Walk into any Best Buy or scroll through a tech subreddit, and you'll see it. The "LG vs. Everyone" debate. People treat it like a sports rivalry. But let's be real—dropping two grand on a screen shouldn't feel like a gamble. You want to know if that sleek panel is going to burn out in three years or if the software is going to lag until you want to throw the remote at the wall.
Are LG TVs good? Yeah, mostly. But "good" is a lazy word. LG basically invented the modern OLED market, and they still dominate it with over 50% market share globally. However, their cheaper LED stuff—like the NanoCell or entry-level QNEDs—can be a total toss-up.
The OLED Elephant in the Room
If you’re looking at LG, you’re probably looking at OLED. Specifically the 2026 models like the LG C6 or the ultra-bright G6. LG’s "Evo" panels are legendary for a reason. They give you perfect blacks because each pixel literally turns off. No light bleed. No "gray" space where space should be pitch black.
But here is what the marketing glosses over: burn-in.
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LG has gotten way better at managing this with their new Hyper Radiant Color Technology and the Alpha 11 AI Processor Gen3. They have these features like "Logo Detection" and "Screen Shift" that move the image by a few pixels so it doesn't bake into the glass. Still, if you leave CNN or a gaming HUD on for 12 hours a day, every day, you're asking for trouble.
Interestingly, the LG G6 and the M-series (the wireless ones) actually come with a 5-year panel warranty in several regions. That tells you they trust the hardware. The mid-range C5 or C6? Usually just one year. That gap in coverage says a lot about which models LG thinks are "tanks" and which are just "really good."
Why the G6 and W6 are Different Now
At CES 2026, LG brought back the Wallpaper TV (W6). It’s 9mm thin. That is thinner than most smartphones. To get it that thin, they had to move all the "guts"—the HDMI ports, the power supply—into a separate Zero Connect Box.
It’s cool as hell. But it’s also a specialized tool. If you aren't mounting your TV, the W6 is useless. It doesn't even come with a stand. The G6 is the same way; it’s designed to sit flush against your drywall. If you want a TV that actually stands on a table without buying extra parts, the C5 or the newer C6 is your bread and butter.
Is webOS Actually Good or Just Annoying?
Honestly, the software is where people get split. LG uses webOS 25 (and now 26), which is fast. It’s snappy. You get these "Quick Cards" that group your apps by "Gaming" or "Music."
But the ads. Man, the ads.
Even on a $4,000 TV, LG tries to sell you on their "LG Channels" or some random movie rental right on the home screen. You can turn most of it off in the settings, but you've gotta dig for it. The Magic Remote is still the star of the show, though. It works like a Nintendo Wii pointer. You point at the screen, a cursor appears, and you click. It’s way faster than tapping a D-pad fifty times to type "Interstellar" into a search bar.
The Gaming Angle
If you game, LG is basically the gold standard. Most TVs give you one or two HDMI 2.1 ports. LG gives you four on almost all their OLEDs.
- 4K at 144Hz (or even 165Hz on the newest flagship models).
- G-Sync and FreeSync support so your screen doesn't "tear" when the frame rate drops.
- VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) is standard.
Samsung is their only real rival here, but Samsung still refuses to support Dolby Vision. If you’re a cinephile who also plays Xbox or PS5, the fact that LG supports Dolby Vision Gaming gives them the edge. It’s a small detail until you see the lighting in a game like Cyberpunk or Starfield with it turned on.
What About the Cheap Stuff?
This is where the "Are LG TVs good?" answer changes to "Eh, maybe."
LG’s non-OLED TVs, like the NanoCell or the lower-end QNED80, use IPS panels. These have great viewing angles—meaning if you're sitting on the side of the couch, the colors don't look washed out. But the contrast? It’s weak. In a dark room, blacks look like a milky charcoal gray.
If you have a bright living room with tons of windows, a QNED90 (which uses Mini-LED backlighting) is actually a better choice than an OLED. It gets way brighter. It fights glare better. But if you’re a "movie night with the lights off" person, don't buy the cheap LGs. You’ll be disappointed.
How Long Do They Actually Last?
Consumer Reports usually ranks LG near the top for reliability, but user forums are a graveyard of "my screen went black after 2 years" posts. Realistically, a modern LG TV should last you 7 to 10 years.
The pixels lose brightness over time—that’s just physics—but you won't notice it for a long while. The biggest risk isn't the screen dying; it's the power board or the Wi-Fi chip giving out. Always keep your TV on a high-quality surge protector. These things are basically giant smartphones now, and they’re just as sensitive to power spikes.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Buy
If you're ready to pull the trigger, don't just look at the price tag. Look at your room first.
- Check your light: If your room has floor-to-ceiling windows and you watch TV during the day, skip the OLED and get an LG QNED90 or QNED99. The extra brightness is worth the loss in "perfect" blacks.
- Verify the stand: Remember that the G-Series (G5, G6) and W-Series are designed for wall mounting. If you don't want to drill holes in your wall, you'll need to factor in an extra $150–$200 for a third-party stand or settle for the C-Series.
- Gaming needs: If you own more than two next-gen consoles or a PC, LG is the best choice because of the four HDMI 2.1 ports. Most Sony and Hisense models still only offer two.
- Warranty hack: If you're terrified of burn-in but don't want to pay for the flagship G6, buy your TV through a retailer like Best Buy that specifically covers burn-in in their extended protection plans. LG's standard warranty usually won't cover it on the cheaper models.
- Disable the "Snooping": When you set it up, uncheck the boxes for "Live Plus" and "Interest-based Advertisement" in the settings. It makes the menu slightly faster and keeps your data a bit more private.