Update: We originally reported that the OLED Evo G3 desk stand is a separate purchase of $200 but LG Australia has confirmed that it does actually come in the box for free when you buy the TV from LG or participating partners. Sweetens the deal even more. The review has been updated accordingly
LG is celebrating a remarkable decade of excellence in OLED TV technology, and their latest offering, the LG OLED Evo G3, is a testament to their continuous learning and innovation over this time. The LG OLED Evo G3 introduces a ground-breaking OLED panel design that incorporates a Micro Lens Array, featuring tiny lenses that result in brighter images without increasing power consumption or heat generation.
Furthermore, with the addition of Brightness Booster Max, which combines a physical heatsink with brightness-boosting algorithms, the G3 sets new industry standards for brightness, contrast, and colour gamut. Having reviewed numerous OLED TVs and monitors, I can confidently say that nothing quite matches the G3 in terms of performance.
However, it’s important to note that such excellence comes at a price. The LG OLED Evo G3 starts at $4,195.00 for the 55-inch model, the variant I had the opportunity to review. If you desire a larger display, there are options for 65-inch, 75-inch, and a whopping 83-inch models, priced at $5,295.00, $8,395.00, and $10,995.00, respectively.
It’s worth mentioning that the G3 now includes a desk stand in the box, something that wasn’t available with last years G2. This is such a great addition that will please renters like me who can’t or don’t want to drill into walls for wall mounting.
Design and Features
The LG G3 boasts a stunning design that’s meant to seamlessly blend into your living space, resembling an elegant piece of art on the wall. The frame features a brushed metal appearance, similar to the C3 model, and impressively maintains an overall thickness of under 2 inches. It includes recesses for the various ports, ensuring a sleek profile. LG has even included plastic covers to conceal unsightly cables, further enhancing the TV’s aesthetics.
For my review unit, I opted for the desk stand, which not only offers cable management but also contributes to a clean and tidy appearance on your TV cabinet. One peculiar aspect is that using the stand tilts the G3 slightly, noticeable from the side but not from a head-on perspective.
In contrast to the TV’s sleek modern design, LG’s Magic Remote, with its bulky plastic construction, feels out of place with this premium television. It might be time for LG to update this remote for a more contemporary and minimalist design. Nevertheless, it still includes a large thumb wheel and dedicated buttons for popular streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, Rakuten TV, Disney+, and Amazon Alexa.
Under the hood, the G3 is powered by LG’s formidable α9 AI Processor 4K Gen6, responsible for AI-enhanced picture and audio processing as well as running the WebOS operating system. While LG has made efforts to streamline WebOS, it can still feel somewhat sluggish on the G3. Having a dedicated processor for the software would have been a welcome addition.
Hidden at the back of the G3 is a 60W 4.2 down-firing speaker system that delivers surprisingly impressive audio quality. Not only does it achieve considerable volume levels, but it also offers remarkable detail and separation. This means that you won’t necessarily need a soundbar to enhance your viewing experience, although the G3 does support LG Wow Orchestra when paired with LG’s soundbars like the SC9S.
Moreover, the G3 can upscale audio to a 9.1.2 virtual mix using AI Sound Pro. It supports decoding of DTS, DTS X, and IMAX Enhanced audio, and can send bitstream audio to an external audio system.
Brilliant Display
Undoubtedly, the most striking aspect of the G3 OLED Evo is its panel. This 55-inch 4K panel is an impressive 70 percent brighter than a standard LG B or CS OLED model. The Micro Lens Array (MLA) panel redirects light outwards, preventing it from being lost within the panel, while the Light Control Architecture, acting as a physical heatsink, allows the panel to be driven harder.
The result is a stunning visual experience. The G3 excels in various environments, even well-lit rooms. While OLEDs are traditionally known for their exceptional performance in low-light settings due to their low light emission and perfect contrast, the G3 impressively shines in bright rooms. I had my unit set up adjacent to large glass balcony doors, and compared to the C3, the G3 offered superior daytime viewing. However, it’s during night time viewing that the G3 truly excels.
The increased brightness significantly enhances the viewing of HDR content, delivering bright highlights in perfect contrast with the OLED’s deep blacks. There’s no hint of a halo effect around bright objects such as captions or game HUD elements. The G3 supports nearly every major HDR format, including Dolby Vision, HLG, and HDR10.
And the G3 comes with 10 different picture profiles so you can enjoy content as the filmmakers intended. That includes Vivid, Standard, Eco, Cinema, Sports, Game, Filmmaker, ISF Expert(Bright Room and Dark Room). On top of the standard profiles, the G3 also has a personalised profile that you set up with a simple wizard that lets uses A/B tests to help you narrow down on your preferred look. I like this since you don’t need to fiddle with complexities like RGB sliders, gamma and more just to get the look you like.
As is now expected, the G3 stands as one of the top choices for gamers, thanks to its support for 120Hz refresh rate, VRR, and ALLM. It’s noteworthy that it also supports AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, ensuring a seamless experience for gaming enthusiasts. With four HDMI 2.1 ports, the G3 accommodates gamers with multiple consoles.
To further enhance the gaming experience, the G3 offers the Game Optimiser, a dashboard that displays game performance metrics and allows you to adjust settings in real-time. While LG’s implementation is commendable, it’s worth noting that Sony is also making strides in this area for their Bravia TVs, particularly appealing to PlayStation 5 owners.
Verdict
In conclusion, the LG G3 OLED Evo stands as the most outstanding TV I’ve encountered by a significant margin. It caters to serious movie and gaming enthusiasts with its exceptional picture quality, brightness, and additional features that make it a pleasure to use. During my time with the TV, I watched a wide range of content, from casual shows like Goggle Box to high-action sequences in Ahsoka on Disney+.
The G3 performed so well that my only grievances would be the slightly sluggish WebOS and the outdated plastic remote that consumes batteries rather quickly. If you’re willing to invest, the LG G3 OLED Evo is the only TV you’ll need for a long time to come. Its remarkable performance, paired with its gaming capabilities, exceptional display, and stylish design, make it a compelling choice for those seeking the best in home entertainment.
LG Australia kindly loaned the OLED Evo G3 to PowerUp for the purpose of this review
