LG G4 OLED TV: Gorgeous Image High quality Obtainable in Bigger Sizes

8.5/ 10
SCORE

LG G4 collection OLED TV (2024)

Professionals

• Very good general picture high quality
• Preserves black ranges nicely in brilliant rooms
• Superior distinction and off-angle viewing
• Vast number of dimension choices

Cons

• Costly
• Shiny display catches reflections in brilliant rooms

OLED TVs ship the best picture we’ve ever tested at CNET, and over the previous few years LG has continued to enhance its highest-end fashions within the G collection. In 2023 we awarded the G3 the title of one of the best TV for image high quality, and this 12 months’s model, the G4, is even higher. In our side-by-side comparisons it beat its predecessor in brightness and general picture high quality with the sort of jaw-dropping photographs you may solely get from a topflight OLED TV.

In a brilliant room, nevertheless, the G4 fell in need of the efficiency of its direct competitor, the Samsung S95D. That is as a result of the Samsung makes use of an all-new matte display end, which in our assessments did a greater job combating reflections than the extra typical shiny display of the Samsung. The S95D’s matte end has its draw back, particularly a discount in distinction, however general we most popular its bright-room picture high quality over the G4’s.

Each of these two high-end OLED TVs appeared unbelievable, and largely similar, in darker rooms; apart from the display end neither confirmed a marked benefit over the opposite. Sure, the Samsung’s coloration was a bit extra saturated at occasions and it obtained barely brighter, however these aren’t main variations. And the G4 has different benefits over the S95D, together with an 83-inch dimension.

Here is the place we point out that almost all TV viewers might be completely glad with one thing inexpensive however nonetheless glorious, just like the step-down LG C4 or a mini-LED model. That mentioned, the G4 is a superb alternative for anybody who desires a high-performance tv and is prepared to pay for it.

Watch this: LG’s 2024 OLED TVs Reduce Wires, Enhance Brightness

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LG G4 OLED TV sizes, collection comparability

LG additionally provides a less-expensive OLED vary, the C collection, which is not as brilliant and lacks the G collection “gallery” fashion design. Final 12 months we thought-about the C3 one of the best high-end TV for the cash, due to its glorious high quality and considerably cheaper price than the G3. We’ll assessment the 2024 C4 quickly, however we do not anticipate any main year-over-year developments, so the C3 stays a fantastic worth so long as it is obtainable. 

Tremendous-thin panel, flawed stand

The G4 panel is super-thin and smooth with a virtually unnoticeable bezel, permitting the image to take up seemingly your complete display. LG designed the TV with wall-mounting in thoughts – there’s an indentation on the again that enables it to take a seat practically flush towards the wall while you use LG’s particular bracket – and calls the design “gallery.” The 55- and 65-inch sizes include a tabletop stand (the bracket prices $70 and works on all sizes), whereas the bigger sizes embrace the bracket (its stand prices $200).

The stand, whereas super-thin and smooth, is flawed. It had a noticeable tilt to the left (a half-inch distinction between the fitting and left sides, to be precise; we measured), regardless of the stand being securely screwed on. Other than the aesthetics, the TV itself was additionally wobbly on the stand. It is not a deal-breaker however we anticipate a extra supportive stand on a TV this costly — final 12 months’s G3 had a way more strong stand (though you needed to pay further for it).

The LG G4 distant is at the least twice the scale of the Samsung distant and rather more characteristic heavy. It contains numbers to navigate to particular channels, which I am unsure is so crucial anymore, as cable fades into the space and is changed by streaming companies that require much less advanced remotes. The enter listing is less complicated to entry than the Samsung distant with a chosen button on the distant. There are additionally six shortcuts together with Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, Alexa, Sling and LG Channels.

The LG distant makes use of a point-and-shoot method, which we discovered fairly clumsy and pointless in on a regular basis use. It is over difficult at finest, and irritating in any case as a result of it is super-easy to overshoot buttons. There is not any actual motive to have such a delicate cursor on a TV distant.

The principle menu is made up of a bunch of modular, applike classes that mean you can regulate frequent settings, together with your image mode. Individuals who wish to experiment with image modes and have a finely tuned eye would doubtless respect this ease of entry to image mode settings, versus having to dig deep right into a settings menu. 

