I compared the two best LG OLED TV models on the market right now – there’s a surprise winner

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With the discharge of the LG G5 final 12 months, the model is trying to stay the king of high-end OLED TVs. However is it well worth the equally excessive asking value? ZDNET consultants obtained hands-on with each the LG G4 and LG G5 OLED TVs to interrupt down their options, efficiency, and real-world practicality, serving to you resolve which is the perfect match in your wants and finances. 

Additionally: We saw dozens of TVs at CES 2026: Keep these 5 models on your radar this year

Because the G5 is a refresh slightly than a completely new TV mannequin, it may be complicated to determine which adjustments had been made. So I’ve put collectively an inventory of the largest similarities and variations between it and its predecessor, plus a couple of causes you would possibly need to spring for the older TV as an alternative. We’ll replace this record when the newly-announced LG G6 OLED formally launches later this 12 months.

Specs

You can purchase the LG G4 OLED TV if…

1. You prioritize colour accuracy and film high quality

The LG G4 OLED has constantly topped our record of the perfect OLED TVs in the marketplace, regardless of being a era behind. That is partially on account of its unimaginable colour accuracy, providing a number of the finest yow will discover for bolder, brighter photos. 

And when paired with signature OLED distinction, you may get sharper detailing that helps colours pop much more. You will additionally get assist for Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR and Dolby Atmos digital encompass sound for an much more immersive expertise.

2. You want devoted image modes for streaming and gaming

The LG G4 contains a devoted Filmmaker Mode for streaming motion pictures and reveals, which routinely analyzes content material body by body for real-time colour correction and 4K upscaling, guaranteeing each scene seems precisely because the director supposed. And with computerized HDR tone-mapping, even outdated Hollywood classics will look crisp and clear. 

Additionally: The LG G4 is the most popular TV our readers bought in 2025

Console players additionally get their very own devoted image mode, which helps each Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR, boosting the refresh fee as much as 144Hz for smoother motion throughout fast-paced gameplay and cutscenes. The LG G4 additionally boasts a formidable 0.1ms response time, enabling near-instant reactions to your inputs in each on-line and offline play. 

3. You need a TV that appears nearly as good because it performs

There is no doubt that the LG G4 OLED is a smooth TV, that includes a brushed-metal body and exceptionally slim bezels that create an virtually edge-to-edge image, additional enhancing the phantasm in Artwork Mode. With assist for Bluetooth connectivity and built-in voice controls for hands-free use, you possibly can arrange an exceptionally clean-looking house theater that seamlessly integrates into your sensible house community. 

You will additionally get a collection of preloaded, standard streaming apps, together with Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, so you can begin watching your favourite reveals and films proper out of the field.

You can purchase the LG G5 OLED TV if…

1. You need the perfect TV for gaming and leisure

Whereas the LG G5 is a wonderfully serviceable gadget when it comes to efficiency, its refresh fee is a typical 120Hz, which will be boosted to 165Hz for smoother graphics when gaming. The flagship TV options assist for Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR, in addition to 4K upscaling, and helps each G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, like its predecessor. The menus are simple to navigate, and the Dolby Atmos-enhanced audio is first rate sufficient for house viewing however would additionally profit from a lift through soundbar or speaker system. 

2. LG’s Tandem OLED stack appeals to you

By stacking two impartial OLED layers on high of one another, the G5 achieves a stage of peak brightness that far surpasses that of the G4. This structure permits the display screen to hit a lot increased luminance targets for HDR highlights — reaching towards the three,000 to 4,000 nit vary — making it one of many few OLEDs that may really compete with flagship Mini-LED TVs in vibrant, sunlit rooms. 

Additionally: LG’s first Micro RGB TV arrives ahead of CES 2026, and it’s already turning heads

Past simply uncooked energy, the tandem design permits the panel to function extra effectively, distributing {the electrical} load throughout two layers to doubtlessly improve the long-term longevity of the pixels.

That stated, the expertise continues to be comparatively new within the house and, subsequently, will not be probably the most constant when it comes to visible constancy. For instance, the tandem OLED panel on my evaluation unit appeared to considerably impression the general image high quality, as tremendous particulars had been misplaced in a fuzzy haze. I had the LG G5 arrange aspect by aspect with a TCL QM8K that I had been utilizing as a management display screen, and I used to be shocked to see simply how a lot element was misplaced and the way uninteresting the colours regarded compared. Your mileage might differ.

Author’s alternative

The LG G4 OLED is a formidable high-end TV providing a number of the finest colour accuracy and film high quality you should purchase, making it an virtually excellent alternative for anybody trying to arrange a luxurious house theater (or desires a TV that doubles as a private artwork gallery when not in use). If I needed to choose between the 2, the G4 would get my cash.

The LG G5 OLED is a extra complicated entry in a stellar lineup of premium TVs, that includes a tandem OLED panel that considerably impacts image high quality, however with not practically sufficient new options to justify the equally premium price ticket. Except LG releases a Professional model of the G5 OLED TV that addresses the difficulty, your cash is best spent on the older G4 or maybe one other model solely.