KTC G42P5 OLED Monitor Review – Fast HDR gaming on 42 inches at an “acceptable” price?

HDR Content

As mentioned earlier, I am currently unable to generate HDR patterns via Calman Ultimate. Without these patterns, I can’t measure the HDR EOTF curve, nor the brightness (Peak Brightness vs. Windows size) and related color accuracy in HDR mode. Of course, I will test this as soon as the software problem is fixed. Portrait Displays was able to verify my issue, when it will be fixed, no idea. Unofficially, I could measure a peak brightness of 694 nits – about 3% window size. Up to 25% window size, the brightness is in the range of 600 to 450 nits. This is completely sufficient since we are dealing with an infinite contrast ratio.

Nevertheless, I can of course make a subjective HDR assessment of the KTC G42P5. I don’t have to tell a long story there either. The facts are obvious. Because we have an LG OLED panel with over eight million self-luminous pixels here. And thus the best HDR hardware currently available. Technically, for HDR you need first and foremost: contrast, then you need contrast, and if you can – even more contrast. So all the things that LCD panels only try to add with FALD, an OLED already brings with it out of the box. A peak brightness of 2,000 nits need only contrastless!

(KTC G42P5 shots from the LG HDR demo)

The KTC G42P5 has contrast as far as the eye can see. I also made it a point to put the monitor next to my LG OLED C1 55″. You can hardly make a better comparison. Unfortunately, you can’t get that across so easily; a video comparison basically shows no difference. Also, it’s up to the end user device – your hardware – how such a video comes across to you. Difficult!

The KTC G42P5 can only play back HDR 10, thus the most commonly used HDR format. It cannot natively reproduce video signals in Dolby Vision, etc. This means that such signals are “converted” or downsampled into HDR 10. Dolby Vision gaming with the PS5 does not work at all, unfortunately. (If you’re looking for something like that, you’d be better off with an LG OLED C1 or C2). In my opinion, the KTC G42P5 is still a very good HDR machine. Whether the EOTF curve or the color accuracy fit in the end would only be the freestyle. Because the essential thing is that the monitor can display contrast (black) and at the same time details in white – without halo or bluing. If you’ve never seen OLEDs, you should go to an electronics store around the corner. It’s a pity that the TVs aren’t side by side in a direct comparison.

(KTC G42P5 shots from the LG HDR demo)

So you won’t find a VA panel with FALD next to an OLED. The manufacturers deliberately want to avoid this. But if you are interested in the topic (HDR, OLED and FALD) in depth, feel free to write to me via the forum. Fact is: This monitor (KTC G42P5) can reproduce HDR 10 brilliantly in LG OLED’s typical manner. And that, without the known drawbacks like halo, bluming or FALD algorithms – which affect the input lag and pixel response.

Summary

The KTC G42P5 is a “rebuilt/redesigned” LG OLED C2. This gives you the usual gaming features via OSD and a dedicated DisplayPort port. Additionally, the panel can be overclocked to 138 Hz refresh rate. Thanks to the OLED panel and the incredible pixel response time, you perceive the 138 Hz comparatively as a good IPS panel with 175 Hz in terms of motion clarity. But you don’t really see a difference between 138 and 120 Hz (on the KTC) at the end of the day either.

Additionally, you get a KVM switch and almost all the necessary cables. Regarding the color accuracy, KTC delivers the monitor unlooked. So, if you need sRGB, you have to get the color space via OSD. The calibration of the sRGB mode is completely okay and thus suitable for everyday use. Thanks to the white point control, you can also put your hand on the D65 again. Or you can calibrate it again using software. Attention: The automatic brightness limiter (also in SDR) can be your undoing here. The ABL is quite aggressive in terms of LG OLED. If you do a full-screen calibration, you’ll have to go with about 120 to 150 nits. If the window becomes smaller, the brightness will go up. Thus, the D65 usually shifts. Image editing etc. should be done as you calibrated the monitor, I recommend 100% window calibration and that’s how you should edit images/videos etc.

