Samsung LC27F591FDN Review

The Samsung LC27F591FDN ($299.99) is a 27-inch gaming monitor featuring a zero-bezel design and a sharply curved screen that makes you feel closer to the action. It uses a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel and AMD’s FreeSync technology to deliver smooth gameplay and vibrant colors, and it offers wide viewing angles. However, its out-of-the-box color accuracy, screen resolution, and overall feature set can’t compete with our Editors’ Choice for large-screen gaming monitors, the LG 27UD88-W($699.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window). But if you’re dead set on a curved monitor, and you have a limited budget, it’s worth considering.

Design and Features
With its curved, white cabinet, silver trim, and zero-bezel design, the LC27F591FDN($520.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) is sure to spruce up even the drabbest of desktops. The cabinet is supported by a stand that provides 22 degrees of tilt adjustability, but lacks height, swivel, and pivot adjustments. The 27-inch Vertical Alignment (VA) panel has an 1,800R curvature radius (this means that if you put these monitors edge to edge to create a complete circle, the circle’s radius would be 1,800mm.). This is more pronounced than any other curved-screen monitor we’ve seen (the next closest is the LG 34UC98-W($2,800.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window), which has a 1,900R curvature radius).

The panel has a maximum resolution of 1,920 by 1,080, which is on the low side for a 27-inch monitor. The LG 27UD88-W has a 3,840-by-2,160 resolution, and the Eizo Foris FS2735( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) has a 2,560-by-1,440 resolution. However, it should be noted that both those models are significantly more expensive than the LC27F591FDN. The panel covers 119 percent of the sRGB color gamut, has a peak brightness of 250 cd/m², a 4-millisecond (gray-to-gray) pixel response, and a 3,000:1 contrast ratio.

All of the LC27F591FDN’s ports are on the rear of the cabinet, facing outward. They include one HDMI input, one DisplayPort input, and one VGA input. They are joined by an audio input and a headphone jack, but you won’t find any USB ports on this monitor. Also on the rear of the cabinet is a four-way joystick controller that is used to access and navigate the setting menus, select an input source, turn the monitor on and off, and enable the Eye Saver mode, which reduces blue-light emissions. The embedded 5-watt speakers are loud, and provide a touch of bass, but not enough to rattle the windows.

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Picture settings are basic and lack the advanced color settings that you get with the LG 27UD88-W and the Acer Predator XB271HK($586.46 at Newegg)(Opens in a new window). In addition to Brightness, Contrast, and Sharpness settings, there are six Color Temperature settings and individual Red, Green, and Blue Color Tone (Intensity) settings. You also get a Game mode that optimizes settings for playing action games, two Magic Upscale settings that help enhance low-resolution images, and two ECO Saving Plus power-saving modes.

The LC27F591FDN is covered by a three-year warranty on parts, labor, and backlight. Included in the box are an HDMI cable and a Quick Start Guide.

Performance
The LC27F591FDN’s VA panel produced dark blacks that gave colors some added pop in our tests, but color accuracy was less than stellar. As shown on the chromaticity chart below, green and blue colors (represented by the colored dots) are relatively close to their ideal CIE coordinates (represented by the boxes), while red is outside of its zone and slightly undersaturated. However, red colors didn’t appear weak in my test images or while watching the movie Deadpool on Blu-ray disc.

The monitor had no trouble reproducing every shade of gray on the DisplayMate 64-Step Gray-Scale test, and it delivered intricate shadow and highlight detail. Viewing-angle performance was also first rate, with no color shifting or dimming when viewed from an extreme angle.

See How We Test Monitors

Gaming performance is impressive. The LC27F591FDN’s 4-millisecond pixel response helps deliver fast-motion gameplay without any blurring, and there was no noticeable screen tearing on my Crysis 3 (PC) and Grand Theft Auto V (Sony PlayStation 4($799.95 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window)) gaming tests. As we saw with the LG 27UH88-W, enabling FreeSync produced a noticeably smoother picture. The LC27F591FDN’s short input lag (the time it takes for the monitor to react to a controller command) of 12.3 milliseconds, as measured using a Leo Bodnar Video Signal Lag Tester, means you won’t get blown away waiting for your gun to fire. Our fastest monitors, the BenQ XL2430T($449.00 at Walmart)(Opens in a new window) and the SW2700PT($529.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) both measured 9.5 milliseconds.

The LC27F591FDN is energy efficient, consuming 22 watts of power while operating in the Standard preset mode with ECO Savings Plus turned off, and used 17 watts of power with ECO Savings Plus set to High. By way of comparison, the Acer XB271HK used 52 watts in Standard mode and 40 watts in ECO mode, while the ViewSonic VP2780-4K($799.99 at Office Depot® & OfficeMax®)(Opens in a new window) used 41 watts (Standard) and 31 watts (ECO).

Conclusion
With the Samsung LC27F591FDN, you can enjoy smooth gaming action on a curved screen that gives you a more immersive experience than a traditional flat panel. The FreeSync-enabled VA panel delivers rich colors and dark blacks, and provides wide viewing angles, but its out-of-the-box color accuracy isn’t ideal. Moreover, the panel’s 1,920-by-1,080 resolution pales in comparison to other large-screen monitors, and it lacks USB connectivity and an ergonomic stand. If your budget allows and you don’t need a curved display, our Editors’ Choice for large-screen gaming monitors, the LG 27UD88-W, is loaded with features, including an Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) panel with FreeSync technology, a fully adjustable stand, and USB-C connectivity.