Table of Contents
- Design
- Connections and gamer mode
- Image and sound quality
- Operational system
- Voice assistant and artificial intelligence
- Conclusion
- Technical sheet (LG OLED 55CX)
Preparing for new console releases game it happens, at most, twice a decade. This rare hardcore gamer routine results in spending with no expiration date, as it's hard to predict when a generation's debut will happen again. Meanwhile, PC gamers spread the cost of improving parts over time – or the needs to run the hottest games.
For both profiles there is only one truth: one makes a long term investment. And also for both there is now a new concern, as not all displays can receive content at the best resolution and frequency. Luckily we have the brand new smart TV LG OLED 4K 55CX, which has the potential to meet the requirements of future consoles. There are two models, 55 and 65 inches, equipped with processor Alpha9 of image and nothing less than four HDMI 2.1 inputs. So it's ready to support today's most powerful video games, and the future Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
The new smart TV is an evolution of the LG OLED C9 model launched last year. The new “X” in CX comes from the number 10, in Roman. Check out the main changes and improvements in this detailed review:
Design
A LG CX it follows the success of previous models in its construction, with high quality metal and glass display support. It has a slender profile, thinner than a pen and also that many recent cell phones — being an OLED, it dispenses with the backlight of traditional LCDs, allowing such a thin thickness. The edges still manage to convey the sensation of spectacular immersion.
However, straight out of the box, we have a slight downside: putting it together isn't as easy as it could be. In general, LG's TV docks could improve. There are two large pieces, pairs of screws on the backing plate to the surface and four more screws to attach to the TV. On the other hand, design pays off. The robust support has a discreet cover (plastic) for the connection wires to pass through, while the front has a brushed metal strip. The result of the play is stability, as the support accompanies almost the entire base, from end to end.
Connections and gamer mode
A TV LG OLED CX It has 3 USB inputs, optical digital output, component/AV input, LAN port and input for digital TV antenna. However, as a highlight that serves as a complement to the title of this review, we affirm that the LG CX is ready for the future console generation. It is one of the few in the national territory to have 4 HDMI 2.1 inputs (one of them is ARC), that is, with support for 4K to 120Hz.
For a better idea of the long-term investment, nowadays you can hardly find a console powerful enough to handle the resolution and frequency (4K/120Hz) – the most common is 4K/60Hz or 1440p/120Hz. The next Xbox and PlayStation that arrive at the end of 2020 in stores have technical specifications high enough to dictate what this decade in the gaming world will be like, and luckily, we have at least one TV manufacturer to meet basic requirements. handily.
For PC gamers looking for a “super monitor”, it is worth mentioning that CX supports AMD Free Sync and the NVIDIA G-Sync (with variable frame rate) to handle the latest GPUs. To ensure less input lag (input delay) that only reaches 1ms, gamer mode is mandatory. It works perfectly even with active HDR or image processing in the configured profiles.
As we receive 55 and 66 inch versions here in Spain, the smaller size options could be more useful to the traditional PC gamer, however, we have eliminated this obstacle when talking about current consoles. Otherwise, playing games connected to a PC with wireless controls can be an exit to the thirsty for exclusive PC titles.
Image and sound quality
To the point, LG's OLED TVs are known for having the best picture quality on the market. With the tests, we affirm that the CX joins the extensive list of top-of-the-line TV quality. To understand the technology a little better, in a nutshell: the LG OLED TV distances itself from common LCDs mainly because each pixel has its self lighting, which results in the so-called “perfect blacks” (well-defined dark levels) and the “infinite contrast” (notable difference between lighting extremes).
With the help of artificial intelligence and the powerful Alpha9 processor, the TV upscales content to 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels). That is, if an image has a lower resolution (HD or Full HD), the AI recognizes the content of the image and increases the size to fit on the screen, giving the impression of more sharpness. Noise and image distortion, common results of botched upscaling of other 4K TVs, don't happen here. Viewing angles are reasonable and ambient light reflections are not an issue.
In action scenes with titles from Netflix and music clips on YouTube, standard settings can satisfy any expectation of an OLED. It also has the technology DolbyVisionIQ (automatic adjustments of brightness, color and contrast levels) and HDR modes such as “Vivid”, “Cinema” and Filmmaker – the latter makes adjustments “so that movies and series are watched in the original format in which they were recorded, providing an even more immersive experience”, as informed by LG.
