LG’s 2025 generation OLED technology takes aim at legacy criticism of OLED with a stark and bright answer. Testing the LG OLED G5 over recent weeks and I’ve realised that the concerns about brightness with OLED technology are no more and the G5 is quite possibly the pick of TVs for 2025.

This is a TV for purists, and a TV for those who understand you have to pay for quality. With the smallest on offer being 55 inches and priced at over $4,000 it’s not for the faint of heart. The 65 inch model we’re reviewing is priced at $5,295 at JB HiFi at the time of publishing For context and comparison there’s a SONY OLED at the same price, and only LG’s M5 model is more expensive – that one has the wireless ZeroConnect box which is pretty awesome technology.

In fact, as a sign of just how elite the OLED technology on offer is, there’s a gap of over $1,000 to the next price point at JB. It’s always a tough time to be buying a TV, LG’s step down from the G5 is the C5 and that’s normally $1,000 less, right now it’s $2,000 less! You’d be hard pressed not to opt for the C5 given that if I’m honest, but I’d also suspect there’s deals to be done if you push the retailers hard enough on the G5 model.

Design

Across the LG range, the “G” series stands for “Gallery” and this TV is designed to be wall hung – no doubt.

Around the back you’ll see a recessed mounting area at the top which allows for a snug fit onto the wall. Rather than the wall mount itself creating the gap between your TV and the wall, this TV can sit literally flat on the wall.

Given this is a review unit we didn’t wall mount it, instead using the Desk stand which is so big and robust it comes in a separate box. But it works a treat and is an easy setup and install.

Once up, the TV is basically minimalist. Very clean silver line around the edge of the screen, a 1cm silver frame and a little extra bulk recessed behind that, but all in all it’s a little over 2cm thick from top to bottom.

They’ve placed the ports in an L shape on the back side making it pretty easy to access before mounting

For our installation we paired the TV with an LG S80TR soundbar, this is a $1200 5.1.3 unit which we sat simply in front of the TV. It’s simple design was actually neutral enough to not take away from the space or distract.

Brightness & Picture Quality

If this is your first time looking at an OLED TV then know this – there’s no better picture quality you can buy. There’s plenty that are pushing close, but the simple fact that every single pixel is self lit means there’s no blooming around the colours on a black screen.

The enthusiasm for that impressive feat was always simmered by the comparison of the brightness potential of OLED compared to an LED backlit TV. Over the years LG has chipped away that that and we’re now at a point where I doubt anyone could question the capabilities of the LG G5 OLED.

It uses a technology LG calls “Brightness Booster Ultimate” which enhances the architecture that controls the light, as well as algorithms used to determine the lighting to achieve numbers three times higher than conventional OLED.

This is particularly critical in a traditional Aussie lounge room, bright light, sunny days and you don’t want the TV view to be washed out.

With the LG G5, the picture pushes through whatever the environment you put it in.

HDR performance is excellent and comes to life most on an ultra-recent title on the major streaming platforms.

Watching something with quite dark setting didn’t feel like the faces in scenes were popping out of the dark, instead thanks to the HDR and or Dolby Vision performance you are seeing what the filmmakers shot, often subtle details in the dark areas, but the faces in this example are part of that scene – just well lit.

Conversely when I fired up Top Gun Maverick as I do, the TV instantly offered up “Filmmaker Mode” which appears to take away the brightness but what it’s really doing is balancing beautifully the HDR requirements of the content.

Bright white snow in the Dagger Attack scene comes across as pure white, with the contrast of the snow against rocks so pure it looks utterly real.

Switch to the just released F1 Movie on Apple TV and the dark night-time racing scenes filmed at Daytona and you get the perfect mix of the car livery and the bright lights of the cars – it really comes up stunningly well.

I’ve struggled to find a scene that didn’t look great on this TV.

LG’s latest WebOS Interface on the OLED G5

WebOS has come a long long way since LG started integrating it as their core operating system on TVs.

Solid App support means you won’t miss any favourites, and LG’s live streaming “LG Channels” now offer a solid rival channel list to market leader Samsung TV plus. Everything from Sky News to Mythbusters there’s just always something to watch – without paying a cent.

Then there’s the Sports fan integration, offering you the chance to highlight your favourite teams across a range of sporting leagues, and easily access live sports scores, live game links and on-demand content across platforms that is all specific to your team.

Even as I write this a notification has appeared for a Dodgers game getting underway

Smart home controls are tightly integrated, the TV can act as a Smart Home hub for all your matter compatible smart tech and it’s all visible on a simple on-screen dashboard.

The challenging thing for LG here is they have just too much to offer. And, like all smart TV operating systems there appears to be a real need to make money off the eyeballs turning to this screen. Ads dominate the home screen, be they for cars or TV shows – in reality we’re pressing “home” to switch apps or find more content. So I find this all a bit frustrating personally, but maybe you can block that all out.

I suspect you’ll get the most out of this TV and the interface if you really lean into what it offers. For a short term use like I’ve had I’ve not connected as many things as might be possible, but given how well it presents information perhaps the TV knowing all about me would make it all make sense more.

That said, I still long for a time when we hit the home button and a row of apps would appear at the bottom of the screen. I know what I want to do next ok?

AI is at the core of this TV too, and there’s voice searching possible. In demonstrations I saw some great uses of this – taking you to settings on the TV you might want to change, but also just doing searches for things using AI. Frankly, it was underwhelming to me in day to day use.

AI Sound and Picture enhancement I’m all in on, but AI use on a TV is still far from being a critical need for users, more of a gimmick for now – so no points lost for LG on this one.

The LG Magic Remote

If someone says they hate the LG remote, they haven’t owned an LG TV. They’ve just used one and not understood it.

In my view there is no better way to navigate today’s complex Home Screens and App screens than with LG’s “mouse” on screen.

The 2025 model at first confused me, I thought they had sent the engineering sample or something. Gone is the swooping curved model of old, instead a boxy little unit without any real design or style.

Not quite as small as Samsung’s remotes, this unit is just simple, and I guess offers just what you need from your remote – and of course, you get used to it fast.

What I’d change

If I was in charge of LG, I’d probably offer a “simple” home screen, but leaving that gripe aside there’s one thing on this TV that might be an oversight from LG.

The lack of an Anti Glare coating makes this ultra-reflective. I’m sure some engineer will tell me that brightness or something else would be affected by adding an anti-glare coating, but I think that’s a balance I’d lean into.

A purist will say you’re getting the perfect picture here as you should for the price, but in everyday lounge rooms of Australia, I’d follow the lead of others and add something to remove those distracting reflections.

Overall the LG OLED G5

Expensive, but Brilliant. That’s really it. You have to know you want or need this, to justify it.

But when you do, there’ll be no regrets.

Given we know how popular larger screens are, save a thought for those wanting the 77 inch ($7,995), the 83 inch ($9,995) or the eye watering yet stunning 97 inch which will set you back $37,995.

No regrets, but when you have it, don’t look at the sales, and remember – your OLED G5 is superior to any other OLED out there. That’s what you’re paying for.

Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head.

He produces and hosts two popular podcasts, EFTM and Two Blokes Talking Tech. He also appears on over 50 radio stations across Australia weekly, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show each day and appears regularly on A Current Affair.

Father of three, he is often found down in his Man Cave.

Like this post? Buy Trev a drink!