LG 55CX TV REVIEW: Once You Go OLED, You Can Never Go Back

Most of today’s modern TVs are good enough for the general consumer. With features like 4K resolution, HDR and smart TV functions readily available across all brands, what must a TV in 2020 possess to make you sit up and take notice? Enter LG’s latest offering, the CX (note that it’s pronounced “C-10” as it’s the successor to last year’s C9) series of OLED TVs, aimed at helping consumers embrace OLED technology and the future of TV.

There is no doubt that OLED TVs offer the best picture quality when compared to its LED and QLED counterparts. (There are numerous comparisons online like this that show how OLED is the best.) But with greater picture quality comes a higher price-point. The LG CX series, which comes with four screen size options: 77-Inch (OLED77CXPUA), 65-Inch (OLED65CXPUA), 55-Inch (OLED55CXPUA) and 48-Inch (OLED48CXPUA), aims to change that perception, balancing best-in-class TV watching experience at a reasonable price.

Thanks to LG Singapore, I had the privilege of reviewing the 55-inch CX OLED TV the past month. Microsoft Singapore also sent across an Xbox One S to make sure I get to experience the leading gaming experience that the CX has to offer.

All I can say at the end of my review period is – once you go OLED, you can never go back.

MODERN PERFECTION IN DESIGN & USER EXPERIENCE

Similar to its predecessors, the 55 CX is unbelievably thin for majority of its panel – just approximately 6.4mm thick. It does have a thicker section at the bottom (about 4.5cm in depth) that houses the power supply, inputs, speakers and other components. It’s a gorgeous TV, though mounting it onto the wall panel is something you should do with the utmost care, ideally with the assistance of a professional.

The 55 CX comes with a plethora of input connection ports:

1. 4 x HDMI inputs with HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.2

2. 3 x USB ports

3. 1 x Composite video/audio input

4. 1 x Optical digital audio output

5. 1 x Analog audio 3.5mm headphone output

6. 1 x RF (antenna) input

7. 1 x RS-232 port (minijack, for service only)

8. 1 x Ethernet (LAN) port

They can all be found on the back and side of the thicker section of the panel, neatly arranged and easily accessible. Like most smart TVs, plugging in any device via its input ports such as HDMI are automatically detected by its operating system.

Switching on the 55 CX and going through the set-up process was relatively smooth, just like any other smart TV. If you are using LG’s WebOS TV for the first time, fret not. LG has fine-tuned and refined it over the years, making it a joy to use and access what you need. Personally, I enjoyed navigating through WebOS and found the experience on par with Android TV (found on Sony TVs) and better than Tizen OS (found on Samsung TVs).

The best thing about using WebOS has got to be the compact and well-designed smart remote control. It acts as a mouse cursor on the screen, allowing you to move to what you want to click on and access much faster. Typing in usernames, as well as password for services like Netflix, also feel much easier.

BEST-IN-CLASS BLEND OF HARDWARE & SOFTWARE

The CX series of OLED TVs come with α9 Gen 3 AI Processor, a step up from the Gen 2 found in C9 series of 2019. While I couldn’t compare both generations of TVs side by side, I understand that this newer processor found within the 55CX allows it to deliver even better colour clarity and contrast than its predecessor. The processor also allows the AI upscaling feature found within the CX to upscale HD content to 4K resolution better than C9.

As mentioned above, if you’re coming from a non-OLED TV and watching any content on the CX for the first time (even if it’s a regular news broadcast on CNA), you will be pretty blown away by the picture quality and resolution.

As for sound quality, I found it to be pretty decent and enjoyable. A 2.2Ch 40W speaker system powered by Dolby Atmos does its job well, though I would highly recommend attaching a soundbar to the TV to enhance your all-around entertainment consumption experience.

Having great hardware is one thing. Software is just as important. As I shared earlier, WebOS has developed into an operating system that is easy to use and navigate. Aside from the ever-popular Netflix, WebOS continues to include other established streaming services Amazon Prime Video, Viu, MeWatch, Rakuten, Disney+, etc. The LG Content Store continues to up its game and contains an array of downloadables comparable to any of its competitors.

If you are someone deeply entrenched in Apple’s ecosystem like myself, you’ll happy to know that the CX supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 flawlessly. Screen mirroring from devices like my iPhone and iPad Pro seamless. The CX also has Apple TV in-built as well!

BUILT FOR THE GAMER IN YOU

Running Forza Horizon 4 in 4K 60fps on the LG 55CX

The CX is definitely built for gamers. If you are looking to purchase the upcoming next-generation gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X, you will be happy to know that all 4 of its HDMI 2:1 ports are ready to handle 4K at 120fps with 10-bit colour. There is also HDMI support for ALLM (auto-low latency mode) and VRR (variable refresh rates), which help to ensure maximum smoothness when gaming.

While I was not able to test out the above features yet, LG did send across a current-generation Xbox One S for me to play some games that showcase the CX’s amazing graphics. Playing Forza Horizon 4 at 4K 60fps in HDR is truly stunning. Watch the short clip above to see just how rich the colours are and how smooth the gameplay is (Note: the clip was recorded on standard picture profile and extracted straight out of camera with no post-processing tweaks.)

If you are a PC gamer, you’ll be happy to know both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD Freesync are supported! (Note: The C9 from 2019 only supports the former and not the latter.)

OVERALL

The LG CX series of OLED TVs is pretty amazing. If you are looking for a new OLED TV at a reasonable price-point, or if you are a gamer, the CX is calling out to you. You will not be disappointed by its picture quality, built quality and user experience. If I haven’t just purchased a new TV for my living room in December, this would now already be a permanent fixture on my living room wall.

The LG 55 CX (S$4,099) is available now at all major consumer electronics retailers.

Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

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Written by Claudio Chock (Tech360.tv Community Creator)