LG’s next OLED TVs will include ultra-fast Bluetooth for game controllers, and the technology was shown off on a mystery TV
LG’s next generation OLED TVs support ultra-low latency Bluetooth for split-second gaming performance. The company has teamed up with chipset maker MediaTek and gaming hardware experts Razer to create the world’s first Bluetooth ULL (Ultra-Low Latency) controller, which it claims delivers a “game-changing” input delay of just 1ms (via FlatpanelsHD).
That doesn’t mean the next LG G5 will be a PS5 in disguise; even the best TVs lack the hardware power for high-end gaming. But the controller will improve responsiveness in cloud-based gaming, such as in the Nvidia GeForce Now and Amazon Luna apps, both currently available for LG’s webOS.
LG showed off the controller at this month’s webOS summit, where it was demoed in cloud games including fighting, racing and first-person shooter titles. And the technology it uses will be part of the MediaTek MT7921 chipset that LG plans to use in next year’s faster TVs.
Now here’s the intriguing question: LG has shared an image of a prototype TV with the new hardware, so are we looking at an early version of the LG C5 or G5?
Ny Breaking’s Managing Editor for TVs, Matt Bolton, says he thinks it’s more likely that they’ve tied the new MediaTek chip to an existing screen. The design of the TV above – especially the little ‘chin’ in the middle – is very similar to the LG C4. Here is a C4 photo for reference.
However, that doesn’t rule out this being a C5: LG may keep the same physical design for next year’s models (it wouldn’t be the first time). But for now, we’re taking the position that this mysterious TV is likely a Frankenstein creation rather than a very early look at a full-blown 2025 model.
LG TVs are getting better and better for gamers
In addition to its own controller, LG is also launching a certification program for third-party game controller manufacturers. That means you can choose from multiple controllers that are certified to work seamlessly with webOS TVs. Unsurprisingly, Razer is the first company to achieve the certification.
LG says it wants to make webOS “the ultimate gaming platform for every type of gamer,” and the Bluetooth ULL technology will come to its gaming-focused 2025 OLED and QNED TVs with refresh rates of 120 Hz or higher. The same chipset with Bluetooth ULL also includes Wi-Fi 6 for fast, stable streaming with low latency.
LG is of course not the only TV company in this market: Samsung is also there with its Samsung Game Hub, which currently has one big name that LG does not have: Xbox. Currently, there is no Game Pass app for LG’s webOS TVs, although Microsoft has created apps for Samsung Smart TVs and Amazon Fire TVs. That’s likely to change: Microsoft has made it clear that it sees cross-platform cloud gaming as a big part of the Xbox’s future.