LG vs. Samsung: Who’s winning the smart TV war?
Originally published at Gadget Flow on June 27, 2019.
- How do you choose which smart TV to buy? The tech specs can be bewildering, so we created a guide to help you see clearly.
- Which brands make the best smart TVs? Right now, LG and Samsung are trading blows for the top spot. Behind them are Sony and Hisense.
- LG vs Samsung: who wins? That’s a difficult question to answer. Keep reading to see our full, carefully considered answer!
History is littered with great rivalries: David vs. Goliath, Nikola Tesla vs. Thomas Edison, Ali vs Frazier, Marvel vs DC, and so on. In 2019, it’s two tech giants that are trying to one-up each other. LG and Samsung are scrapping for smart TV supremacy, with neither company looking likely to throw in the towel.
We decided to compare the two brands to see if we could find an outright winner.
LG vs Samsung: the contenders
In the smart TV market, most brands borrow technology and software from other companies. But both LG and Samsung have developed their smart TVs from scratch.
LG manufactures OLED displays which are considered to be the best in terms of color and contrast. Samsung still uses QLED technology, which can’t quite match OLED for picture quality. That said, Samsung is aiming to develop a QD-LED hybrid in the near future.
The two brands also have unique operating systems. LG webOS and Samsung Tizen are both solid platforms, but the former offers better search. In addition, LG supports Google Assistant and a few Amazon Alexa commands.
LG wins again when it comes to HDR technology, preferring the more advanced Dolby Vision over Samsung’s HDR 10+. That said, relatively few smart TVs take advantage of Dolby’s 12-bit technology.
So, LG wins? That depends on your budget. While LG seems to be technically superior at present, Samsung offers cheaper models that get the job done.
LG vs Samsung: the highlights
Both brands aren’t reaching for the top spot with a single TV. Instead, they both have a range of smart TVs that cover everything from the incredibly smart to the incredibly innovative. Here are some of the best new smart TVs from each of these big brands:
Samsung Q6FN QLED Smart 4K UHD TV
Available in five different sizes between 49 and 82 inches, this display offers 100% color volume and impressive dynamic depth. It also has metal alloy quantum dots that are designed to last.
Price: $799.99 USD
Samsung NU7100 4K UHD TV
Available for less than $500, this stunning 4K display offers excellent value for money. You get the latest version of Samsung’s smart TV interface and full HDR10+ support.
Price: $379.99 USD
LG B8PUA 4K HDR Smart OLED TV
With a powerful Alpha7 processor and Dolby Atmos sound, this masterpiece from LG offers an exceptional viewing experience. It also has ThinQ AI technology, which allows you to control the TV with your voice.
Price: $1,499.99 USD
LG Z9 8K Smart OLED TV
It might be expensive, but the LG Z9 is pretty remarkable. With four times the number of pixels as 4K, plus support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, this thing is the king of smart TVs.
Price: $34,000 USD
The smart TV war
While it seems LG is ahead in terms of technology, Samsung still has a significant grip on the smart TV market. Only time will tell which of these two brands will come out on top.
