UltraGear evo is LG’s push into 5K gaming with built-in AI: these are the three models

LG introduced a new premium sub-brand within its gaming monitor family at CES 2026: UltraGear evo. It launches with three flagships that share a 5K baseline and add an AI processor inside the monitor itself: the ultrawide OLED 39GX950B, the MiniLED 27GM950B, and the panoramic 52G930B. The inaugural trio leaves an editorial blemish: the most expensive model gave up OLED and was left out of the AI features the brand is selling as its headline promise.

What UltraGear evo is

UltraGear evo is the new premium sub-brand within the UltraGear family, with 5K as the common minimum resolution. What sets it apart from conventional UltraGear models is a dedicated AI processor built into the monitor that enables three features: 5K AI Upscaling (scaling to the panel’s native resolution), AI Scene Optimization, and AI Sound. It runs counter to the dominant upscaling model (DLSS, FSR), where the GPU does the work: here, processing happens inside the monitor, without cutting into graphics performance, and it works with any compatible source (PC, console, handheld) as long as the input is at least Full HD. The key detail: only two of the three models launched under the evo brand include these AI features. The largest and most expensive one does not.

39GX950B: the 5K2K OLED many were waiting for

The 39GX950B is a 21:9 ultrawide OLED with 5K2K (5120×2160) resolution on a 1500R curved screen, a sensible correction versus the aggressive 800R curve of the predecessor 45GX950A, which many considered excessive. It uses LG’s fourth-generation Primary RGB Tandem WOLED panel, with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification and up to 99.5% DCI-P3 coverage. Dual Mode lets users switch between 165 Hz at native resolution for cinematic games and 330 Hz at WFHD (2560×1080) for competitive FPS, with a 0.03 ms response time (GtG). Pixel density reaches 142 PPI: enough to keep text sharp, although system scaling is advisable for extended productivity use. Serious connectivity: DisplayPort 2.1, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode and 90 W charging. Price: USD 1,799.

27GM950B: the first serious 5K MiniLED play

The 27GM950B is LG’s first serious foray into MiniLED at 5K resolution (5120×2880). What the brand calls Hyper Mini LED has 2,304 local dimming zones and 9,216 LEDs according to the official specifications: 1.5× more zones and 5.9× more LEDs than LG’s previous MiniLED model, the 27GR95UM. The stated goal is to attack blooming, the halo effect around bright objects on dark backgrounds that continues to affect high-density MiniLED displays. To that end, it adds Zero Optical Distance, a technique that minimizes the gap between the panel and the backlight to reduce light bleed. The numbers are compelling: 1,250 nits peak brightness, VESA DisplayHDR 1000, up to 99% DCI-P3, and 218 PPI at 27 inches. It also brings Dual Mode (165 Hz at 5K, 330 Hz at QHD) and a 1 ms response time (GtG). DisplayPort 2.1 with UHBR20 guarantees the bandwidth needed for high-refresh 5K without visible compression. It is the most affordable of the three, at USD 1,199.

52G930B: the largest model in the evo lineup, with asterisks

The 52G930B is the largest model in the UltraGear evo catalog: 52 inches at 5K2K (5120×2160), 21:9, 240 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms (GtG), and a 1000R curve. Its vertical height is equivalent to that of a 42-inch 16:9 display stretched horizontally, positioning the monitor as a replacement for a multi-monitor gaming and productivity setup. The marketing line says "world’s largest 5K2K 240Hz," a qualification specific to resolution and refresh rate: the Samsung Odyssey Ark, for instance, is 55" but 4K.

Here come the asterisks. First, it is not OLED: the panel is VA. That is a clear technical regression versus the predecessor 45GX950A, which was a 5K2K OLED. Second, it does not include the AI features LG is selling as the UltraGear evo banner. The footnote in the official press release is explicit: 5K AI Upscaling, AI Scene Optimization, and AI Sound are available "exclusively" on the 39GX950B and 27GM950B. Third, its HDR certification is DisplayHDR 600 and color coverage drops to 95% DCI-P3, more modest levels than its siblings. Connectivity: DisplayPort 2.1, two HDMI 2.1 ports, USB-C with 90 W, and two downstream USB-A ports with KVM functionality. Price: USD 1,999.

How the three models compare

A side-by-side look makes it clear that the most expensive model is not the most complete one in the lineup.

The 27GM950B comes out as the model with the highest certified brightness, the best HDR in the lineup, and, at the same time, the lowest price. The 52G930B ranks highest in size and raw refresh rate, but lower in panel technology, HDR certification, color coverage, and signature features. The editorial question is direct: what is the most expensive UltraGear evo monitor doing without the two things that justify the "evo" name?

Conclusion

The inaugural UltraGear evo lineup has two clear winners and one less coherent proposition. The 27GM950B is probably the most interesting of the three in terms of price-to-innovation ratio: it is the most affordable, the only one with HDR 1000 certification, and the first serious MiniLED implementation at 5K for gaming. The 39GX950B is the most complete and the obvious choice for anyone who values OLED black depth and an uncompromised 21:9 ultrawide format. The 52G930B demands caution: at USD 1,999, without OLED and without the AI features that give the sub-brand its name, it is worth waiting for independent testing before jumping into a purchase.

Author

Alexis Paez