Dough’s excellent but controversial* Spectrum 4K 144Hz monitor now comes with a glossy Gorilla Glass coating, a third option in addition to the monitor’s default matte option launched in 2021 and the glossy version launched last year.
The only trouble? On BH Photo Video, the Gorilla Glass model sells for $799, which is much higher than the $599 frosted version and the $699 glossy version. At that price, it’s actually more expensive than discounted 42-inch OLED TVs, and on the same level as upcoming QD-OLED displays, which surpass it in refresh rate and features. Is this premium worth it for the unparalleled viewing experience promised by glossy Gorilla Glass, or is it too much to ask for in the crowded and competitive HDMI 2.1 monitor market?
To find out, I’ve been testing the Gorilla Glass version of the Spectrum, comparing it head-to-head and side-by-side with the standard matte version, which I already use as my primary monitor and recommend as a Eurogamer Best of the Past HDMI 2.1 Gaming monitor. Use the quick links below or scroll for the full review.
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Dough Spectrum Gorilla Glass and Matte first-hand impressions
Before we get into the impressions, it’s worth briefly describing what the basic Spectrum monitor is and why it’s worth owning. In a nutshell, this is a 27-inch monitor that runs at 3840×2160, clocks up to 144Hz, has FreeSync/G-Sync compatibility, and some unique features we’ll detail later. The monitor is built with an LG Fast IPS panel, which offers TN-like motion clarity in addition to the color reproduction and wide viewing angles IPS screens are traditionally known for, making it a good all-round choice.
4K 144Hz monitors have become an excellent choice for mid-range and high-end gaming PCs, as you can enjoy increased clarity during slow-paced gaming, not to mention crisp text while working and consuming 4K media with ease, while high refresh rates are ideal for For fast-paced, competitive game genres such as FPS, speed is necessary. With HDMI 2.1 ports (as seen here), these screens are also perfect for playing 4K 120Hz games on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X – including VRR and HDR (DisplayHDR 600) support.
When looking at two adjacent Spectrum models, the Gorilla Glass model Do It looks noticeably better out of the box – colors appear more vivid, contrast is increased and you feel like you’re looking at an extremely high-end display; my only point of comparison here is last year’s glossy iMac screens, which look better than PC Competitors are richer and better. This is especially true with HDR enabled, where the display’s slightly enhanced contrast makes up for one of the very few weaknesses of modern, fast IPS panels.
Rich visuals do have the disadvantage of more pronounced, less distracting reflections. I have a pretty good setup that avoids these situations, no bright light sources in the room, and a window behind the monitor, but even the light emitted downwards by my 3D printer is a little noticeable when using the Gorilla Glass version, which is matte This was not the case with the original. However, the improved reflections compared to the original glossy version are worth it.
If you’re interested in a glossy monitor, there are surprisingly few options for this coating, with the vast majority of gaming monitors on the market using matte coatings. Looking at the two screens side by side, I can see why some internet commenters I read in the Reddit monitor subreddit were keen to find a glossy alternative.
Dough Spectrum Gorilla Glass vs Matte Benchmark
To better understand the differences between these monitors, we tested them under the same conditions using Datacolor’s Spyder Monitor Quality Analyzer software, which performs various tests for color reproduction, white point, contrast, and panel uniformity.
Before running the tests, both monitors were first calibrated to 120 nits (corresponding to 23/100 brightness for the glossy model and 15/100 brightness for the matte model) using a SpyderX Elite colorimeter, using a gamma setting of 2.2 and the monitor’s sRGB mode. HDR is disabled because this colorimeter does not support HDR testing.
