Bottom Line
The LG 45GS96QB is an excellent ultrawide monitor for content consumption and gaming. However, due to its low pixel density and uncommon subpixel layout, it’s not ideal for work that involves a lot of reading and typing.
The LG 45GS96QB is a 45″ 3440×1440 240Hz W-OLED gaming monitor aimed at those who don’t mind a low pixel density and just want a huge display for an immersive viewing experience.
There’s also the LG 45GS95QE version, which is the same monitor as the 45GS96QB but with a different stand and no USB-C port.
Both models are an upgrade from the previous LG 45GR95QE version, featuring a notably higher brightness thanks to the MLA+ panel.
Image Quality
The first thing that most users will be concerned about is the fact that the 3440×1440 screen resolution might be too low for a 45″ sized screen.
The LG 45GS96QB has a pixel density of roughly 83 PPI (pixels per inch), which is equivalent to that of a 27″ 1920×1080 display.
With this pixel density, you would ideally need to sit around 1.05 meters (~3.4 ft) from the screen in order for your eyes not to be able to distinguish individual pixels.
However, the monitor has an 800R screen curvature, which implies that you shouldn’t sit further than 0.8 meters (~2.6ft) from the screen to take full advantage of the curved screen.
Regardless, these are ideal measures and we find that in real-world use, at a usual viewing distance for most users of 60 – 90cm, the image quality in games and videos doesn’t appear pixelated. Alas, when doing productivity work or anything that involves a lot of text, the lack of detail clarity is a lot more apparent.
Additionally, since the LG 45GS96QB uses the old RWBG subpixel layout (instead of the newer RGWB), fringing will be noticeable on small text and fine details.
This subpixel layout combined with the low pixel density makes us reluctant to recommend this monitor to anyone planning to use it for work that involves a lot of reading and typing.
In this case, we recommend considering the smaller 39″ or 34″ 3440×1440 models, waiting for the upcoming 5120×2160 ultrawides in 2025 or getting one of the 1440p or 4K widescreen OLED models instead.
The main advantage of the 3440×1440 screen resolution is that it’s considerably less taxing on the GPU than 4K or 5120×2160, allowing you to reach higher frame rates.
Further, the ultrawide format provides you with an extended field of view in compatible games, resulting in an immersive gaming experience.
Moving on, the LG 45GS96QB uses a W-OLED MLA+ panel with an improved brightness performance. It can reach up to 1300-nits for small < 3% APL (Average Picture Level, white window size), ~750-nits for 10% APL and ~250-nits for 100% APL.
This is a big improvement over the previous-gen LG 45GR95QE model, which was limited to ~150-nits for 100% APL, ~650-nits for 10% APL and ~800-nits for < 3% APL.
Now, in order for the LG 45GS96QB to reach such high brightness levels, you’ll need to set the Peak Brightness option to ‘High’. This mode, however, will make most HDR scenes a bit brighter than intended. In case you want accurate HDR brightness, you can use the ‘Low’ Peak Brightness option, but it will limit the maximum brightness to around 650-nits.
While Samsung’s QD-OLED panels have a lower brightness on paper (1000-nits for < 3% APL, 450-nits 10% APL, 250-nits 100% APL), keep in mind that this measure refers to white luminance only. When it comes to color luminance, QD-OLED panels are superior since the colors are brighter and they have a wider coverage of the DCI-P3 color space at 99.3%.
The W-OLED panel of the LG 45GS96QB still has an excellent 98.5% DCI-P3 color space coverage, so the colors are quite vibrant, it’s just that the QD-OLED panels have brighter and more saturated colors and therefore higher perceived brightness. However, there are no 21:9 QD-OLED ultrawide displays larger than 34″.
In SDR, the brightness is limited to around 250-nits, which is the same as that of QD-OLED panels and is bright enough under normal lighting conditions. In case you plan on using the screen under strong studio lighting or facing a big window without any curtains, you should look into a brighter mini LED display instead.
In order to avoid ABL (Automatic Brightness Limiter) in SDR, the Peak Brightness option should remain at Off during regular desktop use. If you want to get a bit of boost in brightness when playing non-HDR games, you can use the Low or High options.
The LG 45GS96QB monitor supports true 10-bit color depth for smooth gradients without banding, and has a dedicated sRGB emulation mode in case you wish to clamp the display’s native gamut down to ~100% sRGB for more accurate SDR output.
Overall, the monitor delivers an incredible viewing experience thanks to its huge screen with an ultrawide format, OLED per-pixel dimming for an infinite contrast ratio with true blacks, wide color gamut and decent peak brightness.
Performance
The LG 45GS96QB has a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, which provides you with a small but noticeable boost in motion clarity in comparison to ~144Hz displays.
A higher refresh rate also means lower input lag and at around 3ms of latency, there’s no perceptible delay between your actions and the result on the screen.
OLED displays have instantaneous pixel response time speed, so there’s no ghosting, overshoot or need for different overdrive settings.
VRR (variable refresh rate) is supported as well for tear-free gameplay up to 240FPS via AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible and HDMI 2.1 VRR.
