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The “sweet spot” for gaming monitors moves fast. For years, it was 1080p. Then, 1440p at 144Hz became the gold standard. Now, the new champion is emerging: 4K at 144Hz. It’s the resolution of our consoles and high-end PCs, finally matched with the speed we demand. The only problem? It’s been punishingly expensive.
LG’s UltraGear 32GR93U aims to crash that party. On paper, it’s the complete package: a big 31.5-inch IPS display, a pin-sharp 4K (3840×2160) resolution, a buttery-smooth 144Hz refresh rate, and a blistering 1ms response time. It promises to be the perfect do-it-all screen for both your high-end PC rig and your PS5 or Xbox Series X.
But in the world of tech, a perfect spec sheet can hide compromises. Is this the monitor that finally brings high-speed 4K gaming to the masses, or is it a compromise too far? We’ve dug into the specs and, crucially, the real-world user experiences to find out if it delivers.
High-Speed 4K Gaming: Features a 31.5-inch 4K UHD (3840×2160) IPS display with a rapid 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms (GtG) response time for an ultra-smooth, responsive picture.
Next-Gen Console Ready: Equipped with an HDMI 2.1 connection, allowing it to support 4K gaming at up to 120Hz on next-generation consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Tear-Free Gameplay: Officially validated as NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible and also supports AMD FreeSync Premium to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering for a fluid, uninterrupted experience.
Vibrant, Realistic Colour: Covers 95% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified, enabling it to reproduce the vivid, dramatic colours that game developers intended.
Gamer-Centric Design: Built with a 3-side virtually borderless frame and a fully adjustable stand that supports tilt, height, and pivot adjustments for comfortable gaming.
In Detail: The 4K Speed Demon
The 32GR93U is all about delivering high-end specs at a price that doesn’t make your wallet weep. Its main promise is that big, fast, 4K IPS panel. IPS (In-Plane Switching) tech is what you want for great colours and viewing angles, and LG claims this one covers 95% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut—in simple terms, it should look vibrant.
For gamers, it’s loaded. It’s officially NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible and supports AMD FreeSync Premium. This means that whether you have an NVIDIA or AMD graphics card, the monitor and card talk to each other to eliminate that horrible screen-tearing and stuttering.
The real headline, though, is its connectivity. Thanks to HDMI 2.1, it can accept a 4K 120Hz signal from a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, complete with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). This is, for many, the holy grail of console gaming. Add in a fully adjustable stand (height, pivot, and tilt), a 3-side ‘virtually borderless’ design, and a special headphone jack that simulates 3D audio, and it looks like a world-beater.
Check Latest Price for the LG 32GR93U on Amazon UK
Core Feature Analysis
Image Quality: That 4K IPS Glow
First things first: this is a 4K panel. Stretching that 3840×2160 resolution across a 31.5-inch screen makes for a sharp, immersive picture. You get all the detail from your games and a huge amount of desktop space for work.
Being an IPS panel, the colours are a real strong point. The manufacturer claims 95% DCI-P3, and user feedback backs this up, with the general consensus praising its “crisp colors” and “high color accuracy.” This isn’t just marketing speak; this is real-world “Experience.”
In fact, one user who owns an LG C2 OLED—a TV widely regarded as one of the best screens you can buy, period—had high praise. For them, the 32GR93U is “one of the best (IPS) screen I have seen yet.” That’s a massive tick in the ‘pro’ column.
Performance: 144Hz Smoothness for PC & Console
This is where the 32GR93U really flexes. The 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms (GtG) response time are exactly what PC gamers look for to get a smooth, responsive, and blur-free experience.
But it’s console gamers who might be the biggest winners. That same PS5 owner confirmed the monitor “supports VRR & HDR on PS5” and that a fast-paced game like Warzone “runs smoothly.” It confirms the monitor delivers on its biggest promise: a high-performance, next-gen console experience. The inclusion of both G-Sync compatibility and FreeSync Premium just seals the deal, ensuring you’re covered for smooth-motion gaming, no matter your hardware.
