I’ve been tracking LG’s UltraGear lineup for years, but what they revealed this week at CES 2025 genuinely surprised me. The UltraGear evo represents a significant leap beyond mere incremental improvements, particularly in how it addresses the persistent challenge gamers face: choosing between resolution and performance.
The new 32-inch UltraGear evo gaming monitor introduces what LG calls “Neural Processing Upscaling” – the first true AI-powered upscaling technology designed specifically for gaming monitors. Unlike previous marketing-heavy “AI” claims in displays, I’ve seen this technology in action, and the difference is immediately noticeable.
During my hands-on time at LG’s San Francisco preview event last week, the monitor demonstrated remarkable capabilities. When running Starfield at native 1440p and upscaled to the panel’s full 5120 x 2880 resolution (5K), the upscaled image preserved fine details in distant star fields and maintained crisp text elements that typically blur with traditional upscaling methods.
“We’ve trained our neural processing engine on over 25,000 hours of gaming footage across different genres,” explained Dr. Min-Woo Park, LG’s Director of Display Technologies, during my interview. “The system can recognize game environments and optimize upscaling algorithms in real-time, something not possible with conventional methods.”
The core technology leverages a dedicated AI processing unit that LG has embedded directly into the monitor’s hardware. According to research from Display Supply Chain Consultants, this approach reduces latency compared to GPU-based upscaling solutions like DLSS or FSR, adding only 2-4ms of processing time – virtually imperceptible in gameplay.
This technological advancement addresses a fundamental pain point for gamers. As Wired’s Julian Chokkattu noted in his analysis of gaming display trends, “The perpetual compromise between visual fidelity and frame rate has been gaming’s most persistent technical challenge.” The UltraGear evo aims to eliminate this trade-off.
Beyond the headline-grabbing AI features, the monitor offers impressive core specifications. The 32-inch Nano IPS panel delivers 5K resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms GTG response time, and covers 98% of the DCI-P3 color space. It’s also VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified, providing meaningful HDR performance without reaching the brightness levels of high-end televisions.
Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 2.1, and a USB-C port with 90W power delivery – enough to charge most gaming laptops while simultaneously using them as a video source. The monitor also features a built-in KVM switch, allowing users to control multiple connected devices with a single keyboard and mouse setup.
Physical design hasn’t been neglected either. The monitor features LG’s “virtually borderless” design on three sides, with a slim bottom bezel that houses subtle ambient lighting. The stand offers height, tilt, and swivel adjustments, with a small joystick controller underneath the center of the screen for navigating the on-screen display.
What particularly impressed me was how the AI upscaling technology adapts differently to various content types. During fast-paced shooter gameplay in the latest Call of Duty, it prioritized maintaining clean edges and reducing aliasing around moving objects. When switching to Baldur’s Gate 3, it focused more on preserving the richness and detail in textures and character models.
Gaming monitors with AI capabilities are still in their early stages, and meaningful implementation requires significant hardware resources. According to MIT Technology Review’s analysis of gaming display technologies, the computational demands of real-time upscaling have typically required dedicated graphics cards. LG’s approach of embedding specialized processing hardware directly into the monitor represents a significant engineering achievement.
“We’re seeing a paradigm shift in how display processing is handled,” notes Dr. Kyung-Sun Kim of Seoul National University’s Display Innovation Lab. “Moving specialized AI processors into the monitor itself creates new possibilities for optimizing visual output independently from the graphics card.”
The obvious question remains: does this technology deliver enough value to justify what will undoubtedly be a premium price? LG hasn’t officially announced pricing, but industry analysts expect it to retail between $1,299 and $1,499 when it hits shelves in February 2025.
For competitive gamers who demand both visual clarity and high frame rates, the UltraGear evo presents a compelling value proposition. The ability to run games at lower native resolutions while still enjoying near-native 5K visual quality could extend the useful life of current-generation graphics cards, potentially offsetting some of the monitor’s cost premium.
As someone who’s tested dozens of gaming monitors, I’m cautiously optimistic about the UltraGear evo’s potential to change expectations for gaming displays. The real test will come when it reaches consumers’ desks – and whether competitors like Samsung, ASUS, and Acer respond with similar technologies in their upcoming models.
The LG UltraGear evo AI gaming monitor is scheduled for release in February 2025, with pre-orders opening in late January through LG’s website and major electronics retailers.
