Review: LG OLED G5 (OLED65G5)

LG OLED G5 is the South Korean TV manufacturer’s new top model for 2025. LG is a pioneer when it comes to OLED TVs and makes some of the best on the market. Despite several competitors breathing down their necks, the flagship G-series model was once again at the top of the list when it came to choosing the best TVs for 2024.

Last but not least, the LG display was also chosen as the best in a prestigious blind test ahead of tough competitors like Panasonic, Samsung and Sony. The combination of a bright OLED panel and advanced video processing resulted in an image quality that few could match.

Now the 2025 model OLED G5 is here, and expectations are naturally sky-high for what this vintage brings to the table. LG says they’ve focused on making the imaging even smarter and more flexible to your viewing habits. But the hardware is also new, with a new picture panel and an updated video processor under the bonnet.

So has LG managed to improve an already good model, or is it just a case of the same old wine in a new bottle? It’s time to find out!

LG OLED G5 – design

Design-wise, most things are pretty much the same as before. The LG display still has a slim, picture-like frame in brushed metal. The back is completely flat with a recess that allows it to be mounted close to the wall. Almost like an OLED version of Samsung’s The Frame, you could say.

The G5 is customised for wall mounting and if you choose the model with ‘LW’ at the end of the model name, a specially designed wall mount is included in the box. What is NOT included, however, is a regular stand or plinth for table mounting. If you want this, look for the model with ‘LS’ at the end instead.

Alternatively, LG also sells a plinth as an option. This is important to consider when comparing the G5 to its little brother, the C5, or competitors such as the Samsung S95F. Both of these come with a base in the box, but no wall mount.

The G5 series is available in a wide range of screen sizes, from 55 all the way up to 97 inches, and we tested the 65-inch version. The very largest model, the OLED97G5, will certainly tempt those looking for a true OLED big screen. But it comes in at close to €30,000! And it doesn’t use the latest panel technology either, which is currently only available up to 83 inches (LG OLED83G5).

Ease of use and features

The OLED G5 comes with LG’s latest user interface, WebOS 25, where special attention has been paid to allowing family members to create their own user profiles so that TV settings can be tailored to their preferences. It can actually be very useful when you think about it.

For example, the home screen can suggest content you like, while the picture and sound settings are set exactly as you like them. That way you don’t have to change everything after your sister, brother or mother-in-law has used the TV.

Like other LG 2025 models, the G5 also features the new generation Magic Remote. The new remote has a flatter design and a new ‘AI’ button that triggers the AI assistant. But like its predecessors, it still has a handy pointing function.

By moving the remote, you can steer a ‘mouse pointer’ around the screen and operate it by pressing different buttons. It can be very addictive.

That said, we still think the G5 deserves a slightly more premium remote control than the C-series – preferably in brushed steel or aluminium and with backlit buttons, for example. After all, we’re talking about a high-end model!

Connectivity and formats

Among the connections on the back, LG boasts four HDMI 2.1 inputs, all with full bandwidth to accommodate 4K/120Hz or even higher. So there’s plenty of room for multiple gaming consoles and a gaming PC if you wish.

The new LG TVs also have more customisable gaming features, such as refresh rates of up to 165Hz (up from 144Hz on the G4), with support for NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR. A dedicated Game Optimiser mode ensures smooth and seamless performance with various console and PC games. We measured the lag to be around 9.5 milliseconds when Game mode was enabled (60 Hz), and at 120 Hz you can expect it to be halved. This makes LG’s OLED TV still one of the best choices for those who prefer to game on a large TV screen.

The G5 also has wide format support, including Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos on the audio side. However, there is no support for HDR10+ or DTS audio, for example.

LG OLED G5 with new panel and powerful ‘AI’ processor

While its predecessor, the G4, wasn’t bad when it came to image performance, LG has had to upgrade its successor in several areas.

The OLED G5 is equipped with the new α11 Gen 2 video processor combined with the latest OLED panel from LG Display, also known as Primary RGB Tandem. This technology provides what LG calls Brightness Booster Ultimate and is only available in this model and the wireless OLED Signature M5.

Its little brothers in the C5 and B5 series have to make do with more conventional technology. In other words, the G5 series is for those who want ‘the very latest’ and are willing to spend a few extra grand – as long as it makes a noticeable difference, that is.

