Introduction
In the world of high-end televisions, few models have garnered as much praise and enthusiasm as the LG CX OLED TV. Released in 2020, this technological marvel continues to be a top choice for discerning viewers and a formidable contender against newer models, even three years later. As a digital technology expert, I‘ve been closely following the evolution of display technologies, and the LG CX OLED represents a significant milestone in this journey. In this comprehensive review, we‘ll dive deep into what makes the CX so special, examining its cutting-edge features, exceptional performance, and enduring value in the rapidly advancing TV market.
OLED: The Future of Television
To understand why the LG CX is such a groundbreaking TV, we first need to appreciate the revolutionary technology at its core: OLED. Short for "organic light-emitting diode," OLED represents a quantum leap forward from traditional LED/LCD displays. In an OLED panel, each pixel is self-illuminating, eliminating the need for a separate backlight. This allows for perfect black levels, as pixels can be completely turned off when displaying dark scenes. The result is an infinite contrast ratio, with the deepest blacks and stunningly vibrant colors that pop off the screen.
OLED technology also offers several other advantages over LED/LCD:
- Extremely wide viewing angles, with minimal color and brightness distortion
- Lightning-fast response times, typically under 1ms
- Superior motion handling, with virtually no motion blur
- Incredibly thin and lightweight panel designs
LG Display, a subsidiary of LG Electronics, is the world‘s largest manufacturer of OLED panels for TVs. They have been at the forefront of advancing this technology, consistently pushing the boundaries of picture quality, panel lifespan, and production efficiency. The LG CX showcases the company‘s OLED mastery, delivering a viewing experience that is nothing short of mesmerizing.
LG CX OLED: Specs and Features Explained
Now, let‘s take a closer look at the impressive specifications and features that define the LG CX OLED TV:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Display Type | OLED |
| Resolution | 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Color Gamut | DCI-P3 97% |
| Pixel Structure | WRGB (4 subpixels) |
| Processor | α9 Gen 3 AI Processor 4K |
| HDMI Ports | 4x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps bandwidth) |
| VRR Support | NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync, HDMI Forum VRR |
| Smart Platform | webOS 5.0 with ThinQ AI |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa built-in |
| Audio | 2.2 channel 40W speakers with Dolby Atmos |
The CX‘s 4K OLED panel is a marvel of engineering, boasting over 8 million self-illuminating pixels. LG employs a 4 subpixel WRGB structure, adding a white subpixel to the traditional red, green, and blue. This extra white subpixel helps to boost overall brightness and improve color accuracy. Speaking of brightness, the CX is capable of hitting peak levels of around 700-800 nits in HDR mode, according to measurements from respected reviewers like RTINGS.com and HDTVTest. While not quite as bright as some high-end LED/LCD TVs, the CX‘s OLED panel more than makes up for it with its perfect blacks and infinite contrast.
In terms of color reproduction, the CX is a champ, covering an impressive 97% of the DCI-P3 wide color gamut commonly used in cinema. This means the TV can display a broader range of colors than standard RGB displays, resulting in more lifelike and nuanced images. The CX also supports a variety of HDR formats, including the dynamic Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). With Dolby Vision content in particular, the TV can produce strikingly realistic highlights and shadows, as the panel‘s brightness and contrast are optimized on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis.
Powering the CX‘s fantastic picture quality is LG‘s α9 Gen 3 AI Processor 4K, a potent chip that uses advanced machine learning algorithms to intelligently enhance images and sound. The processor can upscale lower-resolution content to near-4K quality, reduce noise and compression artifacts, and sharpen fine details. It also analyzes the type of content being displayed (movie, sports, video game, etc.) and automatically applies optimal picture and sound settings. This is all done in real-time, ensuring you always get the best possible viewing experience without needing to fiddle with complex menus.
Another area where the LG CX really shines is gaming performance. The TV features four HDMI 2.1 ports, each capable of delivering 48Gbps bandwidth. This allows for 4K gaming at up to 120 frames per second with 10-bit color depth and HDR. The CX also supports a range of variable refresh rate (VRR) technologies, including NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync, and the HDMI Forum‘s VRR standard. VRR synchronizes the TV‘s refresh rate with the output of a compatible gaming device, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering for buttery-smooth gameplay.
In terms of input lag (the time it takes for the TV to display a signal from an input device), the CX is one of the most responsive TVs on the market. In its Game Mode, the TV can achieve an incredibly low input lag of just 13ms at 60Hz, and a remarkable 6ms at 120Hz. This level of responsiveness is a dream for competitive gamers who demand near-instant reactions from their displays.
On the smart TV front, the CX runs LG‘s webOS 5.0 platform, a sleek and intuitive interface for accessing streaming apps, connected devices, and system settings. WebOS supports all the popular services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and many more. You can also use LG‘s ThinQ AI technology to control your smart home devices, search for content using natural language voice commands, and even get personalized recommendations based on your viewing habits. The CX has both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in, so you can choose your preferred voice assistant.
