LG 55-inch curved OLED smart TV review

By Stephen Fenech On Oct 27, 2013

The LG 55-inch curved OLED TV is head-turner in every sense of the word with brand new screen technology and a gentle curve in the display for enhanced viewing.

The minute you lay eyes on this product you know you’ve entered a brand new era of television viewing.

It has all of the features you’d expect to find on a regular smart TV but with the added quality and clarity of OLED and the added design touches that well and truly identify it as a 21^st century product.

DESIGN

The full high definition screen on the LG 55-inch curved OLED TV is just 4.3mm thick.

It can maintain this svelte and minimalist looks because the OLED (organic light emitting diode) format requires no backlight.

Each OLED sub-pixel is self-lighting so it gives LG the chance to let its imagination run wild.

The breathtaking thinness has to be seen to be believed.

The LG curved OLED is actually in one piece out of the box. The whole thing weighs just 17kg and is reinforced with carbon fibre for added strength.

Usually a TV display has to be connected to a table-top stand before it can be positioned on an entertainment unit.

The LG’s thin screen and crystal clear stand are moulded into one single piece making set-up as easy as plugging it in.

The clear stand actually offers the impression that the curved screen if floating on air.

Built within the stand are see through speakers – five in total with a combined output of 40W – that are also a marvel unto themselves.

And then, of course, there’s that curve. There is enough arc to be noticed but subtle enough to not distract from the overall viewing experience.

It’s not just a TV – it’s a work of art.

PERFORMANCE

It is one thing for a TV to look good but another thing to be good. The LG 55-inch curved OLED is both.

The OLED display is dazzling from the second you turn it on. And what strikes you is just how black the blacks are.

Apart from being self-illuminating, the red, green and blue sub-pixels have been joined by a fourth white sub-pixel to provide warmer colours, stunning whites and contrast that is beyond measure.

What helps these deeper blacks is the addition of a High Dynamic Range (HDR) algorithm to maintain contrast ratio consistency and vibrant colour.

Another of the many benefits of OLED is the response time that happens to be 100 times faster than LG’s LED and LCD TVs.

This means fast moving scenes and sports are effortlessly handled by the curved OLED TV and motion judder that was barely noticeable.

Now when it comes to viewing angles the curved OLED comes into its own. The very fact that the screen has a gentle arc means people sitting to the side of the TV can see even more than ever.

But the main benefit of the curved screen is for people who are sitting in front of the TV.

In this position the edges of the TV are an equal distance from the viewer as the centre of the screen to offer a more immersive experience.

But even if you haven’t scored the prime spot on the couch, the LG 55-inch curved OLED TV can still offer excellent viewing.

This TV isn’t 4K or Ultra High Definition like some of LG’s other high quality TVs but its 1920 x 1080 resolution is still stunning.

Watching a Blu-ray Disc the OLED display helps you appreciate every pixel. And those see-through speakers also more than hold their own to provide an above average audio output than you’re used to hearing from a flatscreen TV.

On top of all of that the LG curved OLED offers the connectivity and convenience of a smart TV to connect to the internet, download apps and access online content.

The panel can also be used to watch 3D content with cheaper, lightweight passive glasses but the resolution takes a hit which is a shame as we’d obviously prefer to see all of the pixels in all of their glory.

VERDICT

The LG 55-inch curved OLED TV is a real stunner.

Not only does it impress with a game-changing design, it also dazzles with the sharp OLED screen as well. So it has the looks and also delivers with its abilities as well.

Priced at $11,999, the LG 55-inch curved OLED isn’t going to be in everyone’s budget.

But those that can afford it will be rewarded with an excellent viewing experience and a product that will become a real conversation starter.

LG 55-inch curved OLED TV

Price: $11,999