To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our results after eight months, see our latest updates.
We've bought and tested more than 105 LG TVs. LG releases many TVs every year, as much as any other manufacturer. LG was one of the first brands to release TVs with OLED panels, and that's now their most popular lineup. They also have a wide selection of LED TVs, ranging from entry-level 4k TVs to high-end models with Mini LED backlights. Unfortunately, most of their LED TVs use IPS panels and don't perform very well overall. But if you're looking for a brand with a large variety of excellent OLED TVs, LG is it.
Updates
- 09/21/2023 LG QNED80 2023 reviewed
- 08/09/2023 LG UR8000 reviewed
- 07/12/2023 LG B2 OLED updated
- 07/11/2023 LG UQ9000 updated
- 06/19/2023 LG UR9000 reviewed
Best LG Smart TVs
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Best LG TV
Mixed Usage9.1TV Shows8.8Sports9.0Video Games9.4HDR Movies9.1HDR Gaming9.1PC Monitor9.5The LG G3 OLED is the best LG TV and the best LG OLED TV we've tested. It's a premium TV with a unique design, as instead of coming with a traditional stand, it comes with a no-gap wall mount, so it blends into your surrounding environment well. Additionally, its Gallery Mode feature is designed to look like a piece of art while it isn't in use as a regular TV. It uses a technology called Micro Lens Array, or MLA, making it one of the brightest OLEDs on the market. If you love this TV's look but don't need something quite that bright, you can still find the LG G2 OLED for a lower price than its successor. The G2 is a great choice, although the newer model supports DTS audio formats, has better image processing, and gets brighter than its predecessor, so it's the more enticing choice for people shopping for TVs in this price range. There's also the LG M3 OLED, which performs identically to the G3 but operates wirelessly using its Zero Connect Box. It's very expensive, however, and is more of a novelty item for deep-pocketed consumers.
Like most LG TVs, the G3 has a great selection of additional gaming features, including support for 4k @ 120Hz gaming on all four of its HDMI ports, so it's a perfect choice for PS5 or Xbox Series X|S gamers. It also supports all three major variable refresh rate (VRR) technologies, ensuring a nearly tear-free gaming experience from almost any source. Like all OLED displays, it has a near-instantaneous response time, resulting in crystal-clear motion with no distracting blur behind fast-moving objects.
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Best Upper Mid-Range LG TV
Mixed Usage8.9TV Shows8.6Sports8.8Video Games9.4HDR Movies8.9HDR Gaming9.0PC Monitor9.4If you don't need the absolute best LG OLED TV or prefer saving money, there are a few upper mid-range and mid-range OLEDs to consider, like the LG C3 OLED. Although it gets less bright than the LG G3 OLED, it's still a great alternative, especially if you aren't interested in that TV's unique wall-mount feature and instead want a normal stand. Of course, like all OLED displays, it delivers incredible picture quality, with a near-infinite contrast ratio that provides perfectly deep inky blacks, with no distracting blooming around bright spots in dark scenes. You can still find this TV's predecessor, the LG C2 OLED, in larger sizes, so it's an option for those who want to save some money on a big OLED TV. However, the C2 has worse image processing than the C3, is a bit dimmer, and doesn't support DTS audio formats, so the newer model is worth the extra cost for home entertainment enthusiasts.
Like the G3, it's an incredible TV for gamers with a near-instantaneous response time that delivers crystal-clear motion. It supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all four inputs, meaning you can enjoy fast 4k @ 120Hz gaming from the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 or a recent PC graphics card. It runs the 2023 version of LG's webOS interface, which is smooth and easy to use, and there's a great selection of streaming apps available to download.
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Best Mid-Range LG TV
Mixed Usage7.9TV Shows7.6Sports7.7Video Games8.2HDR Movies7.8HDR Gaming8.2PC Monitor8.5Following their OLED lineup, their QNED lineup features mid-range and some high-end LED TVs. There are many trade-offs to getting an LED TV over an OLED, with the main one being the lower contrast, but you can also save some money with an LED TV and not worry about the risk of burn-in associated with OLEDs. If that's what you want, the LG QNED85 is a very good overall LED TV available in four sizes: 55, 65, 75, and 86 inches. You don't get the same perfect black levels as on the LG C3 OLED, but there isn't any blooming around bright objects either.
This TV is part of LG's QNED lineup, which includes the lower-end LG QNED80 2023. The QNED85 delivers much better picture quality than the QNED80 as it has Mini LED backlighting that results in a great contrast ratio, helped by a decent local dimming feature. It has a wide color gamut and is very accurate without any calibration, so movies look as the content creator intended. This TV is also great for gaming, with two HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports with 4k @ 120Hz support. It is compatible with every VRR technology, has a very good response time, and extremely low input lag. It also has Dolby Vision HDR, but unfortunately, it doesn't support DTS audio formats like some other recent LG models do.
