The LG B4 OLED boasts beautiful picture high quality with these deep OLED black ranges — at a wonderful value.
Professionals
- Modern and slim design
- Beautiful OLED black ranges
- Wonderful reflection-handling
- Nice software program options
- Affordable value (for OLED)
| Purchase From | Record Value | Sale Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
$1396.99 | $1399.99 | See It |
Whereas the likes of Mini-LED and Micro-LED show panels are getting higher and higher, OLED TVs are nonetheless the king of correct black ranges. LG has pioneered the usage of OLED for a while now, and it affords a variety of OLED fashions at a variety of costs. The LG B4 OLED is the entry-level OLED TV in LG’s 2024 lineup, providing these deep black ranges at a a lot lower cost than LG’s top-tier fashions.
However whereas Mini-LED TVs can’t obtain the identical managed black ranges as OLED TVs simply but, they do produce other benefits, like excessive ranges of brightness. That is an space the place OLED TVs have historically struggled, although, in latest fashions, Samsung and LG have radically improved on brightness for his or her top-of-the-line choices.
The LG B4 OLED, after all, shouldn’t be on the high of LG’s line. Does it undergo from brightness points sufficient to go for a Mini-LED TV like the Hisense U8N or TCL QM8 as an alternative? I’ve been utilizing the LG B4 OLED TV for some time now to seek out out.
LG B4 OLED specs
| Show measurement | 55, 65, 77 inches |
| Decision | 3840 x 2160 |
| Show sort | OLED |
| Refresh charge | 120Hz |
| Ports | 4 x HDMI 2.1, USB 2.0, optical, ethernet |
| HDR help | HDR10+, Dolby Imaginative and prescient |
| Software program | LG WebOS |
| Value | $1,699.99 – $3,399.99 |
Good design with some practical points
The LG B4 OLED might not be as extremely slim because the Samsung S95D nor as premium because the LG G4 OLED, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a well-built TV with a decently trendy design.
In contrast to some latest TV fashions, the LG B4 OLED opts for ft as an alternative of a center-mounted stand, as has grow to be the development. The ft nonetheless look nice, they usually have been sturdy, too. On the 65-inch mannequin that I’m reviewing, they have been huge sufficient to position a smaller soundbar just like the Sonos Beam between them. Nevertheless, a wider soundbar should be positioned in entrance of the ft.
There are some issues that I didn’t love about this TV’s design, although. For instance, on the again of the TV, there’s a non-removable energy cable, which may trigger points if the cable will get broken. Even on a TV on this value vary, an influence cable ought to be detachable and replaceable. Moreover, two of the HDMI ports are rear-facing as an alternative of side-facing, and when you plan on mounting your TV, that might trigger points.
At first look, the TV seems to be comparatively skinny, thanks largely to the two-stage design. Within the middle of the again is a thicker space the place the ports are, together with the processors and different computing parts, however the outdoors of the TV is good and skinny, serving to make it look a bit of extra spectacular than it in any other case would. I like this design generally and located that the TV seemed premium general. It’s largely constructed from plastic, however that’s to be anticipated, and it nonetheless seemed good.
4 HDMI 2.1 ports
The LG B4 OLED has 4 HDMI ports on the again, and in contrast to many different choices on this value vary, all 4 of them are HDMI 2.1 ports. Which means that you may join your trendy consoles to any of the ports and take full benefit of variable refresh charge know-how. One of many ports helps HDMI eARC, and different ports on provide embody an optical port and USB ports.
It’s a wide selection and every part you’ll want in 2024.
A distant with a slight studying curve
The LG B4 OLED comes with LG’s Magic Distant, which is a distant that I’ve a little bit of a love-hate relationship with. Whereas different TVs are delivery with remotes that solely management software program, the Magic Distant nonetheless has controls for channels, which you would possibly discover to be a very good factor. The distant is thicker than most different remotes lately. Nevertheless, it does have bigger AA batteries and added performance, like the flexibility to level at objects on the display to pick out them, and there’s additionally a scroll wheel within the middle of the course buttons.
