The LG CX series represents the company‘s 2020 flagship 4K OLED television that still competes toe-to-toe with newer releases. Excellent black levels, gorgeous colors, smooth motion clarity, and elaborate smart features cement its reputation for cinematic entertainment.
But with successive C1 and C2 lineups advancing imaging and gaming capabilities yearly, should you still consider buying the LG CX given dropping prices but limited availability?
In this guide, we‘ll unpack everything to know around specs, display performance, feature sets, and other critical metrics for evaluating if the CX remains a viable OLED option. You‘ll gain the perspective of a home theater enthusiast and AV editor synthesizing hands-on test findings with industry analysis on where it shines and functional gaps surfaced since launch.
OLED Refresher
Before assessing the CX television merits specifically, let‘s briefly recap OLED display characteristics that enable lighter, thinner form factors coupled with visual advancements over traditional LED/LCD counterparts.
How OLED Works
OLED panels utilize organic light-emitting diodes that illuminate individually when electrical current passes through rather than relying on a separate backlight system. Negating this thicker module allows manufacturers to produce exceptionally slim screens.
But more importantly, self-emissive pixel control grants inky blacks when fully off. This directly translates to superior contrast and dynamic range capabilities for revealing subtle shadow details without washout issues that edge-lit LED televisions contend with.
OLED Benefits
- Nearly infinite contrast ratios from perfect blacks
- Faster response for tackling motion clarity
- Wider viewing angles without color shifting
- Vibrant, accurate color production
- Bendable, flexible form factors
- Signficantly thinner panel depth
LG leverages extensive OLED research leadership with their TV lineup, including the CX series. So you can expect deep black levels and lighting precision enhancing movies, games, and sports.
LG CX OLED Overview
LG initially launched the CX series in March 2020, serving as a slight iteration over 2019‘s C9 television. Minor tweaks centered around boosting processing power and HDMI 2.1 future proofing for next-generation gaming consoles.
Available sizes span:
- 48-inches
- 55-inches
- 65-inches
- 77-inches
Pricing reaches record lows given successor C1 and C2 releases fetching higher premiums currently for modest spec bumps:
| Screen Size | Launch Price | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| 48‘‘ | $1500 | $900 |
| 55‘‘ | $1800 | $1200 |
| 65‘‘ | $3000 | $1600 |
| 77‘‘ | $5000 | $2800 |
Having carved an acclaimed spot in home theater circles, how does the aging CX hold up on technical measures? Let‘s dig deeper into display performance and feature sets.
Display Analysis & Picture Quality
A television‘s imaging capabilities make or break the experience regardless of supplementary features. Here‘s how the LG CX 4K OLED TV‘s display quality fares by category.
Black Levels & Contrast
Inky blacks serve as the foundation for stellar contrast since they facilitate dynamic range pop between bright and dark elements. Thanks to independent light emission, OLED pixels can deactivate fully to mimic an off state.
The LG CX produces virtually infinite contrast ratios on test patterns for white text displayed against pure black backdrops. Bright components never washout darker ones since self-illuminating diode control enables granular luminance adjustments.
Shadow details remain visible too avoiding the crushed blacks that plague edge-lit LED/LCD televisions. This grants the CX exceptional fidelity during darkroom movie watching for appreciating nuanced gradations in complex cinematography.
HDR & Wider Color Gamuts
Vibrant, accurate colors likewise benefited early OLED adoption beyond the contrast hype. And the LG CX renders a wide gamut covering beyond 100% of the standard DCI-P3 film specification.
Support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision unlocks this extended range, which stretches 26% larger than conventional Rec. 709 high definition. The CX‘s self-emitting pixels especially heighten reds and greens that LED backlights often clip or oversaturate.
Advanced video processing further optimizes quality when streaming 4K HDR content from services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Elements adapt on the fly based on environmental conditions too thanks to Dolby Vision IQ ambient light optimization.
Viewing Angles
While backlit televisions appear washed out from off-center seats, OLED maintains color accuracy and brightness uniformly across wide angles. This grants the LG CX fantastic viewing latitude without shifting hues or shadows as you move horizontally/vertically from the sweet spot.
