LG 32UK550-B 32-Inch AMD FreeSync Gaming Monitor Delivers 4K HDR On A Budget

LG is getting ready to release a 31.5-inch FreeSync monitor with a 4K resolution, HDR support, and high color fidelity for what we hope will be a relatively affordable price. While the MSRP has yet to be announced, word on the web is that it will cost around 55,000 yen, which is a little over $480 in US currency.

According to the monitor's product listing on LG's website in Japan, the new monitor sports a VA panel boasting 95 percent coverage of the DCI-P color space. It has a rated response time of 4ms (GTG), a 60Hz refresh rate, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, and 178-degree viewing angles (horizontal and vertical). For the most part, this looks to be a higher end display.

Where it seemingly falters, however, is where it matters most in regards to HDR. The rated brightness checks in at only 300 nits. Ideally, HDR displays should be capable of 1,000 nits, though monitor and TV makers have released more affordable models that don't get anywhere near as bright as that.

That said, most lower end HDR displays aim to hit at least 400 nits. In fact, VESA won't consider anything lower for its DisplayHDR certification, with 400 nits required for its entry-level DisplayHDR 400 badge (among other criteria).

While the brightness level is nothing to brag about here, LG says the 32UK550-B ships is factory calibrated before it ships out to customers. Depending on how reliable that process is, it could mean that customers will not need to spend any time tweaking the On Screen Display (OSD) controls.

The 32UK550-B sports a pair of 5W speakers and an audio-out port. It also features a single DisplayPort 1.2 input, and two HDMI 2.0a ports. According to PCWatch, the monitor will start shipping in Japan on October 11 for the aforementioned price.

To put that ~$480 price tag into perspective, the ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ and Acer Predator X27 are both $2,000 displays, albeit with G-Sync support, 144Hz refresh rates, and 1,000 nits brightness. LG's 32UK550-B is a more affordable alternative with tamer specs.