Buying guide for Best LG OLED TVs
TVs have come a long way in recent years. They have grown thinner, and at the same time, picture quality has improved.
LED TVs give an excellent viewing experience. But, if you want the best picture quality possible, it might be time to try an OLED TV.
If you are going to invest in this new technology, you can’t go wrong choosing a model from LG. They were one of the first manufacturers to introduce OLED technology to the market.
LG offers a variety of OLEDs, so choosing the right one for your home can be a challenge. Not to worry, though.
At BestReviews, we take the confusion out of shopping. If you’re ready for something new and exciting, first read our buying guide. We give advice on choosing the right OLED to bring your favorite TV shows and movies to life.
What is an OLED TV?
First of all, what is an OLED TV?
An organic light-emitting diode TV uses an organic film between two conductors to generate images on the screen. An electric current passes through the conductors. In turn, each pixel lights up. The result is a clear, vivid picture.
But the thing that really distinguishes OLED TVs from LED models is the ability to show true or perfect black on the screen.
LED TVs require a backlight to light pixels. They can’t capture perfect black levels because the backlight illuminates surrounding pixels.
OLED pixels completely turn off to achieve deep black. Plus, they do not require a backlight, so the screen of an OLED can be even thinner than many LED models.
LG is known for making OLED TVs with low input lag. A high input lag can slow you down, and because time is of the essence for gamers, LG’s lower input lag is ideal.
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Benefits
Compact design: These TVs are thinner and weigh less than LEDs because they do not have a separate backlight. That makes it easy to move it from one TV stand to another or to find a spot to wall-mount it.
Picture quality: Because each pixel lights up, each can also turn off. This creates truer black levels. It also creates more contrast to improve overall picture quality.
Viewing angle: The fact that pixels emit light and color on their own allows the TV to offer wider viewing angles than LEDs. Even 90° off center, color and contrast are intense.
Did you know?
OLED televisions made by LG tend to be more energy-efficient than other types of TVs because only the pixels that are lit use power.
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Features to consider
Size
Screen size is one of the most important considerations when buying a TV. The screen sizes manufacturers provide are measured diagonally.
The OLED offerings from LG typically come in three sizes: 55 inches, 65 inches, and 77 inches.
A smaller model is good for a small living room, but a large OLED might be better for a big home theater setup.
Display format
A TV’s display format plays a big role in picture resolution and quality.
All of the OLEDs offered by LG are ultra-high definition (UHD) 4K models. This means they contain 8 million pixels. That’s four times the number in a standard HD TV.
As a result, they provide sharper detail. The UHD 4K resolution is particularly noticeable in televisions with 65-inch screens or larger.
Smart TV features
If you want to stream video or audio, choose a model that offers built-in WiFi. This lets you stream movies and programs from service providers like Netflix or Hulu as well as music from streaming music services like Spotify or Pandora.
It’s also a good idea to choose one with Bluetooth connectivity so you can use wireless headphones or speakers to stream audio from the television.
Some LG OLEDs offer other smart features for even more functionality. These TVs can connect to compatible smart home devices so you can control your smart home with just your voice.
HDR
All of these TVs offer high dynamic range (HDR), which increases the picture’s brightness, contrast, and color.
HDR strongly contrasts bright whites and true blacks to create a dynamic range that allows sharper details. Because OLED provides the truest black possible, HDR is particularly noticeable on these LG models.
Surround sound
If you want audio quality that matches the outstanding picture quality of an OLED TV, opt for one with surround sound.
These TVs have multi-channel speakers that provide the richest, most balanced audio possible. You’ll feel like you’re in a movie theater when you’re curled up on the couch watching your favorite movie on Blu-ray.
Refresh rate
A television’s refresh rate measures how many times per second the picture is refreshed. It is measured in Hertz (Hz).
The standard refresh rate for a TV is 60Hz. This can sometimes cause blurry pictures during action scenes, though. To avoid this issue, some TVs offer a 120Hz refresh rate.
This high rate makes for clearer high-speed images. If you love action movies, video games, and fast-paced entertainment, look for a TV with a high refresh rate.
Connections
To connect other visual and audio entertainment devices to your television, make sure your TV has the inputs you need.
For versatility, opt for a model with at least three HDMI inputs.
Some other ports you might want to look for include the following:
- Digital (optical) audio output to enable you to hook up a sound system or other audio device
- USB ports to enable you to watch media from a flash drive or other USB storage devices
- Cable/antenna input
One of LG’s notable features is AI ThinQ. This is a smart feature that, through artificial intelligence, lets you control smart home devices with your voice.
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Pricing
Prices vary based on screen size and features offered.
You could pay between $1,700 and $15,000 for one of these TVs. Of course, there are some TV deals to be found during special shopping events like Black Friday, but if you are vigilant, you can find good TV deals during other times of the year as well.
Here is a general pricing breakdown.
55-inch TVs: Depending on the number of special features, these OLEDs cost from $1,700 to $3,000.
65-inch TVs: Depending on the number of special features, these OLEDs range from $2,500 to $7,000. A model that catches our eye in this size range is the OLED65c1pub with its a9 Gen 4 AI processor and webOS AI ThinQ with magic remote. It also has Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision IQ.
77-inch TVs: Depending on the number of special features you want, you could pay anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000 for a bigger screen.
Other OLED makers
Sony is one of our other favorite makers of OLED televisions. Here are a few recommended OLEDs from Sony.
Sony A90J BRAVIA XR OLED Ultra HD Smart TV: This 55-inch TV boasts 3D audio on top of blur-free motion. We love the astounding picture quality and sound quality. It costs more than some other choices, but if you want a fantastic OLED from Sony, look here.
Sony A8H BRAVIA 4K Ultra HD Smart TV: This deluxe Sony TV has awesome sound quality with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant. But, it is only available in 55-inch and 65-inch screens.
FAQ
Q. What’s the best way to clean my new TV?
A. LG recommends cleaning their OLED screens with a soft, dry cloth.
Never spray water or other liquid directly on the TV. This could cause an electrical shock.
To clean the television, unplug it and gently wipe the screen with a microfiber or other lint-free cloth. Use a circular motion to remove dust and stains.
Q. Can I mount this kind of TV on the wall?
A. To make the most of your space, you can mount your TV on the wall rather than placing it on a TV stand.
You will need a wall mount bracket that supports the VESA standard for your model. The VESA standard has to do with making sure the screw hole pattern on the TV and mounting bracket line up right.
You can usually buy a wall mount bracket from the same place where you purchased your television.
Q. What’s the best viewing distance from this kind of TV?
A. It depends on the size of your model.
The best viewing distance from a 55-inch OLED is approximately 8 feet from the screen.
For a 65-inch TV, try to place your seating about 9 feet from the screen.
For a 77-inch model, try to sit at least 10 feet from the screen.
Q. What is the difference between HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2, and HDMI 2.1?
A. HDMI 2 was an incremental improvement over HDMI 1.4. It improved the speed of transmission to 18 Gbps.
HDMI 2.1 is an exponential improvement over HDMI 2 in that its speed is 48 Gbps. This is a huge increase in bandwidth.
HDMI 2.1 supports 4K at 120Hz to 144Hz, and it can support 5K and 8K.
If HDMI 2.1 is important to you, pay attention to the TV specs and shop accordingly.
Q. Why can’t I find OLED offerings from Samsung?
A. Samsung makes OLED screens, just not for televisions. If Samsung is your brand, check out Samsung’s offering of QLED TVs. These TVs come in sizes up to 100 inches.
