In one look
Expert rating
Benefits
- Superb HDR picture performance
- Four 120Hz HDMI inputs
- Slim one-wall design
- Updated WebOS
The inconvenients
- Dear
- No HDR10+
- No support provided
Our opinion
LG ups the glare factor with its first MLA (Micro Lens Array) OLED panel. Sublime picture quality, aided by LG’s most powerful image processor, makes the G3 a flat screen to be coveted. It’s also a design statement with great gaming references to boot. The OLED jungle has a new king!
The G3 is LG’s most important new OLED TV in years, primarily because it’s built around an all-new LG Display Evo OLED panel design that uses a Micro Lens Array (MLA) of tiny lenses to better concentrate its light output. This means it can generate brighter images, without requiring more power.
Add a state-of-the-art processor, brimming with brightness-boosting algorithms and AI technologies, and the result is incredibly fine image quality.
Of course, many buyers will simply be excited about the G3’s premium design and finish. Or maybe they just want a TV that will serve next-gen gamers as well as home theater enthusiasts.
Whichever way you look at it, the G3 is a very special TV. Let’s dig a little deeper…
The seamless metal panel trim looks luxurious, while the bodywork cleverly accommodates speakers and connectivity.
Design features
- design of a wall
- Upgraded webOS Smart TV
- Free Reading
As befits its premium price, the G3 is built to impress. The seamless metal panel trim looks luxurious, while the bodywork cleverly accommodates speakers and connectivity. It is now called One Wall rather than Gallery Design.
As with previous G-series displays, the default installation is wall mounting, so there’s no conventional stand that comes in the box. If you want to use AV furniture, you’ll need to invest in the optional center stand.
The whole has a uniform depth, so when wall mounted it’s flush – even closer than the LG G2. Bundled in the box is a unique wall mount that fits into a well in the back of the TV cabinet (though don’t forget you’ll also need to take care of the power supply and cabling).
The good news for wall mounts is that the G3 is constructed from lightweight composite fibers, which reduces overall weight compared to old-school OLEDs.
Steve May / Foundry
Rear connectivity includes four HDMI 2.1 ports, all 4K 120Hz compatible – perfect if you’re using both Xbox Series X and PS5. There’s also eARC over HDMI 2. Additionally, there’s a digital optical audio output, three USB (V2.0) and Ethernet sockets (to support built-in Wi-Fi).
The set has a Freeview Play terrestrial tuner (in the UK), a satellite tuner and a CI card slot.
Control is via the latest version of the LG Magic Remote, with its distinctive wheel and on-screen cursor like a Nintendo Wii Remote. This has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Rakuten TV, Disney+, Amazon Alexa (in the UK) and LG’s own collection of IP TV channels.
I’m not a big fan of the magic remote concept, as I find the slider a little clunky, but you might like it.
Steve May / Foundry
The good news is that LG has refreshed the webOS Home UI for 2023, reducing the number of curated content rails (which on previous webOS iterations scrolled for a while).
Instead, the new UI design operates on a two-page design. There are fewer thumbnails to load, which simplifies navigation. This allows for a faster and more responsive browsing experience. Sometimes less is more.
Streaming services are grouped together, rather than having separate shelves. LG also introduced Quick Cards, folders that organize apps by content. We also have a more powerful Home Hub, which now supports Matter devices; the webOS 23 platform is natively certified for Matter devices.
Image quality
- MLA OLED panel
- Maximum brightness amplifier
- α9 AI Gen6 processor
- Dolby Vision
Spoiler alert: the G3 offers the best LG OLED picture I’ve seen outside of a lab. I’m impressed because this TV is simply stunning to watch.
Native HD and 4K content appears gloriously detailed, gradations and color fidelity are superb.
The G3 delivers the best LG OLED picture I’ve seen outside of a lab.
Much of that refinement can be attributed to the powerful α9 AI Gen6 processor behind the glass. This has the power to handle AI-assisted deep learning technology as well as new processing tricks like Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro, which promises even greater refinement, albeit from selected (unprotected) sources by HDCP).
And boy does it shine. Not only does the G3 use this new Micro Lens Array (MLA) smart panel, it also features Brightness Booster Max technology, a combination of brightness boosting algorithms, with the light control architecture, which is a hardware component.
LG quotes up to 70% improvement in brightness over the standard LG B-series OLED (non-Evo).
