When you're looking to create the ultimate home theater experience, few things make as big an impact as a massive premium TV. Today we're comparing two giants in this space: the Samsung 98" Q80C ($7,997) and the LG 97" G2 OLED evo ($14,999). Both represent the pinnacle of their respective technologies, but they take very different approaches to delivering an amazing picture.
Before diving into specifics, let's understand what makes these TVs fundamentally different. The Samsung uses QLED technology, which means it has a traditional LED backlight paired with a layer of quantum dots - tiny particles that enhance color and brightness. Think of it like having a really sophisticated filter that makes colors pop. OLED, used in the LG, is completely different - each pixel creates its own light and can turn completely off, kind of like having millions of tiny light bulbs that can each be controlled individually.
The Samsung Q80C excels in bright rooms thanks to its powerful backlight system. When watching sports or daytime TV, it delivers a punch that OLED can't quite match. However, the LG G2 OLED creates perfect blacks and infinite contrast because each pixel can turn completely off. This makes movies look incredible, especially in a darkened room.
In my experience testing both technologies, OLED delivers a more cinematic experience, while QLED offers more versatility across different lighting conditions. For a dedicated home theater, the LG's perfect blacks create that true cinema feel, but if your room has lots of windows or you watch a lot of daytime content, the Samsung might be the better choice.
The Samsung Q80C, released in 2023, brings several improvements over previous models:
The LG G2, while released in 2022, introduced:
Both TVs offer impressive gaming features, including:
The Samsung Q80C has a slight edge in brightness for HDR gaming, while the LG G2 offers better response times and motion handling. For competitive gamers, both will serve excellently, but the LG's instant pixel response might give it a slight edge.
For a dedicated home theater setup, several factors come into play:
Both TVs offer:
Both TVs are massive and require careful installation planning:
The price difference between these TVs is substantial - nearly $7,000. This raises an important question: Is the LG worth almost double the price?
For most users, the Samsung Q80C offers exceptional value. Its picture quality is excellent, it handles bright rooms better, and it provides 90% of the premium TV experience at a much lower price point.
The LG G2 OLED justifies its premium for:
Both TVs offer:
Consider these key factors when making your choice:
Both the Samsung 98" Q80C and LG 97" G2 OLED represent excellent choices in the premium large-format TV market. The Samsung offers tremendous value and versatility, while the LG provides the ultimate picture quality for those willing to pay for it.
For most users, I recommend the Samsung Q80C. It offers an excellent balance of performance and value, and its brightness capabilities make it more versatile in different viewing environments. However, if you're building a dedicated home theater and budget isn't a primary concern, the LG G2 OLED delivers an unmatched cinematic experience that truly justifies its premium price.
Remember, whichever you choose, both represent the cutting edge of TV technology and will provide an impressive viewing experience for years to come.
| Samsung 98" Q80C ($7,997) | LG 97" G2 OLED evo ($14,999) |
|---|---|
| Display Technology - Fundamentally affects picture quality and viewing conditions | |
| QLED (LED backlit with quantum dots) | OLED (self-emitting pixels) |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| 2,000+ nits (excellent for bright rooms) | 1,000 nits (adequate but better for controlled lighting) |
| Black Levels - Determines contrast and movie performance | |
| Good (local dimming helps, but some blooming) | Perfect (true blacks, infinite contrast) |
| Gaming Features - Important for next-gen console gaming | |
| 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, 9.7ms input lag | 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, <1ms input lag |
| Viewing Angles - Matters for wide seating arrangements | |
| Limited (some color shift at angles) | Excellent (consistent from any angle) |
| Power Consumption - Impacts running costs | |
| 430W max (higher due to brightness) | 230W typical (more efficient) |
| Burn-in Risk - Long-term durability concern | |
| None (immune to burn-in) | Possible (requires care with static images) |
| Wall Mounting - Installation flexibility | |
| Standard mount, more placement options | Gallery design, optimized for wall mounting |
| Smart Platform - Daily usability | |
| Tizen OS (fast, good app support) | webOS (excellent interface, comprehensive apps) |
| Value Proposition - Price vs Performance | |
| Better value for bright rooms and general use | Premium price justified for dedicated home theater |
The LG 97" G2 OLED ($14,999) is superior for dedicated home theaters due to its perfect blacks and infinite contrast. In controlled lighting conditions, OLED technology provides a more cinematic experience than the Samsung Q80C's QLED display.
The Samsung 98" Q80C ($7,997) performs significantly better in bright rooms thanks to its higher peak brightness. Its QLED technology can overcome ambient light more effectively than the LG G2 OLED.
Both TVs offer excellent gaming features including 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM. The LG G2 has slightly better response time and motion handling, while the Samsung Q80C offers better brightness for HDR gaming.
The Samsung Q80C offers better value at nearly half the price of the LG G2. For most users, the performance difference doesn't justify the significant price premium of the OLED model.
Only the LG G2 OLED has potential burn-in risk, requiring some care with static images. The Samsung Q80C uses QLED technology which is immune to burn-in.
The LG G2 provides a superior movie-watching experience due to its perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and better shadow detail, particularly in dark scenes. This makes it ideal for serious film enthusiasts.
The Samsung Q80C generally handles sports better due to its higher brightness and excellent motion handling, making it easier to follow fast action in varying light conditions.
The LG G2 offers better contrast, viewing angles, and black levels, while the Samsung Q80C provides higher brightness and better performance in bright rooms.
The Samsung Q80C offers more flexible installation options with a traditional stand. The LG G2 is designed primarily for wall mounting and requires more installation planning.
Both TVs offer excellent smart platforms with comprehensive app support. The Samsung uses Tizen OS while the LG uses webOS, both providing smooth, user-friendly experiences.
Both the Samsung Q80C and LG G2 feature HDMI eARC and Dolby Atmos support, making them equally capable of integration with high-end home theater audio systems.
Both TVs should last many years with proper care. The Samsung Q80C may have a slight advantage due to no burn-in risk, while the LG G2 requires more careful use to avoid image retention.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses 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: techradar.com - samsung.com - rtings.com - abt.com - trustedreviews.com - billsmith.com - samsung.com - samsung.com - images.samsung.com - samsung.com - youtube.com - digitaltrends.com - xssentials.com - valueelectronics.com - youtube.com - bestbuy.com - rangsemart.com.bd - woodburyappliance.com - displaymate.com - youtube.com - rtings.com - displayspecifications.com - techradar.com - avsforum.com - lg.com - youtube.com
