LG’s 2023 OLED TVs: smarter, lighter, and significantly brighter
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After sitting things out last year, LG is back with a vengeance CES 2023, featuring the company’s latest and best OLED TV lineup to date. The big attention grabber among LG’s CES announcements is a Brightness Booster Max feature for its G3 “gallery” line that boosts peak light output by 70% over conventional OLED models, something it achieves through a combination of hardware and design and a light amplification algorithm.
From the top, the new OLED series consists of the flagship Z3 (8K) and G3 series, the mid-range C3 series and the entry-level B3 series. (The A Series, LG’s previous entry-level model, has been dropped from the company’s 2023 OLED line.)
The Z3, G3 and C3 sets all have OLED Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro, a new feature that intelligently distributes brightness and color mapping across 20 blocks. They also have the new HDR Expression Enhancer, a feature that provides object-based tone mapping along with object-based sharpness enhancement. AI Super Upscaling with genre and scene detection is found on all models, which are specified for 100% DCI-P3 color volume coverage.
LG’s AI-based picture-enhancing wizardry is the result of new processors found across the lineup, with the G3 and C3 sets getting the a9 AI processor 4K Gen6 (a9 AI processor 8K Gen6 on the Z3) and the B3 gets the a7 AI processor 4K Gen6.
All new OLEDs for 2023 are fully specified for gaming and feature 120Hz, VRR, FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync. The top three series all come with four HDMI 2.1 ports, while the B2 series gets two HDMI 2.1 ports. LG’s 2023 OLEDs are also the first TVs to be certified for Quick Media Switching VRR (QMS-VRR), a feature that eliminates the “black screen” that occurs when switching between different HDMI-connected sources.
In addition, Z3 and G3 models will be equipped with an ATSC 3.0 tuner for receiving next-generation wireless digital broadcasts in the US.
LG’s G3 and C3 models will be lighter than their predecessors thanks to a composite fiber material used for the panel housing. The decor-friendly G3 models will also feature a new Zero Gap design, which LG says ensures the TV is “perfectly in harmony with the wall to become one with it”.
Audio features are also getting an upgrade in LG’s 2023 OLED TVs. A WOW Orchestra feature provides smooth integration between an LG soundbar and the TV’s built-in speakers, while WOW interface viewers can control the audio settings of be able to configure the soundbar on the TV screen. As we predicted for LG’s next-generation OLEDs, the TVs will be able to make a wireless lossless audio connection to the company’s soundbars, a feature LG calls WOW Cast.
LG’s C-series models further get an optional bracket designed to mount a soundbar below the set’s screen when wall-mounted.
webOS: the next generation
The webOS smart TV interface will see some changes on LG’s TVs for 2023. LG’s Home hub shows recommended content for individual profiles, which can now be customized with avatars. Support for the Matter smart home standard will be added and an optional LG smart cam accessory will be available to work with fitness and other lifestyle apps.
Built-in microphones for hands-free voice control is a new feature for 2023 (Z, G and C series models) and LG’s multi-view feature is being enhanced to support input from multiple HDMI sources.
Setup features in the new TVs include a personalized Picture Wizard that uses AI deep learning technology to learn your preferences. This involves six steps where you select aspects of different images on screen, and the TV then analyzes that information and applies it to the picture presets.
Z3 series
- 77-, 88-inches
- a9 AI Processor 8K Gen6
- ATSC 3.0 tuner
- 5 year super warranty
G3 series
- 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch (97-inch G2 will be ported from 2022)
- a9 AI Processor 4K Gen6
- Brightness Booster Max
- Zero Gap Design
- Composite fiber material
- ATSC 3.0 tuner
- 5 year super warranty
C3 series
- 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83″
- a9 AI Processor 4K Gen6
- Brightness Booster (55, 65, 77, 83″)
- Composite fiber material
- B3: 55, 65, 77″.
- a7 AI Processor 4K Gen6
B3 series
- 55, 65, 77 inches
- a7 AI Processor 4K Gen6