With TVs like the LG G2, the television maker is positioning its Gallery series at the premium end of the best gaming TV TV market – and with good reason. Design chops are top dollar and the whole technology behind the glass is cutting edge. This next-gen display combines the latest OLED.EX glass with smart Brightness Boosting technology and the brand’s Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor, a combination that takes the brand’s Evo concept higher than we’ve seen before.
In addition, the G2 also has extensive support for variable refresh rate (VRR) and high frame rate (HFR) compatibility 4K 120 fps on any HDMI input, so it’s also a shoo-in for any best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X guide .
Features and design
As befits its Gallery Edition name, the G2 embraces an interior design aesthetic. It is beautifully finished, with a uniform depth of just 24mm. There’s no pedestal in the box, so you’ll need to budget for it, but it does come with a custom wall-mounting plate – and that’s the way the TV is designed to be used. But be warned: the 65-incher weighs 22.8kg and the 83-incher a formidable 90lb/40.9kg.
LG continues to offer premium HDMI connectivity, making the G2 a great partner for next-generation gaming consoles. All four HDMIs are of the 2.1 variety, meaning the G2 is of course a premium contender for the best 120Hz 4K TV of 2022. HDMI 2 has eARC/ARC, for connecting to the soundbar, and there’s VRR support with NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync.
Elsewhere, the TV comes with a terrestrial antenna input and satellite tuner, and there’s also an optical digital audio output, plus Ethernet to support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The set comes with the latest LG Magic remote, which has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Disney+, Rakuten TV and Prime Video.
At the top of the set’s list of features is the Game Optimizer, a special user interface that groups all game information together and provides access to certain game genre presets, including Standard, FPS, and RTS. There is also ALLM Game mode, HGIG *HDR Gaming Interest Group) support.
The latency is low at 13ms in 1080/60 games, but a Boost mode in the Game Optimizer can be used to reduce 1080/60 lag to 9.6ms. It is then much lower at the higher 120 fps supported frame rate.
There are no major changes to LG’s webOS smart platform, which offers extensive streaming TV support, including Now, Netflix, Sky Store, Prime Video and the usual complement of catch-up services.
Performance
When we say the G2 represents the pinnacle of LG’s current OLED display technology, you should automatically know what to expect: perfect blacks, artful near-black details and fantastic colors. Give the G2 a 4K source and you can expect it to be presented perfectly.
Where LG’s OLED panels may fall a bit short, even when compared to other OLED brands, is brightness, both in average terms and HDR peaks. The G2 corrects that thanks to the new configuration of the Evo class.
The display uses OLED.EX glass with Brightness Boosting technology. The latter is actually a set of algorithms, powered by the Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor. It is able to analyze images and prioritize the brightest parts of a frame. In the G2, this is aided by a physical heat sink that allows the panel to be driven slightly brighter. In addition, HDR support is good, for Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10 and HLG, but there is no HDR10+, as used by Prime Video.
We had the opportunity to do a side-by-side comparison with an LG C2 display (which is one rung lower on the performance ladder) and found that while the G2 certainly has the edge, the real differences are subtle and huge. influenced by your favorite display preset and content. Look at The Revenant, with its bare color palette and dark tone, and there’s not much in between.
Brighter, airier fare, however, shows the G2 in its best light. An overview of Sully, with bright white uniforms and blue skies, confirms just how much more dazzling the G2 has.
The audio quality is fine, aided by AI Sound Pro processing, but the set doesn’t offer the same level of speaker refinement as found on flagship OLED displays from Sony, Philips and Panasonic. The total power output is rated at 60W and is also Dolby Atmos compatible, so soundbar upgrades can be done.
In general – should you buy it?
The G2 is a hugely impressive OLED TV, with fantastic near-dark details and beautiful colors. It’s also quite a design piece. And therein lies the pinch. For many buyers, it will be just a little too esoteric for its own good, and that price tag is on the rich side.
However, the spec is undeniably a winner for gamers and streaming show addicts alike.
How we tested the LG G2
The G2 was viewed with a variety of content to assess performance with movies, static images and test patterns in both light and dark viewing conditions. An optional stand was used to hold it upright (rather than hanging on a wall), and an LG C2 was used for comparison purposes.
You can read more about how we test gaming TVs at GameMe+ in our dedicated article, or to learn more about our approach to all gaming technology, check out our full GameMe Hardware Policy.
The LG G2 is one of the best pieces of PS5 and Xbox Series X companion tech – why not browse other such gear in the form of our guides to the best PS5 SSDs, best PS5 headsetsand best Xbox Series X headsets to complete your setup.
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