If you‘re shopping for a new premium TV, Sony and LG‘s OLED models likely top your list. As leaders in OLED technology, they continue to push performance and features forward. I‘ve tested the latest models head-to-head – keep reading for my detailed analysis on how they compare!
A Brief History of OLED
Before we contrast these two brands, let‘s quickly recap…
What is OLED?
OLED stands for organic light emitting diode. In an OLED display, each pixel produces its own light independently. This enables exceptional picture quality traits like infinite contrast since pixels can be turned completely off. OLED panels are also very thin and energy efficient.
The Rise of LG Display
Although OLED research began years earlier, LG Display (separate from LG Electronics which makes TVs) became the first company to mass produce OLED panels in 2013. Their panels are found not only in LG TVs, but also Sony, Philips, Vizio and more. LG Display remains the world‘s largest OLED manufacturer.
Sony‘s Improvements
Sony leverages LG‘s panels but adds their own processing and features. With technologies like the X1 Extreme processor, Sony has enhanced motion handling, upscaling, and brightness. This helps compensate for early OLED drawbacks.
Now that OLED has gone mainstream with LG paving the way, how do today‘s models compare? Let‘s break it down…
Picture Quality
As manufacturers like to boast, today‘s OLED TVs produce exceptional contrast and color – but subtle differences remain between LG and Sony.
OLED Panel Sizes Available
| Model Series | 55" | 65" | 77" | 83" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A90K | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| LG G2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Black level & contrast
Inky blacks. High dynamic range. No LCD/LED TV can match an OLED here thanks to perfect black levels. When showing dark scenes, OLEDs retain detail better than any LED using local dimming.
Winner: Draw. All OLED panels leverage the same contrast technology for essentially infinite contrast ratios.
Viewing angles
Early on, OLEDs suffered from color and contrast degradation at wider viewing angles compared to front and center. Viewing angle performance has greatly improved over time.
Most recently, LG‘s new "OLED evo" panel (in 2022 G2 series) keeps contrast and color more consistent. Sony‘s panels exhibit slightly more color shift (for now).
OLED viewing angle performance (Contrast & White Luminance via rtings)
Brightness
OLED used to lag far behind LED/LCD televisions when it came to maximum brightness. Improvements in luminous efficiency mean recent models can hit ~1000 nits peak brightness – great for well-lit rooms and HDR pop.
In their newest G2 series with "OLED evo" panels, LG has boosted peak brightness by 20% over last year‘s C1 series according to lab measurements. For now, LG has pulled ahead of Sony for brightness.
Peak Brightness Comparison
| Model | Peak Brightness |
|---|---|
| Sony A90K 55" | 761 nits |
| LG G2 55" | 950 nits |
(Via Rtings.com reviews)
Motion handling
While OLED‘s can‘t quite hit the fast refresh rates of some LCD options, their nearly instantaneous pixel response time helps make fast motion look crisp.
Sony‘s Smooth Motion settings and processing reduces blur even further – handy for sports and gaming. LG remains competent here too. Slight win to Sony.
Upscaling quality
If you want to stream lower resolution content or watch DVDs/Blu-Rays, good upscaling is a must. This helps minimize artifacts while resizing to the screen‘s native 4K resolution.
Sony‘s X1 Extreme processor beats LG in this regard, with more sophisticated upscaling algorithms that sharpen and restore detail in lower resolution signals.
Smart TV Operating Systems
LG smart TVs now run the company‘s homegrown webOS platform while Sony has switched to Google TV. The software can really impact the experience.
Both platforms are fast, polished, and intuitive with some differences…
Interface & navigation
The launcher bar makes app switching simple on LG‘s webOS. Google TV provides content-first recommendations with scrollable rows once you set favorite apps and services.
Overall, advantage Sony here. Their Google TV experience feels a bit more fleshed out and responsive. Software is subjective though.
App & service selection
All major streaming apps are present on both platforms. Google claims over 10,000 apps on their TV Play store but many are garbage. Still, that‘s more than LG‘s offerings.
Google Assistant built-in gives Sony the voice control edge. LG now has Alexa support however. This category goes to Sony and Google TV given the tighter Assistant integration.
