Though the true validity of Moore’s Law has been called into question on more than one occasion, there’s no doubt that its central theory has plenty of real-world applications. The theory — which essentially posits that our technology doubles in proficiency every two years while prices fall at a comparable rate — can be seen quite visibly in the latest display technology. Take OLED TVs, for example. How do LG G3 vs. LG G1 compare? The LG OLED TVs are separated by two years — but is the LG G3 twice as good? Let’s discuss whether or not the upgrade is worth it.
LG G3 vs. LG G1: Side-By-Side Comparison:
| Specs | LG G3 | LG G1 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Q1 2023 | March 2021 |
| TV Type | OLED | OLED |
| Sub-type | WOLED | WOLED |
| Available Sizes | 55″, 65″, 77″, 83″ | 55″, 65″, 77″ |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| HDR | HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG | HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG |
| Ports | 4 HDMI, 3 USB | 4 HDMI, 3 USB |
| Operating System | webOS | webOS |
| Processor | α9 AI Processor Gen6 | α9 AI Processor Gen4 |
- Available sizes include 55 inches, 65 inches, and 77 inches
- 120 Hz refresh rate
- α9 Gen4 AI Processor
- Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support
- VRR enabled
LG G3 vs. LG G1: Key Differences
Don’t be fooled by these similar-looking specifications. The LG G3 vs. LG G1 debate is about a lot more than just this side-by-side comparison of specs. In order to truly grasp what sets these two G Series models apart, it’s necessary to take a closer look at some of the key differences that exist between the two. With the LG G3 vs. LG G1, it really all comes down to sizing, processing, sound, brightness, pricing, and internal specs. Let’s break them all down at length below.
Available Sizes
Firstly, one of the most apparent differences between the LG G3 vs. LG G1: The various sizes available for each G Series model. The LG G3 offers four different sizes in all: a 55-inch OLED, a 65-inch OLED, a 77-inch version, and the largest, an 83-inch version. The LG G1, by comparison, has just three possible sizes to choose from. These are the 55-inch, the 65-inch, and the 77-inch models. There’s no 83-inch model for the LG G1. This gives the LG G3 an advantage in this particular realm, as it offers more options to the consumer.
Processing Power
After the available sizes, the processing power of the LG G3 vs. LG G1 is the next difference worth discussing. Once again, the two sound pretty evenly matched. The LG G3 boasts the α9 AI Processor Gen6, whereas the LG G1 is equipped with the α9 AI Processor Gen4. How much difference can there truly be between a Gen4 and a Gen6, you ask? The answer is more drastic than you’d think. With each new generation of the α9 AI Processor, the algorithms and internal specifications grow stronger and more efficient. This makes the LG G3 twice as powerful as the LG G1.
Surround Sound
Even if you use a surround sound system or a Bluetooth sound bar instead of your television’s built-in speakers, it’s nonetheless important to know what kind of hardware is included in your OLED TV. With this in mind, the LG G3 offers 9.1.2 virtual surround sound capabilities within its build. The LG G1, comparatively, offers just 5.1.2 virtual surround sound. That’s one of the most drastic differences in quality between these two models thus far. This 9.1.2 virtual surround sound is another win for the LG G3, even if you’d rather use your own sound system.
Brightness
Another major distinction between the LG G3 vs. LG G1 has to do with brightness levels. The LG G3 is equipped with a brand new algorithm that is said to boost brightness 70% brighter than that of the LG G2. If the LG G3 is that much brighter than the LG G2, then we can only imagine how much brighter it would be in comparison to the LG G1. This is another key difference where there’s really no question about who deserves to win the round. This brightness-boosting algorithm is a huge victory for the G3 and a major hindrance for the G1.
Pricing
Let it be known: It’s not all wins for the LG G3 all the time. There are still some areas where the LG G1 can have an advantage over the G3, and pricing is one of them. While we don’t yet know the retail price for the LG G3’s four size options, we do know that the already lower price of the LG G1 compared to the LG G2 will drop even lower with the release of the G3. While the G1 might fall short in a few important areas, this significantly lower price prediction is going to make all the difference for some customers in search of OLED on a budget.
