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LG CX 48-inch OLED 4K TV review: An ideal TV for games and movies

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Is our choice

You can buy by combining the vivid colors and infinite contrast of OLED display technology with LG's fastest TV processor.

The 48-inch review unit we received was the smallest OLED TV on the market. The price started at US$1,500 and dropped to US$1,200 during the sales process. LG's CX can also be used in

,

, with

The model, the largest size, has a basic retail price of up to US$5,000 (sales of US$3,500).

and

Much more expensive than many

LED TVs of the same size immediately caused a difference in image quality due to the self-luminous pixels of the OLED panel. Since each pixel on the OLED display can be individually lit, in dark scenes, the black part of the screen will remain black, thus avoiding the fuzzy gray "halo" effect that appears on the backlit LED TV. Infinite contrast also helps to enhance

(HDR) formats, such as HDR10 and Dolby Vision, have become the new standard for streaming media programs and video games.

In addition to becoming our most acclaimed OLED TV,

It also has a reputation for impressive gaming monitors. LG's CX has an inherent refresh rate of 120Hz and HDMI 2.1 port, which can be used on PCs and next-generation game consoles, such as

with

To run at a faster frame rate. This can make gameplay smoother compared to older TV models that are limited to 60Hz. Of course, the size of the LG CX starts at 48 inches, which requires more space than a typical display.

After using for more than two months,

For daily viewing, I can confidently say that whether you are looking for a home TV, a home theater monitor or a personal gaming setting, this OLED TV is the best choice for most families. As long as you can afford the high price, LG CX OLED will impress you.

It is small and can be carried by one person, so you will definitely need your other hand to gently unpack the 33-pound screen and install it on the wide base of the stand. You can easily fix the base with the included screws, or you can choose a VESA wall mount.

The thin bezel of the razor outside the OLED screen gives LG CX a unique appearance, which is more similar to a stylish smart phone display than a boxed TV screen. When watching a letterbox movie, this helps the eye-catching black of the OLED screen to be more prominent, because the black bars will form a clear border, pressing towards the edge of the screen.

Despite being slim, the width of the base provides a solid foundation for LG CX, rather than some of LG's cheaper LED models, which use small plastic feet on the left and right sides of the screen. The rear of the LG CX dock also contains a cable management compartment, allowing you to more easily hide any wires that need to be connected to the TV.

Most of the LG CX's inputs can be accessed from the left side of the TV, a few inches behind the display. These include three HDMI ports and two USB ports. The remaining ports are located at the rear of the TV. A single button at the bottom of the screen provides a quick menu of power and on-screen controls.

LG has been manufacturing industry-leading OLED displays for many years, and LG CX has relatively perfect image quality. In addition to the first-class display,

With the latest hardware, it can maximize the quality of 4K devices and licensed technologies such as Dolby Vision and Nvidia G-Sync, thereby further improving image performance.

The TV has four HDMI 2.1 ports, which can transmit data at a higher rate compared to the commonly used HDMI 2.0 ports. This helps 4K streaming media devices display the highest image quality and improves the refresh rate of video game consoles and PCs.

Once LG's CX OLED display is set up, there is almost no need for calibration, although it may depend on your taste. Like most consumer TVs, the standard picture mode will be slightly brighter and have some post-processing capabilities, but the film mode will eliminate the effects of neutral pictures that are more matched to the source. LG's CX can detect when to display HDR content and switch to HDR-specific presets, although you can still find key standards, cinema and game modes.

Peak brightness

According to CNET data, it can reach up to 600 nits, while larger models can reach 700 nits. This brightness level is actually lower than some LED TVs, but the infinite black of OLED displays can provide greater contrast and a more satisfying experience when watching HDR video. 

I used the dark episode of "Long Night" from the movie "Lord of the Rings" and the infamous "Game of Thrones" to test the contrast and overall image quality of the LG CX with or without HDR. The results in both aspects are impressive-shadow scenes that are difficult to resolve on my old LG LED TV can be seen finely, but the bright lighting prevents dark caves and castles from appearing to be washed away. . Similarly, bright scenes will retain their fine details, and the extra part of the screen will not shine from the LED backlight.

