Not everyone wants a 32-inch 4K 240Hz OLED gaming monitor, and there are several reasons for that. Concerns about burn-in, even with some models offering three-year warranties, can be a factor. Some may prefer the improved text clarity of an LCD or the higher brightness levels that LCD technology can offer. Additionally, OLED monitors can be cost-prohibitive, particularly if the lower-cost variants are not affordable in certain regions. If you fall into any of these categories, a 4K HDR LCD gaming monitor may be a better choice.
That said, we’ve generally found newer 4K LCD monitors with zoned mini-LED backlights somewhat disappointing. Key issues typically include poor tuning, such as with the BenQ EX321UX, or firmware issues, as seen with the Acer Nitro XV275K P3. Based on our testing, 4K OLED options often offer much better performance and tuning in most scenarios, leaving room for improvement among LCD manufacturers.
Until we identify a new 4K HDR LCD truly worth recommending, we continue to recommend the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 in its 32-inch model. Prices for this model have dropped significantly, and it’s now often available for around $700 or even lower, making it an excellent value compared to many other 4K HDR LCDs. It also performs well overall.
The Neo G7 is a 32-inch 4K 165Hz gaming display featuring VA LCD technology and a 1,196-zone full-array local dimming backlight. Thanks to this backlight and the high-contrast VA tech, the Neo G7 delivers an impressive HDR experience that comes closest to OLED among LCD monitors we’ve tested. It may not match OLED in richness, shadow detail, and viewing angles, but the HDR performance is undoubtedly impressive.
In terms of response times, the Neo G7 is one of the fastest LCD monitors we’ve tested, and while motion clarity isn’t on par with OLED displays, it still provides a strong gaming experience – especially at 4K. Its HDR performance is also solid; the high zone count backlight, paired with great native contrast, leads to minimal blooming in HDR content while retaining the punchy brightness expected from HDR displays. Peak brightness exceeds 1,200 nits, making this display notably brighter than an OLED, though not exceptionally so.
As a more “traditional” gaming display, the Neo G7 has additional advantages. The use of VA LCD technology means there’s no risk of burn-in, and it has a standard subpixel structure, which ensures compatibility with desktop apps and improves text clarity. The 32-inch size with 4K resolution also makes it well-suited for desktop use.
There are, however, some drawbacks. The aggressive 1000R curvature adds little to the experience, and while the Neo G7 is well-suited for gaming, it may be less versatile as a productivity or content creation monitor. Input latency with dimming enabled is also a bit underwhelming, and its limited viewing angles require you to view the display head-on for the best HDR experience. Nonetheless, these issues are relatively minor and don’t detract significantly from what is otherwise an excellent HDR gaming monitor.
