Displays & Projectors News - Page 3

OLED, it's what's on the menu - at least when it comes to new high-end gaming monitors like the new CORSAIR XENEON 27QHD240 OLED. A new 27-inch gaming monitor with a resolution of 2560x1440, a super-fast 240 Hz refresh rate, and all of the benefits of an OLED panel.

CORSAIR XENEON 27QHD240 OLED, image credit: CORSAIR

On that front, CORSAIR notes that the new XENEON 27QHD240 is built using a new third-generation OLED panel with META Technology that features a Micro Lens Array (MLA). A bunch of tech jargon for some, but the result is enhanced brightness via a focal lens placed in front of every pixel leading to a peak brightness of an impressive 1,000 nits.

On top of that, there's HDR 10 support, a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio (OLED contrast is essentially infinite), and 98-% DCI-P3 color for a vibrant image. Throw in a 0.03ms response time, NVIDIA G-SYNC, and AMD FreeSync Premium compatibility, and this new CORSAIR gaming monitor is undoubtedly beast-level.

Q4 2022 could have been a better time for PC monitor shipments, with a new report by IDC outlining that shipments contracted by over 18% year over year. The 30.5 million units this represents is the lowest fourth quarter result since the firm started tracking the PC monitor market in 2008.

Worldwide PC Monitor forecast, image credit: IDC

It's a trend that we've seen quite a bit of late, with reports across the entire range of PC hardware reporting a downturn during the tail end of 2022, with a mix of the rapid expansion during the pandemic and the current economic downturn seen as the reason. With so many people setting up a hybrid work-from-home environment, people aren't buying as many new PC monitors as they used to.

The Q4 2022 results led to an annual decline of 5.9% for the entire year, though IDC notes that the Q4 results align with its forecast of a 16.2% decline in shipments. Which at least means that it wasn't a surprise - so that's a plus. Sort of.

We're starting to see a lot more OLED panels specifically designed for gaming, where over the past couple of years, we've seen OLED gaming monitors from the likes of LG, Alienware, MSI, and ASUS. Although the recent trend has been companies looking to release more desk-friendly options in sizes - 27-inch and 34-inch ultrawide - BenQ's new MOBIUZ EX480UZ is a 48-inch OLED.

BenQ's new MOBIUZ EX480UZ 48-inch OLED gaming display.

Featuring two HMDI 2.1 ports and a DisplayPort 1.4 port, with a 4K 120Hz AMD FreeSync Premium refresh rate, this is undoubtedly the sort of gaming display that will suit a high-end gaming PC and modern consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

With OLED technology, you can expect the absolute best when it comes to response times, with BenQ touting 0.1ms, not to mention 98% DCI-P3 color support for vibrant in-game visuals. The display uses BenQ's HDRi technology - found in many of the company's MOBIUZ gaming monitors - which automatically optimizes HDR content.

LG OLED. A bunch of acronyms, sure, but when it comes to TVs, they are highly regarded as delivering the best visual experience for gaming and watching media. So much so that we've seen many PC gamers buying up LG OLEDs specifically for PC use thanks to the perfect black levels you get from OLED and the unbeatable near-instantaneous response times. Not to mention the just about infinite contrast you get from self-lit pixels.

LG's new UltraGear OLED gaming monitors.

Although it's not the first company to release OLED gaming monitors, LG's new UltraGear OLED panels are set to debut this month and look very impressive. Available in two models, a 27-inch (27GR95QE) 1440p display and a massive 45-inch (45GR95QE) curved ultrawide with a WQHD resolution of 3440 x 1440 - they take full advantage of current OLED panel technology.

Both LG UltraGear OLED displays feature a fast 240Hz refresh rate with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support. And being OLED, this comes with a true 0.03ms Gray-to-Gray (GTG) response time to ensure clarity and the very best image stability. OLED means no light bleed, so you're getting vibrant DCI-P3 with 98.5% color accuracy for immersive cinematic visuals.

Alienware is prepping to launch its latest high refresh-rate display in the US, with the Alienware AW2524H featuring a 500Hz IPS full-HD (1920x1080) panel. Launching this month on March 21, it will be the first 500Hz display of its kind, though it won't come cheap as it also carries a price point of USD 829.99.

Alienware AW2524H 500Hz IPS full-HD gaming monitor

The Alienware AW2524H is a 24.5-inch gaming monitor with an out-of-the-box native refresh rate of 480Hz that can be overclocked to 500Hz. As an IPS panel, it also features impressive specs with 99% sRGB color accuracy and a wide viewing angle.

