We can help you decide between a Samsung or LG TV. These top brands have introduced many technological advances to their TVs and many of their models make it on our list of the best TVs every year.
There is no clear winner. The TV brands LG and Samsung both make excellent TVs. Both brands offer TVs with a variety of features and prices so that there is a model for everyone, no matter your budget.
While the display technology used by each brand was unique for a while, Samsung concentrated on QLED TVs, while LG made OLED TVs. Today, the picture is not so clear. This Samsung vs LG TV guide will highlight similarities and differences between the brands to help you choose which TV manufacturer is best.
Samsung TV vs LG TV overview
Samsung and LG are two of the most popular tech companies selling TVs. They offer great TVs for both small and large budgets. However, they have different panel technologies for their high-end sets. These differences may not be important to you right now, but they could prove to have a significant impact on your decision-making.
These two South Korean manufacturers sell TVs around the world, with a large base of customers and a wide range each year.
It is difficult to compare prices given the variety of TVs launched by LG and Samsung each year. There is no reason to place an affordable, value-for money LG TV against Samsung’s flagship, top of-the-line model. Both brands offer the best 32-inch smart TVs, the best 4K TVs, and the most expensive 8K TVs. No matter your budget, size, resolution, or budget, either brand will satisfy.
Samsung TV vs LG TV: smart TV platform
Both Samsung and LG have their own smart TV platforms. Two of the most popular smart TV platforms are Tizen by Samsung and webOS by LG. They are fast, have the latest apps, and there are some differences.
Since 2014, LG has been leading webOS development. The webOS interface features a horizontal menu bar that lists the most commonly used apps, streaming services, and inputs. It also allows for customizable placement, so you can choose where to place your favorite apps on the dashboard.
As you can see, the interface has evolved over the years. It replaced its traditional app overlay by a more spaced-out, full-screen view. But it is still our favorite smart TV platform.
Samsung’s Tizen platform looks very similar to the original. Although clutter is a good thing, it can sometimes make navigation difficult. There are many times when you need to search for an application. Smart Hub media pages make this possible. They distribute content from both apps and your home network/USB drives. The main difference is that the search algorithm it uses isn’t as powerful as LG’s ThinQ AI.
But what about voice assistants, you ask? LG’s OLED- and Super UHD TVs offer limited compatibility to Alexa-controlled devices. Samsung has its own, somewhat less reliable Bixby assistant. However, it is only compatible with mid-range and high-end devices. It also offers the ability to use Alexa or Google Assistant via third-party devices.
Samsung TV vs LG TV: panel technology
The current high-end TV market can be divided into OLED and QLED.
OLED, which stands to represent “organic light emitting diode,” refers to a TV panel with the ability to emit its own light rather than having light shine through it. OLED TVs have the advantage of being extremely thin and allowing for control over the brightness of each pixels. OLEDs are known for their vibrant colors, deep black levels, and low brightness.
OLED displays are often referred to as “burned”, but these are mostly anecdotal problems. You would need to work the TV very hard to see any signs of this happening. LG Display makes all OLED panels. Even if you have a Sony OLED panel in your home, LG Display is to be commended.
Samsung developed QLED technology. QLED uses a quantum dots filter to improve color and contrast. Instead of being able to adjust brightness for each pixel individually, it relies upon multiple dimming zones. Although QLED TVs are brighter than OLEDs (thousands versus hundreds), they can struggle to display both bright and dark images simultaneously.
This debate was covered in detail in our QLED Vs OLED guide. OLED is better suited to viewing high-quality video formats in dark environments. Samsung’s TVs are worse in contrast, but they make up for this with bright displays.
Samsung has launched the Samsung S95B OLED TV in 2022. Although technically it is QD-OLED, it is technically OLED. This screen is actually an entirely new OLED technology. It combines OLED’s famous self-emitting characteristics with QLED’s brightness and color gamut capabilities.
It is also worth noting LG may be the manufacturer of OLED panels. However, it also makes a type o display technology called NanoCell that is very similar to QLED. NanoCell TVs have a layer of nanoparticles that is between the LED backlight screen and the screen. This can increase contrast and color. NanoCell TVs are less expensive than OLED panels, and offer many of the same benefits that QLED TVs.
Samsung TV vs LG TV : formats
Both TV brands use a different format for high dynamic resolution (HDR). LG includes Dolby Vision in their high-end OLED models and Super UHD models. Samsung prefers HDR10+ on its high-end TVs.
Dynamic metadata is used to match the output of the TV to the content being displayed. This means that scenes in dark underground caves or brightly lit living spaces will affect the brightness, contrast, and image processing levels.
Dolby Vision is the most advanced format. It has a 12-bit color gamut rather than the 10-bit HDR10+. It’s also more common (Google Chromecast with Google TV, Apple TV 4K and Google TV with Google TV both use Dolby Vision).
While HDR is a preferred format for high-end models only, it’s not an issue for those with more money. However, people who spend a lot need to think about which services they will be using HDR content.
It is also worth noting that Panasonic doesn’t adhere to any HDR format. Even the budget Panasonic GX800 LED TV supports Dolby Vision as well as HDR10+.
Samsung TV or LG TV: Which one should you choose?
Samsung is currently the market leader. However, the choice of TV brand is entirely up to you. Your preferences and whether or not any of the differences we highlighted above are prohibitive. You should remember, however, that similar products will need to be compared. For example, a Samsung device with a high-end design will always be more expensive than one from LG.
LG’s OLED panels are the best for color and contrast, regardless of their price.
The best Samsung TVs can light up a room and offer a higher pixel density. Check out our review of Samsung QN900B Neo QLED8K TV. We love Samsung’s Lifestyle TVs such as The Frame QLED 4K television (2022), because they combine performance and style. Samsung’s mid-range TVs, such as the Samsung BU8500, offer great value for their money.
There are no two TV brands better than a Samsung or LG. However, knowing the key differences in their display technology, smart TV platform and form factors will help you choose the right TV brand for you.