The LG 38GL950G UltraGear gaming monitor stands head and shoulders above other monitors we've reviewed thanks to its superior performance, sleek design, and immersive curved display.

Just checking the specs alone will impress most gamers: it's a 38-inch curved gaming monitor with QHD+ resolution, a 1 ms response time, and a 144 Hz refresh rate. In addition, an LED ring illuminates the back of the monitor for an undeniably cool lighting effect.

When we tested the LG 38GL950G UltraGear, we were surprised by the ease of setup, the number of ports and features available on the display, and the ease of customizing the RGB lights. But it was in actual gaming that this monitor blew us away.

The ultra-wide 38-inch display with a 21:9 aspect ratio is gorgeous and gives a vast and immersive view of any game. Nano IPS technology, which enhances the display's backlight with quantum dot-like nanoparticles, delivers intense colors and impressive performance. The display boasts an impressive 148.9% of the sRGB color gamut, category-leading color accuracy, and up to 544 nits of brightness: whether playing "Hitman 2" or "Shadow of War," it looked stunning.

The fast response and 144 Hz refresh rate were made even more impressive by the option to overclock the display to 175 Hz. And all of this can be easily adjusted and controlled using the monitor's on-board navigation and on-screen menus.

The LG 38GL950G UltraGear is a top-of-the-line performer for gaming, but is also well suited for other uses, from streaming media to office work. Where the LG UltraGear really shines, however, is in the fast-paced, high-fidelity, no-mess gaming world.

While not a perfect display, the LG 38GL950G UltraGear gaming monitor blew us away in terms of raw quality and the number of impressive features for gamers and everyone else. Compared to the best and brightest gaming monitors we've reviewed so far, it's clearly the standout product of the year.