So those relaxing on the couch corners will enjoy the same stellar visual experience as centered viewers. OLED emits light evenly in a 180° arc without the clouding or invert effects plaguing LCD technologies relying on directional LED backplates.
Response Times & Motion Handling
Rapid pixel response times help the LG CX OLED render action smoothly without dragging or ghosting artifacts. Its organic diode grid reacts at lightning quick speeds nearing 0.1ms to eliminate motion blur in fast panning shots or sporting events.
That said, the native 120Hz refresh rate leaves room for improvement compared to 144Hz/240Hz gaming monitors that brandish silky animation. Engaging Real Cinema settings helps optimize fluidity by matching output frame pacing to media‘s native rate.
Combining instant OLED pixel transitions under 6ms with black frame insertion also heightens perceived clarity. The CX still impresses for movies, sports, and gameplay. But computer monitor-like performance remains out of reach currently limited by signal processing capacities.
Anti Burn-In Features
All OLED panels contend with permanent image retention, commonly mislabeled as burn-in. Static elements displayed persistently can leave temporary brightness stamps or even permanent ones depending on severity.
LG packs the CX series with pixel shift algorithms and automated refresh routines to mitigate uneven subpixel wear. These subtly move fixed text, graphics, and screen area divisions to alternate diode groups routinely preventing uneven power distribution.
You also have access to built-in screen wipe animations and pop-up reminders for manually triggering panel exercise regimes on your own time table. Plus, a dedicated screen saver kicks in after detecting still image conditions.
When used regularly across varied content without excessive static imagery exposure, LG OLED TVs often last 5+ years before severe retention manifests. But patterns will emerge eventually on all self-emitting displays.
Smart TV Platform & Gaming Features
Beyond sheer display prowess, today‘s televisions encompass comprehensive media platforms too. Here‘s how the LG CX performs as an all-purpose 4K smart TV.
webOS Interface
The LG CX brings the company‘s celebrated webOS platform to the table for intuitive navigation. Clean, smooth visuals couple with snappy responsiveness moving between apps and menus.
You‘ll discover extensive customization capabilities too like reorganizing ribbon contents, editing quick settings menus, and crafting tailored universal remote profiles. Voice commands via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa simplify searching without the remote.
WebOS also rocks acclaimed recommendation algorithms that suggest trending and relevant content across services based on your individual viewing habits. The system learns favorite genres and patterns over time.
Gaming Features & Performance
Catering to gamers, the LG CX OLED TV touts premium optimizations for keeping players immersed through long sessions without distraction.
Input lag measures an impressively low 13ms during reliability testing ensuring precise control responses translate on-screen instantly. This keeps gameplay feeling snappy.
Variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM) also make appearances syncing frames with console/PC output rates dynamically between 40Hz and 120Hz. This prevents tearing and stuttering during fast motion for cleaner animation.
For unlocking rich HDR visuals when paired with the Xbox Series X or PS5, the CX meets strict NVIDIA G-SYNC certification specifications too like 4K 120Hz 4:4:4 chroma support without dithering or bit depth sacrifice.
Smart Features & App Support
The webOS platform centralizes access to all popular streaming services like:
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Apple TV+
- Hulu
- YouTube
- Amazon Prime Video
- And much more
You‘ll also find Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit integration for flinging videos from iPhones or iPads conveniently. Accessibility perks like voice assistants facilitate quick program searching and playback adjustments too.
CX vs C1 vs C2 Comparison
LG continues iterating within their OLED lineups year-over-year. Here‘s how the CX stacks up versus direct successors:
LG C1 OLED (2021)
- Brighter Evo OLED panel with higher peak luminance
- Speedier α9 Gen 4 AI Processor enabling better upscaling
- Dolby Vision IQ and Filmmaker Mode for tighter imaging
- Next-gen webOS 6.0 platform
- Additional HDMI 2.1 gaming settings like HGiG calibration
LG C2 OLED (2022)
- Boosted peak brightness and color volume improvements
- Latest α9 Gen 5 AI Processor powering upgraded upscaling
- Even slimmer form factor with thinner bezels
- Evo panel allowing brighter OLED highlights
- Brass stand feet on some models
LG C3 OLED (2023)
- Brighter OLED Evo technology with better luminosity and clarity
- A13 Bionic chip from Apple for heightened UI quickness
- Wider viewing sweet spot with less color shifting
- Anti-glare coating to reduce light reflections
- Darker blacks and better near-black fidelity
The CX lacks a few imaging and processing optimizations LG has ironed out over successive releases. But it remains around 90% comparable at more affordable pricing points.
