Buying guide for best lg oled tvs
TVs have come a long way in recent years, and despite the fact that they’ve gotten thinner and thinner, the picture quality has improved. LED TVs certainly offer an outstanding television-viewing experience, but if you want the best picture quality possible, it might be time to upgrade to an OLED TV.
If you’re going to invest in this new technology, you can’t go wrong choosing a model from LG, one of the first manufacturers to introduce OLED technology to the market. However, LG offers a variety of OLED TVs, so choosing the right one for your home can be a challenge.
At BestReviews, we strive to take the confusion out of shopping. If you’re ready to buy an LG OLED TV, read our shopping guide for advice on choosing the perfect model to bring your favorite TV shows and movies to life.
What is an OLED TV?
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV uses an organic film between two conductors to generate images on the television screen. An electric current passes through the conductors, lighting each pixel for the most vivid, clear picture possible.
But the thing that really distinguishes OLED TVs from LED models is the ability to show true black on the screen. LED TVs require some type of backlight to light up the pixels. They can’t capture true black because the backlight illuminates surrounding pixels. OLED pixels completely turn off to achieve deep black. Plus an OLED TV doesn’t require a backlight, so it’s screen can be even thinner than on many LED models.
LG OLED TV benefits
Compact design: LG OLED TVs are thinner and weigh less than LED models because they don’t have a separate backlight. That makes it easy to move the TV around or find a spot to mount it in your living room or family room.
Picture quality: Because each pixel in an LG OLED TV lights up, each one can be turned off individually. That not only provides truer blacks but also creates a greater contrast ratio to improve the overall picture quality.
Viewing angle: The fact that LG OLED TVs feature pixels that emit light and color on their own allows the TV to offer wider viewing angles than LED models. Even from 90° off center, the color and contrast are intense enough to provide an effective viewing experience.
Did you know?
LG OLED TVs tend to be more energy efficient than other types of TVs because only the pixels that are lit use power.
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LG OLED TV features to consider
Size
Screen size is one of the most important considerations when you’re buying a TV, so it’s important to understand that the screen sizes that manufacturers provide are measured diagonally.
LG OLED TVs typically come in three sizes: 55 inches, 65 inches, and 77 inches. The smaller models are good options for a living room or family room, but the largest OLED TV might be a better choice for a home theater setup or if the room you plan to place it in is particularly spacious.
Display format
A TV’s display format plays a big role in the resolution and quality of the picture. All LG OLED TVs are ultra-high definition (UHD) 4K models, which means they contain eight million pixels. That’s four times the number in a standard HD TV, so they provide much sharper detail. The UHD 4K resolution is particularly noticeable in televisions with 65-inch screens or larger, making it an ideal pairing with most LG OLED models.
Smart features
If you want to stream video or audio on your LG OLED TV, choose a model that offers built-in WiFi so you can 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 an LG OLED TV with Bluetooth connectivity so you can use wireless headphones or speakers to stream audio from the television.
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Some LG OLED TVs offer other smart features that make it even more functional for your home. These TVs can connect to compatible smart home devices so you can control your smart home features using only your voice.
HDR
All LG OLED TVs offer high dynamic range (HDR), which increases the picture’s brightness, contrast, and color for the most lifelike images possible. HDR uses a stronger contrast between bright whites and true blacks to create a dynamic range that allows for sharper details. Because OLED technology provides the truest black possible, HDR is particularly noticeable on these LG models.
Surround sound
If you want audio quality to match the outstanding picture quality of an OLED TV, opt for an LG model 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 and is measured in Hertz (Hz). The standard refresh rate for a TV is 60Hz, which can sometimes cause blurry pictures during action scenes in movies or television shows. To avoid this issue, some TVs offer a 120Hz refresh rate for clearer high-speed images. If you love action movies, video games, or other fast-paced entertainment, opt for an LG OLED model with a high refresh rate to make sure the picture is as clear as possible.
Connections
To connect other visual and audio entertainment devices to your television, it’s important to make sure your LG OLED TV has all the inputs you need. For the most versatility, opt for a model with at least three HDMI inputs, the most common connection type for modern home entertainment devices. Some other ports you might want to look for include the following:
LG OLED TV prices
LG OLED TV prices vary based on screen size and the number of features offered. In general, you can expect to pay between $1,700 and $15,000.
55-inch LG OLED TVs: Depending on the number of special features, these LG OLED TVs cost from $1,700 to $3,000.
65-inch LG OLED TVs: Depending on the number of special features, these LG OLED TVs range from $2,500 to $7,000.
77-inch LG OLED TVs: Depending on the number of special features, these LG OLED TVs cost from $8,000 to $15,000.
FAQ
Q. What’s the best way to clean an LG OLED TV?
A. LG recommends cleaning their OLED TV screens with a soft, dry cloth. You should never spray water or other liquid cleaner directly on the TV because it might cause an electrical shock. To clean the television, unplug it and gently wipe the screen with a microfiber or other lint-free cloth in a circular motion to remove any dust or stains.
Q. Can I mount an LG OLED TV on the wall?
A. If you want to maximize space in a room, you can mount an LG OLED TV on the wall. To hang the TV, you 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 properly. You can usually buy a wall mount bracket from the same place where you purchased your LG OLED TV.
Q. What’s the optimal viewing distance from an LG OLED TV?
A. It depends on the size of your model. The best viewing distance from a 55-inch OLED TV is approximately eight feet from the screen. For a 65-inch OLED TV, try to arrange your seating so it’s about nine feet from the screen. For a 77-inch model, try to sit at least ten feet from the screen.
