LG unveils the world’s first bendable 5K2K gaming monitor

Like Elastigirl from the seminal Pixar film The Incredibles, LG’s latest widescreen display is a “5K2K” OLED monitor that goes from a standard flat screen to a 900R curved screen. It’s extra large at 45 inches, and it’ll cost a pretty penny, but it might just be the only monitor you’ll ever need.

LG is known for its experiments with flexible, morphable screen materialbut the 45GX990A is still a surprise. LG is promoting its latest 45-inch panel, which offers flexibility beyond folding. It features VRR (no word on its top refresh rate) alongside its “Dual-Mode” function, which allows you to switch between resolution presets. The display comes with a switch to exchange between an aspect ratio 21: 9 or 16: 9 or other image sizes – or 39-, 34- or 27-inch-without digging into the monitor settings. LG said there are a total of eight different configurations.

To avoid confusion with the “5K2K” resolution claims, the display is 5,120 by 2,160, although this will change depending on the settings you use on the monitor. The number of pixels is effectively equivalent to the height of 4K, at 3,840 by 2,160. If you plan to play on such a setup, you’ll want to run games that offer ultrawide support. At least the LG Flexible OLED is rated for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium. It should also include support for DisplayPort 2.1 HDMI 2.1 (even with HDMI 2.2 on the horizon) and power delivery of 90 W.

The 45GX990A is a standard OLED with .03 MS response times typical of this type of display. It may not be as beautiful as other curved 16:9 monitors, such as AW3225QF by Alienware from before this year, but the difference will be marginal. I also liked the QDOLED on the Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 with its 1800R curve. I’ve never felt the need to suddenly trade in a curved display for a flat screen, although perhaps the top end of the UltraGear GX9 series might change my mind.

LG is trading those other screens’ quantum dots for size and flexibility—literally and figuratively. Get a huge 45-inch screen real estate that can adapt to your desired curve, whether it fills your periphery or offers a slight curve to your typical workstation. However, 45 inches consume most desks, so say goodbye to your multi-monitor setups.

It is all before knowing the prices on these displays before LG shows them during CES 2025 in the second week of January. LG has additional, non-flexible monitors like the OLED curved sister and the 45GX950A, which includes the same 5K2K OLED but with a standard 800R curve. LG also claims that this model has bezels limited to a “virtually borderless design”. This companion, the probably expensive monitor, is joined by a “smart gaming monitor”, the UltraGear 39GX90SA. That 800R curved OLED display uses LG’s Linux-based webOS to act like your typical smart TV, which can do well for gaming or movie streaming.

Again, there is no word on pricing or release time. LG finally started selling he is famous Transparent Signature OLED Twhich first demonstrated at CES 2024 earlier this month for $60,000. I don’t expect LG to take nearly as much time on its UltraGear GX9 series, but that depends on the screen maker. Last year, LG’s big CES announcement was a 240 Hz monitor that can even go to 480 Hz. This display costs $1,400 MSRP. Judging by its size, we expect the GX9 to cost even more.