Original price was: $3,099.99.$2,199.99Current price is: $2,199.99.
When LG released the G4 OLED in early 2024, they made some bold claims about brightness improvements and processing power. After extensive testing, I can confirm this TV delivers on those promises and then some. Let's break down what makes the G4 special and who should consider investing in one.
LG's G-series has always represented their premium OLED lineup, but this year's model brings notable improvements. The new α11 processor (that's "Alpha 11") offers 70% better graphics processing than last year's G3. In practical terms, this means sharper upscaling of non-4K content and better handling of fast-moving scenes - something you'll notice whether watching sports or playing games.
The OLED evo panel with MLA (Micro Lens Array) technology might sound like marketing speak, but it makes a real difference. During our bright-room testing, the G4 maintained impressive contrast even with sunlight streaming in - traditionally a weakness for OLED TVs. Those perfect OLED blacks remain, but now they're paired with noticeably brighter highlights.
Here's where things get exciting for movie buffs. The G4's handling of HDR content (High Dynamic Range - which adds more detail in very bright and dark areas) is spectacular. When watching films like "Dune" or "Blade Runner 2049," the contrast between bright desert scenes and dark interiors shows off what OLED does best.
The TV supports multiple HDR formats:
Color accuracy out of the box is excellent, but for home theater enthusiasts, the G4 offers professional-grade calibration options. I particularly appreciated the new AI-enhanced tone mapping, which prevents bright scenes from looking washed out - a common issue with lesser TVs.
For gamers, the G4 is a powerhouse. The 144Hz refresh rate (meaning the screen can update 144 times per second) combined with HDMI 2.1 on all four ports makes this ready for anything gaming can throw at it. In testing with a PS5 and high-end PC, the response time was essentially instant.
Key gaming features include:
The new WebOS 24 platform feels snappier than previous versions. The interface is clean and customizable, and the AI recommendations actually become useful over time as they learn your preferences. Voice control works well with multiple assistants, and the remote has been redesigned to be more intuitive.
During testing, I particularly appreciated:
The G4's "Gallery" design isn't just about looks - it's practical for home theater setups. The TV mounts flush to the wall (mount included), and cable management is well thought out. The ultra-thin profile makes it look almost painted on the wall.
Audio capabilities are impressive for a flat panel, but most buyers at this level will want a dedicated sound system. The TV supports:
In daily use, the G4 shines in various scenarios:
The perfect blacks and enhanced brightness make movie nights special. Film grain looks natural, not noisy, and the TV's processing doesn't add that artificial "soap opera effect" unless you want it.
Motion handling is excellent, with fast-moving objects remaining clear. The extra brightness helps with daytime sports watching, and the wide viewing angles mean everyone gets a good view.
Whether it's the latest console games or PC titles, the G4 handles everything with impressive speed and clarity. The Game Optimizer menu makes it easy to tweak settings for different types of games.
While the G4 sits at the premium end of the market, it's important to consider what you're getting:
This TV is ideal for:
The LG G4 OLED represents the current peak of TV technology. While it's not cheap, it delivers value through exceptional performance and future-proof features. The improvements in brightness and processing power address traditional OLED weaknesses while maintaining their strengths.
For those setting up a serious home theater or gaming room, the G4 is a compelling choice. Just make sure to budget for proper audio equipment to match the impressive visual performance. While the C4 series offers similar features for less money, the G4's additional brightness and design elements make it the ultimate choice for those who want the very best.
Keep in mind that premium TVs often see significant price drops during major sales events, so timing your purchase could lead to substantial savings. But if you're ready to invest in one of the best TVs available today, the G4 won't disappoint.
Yes, the G4 OLED is worth the investment for home theater enthusiasts, serious gamers, and viewers who demand the best picture quality. While expensive, it offers class-leading performance, future-proof features, and superior build quality that justify its premium price point.
The G4 OLED achieves peak brightness levels of around 2000 nits in HDR content, making it one of the brightest OLED TVs available. This makes it suitable for both dark home theaters and brighter living rooms.
Yes, thanks to its OLED evo panel with MLA technology, the G4 performs better in bright rooms than previous OLED models. While it still works best in controlled lighting conditions, it handles ambient light well enough for daytime viewing.
For optimal viewing of 4K content, sit between 6.5 to 9.5 feet from the screen. In a home theater setting, aim for 1.5-2 times the screen height for the most immersive experience.
While the built-in 4.2 channel 60W speakers are decent, a dedicated sound system or soundbar is recommended for a true home theater experience. The TV supports eARC and WiSA wireless speakers for flexible audio setup options.
The G4 OLED is excellent for gaming, featuring 144Hz refresh rate, 0.1ms response time, HDMI 2.1 on all ports, and support for VRR, ALLM, G-Sync, and FreeSync. It's ideal for both next-gen consoles and PC gaming.
