LG 2022 TVs: For OLED TVs, the last few years have been a fantastic ride. New panels, lower prices and a lasting image as the preferred choice for movie buffs, but also more and more for gamers. There is no wear and tear on the technology for the time being, because LG also has some innovations in store for us this year. With new image processing, you can expect great results again.
LG 2022 TVs: LG OLED evo and OLED EX
We’ve already talked extensively about the different types of OLED panels in a previous article. We came to the conclusion that the choice for a certain type of panel does not always lead to the same results, because manufacturers can choose to use the properties of a panel in different ways.
LG will again use the “OLED evo” brand name in 2022. That name stands for an advanced OLED panel that uses new materials, which deliver a wider color gamut and higher brightness, combined with the new Alpha9 gen5 processor. Both the C2 and G2 will be equipped with OLED evo this year.
But what about those new OLED EX panels that LG Display has announced? LG Electronics (who make the TVs) informed us that they use LG Display’s most advanced panels, but use them in a specific way for OLED evo. Read: we can assume that they are OLED EX panels, but maybe they are tuned a little more for energy efficiency or anti-burn-in properties.
That we can expect a higher brightness is certain, LG uses the Brightness Booster technology for this.
More brightness: Brightness booster
The Brightness Booster is an algorithm that ensures a more efficient distribution of the available power. It detects dark and bright areas in the image and uses power saved in the dark areas for the bright areas. For example, the Brightness Booster provides 20% more brightness compared to conventional OLED panels (such as in the B2).
The Brightness Booster will be available on the C2 and G2 ranges, but not on the 42 and 48 inch models. They have a pixel aperture ratio that is too small (the ratio between the total pixel surface and that part of the pixel that is occupied by control electronics).
The G2 also gets better cooling, making it up to 30% brighter than a conventional OLED. We saw this approach in previous years at Panasonic and Sony, LG is now also adopting that principle.
It remains to be seen how these improvements will manifest themselves in practice. The 20 and 30% improvement that LG indicates have been measured on a completely white field, we will have to measure the effect on smaller white fields ourselves.
Improved dithering for near blacks
A small detail that LG mentioned, but which is important: the new panels would use an improved dithering algorithm. Until last year, LG used a relatively aggressive dithering strategy, compared to, for example, the Sony models (see photo).
The new dithering algorithm would, according to LG, carry less risk of annoying flickering in dark scenes. That’s something we’ll be sure to test when the samples arrive.
Lightweight OLED TVs
An OLED TV is definitely not a heavyweight. Certainly not if we compare the current models with a TV from ten years ago. But LG has managed to make the new 2022 models even lighter. Part of the metal in the back has been replaced by a composite fiber material between two aluminum plates. This reduces the weight considerably. It also has no adverse effect on cooling.
What is significant? A 65G1 weighs 29.0 kg while the new 65G2 weighs just 22.8 kg. For the 65C2, the gain is even more impressive. That goes to 16.8 kg while the 65C1 still weighed 32.6 kg.
The 5th generation Alpha9 processor
Image processing is an integral part of image quality, and there too we see small improvements or a new approach every year.
First of all, the upscaling algorithm has been tinkered with. Until now, this worked in several steps. First the image is upscaled in several steps, then the ‘Clear Resolution’ AI algorithm added improvements for sharpness and detail. But by using different steps you naturally accumulate editing errors several times. LG claims that it can be done better by performing everything in one step. The new algorithm performs the upscaling in one step and also adds a Noise Reduction step to the AI-based ‘Clear Resolution’. The latter is also based on Deep learning AI technology. In the test results that LG showed us, this already led to an improved display of oblique lines (fewer steps) and a purer sharpness without halo and overshoot.
Smaller improvements are in foreground and background detection. Where the 2021 processor recognized faces, bodies and objects, the 2022 processor can improve that further with a more general zone-based detection of what is foreground and background. This gives the image some extra depth.
And to make the Vivid mode more enjoyable, the new ‘Dynamic Vivid’ mode now takes skin tones into account. He leaves these largely untouched, but in other colors he could use a broader palette. This gives the image more color, but people remain natural eyes.
Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro
Tone mapping is one of the most important aspects of HDR-display. During this step, the range of the input signal is switched to the range of the screen. For example, if a movie has peaks that go up to 2,000 nits, and the screen can only display up to 1,000 nits, the tone mapping may decide to map the input signal from 200 to 2,000 nits over the screen range of 200 to 1,000 nits. There is no obligation to do this in any particular way, so manufacturers have freedom to tune the image to their preference.
With Dynamic Tonemapping, the TV determines again what the optimal tonemapping is for each image. This way he can avoid making dark images even darker unnecessarily. On 2021 models, LG analyzed 576 zones to find the darkest and brightest part of the image and then determined a tone mapping that was applied to the entire image.
On the 2022 models (only those with Alpha9 processor) that approach is being refined. The image is divided into 5,184 zones and the TV does not determine one tone mapping for the entire image, but an optimal tone mapping for each of those zones separately. As a result, the nuances in the image must be preserved even better, both in dark and bright parts of the image. And especially in images with a strong contrast, this will be well reflected. LG even claims that Dynamic Tonemapping Pro preserves the intention of the maker even better.
Dolby Vision IQ + Precision Detail
LG’s Dynamic Tonemapping Pro approach has apparently also aroused the interest of Dolby. The LG models with an Alpha9 processor will be able to enjoy Dolby Vision IQ + Precision Detail this year. Precision Detail refers to a better display of contrast (and thus sharpness). Dolby has not yet given any details about the exact operation, but according to LG it would work with the same principle as Dynamic Tonemapping Pro.
An important advantage is that it works with any Dolby Vision title, and even with Dolby Vision gaming images.
More Gaming features in LG 2022 TVs
Gaming is getting more and more attention on the TVs. Within the Game mode you could already switch between different image optimizations based on game genre (Standard, FPS, RPG and RTS). There is now also a ‘Sports’ mode that focuses on sharpness of movement and clear visibility of players (eg for FIFA).
In addition, LG has also provided a ‘dark room’ mode in 2022. So if you game in the dark, but still find the image too bright and tiring, you can now make the image a bit milder in two steps.
The gaming dashboard is getting an update. You will now be able to switch between the different game modes, activate a split screen to view YouTube, for example, in addition to your game, or go directly to all settings.
For optimal game streaming support, the Z2, G2, QNED99 and QNED95 will be equipped with WiFi 6.
webOS22: more personalization
Last year LG completely changed course for webOS with a completely new interface. The new version is now called webOS22, with an emphasis on more personalization and ease of use.
You will now be able to create different profiles per user. You can switch using your smartphone. Each user sees their own apps, but also their own recommendations. What you see can also be adjusted more, for example not only the order of the apps in the list, but also in which order the other rows appear on the screen.
A tile will now be available on the Home screen that will immediately take you back to the last selected source. And to keep your content offer clear, all VOD services have been placed in one row. With a series of tabs above that row, you can choose which service you want to see recommendations from.
LG also provides an extensive Multi View option where you can view two sources at the same time in classic Picture in Picture or as two screens side by side. You will be able to combine many sources, but most options will not be available until later in the year. From the start you can combine Live TV, HDMI and YouTube with the image of a USB camera or Miracast. You can also combine Live TV and HDMI with YouTube.
A new ‘Always Ready’ mode gives the screen a function when you’re not watching TV. For example as a click, as a work of art or as a photo frame. Thanks to Alexa or Google Assistant, the built-in microphone can answer questions, such as the weather forecast. If you prefer not to have a listening ear in the living room, you can switch off the microphone via the menus.
Conclusion LG 2022 TVs
We are looking forward to these new 2022 TVs from LG. Not only are there improvements to the OLED technology, but image processing such as Dynamic ToneMapping Pro also seems very interesting to us. After the radical overhaul of webOS in 2021, it seems smart tv platform better personalize in 2022, a step we certainly welcome.
