As technology advances, so do our options for high-quality displays. While in the past, all you needed to worry about was the size, model, and design of the TV you wanted to buy, today, you must consider much more. And one of the essential conditions to consider is the type of display technology you want. 4K resolution and LED display technologies are among the many televisions that LG offers. However, these stand out thanks to their high resolution, advanced picture quality, and impressive contrast ratio. Let’s look at how the LG 4K and LG LED TVs compare to help you select the display technology that offers you an epic viewing experience, meets your expectations, and fits your budget.
LG 4K vs. LG LED TVs: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Specifications | LG 4K TV | LG LED TV |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $250 – $5000+ | $200 – $2000+ |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K UHD) | 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD) |
| Brightness | Up to 1800 nits | Up to 400 nits |
| Refresh Rates | Up to 120Hz | Up to 60Hz |
| Screen Sizes | 32 to 86 inches | 43 to 83 inches |
| Picture Quality | Deeper blacks, brighter whites, more vivid colors, HDR, Dolby Vision | Good picture quality, vibrant colors, better contrast levels |
| HDR | HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG | HDR10, HLG |
| Energy Efficiency | Consumes more power | Consumes less power |
| Gaming | Ideal for gaming, higher resolution and advanced features | Good for gaming but may not provide the same level of image quality |
| Smart Features | Smart TV, voice control, AI-powered image, and sound | Smart TV, voice control |
| Audio Quality | Built-in speakers, some models have advanced audio features | Built-in speakers, some models have advanced audio features |
- 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) resolution
- QC processor (quad core)
- 120Hz with TruMotion
- Features webOS 6.0
LG 4K vs. LG LED: What’s the Difference?
LG 4K and LG LED TVs are two types of TV technologies that have their own unique features and benefits. Below is a brief explanation of each, followed by some of the major differences between these two types of TVs.
LG 4K Explained
LG 4K TV is a cutting-edge display technology that combines state-of-the-art picture quality and a stunning design. These TVs have approximately 3840 pixels horizontally and 2160 pixels vertically, and it’s applied across various LG TV ranges, including OLED, Nanocell, and 4K UHD.
LG 4K TVs come in various sizes, from small 43-inch models to large 86-inch screens. Thus, allowing you to choose the perfect size for any room around your home. These TVs also have impressive built-in smart TV capabilities, HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology, and a webOS operating system. LG’s 4K TVs boast smart TV capabilities, allowing you to stream your favorite shows and movies from popular streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Many models also include voice control features, making it possible to control your TV using voice commands.
LG LED Explained
LG’s LED technology has been around for decades and has steadily improved, resulting in exceptional picture quality and a sleek design. LG LED TVs use Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to backlight the 1920×1080 pixels inside the television’s screen, providing a bright and vivid display.
LED backlighting can take many formats, including:
- Edge-lit LED displays that have rows of LEDs along the border of the back panel to produce deeper black levels.
- Direct-lit LED displays a more affordable backlighting alternative that produces several rows of LEDs across the back panel.
- Full array LED displays with the entire back panel covered in LEDs
One of the exceptional features of LG LED TVs is their NanoCell technology, which uses tiny particles to filter out impurities and enhance color accuracy. This technology ensures that colors are true-to-life and vibrant, resulting in a truly immersive viewing experience.
LG LED TVs also boast multiple advanced features and specifications. For instance, many models have smart TV capabilities, allowing you to access your favorite streaming services and apps easily. Besides, the LG ThinQ AI technology enables you to control your TV using voice commands and increases the personalization capabilities of your LG LED TV.
Here is a direct comparison of the two in several categories:
Price
Right off the bat, LG LED TVs are more affordable than LG 4K TVs. Generally, LG LED TVs cost between $200 and $2000+, while the LG 4K TV models are more expensive, with prices ranging from $250 to $5000+. We can attribute the steep price point of the LG 4K TVs to their premium picture quality, higher resolution, and more advanced features. With the LG LED, you save on the initial price and spend less on power because they’re more energy efficient than their 4K counterparts. Nonetheless, the more affordable LG LED TVs offer good picture quality, support gaming, and have some nice smart TV features while being subtle on your pocket.
Screen Sizes
The LG 4K and LED TVs are available in a wide range of screen sizes, thanks to various models and series offered under each. The LG 4K has a wider range in this case, with screen sizes starting at 43 inches and going all the way up to 86 inches, based on the model. Here is a peak into some of the popular LG 4K TV models and their screen sizes:
- LG UHD 70 Series: 43, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75 inches
- LG OLED CX Series: 48, 55, 65, and 77 inches
- LG NanoCell 90 Series: 55, 65, 75, and 86 inches
LG LED TVs also come in various sizes suitable for various spaces around your home, based on the series and models. These include:
- LG Smart LED TV: 50, 55, and 60 inches
- LG LK5400 Series: 32 and 43 inches
- LG LK5700 Series: 32 and 43 inches
Resolution
LG LED TVs have the same resolution as traditional full HD TVs (1920 x 1080 pixels), which offers okay picture quality but lacks in depth and clarity. The LG 4K does four times better resolution at 3840 x 2160 pixels to ensure you get to enjoy sharper, more detailed, and realistic images, especially when displaying 4K content on larger screens. Interestingly, the difference between the 4K and LED TV resolution is not notable on smaller screens or when sitting further away from the screen.
