LG 38GL950G B Review - 38-Inch, Wide Screen 175Hz Gaming Monitor

If you’re looking for a behemoth of a monitor, then you’ll need to check out the LG 38GL950G B gaming monitor, which is an impressive gaming and an all-around multimedia monitor.

The monitor’s 38-inch measurement is more than enough screen real estate to maneuver around and simultaneously has many windows open. And being in the 21:9 screen ratio size, you’ll have a whole immersion experience during your gaming and multimedia sessions.

And with its quick 175Hz refresh rate and quick response time, you’ll be able to have a slight edge over your opponents.

Before purchasing the LG 38GL950G B, let’s take a quick look at its specifications, display design, performance, and features.

Specifications
Display Design
Performance and Features
Pros and Cons
Conclusion

Specifications

Screen Size: 38-Inches
Resolution: 3840×1600
Refresh Rate: 175Hz
Response Time: 1ms
Panel Type: IPS
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Brightness: 450 cd/m²
Screen Aspect Ratio: 21:9
Built-In Speakers: No
Stand Height, Tilt: Yes
Stand Pivot, Swivel: No
VESA Mount: Yes, 100x100mm
Connectivity: 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1x Audio Jack
Weight: 22.10-lbs

Display Design

The LG 38GL950G B measures 38-inches, along with an aesthetically pleasing built. Additionally, the monitor will have a bezel-free design on all three sides, with a thick bezel on the bottom of the monitor.

Having thin bezels will encourage you to purchase another monitor to have a dual setup and complete your battle station.

Also, the stand is somewhat ergonomically built because the default stand can only adjust in height and tilt and won’t pivot or swivel.

Additionally, the LG 38GL950G B sits on a stable foundation and doesn’t wobble if slightly nudged the monitor a bit, thanks to its wide v-shaped base. You may have to create extra space since the bottom of the stand will take up much room.

But if you’re not entirely on the ship with the default stand, you’ll be able to swap out the stand for a 100x100mm VESA mount, allowing the display to have more freedom of motion.

You’ll be able to find the OSD panel on the center bottom of the display, which consists of one joystick and a wheel, making configuring through the OSD settings with ease and convenience.

And you can control the OSD configurations through its on-screen controls as well.

You can find the connectivity and inputs on the center rear of the display, which has one DisplayPort 1.2, one HDMI 2.0, two USB 3.0, and one audio jack. You’ll be able to plug in your gaming consoles as well, thanks to its HDMI port. And you’ll also be able to transform the 38GL950G B into a charging station because of its abundance of USB ports.

Unfortunately, there isn’t any built-in speaker within the 38GL950G B; however, you’re always better off with dedicated speakers or a pair of excellent headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM4.

Performance and Features

The LG 38GL950G B is a 38-inch display with a resolution of 3840×1600 ultra-wide, with a max 175Hz refresh rate which can be achieved from overclocking, and a 1ms response time. The minimum and default refresh rate is at 140Hz, which you can always tweak.

You’ll be limited to a 75Hz refresh rate when connecting via HDMI 2.0, but it will still give your gaming consoles excellent performances and clean frame rates.

Also, the input lag is very low, which sits at 4ms at the minimum refresh rate. And the 1ms response time responds well during 175Hz refresh rates, and there won’t be any lag between the screen and your actions.

The contrast ratio is 1000:1, along with a brightness level of 450 cd/m², which are normal ranges for an IPS panel. However, the blacks are a bit greyed out when viewing the screen in dark environments; this is also normal for an IPS.

Additionally, the LG 38GL950G B does have an outstanding SDR color gamut, with 99% sRGB and 80% Adobe RGB coverage; the color accuracy is excellent. And with these color performances, the 38GL950G B is ideal for professional use and creative uses such as photography, color grading, and creative projects.

In addition, the viewing angles are superb; with wide viewing angles, the colors and images remain consistent when viewing the screen from different angles, which is useful if you’re working on the screen from different sides.

The HDR performs averagely, around a mediocre level. Also, the response time remains excellent and has a low input lag in HDR. G-Sync is supported in HDR as well.

Additionally, the 38GL950G B supports VESA DisplayHDR 400, claiming greater accuracy in colors and a broader spectrum of contrasts; however, it doesn’t have local dimming and has a decent contrast ratio as well. And this is typically normal for an IPS panel.

The screen does have a bit of backlight bleeding around the edges and corners, however not too noticeable for you to notice and shouldn’t be an issue.

The monitor has FreeSync and is also G-Sync certified, with a VRR range from 20Hz to 175Hz. AdaptiveSync works beautifully well, giving you smoother gameplay sessions.

Additionally, there are different overdrive options that you can choose from, from Off, Normal, Fast and Faster modes. It’s recommended that you put the overdrive mode on Normal since it’ll provide you optimal performances without any overshoots or graphical artifacts. However, Fast and Faster will give you significant overshoots.

Pros

Quick 175Hz refresh rate
Large screen size, great for screen real estate space
Low input lag
Awesome viewing angles
FreeSync enable, and G-Sync certified

Cons

Contrast ratios can be improved
The monitor stand can be improved

Thoughts and Conclusion

Overall, the LG 38GL950G B is an outstanding gaming monitor and can be used for everyday and professional use due to its excellent color coverage.

You won’t notice a difference from 144Hz to 175Hz, so you may not even need to overclock to 175Hz.

The RGB lighting is fantastic; it’ll add to the outer environment adding points to immersion.

Along with big screen size, you’ll have more than enough screen real estate to maneuver around the display and have numerous extra windows open simultaneously.

So if you have the cash to go all out for an excellent IPS monitor, then, by all means, go for the LG 38GL950G B.