Also: The next big HDMI leap is coming next week – what the 2.2 standard means for you
Though the holiday deals are over, you can still find the 65-inch LG G4 and Best Buy — my pick for the best TV for the money. But if picture quality is your number one priority and you have the budget, there’s no TV on the planet with a better picture than the LG G4.
What makes the LG G4 OLED picture so good? Several things.
First of all, there are the things that make all OLED screens great, and this is especially true for LG OLEDs because they are one of the leading innovators in the technology. We’re talking about true blacks (as opposed to washed-out dark grays from LCD TVs), deep contrast, more vibrant colors, and amazing dynamic range in shots that have both dark and light elements. The LG G4 has all of those qualities — and at the highest levels I’ve seen on any TV — because it is LG’s flagship OLED TV for 2024.
Also: I tested Samsung’s 98-inch 4K QLED TV, and here’s why it might be worth the $13,000
So, what’s new in this year’s LG G4? The biggest leap forward is in picture processing, and that’s made possible by the new α11 AI Processor 4K. I’ve always considered Sony the king of picture processing, and it was a long way back to LG and Samsung, essentially tied for second place, with budget TV makers TCL and Hisense lagging the crowd. However, with the 2024 α11 AI Processor, LG is now pushing Sony for the top spot in picture processing — and that’s saying a lot.
Where this really matters is when it comes to out-of-the-box picture settings, upscaling older and lower-quality 720p and 1080p content, and the TV automatically adjusting the picture to make today’s HDR content look amazing. In all of those areas, the LG G4 now rivals Sony.
The other drawbacks are the remote and LG’s built-in webOS software. Both are mediocre at best. I consider LG’s remote to be the worst of any of the big five TV makers. It’s large, chunky, and has a confusing number of buttons. A TV that is good and has such a premium design that is svelte and beautiful deserves a better-designed remote.
Also: You can finally buy LG’s transparent OLED TV – if you’re willing to pay $60,000
LG’s built-in webOS software is nearly as disappointing as the remote control. It works fine, but it’s not very intuitive, and it is nowhere close to being as well-thought-out as the TV hardware. The icons for content are small and sometimes hard to select, the menu system is a bit convoluted, and there are built-in ads running in the software, which makes it feel unnecessary for a TV this expensive.
Take advantage of these discounts at either Amazon or Best Buy while they last.
How we test TVs
While testing and researching the TVs featured on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind:
- Price: Not all budgets are created equal. And if you’re working with a limited budget, that shouldn’t mean you have to settle for a sub-par TV. Each TV model on this list has been chosen across a variety of price points to help accommodate different needs.
- Screen size: The most important factor to consider, after price, when shopping for a new TV is whether or not it will fit into your space. Each best TV on this list was chosen because they are available in a wide variety of sizes to suit different rooms.
- Picture and audio quality: A new TV doesn’t mean much, even if it costs an arm and a leg, if it doesn’t provide a great picture and clear audio. Each TV on this list has been ensured to support various HDR codecs, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, as well as enhanced audio software like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, and object-tracking sound.
For a more detailed look, check out our extensive TV testing methodology.