Yes, the G4 is designed specifically for wall mounting with its Gallery Design. It comes with a specialized flush wall mount and has a slim 1-1/8 inch depth. The mounting pattern is 300x300mm VESA compatible.
The TV supports all major HDR formats including Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, and HLG. This ensures compatibility with virtually all HDR content from streaming services, gaming consoles, and UHD Blu-ray players.
With normal use, the G4 OLED should last many years. LG provides a 5-year panel warranty, showing confidence in their product's longevity. Modern OLEDs have various features to prevent burn-in and maintain picture quality over time.
Yes, the WebOS 24 platform supports all major streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, and Apple TV+. The interface is user-friendly and the α11 processor ensures smooth navigation and quick app loading.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research has used advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: tomsguide.com - crutchfield.com - visions.ca - youtube.com - cnet.com - schaeferstv.com - rtings.com - costco.com - bhphotovideo.com - techradar.com - youtube.com - abcwarehouse.com - youtube.com
LG 65" G4 Series OLED evo |
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Display Technology - Affects overall picture quality and contrast: OLED evo with MLA (Micro Lens Array) |
Peak Brightness - Important for HDR impact and daytime viewing: ~2000 nits |
Contrast Ratio - Determines black levels and picture depth: Infinite (OLED) |
Processor - Affects upscaling and motion handling: α11 AI Processor 4K |
Refresh Rate - Critical for smooth motion and gaming: 144Hz |
Gaming Input Lag - Lower means more responsive gaming: 0.1ms |
HDR Formats - More formats mean better compatibility: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HLG |
HDMI Ports - Determines how many devices you can connect: 4x HDMI 2.1 |
Smart Platform: webOS 24 |
Screen Size: 65.1 inches |
Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160) |
Audio Output - Built-in sound capability: 4.2 Channel 60W |
Wall Mount Pattern: 300 x 300mm |
Weight Without Stand: 52.5 lbs |
Depth Without Stand - Important for wall mounting: 1-1/8 inches |
Warranty - Shows manufacturer confidence: 1 Year (5 Years Panel) |
The TCL QM8 ($998) offers remarkable value with its Mini-LED technology, delivering exceptional brightness levels that reach up to 5,000 nits - more than three times brighter than the G4. This impressive brightness, combined with quantum dot color technology, makes the QM8 particularly well-suited for bright room viewing and HDR content. The inclusion of advanced gaming features, including 144Hz VRR support and HDMI 2.1 ports, puts it nearly on par with the G4's gaming capabilities, while costing less than half the price.
Where the QM8 falls short of the G4 is in contrast precision and viewing angles. While its Mini-LED local dimming system is excellent for an LED-based TV, it can't match the pixel-level control of OLED technology, resulting in some minor blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds. The TCL QM8 represents an impressive sweet spot in the current TV market, offering about 80% of the G4's performance at a much more accessible price point. For most viewers, especially those with bright rooms or mixed lighting conditions, the QM8's combination of high brightness, strong HDR performance, and competitive gaming features make it a more practical choice than the G4.
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👌TCL 65" QM8 Mini-LED Smart TV Details
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The Sony BRAVIA 9 ($2,698) approaches premium picture quality through advanced Mini LED technology, delivering exceptional brightness that exceeds 1,000 nits - roughly double what the G4 can achieve. This makes it particularly impressive for bright room viewing and HDR content, where its ability to produce vivid highlights and maintain color volume even in well-lit conditions sets it apart. Sony's XR Backlight Master Drive technology provides precise control over thousands of Mini LED zones, resulting in impressive contrast and minimal blooming, while their superior video processing tends to handle difficult content like compressed streaming more gracefully.
Where the BRAVIA 9 makes compromises compared to the G4 is in absolute black levels and viewing angles. While its local dimming is excellent for an LED-based display, it can't match the pixel-level contrast control of OLED technology. The BRAVIA 9 also has slightly higher input lag (9.8ms vs 4.6ms) and tops out at 120Hz rather than 144Hz for gaming, though these differences won't impact most users. However, it offers better built-in sound with upfiring speakers, no risk of burn-in, and superior brightness that makes it more versatile across different viewing environments. For those seeking a premium TV that excels in both bright and dark rooms while offering excellent HDR performance, the BRAVIA 9's slightly higher price point is justified by its versatility.
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👌Sony BRAVIA 9 65" 4K UHD Mini LED QLED Smart Google TV Details
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The Samsung S95D ($2,597.99) distinguishes itself with its innovative QD-OLED technology and game-changing anti-glare coating, making it uniquely suited for bright room viewing. The quantum dot layer delivers noticeably more vibrant colors and higher peak brightness in HDR highlights, while the matte finish effectively eliminates reflections that typically plague OLED displays. This combination makes the S95D particularly appealing for viewers who can't control their room lighting or prefer watching content during daytime hours. The TV's excellent 9ms input lag and 144Hz refresh rate also ensure it remains highly capable for gaming.