Internal Specs
Lastly, we have some broad internal specs to consider. The LG G3 supports the latest and greatest in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, whereas the LG G1 is still stuck with years-old specifications. It’s a difference of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 vs. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5. What’s more, the LG G3 is loaded with webOS version 23, whereas the LG G1 is loaded with webOS version 6. If you haven’t updated your LG G1 (or, worse, if the LG G1 won’t support future versions of webOS), it’s just one more aspect that looks better for the LG G3 than the LG G1.
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The History of OLED
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the contrasting TV types out there today. The manufacturers certainly don’t make it easy, likely making the names intentionally close to one another in hopes of throwing off potential buyers who can’t remember the exact combination of letters they heard was best. Cutting through all those abbreviations, there’s really only one you need to care about if you’re looking for the very best. That’s OLED. Not ULED, not QNED, not any similar-sounding variation. Just OLED.
An abbreviation for organic LEDs, OLEDs stand alone as the very best in television display technology available to today’s consumers. From its significantly brighter display to its much wider color gamut to its energy-efficient power consumption to its thinner and lighter build, OLED televisions win out over traditional LCDs in almost every conceivable way. The LG G3 vs. LG G1 debate can be seen as proof of this. Sure, the TVs might have their own respective advantages and disadvantages, but the truth is that both are resting comfortably on top of the market.
It’s one thing to make these claims, but it’s something else entirely to back them up with veritable fact. Since the very earliest formation of OLED technology back in the 1980s, the technology has been viewed as the next best thing in display tech. As it was innovated throughout the 2000s and into the ’10s and ’20s, this view became the reality. With its organic light-emitting diodes, OLED TVs can bypass the need for an LED backlight and emit its own light source when put in contact with electricity. This means brighter brights, darker darks, and razor-sharp contrast between the two.
LG and OLED
These days, it’s not uncommon to find an OLED display on anything from a cell phone to a Nintendo Switch to an LG television to a computer monitor and all sorts of other tech along the way. But this is still a relatively new phenomenon, despite the technology existing for close to 40 years or more. OLED has only recently begun to be embraced. A couple of decades back, Kodak and collaborator Sanyo were still trying to get the display technology off the ground. Officially forming a collaborative effort in 1999, this Sanyo/Kodak partnership effectively brought OLED tech to the modern era.
Before the end of their first year as a team, the Kodak-Sanyo researchers and developers had their debut prototype: a functional 2.4-inch OLED display. It wasn’t much, but it was nevertheless a step in the right direction for the display technology. A few years later, in 2002, they had multiplied the size of their OLED screens by more than six times with a 15-inch OLED display. Concurrently, some other major tech brands wanted to get in on the OLED action. A trio of new competitors — Pioneer, Samsung, and TDK — entered into the OLED market.
In no time, Samsung overtook all the competition as the number one source for OLED displays. Kodak and Sanyo were not worried, though. That’s because, in 2009, they had a trick up their sleeves. LG was going to acquire them, effectively allowing them to have a huge leg up on everyone in the OLED market — even Samsung. Samsung eventually withdrew from the OLED market in 2013, waiting until 2022 to officially re-enter the space. For nearly a decade, LG reigned supreme as the top OLED display provider in the world. The LG G3 vs. LG G1 represent the great work they continue to do.
5 Must-Know Facts About OLED
- Cutting through all the different branding and marketing tactics, there are truly just two TV types on the market today: OLED and LCD. No matter if it’s labeled QLED, ULED, QD-LED, or some other combination of letters, anything without the OLED name is overwhelmingly likely to be an LCD.