Unsurprisingly, for a monitor built with the same LG Fast IPS panel and tuned by the same company, the results for the matte and Gorilla Glass versions are very similar. However, you can still see the difference in coating that results in a higher contrast ratio on the Gorilla Glass model. In addition to showing better color accuracy and slightly more color volume, Gorilla Glass displays also appear to track the 2.2 gamma curve better. Additionally, the matte model has slightly better panel color uniformity.
| test | matte | Gorilla glass |
| Color gamut (sRGB) | 98% | 99% |
| Color gamut (AdobeRGB) | 73% | 74% |
| Color gamut (DCI P3) | 74% | 74% |
| Measured display gamma (OSD setting 2.2) | 2.3 | 2.2 |
| Contrast range from 0% to 100% brightness | 930:1 to 1110:1 | 980:1 to 1160:1 |
| Color uniformity Δ E* at 50% brightness | 1.8 | 2.1 |
| Brightness uniformity difference at 50% brightness | 9% | 9% |
| Color Accuracy Δ E Average | 2.17 | 1.33 |
| Color Accuracy Δ E Max | 5.06 | 4.37 |
| SpyderX monitor ratings | 4 stars | 4.5 stars |
We expect there to be some minor differences in panel quality from unit to unit, so there’s nothing here to disqualify either model – but it does look like the glossy coating offers a small advantage in a few key metrics, It was great to see and support our first – Mudra.
Dough Spectrum Gorilla Glass and Matte: Features and Alternatives
If you’re considering a 4K 144Hz monitor and you’re aiming for a 27-inch Fast IPS panel rather than a (Mini LED) VA or OLED alternative, the Spectrum is a good choice overall – and the smart panel selection delivers good for gaming and content creation/consumption performance, it also has some unique features including a USB-C 100W Power Delivery port to send video, data and charge laptops over a single cable, perfect scaling for integer low-resolution sources, and Fully customizable overdrive and black frame insertion settings tuned by Blur Busters.
Other elements aren’t necessarily as polished – the OSD’s aesthetics are a bit lacking, and the firmware update process is a bit worrisome – but the overall experience of using the original version for a few months and the new Gorilla Glass model for a few weeks has been pretty good. Excellent.
Most notably, the fast IPS screen used here doesn’t have anything I’ve come to expect from VA monitors (like slow pixel response times) or OLED screens (like extremely limited brightness, annoying brightness limiters that prevent screen burn, and weird sub-pixels). Huge shortcomings encountered. Arrangement that causes text edges to appear in Windows). Granted, the brightness is a bit limited, and the contrast ratio isn’t ideal at around 1100:1, but you do get a decent HDR experience with a DisplayHDR 600 rating, and the monitor is great for a variety of gaming, content creation workloads, and more.
However, I have to say that the regular matte or the $100 more expensive glossy model are better value options, and the top-tier Gorilla Glass option just doesn’t do enough to justify the money – especially with a lineup of exciting The new product is supported by the monitor released at CES 2024.
It’s also worth remembering that none of the monitor prices quoted include a stand – perfect for me as I use a (cheap) monitor arm anyway and would never in a million years go back to a stand – But it’s worth increasing your value calculus anyway.
wrap up
The Dough Spectrum with Gorilla Glass is a fascinating prospect. On the one hand, it’s clearly an unbeatable choice that takes the fast IPS screens we’ve recommended for years to new heights, and should suit anyone who wants a high-end screen without being challenged by OLED or VA alternatives.
On the other hand, the standard glossy Eve Spectrum offers many of the same benefits at a lower price – if you don’t care about the glossy screen, there are plenty of cheaper matte screen 4K 144Hz options from Gigabyte, LG, Acer, and more . Heck, the Samsung Odyssey G7 offers the same 4K 144Hz HDMI 2.1 spec sheet for just £488, and I’ve seen other models from smaller brands like X= for as cheap as £350.
From my perspective, I’d be interested in seeing other reviews of this screen come online – especially from more hardcore monitor review channels like RTings or TFTCentral that have the time, experience, and equipment to delve into the new screen and make more updates. Detailed objective analysis of coatings. Still, based on my own subjective experience and objective analysis, the Gorilla Glass-equipped Spectrum does do enough to make it an exciting choice — just not enough to offer a clear cut to other monitors in the same or lower price range. recommendation. Still, this is an exciting development, and I hope Eve offers Gorilla Glass versions in its upcoming monitors as well.
If you’re interested in upgrading your setup with a new screen, we’ve got a list of Digital Foundry-tested and approved gaming monitors for you to peruse.
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