LG Smart Monitor 32U701SB-B 31.5" Black

The LG 32U701SB-B is a sharp 4K smart monitor with webOS built in, so you can stream and cloud game without a PC. Picture quality is great, but the 60Hz panel is slow for gaming. Buy it for the smart features, not the raw performance.

Performance is where this monitor shows its true colors, and they aren't gaming colors. The 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time land it in the 23rd percentile in our database, which is frankly disappointing for anyone used to smoother motion. Scrolling feels fine for productivity, but fast-paced games will look blurry. On the flip side, the display quality is a standout, hitting the 86th percentile. The 4K resolution is tack-sharp, and the alpha 7 AI processor does a decent job upscaling lower-res content. The 250-nit brightness is just average though, so HDR content won't exactly pop the way it does on a brighter panel.

Stacked against the competition, this LG is in a weird lane. The MSI MAG 271QPX and Samsung Odyssey G60SD are QD-OLED gaming monsters with insane refresh rates and response times that make the LG look like it's standing still, but they cost significantly more and lack any smart TV brains. The Gigabyte M27U is a more direct 4K productivity rival with a higher refresh rate, making it a better pure monitor. The LG's only real edge is webOS. If you don't need a built-in streaming box, almost any other monitor in this price bracket will be faster or brighter.

Value is a bit of a moving target since pricing fluctuates between $245 and $300. At the lower end, you're getting a solid 4K panel and a full smart TV experience for the price of a dumb monitor, which is a pretty sweet deal. At $300, you start bumping into faster, more color-accurate productivity monitors that lack the smart features but deliver a better pure panel. If you'll actually use webOS daily, it's a good buy. If you just need a basic 4K screen for your PC, you can do better for the money.

The LG Smart Monitor 32U701SB-B is basically a small 4K TV that moonlights as a computer monitor. It runs LG's webOS right on the screen, so you can stream Netflix, fire up cloud gaming, or even do light office work without ever plugging in a PC. The 31.5-inch IPS panel delivers sharp, vibrant images with 90% DCI-P3 coverage, and the built-in speakers mean you can get away with a truly clean desk setup.

But here's the thing: it's a 60Hz panel with a 5ms response time. If you're a gamer looking for high refresh rates and lightning-fast pixel response, this isn't your screen. This monitor is all about versatility and smart features, trading raw performance for the convenience of a standalone entertainment hub. It's a solid pick for a dorm room, kitchen, or home office where you want one screen to do a bit of everything.

If you need a high refresh rate for PC gaming, look elsewhere because 60Hz feels sluggish and the 5ms response time introduces noticeable motion blur. Content creators who need top-tier color accuracy for print work should also pass, as 90% DCI-P3 is good but not professional grade.

This monitor is for the person who wants a kitchen TV, a dorm room entertainment center, and a home office display all rolled into one. It's perfect for streamers, cloud gamers, and anyone who wants to ditch a separate PC or streaming stick. The smart features genuinely work well, and the picture quality is strong for movies and shows. Just don't buy it expecting a high-performance gaming monitor, because that's not what this is.