Key Specifications Cheat Sheet
Here‘s a condensed specifications overview of LG CX models to simplify comparisons:
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Screen Sizes | 48", 55", 65", 77" |
| Display Type | OLED |
| Max Resolution | 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 |
| HDR Format Support | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HLG |
| Native Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Response Time | ~0.1ms |
| Processor | α9 Gen 3 AI |
| Smart Platform | webOS 5.0 |
| Built-In WiFi | 802.11ac |
| Built-In Bluetooth | Yes, for audio streaming |
| HDMI 2.1 Ports | 4 |
| Variable Refresh Rate | Yes |
| Auto Low Latency Mode | Yes |
LG CX Pros vs Cons Breakdown
Listing strengths against weaknesses gives a balanced perspective on areas where the television shines versus shortcomings compared to fresher options.
Pros
- Stunning OLED contrast and colors
- Crisp 4K resolution
- Great smart TV and gaming features
- Fast response times under 5ms
- HDMI 2.1 future proofing
- Intuitive webOS platform
- Alpha a9 Gen 3 AI Processor
- Dolby Vision IQ & Dolby Atmos
- Accurate color reproduction
- Black Frame Insertion
Cons
- Sensitive to permanent burn-in over time
- Audio merely passable
- Occasional banding in gradations
- Clunky stand requires two installers
- Lacks latest gaming & processing engines
- Not as bright as QD-OLED or Mini-LED
Impressively, the LG CX remains highly capable despite launching over 2 years ago. Only a few minor gripes surface easily corrected with a sound system or simply treating the OLED gently to maximize lifespan.
Should You Buy the LG CX OLED in 2023?
Given successor C1 and C2 models touting modest improvements, does procuring an LG CX 4K OLED TV still make sense given dropping prices but constrained availability? Let‘s dig into ideal buyer scenarios below.
Worth Purchasing If…
- You highly value perfect blacks and OLED Evo contrast
- Your usage emphasizes movies in darker rooms
- You prefer deep blacks over higher peak brightness
- Top-tier performance at significant discounts drives your budget
- You have realistic burn-in risk expectations
Wait for Upcoming Releases If…
- You want the very newest gaming settings optimizations
- Brighter room suitability worries you paired with burn-in
- Dolby Vision IQ and latest video processor matter
- You dislike the wide-angled stand consuming tables
- HDMI 2.1 future proofing necessary for upgrades
Overall while no longer cutting edge, the LG CX series remains phenomenal for buyers wanting a more affordable OLED option that retains stunning imaging. But niche use cases centered on living room deployment and emerging tech may find limitations.
FAQs
Does the LG CX work well with the PS5 and Xbox Series X?
Yes! The CX‘s HDMI 2.1 ports enable 4K 120Hz gaming with VRR/ALLM enabled for buttery smoothness.
How does the CX compare to LG‘s cheaper BX televisions?
The BX forfeits some contrast control zones and utilizes a weaker processor. But retains core OLED strengths for more budget-focused buyers.
What kind of anti burn-in features does the CX have?
LG bakes in pixel shifting, automated refresh routines, screen wiping animations, and screen saver functionalities to minimize uneven wear over years.
How long can you expect an LG CX to last before burn-in becomes noticeable?
With preventative measures enabled and moderately mixed content consumption, expect around 5 years before permanent retention manifests during daily usage.
Can you connect Bluetooth headphones to the LG CX?
Yes! The television includes integrated Bluetooth support for wirelessly streaming audio to headphones or external speakers.
And that wraps up our epic LG CX OLED TV review and analysis! Hopefully the detailed breakdown better informs your purchasing decision around this still stellar 4K smart television.
