LCD or OLED for the highest motion clarity possible?

[Daevas]

I have been thinking about this for a while, as a motion clarity enthusiast...

I have been using my 3440x1440 155hz ADS panel, and im using Backlight strobing on firmware side AND DesktopBFI on the software side, as a result, i get something extremely close to 1ms of motion persistance while playing at 50 fps (setting monitor to 150hz, 2 black frames per 1 real frame).

But something that is stuck on my mind for a while is the fact that OLED have a extremely low pixel response time, and as a result, it greatly improves motion clarity with the only limit being the physics (blur busters law of sample-and-hold persistance).

But a oled that is rated at something like 0.03ms of pixel response time will have a extremely low motion blur when using ONLY DesktopBFI or shader glass? will it be enough to "obliterate" LCD panels when it comes to motion persistance? because, well... On LCD you can just mix hardware strobing and software BFI and it will looks almost like a CRT, but the colors and the brightness will be very dim.

So, when it comes to LCD Monitors it can already mix strobing and BFI to get CRT-like motion clarity.

Do OLEDs monitors get good enough with only software based BFI, does it even surpasses backlight strobing + software bfi method and get better than LCD or LCD still on the top when it comes to motion clarity?

I planning to buy a new 4k monitor, but i cant decide between OLED or LCD, as my focus is highest motion clarity possible while playing with 60 fps or below 60 at ultra settings.

Which one is the best for motion clarity?

[kyube]

I have been thinking about this for a while, as a motion clarity enthusiast...

I have been using my 3440x1440 155hz ADS panel, and im using Backlight strobing on firmware side AND DesktopBFI on the software side, as a result, i get something extremely close to 1ms of motion persistance while playing at 50 fps (setting monitor to 150hz, 2 black frames per 1 real frame).

But something that is stuck on my mind for a while is the fact that OLED have a extremely low pixel response time, and as a result, it greatly improves motion clarity with the only limit being the physics (blur busters law of sample-and-hold persistance).

But a oled that is rated at something like 0.03ms of pixel response time will have a extremely low motion blur when using ONLY DesktopBFI or shader glass? will it be enough to "obliterate" LCD panels when it comes to motion persistance? because, well... On LCD you can just mix hardware strobing and software BFI and it will looks almost like a CRT, but the colors and the brightness will be very dim.

So, when it comes to LCD Monitors it can already mix strobing and BFI to get CRT-like motion clarity.

Do OLEDs monitors get good enough with only software based BFI, does it even surpasses backlight strobing + software bfi method and get better than LCD or LCD still on the top when it comes to motion clarity?

I planning to buy a new 4k monitor, but i cant decide between OLED or LCD, as my focus is highest motion clarity possible while playing with 60 fps or below 60 at ultra settings.

Which one is the best for motion clarity?

OLED's are not able to get lower than native refresh rate MPRT target.
This means:
240hz = 4,177ms MPRT
480hz = 2,083ms MPRT
If relying on hardware BFI solutions, you are limited to 2 settings only (on the 480hz WOLEDs):
• 120hz with 4,17ms MPRT
• 240hz with 2,083ms MPRT

I don't know much of software BFI on OLEDs, but it cannot achieve lower than native refresh rate MPRT. That's best eye-tracked motion performance you can get on them. This, of course, comes with the CPU/GPU overhead of this user app sw solution.

The only option, as of October 2025, is using LCD if you want to achieve <1ms MPRT.
The search gets even worse if you take into equation the rampant use of KSF WLED backlight, which nerfs overall eye-tracked motion performance with the red trailing behind certain G2G transitions...
QD WLED backlight helps in this regard (e.g.: MSI 274URF-QD or BenQ EX3210U)

In hindsight, both of these goals are a band-aid for low frame rate content.
Opting for FG (NV DLSS4 FG, Nv Smooth Motion, LSFG) & going with the highest refresh rate possible are the best options to do for this limited content...

[Daevas]

I have been thinking about this for a while, as a motion clarity enthusiast...

I have been using my 3440x1440 155hz ADS panel, and im using Backlight strobing on firmware side AND DesktopBFI on the software side, as a result, i get something extremely close to 1ms of motion persistance while playing at 50 fps (setting monitor to 150hz, 2 black frames per 1 real frame).

But something that is stuck on my mind for a while is the fact that OLED have a extremely low pixel response time, and as a result, it greatly improves motion clarity with the only limit being the physics (blur busters law of sample-and-hold persistance).

But a oled that is rated at something like 0.03ms of pixel response time will have a extremely low motion blur when using ONLY DesktopBFI or shader glass? will it be enough to "obliterate" LCD panels when it comes to motion persistance? because, well... On LCD you can just mix hardware strobing and software BFI and it will looks almost like a CRT, but the colors and the brightness will be very dim.

So, when it comes to LCD Monitors it can already mix strobing and BFI to get CRT-like motion clarity.

