Are Korean monitors still a thing? Did monitors get that much better in the last 10 years?

Posted by vitoos@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 63 comments

So about 10 years ago the secret to getting great and affordable monitors was buying Korean monitors of ebay. I got a 1440p isp qled crossover panel, which was suppoused to be apple cinema display panel for 200$. The problem is that refresh rate was limited to 60hz and It only has DVI port. Recently I started noticing some lines appear on black backgrounds and now wondering if i should get a new one. Not sure where to start. Are korean monitors still a thing?

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The-Rizztoffen@reddit

there's a Chinese company "Kuycon" making 5k displays from current Apple monitors. Again 5k only and only have USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) out, but they come with DP and HDMI adapters. If you wanna continue the tradition, this is what you will probably want

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kerouak@reddit

Price point?

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The-Rizztoffen@reddit

Never mind. They seem to have become much more expensive. Could’ve sworn they were like 600-700$. The cheapest is 900$ rn

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dieyoufool3@reddit

Thanks to the policies of Saint Upid

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Repulsive-Ad-8558@reddit

Hmm I wonder why?????????

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Beginning-Seat5221@reddit

I thought that OLEDs were pretty much all made by LG (Korean) and then just rebranded. Might be wrong/might have changed.

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ComradeCapitalist@reddit

"Korean monitor" in this case specifically meant buying from a brand unknown in the US via eBay. It was a pretty common recommendation here back in 2012-13 when a 1440p60 IPS display from a mainstream brand went for $600+.

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ancientemblem@reddit

Good ol Qnix, mine managed to run at 96hz over clocked no problem but anything higher would crash.

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russsl8@reddit

Same on my qnix monitor. Above 96hz it would get screwy

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Ill-Mastodon-8692@reddit

ran my few qnix at 96 or 120hz for years, they eventually started failing in 2021, and all 4 failed by 2024.

inside a chip would eventually die or puff of smoke

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m4tic@reddit

I completely forgot about this QNIX 2710, I also forget the alternate brand/version. I had one of those "pixel perfect" orders. The seller offered me the upgraded version of this display (outside the enthusiast realm and less capable). I hopped on 34" ultrawide after this.

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Yarik85@reddit

Qnix... a blast from the past, that's for sure. That thing's still running over at my in-law's place, ever since I replaced it with an Acer 1440p144hz.

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ZakinKazamma@reddit

I got one of those for all of like 250$ back in 2013 or so. Extremely worth it. Could get wild panels for 300-400 back then that easily competed with 1000+ panels.

Upgraded three times since then though. OLED G9 too tempting on sale last year.

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Beginning-Seat5221@reddit

I see. Thanks.

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sunlitcandle@reddit

The main manufacturers are Samsung, BOE, LG Display, and Innolux. There's some smaller companies, but I'm not sure if they make bigger panels - mainly laptops, wearables, etc.

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phoenixrawr@reddit

Some are made by Samsung, but they’re also Korean.

Also, those two make the panels but the manufacturers add pretty much everything else - software/firmware, display and HDMI ports, extra stuff like KVM, etc.

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Beginning-Seat5221@reddit

Yeah I was just being lazy with the wording on rebranded vs assembled :)

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dustincb2@reddit

Shoutout to those Korean monitors though. I used an X-Star 1440p monitor for around 10 years with no issues until I upgraded to 4k

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FinancialRip2008@reddit

lol i had one of those too! i took it apart and added foam so the lighting was even. it was bizarre to see such a nice panel surrounded by amazingly shoddy construction.

i gave it to my dad a couple years ago because the DVI input converter box was stupid expensive and i got a new gpu, but he had a gt710 or some shit that output that signal natively.

when i see that monitor now in 2025 when i have fancy shit... it holds up. it still looks really good. if it's just a productivity display i think it's better than most of what's out there for sale new at a similar price.

it was a crazy good deal at the time.

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vitoos@reddit (OP)

what did you upgrade to?

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FinancialRip2008@reddit

this dell

i like it, but i wish it wasn't curved.

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vitoos@reddit (OP)

Oh how come? I heard people love their curved monitors. I never used curved but the concept seems weird.

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FinancialRip2008@reddit

for gaming and especially doing graphic design work it's kinda funky if you're off axis. like you're not looking at a square any more but some sort of )_( shape, and lines on the screen that are supposed to be straight, aren't. gotta have your head in just the right spot for it to look right.

in exchange i don't feel like it offers any benefit. when you're on-axis it looks like a flat panel.

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vitoos@reddit (OP)

which 4k monitor did you get?