The distant does have fast entry buttons for streaming providers, and on this distant, you’ll get entry to Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Sling. There’s additionally a button for LG Channels and Alexa, which is good when you use Alexa. Should you’re like me, you’ll find yourself principally utilizing an Apple TV distant anyway, however most will have the ability to get used to the LG Magic Distant and the way it works.
Respectable software program and nice good dwelling help
As we might count on, the LG B4 OLED ships with LG’s WebOS software program, which is decently well-designed, although many will favor the likes of Google TV. That stated, I don’t thoughts WebOS, and it helps all of your favourite streaming providers. The interface has modified fairly a bit during the last couple of years, and it’s comparatively straightforward to entry your favourite streaming providers, although there are some annoying adverts within the UI.
Fortunately, the TV ships with different good options that may assist make it helpful for various use circumstances. It helps Apple’s HomeKit, so you possibly can add it to the Apple Dwelling app and management it from there. It additionally has AirPlay 2 constructed into it, so you possibly can stream content material out of your iPhone or different Apple gadget. Moreover, it helps Alexa and Google Assistant, and it even works with Matter.
The software program expertise on the LG B4 OLED is mostly fairly good, and it helps a strong set of good options.
Beautiful OLED efficiency and respectable brightness
The LG B4 OLED delivers on OLED’s largest promise — by providing these infinite, true black ranges, which in flip helps enhance on distinction by widening the hole between the deepest blacks and brightest whites.
However the TV affords extra than simply deep blacks. OLED panels get some criticism for missing brightness, and the B4 OLED isn’t immune from that — it doesn’t essentially provide the brightest picture on the market, nevertheless it does get moderately brilliant in SDR. And it does have methods to mitigate the picture high quality from struggling an excessive amount of from that lack of brightness. For instance, the panel is fairly good at dealing with reflections, so brilliant lights in your room aren’t as distracting as they in any other case could be.
And, to be honest, this technology of OLED panels is brighter than earlier ones — even within the case of the lowest-end OLED TV, the LG B4. Because of this, photos look beautiful in darkish rooms, however additionally they look fairly good in brighter environments. In HDR, photos look lovely. Setting apart the deep black ranges, the TV is ready to provide comparatively vibrant colours general, though maybe not as spectacular as another non-OLED choices on this value vary.
The TV was nice in different areas too. It dealt with movement excellently, making watching the Olympics much more thrilling. And, there’s a really low enter lag, so gaming feels responsive general.
The LG B4 OLED represents a strong step ahead for the B-series. Final 12 months’s B3 was a strong TV, nevertheless it suffered way more from an absence of brightness, and wasn’t pretty much as good as reflection-handling, basically that means that there have been extra important trade-offs for going for an OLED TV in its value vary. This 12 months, that has been roughly fastened.
Get a soundbar
The LG B4 OLED has two audio system constructed into it, and whereas they’re nice in a pinch, they’re removed from well-rounded or providing depth. They will emphasize dialog decently nicely, however there isn’t a ton of bass, and it’s value shopping for even a less expensive soundbar to make use of alongside the TV when you can.
Once more, the audio system are nice in a pinch, however investing a bit of money will assist loads.
Conclusions
The LG B4 OLED represents a wonderful solution to get that OLED high quality at a low value. The TV isn’t as brilliant as a number of the competitors, nevertheless it will get round this comparatively simply. In order for you a brilliant brilliant TV, it’s value wanting elsewhere, however the B4 OLED nonetheless stuns in darkish and well-lit environments alike. Typically talking, the B4 is the easiest way to get an OLED TV with out paying G4-like costs. As a facet notice, the B4 can also be a wonderful TV to get as a big laptop monitor.
The competitors
Maybe the largest competitors to the LG B4 OLED comes within the type of the Samsung S90C, which is barely costlier than the LG TV. The S90C can get a bit of brighter, and shows a wider colour gamut, nevertheless once more, it’s additionally a bit of pricier. Should you can stretch your price range to get the S90C, it might be value doing so, as it’s a higher TV general — however you actually gained’t be disenchanted with the LG B4 OLED.
Ought to I purchase the LG B4 OLED?
Sure. You also needs to take into account the Samsung S90C, however the LG B4 OLED is a surprising TV.
