LG’s G4 OLED TV is my pick for best picture quality, and it’s $800 off for the holiday season

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The LG G4 OLED is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $2,597.
• LG has come a long way with its OLED picture quality, and this model is truly exceptional.
• The regular price might be a turn-off since you can buy great TVs for half the price. But $800 off really sweetens the deal. 

I’m not usually a fan of LG TVs, but I’ve tested the LG G4 OLED TV this year, and I have to admit that it has the most impressive picture quality of any TV I’ve ever bought, used, or tested. 

Also: Neo QLED vs OLED: Which TV technology is right for you?

Though Cyber Monday is over, you can still find the 65-inch LG G4 on sale for over $800 off its retail price of $3,399 at both Amazon and Best Buy as retailers amp up their holiday savings opportunities. At $2,597, it’s still an expensive TV (the best price we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday was $2,297). For that price, you could get two 65-inch Sony X90L TVs — my pick for the best TV for the money. 

But if picture quality is your No. 1 priority and you have the budget, there’s no TV on the planet with a better picture than the LG G4. And the opportunity to get it for 24% off during holiday sales is super timely since most people ramp up their content consumption over the winter months.

Also: The Sony A80L OLED TV’s AI-powered upscaling blew me away, and it’s currently under $2,000

What makes the LG G4 OLED picture so good? Several things. 

First of all, there are the things that make all OLED screens great — and it’s especially true for LG OLEDs because they are one of the leading innovators of the technology. We’re talking about true blacks (as opposed to washed-out dark grays from LCD TVs), deep contrast, more vibrant colors, and amazing dynamic range in shots that have both dark and light elements. The LG G4 has all of those qualities — and at the highest levels I’ve seen on any TV — because it is LG’s flagship OLED TV for 2024. 

So what’s new in this year’s LG G4? The biggest leap forward is in picture processing and that’s made possible by the new α11 AI Processor 4K. I’ve always considered Sony the king of picture processing, and it was a long way back to LG and Samsung essentially tied for second place, with budget TV makers TCL and Hisense lagging the crowd. However, with the 2024 α11 AI Processor, LG is now pushing Sony for the top spot in picture processing — and that’s saying a lot. 

Also: The best TVs of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

Where this really matters is when it comes to out-of-the-box picture settings, upscaling older and lower-quality 720p and 1080p content, and the TV automatically adjusting the picture to make today’s HDR content look amazing. In all of those areas, the LG G4 now rivals Sony. 

And because LG has always arguably made the highest-quality OLED TV panels, this upgrade in picture processing lifts the LG G4 to the top of the class in picture quality. For movies, shows, gaming, and virtually any other content, the LG G4 brings them to life in vibrant color, smooth motion, and incredible contrast — more than any other TV you can buy right now. 

I tried it with some of my favorite content that has challenging visuals, including Dune, Avengers: End Game, and several other cutting-edge cinematic marvels. All of the content looked better than I’ve ever seen on any TVs I’ve used, bought, or tested — and that includes some of the best TVs from Sony, Samsung, LG, TCL, and Hisense over the past few years. 

Also: The Sony TV I recommend to most people is still on sale

So what’s the catch? 

There are a few drawbacks to note about the LG G4. First, of course, is the premium price. As I’ve already mentioned, you could buy two 65-inch Sony X90L TVs for the price of one 65-inch LG G4. And I think most people would be extremely happy with the mid-range Sony X90L. But you’re not most people if you’re considering the LG G4. 

The other drawbacks are the remote and LG’s built-in webOS software. Both are mediocre at best. I consider LG’s remote to be the worst of any of the big five TV makers. It’s large, chunky, and has a confusing number of buttons. A TV this good and with such a premium design that is svelte and beautiful deserves a better-designed remote. 

LG’s built-in webOS software is nearly as disappointing as the remote control. It works fine, but it’s not very intuitive, and it is nowhere close to being as well-thought-out as the TV hardware. The icons for content are small and sometimes hard to select, the menu system is a bit convoluted, and there are built-in ads running in the software, which makes it feel unnecessary for a TV this expensive. 

That said, in testing the 83-inch LG G4 in ZDNET’s TV lab, I simply never used the remote or the built-in software. I attached an Apple TV 4K and used that remote and its interface to access all of the streaming services and content that I wanted. The combination of the LG G4 and Apple TV was glorious. So, if you buy an LG G4, I’d recommend adding a high-end streaming box like the Apple TV 4K, Google TV Streamer (4K), Amazon Fire TV Cube, or Nvidia Shield. 

The built-in sound in the LG G4 is fine but not great — like virtually every other high-end or budget TV. So if you’re buying a TV this expensive, I’m going to assume you’re going to add a soundbar. At the very least, I’d recommend getting the Hisense AX5125H 5.1.2-channel soundbar — my pick for best budget soundbar at $299 after Cyber Monday. And if you really want to kick into high gear, then I’d recommend the Sony Bravia Theater Quad, which automatically calibrates itself to your room. Or, even better, the Lovesac Sactional + Stealthech gives you surround sound built into your couch and makes you truly feel the cinematic experience much more like a real theater. 

Lastly, if you’d prefer a high-quality OLED TV with a great remote and great software built-in so that you don’t have to run a separate streaming box, then I’d recommend the Sony A95L OLED TV, which runs Google TV and has a very premium remote. And if your TV is going to be in a very bright room with lots of windows or lights, then I’d recommend the Samsung S95D, which nearly matches the LG G4 in picture quality but comes with an incredible glare-free screen that looks amazing in any room. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

While Sony and Samsung offer OLED TVs with similar price points, the flagship LG G4 OLED is unmatched in picture quality, making it a solid recommendation at this sale price. Its powerful α11 AI Processor is on par with the vibrant colors, true blacks, and dynamic range displayed on its sleek panel. For a more immersive, theatre-like sound experience, consider adding a soundbar, as I mentioned above.

Take advantage of these holiday discounts at either Amazon or Best Buy, whether you’re gifting someone a smart TV with an exquisite picture or upgrading your home entertainment center.

How we test TVs

While testing and researching the TVs featured on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind:

• Price: Not all budgets are created equal. And if you’re working with a limited budget, that shouldn’t mean you have to settle for a sub-par TV. Each TV model on this list has been chosen across a variety of price points to help accommodate different needs.
• Screen size: The most important factor to consider, after price, when shopping for a new TV is whether or not it will fit into your space. Each best TV on this list was chosen because they are available in a wide variety of sizes to suit different rooms.
• Picture and audio quality: A new TV doesn’t mean much, even if it costs an arm and a leg, if it doesn’t provide a great picture and clear audio. Each TV on this list has been ensured to support various HDR codecs, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, as well as enhanced audio software like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, and object-tracking sound.

For a more detailed look, check out our extensive TV testing methodology.