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dustincb2@reddit

It’s just a cheap Acer. What really happened is I got a new GPU and it didn’t have DVI-D so I was kind of forced into it

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epicflex@reddit

I got a Koorui 1440p 170Hz and it was great! Upgraded to OLED now but it was a nice monitor :)

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vitoos@reddit (OP)

which oled did you get?

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epicflex@reddit

Aorus FO27Q2, 240Hz 1440p

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rccsr@reddit

I loved my Crossover 2795QHD

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vitoos@reddit (OP)

ayy fellow crossover enjoyer. Which monitor did you get to replace it?

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rccsr@reddit

I replaced it with a Alienware 34” 3440x1440 IPS about 5 years ago.

I recently changed to an LG C4 42”

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vitoos@reddit (OP)

42 inch? haha wow. Seems massive. How does that fit on your table? Feels like i would have to sit across my room to play games on it. Although i thought the same when buying 27 inch and now i can't imagine having a smaller screen.

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rccsr@reddit

I have it as far back as possible. It’s a little too big, but the quality is beautiful.

I will downsize in the future for sure. 38” or smaller

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macgirthy@reddit

Yea, I remember wanting a Wasabi Mango 4k monitor baaad. Several years later I get a 48 Oled from LG tho. LOL

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vitoos@reddit (OP)

how much did 48 oled set you back?

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macgirthy@reddit

I expensed half of it working from home so $550?

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ninjagarcia@reddit

lol I remember wanting one as well.

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Recktion@reddit

Moved to Chinese monitors, brands like KTC or INNOCN are providing great monitors for cheaper prices.

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patchonpt@reddit

Ktc h27t22 is such a good 1440p monitor for the price, love it

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2HappySundays@reddit

Wow, to give you an idea of how much has changed, yes, Korean (LG and Samsung) LCDs were the best but they have left that market to the Chinese, selling their factories etc. this is to focus on OLED and more advanced technologies.

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SagittaryX@reddit

Samsung still makes a shit ton of LCD VA type panels, haven't sold that.

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hex_code_seven@reddit

They SOLD patents and factories for HVA panels to TCL CSOT. The HVA Panels in Samsung G7 G8 line is manufactured by CSOT but uses Samsung Firmware/Tuning for fast response times

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doublea94@reddit

Samsung doesn't make their LCD panels anymore. They buy them from a different manufacturer. They manufacturer QD OLED only now. And other types of OLED for phones and stuff.

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milyuno2@reddit

He mean the small brands, they were really cheap in comparison to big brands.

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kluuu@reddit

you talking about my boy greensum ??

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rccsr@reddit

What a throwback to hear this reference haha

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kingOofgames@reddit

Korean monitors like Samsung are really great, top of the line stuff, but not cheap anymore.

Nowadays it’s cheap and good from China and Taiwan

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heickelrrx@reddit

Korean Monitor?

LG
Samsung

there you go

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darren_kill@reddit

It was a thing. You'd buy no-name (not samsung or lg - more like Qnix etc) and it was dirt cheap but high spec

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Secret_Time5860@reddit

Korean monitors are great.

I would stray away from Non-name brands. I am not saying this to be a brand sheep. I have purchsed a Chinse brand Monitor named Viotek. Its the same specs as my Samsung Curved 144hz.

The viotek one died within 3 years.

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iwantdie17@reddit

look into chinese brands like koorui, titan army, innocn, ktc, etc

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JohnnyChuttz@reddit

Catleap’s! Pepperridge Farms remembers!

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fist003@reddit

Valid question 25 years ago

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sakata_gintoki113@reddit

all non OLED monitors more or less have the same panels, just different stand, software and price

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reddituserzerosix@reddit

still using an xstar lol

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RuckFeddi7@reddit

korean monitors were never a thing wut?

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Chareon@reddit

Definitely were. It's understandable to not be aware of it though, it was relatively short lived and was a pretty niche topic. Here's an example reddit post from almost 10 years ago on it though.

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/42sneq/discussionwhich_is_the_best_korean_1440p_monitor/

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HeinigerNZ@reddit

Yeah I got a Crossover in 2014 and it was fucking awesome. Gorgeous (and perfect) picture at a fraction of the price.

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Bumm-fluff@reddit

AOC punch above their weight for the cost, they are made in Taiwan.

I’ve had a few, they are pretty good for budget models.

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jessecreamy@reddit

I always get LG. But it's not made in Korean, i knew it's from PRC. Yah you still call it Korean monitors, just i don't think so. I will never get cheap Samshit monitor, they only focus on top notch product, and seem your budget isn't.

Not sure about market but as i witnessed, cheap monitor from Taiwan are really good in p/p, and worth its cost.

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