Is AI Upscaling on a Monitor Worth It? What the Reviews Found

AI Life / Computing / AI Monitors

Short answer: AI upscaling on a monitor is worth it only if you often show 1080p or 1440p content on a 4K or 5K screen. PCWorld found it noticeably sharpened video on the LG UltraGear evo AI GM9 with no unacceptable lag. For native-resolution work it does nothing.

Last updated: November 14, 2026. Researched comparison from maker specs and named reviews; I have not tested these products myself. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Quick picks: monitors with AI upscaling

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Is AI upscaling on a monitor worth it?

It is worth it only if you regularly show lower-resolution content on a high-resolution monitor, such as 1080p video, console games or older PC games on a 4K or 5K screen. PCWorld’s LG UltraGear evo AI GM9 review found the LG GM9 made 1080p and 1440p video noticeably sharper, with no unacceptable lag, though it was not sure the upscaling matched a premium TV. If your content is already native resolution, upscaling does nothing for you.

What is AI upscaling?

Upscaling is how a monitor stretches a lower-resolution image to fit its native resolution. Basic upscaling blends nearby pixels. AI upscaling uses a processor on the monitor to guess missing detail, sharpen edges and reduce noise. LG’s UltraGear evo page describes its UltraGear evo as doing this on-device, so it does not use your GPU or add latency, and says it supports sources from 1080p and up. Samsung’s page describes “4K AI Upscaling Pro” as enhancing lower-resolution content to near-4K quality, powered by its NQM AI Gen3 processor.

Which monitors have AI upscaling?

• LG UltraGear evo AI GM9 (27-inch 5K mini-LED). PCWorld’s LG UltraGear evo AI GM9 review tested it with a Nintendo Switch upscaled to 5K.
• Samsung Smart Monitor M9 (32-inch 4K QD-OLED). Samsung’s smart monitor page lists AI upscaling, an AI picture optimizer and voice amplification.

Does AI upscaling add lag?

LG says its on-device upscaling does not add latency. PCWorld found the LG GM9 upscaled a Switch’s 1080p picture without unacceptable lag, and says with the feature disabled you can achieve response times as low as 1 millisecond. In plain terms: a small trade-off exists, and competitive gamers should turn it off.

When does AI upscaling help most?

Should you pay more for upscaling?

Probably not as the main reason. The LG GM9 is a premium monitor, and PCWorld says it is a top-of-the-line 5K display with a price to match. The Samsung M9 is a premium smart monitor, and WIRED advised against paying full price. If upscaling matters, buy it as part of a monitor you would like anyway.

• Buy the LG GM9 if you want a very sharp 27-inch display and sometimes watch or play lower-resolution content. See the LG GM9 and check today's price
• Skip it if you mostly work with text and want a cheaper IPS panel.

How can you test upscaling yourself?

1. Play the same 1080p video with upscaling on and off.
2. Look at text, edges and faces, not the whole frame.
3. Check for halos or a plastic look, which are a common artifact of sharpening.
4. Test a game you play and watch for added lag.
5. Keep it on only if you can see the difference at your normal distance.

How is monitor upscaling different from DLSS or FSR?

GPU-based upscalers such as Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR run inside supported PC games on your graphics card, and they can raise frame rates by rendering at a lower resolution and reconstructing the image. Monitor upscaling is a different layer. It works on whatever signal reaches the screen, including a console, a streaming box, a laptop or a camera feed, and it does not need game support. LG’s page states that on-device upscaling does its work without using your GPU. The two can be combined: a game can use a GPU upscaler to reach 1440p, and the monitor can then scale that image to the panel. If you play only a few supported PC games and already own a strong graphics card, monitor upscaling adds less. If you have consoles, a handheld or a mixed setup, it adds more.

Why does pixel density change the upscaling story?

The higher the native resolution, the more a lower-resolution picture has to be stretched. LG’s page says its 27-inch GM9 reaches up to 218 pixels per inch, which it describes as about 78 percent more pixels than 4K, and four QHD displays’ worth of pixel area. A 1080p picture on that panel has to be stretched by a large factor, so the upscaler has a harder job and a bigger visible effect than it would on a 1080p monitor. On the other hand, text and desktop work look excellent at native resolution, so you are paying for upscaling to help only when you watch or play something below native.

Which resolution should you pick if you use upscaling?

• 1080p sources on a 4K screen divide evenly into the panel, so even basic scaling can look clean.
• 1080p or 1440p sources on a 5K screen need more help, which is where AI upscaling shows off.
• Native 4K or 5K content does not need upscaling at all.

Quick answer: should you turn AI upscaling on?

Turn it on for 1080p video, console games and handheld gaming on a high-resolution screen, and leave it off for fast competitive games and anything already at native resolution. If you cannot tell the difference at your normal viewing distance after five minutes of side-by-side testing, leave it off and save the processing.

What do reviewers agree on?

• PCWorld: the LG GM9’s upscaling is useful and does not add unacceptable lag.
• Makers: LG and Samsung both describe AI upscaling as a headline feature.
• Reviewers of the Samsung M9 praise its streaming picture, with WIRED saying content looks better in the apps than in a browser.

What are the common complaints?

• Upscaling is not equal to a premium TV’s, per PCWorld.
• It adds cost to an already premium monitor.
• Features like these can be confusing to find in menus, per Tom’s Hardware.

I summarize each finding in my own words and name the source. I did not read Amazon customer reviews for this page.

Should you buy a monitor for AI upscaling now or wait?

Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30, 2026. Those are the real dates, and nothing else on this page is a countdown or a claim that stock is running low, because I can’t see Amazon’s inventory.

• Buy now if: you already want one of these monitors and see it in stock at a price you like.
• Wait for the sale if: you want the feature but not at full price, since WIRED advised waiting for Samsung M9 discounts.

Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30. I don’t list prices here because they change by the hour. Open the Amazon listing to see today’s price, and compare it with what you saw last week before you decide.

Is an upscaling monitor a good gift?

It suits a gamer with a console and a high-resolution screen, or a streamer who watches a lot of 1080p video. Keep the gift receipt in case the recipient’s laptop or console needs a different port.

Where to go next

• AI Monitors hub: every monitor guide in one place.
• Best AI Laptops 2026: the laptop to plug in.
• Best AI Mouse and Keyboard Setup: finish the desk.
• Best AI Webcam With Auto-Framing: a monitor does not fix your camera.
• Best Smart Display: if you want a screen that is not a monitor.
• AI Gadget Gift Guide 2026 and Black Friday AI deals.

FAQ

Is AI upscaling on a monitor worth it?

Only if you often show 1080p or 1440p content on a 4K or 5K screen. PCWorld found it noticeably sharpened video on the LG GM9.

What is AI upscaling?

A processor on the monitor stretches lower-resolution images to the panel’s resolution, sharpening edges and detail.

Does AI upscaling add lag?

LG says its on-device upscaling does not add latency, and PCWorld saw no unacceptable lag, but you can turn it off for the lowest response time.

Which monitors have AI upscaling?

The LG UltraGear evo AI GM9 and the Samsung Smart Monitor M9 are two examples.