LG 43" Review

The LG 43BN70U-B is a 43-inch 4K IPS monitor that delivers a huge, sharp picture perfect for professional multitasking. However, its 61Hz refresh rate makes it terrible for gaming or any fast motion, and the tilt-only stand is a letdown. It's a niche product for users who prioritize screen real estate over everything else.

If you're looking for a massive 43-inch 4K IPS monitor for your desk, the LG 43BN70U-B is a serious contender. It's a huge screen, and at around $1210, it's squarely in the high-end professional monitor price range. People searching for a 'big 4K monitor for work' or a '43-inch IPS display' will find exactly that here. The IPS panel means you get good color accuracy and viewing angles, which is great for creative work or multitasking. And with a USB-C port that acts as a DisplayPort alternative, it's ready for modern laptops.

Let's talk about what this thing can and can't do. The 4K resolution on a 43-inch screen is fantastic for detail, and the IPS panel delivers color performance that's well above average. But performance is its weak spot. The 61Hz refresh rate and 8ms response time are among the worst we've seen in our database for a monitor. This isn't a gaming screen. For office work, creative apps, or just having a ton of windows open, it's perfectly fine. But if you're hoping for smooth motion in games or fast-paced video, you'll be disappointed.

At $1210, this monitor is expensive. You're paying for the sheer size and the 4K IPS panel quality. For that price, you could get a high-refresh-rate 4K gaming monitor or a professional UltraSharp with better ergonomics. So the value really depends on if that giant screen is your top priority. If it is, and you don't care about gaming performance, then the price might be justified. If you want a more balanced feature set, there are better values out there.

This LG sits in a weird spot compared to its competitors. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is a curved super-ultrawide gaming beast with a much higher refresh rate, but it's also more expensive. The ASUS ROG Swift and MSI MPG 322URX are 4K gaming monitors with blazing 240Hz refresh rates, making them terrible comparisons for this 61Hz LG. The closest match might be the Dell UltraSharp 27" 4K, which is smaller but offers better ergonomics and a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother general use. The LG UltraGear 45" offers a dual-mode high refresh rate, again for gaming. Basically, if you're not a gamer, this LG's main competition is other big, slow, professional-focused screens.

Gamers should absolutely skip this. Anyone who values smooth motion in videos, scrolling, or even casual gaming will be disappointed. People who need a monitor that can be easily moved or adjusted on their desk should also look elsewhere, due to its massive weight and poor ergonomics. If that's you, consider a high-refresh-rate 4K monitor like the ASUS ROG Swift or a more adjustable professional display like a Dell UltraSharp.

Should you buy this? If your dream setup is a single, enormous, sharp 4K screen for coding, video editing, or having 10 spreadsheets open at once, and you will never play a game on it, then yes, this could be your monitor. The image quality is great for that. But for almost everyone else, we'd say skip it. The terrible refresh rate makes even scrolling web pages feel less smooth than on a cheap office monitor. The lack of height adjustment on the stand is frustrating at this price. And the weight means you can't easily move it. It's a specialist tool for a very specific need.