Sold for €3,590, the LG OLED65G3 introduces a revolutionary technology that boosts the brightness of OLED panels. It enhances the display of HDR10 and Dolby Vision content, for images with unprecedented dynamism that also benefit from a new anti-glare filter. This very promising new model also features the latest webOS 23 interface and DTS compatibility.
Designed for home theater and 4K 120Hz gaming, does the LG OLED65G3 consolidate the manufacturer’s supremacy over Samsung in the field of high-end OLED?
LG OLED65G3: packaging & accessories
The LG OLED65G3 is designed to be wall-mounted. Consequently, it comes with a dedicated ultra-slim wall mount, but no base. To install it on a TV cabinet, you must purchase the optional LG G2ST65 base. Note that the manufacturer includes cable guides, which are already fixed to the back of the screen.
The box also contains a Magic Remote which, unfortunately, doesn’t have backlighting.
The LG SQ-G2ST65 base comes with covers to clip onto the back of the screen and base. Naturally, the mounting screws are included.
LG OLED65G3: presentation
The LG OLED65G3 television features the latest 65”/164cm LG OLED panel. The latter incorporates the new Micro Lens Array technology to dramatically increase its brightness. This enhances HDR10 and Dolby Vision content, making the TV ideal for movies and home theater.
Great news: this LG OLED TV is equipped with a brand-new SAR (Super Anti Reflection) anti glare filter that drastically reduces light pollution in bright rooms.
Lastly, gamers will enjoy the TV’s four 4K 120Hz (with Dolby Vision Gaming), VRR (G-sync and Freesync) and ALLM compatible HDMI 2.1 ports. In addition, the GeForce Now, Blacknut and Utomik cloud gaming services are all directly accessible from the TV.
In terms of sound, we note the return of support for DTS audio formats, including DTS:X, in addition to Dolby Atmos. The new LG WOW Orchestra feature is also included to synchronize the TV’s drivers with those of compatible LG soundbars for a more immersive experience.
Lastly, as with each new generation, this LG television introduces the latest version of the brand’s Smart TV interface: webOS 23. The home menu has been redesigned to be more user-friendly, and the settings menu is more intuitive, in particular with a personalized picture mode. Of course, the most popular streaming services are also included, with direct access from the shortcuts on the remote control. Last but not least, this TV features Alexa and is also compatible with Google Assistant for voice control.
LG OLED65G3: key specifications
- 65” OLED Meta panel (micro lenses)
- Brightness Booster Max technology
- Super Anti-Reflection filter
- 4 HDMI 2.1 ALLM/VRR inputs
- 4K/120Hz and cloud gaming
- G-Sync/Freesync compatibility
- HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ
- Dolby Atmos, DTS:X
LG OLED65G3: configuration
Once the base was mounted and the television was installed on a TV cabinet, we connected the wall antenna to receive TV channels. Using an Audioquest Cinnamon HDMI cable, we also connected the TV to the Pioneer UDP-LX500 4K UHD Blu-ray player to watch movies on 4K Blu-ray. The television was connected to the Internet using a network cable and the Netgear Orbi RBK852 WiFi booster. A Taga Harmony PF-2000 filtered power strip powered the TV and 4K Blu-ray player.
Once turned on, the television prompted us to select the country and the menu language, then the internet connection mode (WiFi or network cable). It then searched for TV channels and detected the connected sources. We were then able to choose whether to activate the AI-optimized picture and sound modes. Once these steps were validated, the TV was fully operational.
LG OLED65G3: our impressions
Ultra-slim design
Design-wise, the LG OLED65G3 hasn’t changed compared to the LG OLED65G2 and has the same measurements. It features the same elegant, minimalist frame, with a flat metallic surface that runs all around the panel. This TV has a slim silhouette, with a thickness of 2.5cm.
Note that once it is mounted on the base, the screen can swivel to the right or left. The base also tilts the panel backwards slightly.
More effective anti-glare
The manufacturer has significantly improved the anti-glare filter of the new LG OLED G3 range. Light pollution is handled much more effectively, and the mirror effect is much less prominent than on the previous generation. So much so that we were able to play video games and watch movies in a bright room without any discomfort. Despite the presence of a French window to the side of the screen, the contrast and brightness of the images remained very satisfactory.