MLA expertise boosts image high quality

The G4 has all of the options we might anticipate from a high-end OLED TV. Its most important picture-enhancing further in comparison with the “C” collection is LG’s MLA show expertise, which stands for micro-lens array. Billions of tiny lenses contained in the OLED panel assist focus the sunshine, scale back scatter and enhance effectivity. 

The G4 helps Dolby Vision HDR, in contrast to Samsung’s OLED TVs (however we do not contemplate {that a} main disadvantage within the Samsung OLEDs). Each firms’ OLED strains assist Dolby Atmos and a 144 Hz refresh charge.

LG continues to excel at connection choices. Like its competitors, the G4 has the newest model of the HDMI standard: 2.1. Which means the HDMI ports can deal with 4K at 120 frames per second and variable refresh charge, in addition to enhanced audio return channel and automated low-latency mode (auto recreation mode). In different phrases, they’ll reap the benefits of the latest graphics features obtainable from PlayStation 5 and Xbox Sequence X and S consoles in addition to high-end graphics playing cards. As with the Samsung S95D, all 4 of the G4’s HDMI ports assist 4K/120 – nice for hard-core players with a number of next-gen units. 

• 4 HDMI inputs with HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.2

• Three USB 2.0 ports

• Optical digital audio output

• RF (antenna) enter

• RS-232 port (minijack, for service solely)

• Ethernet (LAN) port

Wonderful image high quality, regardless of some glare 

For this side-by-side comparability check, we arrange the G4 subsequent to 3 different OLED TVs, together with its direct competitor, the Samsung S95D, in addition to the less-expensive LG C4 and the LG G3, the G4’s predecessor from final 12 months. The G4 appeared higher than the 2 different LG fashions however a bit worse general than the Samsung, due to its the S95D’s higher bright-room picture and was barely brighter with a bit extra impactful coloration.

TV and flicks: We began with the Spears and Munsil 4K benchmark and the S95D vs. the G4 had been so shut as to be virtually indistinguishable. Colours appeared barely totally different, with a extra saturated pink within the tulips and strawberries on the Samsung and the grass below the cows wanting deeper and extra practical on the LG. In highlights, each appeared equally brilliant to the attention, however the Samsung measured barely brighter typically. With the solar rising over the mountains, for instance, the S95D measured about 520 nits to the LG’s 450, in keeping with a spot test on the sunshine meter. The opposite two LGs had been additionally dimmer than the Samsung, however notably, the C4 was brighter (440 nits, principally the identical because the G4) than the G3 (390).

Black ranges on all 4 had been excellent, as anticipated on any OLED TV. We appeared carefully on the objects towards black backgrounds, for instance, a honey dripper. Black areas closest to the honey appeared principally similar. Within the shot of a Ferris wheel, the Samsung revealed barely extra element at midnight areas below the pier and above the buildings, however the distinction was very delicate. 

Once we watched The Umbrella Academy on Netflix, the variations had been equally slight between the 2 finest OLEDs, the G4 and S95D. In comparatively dim cinematic scenes these two appeared a bit higher, with extra depth, distinction and realism in backgrounds and faces. The C4 and G3 appeared a bit flatter and fewer impactful, however I do not suppose the distinction could be apparent outdoors of a side-by-side comparability.

Gaming: The G4 stays an outstanding gaming TV, with extra choices in its Sport Optimizer menu than different televisions, together with the Samsung. It gathers all the gaming settings in a single place and verifies refresh charge, VRR standing and extra at a look. I additionally appreciated the flexibility to edit the gaming dashboard to swap in additional standing indicators (decision, Dolby Atmos and so forth), however I am fairly nerdy like that. Samsung’s Sport bar has a cleaner design, nevertheless.

The Darkish Room mode is designed to scale back eye fatigue, however it additionally dulls the picture so I would keep away from utilizing it except it’s worthwhile to. Among the many numerous gaming picture modes I appreciated Customary finest for many video games with its stability of shadow element and distinction – and a extra dramatic, cinematic look than the Samsung’s customary. FPS is finest if you need extra visibility into shadows, or you may simply crank the Black Stabilizer management up (on the expense of a washed-out picture).

