LG CX OLED TV Review: Excellent But Expensive

Amazing black levels. Overall picture quality is fantastic. For gaming, it supports Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. There are numerous well-calibrated picture modes and you have different size variants to choose from. These are just a few features you’ll get from the LG CX OLED TV. However, the high-end price might stifle a few of you from shelling out that much money for an OLED TV when you can get other well-performing models for much less. So how good exactly is this television? Is it worth every penny? Find out in our review below.

See Where The LG CX OLED TV Ranks In Our List Of The Best OLED TV For Gaming In 2021.

Overview Of The LG CX OLED TV

Thanks to a stunning 4K display that operates at a speedy 120Hz, the LG CX OLED TV is the best next-gen alternative if you’re planning on buying a PS5 or Xbox Series X soon or currently have one sitting in your living room. Thanks to Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync support, it’s also ideal and fantastic for PC gaming. An Ultra HD screen like this will surely take your gaming sessions to the next level.

However, keep in mind that you’ll need a more solid gaming workstation if you’re considering the 65-inch model.

Furthermore, LG’s class-leading CX OLED TV, with a 120Hz refresh rate, is ideal for fast-paced 4K gaming, such as first-person shooters and racing games, where screen tearing is a thing of the past. As you’d expect from OLED technology, the black levels are outstanding, and LG has nailed it with a design that makes sure the CX line totally turns off individual pixels when used in the lowest settings.

Most OLED TVs are out of reach and unreasonably expensive for the typical customer, and the CX is no different. Despite its amazing features, its high-end price might just be the deal-breaker for some. However, if you can afford it, I highly recommend giving this OLED TV a solid consideration.

Apart from that, LG has also done an excellent job of focusing on the shortcomings in earlier models. The Alpha a9 Gen 3 Processor has undergone significant improvements that have resolved any faults from its predecessors while also improving the way faces are portrayed by the chip’s processing. The end result? An engrossing cinematic performance that treats movies and TV series with the respect they deserve.

Features & Specifications

• Brand: LG
• Sizes Available: 77″, 65″, 55″, and 48″
• Resolution: 4K
• Display Type: OLED
• Input Lag: 13ms
• Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
• HDR Compatibility: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
• Supported Internet Services: Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Vudu, Google TV
• Gaming Features: G-SYNC, FreeSync, VRR, HGiG
• Inputs: HDMI 2.1

Check Out LG’s Product Preview Of The LG CX OLED Below.

If You’d Like To See Other OLED TVs, Check Out Our Top Picks For The Best OLED TVs For Gaming In 2021 Here.

What We Love About The LG CX OLED TV

Design

Honestly, LG doesn’t put in a lot of effort changing up their TVs’ designs. However, I do believe in the saying don’t fix what isn’t broken. With that being said, the LG CX OLED TV, just like its predecessors, still retains the same minimalistic and premium aesthetic it has over the years with little to no alterations at all.

When viewed from the side, the panel on the CX is still quite thin, approximately a quarter-inch deep, with the thicker part at the bottom jutting out another 1.75 inches. But facing it from the front, you won’t really notice it that much. The inputs, power supply, speakers, and other depth-eating TV components are all housed in this part.

The painting itself has a black frame around the top and sides that is less than a half-inch thick. Then there’s a little more below that, but nothing else apart from that. No logo or anything at all.

The screen is affixed to one of the centrally positioned metallic sheet stands that have been seen on previous C-series versions. This is wonderfully made and constructed, although it appears a little hefty in comparison to the remarkable slimness found elsewhere.

The CX has a lot of connections, and they’re all well-defined, especially when it comes to HDMIs. There are four, each capable of 4K up to 120Hz in 10-bit HDR with 4:4:4 chroma sampling. Something to keep in mind if you’re planning to play with the next generation of video game consoles. Overall, the LG CX is pure TV minimalism and is a nice addition to any home.