4K HDR picture
As soon as the LG OLED65G3 is unboxed, it is possible to enjoy a perfectly calibrated image by selecting the cinema or Filmmaker mode. We verified this using the Spears & Munsil 4K Ultra HD calibration Blu-ray. It was also the opportunity to test the television’s HDR management, which was excellent, as you can see with the following picture of horses in the snow. The LG TV clearly reveals the different hills behind the horses, despite the harsh weather conditions.
The Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro OLED technology worked wonders, perfectly adjusting the brightness levels of the picture to match the screen’s capacities. We enjoyed bright yet subtly nuanced highlights, while the dark areas were inky black and very detailed.
With Gladiator on 4K Blu-ray (Dolby Vision), we enjoyed an excellent HDR picture that highlighted the photography and costume design, which won an Oscar in 2001. In the market, for example, when Maximus is bought by Proximo, the changing light and shadows revealed an infinite number of shades and nuances. From the folds of Proximo’s turban to the wrinkles on his face, from the clothes and hats of the merchants and passers-by to the wooden planks supporting the cloth canvases. We were plunged without restraint into the atmosphere of the souk, as if we were actually there.
In the Coliseum, the armor and helmets gleamed with intense reflections. The dynamic range of the images perfectly captured the excellent cinematography of Ridley Scott’s movie, which seemed to gain more dramatic intensity. Colors and textures were also rendered in an extremely natural way. Skin tones were very convincing, as were the fabrics and leather and steel protections worn by the fighters.
Upscaling
With television programs, the upscaling performed by the LG OLED65G3 was as effective as ever. The overall definition of the image and the contours were improved without creating any noise or artifacts.
With a high-quality HD 1080p source such as a Blu-ray, for example, the picture was even more gorgeous. The AI-boosted video processor provided first-rate upscaling. With the excellent HD 1080p Blu-ray of Inception, the results were superb. In terms of definition, it was as if we were watching a native 4K edition. The management of light and contrast was so impressive that we were blown away by these images, which weren’t HDR.
4.2 channel audio
The LG OLED65G3’s 4.2 channel audio system is equipped with 60-watt amplification and automatic calibration. Enough to optimize the sound depending on the acoustic properties of the room and the position of the TV. The manufacturer announces that it is possible to enjoy 9.1.2 channel virtual surround sound. In practice, the spatialization remained quite frontal, but we did enjoy nice stereo breadth and height. The sound effects extended beyond the screen, without being truly enveloping.
The bass was present but somewhat timid. It could have done with more impact and depth, which isn’t possible due to the small size of the drivers.
This isn’t critical though, and the sound is generally satisfactory for daily use. As with the majority of televisions, viewers looking for the best sound immersion will need to get a soundbar, or even a system with an AV receiver and a set of speakers, to create a genuine sound bubble.
For films, we found the Cinema mode to be the most convincing, with a wide range of front and lateral effects and clear, intelligible voices. For documentaries, TV programs and games, as well as talk shows, the Clean Voice Pro mode is very effective at separating dialogue from the rest of the soundtrack.
WebOS 23
The LG OLED65G3 is equipped with the LG webOS 23 interface, which has a lot of new features. Users can group their favorite applications and services according to various activities, represented by a dedicated tile (Quick Card) on the home menu (sport, gaming, remote working, home control panel…).
Moreover, access to the TV’s settings has been simplified, with a new, more generic context menu. In the same place, you can change image and sound modes, overall screen brightness and audio output on the fly. This eliminates the need to navigate through numerous menus and sub-menus.
With webOS 23, LG also provides a brand-new custom picture mode. The user can choose from several series of images the ones they like best, so that the television can determine their preferences in terms of color temperature, tones, brightness and contrast. It then suggests a customized setting that can be saved. This option proves effective in offering a personalized image profile for everyone, and will appeal to those who prefer not to get lost in the menus.
For our part, we preferred to use the Cinema and Filmmaker modes, which are calibrated to deliver natural images that are true to the director’s intentions.