While both TVs compete at the same premium price point, the S95D takes a different approach to picture quality, favoring punchy, vibrant colors over the G4's more accurate, cinema-like presentation. However, the S95D's motion handling isn't quite as refined as the G4's, occasionally showing frame skipping with streaming content. The S95D's processing, while capable, doesn't match the G4's superior upscaling of lower-quality content. For viewers prioritizing bright room performance and color impact over absolute accuracy and motion handling, the S95D presents a compelling alternative to the G4's more traditional OLED strengths.
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👌Samsung 65" S95D 4K OLED Smart TV Details
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The Hisense H9G remains a compelling alternative at $1,505, offering excellent brightness capabilities that actually exceed the G4's performance in well-lit environments. Its Quantum Dot LED technology with 180 local dimming zones delivers impressive HDR performance with up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness, making it particularly effective for daytime viewing and bright rooms. While it can't match OLED's perfect blacks, the H9G's contrast performance is still excellent for an LED TV, and many viewers might not notice the difference in typical viewing conditions.
However, as a 2020 model, the H9G lacks some of the latest gaming features found in the G4, such as VRR and HDMI 2.1 support. Its viewing angles are also more limited, making it best suited for straight-on viewing. That said, its Android TV platform offers an extensive app selection, and its overall picture quality remains competitive even by today's standards. For viewers who prioritize brightness over absolute black levels, or those looking for significant cost savings without major performance compromises, the H9G represents excellent value despite its older technology.
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👌Hisense 65" H9G Quantum Series 4K UHD Smart Android TV Details
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The Samsung S90D ($1,599) makes a compelling case with its QD-OLED technology, delivering exceptional color volume and vibrancy that some viewers might prefer over the G4's approach. Its significant price advantage - coming in $697 less expensive - doesn't result in many compromises in real-world performance. The S90D's NQ4 AI Gen2 processor handles upscaling admirably, and its gaming features, including 144Hz refresh rate and VRR support, satisfy all but the most demanding competitive gamers. The TV's handling of bright room viewing is particularly impressive, with excellent glare reduction and consistent color performance.
Despite lacking Dolby Vision support and offering a shorter warranty period, the Samsung S90D delivers about 90% of the G4's performance at roughly 70% of the cost. Its Tizen OS, while not quite as refined as WebOS, has improved significantly in recent updates, and the overall package represents exceptional value in the premium TV segment. For most viewers, the real-world differences in picture quality and performance will be subtle enough that the substantial cost savings make the S90D the more practical choice, especially for mixed-use viewing environments where its vibrant colors and strong brightness levels shine.
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👌Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV Details
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The Panasonic 65" OLED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV distinguishes itself with superior out-of-box color accuracy and more sophisticated video processing, particularly excelling in movie playback and dark scene handling. Its built-in audio system is notably more advanced, featuring dedicated up-firing speakers and Dolby Atmos support that delivers more immersive sound without requiring an external soundbar. While priced higher at $3,199, it offers broader HDR format support, including HDR10+, and its HCX Pro AI processor is particularly adept at preserving the filmmaker's intended look, making it an excellent choice for serious movie enthusiasts.
However, compared to the LG G4, the Panasonic falls short in peak brightness (1,000 vs 1,300 nits) and gaming capabilities, with a lower 120Hz refresh rate and fewer gaming optimizations. The Fire TV OS, while functional, doesn't offer quite the same level of refinement and app support as LG's webOS 24. For dedicated home theater use where controlled lighting is possible and movie performance is paramount, the Panasonic's premium price might be justified, but it's harder to recommend for bright rooms or gaming-focused setups where the LG G4's features provide more practical benefits at a lower cost.
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👌Panasonic 65" OLED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV Details
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The Samsung QN900D ($4,999) distinguishes itself with class-leading brightness and cutting-edge 8K resolution, making it particularly impressive in bright room environments where the G4 might struggle. Its advanced Mini-LED backlight system and quantum dot technology deliver exceptional HDR performance with brilliant highlights that can exceed 2,000 nits. The QN900D's new NQ8 AI processor demonstrates remarkable upscaling capabilities, transforming both 1080p and 4K content to near-8K quality, while its 4K@240Hz gaming support pushes beyond the G4's refresh rate capabilities for competitive gamers.
