LG's amazing new C4 OLED TV is already on sale at Walmart (2024)

FAQs

What are the disadvantages of LG OLED? ›

One of the few downsides of using an OLED TV is the potential for burn in. OLED burn in occurs when a group of diodes is left on and static for an extended time period. It's called "image retention", and the side effect is that an outline of those pixels remains even when the TV is turned off.

The G4 is a step up from the C4. It should be significantly brighter, thanks to its combination of heatsink and MLA tech, and it has a better processor, too. But of course, it's more expensive.

TVs that we can recommend buying secondhand include the 2021 LG C1 and G1 OLED models . These were the first TVs to really advance OLED tech (more on that below) and you're likely to find larger sizes for less. Samsung's R series models are also worth checking out.

In looking at standard 4K LED TVs vs 4K OLED TVs, both offer great viewing experiences and improvements over 1080p. But LG OLED technology will truly transform your home entertainment experience with superior blacks, cinematic colors and High Dynamic Range with Dolby Vision support.

Most cases of burn-in in televisions is a result of static images or on-screen elements displaying on the screen uninterrupted for many hours or days at a time – with brightness typically at peak levels. So, it is possible to create image retention in almost any display if one really tries hard enough.

Myth 2: the lifespan of OLED TVs is very limited

The lifespan of an OLED panel is limited, according to online sources. But this doesn't just apply to OLED, but any type of LED including the backlight of LED-LCD TVs. Since 10 years ago, the lifespan of OLED has been tripled and is estimated to be 100,000 hours now.

The LG A1 OLED and the LG C1 OLED deliver very similar picture quality but differ in the extra features available. The C1 is a better gaming TV, with four HDMI 2.1 ports, support for variable refresh rate technology (VRR), and a 120Hz refresh rate.

For starters, as was the case in 2022, the G-series has a heatsink that the C-series does not. This allows the set to be pushed harder (i.e. brighter) without any extra stress being applied to the light-emitting OLEDs. More excitingly, the G3 also gets a panel technology called Micro Lens Array (or MLA for short).

For example, the LG C2 is slightly brighter than the LG B1, especially in HDR content In summary, the LG C Series generally has more advanced features and better performance than the LG B Series, but it is also typically more expensive.

All OLED panels use organic material and will eventually suffer burn or pixel failure. The debate is on the number of hours before this happens. Some manufacturers claim 30,000 hours or roughly 8 to 10 years with normal viewing. Poorer grade panels have suffered age related burn in in as few as 5,000 hours.

Do OLED TVs get worse over time? ›

The organic material in OLED TVs (OLED stands for “Organic Light Emitting Diode”) potentially wears out over time. It is for this reason in part that Samsung decided to stop using OLED technology in its TVs in 2012 and proceeded to develop the new QLED technology.

When there are 4K models selling for under $500, why spend $1,000 or more on an OLED set? There is definitely a case to be made for spending less for quality that is comparable, if not exactly the same. But if you want the best color, contrast and overall quality you can get from a TV today, OLED is the way to go.

QLEDs can usually produce a much brighter picture than an OLED, which is important if you're watching in a sunny room. OLEDs have closed the brightness gap in recent years, but in general, if you need a very bright picture, you've always wanted a QLED.

In our side-by-side comparison reviews, OLED beats QLED every time. None of the QLED TVs we've tested, including the Samsung QN90B, the TCL QM8 or the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED, look as good as any of the OLED TVs we've tested, such as the LG C3, G3 or Samsung S95C. In every comparison we've done, the OLED TV won.

"To avoid the possibility of burn-in, consumers should avoid leaving static images on an OLED screen for long periods of time. For example, leaving a video game paused onscreen for several hours or days," a Sony spokesperson said.

Burn-in has long been the ultimate boogeyman for OLED TV owners. Sometimes known as image retention, OLED burn-in can occur if you leave a static image on your display for hours at a time, and OLED is the television tech that's most susceptible to this problem.

OLED TVs are the best-looking TVs you can buy, delivering extremely high image contrast, rich colors, smooth motion, and much better viewing angles than LCD TVs offer. They carry a higher price, but they're a worthwhile upgrade for anyone who is truly passionate about movies or gaming.