Need to choose between Samsung and LG TVs? If you're having trouble determining which brand of TV is right for you, we've got the experience to help you make the right decision based on your needs, budget, and most importantly, your taste. Every year, a new series of smart TVs is launched on the market. With each new version, you can expect better pictures, bigger panels, and revised processors that would make a great new TV for your home. But when it comes to LG vs Samsung TVs (two of the best TV manufacturers), which one to choose? We all know that most TVs look the same at first glance. Of course, some are likely to be fatter or skinnier than others. Also, LG and Samsung have experimented with new form factors over the years for their high-end computers. However, at the end of the day you buy a rectangle and sometimes it can be hard to figure out what makes it different or better than another. What sets Samsung and LG apart is their size: They're among the biggest TV sellers in the world, making them a likely bet for anyone shopping for a new screen for their home. So if you want a TV from one of the biggest TV brands, this guide to Samsung vs LG TVs should help you make an informed decision about which one is right for you.
Samsung vs LG TV: preview
Samsung and LG are two large-scale manufacturers that sell smart TVs at high and low prices, but with slightly different panel technologies for their high-end sets. Both are South Korean manufacturers that sell TVs worldwide, with a large presence in the UK and US, unlike Panasonic or Philips, which are not licensed in North America, with a large install base and wide range. of TVs released each year. It's hard to compare prices given the amount of gear Samsung and LG release each year, ranging from 32-inch LED and cheap 4K TVs to super-sized 8K sets that cost you thousands. dollars/pounds. No matter what size, shape, resolution, or budget you're looking for, it's got you covered. Samsung and LG are also vying for territory in the highly competitive smartphone market: Both make Android phones, though we won't be comparing their phones in this particular guide.
LG's WebOS smart TV platform (Image credit: LG)
Smart TV: Tizen vs. webOS
Samsung and LG use their own proprietary smart TV platforms, and each has its own flavor.
LG has been a leader with webOS, a clean, minimalist smart TV interface, since 2014. It uses a horizontal menu bar for commonly used apps, streaming services, and inputs, with a customizable location so you can choose where your favorite apps are on the dashboard. The latest webOS 4.5 software also brings secondary menus that appear when you hover over an app icon.
Samsung's Tizen platform doesn't differ significantly in design (you could say it was influenced by the former), though it doesn't have as impressive a search algorithm as LG's ThinQ aI software.. But,
What about voice assistants? LG's OLED and Super UHD packages come with Google Assistant built-in and limited compatibility with Alexa-controlled devices. Samsung uses its own (somewhat worse) Bixby Assistant, but again only for mid-range or premium devices, and with the option to use Google Assistant or Alexa through third-party devices.
(Image credit: Samsung)
QLED or OLED?
Today's high-end TV market is divided into two panel technologies: OLED and QLED (essentially an LED-LCD screen with quantum dots).
OLED, which stands for "organic light-emitting diode," it's a kind of
television panel that can emit its own light, instead of passing it. This allows for brilliantly thin TV screens and the ability to control the brightness of individual pixels. OLEDs are known for their vivid colors, deep black levels, and overall low brightness. Often
We are talking about "burned" images on OLED screens, but this is largely anecdotal and you will probably need to work very hard on set for this to be an issue. All OLED panels are made by LG Display, so even if you have a Sony OLED sitting around your house, you have LG to thank.
QLED, on the other hand, is a proprietary technology developed by Samsung. QLED uses a quantum dot filter to enhance color and contrast, and is content with a series of dimmer areas to vary the brightness across the screen, rather than being able to do so with each pixel individually. QLED TVs are also much brighter than OLEDs (thousands of nits vs. hundreds),
but they may have difficulty displaying bright and dark images as effectively at the same time.
We touch on this debate in more detail in our QLED vs OLED guide,
although for now it will suffice to say that OLED is generally suited to high-quality video formats in dark viewing environmentsWhile Samsung falls behind on contrast (comparatively), it makes up for it with a bright and punchy screen. Both technologies are also constantly improving. While some complain about OLED's low output compared to QLEDs,
LG's new light sensor feature is set to calibrate the brightness and picture settings based on the level of ambient light in the room. Samsung upped its game in 2019 with its new Ultra Viewing Angle technology.
(Image credit: Dolby)
Dolby Vision vs HDR 10+
The two support a slightly different format for high dynamic range (HDR),
with LG integrating Dolby Vision into its premium OLED and Super UHD lineupWhile
Samsung prefers HDR10+ for its premium TVs.
Both formats use what's called dynamic metadata to tailor the TV output to the content being displayed, so scenes from dark underground caverns or well-lit living rooms vary in brightness, contrast, and image processing levels accordingly. .
Dolby Vision is really the more advanced format, with 12-bit color gamut instead of 10-bit HDR10+, and it's also more common. (While there are a number of HDR10+ shows on Amazon Prime, you won't find them on Netflix, Chromecast Ultra, or Apple TV 4K.) Of course,
the preferred HDR format is really only an issue at the higher end of the price range, but big spenders should think carefully about which services are likely to want HDR content. It's also worth mentioning that Panasonic isn't faithful to one HDR format or the other, and even the affordable Panasonic GX800 LED TV supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
Samsung vs LG TV: Which one to choose?
It's certainly a tough time for both TV makers.
LG's new OLED production line suffered delays in early 2020, while Samsung is still reeling from a slump in smartphone sales. and demand for televisions last year.
Samsung remains the market leader and could cement that position with plans for its own hybrid QD-OLED (Quantum Dot-OLED) to support LG's OLED technology., though shaky finances have delayed those plans for now. . On the other hand, LG's introduction of 48-inch panel sizes for OLED TVs could wipe out Samsung's share of mid-range TVs when they launch this year.
The bottom line here is that no matter how financially healthy either company is, both are focusing on their current display technologies and aren't going to suddenly stop caring. charge the new televisions that are being brought to market. So the set you choose should match what you want in your living room.
If you want a bright and dazzling display to light up your home, or affordable options like the RU7470 or RU8000, Samsung is your best option. You can also try the LG B9 OLED TV though, which is a solid buy.
If you really want the most impressive picture quality, whatever the price, nothing beats panels
LG OLED for color and contrast right now (see: LG CX OLED TV). But
Samsung Q95T 4K QLED TV certainly comes close and is significantly cheaper than previous Samsung flagship TVs.
However, if you're happy with your current TV, but want to upgrade in a few years, that could be a whole different story. Today's best Samsung vs LG TV deals