LG has been the undisputed king of OLED televisions for years, but the 2025 G5 series represents their most significant leap forward yet. With a revolutionary new panel technology that delivers 45% more brightness than last year's model, the G5 isn't just an incremental upgrade - it's a statement of intent. But at prices starting from nearly two grand, is it worth the premium? Let's find out.

The OLED TV market has grown increasingly competitive. Samsung's QD-OLED panels have been snapping at LG's heels, and Sony continues to work their video processing magic. LG's response? A completely redesigned panel structure called "Brightness Booster Ultimate" that uses four-layer tandem OLED technology. In plain English, they've essentially stacked two OLED panels together to double the light output whilst maintaining those perfect blacks that make OLED special.

Technical Specifications

That 2,200 nit peak brightness figure is genuinely impressive for OLED. To put it in perspective, the original LG OLED TVs from just five years ago topped out at around 700-800 nits. The G4 from 2024 managed roughly 1,500 nits. This 45% jump in a single generation is remarkable, and it means HDR content finally has the punch it deserves on an OLED display.

Understanding Tandem OLED

Let's geek out for a moment about what makes the G5's panel so special. Traditional WOLED panels use white OLED emitters with colour filters - it's the technology LG has refined for years. The G5 introduces what LG calls "RGB Tandem" or four-layer technology, where they've essentially doubled up the organic layers in the panel structure.

The benefits extend beyond just brightness. Because each organic layer is working half as hard to produce the same amount of light, the panel should theoretically last longer and be more resistant to burn-in. LG is so confident in this that they've extended the warranty coverage for burn-in on the G5 series. That's a significant vote of confidence from a manufacturer who has historically been cagey about burn-in warranties.

The panel also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG for HDR content. Filmmaker Mode is present for those who want to see content exactly as directors intended, disabling all motion smoothing and post-processing. Speaking of motion, the G5 features de-judder and motion interpolation options that actually work well without introducing the dreaded "soap opera effect" - though purists will still want to keep these off.

Gaming Performance

If you're a serious gamer, the G5 has you covered. All four HDMI ports support the full HDMI 2.1 specification with 48Gbps bandwidth, meaning you can run 4K at 120Hz with full HDR from any of them. But LG has gone further this year with support for 4K at 165Hz on two of those ports - perfect for PC gamers with high-end graphics cards.

The Game Optimizer dashboard gives you quick access to all gaming-related settings, including genre-specific picture presets for FPS, RPG, and sports games. There's also a dark room stabiliser that boosts shadow detail in darker scenes - genuinely useful for games like Elden Ring or Dead Space where visibility in dark areas can make the difference between life and death.

Smart Features & AI Processing

The G5 runs on webOS 25, LG's latest smart TV platform. After years of refinement, webOS remains one of the better smart TV interfaces - it's reasonably quick, logically organised, and supports all the streaming apps you'd expect including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and even game streaming services like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The Alpha 11 AI Processor Gen2 handles all the heavy lifting, and LG has leaned heavily into AI-powered picture and sound processing this generation. The AI Picture Pro feature analyses content frame-by-frame, adjusting brightness, contrast, and sharpness based on what's being displayed. It even recognises different types of content - faces, landscapes, text, sports - and optimises accordingly.

On the audio side, AI Sound Pro uses virtual 11.1.2 channel surround sound processing to create a more immersive experience from the TV's built-in speakers. Honestly? The G5's audio is decent for a flatscreen, but you'll still want a proper soundbar or AV system to do justice to the picture quality. LG's WOW Orchestra feature can synchronise the TV's speakers with compatible LG soundbars for a combined output, which works surprisingly well.

Design & Installation

The G5 continues LG's Gallery Series design philosophy - these are TVs designed to be wall-mounted, sitting nearly flush against the wall like a picture frame. The "One Wall Design" keeps the panel depth under 25mm across most of the surface, with only a slight bump at the bottom for the electronics and speakers.

LG includes a slim wall-mount bracket in the box, which is a nice touch given that these are premium TVs designed specifically for wall mounting. If you do want to use a stand, you'll need to purchase one separately - the optional Gallery Stand (sold separately) maintains the aesthetic with a minimal easel-style design.

Build quality is excellent throughout. The bezels are minimal - just a few millimetres of metal frame around the panel - and the brushed metal finish feels appropriately premium. It's the sort of TV you genuinely wouldn't mind having as a centrepiece in your living room, displaying artwork when not in use (LG's Art Mode provides screensaver options for exactly this purpose).

G5 vs G4: Worth the Upgrade?

If you're coming from a 2024 G4, the question becomes whether that brightness boost justifies the upgrade cost. Here's how the two compare:

Feature	LG G5 (2025)	LG G4 (2024)
Peak Brightness	2,200 nits	~1,500 nits
Panel Technology	4-Layer Tandem WOLED	MLA WOLED
Max Refresh Rate	165Hz	144Hz
Processor	Alpha 11 Gen2	Alpha 11
webOS Version	webOS 25	webOS 24

The brightness improvement is genuinely visible, particularly in HDR content with bright highlights. If you watch a lot of HDR films or play HDR games in a bright room, the G5's extra punch makes a noticeable difference. However, if you primarily watch in a dark home cinema environment, the G4 remains excellent and will likely drop in price throughout 2025.

Pricing & Value

Let's talk money, because the G5 series represents a significant investment. Here's the full lineup with UK and US pricing:

These are launch prices, and LG OLEDs typically see meaningful discounts throughout the year - particularly around Black Friday. If you're not in a rush, waiting a few months could save you several hundred pounds. The 65-inch sweet spot tends to offer the best value for most living rooms, whilst the 77-inch is the go-to for dedicated home cinema enthusiasts with the budget to match.

Who Should Buy the G5?

The G5 makes the most sense for buyers who tick several of these boxes:

Conversely, if you primarily watch in a dark room, already own a recent LG OLED (C3, G3, or newer), or are budget-conscious, the G5 might be overkill. The LG C5, due later in 2025, will offer most of the same panel technology at a lower price point - worth waiting for if the G5's wall-mount-focused design isn't essential to you.

The television market continues to evolve at a rapid pace, but LG's commitment to pushing OLED technology forward remains impressive. The G5 isn't just brighter - it's smarter, faster, and more future-proof than any LG OLED before it. Whether that's worth the premium over last year's model or competing technologies depends on your specific needs and viewing habits, but as a pure expression of what OLED can do in 2025, the G5 is hard to beat.