Usually, high refresh-rate 1080p displays for gaming use the more cost-effective TN panel technology, which is widely considered a step down from IPS regarding color, viewing angles, and other features.

The MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED is a new display from the hardware maker that fully uses the latest QD-OLED technology to deliver a curved ultrawide experience that will undoubtedly be awesome for games.

MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED

OLED panels in gaming monitors are still far and few between, but as we've seen in the 4K TV space, they not only deliver crisp and perfect black levels thanks to per-pixel lighting, but the response times are just about non-existent. The MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED features a 0.1ms response time.

MSI's new display features a Quantum Dot layer for more vibrant colors; it's VESA Display HDR True Black 400 certified and has a 175 Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro variable refresh-rate support. And with 139.1% sRGB, 99.3% DCI-P3, and 97.8% Adobe RGB accuracy, it's the sort of display that will be as good for content creators as it will be for PC gamers.

The new ROG Strix XG27AQMR Gaming Monitor features a 300Hz Fast IPS 27-inch display, but unlike other super-high refresh monitors, this one is WQHD with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. Which, for many, is the sweet spot at this size. ASUS calls it a display for professional gamers and those who love to be immersed in games. And it will pair nicely with the latest GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD, thanks to the latest generation of graphics cards actually being able to push 1440p frame rates to 300 fps without having to run things on low settings.

ROG Strix XG27AQMR Gaming Monitor features a 300Hz Fast IPS 27-inch display.

ASUS is backing the immersion claim up with DisplayHDR 600 compliance and 97% of the DCI-P3 color space, which is very impressive. In addition to going up to 300Hz, the ROG Strix XG27AQMR's Fast IPS panel features a 1ms gray-to-gray response time (GtG), with additional NVIDIA G-Sync Compatibility, AMD FreeSync Premium, and ELMB (low-motion-blur technology) support. So not only will it be fast, but it'll look great too. Naturally, as we start to see refresh rates top 300 Hz in the WQHD space, this is awesome for those playing competitive games and immersive cinematic titles.

Connectivity-wise, you've got two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, two USB 3.2 ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Here are the specs.

Cinemas have always been the realm of projectors, from traditional film-based projection to the rise of digital cinemas and digital projection. Some digital projectors in the home theatre space rival what you can find at cinemas with 4K and 8K images and impressive features.

LG Miraclass, LED cinema screens

Of course, projector technology fundamentally differs from what we see in the TV and desktop display space, where it begins and ends with LED. From OLED to QLED to VA and IPS, even though there are varying levels of quality and technology and resolutions that also go up to 8K, it's still backlit or self-lit panel technology. Projectors project light onto a screen, reflecting the latest Avatar or Marvel superhero adventure to audiences.

LG Miraclass (a combination of Miracle and Class) are massive LED screens targeting theatres directly. "Ideal for theater operators eager to present moviegoers with new, premium services and immersive viewing experiences, LG's latest lineup of LED screens delivers realistic images with natural colors and deep blacks," writes the press release.

Mini LED is the next big thing in display technology and is the next significant advancement in LCD tech. It improves backlighting by adding thousands of lighting zones, offering a brighter image for things like HDR and superior viewing angles compared to other displays.

The new Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 (G70NC)

Samsung's Odyssey Neo G7 (G70NC) is the company's first flat Mini-LED model for its Odyssey range, with a large 43-inch 4K 144Hz screen that includes VESA Display HDR 600 and HDR 10+ certification. Plus, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for smooth variable refresh rate (VRR) action.

Samsung calls its Mini-LED tech 'Quantum Mini LEDs,' resulting in richer blacks and vibrant colors. As a PC gaming-focused display, it's great to see that it also includes a matte finish, so there are no pesky reflections. There's also the ability to use it in 20-inch mode and dynamically switch between the two. Excellent features, like the Samsung Game Bar, offer complete control over aspect rations, HDR, VRR, response times, and game-specific picture modes.

When we think about product endorsements, it's easy to go the cynical route and think about the monetary and advertisement side - like product placement in movies. When it comes to the sporting world, though, it's pretty much the opposite, where an endorsement is often a sign of quality.

Competitive League of Legends is one of the most watched and celebrated esports, and when it comes to fast-paced gaming played at the level, displays need to be exceptional in the critical areas of refresh rate, response times, and support for VRR technology like NVIDIA GSYNC.

So, when LG lets us know that its UltraGear gaming monitor, the 25GR75FG, has been named as the official display of the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) in 2023, that means it's an excellent esports display.