LG's first 42-inch OLED TV has only just hit stores, but already there's a bit of a concern: some of the first sets are missing the latest and greatest OLED panel (known as WBE) and instead use an older, more conventional panel (WBC).
The discovery was first made by HDTVtest, and LG responded by confirming the snafu to Korean site KBench:
"LG explained that it is true that WBC and WBE are mixed in the 42-inch OLED TV Evo and that it is an unavoidable situation depending on LG Display’s panel supply situation," reads the report. "WBE panels will be applied sequentially after Q2."
The WBE panel, often now referred to as OLED.EX, is claimed by panel manufacturer LG Display (which, it's important to note, is distinct from TV manufacturer LG Electronics) to offer a claimed 30 per cent brightness over conventional displays, as well as a slimmer design, improved energy efficiency and fewer dead pixels.
That might make it sound as if you should definitely seek out an OLED42C2 with the WBE, but LG Electronics actually claims that "there is no visual difference between WBE and WBC panels and both will give the same consumer experience". That may be at least in part because, as LG has already stated, the 42-inch and 48-inch C2 OLEDs – despite being branded as 'OLED Evo' models – won't offer a major boost in brightness compared to non-Evo models. This is apparently because the high pixel density of the smaller OLED panels prevents them from benefiting from the 'Brightness Booster' tech that's in the larger C2 models.
Working out whether your 42-inch C2 has a WBC or WBE panel sounds as if it could be a tricky affair. On 2021's C1 it was possible to find the information by accessing a secret Service Menu using a third-party remote control, but LG tells us that the panel information is no longer displayed here.
LG's C2 OLEDs range from £1399 / $1399 (around AU$2450) for the 42-inch model to £5499 / $5499 (around AU$7400) for the 83-incher. The 42-inch model is on sale now in the UK, and is due to land in the US next month.
In the meantime, check out our LG G2 review.
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