It can also improve the performance of low-resolution signals, thereby eliminating inconsistent image quality from the jagged edges of the 1080i cable box and 480p Nintendo Wii at 60Hz.

When using a PlayStation or Xbox console, the TV will automatically switch to "Instant Game Response" mode, which disables most post-processing, maximizes brightness and reduces input lag, so your controls will be as responsive as possible. If you mainly use

In terms of gaming, you need to activate HGiG for the HDMI port of the console to get the most accurate HDR image quality.

I use fast-paced, high-visual intensity video games, such as "Tetris Effect" and "Dragon Ball FighterZ" to help me test the artifacts and ghosting problems of CX, but no matter I play at 60Hz on Wii and Switch At times, the screen still has amazing responsiveness. , Or 120 Hz on PC and PS5.

It has excellent responsiveness to TV and records input delays similar to many high-end gaming monitors at higher native resolutions.

Many of the latest supported features

For example, the variable refresh rate and the game speed of 120 frames per second are only suitable for HDMI 2.1 compatible TVs such as LG CX.

For example, the PS5's RGB color display requires too much bandwidth to be used in 4K resolution with HDMI 2.0 ports, so it defaults to a slightly degraded format, YUV422. Similarly, playback at 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate requires an HDMI 2.1 port, otherwise you will be limited to 1440p and 120Hz on HDMI 2.0.

Although a few TVs use a single HDMI 2.1 port, LG CX only has four, so you can have multiple high-bandwidth 4K devices.

You can also use variable refresh rates and licensed technology from leading computer graphics hardware companies Nvidia and AMD. Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync help the monitor's refresh rate match the video game playback speed. This helps alleviate issues such as screen tearing and smooth animation, and is especially useful for PC gamers.

I can use G-Sync and HDR to set up RTX 2060 PC with LG CX without any problems. Both my Xbox Series S and Xbox One X can take advantage of AMD FreeSync compatibility to activate the variable refresh rate.

LG's webOS smart TV service is one of the best in the industry, with easy access to streaming applications, screen sharing, and voice control. LG CX's a9 processor also makes the navigation interface fast and simple. Compared with cheap webOS TVs, it rarely shows jams between tasks. 

The main screen and option interface allow customization, so you can order the most commonly used menu items and applications, delete unnecessary menu items and applications, and then rename all inputs. WebOS also accessed my local TV list during the setup process, and compared to my set-top box cable box, it immediately provided faster navigation and schedule information.

WebOS support is the most popular

, Including Netflix, YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, Peacock, Apple TV Plus, and even music apps such as Spotify and Pandora. Applications that support 4K HDR and Dolby Vision downloaded from LG’s content repository should automatically use these formats. Having said that, some features do not always work properly, such as Dolby Atmos distributed through Disney Plus, because the company sometimes restricts support based on the platform used. 

Although you can use other mobile devices to cast

applicable to

Screen sharing. CX supports both Android projection and Apple's AirPlay 2, so most mobile devices can share screens with the TV. You can also use a USB drive to sideload saved movies, music and photos, or directly from

There are plenty of games and other entertainment apps to choose from in the LG Content Store, although it seems that few of these products are worth your time. CX can also access the LG channel, which is a set of more than 100 free streaming media "IP channels." These channels are dedicated to a certain topic and not run as a traditional radio or cable station, but this is a free service that only requires an Internet connection.

Both are compatible

Perform voice commands with Amazon's Alexa; Google Assistant will answer webOS voice searches. Due to the specific phrases required and the speed required to process the commands, I found LG's Alexa skills to be quite cumbersome. Unless I'm no longer within range of the TV, it's usually faster to grab the remote control.

To be honest, I underestimated the impact of the magic remote on my time.

, But the mouse-style controls feel like an important game changer, thanks in large part to the fast processing of the TV.