Do OLEDs monitors get good enough with only software based BFI, does it even surpasses backlight strobing + software bfi method and get better than LCD or LCD still on the top when it comes to motion clarity?

I planning to buy a new 4k monitor, but i cant decide between OLED or LCD, as my focus is highest motion clarity possible while playing with 60 fps or below 60 at ultra settings.

Which one is the best for motion clarity?

OLED's are not able to get lower than native refresh rate MPRT target.
This means:
240hz = 4,177ms MPRT
480hz = 2,083ms MPRT
If relying on hardware BFI solutions, you are limited to 2 settings only (on the 480hz WOLEDs):
• 120hz with 4,17ms MPRT
• 240hz with 2,083ms MPRT

I don't know much of software BFI on OLEDs, but it cannot achieve lower than native refresh rate MPRT. That's best eye-tracked motion performance you can get on them. This, of course, comes with the CPU/GPU overhead of this user app sw solution.

The only option, as of October 2025, is using LCD if you want to achieve <1ms MPRT.
The search gets even worse if you take into equation the rampant use of KSF WLED backlight, which nerfs overall eye-tracked motion performance with the red trailing behind certain G2G transitions...
QD WLED backlight helps in this regard (e.g.: MSI 274URF-QD or BenQ EX3210U)

In hindsight, both of these goals are a band-aid for low frame rate content.
Opting for FG (NV DLSS4 FG, Nv Smooth Motion, LSFG) & going with the highest refresh rate possible are the best options to do for this limited content...

i was thinking about something like PG27AQN, as it have ULMB2. Right now, im using a rebranded monitor called "superframe", that is in reality a cheap chinese monitor. Yet i can achive something similar to 1,5ms of motion persistance at 50 fps content, for example. (them i put graphics on ultra, including raytracing and it feels like playing on a 600hz screen when it comes to panning the camera, even with only 50 fps.) I believe using DesktopBFI and using backlight strobing is far more enjoyable than just interpolating frames, the image is far more cleaner, just more darker and less colorful.

Whats your opinion on a monitor like PG27AQN? is there any potential "opponent" at same price range that probably would have far more motion clarity than this one? My idea is using it to play games locked at 120 fps (to prevent retention) while having an astonishing level of motion clarity.

My actual monitor is already overclocked to 150hz, and playing at 50hz with bfi is too tiring for the eyes... I have a small 1080p monitor that is 280hz, but TN and i can see the TN have far more motion clarity than my 150hz ips, even when playing content at the same fps/hz. But the TN for some reason gets far darker when strobing at same proportion (2 black frames, 1 visible) than my IPS, i have no idea of the reason behind this, but i assume IPS gets less darker when strobing? idk

I just had the idea of buying one of those e-sports rated monitors to get more motion clarity on single-player (maybe even multiplayer) games.

So what should i search for the best motion clarity monitor? you already said i could check for the wled specs, QD-WLED over KSF-WLED. is there anything else that i should check?

also, thanks for the answer!

[Loneyy]

If motion clarity’s your religion, PG27AQN is the current high priest. ULMB2 wipes the floor with most BFI hacks. Only thing that beats it is maybe a 500Hz TN panel if you’re okay living in a washed-out world.

[kyube]

Right now, im using a rebranded monitor called "superframe", that is in reality a cheap chinese monitor.
Yet i can achive something similar to 1,5ms of motion persistance at 50 fps content, for example. (them i put graphics on ultra, including raytracing and it feels like playing on a 600hz screen when it comes to panning the camera, even with only 50 fps.)
I believe using DesktopBFI and using backlight strobing is far more enjoyable than just interpolating frames, the image is far more cleaner, just more darker and less colorful.

This claim is a bit misleading in how dynamic content is handled.
This is only true in the aspect of eye-tracked motion handling, there's more to dynamic content than just that.
See this:

Whats your opinion on a monitor like PG27AQN? is there any potential "opponent" at same price range that probably would have far more motion clarity than this one? My idea is using it to play games locked at 120 fps (to prevent retention) while having an astonishing level of motion clarity.

There are a few nitpicks with that particular model:
• The use of KSF WLED backlight, which is known to exhibit red artifacting. See more about it here
• Use of DSC on DP1.4 & HDMI 2.0, which inhibits use of particular parts of software on Nvidia GPU's (inability to use EDID overrides aka inability to create custom resolutions of any kind, integer scaling, DLDSR, MPOs sometimes break etc.)
• Fixed refresh rate targets for ULMB (which cannot be circumvented due to DSC blocking CRU/NvCpl custom res)
• High price tag for what it offers to the table

There is hope though, the upcoming PG27AQNR (HDMI 2.1) should solve the software incompatibility part.
This would mean you would be able to make particular refresh rate targets and have the ability to adjust the pulse width, both of which are paramount for what you're trying to achieve.
I don't know what backlight type it will use (KSF or QD), but I don't have hope for that part.
I wouldn't place it as #1 pick, but it's definitely top 5 in terms of backlight strobing implementations & general display specifications.

