2024 LG OLED TVs: everything you need to know

LG has been at the OLED game for over 10 years now. And in that time it has created some truly awesome gear.

I got the chance to check out the new models in person this week at the Australian launch event. There’s a lot to like in the new range! Here’s what you need to know.

The big news

In a hurry? Here’s the big stuff that’s new:

• New processors for better picture: Introduction of 35 upgraded OLED variants equipped with advanced AI processors and brighter displays.
• New models will be cheaper: 20% and 25% lower prices for the B4 55/65-inch models and QNED86 65-inch model compared to their 2023 launch prices.
• Bigger screens: Introduction of larger screen options, including a new 98-inch QNED and 97-inch OLED M.
• New products: Looks like a briefcase, but open it up and you get a battery-powered screen for ultimate portability (known as the LG StanbyME Go).

 

 

2024 LG M4 OLED TV range

We’ll start at the top of the range this time. The M Series is LG’s flagship model for 2024.

Coming to Australia in June, the M Series is designed for seriously luxurious homes.

It comes in three sizes: 77-inch, 83-inch and 97-inch. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like LG is going to offer the 65-inch M4 It features the same panel you get in the second-highest model – the G4 – but comes with a neat party trick.

The “brains” of the TV are housed in what LG calls the “Zero Connect Box” which sits separate from the screen and doesn’t need a cable to send an image. Instead, it’s a little wireless box, sized somewhere between a clock radio and a compact microwave that broadcasts input signals to the TV from across a room. That means you can mount your screen on any wall you want, and keep the messy cable stuff out of sight and out of mind. Simply rotate the top-mounted (yet flushed and stylish) built-in dish towards the screen and you’re in business. That dish is no slouch, either. LG tells me that the Zero Connect Box is able to send the contents of an 8GB USB stick to the screen every single second.

On the surface, however, there’s not a lot of change between last year’s LG M3 OLED and this year’s LG M4 OLED. The 2024 M4 model is packing the same panel as last year’s TV and the Zero Connect Box – while incredible to see in action – is pretty much unchanged too. What you do get, however, is the new webOS software, better range from the Zero Connect Box to the TV and the fancy new Alpha11 processor at the centre of the show.

The Alpha11 is capable of analysing your each frame of your content to make every section truly sing. Whereas the older M3 and even G3 models with the Alpha9 processor could dynamically adjust the picture in around 5000 different zones, the Alpha11 in the M4 can do it at a pixel level. That means you’re getting potentially over 8 million zones where the TV can make tiny little adjustments to improve your picture

What you get from that is incredible clarity of picture. The new processor changes microscopic details that – at scale – make a real difference to your viewing experience. It’s not quite a 3D-effect, but the TV gives you the impression of depth in an image as you watch it. I got a look at the new models this week, which featured demo video of a pyramid in a desert with a mountain range in the horizon. I viewed it side-by-side with the entry-level B4 and mid-range C4 and it’s noticeably different. Colours pop off the screen. Backgrounds are sharper and more vivid. It exposes more detail in your picture and takes you right into the viewing experience.  It might be the best screen I’ve ever seen, to be honest.

LG told me that the new processor is capable of 70% more image sharpness, and 30% faster processing. And it’s all thanks to that Alpha11 I mentioned earlier. And with gaming perks like a 4K 144Hz refresh rate, these OLED TVs are perfect for gamers too.

These TVs play nice with all your other devices too. They support Apple AirPlay, Google Chromecast, and even Matter, the universal standard for smart home devices. And with WOWCAST built-in, you can effortlessly pair your TV with an LG soundbar for superior audio quality.

It’s not just about what you see – it’s about what you hear too. LG’s AI Sound Pro features give you rich, full audio that feels like it’s coming from all around you. You’ll still probably need a soundbar for this one, but if you’ve got the cash, LG will hook you up there too.

Speaking of cash, LG will charge you a pretty penny for the new M4. Pricing is in the table below, but LG hasn’t revealed the exact final figure for the M4 OLED. LG’s local execs told me it would be around $2000 more expensive than the top-of-the-line G4 OLED models, so I expect it to retail for close to $11,999 when it lands in June.

2024 LG G4 OLED TV range

The G4 is the second-most impressive TV in the new 2024 line-up, but that doesn’t mean it’s missing any features.

It still gets the impressive new Alpha11 processor I mentioned above. Again, according to LG, the Alpha11 is capable of 30% faster processing and 70% more image sharpness. Check the section above for how incredible it is to look at.