LG's Magic Remote Control brings motion-controlled cursor, scroll wheel and voice control to the desktop, and with the help of webOS, it can be easily integrated with most set-top boxes and video game consoles. LG CX configures the magic remote to work seamlessly with my phone

, PlayStation and Xbox consoles, no setup is required, although there is a general remote setup process for specific devices. 

Whether it is used in a specific application or in WebOS, remote voice control is easy to operate when prompted, and is usually accurate.

It is known that OLED display technology suffers from a problem called burn-in. When the static image is placed on the display for too long, so that the screen pixels begin to age at different rates, burn-in occurs. This creates a fuzzy "ghost" image that remains on the screen when viewed. With this problem in mind, OLED manufacturers have created TV functions to prevent burn-in.

It has three functions to solve burn-in and image retention. You can use "Clear Panel Noise" to reset the TV's pixels to their original colors. You can activate screen shift, which periodically adjusts pixels to prevent static images from getting stuck; or you can use logo brightness adjustment, which reduces the brightness of static logos, such as sports scoreboards or news updates.

Sites like this

If you are curious, and aging usually occurs, these tests show that most buyers do not have to worry about it.

After using the LG CX for more than two months, no matter whether it is used as a TV or a PC monitor, I have not found any problems with image retention or burn-in. I initially used the LG CX for games on the PC, but spent two full days as my main work monitor and it did not produce any adverse effects.

If you plan to buy a new TV and can afford more than $1,000,

It is a good choice. In addition to first-class displays, the fast processing and functions of OLED should be able to meet all your entertainment needs in the coming years.

It may be a bit small for some living rooms, so be sure to measure your usual viewing distance to choose the best size; LG also provides

Role model. Actually,

It's cheaper than the current 48-inch version, so you actually have to pay more to get a more compact size.

LG’s CX is also very suitable for gamers trying to make the most of next-generation hardware (such as PCs)

And Nvidia 3000 series graphics card. It is more expensive than most high-end gaming monitors, but OLED's perfect support for HDR colors and the improved refresh rate of HDMI 2.1 help LG CX surpass almost every monitor on the market, and its smart TV function brings more value.

It is one of the cheapest OLED TVs on the market and the smallest OLED TV, so it has considerable value for buyers who want high-end TVs under 50 inches. In fact, this is the only OLED TV currently available for this screen size.

However, if you can use a larger 55-inch TV, you can consider

, Its peak brightness is lower than CX, the bracket is smaller, but it is about 200 dollars cheaper.

For buyers with limited budgets, it is also a person worthy of competition. It is $300 cheaper than the 48-inch LG CX, but our review found that it has some problems

However, most of these issues have been corrected through firmware updates.

Based on the experience of our reviewers, its image accuracy may even be better than LG CX, but game fans and high-quality HDR formats may be disappointed by the complete lack of HDMI 2.1 ports.

It is also worth noting that LG will release its new products.

Later this year, but the price has not yet been announced. The 2021 model is the successor to CX and offers improved processing capabilities. However, in addition to processing, the specifications of C1 TV are almost the same as CX, so CX is still our highest recommendation. 

 It is an excellent TV that reflects the essence of OLED display technology, user interface and forward-looking hardware. Experience enhancements such as the precise picture quality and variable refresh rate of the OLED screen make LG CX one of the best TVs

You can buy a gaming monitor. This

This is a perfect starting point for people interested in buying their first OLED screen.

If you are looking for a larger screen, you can consider some other options, but you can't go wrong with LG CX of any size.

Unlimited contrast, four HDMI 2.1 ports, ideal gaming functions, Google Assistant and Alexa support, magic remote control, 120Hz native refresh rate

Peak brightness is lower than LED competitors, no HBO Max application

Disclosure: This article is written by

team. We focus on products and services that may be of interest to you. If you buy them, we will get a small portion of the revenue from the sales of our trading partners. We often get products from manufacturers for free for testing. This will not affect our decision on whether to choose a product or recommend a product. We operate independently of the advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us

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