Overall HDR performance is outstanding. I measured peak HDR brightness at 1270 nits with a 5% window and 1180 nits with a 10% patch, in standard picture mode.
This means that very small specular highlights, like bright lights, flickering highlights and brilliant visual effects, really pop off the screen, and there’s hardly any difference to larger HDR objects.
Of course, measure the set with even smaller patch windows and the HDR peak brightness figure will inevitably score higher. Whatever you look like, the G3’s HDR images are breathtaking.
Steve May / Foundry
This luminosity bonus is immediately obvious. Images have an uncommon level of pop. The skies are bluer, the whites brighter. It’s not just HDR highlights that benefit from Brightness Booster Max, the average picture level also gets a substantial boost, so even SDR content looks more appealing.
Fortunately, MLA doesn’t come at the cost of OLED’s renowned black level or near-black tint (shadow).
The image modes are many and varied. There’s Cinema, Sports, Vivid, Standard, Filmmaker Mode, ISF Expert and Game settings. HD support covers vanilla HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision, but not HDR10+ (as favored by Amazon Prime Video).
Cinema and Standard are very pleasant to watch. Use Trumotion Cinematic Movement mode to ensure movies stay cinematic.
Steve May / Foundry
The latency is good. I measured input lag at 12.9ms (1080p/60fps) in Game mode. There is also Freesync Premium and NVidia G-Sync VRR support. A window dedicated to the game optimizer groups the parameters related to the game.
LG clearly takes gaming more seriously than most!
The set may not have an obvious sound system, but it still sounds remarkably good.
Sound quality
- Dolby Atmos
- Compatible with WOW Orchestra
- Sound AI Pro
- Improved DTS Imax support
The set may not have an obvious sound system, but it still sounds remarkably good. Using a 4.2 speaker setup there is weight and detail in the soundstage.
The G3’s AI-powered sound mode delivers a more detailed and generous soundscape. It will decode Dolby Atmos or bitstream immersive audio to a standby soundbar or home theater system.
AI-powered audio modes include AI Clear Sound, Auto-Balance Control, and Virtual 9.1.2 Upscaling.
AI Clear sound is able to identify the picture content and match the sound appropriately. The processor adjusts the volume of the different frequencies so that the highs are not overwhelmed by the lows. It is subtle but rather beneficial.
The G3 is also compatible with LG’s ‘Wow Orchestra’ system, which incorporates an LG soundbar compatible with the set’s own audio speakers.
Price and availability
The LG G3 is available in four screen sizes, and they’re starting to ship now.
Choose from 55, 65, 77 and 83-inch screen sizes (OLED55G3, OLED65G3, OLED77G3, OLED83G3 if you want the model numbers) priced at £2,599, £3,499, £4,999 and £7,499 respectively .
On my test bed is the 65-inch model, and you can buy the TV from LG, John Lewis, and Sevenoaks.
In the US, the same models are available for $2,499, $3,299, $4,499 and $6,499 – available from LG and other retailers to follow, including, we assume, BestBuy and Amazon.
The G3 effectively sits at the top of LG’s TV lineup, above the mainstream C3 models and the cheaper B and A models. The brand still offers its Signature Z 8K series, but for most buyers, it’s the G3 that will be considered the hero model. Oh, it also comes with a five-year panel warranty, which covers “normal TV use”.
Check out our table of the best TVs for more options. Remember that last year’s models, including the LG G2 and LG C2, will now be discounted and can be a bargain if you don’t have to. have the latest features.
Verdict
Just when you thought OLED couldn’t get much better, along comes the LG G3. This stunner combines highly dynamic images, with beautiful levels of detail and soul-warming color vibrancy.
As a home theater screen it’s sensational, and it doesn’t drop the ball when it comes to gaming either. 4K 120Hz support on all HDMI inputs is excellent and that’s not the end of the benefits for gamers.
The LG G3 may be expensive, but it sets a new benchmark against which other panels will be judged. I think it’s gorgeous, although it would be nice if LG included a stand for those who don’t want to wall mount it.
Specifications
- Model tested
- 65 inches (55, 77, 83 inches also available)
- OLED Evo 4K display technology with MLA
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- HDMI: x4
- HDR support: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision
- webOS smart platform
- Freeview Play Terrestrial Tuner
- 4.2 sound system with Dolby Atmos and DTS X support
- Dimensions: 1441 (w) x 826 (h) x 24.3 (d) mm
- Weight: 23.9kg
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