OLED Lifespan and Burn-In Concerns
One concern that sometimes arises with OLED TVs is the potential for permanent image retention, also known as burn-in. This can occur if a static image (such as a channel logo or video game HUD) is displayed on the screen for an extended period, causing uneven wear on the pixels. While burn-in is a real phenomenon, it‘s important to note that significant advancements have been made in recent years to mitigate this issue.
LG has implemented several features in the CX to protect against burn-in, such as:
- Pixel Refresher: This function is automatically run when the TV is turned off after a cumulative four hours of use. It equalizes the voltage of each pixel to maintain consistent brightness and color across the panel.
- Screen Shift: This subtle feature slightly shifts the image on the screen at regular intervals, preventing static elements from "burning in" to specific pixels.
- Logo Luminance Adjustment: The TV can detect static logos and gradually reduce their brightness over time to minimize uneven wear.
- Screensaver: If a static image is detected for two minutes, the TV will automatically dim the screen and display a subtle screensaver to prevent burn-in.
In terms of overall lifespan, LG estimates that its OLED panels can maintain 50% of their original brightness after an impressive 100,000 hours of use. To put that in perspective, you‘d have to watch the TV for over 10 hours every single day for more than 27 years to hit that mark! In real-world usage, most viewers will likely upgrade their TV long before any noticeable degradation occurs.
Several professional reviewers have conducted long-term OLED burn-in tests, with encouraging results. Rtings.com, for example, subjected an LG C7 OLED TV to over 5000 hours of continuous testing, using a variety of static and moving content. At the end of the test, they found no noticeable burn-in on the panel. While individual results may vary, it‘s clear that modern OLED TVs like the CX are far more resistant to burn-in than early models, and should provide many years of trouble-free viewing for the vast majority of users.
The LG CX vs. the Competition
So how does the LG CX stack up against other top-tier TVs on the market? To find out, let‘s compare its key specs and features to some of its closest rivals:
| TV Model | LG CX OLED | LG C1 OLED | Sony A8H OLED | Samsung Q90T QLED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2020 |
| Screen Sizes | 48", 55", 65", 77" | 48", 55", 65", 77", 83" | 55", 65" | 55", 65", 75", 85" |
| Display Type | OLED | OLED | OLED | QLED (LED/LCD) |
| Resolution | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| HDMI 2.1 | Yes (4x) | Yes (4x) | Yes (2x) | Yes (1x) |
| VRR Support | G-Sync, FreeSync, HDMI VRR | G-Sync, FreeSync, HDMI VRR | HDMI VRR | FreeSync, HDMI VRR |
| Input Lag (4K/60) | 13ms | 13ms | 19ms | 10ms |
| Price (65") | $2,199 | $2,499 | $2,799 | $2,599 |
As you can see, the LG CX holds its own against the competition, offering a compelling blend of features, performance, and value. Its successor, the C1, offers a few incremental improvements (like a more efficient processor and updated webOS 6.0 platform) but largely delivers the same exceptional picture quality as the CX. Sony‘s A8H OLED is another strong contender, with a slightly more accurate color calibration out of the box. However, it only has two HDMI 2.1 ports compared to the CX‘s four, and carries a higher price tag.
In the LED/LCD camp, Samsung‘s Q90T QLED is a worthy rival, boasting higher peak brightness and excellent gaming performance thanks to its fast response times and low input lag. However, it can‘t quite match the perfect blacks and viewing angles of the CX‘s OLED panel, and its local dimming falls short of the pixel-level precision offered by self-emitting pixels. Overall, the LG CX offers arguably the best balance of picture quality, gaming features, and bang for your buck in its class.
The Verdict
After an extensive evaluation, it‘s clear that the LG CX OLED TV is a remarkable achievement in display technology. Its self-illuminating OLED panel delivers unparalleled black levels, vibrant colors, and wide viewing angles that truly need to be seen to be fully appreciated. The TV‘s advanced image processing, comprehensive HDR support, and future-proof HDMI 2.1 connectivity ensure that it will continue to deliver top-tier performance for years to come.
For gaming enthusiasts, the CX is an absolute dream, with its lightning-fast response times, low input lag, and robust VRR support. The TV‘s ability to deliver 4K/120fps gameplay with stunning HDR visuals is a perfect match for next-gen consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Cinephiles will also be thrilled with the CX‘s impeccable picture quality, which brings movies and TV shows to life with a level of depth, detail, and realism that is simply jaw-dropping.
While no TV is perfect, the CX comes remarkably close. Its few drawbacks (such as the potential for burn-in and somewhat reflective screen) are far outweighed by its numerous strengths. And with prices falling to very reasonable levels in 2023, the CX offers exceptional value for anyone seeking a high-end TV that will keep them on the cutting edge of display technology for the foreseeable future.
In conclusion, the LG CX OLED TV is a masterclass in television engineering and a testament to LG‘s leadership in the OLED space. It sets a high bar for picture quality, gaming performance, and smart TV functionality that few rivals can match. Whether you‘re a discerning cinephile, a hardcore gamer, or simply someone who appreciates the finer things in home entertainment, the LG CX is a TV that demands your attention. Highly recommended.
