Announced just ahead of CES, here’s what you can expect from one of the top panel makers in the world in the new year.
2018 is kicking off to a great start – well, at least for TV lovers it is: LG has announced its entire line-up of TVs for the new year well ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show ( CES 2018) that will start on Monday, January 9. CES 2018
Like last year, the 2018 line-up of LG TVs consists of OLED TVs at the high end, Super UHD TVs – which have a lot of the same components as the OLED TVs, but lack the main OLED panel – in the middle, and then traditional 4K TVs and finally FHD screens at the bottom.
While CES will still be the place to catch all of the TVs in action, we thought it might be beneficial for most folks to see the entire line-up on paper, from the high-end OLEDs to the entry-level FHD TVs in one long piece.
It’s worth noting that a lot of the specs listed below could potentially change as we get closer to the retail release of these screens (March, April and May of this year), but for the most part the specs you see here should be the components that make it in the final product.
All this information listed below comes directly from LG – the South Korean manufacturer offered a first look at future-facing technologies for some journalists attending CES 2018.
While LG kept its CES pre-briefing … well, brief, we were able to get some decent insight on what the next-generation technology of LG TVs will look like. The biggest change for the high-end screens (the OLED line-up) is the switch from the M16+ processor to something LG is calling the “Next-Gen 1” processor.
The Next-Gen 1 silicon upgrade promises a 35% boost in CPU and GPU speeds which equates to smoother motion handling, object-based contrast and a technology called True Color Accuracy Pro.
True Color Accuracy Pro replaces last year’s True Color Accuracy technology that, according to LG’s internal tests, provides 7.3 times the amount of data points for color. Now, because LG still plans on using 10-bit panels, there might not be a massive difference between the resulting images … but we’ll need to see them for ourselves before we can make a judgment call on how much an increase to Look Up Table (LUT) size impacts overall picture quality.
Interestingly, LG is also touting High Frame Rate (HFR, 120/4K) through broadcasts and streaming as well. An LG representative said the TVs won’t come equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports (the spec wasn’t finalized in time) but the TV should be able to do 120/4K via streaming websites like Netflix, YouTube, BBC, FOX Sports and Amazon and broadcasts … when broadcasters start putting out 4K HFR signal.
The other new addition to LG TVs in 2018 will be Google Assistant, which will now be integrated into webOS. Google Assistant on webOS will be capable of switching inputs via your voice, as well as change the channel and answer basic inquiries.
Pictured: LG OLED C7
LG OLED W8 (available in 77- and 65-inch sizes): At the head of the proverbial table sits the LG OLED W8 – an incremental upgrade on 2017’s Signature Series W7 OLED. According to LG, it will feature a similar “picture-on-wall” design that the W7 had last year, in addition to a new “Next-Gen 1” processor, 4K Cinema HDR and High Frame Rate (HFR). Also, expect a 60-watt 4.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar and Google Assistant integration in webOS.
LG OLED E8 (available in 65- and 55-inch sizes): While LG did mention that G-series of OLED TVs would make an appearance at CES, it wasn’t part of our briefing. Instead, we got the details on the successor to the E7. According to the specs, the E8 will be almost identical to the W7, but will instead have a traditional chassis in lieu of the picture frame-esque visage of the W8.
LG OLED C8 (available in 77-, 65- and 55-inch sizes): The LG OLED C7 was one of our favorite TVs of 2017 as it nearly perfectly balanced performance and price. The 2018 C8 OLED will have much of what made the C7 so great but, like the W8/E8, include the new next-gen processor. There will also be the 2.2 soundbar attached like last year.
LG OLED B8 (available in 65- and 55-inch sizes): The biggest disappointment of LG’s 2018 line-up, in my early opinion at least, is the new B8. Instead of getting the new Next-Gen 1 processor like its peers, the B8 is getting something called the Next-Gen 2 processor. The difference isn’t entirely clear, but according to the information given to us, it could mean that pictures won’t look as sharp or as vibrant as they will on the C8, E8 and W8 TVs. That being said, it will come with a 2.2 soundbar and webOS with Google Assistant.
Pictured: LG Super UHD TV from 2016
SK9500 (available in 65- and 55-inch sizes): The top Super UHD TV of 2018 will be the SK9500. This series of flagship Super UHD screens will use Nano Cell display technology with full array local dimming – which should offer significant increases to black levels – and will be powered by the Next-Gen 2 processor. The TV will support Dolby Atmos – but it won’t ship with a Dolby Atmos soundbar like the W8 or E8 OLED.
SK8500 (available in 65- and 55-inch sizes): One step under the SK9500 is the SK8500. It too has full array local dimming, the Next-Gen 2 processor and Dolby Atmos on-board, but it will offer slightly less lighting control than the SK9500.
SK8000 (available in 75-, 65- and 55-inch sizes): The SK8000 is the poor man’s SK9500. It’s still offering the Next-Gen 2 processor and Dolby Atmos, but the panel drops full array local dimming for simple local dimming. Fewer zones means even less lighting control.
Pictured: The LG UJ7700 from 2017
UK7700 (available in 65-, 55- and 49-inch sizes): The best UHD TV from LG this year is the UK7700. While it doesn’t have the OLED or FALD panel that the series above it has, it’s not all bad news for the UK7700 and its ilk. The good news is that these screens offer 4K with Active HDR and Ultra Surround sound. They only use the Next-Gen 3 processor, though, and that could spell trouble for motion, clarity and vibrancy.
UK6500/70 (available in 86-, 70- and 70-, plus 65-, 55-, 50- and 43-inch sizes): The most common LG TV of 2018 is going to be the LG UK6500/70. It’s available in the most screen sizes from a monstrous 86-inch to a still-appeasing 43-inch, and it comes with middling, but-still-decent technology. Namely, that technology will include webOS with Google Assistant, 4K Active HDR, a 4K IPS panel and, again, the Next-Gen 3 processor.
UK6300 (available in 65-, 55-, 50-, 49- and 43-inch sizes): The last 4K TV in LG’s 2018 line-up is the UK6300.