Picture Quality
LG 4K TVs produce high-quality images that elevate any viewing experience to new heights. The stunning picture quality can be attributed to the deeper black levels, brighter whites, and better contrast ratios when compared to the LG LED TVs. The deeper blacks and brighter whites are because every pixel emits its own light and color, which makes it possible to produce intense dark segments and rich colors. LG 4K’s ability to display more pixels and fine details also improves color accuracy and results in lifelike images plus wider viewing angles compared to LG LED TVs. The black levels on LG’s LED TVs may not be as deep as those on OLED TVs, but they are still decent, especially on models with local dimming.
LG 4K TVs are also brighter as they can reach up to 1000 nits, and some models have a contrast ratio of up to 1,000,000:1, making them significantly brighter than LG LED TVs, which average at 400 nits. LG 4K TVs also have a higher refresh rate of up to 120Hz compared to LG LED’s 60Hz refresh rate, meaning the former has less motion blur and smoother video playback.
You get advanced features with LG 4K and LG LED TVs, like HDR10 and HLG. LG 4K TVs also support Dolby Vision, creating a personalized and truly unforgettable home theater experience. Nonetheless, LG LED TVs offer good picture quality for their price point. Because they use a larger array of LEDs across the entire display, they tend to display more uniform lighting and realistic colors.
Energy Efficiency
LG LED TVs are more energy-efficient than LG 4K TVs because they consume less power and produce less heat. The energy efficiency of the LG LEDs is a result of the LED backlighting technology, which uses less energy to illuminate the display compared to LG 4K TVs, especially when on “eco” or “power-saving” modes.
Contrastingly, LG 4K TVs use more power because of the higher resolution and processing power needed to display 4K content. This makes LG LED TVs the best option for people looking to reduce their energy consumption and cut back on electricity bills.
Gaming Capability
The LG 4K TVs are perfect for displaying games in 4K resolution at up to 120Hz using the incredible Dolby Vision. This high resolution produces images with significantly more detail and clarity to enhance your gaming experience, especially on large screens.
4K TVs also boast great color definition thanks to HDR technology that seamlessly creates extremes of light and darkness to make navigating the battlefield much easier. Other features that improve your gameplay include 4K FreeSync, auto low latency mode, and variable refresh rate (VRR), ensuring picture smoothness with no tearing.
However, the LG LED TVs promise a smoother gaming experience thanks to their fast response times and reduced input lag, which ensures they display fast-moving images more clearly and with less motion blur. This is great for fast-paced games like first-person shooters and racing games. Unfortunately, LG LEDs are slightly slower than the 4Ks because of the lower refresh rate that cuts off at 60Hz.
- 120Hz refresh rate
- LED backlight
- Smart functions included
- 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD) resolluion
LG 4K vs. LG LED: 5 Must-Know Facts
- LG LED TVs are more affordable than LG 4K TVs.
- LG 4K screen sizes range from 43 to 86 inches, while the LG LED TVs are available in sizes 43 to 83 inches.
- The LG 4K has four times more pixels (3840 x 2160 pixels) and twice the resolution of LG LED TVs (1920×1080 pixels).
- The LG 4K produces sharper, more detailed, and more realistic images with deep blacks and stunning contrast levels.
- LG LED TVs are more energy efficient than LG 4K TVs.
LG 4K vs. LG LED: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
The choice between LG 4K and LG LED boils down to your specific needs, budget, and preferences. If budget is your primary concern, then without a doubt, the LG LED is the best option for you. LG LED TVs are a pocket-friendly purchase that’s also energy efficient, so you can save on electricity bills in the long run. There are numerous TV series and models to choose from, as well as a variety of sizes that offer good picture quality.
If you are not limited by budget per se, then we say go for the premium LG 4K TVs, which offer sharp and true-to-life color images that allow you an immersive viewing experience for 4K content. The 4K picture quality only gets better thanks to the HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision, so you can enjoy the most vivid and vibrant images when you’re watching or playing games on the screen.
Recent Improvements to LG 4K and LG LED TVs
LG has updated their TVs in recent months to include the following advancements:
- Improved brightness: New series of LG TVs are up to 70% brighter than previous models, making them a great option to use in brighter rooms.
- New processor: A new generation of AI processor allows LG TVs to be faster, have better noise reduction, and improved image processing.
- New features: LG has released features such as support for Dolby Vision IQ which adjusts picture settings based on ambient light, as well as an improved variable refresh rate which can reduce screen stuttering for gamers.
The Future of LG TVs
In the following six to 18 months, consumers can expect even more advancements for LG TVs. The company may continue to improve the brightness of OLED TVs to better compete with LED TVs. We could also see a new generation of AI processor that’s even faster and more powerful than the current model. Other features may include supporting new HDR formats, capabilities for higher frame rates, and more gaming features. The form of the TV itself may also start to change as LG could introduce curved screens, or rollable TVs.
- LG UHD 70 Series 43 inch Class 4K Smart UHD TV (42.5'' Diag)
- 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) resolution
- QC processor (quad core)
- 120Hz with TruMotion
- Features webOS 6.0
- LG Electronics 50LF6100 50-Inch 1080p Smart LED TV (2015 Model)
- 120Hz refresh rate
- LED backlight
- Smart functions included
- 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD) resolluion
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