LG’s new M3 OLED TV is finally on sale in South Korea and is expected to launch globally, including a UK release in September. While US pricing has not yet been announced, we do know how much it will cost in the UK.
Pricing starts at £5,999 (about $7,599 and AU$11,633) for the 77-inch LG M3 OLED, which is £1,000 more than the same-sized LG G3 OLED. This is important because the M Series is essentially a G3 model with extra advanced wireless technology that broadcasts 4K 120Hz from a separate Zero Connect box, meaning no tangled cables to the TV itself.
It gets even better with the 83-inch model, which will cost £7,999 (around $10,130 and AU$15,511). That’s just £500 more than the similarly sized G3. And while there are only three sizes available in total, the price really jumps up with the signature OLED 97-inch set, which will cost a whopping £27,999.
But even that isn’t as bizarre as it might seem at first glance, when you consider that LG’s only other 97-inch OLED TV – the LG G2 OLED – costs £25,000 (approximately $31,666 and AU$48,483). And you get better image processing and some feature upgrades compared to that model, as well as the nice wireless technology.
Limited port availability
Of course, the M3 OLED TV isn’t completely cable-free – the set still requires a power cable. But what it does mean is that those who like to have both a nice minimalist setup and devices connected to their TV can connect them to the Zero Connect Box instead.
However, LG’s wireless solution has some shortcomings, which we highlighted when we tried LG’s wireless OLED TV at 4K 120Hz at CES in early 2023. First, the Zero Connect Box only has three HDMI 2.1 ports, which is very limited for those with multiple devices — four is the standard for high-end TVs.
The other issues had to do with the design of the M series. For example, the Zero Connect Box is a plastic cube that doesn’t really catch the eye, although you’re not really supposed to notice it. More annoyingly, the back of the TV hasn’t had any design improvements to take advantage of the fact that, being largely wireless, the set can be placed in a position where people can see the back.
While LG seems to want the set mounted, given that it comes with a wall mount it also has a sleek stand – and LG makes TVs very similar, which do have nicely designed backs: see the LG Pose.
In terms of connectivity options, LG has confirmed it will be using its proprietary RF technology, which it claims can transmit data at up to three times the speed of Wi-Fi, as well as USB, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The set also supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, meaning you can achieve that immersive experience on an ultra-large screen from anywhere in your home. Finally, the most exciting TV tech this year is the end of cables and LG seems to be the first to make this possible in real life.
Perhaps this feels too niche and expensive to break into our list of the best OLED TVs…