1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best small
4. Best for brightness
5. Best 8K
6. How to choose
7. How we test
It almost goes without saying, but LG makes some of the best 4K OLED TVs around. Indeed, it pioneered OLED panel technology and sells its OLED panels to rival manufacturers. In short, there's no greater authority in OLED tech than LG.
While other big players such as Sony and Philips have brilliant OLED TVs in their own right, there are still plenty of reasons to go with LG when it comes to choosing a new television. For starters, neither Sony or Philips are as good for gaming, with only Samsung rivalling LG in this department, but Samsung has only just started embracing OLED so it still has some catching up to do.
Although we've narrowed the wide selection of TVs down to LG, you still might not be sure which model to go for. So if you need help distinguishing your G3s from your C3s, then you've come to the right place. Every model below has been through What Hi-Fi's rigorous testing process, so you can be sure if we've recommended it you'll be getting one of the very best.
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The quick list
Best LG TV overall
It might not be the most recent model, but big discounts mean the 65-inch C2 still offers the best performance per pound.
Best small LG TV
The 42-inch C3 is very similar to the model it replaces, but at this size and price it’s still the best small OLED on the market today.
Best LG TV for brightness
With superb picture quality and a feature set that’s almost flawless, the G3 is a dazzling OLED TV.
Best 8K LG TV
The Z2 is a lovely TV that handles everything you throw at it with aplomb, but there’s still very little 8K content to watch.
Best LG TV overall
LG's C-series OLEDs aim to balance performance with price. The 2022 model, the C2, is a cracker of a TV, featuring the ‘Brightness Booster’ technology from 2021's high-end G1.
There is plenty of punch and significantly greater contrast and dark detail compared to 2021's C1. There is nothing artificial to the image – it’s elevated naturally, with no detriment to the colours or black depth.
Gaming features are top-drawer, too. Four HDMI 2.1 sockets support 4K/120 gaming, VRR and ALLM. There's also Dolby Vision Game mode for Xbox Series X/S gamers to take advantage of. Input lag is supremely low, measuring under 10ms in our test, and sound is decent enough.
We've now tested the C2 at 42-inch, 65-inch and 77-inch sizes, and each version has been Award-winningly exceptional – even the 42-inch version which, along with the 48-inch model, goes a little less bright than the larger variants.
Those with bigger budgets should consider the G3 (below), but if you want the best picture at the best possible price, the C2 is still our pound-for-pound champion. It's even better value than its successor, the C3, which only adds marginal gains and costs quite a bit more. Proof that pricier doesn't necessarily mean better.
Read the full LG OLED42C2 review
Read the full LG OLED65C2 review
Read the full LG OLED77C2 review
Best small LG TV
While it probably wouldn’t be fair to say that LG has neglected its C series models this year, it does seem as if the attention lavished on the G3 – the world’s first MLA OLED TV – has left the C3 in the shadows somewhat, with little to no hardware upgrades.
It’s an approach that has already cost the 65-inch C3 quite dearly. Last year’s C2 was a multi Award-winner, but the lack of significant upgrades combined with a higher price and much-improved competition has pegged this year’s model back to a four-star rating.
You might assume that the same fate faces its 42-inch sibling. However, LG’s 42-inch OLEDs have always been a somewhat different proposition to their larger siblings, and while the 42-inch C3 is certainly very similar to its predecessor, its price is practically the same as before and, even more crucially, it doesn’t have significant new rivals to worry about.
Like the 65-inch version, the 42-inch C3 is very similar to the TV it replaces. That is, of course, disappointing, and we’d love to see some extra development in the small OLED TV segment which, as we’ve mentioned, is somewhat restricted in terms of brightness compared with larger models.
But, unlike the large C3, this small model isn’t priced much higher than its predecessor was at launch and it doesn’t have a barrage of new and enhanced rivals to face down. In that landscape, being just marginally better than before is good enough for the OLED42C3 to be the best 42-inch TV we’ve tested – but you should still buy a discounted C2 while it’s still available.
Read our full LG C3 (OLED42C3) review
Best LG TV for brightness
The G3 is the first OLED TV with Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology, which increases brightness (long considered by some to be a weakness of OLED) to levels previously only achievable by backlit TVs.
It looks nigh-on identical to the G2 it replaces, but that's no bad thing. Apart from the fact it doesn't come with a stand, only a wall mount. If you want to stand it up, you'll have to pay extra.
The picture really delivers, with the MLA tech producing noticeably brighter colours (though to get its full impact, you'll need the Vivid mode, which is too garish for us). Overall, the image is more vibrant and alive than most OLEDs, even if the sound is a bit underwhelming compared to its predecessor (as ever, we recommend adding a soundbar).
But a flawless feature set and stunning picture make this the best LG TV around right now.
Want a cheaper LG alternative but without the heatsink and MLA tech? The C3 is the one to go for.
Read the full LG OLED65G3 review
Best 8K LG TV
With a minimalist design, the LG OLED77Z2 looks similar to the brand's flagship 4K TV, the G3. Unlike the G3, which comes with no stand at all, the Z2 comes with feet for tabletop placement but be warned, they are ugly and flimsy and frankly have no right to be tasked with supporting such an expensive TV.
The Z2 boasts four HDMI 2.1 sockets capable of supporting 8K/60Hz signals, should 8K sources materialise at some point in the future. In the meantime, those connections can handle 4K/120Hz signals from the Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and high-end gaming PCs, and gamers will also enjoy support for VRR and ALLM. What's more, the Z2 has an excellent HGiG mode that gives you more accurate HDR performance from many games and a Dolby Vision game mode – something LG is currently alone in providing.
This is an 8K TV with a 7680 x 4320 resolution. That’s over 33 million pixels, and because this is an OLED TV, every one of those pixels can be lit and coloured independently of the rest. Colours are well judged, with an overall balance of naturalism and vibrancy. There’s a consistent subtlety of shading that ensures skin tones, in particular, are very convincing. Images are crisply defined without looking exaggerated.
If you absolutely must have an LG OLED and 8K, then the Z2 is the TV for you. But while the Z2 is an exceptional performer, most buyers will be best served by a (significantly cheaper) G3.
Read the full LG OLED77Z2 review
How to choose the best LG TV for you
All of the TVs recommended above are LG's own. All are 4K OLEDs that support HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG (but not HDR10+), and all have HDMI 2.1 sockets that support eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel). So how do you choose the one best-suited to your needs?
Bigger is better but size isn't everything. If you're going for a 65-inch or 75-inch model, make sure you have room to sit far enough back to enjoy the full effect.
Love gaming? You'll want to make sure you buy a TV with next-gen gaming features such as VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode).
LG TVs use LG's own colourful 'webOS' operating system. On the surface it looks good and is pretty simple to get to grips with, but if you've been reared on Android TV or Samsung's Tizen system, the menus can take a bit of getting used to.
And finally, with new models from the LG 2023 TV line-up in stores now, it's a great time buy. Though the much-hyped C3 hasn't made our list of best LG TVs, as it only earned four stars in our review. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, but the competition has nipped ahead – for more info, check out our review.
How we test TVs
Here at What Hi-Fi? we review hundreds of products every year – and that includes loads of TVs. So how do we come to our review verdicts? And why can you trust them?
We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Bath and Reading, where our team of expert reviewers do all of our testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency.
All products are tested in comparison with rival products in the same price category, and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference.
The What Hi-Fi? team has more than 100 years experience of reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics.
From all of our reviews, we choose the best products to feature in our Best Buys. That's why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended below, or on any other Best Buy page, you can be assured you're getting a What Hi-Fi? approved product.
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