Best TVs at CES 2023: next-gen OLED from Samsung and LG, and what to expect
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TVs are always one of the biggest parts of CES, and CES 2023 will be no different. Most of the biggest TV makers will be announcing their major launches for the year at the event, and we’ll be updating this guide to the best TVs from CES 2023 with all the key news as it’s announced.
These are the TVs that will dominate our guide to the best TVs this year, so anyone thinking of buying a set in the next 12 months should keep an eye out for what’s coming here… especially as you might decide in some cases that your current-gen models for cheap would be smarter depending on how impressive you find the upgrades.
LG was first out the door with news about its new OLED models, with other companies to reveal all in the coming days. Meanwhile, Samsung Display (the part of Samsung that makes screens) has already unveiled its new next-gen QD-OLED panels that will almost certainly be used in sets from Samsung itself and Sony (and perhaps more). It’s going to be another big year for the best OLED TVs.
LG TVs at CES 2023
LG has unveiled its new OLED range for 2023, which includes four models: the high-end LG Z3 8K model; the LG G3 high-end 4K model, which offers the company’s brightest-ever OLED performance; the LG C3, which will become the mid-range blockbuster to replace the best-selling LG C2; and the LG B3, the most affordable model.
Each model will have 4K 120Hz and VRR support via HDMI 2.1 for gamers, and will include a new image processor for better image quality overall. The Z3, G3 and C3 will all feature the a9 Gen6 processor, with fancy new tricks such as applying HDR tone mapping and sharpness processing to individual objects within the frame, ensuring everything is handled correctly. The B3 will feature a slightly less advanced processor: the a7 Gen6.
There’s no LG A3 this year – the LG A2 was the last of LG’s super-cheap OLED lineup (unless the company reverses course). We’ll have to wait and see what this means for the price of the LG B2 – it would be great if that came down to the price of the A2.
The really flashy model here is the LG G3, which promises to be up to 70% brighter than conventional OLED models (which seems to refer to the B3, for example, rather than the C3, which also has some brightness-boosting technology… just not as much as the G3).
Read our comprehensive look at the new LG OLED 2023 range here.
Samsung TVs at CES 2023
At the time of writing, Samsung Electronics has yet to unveil its new TVs (expect news next day). However, Samsung Display (a separate part of the company) has unveiled its next-gen QD-OLED panels, which at least tell us something about what to expect from one Samsung model.
The new panels will be available in 55-inch, 65-inch and 77-inch TV sizes, and Samsung Display claims they can reach a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which is far, far beyond what previous OLED TVs can. . from.
That said, we should note that Samsung Display made lofty claims about the brightness of its previous QD-OLED panels (used in the Samsung S95B) that the actual TVs never lived up to. In that previous case, they said those panels could reach about 1500 nits, but the actual TVs reached about 1000 nits when measured.
Therefore, color us skeptical about whether anyone will see that 2,000 nit brightness in practice. However, if Samsung Display is right that the increase in brightness will be around 33%, that could still make the new TVs brighter than any OLED on the market to date.
Sony TVs at CES 2023
Sony’s news on its new TVs is expected on January 4, but the QD-OLED panel news mentioned above also applies here. Sony used the previous panel in its flagship Sony A95K TV in 2022, which we’ve crowned best of the year in image quality alone. We must therefore assume that the new QD-OLED screen will be the successor.
Panasonic TVs at CES 2023
With Panasonic’s TV announcements on January 4, we’ll see if the Japanese company has any plans to adopt the latest generation of OLED technology from Samsung or LG. The company has always been very comfortable with standard OLED technology, thanks to its use of heatsink technology so it can boost brightness beyond what other displays can handle without damaging the panels.
Last year the company also focused on introducing smart new speaker features – we expect more of the same from its 2023 range. The big question will be whether Panasonic will sell its OLED TVs in the US (but we wouldn’t recommend holding your breath).
TCL TVs at CES 2023
Again, there will be news about TCL’s range on January 4, but you should expect the company to continue to get aggressive in bringing cutting-edge technology, such as mini-LED, back to mid-range prices.
The big question is whether the company will push harder for both OLED and its LCD ranges. In 2022, it also focused on bringing much (MUCH) bigger TVs to market, using a range of technology. We’re likely to see more giant QLED models, but we also saw a micro-LED TV of it in 2022, so we’re hoping for more support for this fast-growing tech from TCL.
Hisense TVs at CES 2023
The news from Hisense should arrive on, yes, January 4. As with TCL, a major focus is likely to be on more advanced mini-LED screens at affordable prices. TCL also makes OLED models, but the price of OLED panels is currently cooling the company on the technology in 2022, so we expect the big effort will be to bring mini-LED and QLED to even lower prices.
- Check out our CES 2023 hub for all the latest from the show as it happens. We cover everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops and smart home gadgets, so stay with us for the big stories.