LG G6 vs. LG G5: I compared the flagship OLED TVs, and there's a surprise winner

Kerry Wan and Adam Breeden/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

If you're looking to bargain the champion of the champion erstwhile it comes to OLED TVs, LG is often the marque of choice, since it's considered 1 of the apical names successful OLED models. And with the merchandise of the caller G6, it continues to beryllium wherefore it deserves to stay astatine the top. But is the yearly update truly worthy the other cost?

Also: The champion OLED TVs you tin buy

To assistance explicate wherever the existent differences prevarication betwixt the LG G6 and its predecessor, the G5, I've breached down what each exemplary offers successful presumption of astute features, tech upgrades, and caller software. And portion astatine a glimpse the 2 look astir identical, determination are a fewer cardinal changes that marque the G6 OLED an charismatic choice. 

But if you're looking to get a akin representation and audio prime astatine a somewhat amended price, the LG G5 is inactive a coagulated option. 

Specifications

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

Adam Breeden/ZDNET

1. You privation premium representation and audio quality

While the G5 OLED mightiness not beryllium the latest and top from LG anymore, it inactive offers top-notch representation with signature OLED colour accuracy and contrast, arsenic good arsenic virtual situation dependable with Dolby Atmos support. 

A 120Hz refresh complaint helps springiness you smoother question portion watching unrecorded sports and streaming, but it tin beryllium boosted to 165Hz with the dedicated gaming representation mode, which supports some Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR. It besides features a dedicated Filmmaker Mode for movie buffs for enhanced detailing.

2. You privation a high-performance OLED with style

The LG G5 hits the saccharine spot betwixt a accepted TV plan and the much gallery-inspired builds of competitors from Samsung oregon TCL. The ultra-thin physique allows for flush partition mounting, akin to a existent representation frame, arsenic good arsenic an edge-to-edge representation to assistance with the creator illusion. 

Also: LG G5 OLED TV review

The Gallery Plus app lets you make slideshows of your favourite works of creation and your ain photos, turning your surviving country oregon location theatre into a idiosyncratic gallery. 

3. You often browse tech sales

Since the LG G5 is present a procreation behind, some the marque and retailers are much inclined to connection markdowns during merchantability events and one-off discounts successful bid to wide abstraction for caller stock. If you support a crisp oculus connected the deals tab of retailers similar Amazon and Best Buy, you tin sometimes snag the G5 OLED for a much humble price. 

This means that adjacent if you're moving with a much constricted fund erstwhile buying for a caller TV, you person a accidental to get your hands connected a premium-grade OLED without breaking the bank. 

You should bargain the LG G6 OLED TV if...

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You privation a brighter, matte OLED screen

Like the OLED that came earlier it, the G6 uses a quad-layer surface to boost colour accuracy and brightness. However, the G6 tin scope a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits, astir 4 times that of the G5. 

With 4 OLED layers stacked connected apical of 1 another, the tandem sheet tin power each furniture independently for near-perfect blacks, brighter whites, and much accurate, bolder colors. The show besides features a matte surface to assistance trim glare and reflections, improving visibility successful agleam rooms and sunlight.

2. You privation much utile AI integration (first)

The G6 features the LG AI concierge, an integrated adjunct that volition connection personalized amusement options, TV optimization settings, hunt recommendations, and adjacent an AI chatbot to assistance troubleshoot issues. 

Watch: LG pushes OLED TV exertion adjacent brighter successful 2026

This update is large for anyone who wants to fine-tune representation and audio settings without the hassle of navigating a bid of confusing menus; the integrated AI adjunct automatically monitors and analyzes your favourite media and creates customized audio and representation settings.

3. You privation a faster processor

The dual-layer OLED sheet requires a batch of powerfulness to get the champion picture. The Alpha 11 processor that LG uses was upgraded for the G6, enabling it to propulsion the TV to its method limits with up to 50% faster performance. 

Not lone volition you get faster-loading apps, but the Alpha 11 tin besides analyse and upscale galore much frames per 2nd than its predecessor, for amended consistency and smoother real-time upscaling to 4K resolution. It besides uses a dual-AI motor that analyzes each framework to heighten sharpness and detail. 

Writer's choice

While connected a method level, some versions of LG's flagship OLED TV aren't each that different, the G6 does connection a fistful of meaningful updates implicit its predecessor. The refreshed dual-layer OLED sheet offers a brighter representation arsenic good arsenic a matte decorativeness for amended visibility successful agleam rooms and sunlight, portion the caller third-gen Alpha 11 processor provides amended powerfulness ratio and faster representation processing for upscaling successful 4K. 

If you're looking for 1 of the champion OLED TVs connected the marketplace and privation to prevention a spot of money, the LG G5 would beryllium my choice, arsenic it's often connected merchantability -- present that it is simply a procreation behind. You'll inactive get unthinkable representation prime with top-notch audio, a big of astute features, dedicated representation modes for gaming and streaming movies, and a 5-year warranty.