Lg 27uk850

To expand our office a little we have obtained the LG 27UK850-W monitor, a model that was launched some time ago and that we currently find it for an irresistible price for what it is capable of giving us. It is a 27-inch 4K monitor with HDR10 and impressive image quality due to the high pixel density that we have.

One of its qualities is the quality / price it gives us, being very versatile and perfect for working in photography and editing thanks to 99% sRGB coverage with complete connectivity. Let's see what this monitor can give us for only 500 euros, will it be at the level of the ViewSonic VX3211 32-inch?

We thank Miguel for the acquisition of this screen for one of our teams, and so take the opportunity to bring his analysis to you.

LG 27UK850 technical characteristics

Unboxing

This LG 27UK850 has come to us in a compact flexible cardboard box that is quite narrow and manageable. All their faces are painted in glossy black to contrast with the product photos and the main technical characteristics.

On this occasion the box is opened by the widest part, to reveal a double sandwich mold system made of expanded polystyrene cork. This is responsible for keeping the monitor in a safe place on the inside, while the rest of the accessories are distributed on the periphery with separate molds.

So the purchase bundle contains the following items:

• LG 27UK850 Monitor Legs Support Arm External Power Supply and Power Cable USB Type-C Cables HDMI and Display Port Cable Routing Element Support CD Installation Manual Calibration Report

As usual it is a very complete bundle that brings us everything you need to connect our monitor. In addition, everything is white, so harmony and good taste is assured. Incidentally, the monitor comes completely disassembled.

Exterior design and assembly

Since it comes disassembled, we will see in more detail each of the elements that are responsible for holding the LG 27UK850.

Base

The base consists of only two elements, the legs themselves and the support column. In the first instance we have what would be the legs, which is simply a piece of solid metal with a design on a fairly large half-circle and the hole to install the support located in the central part.

Despite being so thin, it takes up quite a bit of space due to its design. With minimalist and sober finishes, although providing great stability for the area it occupies. As always, a few soft rubber feet have been placed on the bottom to avoid damaging the support surface and avoid slipping.

For its part, the support arm is completely cylindrical and also made of aluminum with its natural silver color in a beautiful matt finish. This support has a hydraulic mechanism that allows us to move the monitor vertically, remaining very discreet as the internal mechanism is not seen at any time. The movement is very smooth and with a good route, although later we will see it in action. To join these two elements we just need to screw the manual screw of the base to the arm, without major problems.

And finally we come to the mechanism that connects the arm to the screen, which is incredibly simple as it is simply an extension of the arm with an internal mechanism to move the monitor vertically. All of this is covered by a plastic bezel that also covers the 100 × 100mm VESA mount that is used. Although of course, it is a variant with a quick and screwless installation method that other brands also use. The system, having little mechanism, is quite stable and prevents wobbles.

Screen and assembled set

The fully assembled set would be as we see in the image. The first thing we notice is that the legs clearly come out of the plane that occupies the screen, which will be an impediment to placing keyboards very close to it, for example. In addition, they are very wide, occupying almost 70-75% of the screen surface.

Going deep into the design of the panel, it's a 27-inch widescreen 16: 9 standard and no curvature. The manufacturer has applied a 3H anti-reflective treatment of very good quality and that blurs everything that falls on the screen very well.

Like most current designs, we have very small frames, which are integrated directly into the image panel, being about 7 mm. We only have physical frames at the bottom, also quite thin not exceeding 25 mm. The control system is carried out using a joystick, located in the lower central part of the screen, not as accessible as if it were in a corner, but it is not a big problem either.

Ergonomics

As in other 27-inch monitors, this LG 27UK850-W will allow us to move in 3 possible axes.

The hydraulic arm allows us to position the monitor in the 110 mm movement range from both positions. It is more than enough for a monitor of this size, also the movement is smooth and the system invisible to the user.

Regarding the z axis, the arm will not be able to turn to the sides as other monitors usually do, so we will have to do it manually. We can manipulate the vertical orientation of the screen at an angle of 20 ° up and -5 ° down, which will be the standard movement in most monitors.

And finally we can also rotate the screen about 90 ^o clockwise to place the panel in reading mode. It will be up to us to adjust the image orientation with the graphics card software.

Ports and connections

We finish the design section with the ports that this LG 27UK850-W has installed , all of them on the back curiously located as we will see now.

• 19V2x HDMI 2.01x DisplayPort 1.21x USB Type-C Jack Power Jack with DisplayPort 1.22x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-AJack 3.5mm Headphone Jack

In the case of the video connectors, both entandares, the one of DP and the one of HDMI perfectly support 4K @ 60 FPS with depth of 10 bits that are the maximum benefits that the monitor gives. In this sense we will not have any kind of problem.

The USB Type-C, in addition to having a DP type video signal, will also be necessary to operate the USB Type-A ports in case you want to connect peripherals to them. Of course it also supports device loading, but not Thunderbolt, it is the only functionality we lose.

