The Evolution of LG TV Technology: From HD to OLED

In the ever-competitive market of television, LG is one of the most renowned brands. Being innovative and consistent, LG TVs have dominated the marketplace for years. The beginning of LG TV happened with their HD TVs back in the early 2000s. It marked the beginning of the LG brand in the TV market. 

They eventually improved their HD TV and introduced Full HD or FHD. This transformation lasted about 10 years. LG then brought LED technology which pushed them to be a leading player. They started improving picture quality and energy efficiency. Eventually, LG introduced 4K Ultra HD TVs which set a new standard in the market. 

Understanding the evolution of LG TV will take a lot more than that. That’s why we’ve talked about the history of LG TV and how they established their dominance. We have also discussed the technologies behind different panels and how they improved the user experience. 

Beginning of LG’s Journey: The HD Era (Early 2000s)

Like many other brands, LG entered the TV market with their HD TVs. HD stands for High Definition. HD TVs brought clearer pictures and a smoother viewing experience which took the market by storm. 

The period of the early 2000s witnessed LG TVs dominate the market in various price ranges. HD TVs had a built-in 720p or 1080p panel which were clearer than the market standard. This allowed the HD TVs to provide a better viewing experience at an affordable cost.

During the HD era, the LCD panel became famous due to its advancement. The LCD panel or Liquid Crystal Display, had an improved backlighting system. It reduced the response time which lowered the motion blur. As a result, pictures appeared crispier than the local televisions. HD TVs brought lifelike images which greatly improved the viewing experience. 

One other aspect behind LG TV’s success was the design aesthetic. LG started incorporating sleek and slim designs for their TVs. It became popular very fast due to its looks and standing out in the market. It modernized television and set a new stage for future innovations.

Other than that, HD TVs were budget-friendly which was great news for many people. Combined with great design and better panels, LG TVs became famous in the TV market. 

Rise of Full HD (Mid to Late 2000s)

While the LG HD TVs were phenomenal, they weren’t the real reason behind LG’s dominance. After HD TVs, LG started to ship full HD televisions which shaped the entire TV market. With expertise, LG started shipping different types of Full-HD TVs for all budget ranges. 

Full HD or FHD means the 1080p resolution, eventually becoming the industry standard. Even today, we have FHD TVs in the market and they’re trendy. In the late 2000s, LG’s Full-HD TVs offered the highest level of detail, immersion, and picture clarity. 

This was possible thanks to its improved LCD panels with advanced backlighting. This produced vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and higher contrast ratios. As a result, users could get vivid images with a very high level of clarity. 

While impressive, better panels and backlighting weren't the sole reason for LG’s popularity. In the late 2000s, LG also brought changes to the external shapes of their TVs. LG made their designs slimmer and more sleeky which captivated the customers. Some of the high-end LG FHD televisions had the ultra-thin bezel which helped provide a great TV experience. 

Other than that, LG’s FHD TVs back in the late 2000s also had the new HDMI port. HDMI port helped gain a lot of clarity and improved the viewing experience. LG also introduced the smart TV feature around this time which became really popular. This feature has been improved numerous times since then and is still found in present LG products. 

Introduction of LED TVs (Early 2010s)

So far LG has been using traditional LCD panels in their FHD TVs. But since the 2010s, LG adopted a new panel to replace the LCD panel. This panel was called the LED panel. 

LED panels or light-emitting diode panels brought a lot of new features to TVs. One of those features is the energy efficiency. LED TVs consume less power which makes them a solid option to consider. Other than that, LED panels were slimmer in design which improved the aesthetic of the LG TVs. Almost every aspect of LG TVs has been improved by the addition of LED.

LED panels provide better contrast and more aspect ratio than the usual LCD panels. This means pictures are more vivid, vibrant, and lifelike. Watching movies is more fun and engaging. The higher brightness also makes LED panels more suitable for daytime. 

LG started shipping TVs with LED panels around the late 2000s and early 2010s. LED panels took the market by storm once again because of accessibility and improvement features. Even today, LED panels possess a significant market share in the entry and mid-range. If you’re under a tight budget, LED TVs are the best option.

Addition of Smart TVs 

The concept of Smart TV appeared at the same time as LED as an accessibility feature. This concept then got bigger and bigger and now it’s a fundamental feature in every LG TV.

Smart TV technology integrates internet connection and streaming capabilities. It also allows a user to access different websites, and streaming services and use any app if they want to. You can stream Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max or Hulu whenever you want to. On top of that, LG’s webOS interface has been a blessing for users. It lets a user access all the software and hardware settings without any hassles. 

Smart features have been used to market LG televisions and they brought great success. They have been crucial in LG’s dominance of the TV marketplace.

