As expected, January saw most big TV companies unveil their new models for the year ahead, with the Samsung S95D and LG G4 two of the most exciting. So which should you start saving for?
The S95D features a third-generation QD-OLED screen panel which is Samsung's brightest yet. It also has a higher refresh rate than last year's S95C, and a proprietary picture quality engine.
But LG has reasons to feel confident. With a new processor, MLA tech and new features, the G4 has put some real distance between it and the step-down C4.
We've now reviewed the S95D, and had two hands-on sessions with the G4. Let's see how this battle is shaping up.
- LG G4 vs C4: what's the difference?
- What else is in store? What to expect from Samsung in 2024
- And what to expect from LG in 2024
LG G4 vs Samsung S95D: price
We have some pricing – but not all – on both models. We only have US prices for the LG G4, which is more expensive than 2023's G3. At most sizes, this excess amounts to $99 – not a massive amount, but unwelcome all the same. The only size that's the same price as its predecessor is the rather niche 83 inches.
The first prices that emerged for the S95D hinted at a bigger price rise over the S95C, though that hasn't been borne out. In the UK, the 65-inch S95D costs the same £3599 as its S95C predecessor.
We'll update the table below when we have full pricing for both models.
| Size | LG G3 | Samsung S95C | LG G4 | Samsung S95D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 inches | £2600 / $2500 / AU$4195 | £2699 / $2499 / AU$3999 | £TBC / $2599 / AU$TBC | £TBC / $TBC / AU$TBC |
| 65 inches | £3500 / $3300 / AU$5295 | £3599 / $3299 / AU$4999 | £TBC / $3399 / AU$TBC | £3599 / $TBC / AU$TBC |
| 77 inches | £5000 / $4500 / AU$8395 | £5099 / $4499 / AU$7999 | £TBC / $4599 / AU$TBC | £TBC / $TBC / AU$TBC |
| 83 inches | £7500 / $6500 / AU$10,995 | N/A | £TBC / $6499 / AU$TBC | £TBC / $TBC / AU$TBC |
As you can see, the Samsung S95C was slightly more expensive in the UK, but the LG was pricier in Australia. In the US, prices were even.
These prices have fallen significantly since launch – and are likely to plummet further now the new models are on the way. Check out the latest prices below.
LG G4 vs Samsung S95D: design
The G4 might not look like much of a change from the G3, but there is one rather large improvement: a stand. The G3 was designed purely for wall-mounting, but LG now bundles a pedestal stand with the 55- and 65-inch versions of G4. The larger models come with the Zero Gap Wall Mount – a bracket designed to sit the TV flush against your wall. We can see the stand giving the smaller models much more mainstream appeal.
Other than that, it's business as usual on the design front. The G4 has a picture frame-like design with a step around the edges. Its thickness is between 2.4cm and 2.8cm, depending on which size you buy.
The S95D has the ultra-slim bezel we would expect from Samsung. Last year's S95C had a uniform thickness of 1.1cm, making it nice and slim without feeling flimsy. It also made it perfect for wall-mounting without an unsightly gap between it and the wall.
This year's model has cut that down to an even 1cm. In our review, we described it as "one of the slimmest, most lip-lickingly wall-hangable TVs there has ever been. A slinky monolith that has no right to be capable of delivering the powerhouse pictures we’re going to be describing later."
Like its predecessor, the S95D features the One Connect Box – a separate box that houses all the connections like power and HDMI. This then runs with a single thin cable to the TV itself, giving the set a pleasingly minimalist look.
The S95D also ships with a stand, though a TV this slim really belongs on the wall – otherwise it feels a bit fragile.
LG G4 vs Samsung S95D: features
Both of these TVs are premium models, and are suitably feature-packed.
For the first time, the 83-inch version of the G4 boasts the second-gen MLA OLED panel (last year's 83-inch G3 had a standard OLED panel lacking MLA). This can go 50 per cent brighter than the previous version, which makes the G4 stunningly bright. We've been hands-on with the G4, and while we haven't placed it side by side with the G3 to verify LG's claims, it does look very bright.
We should see this brightness in full effect using the G4's Peak Highlighter feature. This ups the brightness of small highlights (up to 3 per cent of the screen) by up to 150 per cent of the brightness of which LG's standard OLED screens are capable.
Inside, the Alpha 11 AI Processor enables Peak Highlighter, as well as AI Director Processing, which tweaks the picture to best match the director's intended colour tone, and Object Enhancing by Visual Perception, which enhances each pixel. AI Sound Pro, meanwhile, ups the virtual surround sound to 11.1.2 channels.
The refresh rate has been increased to 144Hz (up from 120Hz on the G3) – PC gamers will see the benefit, but consoles max out at 4K 120Hz, which is still supported. ALLM and VRR are also available for gamers, while there are four HDMI 2.1 ports to take a soundbar (via eARC) and up to three consoles/gaming PCs at once.
The webOS 24 operating system has some neat updates. Recommendations come back to the home page, while Quick Cards are now smaller and dynamic. It supports up to 10 user profiles, with bespoke recommendations for each, and soon it'll be able to recognise who's talking and tailor its responses to them. You also get free updates for at least five years.
