Katarzyna Petru
For years, users have begged for one thing – OLED without a matte filter that kills contrast. And it looks like in 2025 they will finally get it. Both Asus and LG are introducing OLED monitors with a glossy finish to bring back the true "wow" effect of this technology.
From OLED TVs to Matte Monitors
Before OLED monitors appeared, enthusiasts were setting up 42-inch OLED TVs on their desks – all with glossy screens that delivered perfect blacks and depth.
Then the first OLED monitors arrived, but… almost all WOLEDs had matte coatings, and QD-OLEDs were sold as “semi-gloss”, although in practice they were closer to matte than gloss.
The result? Lower contrast, poorer color saturation, and that typical “milky” image that completely negated the advantages of OLED.
Why is it so important?
Matte and semi-gloss coatings diffuse light, reducing reflections, but at the same time flatten blacks and blur colors. The image loses depth, and HDR no longer has the intensity for which OLED is famous.
On the other hand, glossy panels can reflect light in bright rooms, but the reward is significantly better contrast, more vibrant colors, and that "glassy" effect, which makes a difference in games and movies.
New Wave of Glossy OLEDs
The year 2025 is the moment when manufacturers finally listened to the market. At least seven glossy OLED monitors have already been announced.
Asus was the first – it presented as many as five models in sizes 27” and 32”, including those equipped with new RGB Tandem OLED panels from LG Display:
XG27AQWMG, PG27AQWP-W, XG27AQDMG, XG32UCWMG, and XG32UCWG.
LG Electronics adds two more: 27GX704A-B and 32GX850A, both with factory glossy panels – without any modifications after production.
What’s next?
Now we just have to wait for these models to hit store shelves and… see, whether the shiny OLED will return to the throne of picture quality.
If the trend continues, 2026 may bring a true breakthrough – the era of OLED monitors that finally look as they should have from the beginning.