Finally, the monitor is manageable directly from the operating system with the LG OnScreen Control application, and again the USB-C cable must be connected.

LG 27UK850-W display and features

We continue with the section on the technical characteristics of the screen and the respective calibration of the LG 27UK850-W.

We find a monitor with a 27-inch screen and ELED-backlit IPS image technology. Its native resolution is 3840x2160p, that is, 4K in a standard 16: 9 format , which means that we have a pixel pitch of only 0.1554 × 0.1554 mm, so the sharpness and image quality is fantastic. There are not usually many 27 monitors with this type of resolution. In this case we have support for HDR10, although no DisplayHDR certification although the maximum brightness peaks reach 450 nits. In any case, HDR will not be exactly its strength, as it is more than anything an improved contrast that gives us little difference. Finally, the typical contrast is 1000: 1, fairly standard on an IPS monitor.

This time it is not a gaming monitor, although it does not have bad speed records for this function. The refresh rate will be 60 Hz and includes AMD FreeSync dynamic refresh technology, among other things to ensure we don't have any kind of Ghosting or Flickering problem. Likewise, the response speed is 5 ms GTG, so it is not bad for an IPS.

As for design features, as the manufacturer ensures a color coverage of 99% sRGB, although it does not provide data on DCI-P3, so we will check it during calibration. The depth of 10-bit colors in 8-bit mode + A-FRC, so they are not real but aided by a color palette. Supports HDCP function, and includes black stabilizer and 6-axis color control (RGBCYM). A positive thing is that the monitor comes with a good calibration from the factory, judging by the report that is included.

The viewing angles are at 178 ^or as it should be on an IPS panel, and as we can see in the captures, the image quality is perfect, without variations in tones or loss of sharpness. To offer greater versatility, two 5W speakers have been incorporated in perfect stereo and with Maxx Audio technology, whose performance is satisfactory, but without anything remarkable.

Calibration and Color Testing Will the LG 27UK850-W Live Up to It?

To see in a practical way the pure performance of the LG 27UK850-W and its color calibration, we are going to carry out a series of tests with our X-Rite Colormunki Display colorimeter and the HCFR and DisplayCAL 3 programs, both free and free to use.

All tests have been carried out with the factory monitor settings, we have only modified the brightness up to 200 nits for final profiling and calibration.

Brightness and Contrast

To carry out these brightness tests we have set the brightness to the maximum, although this time we have not used HDR, since the difference it provides is not relevant for calibration.

Measurements	Contrast	Gamma value	Color temperature	Black level
@ 100% gloss	1015: 1	2.18	6520K	0.2412 cd / m 2

The typical performance values ​​reflect a very good panel, as you might expect from LG. We have a very well adjusted contrast, as well as a Gamma value and color temperature almost nailed to the ideal. Likewise, the luminance of blacks is very good, if we consider that the typical brightness at 100% will be 350 cd / m ².

And so we arrive at the uniformity of the panel, in this case dividing the screen into a 3 × 3 grid, we are shown values in all cases above the promised 350 nits, so the HDR mode has no problems in reaching those 450 nits promised. As it usually happens, in the corners it is where the values ​​are lowest, although only 25 nits with respect to the highest points.

We have also wanted to check the bleeding of the panel and the typical effect of brightness or IPS glow that these panels have. We noticed the bleeding slightly in the two upper corners, which coincides with the somewhat lower values ​​in the uniformity test, although it is not worrying. And with respect to the IPS glow, it is not too pronounced either, having an overall fairly uniform panel, although in extreme conditions it does show a little more brightness in the central part.

SRGB color space

As the manufacturer noted, we have obtained coverage in this space of 99.1%, so we are more than satisfied with your panel in this regard. It is true that it is not located as a high-performance panel, since in Adobe RGB we have a coverage of 73.7%, for this price it is more than solvent.

The average Delta calibration is 2.84, so we will try to fix it in a calibration and see if we go down to 1 to polish its performance. As a base, the calibration curves are not bad, although it is true that the luminance exponential is slightly away from the ideal line, due to a somewhat low Gamma for this space. The black and white adjustment is correct, as well as the color temperature and the uniformity of the primary colors, which will make things easier when it comes to calibration.

DCI-P3 color space

For this space we have obtained a coverage of 77%, perhaps somewhat low for professional demands when it comes to creating video content. The Delta E in this space is quite similar to the previous one with an average of 2.86 and somewhat bad values ​​in the gray scale, which should always be a priority to polish.

As usual, the curves are better adjusted to this space because they need a somewhat lower Gamma, this being demonstrated in HCFR. Otherwise it is a very good panel for what we are paying, although perhaps not at the level of the ViewSonic with a similar price.

Calibration

Finally, we are going to carry out a calibration for the LG 27UK850-W providing the final data of the delta values ​​for the checked spaces.

Here we show you the new Delta E values ​​for the sRGB and DCI-P3 space respectively. We have greatly improved color rendering without much effort, making it a monitor that easily supports enhancements and this is proof of that.