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Best Lower Mid-Range LG TV
Mixed Usage7.0TV Shows7.5Sports7.5Video Games7.1HDR Movies6.3HDR Gaming7.3PC Monitor8.3If you'd rather get a cheaper LED TV but don't want to lose out on features, the best lower mid-range LG TV we've tested is the LG QNED80 2023. It's not as good as the LG QNED85, but it's significantly cheaper and doesn't skimp on features. It doesn't support Dolby Vision like the more expensive model. Still, it supports DTS advanced audio formats like other 2023 LG models, which is great for physical media lovers as DVDs and Blu-rays often use DTS for their main audio tracks. It's also a fully featured gaming TV, with two HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports capable of outputting up to 4k @ 120Hz, supports every VRR technology, has a very good response time, and a superbly low input lag.
By going with this model, you are losing out on picture quality, as this TV has terrible contrast, and its local dimming is very poor overall, so the TV looks better with it off. Still, it's a colorful TV with a wide color gamut. It's very accurate without any calibration, is bright enough to look good in a moderately lit room, and has a wide viewing angle, so you're getting a pleasant viewing experience overall. This TV's predecessor, the LG QNED80 2022, is nearly identical, but it lacks DTS audio format support and is a bit dimmer. It's also getting hard to find brand new, but it's a good value if you find it for a good price.
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Best Budget LG 4k TV
Mixed Usage6.5TV Shows7.1Sports7.0Video Games6.3HDR Movies5.9HDR Gaming6.7PC Monitor7.5LG offers two different lineups targeted at those looking for a budget-friendly TV: the NANO lineup, which has the LG NANO75 2022, and the cheaper entry-level lineup, which includes the LG UR9000, the best budget LG TV we've tested. There's little difference between this TV and the NANO Series TVs, except that the UR9000 can't accurately display as many colors. However, it comes with the same smart interface and the same Magic Remote that makes menu navigation feel smooth. This TV's predecessor, the LG UQ9000, is similar overall but is now hard to find brand new.
Otherwise, this TV is available in different sizes, from a small 43-inch to a big 75-inch. Sadly, this TV, like the LG QNED80 2023, isn't good for use in dark rooms, which is typical of most non-OLED LG TVs, as they have a low contrast ratio, and blacks look gray. It doesn't get very bright in SDR either, but it at least has good reflection handling if you have a few lights around in your room. It's also light on features, with no Dolby Vision or DTS audio format support, and is limited to HDMI 2.0 on all its ports. Still, it's by far the cheapest TV on this list and has a wide viewing angle, so it's a great choice as a cheap TV that you can watch while moving around your house.
Compared To Other Brands
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OLED options.
LG's best TVs all use OLED displays, and they remain the biggest player in this market, but other brands are starting to catch up. -
Great viewing angle.
Both their LED and OLED TVs generally have wide viewing angles, making them great for wide seating areas. -
Great smart platform.
LG's proprietary smart platform, webOS, remains one of the best platforms compared to the competition. It's user-friendly, and the LG Magic Remote makes menu navigation feel smooth. -
Excellent gaming features.
Most of their mid-range models and up have a great selection of additional gaming features, including variable refresh rate support, low input lag, and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
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LED TVs have a low contrast.
Aside from their high-end OLED models, most LG TVs won't have great blacks, meaning their picture quality is limited. -
Uniformity issues.
LG LED TVs often have issues with gray uniformity, like dirty screen effect (DSE), that can get distracting during sports. -
Poor value.
Besides their OLEDs, their TVs don't offer good value for what they offer in terms of performance, and better options are available.
LG vs Samsung
Samsung TVs typically have better picture quality than most LG LED TVs. This is thanks to their use of VA-type LCD panels instead of LG's IPS panels, which trade contrast directly in front for wider viewing angles. While Samsung is now making QD-OLED TVs with brighter colors than LG's WOLED TVs, LG offers more OLED models at affordable prices.
LG vs Sony
Sony is a direct competitor with LG since their lineup also has LED and OLED models. LG's OLEDs have better gaming performance and generally cost less. However, Sony's LED options usually have VA panels, making for a better dark room experience than LG's LED models, and they have better color accuracy and superior image processing.
LG's OLEDs are among the best on the market, with stunning picture quality, and they're often cheaper than OLEDs from other brands. However, their LED TVs aren't anything special and don't offer good value. While their IPS LCD offerings have wide viewing angles, which is helpful for larger living rooms, the competition with VA panels often outperforms them in overall picture quality.
Lineup
2023 Models
LG announced their new 2023 OLED lineup at CES 2023. They announced a few new LED models but confirmed that they won't release as many LED models as in previous years. Their 8k LED lineup is also effectively dead, and only one new 8k model is planned for this year, and it'll only be released in select markets. The LG G3 OLED is the big story this year, as it uses a new OLED panel with Micro Lens Array technology, which LG claims to boost brightness by up to 70% over previous generations. They also announced some new premium TVs, with the M3, which uses a wireless A/V box similar to Samsung's One Connect box, and the LG OLED Flex, a 42-inch TV whose screen can bend if you want to use it as a monitor.
