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The UltraFine 6K display is also a Nano IPS Black display, something the Asus model doesn’t have. Nano IPS Black is actually a combination of two technologies that improve performance Image quality of IPS In different ways. Nano IPS technology improves color coverage, while IPS Black increases contrast. The combination of the two is absolutely stunning, especially on a screen this sharp. It covers 100 percent sRGB and AdobeRGB, something I’ve never seen before on an IPS display. Color accuracy is also incredibly strong. Straight out of the box, I measured average color error at a Delta-E of 0.62. Anything less than 1.0 is considered excellent, even for professional color graders. No need for further calibration here.
In terms of brightness, my review unit reached 480 nits in the standard dynamic range (SDR), which is very bright. The screen has a matte anti-reflective coating that prevents glare and reflections without darkening the screen too much. This will likely upset some people coming from the old, glossy LG 5K display. Although I also prefer a glossy screen, LG’s solution is accurate enough. And while this is definitely not a proper HDR display as it uses a traditional LED IPS panel, I was able to measure 640 nits of peak brightness in HDR. This is a far cry from what OLED or Mini-LED can do. Remember: The HDR effect is created by higher brightness and interview. This is what makes OLED displays attractive. The UltraFine Evo 6K has a contrast ratio of 2000:1, but I only got 1720:1 in my testing. That’s still better than average, though, as observers like Dell Ultra Sharp 32 4K Use Enhanced IPS Black to push contrast to nearly 3000:1.
the Refresh rate That’s the big problem with the UltraFine Evo 6K’s image. It’s only 60Hz. It doesn’t matter how clear, vivid, and color accurate your photo is if the motion is harsh. Even fairly affordable monitors like my favorite, the Dell 27 Plus 4K ($300)with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This likely isn’t LG’s fault, since the Asus 6K display is also stuck at 60Hz – but it is a current limitation on the resolution on offer. I have no doubt that future 6K displays will come out with a 120Hz refresh rate, but as of now, that’s a trade-off you’ll be making for the extra pixels.
An expensive proposition
Photo: Luke Larsen
The LG UltraFine Evo 6K costs $2,000. While this isn’t as much as Apple’s ridiculous Pro Display XDR, it also lacks the HDR capabilities that make this display special. The price seems especially steep when you consider how low prices for OLED displays are. Dell’s first non-gaming OLED monitor Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED, It is only $850 and often sells for less than $700. It’s only 4K, but it’s better for watching and producing HDR content.
Finally, if you’re into 6K, there’s also the Asus ProArt PA32QCV to consider. I haven’t tested it yet, but it’s $600 cheaper than the LG model, despite using the same 6K panel. What does that extra $700 buy you? Flashier design for one, but also more modern ports. Although I like where Asus has placed its ports better than LG, it uses older specs like Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort 1.4. The biggest difference is the lack of Nano IPS Black, which means it likely won’t have the color and contrast performance of the LG model. These differences are not insignificant, but are they worth $700? It’s hard to say, especially since they’re the same palette. I can’t say that for sure until I test the Asus model, but on the surface, the LG UltraFine 6K seems a bit overpriced by comparison.
On the other hand, if you’re already spending that much money on a 6K display, image quality is paramount, and the inclusion of Nano IPS Black makes the LG UltraFine 6K a better alternative to OLED or Pro Display XDR.