Picture Quality

When it comes to LG’s OLED TVs, there’s no doubt that they’re truly one of the best out there. When you watch something in 4K with High Dynamic Range for the first time, you’ll truly understand the power of LG’s incredible screen technology.

Because the CX supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR, you’ll get the most out of every homemade show on Netflix, Amazon, and elsewhere, as well as the most recently released movies.

However, regardless of whether format you view, the CX’s contrast and colors are always astounding. Super vivid reds, greens, and blues contrast with incredibly realistic shadows to provide some of the most stunning images you’ll ever see at home.

On top of that, there are plenty of additional picture modes to choose from and try, but if you’re more interested in viewing TV shows and movies than gaming, I’d recommend trying Cinema mode or Filmmaker mode.

Smart Features

The LG CX uses LG’s WebOS interface for its smart features, just like the rest of LG’s OLED TV portfolio. And this is a relatively good thing. With its rows of icons directing to numerous entertainment sources, the simple, no-frills home screen is instantly available, easy to use, and modify to your preference.

When you select one of the primary content apps, the second tier of icons appears, with immediate access to the highlighted app’s shows or films. This feature, however, is only available in apps that have worked with LG to allow it.

It’s also worth noting that LG is a leader in speech recognition, with the CX supporting LG’s ThinQ AI platform, as well as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. All of them are also supported, eliminating the requirement for an external listening device.

In terms of supported apps, you’ll discover Disney+ and Apple TV+, two relatively recent entries to the streaming world, other streaming services such as Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime are also readily available.

Gaming Features

Another feature I love with the CX is that it’s gamer-friendly. This OLED TV supports Nvidia G-sync, which ensures that games run smoothly on PCs with Nvidia graphics cards. For users with AMD graphics cards, the CX now supports AMD FreeSync. Honestly, it’s just great to see both major standards represented.

In addition to that, it has only 13 milliseconds of input lag in Game Mode. And, unlike some LCD TVs, activating the game settings has no discernible impact on color and contrast performance. Automatic low latency mode switching and varied refresh rates are also supported. Hopefully, the PS5, Xbox Series X, and next-generation PCs will be able to take advantage of the CX’s 4K/120Hz/4:4:4/HDR capabilities.

Our Least Favorite Thing

Risk Of Burn In

Apart from its ridiculously high price tag, the CX doesn’t come in with a lot of flaws. Which is something to be expected when you’re paying a lot of money for a TV. Of course, like with any OLED TV, you should be cautious about what you watch on it in order to avoid permanent image retention or also known as burn-in.

That said, try to avoid watching content with bright logos or static bright picture elements for long periods of time at a time. Most recently released OLED TVs nowadays have put in the necessary measures to avoid such damages, and that includes LG’s OLED TVs. However, it’s best not to risk it.

In A Nutshell

Now that we’ve finished discussing the things we liked and disliked about the LG CX, here’s a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this particular OLED TV.

Our Final Verdict

All in all, the LG CX OLED TV is truly a fantastic high-end television. It gives the same excellent picture quality as the other TV models from the same lineup. Individual pixels can be turned off, resulting in a near-infinite contrast ratio with perfect deep blacks and no blooming around bright objects, making this TV perfect for dark room viewing.

However, the LG CX OLED also does well in bright surroundings thanks to its excellent reflection control as well as streaming HDR content due to its wide color gamut. Not to mention, variable refresh rate (VRR) compatibility, a 120Hz panel, fast response time, and HDMI 2.1 ports are just a few of its amazing gaming-friendly features.

So this begs the question, is this TV worth its price? Definitely. But is it worth burning a hole in your wallet for? I’d have to say no. There are definitely other OLED TV models in the market that performs just the same (or almost the same) without the hefty price tag.

If you’re on a budget, you’re better off looking for something within your price range. But if money is not an issue, then this is definitely a TV worth considering.

Have you already bought the LG CX OLED TV? Was our review helpful? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions, insights, or questions to ask. I would love to hear all your thoughts!

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