The S95D has a proprietary picture quality engine and the same 144Hz refresh rate as the G4. It has the same VRR, ALLM and HGiG gaming features, and four HDMI 2.1 ports alongside the HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ formats of HDR. It also has an HDR game mode that reduces input lag to just 9.8ms.
It upscales sub-4K content better thanks to its new processor, while the Real Depth Enhancer manipulates image to create a more three-dimensional and lifelike look. A new OLED HDR Pro system delivers more accurate colour mapping with a little help from the experts at Pantone, and the latest version of Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound+ system now works with Dolby Atmos sound mixes too.
It's the third generation of TV with Samsung's QD-OLED tech. This shines a blue organic light through red and green Quantum Dot layers to produce ‘pure’ RGB colour reproduction without the additional brightness-boosting white element used by standard WRGB OLED (often referred to as ‘WOLED’) screens. And it's substantially brighter than the (already very bright) S95C.
New for 2024 is Samsung's 'OLED Glare Free' tech. It uses a low-reflection coating which claims to "preserve colour accuracy and reduces reflections while maintaining image sharpness to ensure an immersive viewing experience, even in daylight". Ideal for watching sports like the Olympics in the middle of the day in the height of summer. And it neutralises reflections without the dreaded rainbow effect that we've seen from lesser systems.
Samsung's Tizen OS has been given a refresh, and now has a profile system so everyone in the household can manage their own viewing. A new For You content accumulator recommends content based on your viewing habits from all available sources.
LG G4 vs Samsung S95D: picture
We've gone hands-on with the G4 not once but twice, so while we still need to put it through its paces in a properly controlled review setting, we have a pretty good idea what to expect.
The 83-inch model blew us away. As the first TV at this gargantuan size with MLA tech, it really is a sight to behold. "Utterly glorious" was the initial impression of our TV & AV Editor, Tom Parsons, who saw the set at CES 2024. Colours are bright, rich and vibrant, while Apple TV+'s Foundation packs plenty of punch without sacrificing authentic-looking skin tones. It's a fine balance to strike, and one the G4 managed effortlessly.
It looks significantly brighter than the C4, which was also on show during our demo. During our second demo, we saw it next to last year's G3, and it did look noticeably brighter, particularly when it came to small highlights. The image also has an extra degree of solidity, and it doesn't suffer from the faded highlights of the G3. The motion processing seems a bit smoother, too.
The first thing that strikes you about the S95D is just how bright it is. Not 'for an OLED' bright, but in terms of any TV available today, LCDs included. Aggressively mastered movies really show off what it can do: witness Pan, or Mad Max: Fury Road to see real intensity in the bright highlights and richly saturated colours. Of course, its blacks are as inky as we would expect from an OLED TV.
The upscaling is on point, with the eagle-eyed AI spotting the difference between natural grain and mastering noise in HD sources of all provenances. Which makes for a wonderfully cinematic feel that's clean without being overly sanitised.
When ultra-bright bright HDR content fills the screen (and not just parts of it), it isn't quite as bright as a rival LCD TV, however. There's a touch of blooming around bright objects caused by the anti-reflection filter, occasional jumps in the brightness levels in Standard mode, and some loss of shadow detail in dark areas. But these faults are very minor considering everything the S95D gets right.
The contrast is better than any TV we've ever tested, in both Movie mode and the punchier Standard mode. Samsung has always produced bright TVs, but whereas previous models have looked a bit sherbert-y and artificial, the S95D is more organic and natural. Just avoid the over-eager Dynamic preset.
A lot of this is thanks to the anti-glare filter, which really allows you to connect with the image in a bright room. It's a testament to Samsung's engineers focussing on how people actually watch TV, and not how they would like them to.
On a pure picture level, there's less clipping than with the S95C, making for a more consistently detailed, three-dimensional performance. And thanks to the fine mapping of colour tones across a wider colour volume, the picture looks sharper and crisper than its predecessor's.
LG G4 vs Samsung S95D: sound
Our G4 demoes didn't include any sound, unfortunately, so we're yet to experience its audio. The G3 sounds pretty poor for such a premium TV. The Sony A95L and Panasonic MZ2000 fare much better in this area. Of course most people will partner a TV of this calibre with a soundbar. But you should expect better sound than the G3 offers, especially if you're paying this kind of money.
Are the Samsung S95D's sonics up to the same high standard as its pictures? Sadly not.
Samsung’s object-tracking sound system creates a soundstage that extends beyond the confines of the screen, and is able to place sounds very accurately. The audio is clean, and details distinct. But it's not nearly forthright enough – it seems to happen in front of you, instead of enveloping you in the action. And even at maximum volume, it's not nearly loud enough, with a limited dynamic range and underwhelming bass. At least there's no crackle and distortion.
LG G4 vs Samsung S95D: early verdict
With prices again expected to be broadly the same, the G4 and S95D will be fighting it out for a slice of the premium OLED TV market in 2024. The G4 certainly looks impressive, especially at the 83-inch size (which is admittedly impractical for most people). The addition of a stand at the smaller sizes, and the new processor and extra features help put some distance between it and the C4, offering more bang for buck.
But the S95D is a formidable opponent. Its brightness and contrast are off the chart, and bar a couple of irritating niggles, it's one of the most impressive TVs we've tested in recent years. Game on.
MORE:
Read our Samsung S95D review
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