LG's UltraGear Evo AI GM9: a 5K Mini-LED display with high brightness and dual-mode refresh

The LG UltraGear Evo AI GM9 (model 27GM950B-B) is a premium 27-inch desktop monitor aimed at both gamers and creative professionals, according to a hands-on review published by PCWorld and originally from Swedish sister site PC för Alla.

At its core, the display combines a quantum-dot LCD layer with a Mini-LED backlight made up of 2,304 dimming zones. PCWorld reports the panel covers 99 percent of DCI-P3 and arrives with factory calibration showing very low color deviation. Peak brightness is cited at 1,250 cd/m², with typical brightness around 750 cd/m², and the screen is VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certified. In testing, the reviewer found HDR film playback to be among the best viewing experiences they have seen on a monitor, with punchy colors and visible detail in both bright and dark areas. Even standard dynamic range content appears brighter than many competitors' HDR modes.

The Mini-LED backlight generally handles large bright areas without flicker, but small bright elements on dark backgrounds—like a white cursor on a black backdrop—can appear dimmed. Users can adjust the local dimming intensity or disable it altogether. OLED screens still have the advantage in per-pixel black levels, but no OLED can match this panel's overall luminance and dynamic range, the review notes.

The GM9's headline feature is its dual-mode operation. At the full 5K resolution, users can run at 165 Hz; dropping to 1440p or lower unlocks 330 Hz. Both modes support dynamic refresh rates, and response time is as low as 1 ms when AI upscaling is turned off. The monitor also includes an AI-powered upscaler that can sharpen 1080p and 1440p signals to 5K, which proved useful for a Nintendo Switch, with no significant added lag.

Connectivity includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode and 90 W power delivery. That USB-C connection also provides a small hub with two USB-A ports, but there is only a single upstream USB input, so no KVM switch functionality is offered. The stand is fully adjustable in height, lateral movement, tilt, and pivot, and has a matte-black plastic chassis with optional RGB lighting on the back. Cable management is a simple snap-on loop, which the reviewer found adequate but not ideal.

Physical controls can be awkward: the menu is operated by a small button on the rear panel that is hard to find and may be too small for larger fingers. Once accessed, the on-screen menu is well organized and offers quick switching between picture profiles, including pure sRGB and P3 modes, reading and HDR presets, and two user-calibrated profiles. LG also offers a Windows app called LG Switch for remote control, but the reviewer found its update mechanism slow and noted past criticism of automatic app installation via Windows Update.

The built-in speakers are slightly better than typical monitor audio but still not a substitute for dedicated speakers. They are adequate for system sounds and video meetings.

At a suggested price of $1,200, the GM9 sits in premium territory. PCWorld concludes that the monitor's brightness, color, sharpness, and flexible refresh rates make it an attractive choice for mixed gaming and desktop workloads, especially in rooms with less lighting control thanks to the anti-glare matte finish. It isn't the best at everything—OLED fans may prefer deeper blacks—but its overall combination of 5K resolution, high luminance, and dual-mode speed is hard to match.