LG’s new 2015 line-up of TVs will include webOS in almost every TV. Ultra HD will be in the 6 series TVs and up, whereas Full HD is disappearing. LG is still the only TV manufacturer who can produce the amazing OLED TVs. This year, LG will take OLED to the next level with its Ultra HD OLED TVs. FlatpanelsHD brings a full overview of LG’s 2015 TV line-up
LG’s 2015 TV line-up has everything except plasma TVs. The plasma technology has been phased out, but OLED is here to take over as the next generation of display technology. Early adopters have been able to pick up LG’s amazing OLED TVs for just over a year, but this year LG will combine OLED with Ultra HD, aiming to set new standards for picture quality on TVs.
LG’s OLED line-up will still consist only of high-end TVs - with a price to match. LG will offer both flat and curved variants from 55 to 77 inch sizes, including one that can bend on command - if that is what you want. The EF9500 and EG9600 are flat and curved 4K OLED TVs, whereas the higher-end EF9800 adds a powerful soundbar to the mix.
All of LG’s OLED TVs will come equipped with the webOS platform that LG introduced last year. In 2015, webOS TVs will have a faster chip inside, making the webOS interface snappier, although still as simple and intuitive with a small bar that pops up from the bottom with access to apps and services. webOS will also be available in the Ultra HD LCD models, including the most affordable 6 series.
LG’s OLED TVs are incredible slim because the OLED technology has self-emissive pixels. The LCDs are also thin, but not as thin as the OLEDs. A general theme for LG’s design in 2015 is the slim frame around the picture panel, and LG will also introduce two curved LCD TVs this year. There are several different base designs, but you can obviously also wall-mount the TVs.
Ultra HD will be in most of LG’s TVs this year, and comparing details to some of LG’s competitors it is clear that LG is moving more aggressively into Ultra HD. If you are looking for a Full HD TV you will have to look at the 6 series models. There are no high-end Full HD TVs this year.
webOS will offer the same apps as last year, but LG will also be adding new services depending on where you live in the world. You can stream 4K from Netflix and Amazon Prime. This is possible because LG’s TVs support HEVC decoding. A new addition is VP9 decoding, which allows the TVs to stream 4K from YouTube that already has a large catalogue of 4K content made by professionals as well as amateurs. This is the first time 4K streaming from YouTube has been available on any TV. GoPro is also working on bringing 4K streaming to LG’s TVs.
The majority of the TVs with webOS rely on the motion-enabled Magic Remote. Think of it like a Nintendo Wii-like experience. You have a cursor on the TV that you can move by waving your hand in the free air. This year, LG has added a few more buttons to the Magic Remotes.
For the first time in many years, LG will also include twin tuners in its flagship LCD and OLED models, allowing you to record one show while watching another. LG still believes that internet streaming is the future for TV distribution, but it is nevertheless a handy feature to have until streaming technology gets more mature.
Besides improving picture quality with Ultra HD resolution and OLED technology, LG has implemented a new picture engine dubbed “Tru Ultra HD Engine” that will take care of picture processing as well as 4K up-scaling from HD and SD channels and content.
"ColorPrime" is LG’s word for a wider color gamut. All of its OLED TVs are labeled ColorPrime, meaning that they can reproduce a wider color gamut than the current Rec.709 used for HD. This will give you more vibrant colors as cannot Rec.709 reproduce all the colors that the human eye is capable of seeing.
LG will also include ColorPrime in it two high-end LCD models. UF950V uses phosphor technology to expand the color gamut, whereas UF940V uses quantum dots that several other manufacturers will also implement in its high-end TVs. One important note here is that you cannot use the wider color gamut until we see movie and TV series released in beyond-Rec.709 colors. The status right now is that close to zero is available, but the upcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray standard could change that when the players start selling in late 2015.
Ultra HD will be in most of LG’s TVs this year
LG will release new TVs in sizes up to 79 inches, but two existing 98"+ TVs will carry over into 2015. Most of LG’s new Ultra HD TVs will incorporate speakers systems developed in collaboration with Harman Kardon and some of the high-end models will also incorporate subwoofers to improve the sound experience. However, most other TVs are slim models that will surely require a soundbar or external speakers for great sound.
LG has developed speakers that can wirelessly connect to its TVs. The company calls it “wireless sound sync” and in the specifications lists below we have marked which TVs support the system.
A few years ago when the TV manufacturers started pushing 3D, LG was the only manufacturer to use the passive 3D system that relies on inexpensive polarized 3D glasses. Since then, several other TV manufacturers have joined them in using passive 3D, but like every other manufacturer LG will scale back its 3D focus this year. Only the high-end 8 and 9 series TVs - and one Full HD 6 series TV will offer 3D.
LG’ 2015 TVs will launch in the US and Europe starting in April. The first 4K OLED will be available in most countries this spring, but most of the other OLEDs are planned for the second half of 2015. We will update this overview with more details as we get them. Note that LG’s TVs are called “xx00” in the US and that the same TVs end on “0V” in Europe (example: EF9600 in the US, EF960V in Europe).
LG EG9900 (4K OLED)
EG9900 is an extremely high-end TV but mostly a statement from LG. The company wants to show the world that its OLED TVs are bendable - and amazing – so it created a 77-inch TV that can do just that; bend.
Bendable
OLED
4K Ultra HD
ColorPrime
Tru Ultra HD Engine
webOS
HEVC
VP9
Passive 3D
Wireless sound sync
US: 77” 77EG9900 Europe: 77” 77EG990V
LG EF9800 (4K OLED)
LG’s EF9800 is a high-end flat OLED TV with Ultra HD resolution. It also features webOS and a powerful soundbar that can be detached from the TV.
EG9600 is another 4K OLED from LG, and this time you are looking at a curved model. It offers LG’s most advanced picture technology but has weaker, integrated speakers.
UF9500 is one of the two high-end LCD models with ColorPrime that expands the color gamut. It also offer a powerful speaker system developed in collaboration with Harman Kardon.
Next up is the UG880V, which is a new curved LCD model from LG. It will only be available as a 79-inch TV.
Curved
4K Ultra HD
Tru Ultra HD Engine
Direct LED
webOS
HEVC
Passive 3D
Wireless sound sync
US: No
Europe: 79" 79UG880V
LG UG870V (4K LCD)
UG870V is the extension of the UG880V series. It is a curved Ultra HD LCD TV that fills the void below the the 79-inch model. Same features - except it uses edge LED backlighting.
UF770 no longer has 3D, but still comes with the webOS platform. It will be available in many different formats. A UF772 will also be available as a design variant in some regions.
With UF6900 we are moving into the 6 series. It is still an Ultra HD TV, but it does not support 3D. If you want the Magic Remote you have to buy it separately as none of the 6 series TVs come with one.
Several other models in the 5 series will be available as LF5000, LF5500, LF5600/LF560V, LF540V and LF510V. These are basic TVs without "smart" features.
Full HD
US: 32 to 55" Europe: 32 to 55"
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