LG has announced a new 160Hz 4K monitor, the LG UltraGear 27GP950. This is an update to the already great LG 27GN950; LG's CES 2021 new screens include a 34" 160Hz ultrawide model, a 32" OLED display, and a 40" 5K2K monitor. Phew.

The LG 27GP950, as the name implies, is a 27-inch monitor and, like most of LG's premium models, features a Nano IPS panel; according to Displayspecifications, it has VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, 1ms G-to-G response time, and 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut are highlights. Excellent. The kicker, however, is support for up to 160Hz refresh; LG says the 160Hz is due to "overclocking."

To what extent overclocking a monitor is comparable to, say, overclocking a CPU, and similarly, whether it is more than marketing is debatable. However, thanks to a firmware update late last year, the LG 27GN950 already supported 160Hz, but many users report that the 160Hz mode is sensitive to the quality of the DisplayPort cable and that a new cable must be purchased to ensure full 160Hz operation. They report that they need to purchase new cables to ensure full 160Hz operation.

In any case, 160Hz is currently the best available at 4K. For maximum resolution and refresh rate, the LG 27GP950 is a good candidate. It also supports HDMI 2.1 and works well with newer game consoles that support 4K@120Hz. [The LG 40WP950 and LG 32EP950 are LG's other attractive new displays. The former is a new 40-inch ultrawide model with 5,120 x 2,160 pixels, known as 5K2K. The 32EP950, on the other hand, is LG's first OLED monitor, 32 inches, with a full 4K pixel grid.

The catch? Both models are limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate. Not ideal for gaming, but you have to start somewhere. For example, existing high refresh ultrawide displays started out at 60 Hz. Therefore, one would hope that these panels will serve as the basis for future high refresh models.

Rounding out LG's lineup at CES 2021 are a pair of more orthodox gaming monitors: the LG UltraGear 32GP850 combines 180Hz refresh and 1440p in a 32-inch form factor, while the LG UltraGear 34GP950 is a 34-inch ultrawide 3,440 x 1,440 model with 56 local dimming zones and up to 160 Hz refresh.

Pricing for none of the new models has been announced, but the LG 27GP950, LG 40WP950, and LG 32EP950 are all expected to have high four-figure price tags, while the LG 32GP850 and LG 34GP950 will be more affordable.