Model names
LG has a large lineup that covers everything from cheap and small lower-resolution TVs to very high-end with their OLEDs. The naming scheme changes depending on the lineup. Generally speaking, the first set of letters represent the lineup it's in, like QNED or NANO, and the next set of numbers represent its position in the lineup, with higher being better.
- QNED* = Premium model with Mini LED backlighting
- NANO* = Premium LED model
- U* = Entry-level 4k TV
- *Q = 2022
- *P = 2021
- *N = 2020
Example: QNED90 = 2021 4K Mini LED TV; UN7000 = 2020 entry-level TV.
For their OLED lineup, the model numbers start with a letter, followed by a number representing the year (X = 2020, 1 = 2021, 2 = 2022, 3 = 2023). Example: G1 = 2021 Gallery Design; CX = 2020 C Series OLED TV.
LG Smart Features
Besides aesthetic changes, LG's webOS hasn't changed much over the years, which is good. A few years ago, it was, by and large, the best smart platform. While competition has tightened up since then, incremental and polishing updates allowed it to remain at the top. LG updated the platform in 2021 to include a full home page instead of the banner found in past models.
Interface
LG overhauled the interface in 2021 with the release of webOS 6.0, and it's still one of the best-looking platforms. The redesign replaces the menu ribbon of previous versions with a full-screen smart hub, complete with various widgets. Despite the new look, it has the same smooth functionality and features, making it one of the best smart platforms. It's colorful, and its animations are both intuitive and beautiful. Everything feels responsive and snappy, and you're rarely left waiting for something to happen.
Ad-free
WebOS has one glaring issue: the inclusion of advertising sprinkled around the operating system, including in the app store and web browser. The worst is that there isn't a good way to disable them from within the TV itself. However, most smart platforms are like this, as you'll get ads no matter the brand you go with.
Apps & Features
The LG content store delivers just about every app one would look for on a smart TV. Essentials like Netflix, Amazon Video, and YouTube are all installed by default, but the range continuously expands. Overall, LG TVs have one of the widest selections of apps available on any smart platform.
Voice Controls
WebOS TVs that come with LG's Magic Remote have voice control. The manufacturer redesigned the remote in 2021, but it has the same functionality as in past years. There's a big microphone button in the center of the remote, and the voice control helps search for content. Unfortunately, the voice assistant doesn't have very in-depth control of the settings, so you can't adjust the brightness without leaving what you're watching. You can't turn the TV off or change the volume, but you can still switch inputs, open apps, search for specific content, or ask what's the weather.
In 2018, WebOS 4.0 added a new voice control processor with ThinQ AI. The system can perform advanced searches similar to Siri on Apple TV. It can identify actors, search for sports scores, and find pictures in your favorite cloud service based on keywords. It can also communicate with a multitude of smart home-connected devices, including lights and thermostats. Newer LG TVs can also interact with Google Home or Amazon Alexa-connected personal assistants.
Remote
LG's Magic Remote offers motion-controlled point-and-click functionality, making navigating menus much simpler. It isn't the smallest remote, but it's nicely sculpted and very comfortable to hold.
There are many more buttons on this remote than on other remotes, but they're clearly labeled and make it quicker to pick up and use. Some lower-end versions come with this Magic Remote, but the entry-level models have a basic remote without voice control, like the remote on the LG UN7000.
Remote App
LG's remote app, called LG TV Plus, offers quick access to most controls and is compatible with all LG smart TVs. It isn't as advanced as some other remote apps, but it does stream content from your phone or tablet to the TV. It can launch apps and change inputs directly without using a navigation button to navigate the on-screen menus.
Known Issues
There aren't many issues with LG webOS. The previous version had some performance issues, with occasional hiccups and frequent dropped frames in animations. They've fixed most of these issues, and the latest version performs extremely well, but the interface can still hang sometimes.
Recent Updates
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Sep 29, 2023: Replaced the LG G2 OLED, LG C2 OLED, LG QNED80 2022, and LG UQ9000 with the LG G3 OLED, LG C3 OLED, LG QNED80 2023, and LG UR9000, respectively. Also added the LG QNED85 as the 'Best Mid-Range LG TV'.
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Jun 29, 2023: Refreshed the text for accuracy and consistency.
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Apr 28, 2023: Replaced the LG NANO90 2021 and the LG UQ8000 with the LG QNED80 and the LG UQ9000; updated text for clarity throughout.
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Feb 15, 2023: Verified our picks for accuracy and consistency, and refreshed the text. Updated the year lineup to the 2023 model year.
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Dec 20, 2022: Verified our picks for accuracy and consistency and refreshed the text.
Conclusion
LG undeniably offers top-shelf products with OLED TVs. This technology is now quite mature and is an industry leader, but not all their TVs are great. Their LED models consistently have great viewing angles, but that comes at the cost of having mediocre picture quality in a dark room, quite the opposite of their OLED offerings. Luckily, all their smart TVs come with the user-friendly webOS platform built-in, making it easy to watch your favorite content.