Buried inside Sport Optimizer is one other setting labeled “Scale back enter delay (enter lag)” with two choices, Customary and Enhance. The previous, which is the default for any recreation, serves up a superb enter lag consequence: round 13.6ms for each 1080p and 4K HDR sources. Participating Enhance cuts lag even additional, to round 10ms for each, much like the Samsung. The catch is that Enhance is just obtainable for 60Hz sources, so you may’t use it with 120Hz video games or VRR. And no, I do not suppose many people would discover the additional 3ms of lag.

In line with my Xbox’s particulars display, the G4 supported 4K/120Hz and VRR in addition to Dolby Imaginative and prescient gaming (which Samsung doesn’t assist).

Brilliant lighting: The G4 is a superb TV in each brilliant rooms and darkish, however the Samsung S95D and its matte display have the benefit. Once we set the 2 up side-by-side reverse a brilliant window, the Samsung’s display markedly lowered the brightness of the home windows mirrored on the display. In the meantime the LG G4, very similar to different OLED TVs we have examined, confirmed a brilliant, mirrorlike reflection. However the LG preserved black ranges higher for a extra contrasty, impactful picture, however we most popular the efficiency of the Samsung general in brilliant rooms.

Under are my measurements in nits for choose comparability TVs of their brightest and most correct image modes, utilizing each customary dynamic vary (SDR) and excessive dynamic vary (HDR) check patterns. Briefly, the G4 and S95D are neck-and-neck for the title of brightest OLED TV ever, and each are brighter than their 2023 predecessors.

The brightest mode for SDR (Vivid) is horribly inaccurate. For the correct outcomes listed above on the G4, I used ISF Skilled Brilliant image mode. Observe that with SDR, you will have to disable the Auto Power Saving setting (Normal > Power Saving > Power Saving Step > Off) and have interaction Peak Brightness (Image > Superior Settings > Brightness > (Peak Brightness: Excessive) to get full brightness. HDR is a unique and far easier story. Filmmaker is the brightest mode and essentially the most correct, so you may set it and neglect it no matter room lighting.

The G4 maintained its peak brightness over time. I ran a check sample for a full minute and it stayed the identical brightness.

Like all OLED TVs together with the Samsung S95D, the G4’s brightness was considerably decrease when a bigger proportion of the display was white. With home windows bigger than 10% of the display its brightness fell steadily, hitting 450 nits with 50% of the display white and reaching a low of 220 nits with a full 100% white display. I’ve not often seen this drop-off when watching regular TV reveals or films, nevertheless, so I do not contemplate it a giant deal.

Uniformity and viewing angle: Like most OLEDs I’ve examined together with the Samsung S95D, the G4 was exemplary on this space in comparison with LCD-based TVs, with no vital brightness or coloration variations throughout the display and practically excellent picture high quality from off-angle. 

Image settings and testing notes

I like that LG TVs have the flexibility, launched final 12 months, to customise the settings menu by including shortcuts and transferring them round. I added the setting that disables the ambient mild sensor, for instance, making it simpler to entry for my measurements (which require it to be turned off). In line with these measurements, Filmmaker was the most-accurate preset mode with HDR, however Cinema was exceedingly correct too. I selected Filmmaker for many of my viewing, and in contrast to final 12 months’s G3, it wasn’t considerably darker than Cinema. For SDR I additionally went with Cinema as a result of it was fairly correct and focused my most popular 2.2 gamma (Filmmaker focused 2.4). Each ISF modes had been additionally very correct.

Sport Optimizer is finest for gaming, due to its processing, however fairly blue; for one of the best coloration accuracy for gaming you need to regulate the colour temperature management towards pink (Image > Superior Settings > Colour > White Steadiness > Colour temperature). Observe that except you choose Sport Optimizer within the sound settings as nicely, some settings like recreation style switching may be grayed out and unable to be adjusted.

Like most TVs, the G4 provides settings that interact smoothing, aka the cleaning soap opera impact, as I favor to show it off for TV reveals and flicks (and it is off in Sport Optimizer mode as a result of it will increase enter lag). You possibly can experiment with the settings (Image > Superior Settings > Readability > TruMotion).

Portrait Displays Calman calibration software program was used on this assessment. 

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