Gaming Optimizer
Like all LG OLED TVs, the LG OLED65G3 features the Game Optimizer menu. It provides direct access to dedicated settings and video games, superimposed on the screen, to adjust the game, image and sound settings. You can choose an image mode that is adapted to a specific type of game and customize it. The settings include black and white balance, contrast and black levels. In particular, this lets you adjust the brightness of dark areas to see enemies and hidden objects more clearly.
The LG OLED65G3’s panel was very responsive, allowing us to enjoy the latest games with a very smooth display. With Gran Turismo 7, the picture was superb and consistently responsive. With Hogwarts Legacy, we had a great time visiting Hogwarts and its surroundings to discover the richness of the backgrounds, both indoors and outside.
Do you need to worry about screen burn-in?
Is the LG OLED65G3 prone to screen burn-in? Not if you allow the anti burn-in functions, which are activated by default, to work. After broadcasting a 24-hour news channel with logos and scrolling banners at the bottom of the page many hours, our test TV showed no trace of ghost images.
LG OLED65G3: compared to…
LG OLED65G2
Flagship of the LG OLED 2022 range with its OLED EX panel, the LG OLED65G2 shows some signs of aging when compared to the LG OLED65G3. With more brightness thanks to the micro-lenses, the latter is superior when it comes to expressing all the nuances and intensity of HDR 10 and Dolby Vision content. Images are far more realistic thanks to its incredible dynamic range. The LG OLED65G3 goes even further with its webOS 23 interface and new, highly effective anti-glare filter.
Sony XR-65A95K
Praised by both the press and users on Son-Vidéo.com (rating of 4.6/5), the Sony XR-65A95K impresses with its wide color range and calibration right out of the box. It offers more natural hues, particularly with faces (skin tones) and vegetation (the greens of the foliage are extremely realistic). The LG TV has the upper hand regarding the management of HDR content, which is much more dynamic and has better contrast.
Sound-wise, spatialization remains fairly frontal on both TVs, but the Sony has a slightly more efficient audio section, with more engaging bass. Finally, the Google TV interface gives it a slight advantage when it comes to the rich catalog of apps and services, but webOS 23 is just as intuitive and smooth to use.
LG OLED65G3: who is it for?
The LG OLED65G3 is designed for all those looking for the very best 4K HDR results, with a bright, dynamic image with excellent contrast. It also will appeal to both demanding home theater fans and gamers looking for a high-performance 4K 120Hz display.
LG OLED65G3: conclusion
With its micro-lenses designed to increase brightness, the LG OLED65G3’s new panel truly works wonders! The improvement is striking compared to standard OLED TVs. It even enables LG to compete effortlessly with the best Mini LED, QLED and QD OLED TVs on the market today. All this while retaining its main asset: the abyssal blacks of OLED. The rendition of 4K HDR programs in Filmmaker mode is sumptuous, with subtle details, great depth and striking texture. The result is an extremely immersive visual experience, regardless of the brightness or darkness of the various scenes.
We should also mention the new anti-glare filter, which is much more effective than previous generations. The LG OLED65G3 now performs better during daylight viewing, the Achilles heel of previous models. This is all the more appreciable given that the anti-reflective filter maintains wide viewing angles. What’s more, it doesn’t affect brightness or color accuracy. Colors remain vivid and nuanced in all circumstances, with an extremely realistic appearance.
Regarding the interface, webOS is even more intuitive, with smart features like Quick Card and the custom picture mode, which is quite fun to set up.
What criticisms do we have regarding the new LG OLED65G3? Firstly, the remote control still doesn’t have backlighting and the base isn’t included. This is all the more disappointing given the TV’s rather steep price. Secondly, the audio section isn’t as good as we’d hoped. Admittedly, it now supports DTS:X as well as Dolby Atmos, but the spatialization is lacking and the bass is timid. As with many TVs, this implies at the very least the addition of a soundbar in order to enjoy immersion and impact on a par with the quality of the image.
In our opinion, the LG OLED65G3 is the best 4K OLED TV on the market today. It’s a real gem when it comes to enhancing 4K UHD images with HDR10 and Dolby Vision.
We liked
- The excellent calibration with the Cinema and Filmmaker modes
- The high brightness and contrast
- The intense colors
- The very effective anti glare filter
We would have liked
- Backlighting for the remote control
- For the base to have been included with the TV
- A more powerful audio section