However, the QN900D commands a significant price premium that's hard to justify for most users, especially given the current scarcity of native 8K content. While its Mini-LED technology offers excellent local dimming, it can't quite match the G4's perfect blacks and pixel-level precision in dark scenes. The Samsung's anti-reflective screen and higher brightness make it a better choice for bright rooms or sunlit environments, but in a controlled lighting situation, particularly for movie watching, the price difference becomes harder to justify. The lack of Dolby Vision support also puts it at a disadvantage for home theater enthusiasts, though it does support the HDR10+ format.
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👌Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV Details
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The Sony BRAVIA 8
distinguishes itself with superior color accuracy and natural image processing, delivering exceptionally true-to-life picture quality that some viewers may prefer over the G4's brighter but slightly more processed look. Sony's expertise in motion handling and film processing is evident, particularly when watching movies or upscaling lower-quality content. At $1,698, it presents a compelling value proposition, offering core OLED picture quality and good gaming capabilities with two HDMI 2.1 ports and 120Hz refresh rate. The Google TV interface also provides a more streamlined, user-friendly experience that many find easier to navigate than webOS.
While the Sony BRAVIA 8
can't match the G4's peak brightness or gaming features, it delivers about 80% of the performance at roughly 65% of the price. Its 800-nit brightness is more than adequate for most viewing environments, and its superior out-of-box color accuracy means it rarely needs professional calibration. For movie enthusiasts and viewers who prioritize natural image quality over maximum brightness and gaming features, the BRAVIA 8 represents a more sensible choice that doesn't compromise on core picture quality where it matters most.
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👌Sony BRAVIA 8 65" 4K OLED TV Details
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The Samsung 65" QN85D Neo QLED offers compelling advantages with its Mini-LED technology, particularly in bright room performance where it can achieve higher peak brightness levels than OLED. Its sophisticated quantum dot color system and local dimming deliver excellent HDR performance, and the anti-reflective coating handles bright room reflections noticeably better. At $1,798, it represents a significant $800 savings over the G4, while still providing premium features like 4K/120Hz gaming support, VRR, and sophisticated AI upscaling through its latest NQ4 AI Gen2 processor.
Where the Samsung falls short is in absolute black levels and viewing angles, though most users won't notice these limitations in typical viewing conditions. The local dimming system, while excellent, can occasionally produce subtle blooming effects around bright objects on dark backgrounds - something you'll never see on an OLED panel. However, the price-to-performance ratio makes it a more practical choice for most households, especially those with varying lighting conditions or who want a versatile TV that performs well across all content types without requiring carefully controlled lighting conditions.
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👌Samsung 65" QN85D Neo QLED 4K Smart TV Details
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The Samsung QN90D Neo QLED stands out with its impressive peak brightness capabilities, reaching over 2,000 nits in HDR content, making it exceptionally well-suited for bright room viewing. Its Mini-LED backlight system, while not achieving the perfect blacks of OLED, delivers excellent contrast and minimal blooming thanks to precise local dimming zones. The $2,498 price point makes it slightly more affordable than the G4, and its anti-reflective screen coating provides superior glare reduction in challenging lighting conditions. Samsung's latest NQ4 AI processor handles motion exceptionally well, particularly beneficial for sports content and fast-moving scenes.
Where the QN90D falls slightly behind is in absolute black levels and viewing angles, though most users won't notice these differences in typical viewing conditions. Its gaming features nearly match the G4's capabilities, with 4K/120Hz support and VRR, though input lag is marginally higher at 4ms compared to the G4's 1.5ms. The lack of Dolby Vision support might concern some home theater enthusiasts, though Samsung's HDR10+ alternative still delivers impressive HDR performance. For most households, especially those with varying lighting conditions or who watch a mix of content throughout the day, the QN90D's brightness advantage and lower price point make it a compelling alternative to the G4's OLED excellence.
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👌Samsung 65" QN90D Series 4K Neo QLED Smart TV Details
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The Sony BRAVIA 7 offers a compelling alternative with its Mini LED technology, delivering exceptional brightness levels that can outperform the G4 OLED in well-lit environments. Priced at $1,999, it represents a significant $600 savings while still providing excellent picture quality through its advanced XR Backlight Master Drive and Cognitive XR processor. The BRAVIA 7's ability to maintain vibrant colors and deep contrast even in bright rooms makes it particularly appealing for viewers who don't have complete control over their lighting conditions or prefer watching during daytime hours.
Where the BRAVIA 7 really stands out is in its value proposition and versatility. While it may not match the G4's perfect blacks or viewing angles, its superior brightness handling and absence of burn-in risk make it a more practical choice for many users. The Google TV interface offers excellent content discovery features, and its upscaling performance is particularly impressive with lower-quality content. For buyers seeking a premium viewing experience without the OLED price premium, the BRAVIA 7 strikes an excellent balance between performance and practicality, especially in bright room environments where its Mini LED technology can really shine.
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👌Sony BRAVIA 7 65" 4K UHD Smart Google TV Details
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