Introduction of Ultra HD or 4K Resolution (Mid 2010s)

The next significant jump in TV technology after LED TVs was the addition of 4K resolution. This jump is the biggest in TV history and shaped the industry the way it is today. It is also LG’s biggest ever achievement in the company’s history. It has made them a tech giant in the world. 

4K resolution has 4 times more pixels than a FHD resolution. While the FHD or 1920x1080 resolution is decent, the 3840x2160 or 4K resolution is top-notch. With 4 pixels replacing 1 pixel, 4K TVs produce the most vivid images possible. The ultra-detailed and lifelike images enhance the viewing experience like no other. If you want an immersive experience, 4K resolution is the only way.

When LG realized the potential of the 4K UHD technology, it embraced the innovation. LG then focused its resources on further enhancing it. Thanks to them, now it’s easier to buy an LG UHD TV. The diverse options and price ranges also help cater to the different needs of customers.

LG OLED: The Ultimate TV Experience 

LG worked on OLED as early as 2010 and even made an OLED TV in 2010. The first commercial OLED TV hit the market in 2013. However, it did not become mainstream until later. 

Like a few other brands, LG started to improvise its OLED technology as time went by. Within a few years, LG saw significant improvement in OLED technology and their newer OLED TVs started getting more popular. LG managed to stay ahead of the curve and lead the OLED market the whole time. 

LG OLED technology pairs greatly with 4K UHD resolution. Together they create the most vivid and lifelike image possible. It has unparalleled picture quality and performance capabilities. OLED TVs come with many features which include HDR, enhanced contrast ratio, and wide color gamut. OLED TV also offers the deepest blacks since its pixels can be turned off individually. 

OLED TVs quickly set the highest standard in the current TV market. The realism achieved by OLED panels compares to no other. On top of that, any pictures or scenes with darkness look spectacular in an OLED panel. This visual excellence was paired with Dolby Atmos to create the ultimate TV experience. If you’re looking for a great TV to purchase, OLED is the way to go.

LG QNED: A Journey to the Beyond

While the OLED technology has been a global success, LG hasn't stopped innovating. While the technology is a fan favorite, it has some weaknesses in certain areas. LG’s QNED technology is LG’s visit to their LED backlighting to improve upon the existing handicaps.

LG’s QNED technology is a combination of two technologies that already exist in the market. It combines the Quantum Dot with NanoCell technology which can provide improvements over OLED panels. One of the key weaknesses of OLED panels is brightness levels which is addressed in QNED panels. QNED panels offer superior brightness levels and a better contrast ratio at the cost of perfect black levels. 

QNED TVs utilize Mini LED backlighting which allows it to have precise control over brightness levels. This enables the QNED display to achieve significantly higher peak brightness. Thanks to this, you can now view content better in brightly lit rooms. HDR content is also more pleasing to watch in QNED panels.

The second improvement is the color accuracy. LG’s QNED technology uses Quantum Dot technology, which is an enhancement filter to correct the colors. Thanks to that, images and videos appear more color-accurate and vibrant. Then there’s the NanoCell technology which prevents unwanted lights from being displayed. NanoCell technology stops color fading and image retention issues that are present in OLED panels. 

Then there are additional features which are simply cherries on top. There’s a preset called Filmmaker Mode which is specifically made for viewing cinema. Then there’s an AI ThinQ app that can respond to user’s voice and other devices. Small but effective features like these make the LG experience incomparable. 

In short, LG’s QNED panels are for customers who want a brighter TV. It may not match an OLED panel in terms of deep blacks, but it provides a good bargain.

Like before, the QNED panel is not the last of LG. There will be newer technologies in the future. OLED panel may also get reworked which will improve its shortcomings. It’s not easy to predict what LG will make. But you can certainly expect something good in the future. 

FAQs

Question: How long do LG TVs work?

Answer: LG TVs have a history of long lifespans. An LG TV can easily last from 7 to 10 years if used frequently. 

Question: Why is LG OLED so expensive?

Answer: LG OLED TV uses rare minerals for its screen. So, while the manufacturing cost is low, the minerals are expensive. Thus, the final pricing is high. However, they are getting cheaper. 

Question: Is QNED better than LCD?

Answer: Yes, QNED panels are better than LCD panels because of their higher brightness and contrast ratio. QNED panels offer a better viewing experience in both standard and HDR content.

Conclusion

If you’ve stayed with us so far, thank you and we appreciate that. There’s a lot we haven’t mentioned but we can only discuss so much. 

If you want to get an LG TV of your own, don’t hesitate to visit House of Butterfly. You can also visit one of our outlets to get a first-hand experience with the newest LG technologies.