My actual monitor is already overclocked to 150hz, and playing at 50hz with bfi is too tiring for the eyes...
I have a small 1080p monitor that is 280hz, but TN and i can see the TN have far more motion clarity than my 150hz ips, even when playing content at the same fps/hz. But the TN for some reason gets far darker when strobing at same proportion (2 black frames, 1 visible) than my IPS, i have no idea of the reason behind this, but i assume IPS gets less darker when strobing? idk

This write-up can be attributed to the following aspects:
• Flicker, especially at these low refresh rates, is not natural and absolutely is an issue for any human. As mentioned in my post above, It is a band-aid for achieving great eye-tracked motion clarity at low frame rate content (50-60fps retro games)
• Higher refresh rate will always be clearer, as this is how sample & hold works. Our eyes require >2k FPS @ >2kHz at minimum to be able to emulate analog reality (in both eye-tracked & fixed-gaze aspect)
• TN's & IPS both have strength & weaknesses in different G2G RT transitions — TN's have great fall & bad rise times, while IPS have great rise & bad fall times.
This means that certain games may prefer one panel type over the other, depending on the difference in gray values of the particular scene in question ("how dark the game is", "how colorful it is")
• The brightness difference when using SW BFI can be attributed to general WLED capabilties. Not all LCD displays can sustain 300cd/m2 or 400cd/m2 at max brightness setting. Generally — lower brightness means better eye-tracked motion clarity.

As I mentioned before, there's only so much you can do at these low frame rates.
The most eye ergonomic path would be avoiding low frame rate content & only consuming games/content which is high frame rate on a high refresh rate display (+400hz)
The alternative solution is using largest FG factor you can take without distorting game too much and relying on raw refresh rate for clarity increases.
The "best of both worlds" solution would be running 2x FG and 100-120hz strobing (to alleviate eye strain to some extent)
Everything else is detrimental to either eye health or your system's latency

It would be helpful if you could mention the particular game you're trying to play & the system you own (CPU, GPU...)

I just had the idea of buying one of those e-sports rated monitors to get more motion clarity on single-player (maybe even multiplayer) games.
So what should i search for the best motion clarity monitor? you already said i could check for the wled specs, QD-WLED over KSF-WLED. is there anything else that i should check?
also, thanks for the answer!

It's a matter of choosing a display with appropriate PPD, refresh rate & software features for your use-case.
If good backlight strobing implementations are paramount: opt for ULMB, DyAc or PureXP displays.
They have the ability to do adjustments of the pulse width, which is of utmost importance when configuring LCD's with backlight strobing

Hope this helps.

[HumanAI_004]

Whats your opinion on a monitor like PG27AQN?

I am very sensitive to motion blur. This has gotten worse since I started wearing glasses years ago.

I was waiting for G-sync PULSAR for more than 2 years. I gave up (at least for now )

Two weeks ago I purchased a used PG27AQN (ULMB2) for 300€. It is an upgrade to my old PG279Q (ULMB1).

Here my results:

I always lock my games to fixed FPS so that FPS=monitor Hz. I am using vertical sync (fast I think).

1. You can NOT use PG27AQN at 120Hz ULMB2 because of red trails! They are very noticeable and distracting. This is a major drawback for some high demanding games like Cyberpunk where I can not get 360fps. Heck, I struggle to get reliable 120fps with my RTX5090 and 9800X3D. I did not expect this to be such a massive drawback at 120Hz honestly. I took the risk for 300€. But:
2. However for some reason 360Hz ULMB2 work fantastic WITHOUT ANY any red trails!. My main game Warthunder renders with >360fps luckily (DLSS native with astonishing good quality, WQHD).
3. Brightness is sufficient for me. Compared to my old PG279Q its about 100nits more now with even better colors. It is possible to set brightness to 100% and ULMB2 pulse width to like 50 to 80% depending on what you find comfortably. For my standard mouse movements I can not notice a difference below 100%.
4. There are still minor ghost images on the full screen UFO test. Quality improved compared to my old ULMB1 monitor. For my standard mouse movements I could see double full screen disturbances sometimes while for the new monitor I dont.
5. With ULMB2 Phase setting you can shift the zone of best visibility. I dont need that feature because in my case the best visibility was already in the upper 2nd quarter of the screen which is perfect for my game.

I hope I could help you to judge the PG27AQN.

One interesting note: I also tried 360Hz without ULMB2 and find it still be to much of a smearing. However I think, that OLDE - BFI at 240Hz with MPRT of 480Hz and near 0 pixel response time could be a solution for me. I just now need to get a cheap BFI OLED 480Hz to test this