LG G5 vs. LG G4: I spent hours testing both OLED TVs, and this model was the surprise winner

Adam Breeden/ZDNET

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With the merchandise of the LG G5, the marque is looking to stay the king of high-end OLED TVs. But is it worthy the arsenic precocious asking price? I and different ZDNET experts got to spell hands-on with some the LG G4 and LG G5 OLED TVs to interruption down their features, performance, and real-world practicality successful bid to assistance you determine which is the champion acceptable for your needs arsenic good arsenic your budget. 

Also: The apical 6 TVs our readers bought successful 2025

Since the G5 is simply a refresh alternatively than an wholly caller TV model, it tin beryllium confusing trying to fig retired what changes were made for the refresh. So I've enactment unneurotic a database of the biggest similarities and differences betwixt it and its predecessor, positive a fewer reasons you mightiness privation to outpouring for the older TV instead.

Specifications

You should bargain the LG G4 OLED TV if...

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1. You prioritize colour accuracy and representation quality

The LG G4 OLED has consistently topped our database of the champion OLED TVs connected the market, contempt being a procreation behind. That's partially owed to its unthinkable colour accuracy, offering immoderate of the champion you tin find for bolder, brighter images. 

And erstwhile paired with signature OLED contrast, you'll get sharper detailing that helps colors popular adjacent more. You'll besides get enactment for Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos virtual situation dependable for an adjacent much immersive experience.

2. You request dedicated representation modes for streaming and gaming

The LG G4 features a dedicated Filmmaker Mode for streaming movies and shows, which automatically analyzes contented framework by framework for real-time colour correction and 4K upscaling, ensuring each country appears precisely arsenic the manager intended. And with automatic HDR tone-mapping, adjacent aged Hollywood classics volition look crisp and clean. 

Also: The LG G4 is the astir fashionable TV our readers bought successful 2025

Console gamers besides get their ain dedicated representation mode, which supports some Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR, boosting the refresh complaint up to 144Hz for smoother enactment during fast-paced gameplay and cutscenes. The LG G4 besides boasts an awesome 0.1ms effect time, enabling near-instant reactions to your inputs successful some online and offline play. 

3. You privation a TV that looks arsenic bully arsenic it performs

There's nary uncertainty that the LG G4 OLED is simply a sleek TV, featuring a brushed metallic framework and exceptionally constrictive bezels that make an astir edge-to-edge picture, adding to the illusion erstwhile successful Art Mode. With enactment for Bluetooth connectivity and integrated dependable controls for hands-free use, you tin acceptable up an exceptionally clean-looking location theatre that seamlessly integrates into your astute location network. 

You'll besides get a suite of preloaded, fashionable streaming apps, including Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, truthful you tin commencement watching your favourite shows and movies close retired of the box.

You should bargain the LG G5 OLED TV if...

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1. You privation the champion TV for gaming and entertainment

While the LG G5 is simply a perfectly serviceable instrumentality successful presumption of performance, its refresh complaint is simply a emblematic 120Hz, which tin beryllium boosted to 165Hz for smoother graphics erstwhile gaming. The flagship TV features enactment for Dolby Vision HDR, arsenic good arsenic 4K upscaling, and supports some G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, similar its predecessor. The menus are casual to navigate, and the Dolby Atmos-enhanced audio is decent capable for location viewing but would besides payment from a boost via soundbar oregon talker system. 

2. LG's Tandem OLED stack appeals to you

By stacking 2 autarkic OLED layers connected apical of each other, the G5 achieves a level of highest brightness that acold surpasses that of the G4. This architecture allows the surface to deed overmuch higher luminance targets for HDR highlights -- reaching toward the 3,000 to 4,000 nit scope -- making it 1 of the fewer OLEDs that tin genuinely vie with flagship Mini-LED TVs successful bright, sunlit rooms. 

Also: LG's archetypal Micro RGB TV arrives up of CES 2026, and it's already turning heads

Beyond conscionable earthy power, the tandem plan enables the sheet to run much efficiently, distributing the electrical load crossed 2 layers to perchance heighten the semipermanent longevity of the pixels.

That said, the exertion is inactive comparatively caller successful the abstraction and, therefore, whitethorn not beryllium the astir accordant successful presumption of ocular fidelity. For example, the tandem OLED sheet connected my reappraisal portion seemed to importantly interaction the wide representation quality, arsenic good details were mislaid successful a fuzzy haze. I had the LG G5 acceptable up broadside by broadside with a TCL QM8K that I had been utilizing arsenic a power screen, and I was shocked to spot conscionable however overmuch item was mislaid and however dull the colors looked successful comparison. Your mileage whitethorn vary.

Writer's choice

The LG G4 OLED is an awesome high-end TV offering immoderate of the champion colour accuracy and representation prime you tin buy, making it an astir cleanable prime for anyone looking to acceptable up a luxury location theatre (or wants a TV that doubles arsenic a idiosyncratic creation assemblage erstwhile not successful use). If I had to prime betwixt the two, the G4 would get my money.

The LG G5 OLED is simply a much confusing introduction successful a stellar lineup of premium TVs, featuring a tandem OLED sheet that importantly impacts representation quality, but with not astir capable caller features to warrant the arsenic premium terms tag. Unless LG releases a Pro mentation of the G5 OLED TV that addresses the issue, your wealth is amended spent connected the older G4 oregon possibly different marque entirely.