Measurements

The big question, of course, is whether the G5 delivers what it promises compared to the already good G4 model. In terms of measurements, there’s no doubt that the brightness makes a solid leap. We measured the G5 display at around 2,300 nits in a 10 per cent window and HDR movie mode. That’s up from around 1,600 nits from the OLED G4 in the same mode, and that equates to an increase of just over 40 per cent, just as LG has claimed. The G5 display also managed to maintain a higher brightness over a larger image area than its predecessor, making it a very ‘usable’ improvement.

The measurements also show that the LG OLED G5 – like its predecessor – delivers very accurate colours and greyscale as it comes out of the box from the factory. Low delta deviations in both SDR and HDR modes are well below 3, which equates to a very neutral picture. And those who wish can calibrate for even more studio-correct colours with the latest Calman software and advanced measurement equipment.

Picture quality

Measurements are one thing, but when it comes to practical differences in the real world, it’s more natural to trust our eyes. A 40 per cent increase in brightness doesn’t have to be ‘night and day’ when displayed on a small image area like this, but it is clearly noticeable as long as the image content and/or video processing manages to utilise the extra gain in the high-light areas.

When testing with familiar video material, it’s easy to see that the LG panel benefits from the extra brightness in demanding HDR scenes. Fast-paced scenes from the F1 series Drive to Survive are served up with even more punch in the highlight effects. The sunlight sparkles and the brake discs glow. The sparks as the chassis scrapes the tarmac feel even more alive. But the colours of the decorated formula cars have also become brighter than before. The reds in particular seem more intense, but the blues and greens have also become more pronounced.

On a regular SDR film, such as the Blu-ray version of the Batman film Dark Knight, there is also a significant difference. The G5 generation has significantly more contrast and brightness in some scenes, such as when Alfred visits his master Bruce Wayne in his underground lair. The LG display also captures the smallest details in dark scenes. The upscaling to 4K is exemplary, with even sharper images and less noise, which the G4 was already very good at.

That’s not to say that the G4 is completely behind: in our opinion, these are more subtle improvements that show up to varying degrees on different types of image content and with different image settings. So those who already own a G4 or have snapped up one of the latest offers have nothing to cry about.

One thing we did notice that could have worked a little better on the G5 is the transitions between different colour tones. The LG display occasionally showed visible colour gradations in the form of bands or ‘banding’ in some scenes, where some of its competitors (including Samsung and Sony’s QD-OLED displays) have been able to show even more seamless transitions. We wonder if this is something LG could have fixed in some way through a firmware update.

More smart picture modes

In keeping with tradition, LG offers a variety of picture modes that you can use to set the picture exactly how you prefer it. New this year, you can also get help from AI to choose the settings for you with the so-called ‘Personal Picture Wizard’.

The LG monitor’s personal ‘AI mode’ will first show you some test images with different contrast, sharpness and colour enhancement. You can choose which picture aesthetic you prefer, and based on these preferences, the TV will create your personalised picture profile. Alternatively, you can simply select one of the pre-programmed picture modes.

We tested by selecting the images we liked the most, and from that we got a fairly contrasty picture with exceptionally strong colours. Not unlike the TV’s own Vivid mode.

The problem with such a mode is that it can be a challenge to choose the ‘right’ test images when you don’t have a clear reference. However, it is entirely possible to correct some of the settings afterwards and thus trim the image exactly how you prefer it. The settings can be saved so that the TV remembers your profile the next time you log in.

For example, film enthusiasts will appreciate that LG introduces an updated picture mode ‘Filmmaker Mode’, which now takes into account the local lighting conditions in the room. This mode is basically designed for watching films in pitch-black rooms, but it’s not very living room-friendly: many have found that films become very dark. Now the TV can compensate for this by increasing the brightness while maintaining a neutral picture.

So now you can rest assured that the TV will serve the picture exactly as you like it the next time you log on. Then it’s up to the family council to decide what happens when several people want to watch TV at the same time…

Sound quality

A high-end TV deserves decent sound and LG has made sure to equip the G5 with a respectable set of speakers. There are both underslung speakers and integrated woofers, and the system can simulate a surround effect. Dialogue reproduction is crisp and clear, and there’s also a fairly rich bass, which is useful for action, suspense and especially music. The G5 can also play relatively loud without sounding distorted.

The sound is quite good and is at the level you’d expect from a premium TV, but not much more than that: We know, for example, that Philips has gotten more powerful sound out of its latest OLED+950. So there’s no doubt that the G5 series deserves to be expanded with a separate sound system. LG offers a separate matching soundbar with a slim profile for wall mounting, which could be a good choice for the design-orientated.

LG OLED G5 with SG10TY soundbar. (Photo: LG)