, and oily instead of clear or glossy, which destroys perceived sharpness and makes white UI elements and highlights look dirty, so desktop clarity and overall visual quality take a big hit. So even though the LG 27GX700A has awesome specs on paper (1440p 280Hz OLED, HDMI 2.1, per-pixel contrast, wide color, low input lag) and is priced around $600-$850, in my opinion the execution is both awesome and bad: amazing next-gen WOLED panel potential, but disappointing HDR brightness, inaccurate HDR/SDR calibration, annoying matte coating, and firmware that needs work. I’m giving it a 3/10, I’m returning it, and I’d recommend waiting for glossy versions of this same LG 4th-gen WOLED / tandem OLED panel from other brands with better firmware and hopefully higher real HDR peak brightness. Specs & Price: 0:00 Color & Accuracy - 0:47 HDR & Contrast - 4:56 Gaming & Motion - 7:44 Clarity, Coating, & More - 9:31 Check out Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software: https://www.portrait.com/ As part of their reviewer program I gain access to Calman Ultimate. Watch Display Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ihdqQ2lJB4&list=PL5tcDDlxmnwCKe1lzCP_fM80xwCxs3ba-&index=2 Watch 4K HDR Display Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS0sx6xYHN0&list=PL5tcDDlxmnwAMvNVj7CzfrGB9UV9_yMsF&index=3 My Favorite HDR Displays (For Now). Affiliate links below. I earn commission on purchases. Best 1440p OLED Monitors MSI MAG 27” (1440p 500Hz OLED) 272QP X50: https://amzn.to/46ECz7P Gigabyte 27" (1440p 360Hz OLED) FO27Q3: https://amzn.to/4awu8u1 MSI MPG 27" (1440p 360Hz OLED) 271QRX: https://amzn.to/4f5ODkL My Favorite Mounting Hardware. Affiliate links below. Commission earned. VESA Wall Mount (For TV Mounting): https://amzn.to/3xvAFYc VESA Monitor Arm (For Heavy Displays): https://amzn.to/4aqiDoT VESA Extender Plates: https://amzn.to/4cIG3Y2 Music https://www.davidcuttermusic.com My Favorite HDR Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5tcDDlxmnwDh5BZz4LXubXRXnLuW61G2 Excellent HDR Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSqKTF8q8Ts&list=PL5tcDDlxmnwBmLkUU4mMKaFqQ4NoK4rDA&index=1&t=1166s