- One of the most prominent appeals of an OLED TV has to do with its ability to brighten or dim on a pixel-by-pixel level. A traditional LED TV will likely never be capable of accomplishing such specific dimming, as these LCD TV types are typically restricted to dimming zones and lighting arrays. This also means that an OLED TV can offer perfect blacks, whereas an LCD TV is always going to be at least slightly illuminated, even in night scenes.
- Just as there are a variety of different LCD TVs, there are a number of different OLED types. We touched on WOLED, but there’s also AMOLED (a.k.a. active matrix OLED). This is an OLED display with a higher refresh rate.
- The benefits of an OLED TV go far beyond aesthetics. (Though this is naturally a large draw.) Beyond the display, OLED TVs are also able to operate at a faster refresh rate and a significantly reduced power level.
- Though OLED TVs can stand on their own without the need for a color filter (a standard trait of an LCD TV), some brands still choose to incorporate color filters into their OLED displays regardless. The reasoning is that these color filters will only increase the size and scope of the TV’s color gamut, making it that much better than an LCD alternative. With these color filter-equipped OLEDs, the television will use all-white OLED pixels instead. They call this technology WOLED, which both the LG G3 vs. LG G1 are categorized as.
LG G3 vs. LG G1: Pros and Cons
| Pros of LG G3 | Cons of LG G3 |
|---|---|
| Significantly brighter than the G1 | More expensive than the LG G1 |
| Much faster processing power | LG updates their OLED TVs annually, meaning the G3 will likely no longer be best in 2024 |
| Better VRR specs than the G1 | No smaller sizes |
| Nearly double the surround sound channels built in | OLED TVs face the risk of burn-in |
| Pros of LG G1 | Cons of LG G1 |
|---|---|
| OLED display | Lacks the processing power of the LG G3 |
| Built-in surround sound | Fewer size options than the G3 |
| VRR enabled | Not nearly as bright as the G3 |
| Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support | Slower, laggier switching between inputs |
LG G3 vs. LG G1: Which Is Best?
By now, the answer seems quite clear. The LG G3 triumphs over the LG G1 in so many ways. From the processor to the brightness, from the surround sound to the internal specifications, the LG G3 currently stands as the best OLED TV the G Series has to offer. The LG G1 is undoubtedly a good television simply for being an OLED model, but the G3 is unquestionably a significant improvement over the G1. You wouldn’t be wrong for opting for the discounted G1 whenever the G3 officially releases, but just know that the G3 is absolutely worth the upgrade.
- LG OLED G1 Series 65” Alexa Built-in 4k Smart OLED evo TV, Gallery Design, 120Hz Refresh Rate, AI-Powered, Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, WiSA Ready (OLED65G1PUA, 2021)
- Available sizes include 55 inches, 65 inches, and 77 inches
- 120 Hz refresh rate
- α9 Gen4 AI Processor
- Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support
- VRR enabled
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Recent Technology Updates for the LG G3 and LG G1
Since February 2023, there have been technological advances for OLED TVs, like the LG G3 and LG G1, including:
- Brightness: OLED TVs have gotten brighter in recent years and continue to get brighter due to new materials and technologies.
- Contrast: OLED TVs have excellent contrast but continue to see updates to improve contrast even more.
Potential Technology Advances for the LG G3 and LG G1
While planned technology advancements have not been announced for the LG G3 and LG G1, it is likely that you may see some or all of the following in the next six to 18 months:
- 8K resolution: Since 8K resolution is a growing technology, we can see more OLED TVs that have 8K resolution capabilities.
- MicroLED TVs: Since MicroLED TVs are still in the early stages of development, we can expect to see expanded technology. MicroLED TVs use microscopic LEDs to produce self-lit pixels.
- Quantum dot TVs: We can expect to see more Quantum dot TVs which produce a wider range of colors than traditional TVs.
- Wider viewing angles: Viewing angles are currently more narrow. We can expect to see improvement in viewing angles through new technologies.
- Longer lifespans: We can expect to see longer lifespans for televisions as new technologies are being developed to improve the lifespan of televisions.