LG 27UK850-W OSD panel

We already made in the design that the OSD panel of the LG 27UK850-W is easily controlled from a joystick located in the lower central area of ​​the screen. We would have liked more if it was behind for manageability.

If we press inwards, we will obtain a selection wheel with four functions in the four directions of space. Selection of input, options for game mode, turning the monitor on and off and the OSD menu that we will now see.

Regarding the game mode, it has its own OSD panel with enough options to navigate, among which we see 4 color profiles. Similarly, we can activate AMD FreeSync directly from the firmware, as well as modify the response time and the black stabilization.

You can not miss a quick access to modify the volume of the monitor, as we remember, it has two integrated speakers and a jack for headphones.

The OSD menu is quite curious, since the manufacturer has maintained a style located in the right corner instead of the central area and also with a narrow and high shape, as if it were a quick access menu.

In it we can see a total of 5 sections, without too many options except in the "general" section where we have everything related to power control and monitor OSD. The image modes have also been separated from the basic adjustment of contrast brightness and RGB, which is a success. In general, it is not at the level of the new generation design and gaming equipment, but we have everything necessary for a complete adjustment.

User experience with the LG 27UK850-W

In our case, this LG 27UK850-W stays with us, so it will be used a lot from now on. This are our firsts impressions.

Versatility in all aspects

For a standard user as most of us can be, what we need is a monitor that adapts to all requirements without highlighting any . This is precisely what the LG does, with an IPS panel that gives us very good image quality and a UHD resolution of just 27 inches, which is a great advantage in terms of sharpness.

In anything, it's not a design-focused monitor, because we don't have a Pantone certification and not too high color coverage in non-sRGB spaces. However, its factory calibration is quite good and with some adjustments we get great benefits in the Delta E in its coverage range.

Likewise, we have support for HDR although without DisplayHDR certification, which is not a very differential aspect in quality if we activate this option. We would have liked for example that it incorporated real 10-bit depth, instead of using a FRC interpolation.

Another important aspect will be bleeding , which in this panel we have detected a few small leaks at the corners that fall within normal limits. At first glance we do not notice a difference, except that we create the conditions for it, dark background and off light. And finally the glow IPS is also very uniform, largely because the monitor has a small diagonal and these effects are greatly reduced.

With good details for gaming

It also does not stand out for being a gaming monitor, since its maximum frequency is 60 Hz. But despite this, LG has introduced AMD FreeSync technology to improve performance in the face of image fluidity and to eliminate typical effects such as ghosting and blinking, which more than meets it.

If we do not plan to play in competitive mode and enjoy solo games, the 27 inches will come as a fable for small desks, since at a glance we will have everything under control, and the high pixel density will give us an excellent image. In any case, if we plan to play in the native 4K resolution, current graphics can barely reach 60 FPS at this resolution and high quality, so asking for more refreshment frequency is pointless.

Final words and conclusion about LG 27UK850-W

We opted to buy this model mainly for its quality / price, this is obvious, since there are usually not many good-performance IPS monitors that are for less than 500 euros. Once again we emphasize the good versatility that it gives us, always suitable for both design and testing of games and multimedia.

In the image benefits, it is a panel of medium size and 4K resolution, offering great image quality due to its pixel pitch. We do not have 10 real bits, but it is something that is understood due to the price range, but it offers us a very good factory calibration, although without a perfect adjustment of the Delta E, always rectifiable with a calibration.

It is also HDR, although it is not a very remarkable quality. Despite not having DisplayHDR certification, its panel reaches the promised 450 nits and 99% sRGB without problems. Although it is true that for a professional performance we should demand a little more in this regard. We have a very low IPS glow and slight bleeding in the upper corners, but nothing worrisome even visible in normal use.

Visit our updated guide to the best PC monitors on the market

It performs well in non-competitive gaming, since its 60Hz in 4K is sufficient and integrates FreeSync to improve fluidity. The OSD offers us different image modes for gaming, as well as management directly from the operating system through OnScreen Control. Another important detail is that it integrates a complete connection panel, with USB-C for greater versatility and connectivity with laptops. It doesn't have Thunderbolt though.

We finish with the price, and this LG 27UK850-W can be obtained for just 499 euros today. It is one of the cheapest options we have in 4K and with very good benefits in general. For our part, we recommend it if the 32 inches of the ViewSonic VX3211 are too big for us.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ VERSATILITY IN GAMING AND DESIGN	- THE BASE OCCUPIES ENOUGH
+ 27 ”AND 4K IMAGE QUALITY	- LIGHT BLEEDING IN CORNERS
+ COMPLETE CONNECTIVITY AND USB-C	- NORMALITE HDR
+ QUALITY / PRICE
+ GOOD CALIBRATION

The Professional Review team awards you the gold medal and recommended product:

LG 27UK850-W

DESIGN - 86%

PANEL - 85%

CALIBRATION - 86%

BASE - 85%

OSD MENU - 82%

GAMES - 81%

PRICE - 90%

85%