(Suddenly you can’t see the 38 inch Ultrawide anymore)

In terms of gaming and HDR, this monitor is OLED-typical. Super fast and just brilliant in rendering colors. The contrast in particular simply blows your mind. All other panel types simply cannot keep up with that. Unfortunately, my test sample did not come out of the packaging without any flaws. Thus, the dedicated DCI-P3 mode is completely off track. White point and gamma do not fit at all. Basically unusable. But that’s not a big deal, because the normal mode can be brought to a very good DCI-P3 level with a few clicks. Also, the specification of 99% Adobe RGB does not really fit the product. So it is better not to bring this information at all, if it is not tenable in the end. However, the biggest point of criticism is the HDMI 2.1 ports, which only run at 24 Gbit/s. KTC: Why?

OLED Care then takes KTC quite seriously again. Pixel shifting is always enabled and cannot be influenced by the end user via OSD. Too bad. From my point of view, the ABL is too aggressive – especially in SDR mode. KTC offers all the protection functions for the organic LEDs, but the issue of burn-in cannot be completely ignored. Finally, a heatsink is missing here, which I think makes sense for OLED monitors. It shouldn’t be a problem as long as you don’t run the desktop statically 24/7 under full brightness – without the mentioned protection features.

Conclusion

The customer gets a very good OLED panel for his money, which literally screams for HDR gaming. It is a pity that the panel only supports HDR 10. But you also get a brilliant monitor in SDR thanks to the OLED technology. A motion performance that is also unparalleled in eSports games. As the lowest input lag – of only 4.3 ms – measured by me so far made clear. The display’s size is an issue in itself. One likes it, the other does not. This basically stands and falls with the available space on the desk. Matter of taste!

 

The KTC G42P5 could have earned a buy recommendation award. But: The price of currently 1,300 Euros with stand is – measured against the feature set and compared to the competition – hardly justifiable. No heatsink for cooling the organic LEDs, the missing USB Type-B as well as the DisplayPort cable, the promised – but non-existent – calibration of the DCI-P3 mode, only HDR 10 support, no BFI and especially the limited HDMI 2.1 ports – cost points.

(Excerpt from the warranty description from the KTC site)

A real drawback is the issue of support. The name KTC is basically still unknown. Behind the name is a Chinese manufacturer, whose RMA processing I unfortunately can not test. There is a risk that the customer is left out in the cold if problems arise. I have to take that into account in the end as well.

(Excerpt from the warranty description from the KTC site)

I don’t like to give advance praise when there are too many known “negative” issues and unknowns in the equation. If that is too risky for you, you can alternatively go for LG’s OLED C2, which is currently even cheaper (about 1,000 Euros), but you unfortunately do not get some features like KVM, DisplayPort with 138 Hz, etc. However, it offers the full range of TVs, including Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Vision Gaming, HLG and BFI. Those who still buy the monitor will definitely get a real HDR monitor – without question. Are you doing something wrong? Other than basically paying too much? Difficult! This can only be answered in the case of an RMA, when the support reveals itself to us Europeans.

(Source: manual from the scope of delivery: The first sentence makes you think, it’s so squishy and only one year?)

KTC tried to focus on the essentials in large parts, but also forgot a few essential things. Among others, the console players and the people who also want to use Dolby Vision. After all, you are also competing against LG and other market contenders that rely on the same panel. Basically, LG’s OLED panel is really great, but there is still a lot of potential left behind. Perhaps KTC can still correct some points via firmware update (e.g. HDMI 2.1 with 48 Gbit ??), that would certainly be a positive signal in the sense of the customers – also in terms of creating trust on the European market. I would also appreciate it if all cables were included in the scope of delivery in the future.

One important issue remains: The more OLED monitors flood the market around the 1,000 euro mark, the more manufacturers are also forced to adjust the prices for the current “HDR” LCD monitors downward. In this sense, one reads oneself in the forum…

The monitor was provided to me by KTC without obligation – for testing purposes. There was no influence on the tests and results. There was also no compensation for expenses and no obligation to publish.