Sound Technologies
How good is built-in audio? Here Sony pulls ahead thanks to using the screen itself as a speaker driver in higher-end models.
Sony Acoustic Surface
Actuators behind the OLED panel turn the screen into a center channel driver, freeing up room for more speaker components around back.
This allows decent bass extension down to ~60hz even without a separate subwoofer according to sounding tests. Voices also seem to come directly from mouths on-screen rather than below the panel.
LG‘s audio focuses more on AI tuning and upward-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos height cues. They offer decent clarity but can‘t match Sony‘s innovative audio solution.
Connectivity
To future-proof your investment as much as possible, you want the latest HDMI 2.1 ports with full 48 Gbps bandwidth, 4K/120Hz support, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and more.
| Model | HDMI 2.1 Ports |
|---|---|
| Sony X90K 55" | 2 ports |
| LG C2 55" | 4 ports |
LG equips even entry level OLEDs like the C2 series with more next-gen ports compared to Sony. You lose less functionality if upgrading your A/V receiver down the road.
Advantage LG here. Their additional ports provide extra breathing room as more devices adopt HDMI 2.1
Gaming Performance
For the smoothest frame rates and lag-free controller input, LG pulls ahead of Sony.
Gaming metrics are near-identical between most recent LG and Sony OLEDs. But LG dedicates an entire Game Optimizer menu with genre-specific modes. For tweaking HDR tone mapping or enabling VRR/G-Sync, LG provides more fine-tuned options.
Input lag is already impressively low on both though:
Input Lag
| Model | @ 4k/60hz (ms) | @ 4k/120hz (ms) |
|---|---|---|
| Sony A90K | 8.5 | 4.8 |
| LG G2 | 10.1 | 6.2 |
Either OLED will provide a great gaming display. But LG gives players more control over optimizations.
Pricing & Model Lineups
OLED TV prices have dropped significantly in recent years, although flagship sizes still demand premium pricing. LG maintains an edge here too.
| Model Series | MSRP 55" | 65" | 77" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony A90K | $3699 | $4499 | $8999 |
| LG G2 (2022) | $2499 | $3299 | $6999 |
Dollar for dollar, LG provides better value. And they cater to more budgets – Sony reserves the best processing and features only for high-end A90 or A95 tiers. LG‘s entire lineup down to entry C2 models remains highly competitive.
Verdict: LG Wins for Performance & Value
While both deliver impressive OLED 4K picture quality, LG pulls ahead of Sony in a few key areas:
Picture
- Brighter panels thanks to "OLED evo" technology
- Excellent off-angle viewing with less color shifting
Gaming
- More optimized game modes and menu settings
- Low input lag to satisfy serious players
Connectivity
- More next-gen HDMI 2.1 ports for accessories
Value
- Generally better prices across all model sizes
- Competitive options even down to entry C2 lineup
Meanwhile Sony leads for sound quality with Acoustic Surface Audio and better upscaling.
For most buyers without legacy gear, LG takes the win here on total package. But you can‘t go wrong with either brand these days for OLED TV excellence. Let your specific priorities and budget guide you!
FAQ
Q: Is an OLED TV better than QLED or LED/LCD?
A: In most cases, yes – OLED remains the pinnacle of television display technology thanks to perfect per-pixel lighting control. This enables the best contrast, viewing angles and thin form factors.
Q: What about burn-in on OLED screens?
A: Permanent burn-in is no longer a serious concern thanks to protective measures in modern OLED TVs. Temporary image retention can occur but goes away quickly with normal, varied viewing.
Q: Why are OLED TVs generally more expensive?
A: Producing OLED displays requires very high precision manufacturing techniques on specialty materials and components. This leads to higher wholesale pricing. But the technology has matured quickly, allowing brands to drop prices aggressively each year.
Q: Is 8K or 4K resolution better for OLED TVs?
A: We don‘t recommend 8K televisions for most people yet. Little native 8K content exists and even on large screens, you likely won‘t notice sharpness gains over 4K. Focus your dollars on a premium 4K OLED instead for the best return on investment.
I hope this guide gives you the insights needed to decide between Sony and LG for your next OLED TV. Let me know if you have any other questions!