When I saw the G4 this week side-by-side with the new C4 OLED, it’s a noticeable upgrade in picture quality compared to the C4 OLED, which is running the Alpha8 processor. Read more below for that one.

The G4 also packs in LG’s OLED evo technology. It has had this for a few years now and it’s a feature that promises better panel brightness. That’s a good thing, simply because OLEDs aren’t always top performers when used in very well-lit rooms.

Also above the C4, the G4 gets LG’s “Micro Lens Array” (MLA) tech. It’s fancy tech-speak for reduced glare, better viewing angles and even higher brightness overall. Think of it like a bunch of super tiny lenses, so small you can barely see them with your naked eye. Almost like a bunch of little magnifying glasses sitting on top of the pixels in the TV. These tiny lenses all over the TV act like mini detectives – they gather up all the light coming from the pixels and focus it, kind of like how a magnifying glass focuses sunlight. It’s like they’re helping the pixels do their job better, making sure you get the brightest, clearest picture possible.

Scenes are going to be better to view overall thanks to the refined image processing and the MLA gear combined.

Plus, it’s great to look at in your lviing room.

2024 LG B4 Series and C4 OLED TVs

The B Series is LG’s entry-level OLED. It has always been a strong contender and a decent alternative to the more-expensive C Series. This year, however, the gulf between the two models is a little wider.

The new C Series OLED packs in a new and upgraded processor for better picture quality.The C4 packs a beefier Alpha 9 AI Processor 4K Gen 7, while the B4 settles for an Alpha 8 processor. The C4’s processor uses fancy AI to tweak the picture and sound on-the-fly, potentially giving you sharper images and clearer audio.

And when you view them side-by-side, you can really see the difference. It’s the first time I’ve really been able to pick it up while comparing a C Series TV to a B Series TV on a first-look.

The C4 has a snazzy new LG OLED Evo panel for brighter picture (great in a well-lit room), while the B4 sticks with a regular OLED panel. This means the C4 can crank up the brightness, especially in well-lit rooms, making those bright parts of movies really pop. Plus, it might give you more vibrant colors overall.

The C4 has a 144Hz refresh rate, while the B4 goes for 120Hz. A higher refresh rate means smoother gameplay, especially in fast-paced games where every millisecond counts.

And finally, while both TVs have four HDMI 2.1 ports, but the C4’s newer processor might mean it’s a bit more future-proof.

You also get a new stand design: LG has done away with the cheap-looking legs on either side of the TV. It’s similar to a monitor stand and mounts in the centre. It’s great because you can place it on a smaller surface and there’s no need for a big, ugly TV cabinet in your living space. It also ascends to accommodate a soundbar directly underneath.

Which one should you buy?

If you’re all about getting the absolute best picture quality and you want the brightest OLED panel out there, then the G4 is the one for you. It’s like the top dog when it comes to image quality, with all the fancy tech bells and whistles to make your viewing experience the best it can be.

But hey, if you’re watching your wallet and you don’t need all the fancy extras, then the C4 might be more your speed. It still gives you awesome picture quality and cool features, but without breaking the bank. It’s like getting a great TV without splurging on the deluxe model.

It’s like the middle ground between top-of-the-line and budget-friendly, striking a good balance between price and performance.

Now, the B4 might not have all the fancy features of its pricier counterparts, but don’t count it out just yet. It can still give you a pretty solid viewing experience, especially if you’re not in a pitch-black room. Think of it like getting a reliable car that gets you from A to B without breaking the bank – it might not have all the bells and whistles, but it gets the job done just fine.

LG TV software updates for old and new models

Every time I go to one of these launch events, I get to play with the new version of LG’s webOS software. Every year LG puts something new into the software. From design tweaks, quality-of-life improvements, smart home integration and so on.

Eventually, however, someone always asks the same question. “Will last year’s models get this new software update?”. Every year the answer has been the same: “no”. But in 2024, it’s finally changing.

LG is promising that if you buy one of its new 2024 TV models, it will give you the new version of webOS every year for the next four years. That means if you buy a 2024 LG TV, you’ll get shiny new software for until 2028. That’s pretty huge considering LG has never done this before!

But it gets better. If you bought an LG TV in 2022 or 2023, you’ll also receive an update to the 2024 software, and the ongoing updates to boot. So even if you don’t buy a new TV, you still get new stuff!

Pricing