ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The LG G4 OLED is on sale at Amazon and Greatest Purchase for $2,796.
- LG has made nice strides with its OLED image high quality, and this mannequin is actually distinctive
- Nonetheless, the common worth is likely to be a turn-off since you should purchase nice TVs for half the worth.
extra shopping for selections
I am not often a fan of LG TVs, however I’ve examined the LG G4 OLED TV this 12 months, and I’ve to confess that it has essentially the most spectacular image high quality of any TV I’ve ever purchased, used, or examined.
Additionally: The subsequent massive HDMI leap is coming subsequent week – what the two.2 normal means for you
Although the vacation offers are over, you may nonetheless discover the 65-inch LG G4 on sale for over $600 off its retail worth of $3,399 at each Amazon and Greatest Purchase as retailers amp up their New 12 months’s financial savings alternatives. At about $2,800, the LG G4 OLED continues to be an costly TV (one of the best worth we noticed throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday was $2,300).
For that worth, you might get two 65-inch Sony X90L TVs — my choose for one of the best TV for the cash. But when image high quality is your primary precedence and you’ve got the finances, there isn’t any TV on the planet with a greater image than the LG G4.
What makes the LG G4 OLED image so good? A number of issues.
To begin with, there are the issues that make all OLED screens nice, and that is very true for LG OLEDs as a result of they’re one of many main innovators within the know-how. We’re speaking about true blacks (versus washed-out darkish grays from LCD TVs), deep distinction, extra vibrant colours, and wonderful dynamic vary in photographs which have each darkish and lightweight components. The LG G4 has all of these qualities — and on the highest ranges I’ve seen on any TV — as a result of it’s LG’s flagship OLED TV for 2024.
Additionally: I examined Samsung’s 98-inch 4K QLED TV, and this is why it is likely to be definitely worth the $13,000
So, what’s new on this 12 months’s LG G4? The largest leap ahead is in image processing, and that is made doable by the brand new α11 AI Processor 4K. I’ve at all times thought of Sony the king of image processing, and it was a good distance again to LG and Samsung, basically tied for second place, with finances TV makers TCL and Hisense lagging the gang. Nonetheless, with the 2024 α11 AI Processor, LG is now pushing Sony for the highest spot in image processing — and that is saying loads.
The place this actually issues is in the case of out-of-the-box image settings, upscaling older and lower-quality 720p and 1080p content material, and the TV robotically adjusting the image to make right now’s HDR content material look wonderful. In all of these areas, the LG G4 now rivals Sony.
And since LG has at all times arguably made the highest-quality OLED TV panels, this improve in image processing lifts the LG G4 to the highest of the category in image high quality. For motion pictures, reveals, gaming, and nearly some other content material, the LG G4 brings them to life in vibrant coloration, clean movement, and unimaginable distinction — greater than some other TV you should purchase proper now.
Additionally: How I turned this 98-inch TV into an immersive leisure system (and it is $1,500 off)
I attempted it with a few of my favourite content material with difficult visuals, together with Dune, Avengers: Finish Recreation, and several other different cutting-edge cinematic marvels. The entire content material appeared higher than I’ve ever seen on any TV I’ve used, purchased, or examined — and that features among the greatest TVs from Sony, Samsung, LG, TCL, and Hisense over the previous few years.
What are the drawbacks?
There are just a few drawbacks to notice concerning the LG G4. First, in fact, is the premium worth. As I’ve already talked about, you might purchase two 65-inch Sony X90L TVs for the worth of 1 65-inch LG G4. And I believe most individuals could be extraordinarily proud of the mid-range Sony X90L. However you are not most individuals in case you’re contemplating the LG G4.
The opposite drawbacks are the distant and LG’s built-in webOS software program. Each are mediocre at greatest. I think about LG’s distant to be the worst of any of the large 5 TV makers. It is giant, chunky, and has a complicated variety of buttons. A TV that’s good and has such a premium design that’s svelte and delightful deserves a better-designed distant.
Additionally: You’ll be able to lastly purchase LG’s clear OLED TV – in case you’re keen to pay $60,000
LG’s built-in webOS software program is almost as disappointing because the distant management. It really works advantageous, nevertheless it’s not very intuitive, and it’s nowhere near being as well-thought-out because the TV {hardware}. The icons for content material are small and generally exhausting to pick, the menu system is a bit convoluted, and there are built-in advertisements working within the software program, which makes it really feel pointless for a TV this costly.
That mentioned, in testing the 83-inch LG G4 in ZDNET’s TV lab, I merely by no means used the distant or the built-in software program. I connected an Apple TV 4K and used that distant and its interface to entry the entire streaming companies and content material that I wished. The mix of the LG G4 and Apple TV was superb. So, in case you purchase an LG G4, I would advocate including a high-end streaming field just like the Apple TV 4K, Google TV Streamer (4K), Amazon Fireplace TV Dice, or Nvidia Protect.
The built-in sound within the LG G4 is ok however not nice — like nearly each different high-end or finances TV. So in case you’re shopping for a TV this costly, I will assume you are going to add a soundbar. On the very least, I would advocate getting the Hisense AX5125H 5.1.2-channel soundbar — my choose for greatest finances soundbar. And in case you actually wish to kick into excessive gear, then I would advocate the Sony Bravia Theater Quad, which robotically calibrates itself to your room.
Additionally: Altering these 5 soundbar settings made my lounge really feel like a movie show
Lastly, in case you’d favor a high-quality OLED TV with an important distant and nice software program built-in in order that you do not have to run a separate streaming field, then I would advocate the Sony A95L OLED TV, which runs Google TV and has a really premium distant. And in case your TV goes to be in a really shiny room with plenty of home windows or lights, then I would advocate the Samsung S95D, which almost matches the LG G4 in image high quality however comes with an unimaginable glare-free display that appears wonderful in any room.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Whereas Sony and Samsung provide OLED TVs with comparable worth factors, the flagship LG G4 OLED is unmatched in image high quality, making it a strong suggestion at this sale worth. Its highly effective α11 AI Processor is on par with the colourful colours, true blacks, and dynamic vary displayed on its glossy panel. For a extra immersive, theatre-like sound expertise, think about including a soundbar, as I discussed above.
Make the most of these reductions at both Amazon or Greatest Purchase whereas they final.
How we check TVs
Whereas testing and researching the TVs featured on this checklist, I and different ZDNET specialists saved these standards in thoughts:
- Worth: Not all budgets are created equal. And in case you’re working with a restricted finances, that should not imply it’s a must to accept a sub-par TV. Every TV mannequin on this checklist has been chosen throughout a wide range of worth factors to assist accommodate completely different wants.
- Display screen dimension: Crucial issue to contemplate, after worth, when purchasing for a brand new TV is whether or not or not it is going to match into your area. Every greatest TV on this checklist was chosen as a result of they’re out there in all kinds of sizes to swimsuit completely different rooms.
- Image and audio high quality: A brand new TV doesn’t suggest a lot, even when it prices an arm and a leg, if it would not present an important image and clear audio. Every TV on this checklist has been ensured to assist numerous HDR codecs, together with HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient, in addition to enhanced audio software program like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, and object-tracking sound.
For a extra detailed look, try our intensive TV testing methodology.