As is the case with all VA and OLED monitors, some VRR brightness flickering can occur in dark scenes of games with fluctuating frame rates. Luckily, it’s mostly unnoticeable – in a few games where you might run into this issue, we recommend just disabling VRR and using V-Sync instead if screen tearing bothers you.
The monitor is flicker-free and there’s a dedicated low-blue light filter mode available.
Features
Beneath the bottom bezel of the monitor, there’s a directional joystick for quick and easy navigation through the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu. Alternatively, you can use the On-Screen Control desktop application.
Besides the standard image adjustment tools, such as brightness and contrast, the LG 45GS96QB also offers some advanced settings, including manual color temperature fine-tuning in 500K increments, three gamma presets, sharpness, 6-axis hue/saturation, aspect ratio control and Auto Input Switch.
Other useful features include Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture, Black Stabilizer (improves visibility in dark scenes), crosshair overlays, a refresh rate tracker and hardware calibration (stores calibration information on the display itself rather than on an ICC profile).
One thing to keep in mind about OLED displays is the risk of permanent image burn-in and temporary image retention. When displaying an image with bright static elements for too long, those elements might become permanently visible as an afterimage.
However, as long as you’re using the display sensibly and playing varied content, it shouldn’t be an issue. The LG 45GS96QB also has a few features to help prevent burn-in, including OLED Screen Move, Screen Saver and Image Cleaning.
Sadly, while most manufacturers clearly state on their product pages that their warranty covers OLED burn-in (usually for 3 years), LG doesn’t clearly indicate this anywhere on their website, but it is allegedly covered. Moreover, LG only offers a 2-year warranty.
Design & Connectivity
The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 110mm height adjustment, +/- 20° swivel, -5°/20° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility. At the rear of the monitor, you’ll find customizable ‘Hexagon’ RGB lighting.
Next, the screen has a steep 800R curvature, which some users might find too aggressive. There’s also a matte anti-glare coating that’s efficient at handling reflections, but adds a bit of graininess to the image (mostly noticeable on solid backgrounds).
Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports with full 48 Gbps, a USB type C port with DP Alt Mode and 65W Power Delivery, two 7W integrated speakers, two downstream USB-A 3.0 ports and a headphone jack (with DTS Headphone:X support).
The monitor also supports virtual 4K 120Hz resolution, allowing for 4K 120Hz + HDR + VRR on consoles.
Price & Similar Monitors
The LG 45GS96QB price ranges from $1,200 to $1,700. If you don’t need USB-C or integrated speakers, you can find the LG 45GS95QE variant for $1,100 – $1,700, while the older 45GR95QE model can be found for $1,000.
LG 45GS96QB | LG 45GS95QE | LG 45GR95QE | |
SDR Brightness | 250 | 250 | 200 |
HDR Brightness 100% APL | 150 | 250 | 250 |
HDR Brightness 10% APL | 650 | 750 | 750 |
HDR Brightness < 3% APL | 800 | 1300 | 1300 |
USB-C | Yes (65W PD) | – | – |
USB-B | – | Yes | Yes |
Built-in Speakers | 2x7W | – | – |
SPDIF | – | – | Yes |
In case you’re interested in 45″ 3440×1440 240Hz OLED displays, you should also consider the Corsair Xeneon Flex for $1,300 on sale. It has a bendable screen and a 3-year burn-in warranty, but it uses the older W-OLED panel like the 45GR95QE, so it has lower brightness than the LG 45GS96QB.
For more options and information, check out our best gaming monitor buyer’s guide.
Conclusion
Overall, if you don’t mind the low pixel density, both the LG 45GS96QB and the LG 45GS95QE are excellent gaming monitors thanks to their big ultrawide screens, wide color gamut, decent brightness performance, infinite contrast ratio and buttery-smooth performance.
Specifications
Screen Size | 45-inch |
Screen Curvature | 800R |
Resolution | 3440×1440 (UWQHD) |
Panel Type | OLED |
Aspect Ratio | 21:9 (UltraWide) |
Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
Response Time | 0.03ms (GtG) |
Speakers | 2x7W |
Adaptive-Sync | FreeSync Premium Pro (48-240Hz) G-SYNC Compatible, HDMI 2.1 VRR |
Ports | DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps), USB-C (DP Alt Mode, 65W PD) |
Other Ports | Headphone Jack, 2x USB-A 3.0 |
Brightness (1 – 3% White Window) | 1300 cd/m² |
Brightness (10% White Window) | 750 cd/m² |
Brightness (100% White Window) | 250 cd/m² |
Contrast Ratio | Infinite |
Colors | 1.07 billion (true 10-bit) 98.5% DCI-P3 |
HDR | VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black |
VESA | Yes (100x100mm) |
The Pros:
- Infinite contrast ratio
- Wide color gamut with sRGB mode
- Low input lag, instant response time
- Plenty of features, including VRR up to 240Hz
- Adjustable stand and rich connectivity options, including USB-C with 65W PD
The Cons:
- Risk of permanent image burn-in
- Text clarity issues due to the uncommon subpixel layout
- Low pixel density