Both formats use what’s called dynamic metadata to tailor the output of the television to the content being displayed, so scenes of dark underground caverns or well-lit drawing rooms vary the levels of brightness, contrast, and picture processing accordingly. LG’s model numbers may look daunting at first glance, but they’re actually relatively easy to decipher once you know what each of the component parts refers to. Having said that, if you're looking for the most impressive picture quality out there, regardless of price, nothing currently beats LG's OLED panels for color and contrast (read our LG C2 OLED review).

LG UK LG UN81 50 inch 4K Smart UHD TV - 50UN81006LB | LG UK

This reflects the series the TV belongs to. The higher the number, the more advanced (and expensive) the TV is.Samsung is currently the market leader, but which TV brand you choose is entirely up to you, your preferences and whether any of the differences we've highlighted above are dealbreakers for you. It's worth bearing in mind, however, that you'll want to compare like for like. A high-end set for Samsung, for example, will always beat a budget set from LG, and vice versa. Those features may be exclusive to α9-powered sets, but the rest of the lineup isn’t short on improvements. Every OLED, QNED and UHD entry comes with “AI Blue Light Reduction” to deliver a more natural viewing experience, while the new webOS home screen makes new home screen for webOS groups content into easy-to-access categories to reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling. These additional numbers and letters are the least important. They indicate the sales region, the type of broadcast tuner and the type of stand the TV uses.

LG TV model numbers: LG’s latest OLED, QNED and NanoCell TVs

The G3 also benefits from the latest iteration of LG’s most powerful processor, the α9 AI Processor Gen6. This is also found in the C3 and Z3 and enables a number of new picture processing technologies, including AI Super Upscaling, Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro, Object Enhancer and HDR Expression Enhancer.OLEDs are handled slightly differently from the rest of LG’s range so let’s look at those first. Taking the OLED83C34LA as our example, the model number can be broken down into five parts: QNED and NanoCell model numbers take a different form but the general gist is the same. Let’s use the 75QNED826RE as our example: As you can see from the image above, the interface has changed in recent years, replacing its traditional overlay of apps for a full-screen view that's more spaced-out, but is still the best smart TV platform in our books. LG showcased its new TV range at CES in January, with the lineup comprising various OLED models, a Mini LED flagship, a few edge-lit Quantum Dot NanoCell alternatives and a handful of basic LCD LED models.

60UQ81006LB Smart 4K UHD HDR LED Freeview TV LG 60 Inch 60UQ81006LB Smart 4K UHD HDR LED Freeview TV

You won’t find any gaming features on the UQ81 that would allow you to play next-gen titles. LG would have to provide an HDMI 2.1 interface and 120 hertz for that. But this is simply not part of the specifications. You will also have to do without three-dimensional surround sound and sometimes show some patience when navigating through webOS 22. QNED: Next comes the panel type, which in this case is a Quantum NanoCell Emitting Diode (QNED) panel. We’ve gone into this debate in more detail in our QLED vs OLED guide. It’ll be enough to say that OLED is generally suited to high-quality video formats in dark viewing environments, while Samsung’s sets lag on contrast (comparatively) but make up for it with a bright and impactful display. Admittedly, the preferred HDR format is only really a concern at the higher end of the price range, but those spending big should think carefully about which services they’re likely to want HDR content on. C: The first letter of an OLED’s model number indicates the series to which the TV belongs. “Z” series OLEDs are the company’s most expensive, while the “A” series are entry-level options, though there’s no A series being released in the UK in 2023.

Find out how to make sense of LG’s bewildering TV naming methods

In comparison, the best Samsung TV can sure light up a room, offering a higher boost in pixel density than its rivals, take a look at our Samsung QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV review. We also love Samsung's lifestyle sets, like The Frame QLED 4K TV (2022), for combining performance with style. And its mid-range TVs, like the Samsung BU8500, are truly excellent value for money.