LG has finally created a 1,000Hz gaming monitor, but it's a Pandora's Box no one needed to open

LG has whipped up what it believes to be the "world's first" 1,000Hz 1080p gaming monitor, and the only question in my head is a resounding "why?" I don't like being a grump when it comes to absurd refresh rates made for esports-style gaming, and I do dabble a little in Overwatch myself. Nevertheless, I'm not convinced it's a panel even competitive players will care about right now.

Introduced in a press release, LG claims the 24.5-inch UltraGear 25G590B is the "world’s first Full HD gaming monitor with a native 1000Hz refresh rate." By that, the screen maker means it's not leveraging dual resolution modes and integrated scaling to dial down a 4K screen to 1080p to achieve faster speeds, meaning the lucrative refresh rate is a default trait.

The pitch is the same as always: 1,000Hz will help competitive players "track opponents and scan in-game environments efficiently, supporting faster reaction times and more tactical decision making." It's a line you've likely heard before when researching speedy screens, but the idea also relies on other features like efficient motion blur techniques.

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LG's solution to the latter is "Motion Blur Reduction Pro," a feature that should help combat any ghosting or smeering in fast-paced visuals. The idea is that, despite rapid movements, you'll still see subtle glimpses of opponents, shadow changes, or anything other visual information that'll help give you an edge in-game. It also aids overall accuracy when popping a shot at enemies in the distance, since you're more likely to hit them rather than the space they stood in milliseconds before.

Again, I'm aware I'm being grumpy about 1,000Hz monitors as a concept, and I'm willing to be proven wrong about their place in the screen scene right now. I want you to keep in mind, though, that very few rigs out there will be hitting a frame rate that can remotely satiate the panel, and you'll need to spend a bomb on graphics cards and other upgrades to even come close.

I also like to think that, since most players will be using under 500Hz to play Overwatch, Valorant, and other popular competitive shooters, players will still end up top of their game. That is to say that a 1,000Hz display isn't going to transform you into an esports star overnight, and while there's every chance that hitting those figures will improve your reaction times, there's more to the sport than the panel you pick.

The LG UltraGear 25G590B will bring native 1,000Hz refresh rates to the table in the second half of 2026. While the screen maker's head says it's a "defining moment for gaming monitors,” I'm wondering whether speed is becoming less of an alluring pitch now we've hit quaduple digits.

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