LG 27GP850-B vs Dell UltraSharp U2723D: Gaming Monitor vs Office Monitor
Last updated: 2026-08-19 · By NicheHive Editorial
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Our Pick
LG 27GP850-B (gaming + work) / Dell U2723D (work-only setups)
LG 27GP850-B
LG
- ✓27-inch IPS, 1440p, 165Hz
- ✓98% DCI-P3
- ✓USB-C 90W
- ✓G-Sync Compatible
Pros
- 165Hz — the office monitor's 60Hz limit does not affect gaming after work
- Color accurate enough for most creative work alongside gaming
- USB-C 90W charging
- $200 less than the Dell
Cons
- No USB hub — only USB-C power and video
- No portrait pivot
- Standard IPS contrast (1000:1)
Best for: people who game and work on the same display
Dell UltraSharp U2723D
Dell
- ✓27-inch IPS Black, 4K, 60Hz
- ✓2000:1 contrast ratio
- ✓Factory calibrated Delta E < 2
- ✓USB-C hub with USB-A and Ethernet
- ✓Full ergonomic stand with pivot
Pros
- IPS Black contrast (2000:1) is visibly better for dark-theme productivity
- 4K at 27 inches — sharper text than 1440p for document work
- Full USB-C hub eliminates separate docking station
- Factory calibration covers photo editing without colorimeter
Cons
- 60Hz — gaming on this panel is a mediocre experience
- $200 more than the LG
- Larger, heavier stand footprint
Best for: dedicated work setups where gaming is not a use case
Choosing between the LG 27GP850-B and the Dell UltraSharp U2723D comes down to whether the same screen needs to handle both gaming and office work. The LG is a 27-inch 1440p IPS panel at 165Hz for $349.99, with 98% DCI-P3 coverage and USB-C 90W charging, built for people who play after hours on the monitor they work on. The Dell trades refresh rate for resolution and contrast, a 27-inch 4K IPS Black panel at 60Hz and 2000:1 contrast for $549.99, factory calibrated to Delta E under 2 with a full USB-C hub and pivot stand for document-heavy work. Neither monitor is the better product in isolation; the LG wins for mixed gaming and work setups, while the Dell wins for dedicated office use where a 165Hz refresh rate never comes into play.
One Question Decides This
Do you ever game at your desk?
If yes, even occasionally: LG 27GP850-B. The Dell's 60Hz makes gaming on it perceptibly worse than any 144Hz+ monitor.
If no: Dell U2723D. The IPS Black contrast, 4K resolution, factory calibration, USB hub, and pivot stand are all relevant for office work and none of them help gaming.
The 60Hz vs 165Hz Difference in Practice
60Hz means 60 frames displayed per second. 165Hz means 165 frames. For document work, spreadsheets, and video calls: 60Hz is indistinguishable from 165Hz. Scrolling through documents is smooth; cursor movement is responsive.
For gaming: 60Hz is a hard ceiling. Games rendered above 60fps are displayed at 60fps, producing micro-stuttering when the frame rate fluctuates below 60. Input lag is perceptibly higher — one frame at 60Hz is 16.7ms; at 165Hz, it is 6ms.
If you have ever used a 144Hz+ monitor for gaming and then switched to 60Hz, the difference is immediately visible. It is not subtle.
The 1000:1 vs 2000:1 Contrast Difference
Standard IPS panels, including the LG 27GP850-B, have approximately 1000:1 contrast ratio. The Dell U2723D's IPS Black achieves 2000:1.
In practice on productivity work: dark text editor backgrounds (like VS Code with a dark theme) appear darker and more saturated on the Dell. White text on the near-black background is more legible — the background is darker, the text appears to have higher contrast.
On light-themed interfaces, the difference is less visible — both panels produce similarly white backgrounds.
For gaming: 2000:1 improves dark scene rendering. In a forest level at night or a game with heavy shadow use, the Dell's deeper blacks produce more shadow detail. For competitive gaming on bright-background maps, the difference is less relevant.
USB Hub Difference
The LG has USB-C with 90W power delivery and video signal. That is the extent of its connectivity.
The Dell has USB-C with 90W power delivery, video signal, plus 3x USB-A ports and Ethernet. This means a laptop connected to the Dell's single USB-C cable has access to keyboard, mouse, USB storage, and wired internet — all through the monitor.
For a clean desk setup with a laptop as the primary computer, the Dell eliminates a separate USB hub and a separate Ethernet adapter. The LG requires both separately to achieve equivalent connectivity.
1440p vs 4K for Office Work
At 27 inches, 1440p at 100% scaling produces readable text. 4K at 27 inches at 100% scaling produces very small text — most people use 125% scaling, which produces text equivalent to approximately 1440p in size but sharper due to the higher pixel count.
For document work where reading long-form text is the primary activity: 4K is marginally better at sharp text rendering, more noticeably better for fine detail in graphs and presentations.
For coding: 4K at 125% scaling shows more code lines at equivalent readability compared to 1440p.
The difference is real but subtle. If you do not work with high-density visual content, 1440p at 27 inches is fine.
The $200 Price Gap
Dell U2723D: $549. LG 27GP850-B: $349. A $200 gap.
The Dell's premium buys:
- IPS Black panel (2000:1 vs 1000:1)
- 4K vs 1440p
- Full USB hub (USB-A + Ethernet) vs USB-C only
- Portrait pivot
- Factory calibration
- 3-year Advanced Exchange warranty
If you need all of these, the Dell is worth the premium. If gaming is part of your use case, none of these features matter as much as the refresh rate you are giving up.
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