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Customer Review
Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2024
I tested the LG 27SR50F-BA 27 inch monitor.
The paper instructions were minimal, being some cryptic drawings of how to assemble the stand and warnings about how to hold the monitor. They could use some help from IKEA to make them understandable.
Once assembled, I began by trying to use the monitor with my phone as suggested on the setup screen. After registering an account (why?) I could use the app, but I kept looping through the connection settings. It would show the monitor connected and then it would show the QR code again to connect. Super confusing. I was never able to set the WiFi password through the phone. Eventually, I gave up and used the remote with the menu to set it.
I found the entire WebOS user interface depressingly complicated and difficult to navigate. There is lots of content, if you are using this monitor as your TV.
Back to using it as a monitor for my computer. I found the picture less bright and not as sharp as my old LG Monitor. I went through all the settings for brightness, contrast, gamma, power saving etc and the best I could do was still passable but not excellent, as I am used to. Sad that the old monitor from the same company is better than the new one.
I am used to navigating settings with the joystick under the monitor. At some points I just got stuck in menus and the only way out was to use the remote or turn off the monitor. Using the remote is easy and works well, but once it is lost under the couch cushions I would like to use the joystick button. Once again it seemed the UI/UX just wasn't up to par. Once stuck, I thought I would find the complete manual on line with documentation on what I was doing wrong, perhaps. Nope. The downloadable documentation for this monitor was little more than the paper I already had.
Going through all the menu options makes me think we have a case of adding every feature under the sun and forgetting that the main aim is to make a good monitor.
I tried playing content off a USB stick. I was totally surprised that it would not play the videos in avi or mkv format that work fine on our Sony. Without access to the Play store as an Android based monitor has, you can't download VLC or other apps to add features or codecs. I notice there is a developer mode, so more apps might be coming.
There is a built in web browser which was surprisingly OK, but a bit slow. Since it is LG proprietary it may have limitations. There does not seem to be a way to install Chrome.
YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and all the other streaming platforms are available and work well.
If you want a combination smart TV and monitor, there is a lot to offer here for the price.
If you want a good monitor for your PC, I put it in the OK but you can find better category.
The paper instructions were minimal, being some cryptic drawings of how to assemble the stand and warnings about how to hold the monitor. They could use some help from IKEA to make them understandable.
Once assembled, I began by trying to use the monitor with my phone as suggested on the setup screen. After registering an account (why?) I could use the app, but I kept looping through the connection settings. It would show the monitor connected and then it would show the QR code again to connect. Super confusing. I was never able to set the WiFi password through the phone. Eventually, I gave up and used the remote with the menu to set it.
I found the entire WebOS user interface depressingly complicated and difficult to navigate. There is lots of content, if you are using this monitor as your TV.
Back to using it as a monitor for my computer. I found the picture less bright and not as sharp as my old LG Monitor. I went through all the settings for brightness, contrast, gamma, power saving etc and the best I could do was still passable but not excellent, as I am used to. Sad that the old monitor from the same company is better than the new one.
I am used to navigating settings with the joystick under the monitor. At some points I just got stuck in menus and the only way out was to use the remote or turn off the monitor. Using the remote is easy and works well, but once it is lost under the couch cushions I would like to use the joystick button. Once again it seemed the UI/UX just wasn't up to par. Once stuck, I thought I would find the complete manual on line with documentation on what I was doing wrong, perhaps. Nope. The downloadable documentation for this monitor was little more than the paper I already had.
Going through all the menu options makes me think we have a case of adding every feature under the sun and forgetting that the main aim is to make a good monitor.
I tried playing content off a USB stick. I was totally surprised that it would not play the videos in avi or mkv format that work fine on our Sony. Without access to the Play store as an Android based monitor has, you can't download VLC or other apps to add features or codecs. I notice there is a developer mode, so more apps might be coming.
There is a built in web browser which was surprisingly OK, but a bit slow. Since it is LG proprietary it may have limitations. There does not seem to be a way to install Chrome.
YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and all the other streaming platforms are available and work well.
If you want a combination smart TV and monitor, there is a lot to offer here for the price.
If you want a good monitor for your PC, I put it in the OK but you can find better category.