In addition, in the settings you can adjust a series of variables for each of the profiles according to your taste. The real secret to extracting the best quality from the TV is in these fine adjustments – especially to the trained eyes of gamers. We recommend extra attention to dynamic contrast and noise reduction, factors that seemed essential in multiple scenarios tested. The only negative point is that the brightness (at maximum level) is a little lower than expected.
Talking about the sound system, it's four speakers (2.2) loaded with technology Dolby Atmos for a more immersive sound experience with 40 watts of power. In practice, the audio quality works as expected – more than enough to get you into the action. A curious addition is the ease of sound surround, as you can connect two LG speakers via Bluetooth, like the LG XBOOM Go PK7, which act as a wireless home theater.
Operational system
with the system webOS we have an easy navigation by the LG CX. The fluid animation helps to convey a greater sense of comfort with the interface, minimalist at the bottom of the screen. Of the apps tested (mostly streaming services) all worked as expected with no issues. The list of supported apps may be smaller than the wide range of options that work with the Android TV system, however, the system meets the needs of the common user very well.
Still following the “tradition”, the CX comes with the Magic Remote, Bluetooth remote control that comes with many LG smart TV models and works like a mouse when you point it at the screen. In times of minimalist universal controls, we see a differential of the manufacturer with the hefty control with dozens of keys, a factor that can divide TV consumers.
Particularly, this one could be more compact and simplified, even if it has a scroll wheel, numeric keypad and two shortcuts for streaming services (Netflix and Amazon Prime Video). If you take into account that the system does not allow infrared control of cable TV or other connected devices, more than half of the buttons end up being of little use. The lack of evolution in the control left a little to be desired.
Voice assistant and artificial intelligence
Currently, LG stands out for the variation of integrated personal assistants: there are ThinQ AI (own platform), Google Assistant e Alexa – the latter, activated by holding the “Prime Video” button. In all three types, the commands understood by the assistant are identical to what we see in smart speakers: you can ask questions about the weather, create reminders, add an item to the shopping list and also control IoT devices connected, that is, control (through the TV!) other devices in your smart home.
Unlike other TVs equipped with a voice assistant (like the LG GX itself), it's a shame that the CX doesn't recognize any wake-up words. Therefore, it becomes necessary to have the remote control in hand to carry out the desired commands. Even the SL9YG soundbar, launched in 2020 also by LG, meets the classic “ok, Google“, but the smart TV unfortunately does not.
On the artificial intelligence side of the rest of the TV's functions, we have the processor AI Alpha9. Using the technique of deep learning and artificial intelligence, it increases the image and sound quality of LG OLED TV. A powerful AI trio complements the CX: AI Picture Pro, AI Brightness Control and AI Sound Pro, for image, brightness and sound control, respectively. They can all be activated whenever you like, so it's up to you to dictate whether the displayed content matches the smart enhancements.
Conclusion
A Smart TV LG OLED CX55 is not only a complete package, but also a TV ahead of its time. LG got everything right here, presenting a premium model with sophisticated design, excellent image quality, great sound system and intuitive interface.
It updates the already existing benefits of the previously released model, the LG OLED C9, including technology support. G-sync (an important point for gamers) and allowing the viewing of 4K content at 120Hz. The best? This comes out of the box, no software updates required.
If you are looking for the best quality in an OLED display, this is the right choice. THE smart TV LG OLED CX55 is available for R$7.033,95 (55 inches) and R$13.018,95 (65 inches) at Lojas Americanas and other selected retailers.
Technical sheet (LG OLED 55CX)
| LG OLED CX55 | |
| Audio Resources | 2.2 Ch. 20W Bluetooth Surround Ready Clear Voice IV Sound Share UltraSurround |
| TV type | Smart TV |
| Screen Technology | OLED |
| Inches | 55" |
| Monitor | Ultra HD 4k |
| Update Rate | 60Hz |
| Update Rate with Technology | 60Hz |
| Number of USB ports | 3 |
| HDMI | 4 |
| Local the entradas HDMI | 4 rear entries |
| Wi-Fi Integrado | Yes |
| Integrated Digital Converter | Yes |
| Timer On/Off | Yes |
| Sleep timer | Yes |
| Closed Caption | Yes |
| Audio Power (RMS) | 40w |
| Wi-Fi | Built-in Wi-Fi |
| Color | Black |
| package content | TV Manual Control Guide Batteries |
| Video Resources | Real 4K Quad Core Processor FILMMAKER MODETM HGIG 4K Upscaler Active HDR Image Enhancing Double Step Noise Reduction Sharpness Enhancer Advanced Color Enhancer True Color Accuracy |
