LG’s new 49-inch UltraGear challenges the 240Hz Samsung Odyssey G9

Now, this new LG UltraGear isn’t supposed to be cutting-edge in display technology like the company’s 45-inch OLED offering or Samsung’s QD-OLED and “8K” Mini-LED Odyssey gaming monitors. And it doesn’t have the bending gimmicks of the LG Flex. Instead, this new LG is here to compare to Samsung’s immersive and already-proven regular Odyssey G9.

Like Samsung’s Odyssey G9, the new LG UltraGear has a 1000R curved ultrawide VA panel with a 32:9 aspect ratio and 5120 by 1440 resolution. The UltraGear supports FreeSync Premium Pro along with HDR10 — one of the several High Dynamic Range standards. Meanwhile, the Samsung has both FreeSync and G-Sync VRR, along with the company’s own gaming-centric HDR10 Plus.

LG’s ultrawide could also be a worthwhile productivity powerhouse for multi-windowed web-blazers and Excel warriors (apparently, the resolution of these monitors can display columns A through CA at 100 percent zoom). But while the monitor has the right ports for gaming — like two HDMI 2.1 and a DisplayPort 1.4 — it doesn’t have USB-C to easily plug and charge a laptop (though it does have a USB 3.0 Hub). If you’re less into gaming and more into work, LG does have a same-sized monitor for that purpose.

So just remember: the new 49-inch LG UltraGear is for gamers who are only really interested in the immersive size and quick performance these types of monitors provide. And based on regular prices, gamers can save a bit of cash with the UltraGear. But be sure to keep a close eye on possible sales on the LG — as the Odyssey G9 sometimes falls way below, or at least around the $1,300 mark.