The HDR & Brightness Question
Now for a dose of reality. The monitor is certified as VESA DisplayHDR 400. You need to know that this is the lowest rung on the HDR ladder. It means the monitor can accept an HDR signal, but it doesn’t have the high-end local dimming or peak brightness to create the stunning, bright highlights you’d see on a high-end TV.
The user experience confirms this. That same PS5 user who loved the screen made a very telling comment: “personally I keep HDR off.” This is typical. The feature is there, but the performance is so entry-level that you’re often better off with the standard (SDR) image.
However, don’t confuse poor HDR with a dim screen. The user feedback was clear that the “Brightness is quite high in SDR.” So, our takeaway is: buy it for its excellent SDR performance, not for its ‘tick-box’ HDR.
Design, Build, and… Potential Problems?
The “Gamer-centric Design” is a genuine plus. A fully adjustable stand with height, pivot (so you can turn it 90 degrees vertical), and tilt is something you don’t always get at this price. It’s a practical win for ergonomics. The 3-sided thin bezel looks modern and is great for multi-monitor setups.
However, we have to talk about quality control. While many users are happy, there are worrying rumbles. The AI-generated summary of reviews points to “screen quality concerns” like “flickering.” One user of this exact model noted “There is IPS bleed which I noticed after a few days of use.” (IPS bleed is where the backlight ‘leaks’ through, making the corners or edges look grey in dark scenes—a common issue, but still annoying).
More worrying is a 1-star review for the 27-inch version of this exact monitor series (the 27GR93U). That user reported that the “monitor started showing horizontal lines on the screen” after about a year, and that a “web search suggest that this is a common problem with this model.” While this is a single review for a sibling model, it raises a significant red flag about long-term reliability that we cannot ignore.
The LG 32GR93U vs. The Competition
- LG 32GR93U vs. LG 27GR93U: This is the most direct comparison—its 27-inch little brother. The 32-inch model you’re reading about offers a more immersive, “wow” experience. The 27-inch, however, will have a higher pixel density (ppi), meaning text and fine details will look even sharper. The choice is simple: immersion (32-inch) or sharpness (27-inch).
- LG 32GR93U vs. Samsung Odyssey G Series: This is a clash of panel technologies. As one user noted, they chose this LG over a “Samsung’s Odyssey G series.” Many Odyssey monitors (like the popular G7) use VA panels, not IPS. The trade-off is this: Samsung’s VA panels will give you far better contrast and deeper, inkier blacks. The LG’s IPS panel, however, will give you better viewing angles and (in most cases) a slightly faster, cleaner pixel response with less of the ‘black smearing’ that can affect VA panels.
Our Verdict
The LG UltraGear 32GR93U is a hugely compelling monitor that gets so much right. It absolutely nails its primary mission: delivering a big-screen, fast, and beautiful 4K 144Hz experience for both PC and, perhaps most impressively, next-generation consoles.
User experience confirms it’s a fantastic partner for a PS5, with its VRR support and smooth 120Hz performance. Its colours are strong, and its SDR brightness is more than enough for a vibrant picture in a typical room.
However, it is not a flawless victory. The HDR 400 performance is a ‘tick-box’ feature at best, and you should ignore it. More importantly, there are user reports of panel quality issues like IPS bleed and, in the wider model family, a worrying potential for long-term reliability problems.
Who is this for? This is a fantastic buy for the console gamer who wants to finally unlock the full 4K 120Hz potential of their PS5 or Xbox Series X. It’s also a great, versatile PC monitor.
Who should avoid it? If you play mostly in a pitch-black room, the “IPS glow” and potential backlight bleed might drive you mad. And if you demand bulletproof, long-term reliability, the user reports give us pause.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Cons:
Final Rating: 4.1 / 5
Additional Information
- Manufacturer: LG
- Model: 32GR93U
- ASIN: B0CCG359F7
- Screen Size: 31.5 Inches
- Panel: IPS, 3840×2160, 144Hz, 1ms (GtG)
Further Reading
- RTINGS.com: Monitor Reviews (A highly technical and trusted source for in-depth monitor testing.)
- TFTCentral: (An authoritative site for news and deep-dive reviews on display technology.)
- Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry (Experts on console and PC hardware performance, often reviewing monitors for console use.)