The price gap between standard OLED and newer OLED evo panels is definitely something to consider owhen shopping for a high-end LG TV.
As the name implies, OLED evo technology is an advancement over traditional OLED screens, especially with brightness capabilities. The screens can achieve 20% higher brightness than regular OLED displays, which you’ll notice most with HDR content.
On the downside, the price difference is substantial: a 65-inch LG with OLED evo costs $2,799, while you can get a 48-inch standard OLED LG C1 for just $1,199.
The main question about OLED vs OLED evo comes down to value. Tests show the LG G1’s OLED evo reaching peak brightness of 870 nits compared to the GX range’s 754 nits last year. The real question is whether this improvement makes a noticeable difference in your daily viewing. Let’s examine what you’re paying for and if it matches your viewing needs.
Pricing and Size Options
LG makes two OLED TV lines that differ quite a bit in price. The high-end OLED evo G5 is more than twice as expensive as some ow LG’s non-evo OLED models.
Is the Price Gap Justified by Size or Features?
You’re paying extra for better picture quality with OLED evo. Lab tests show the evo gets a bit brighter with HDR content—reaching 750-800 nits versus 700-750 nits on the C1. The evo also shows colors a little more accurately.
Most people won’t notice these differences much. Reviews point out that “while the evo’s picture is clearly better, it’s not by a huge margin”.
Standard OLED gives you better value unless you really need the absolute best performance.
Display Technology and Brightness
Panel Composition: Standard OLED vs OLED evo Materials
OLED evo’s new luminous element changes how the panel creates light. Each self-emissive pixel produces more light than traditional OLED. Standard OLED panels remained mostly unchanged since 2015. OLED evo adds a green element to the production process among improved red and blue brightness features. The panel’s advanced design uses an extra layer of emissive material that refines light wavelengths and delivers better performance.
Peak Brightness: 412 nits vs 388 nits in Lab Tests
Lab tests prove OLED evo technology’s brightness advantages. LG G1 with OLED evo reached 412.05 nits in controlled tests, while standard OLED GX achieved 388.88 nits (source: Tom’s Guide). LCD screens usually outshine OLEDs. This 6% improvement shows a small but valuable upgrade. The technology works better for daytime viewing in bright rooms where standard OLEDs had issues.
Color Gamut and HDR Performance Differences
OLED evo earned a Delta-E score of 1.64 compared to standard OLED’s 1.73. Lower scores mean better accuracy. Color gamut coverage stayed similar—G1 produced 133.92% of Rec 709 color space while GX achieved 134.42%. The evo panel creates more vivid and lifelike colors through advanced processing. Higher peak brightness improves HDR content and makes highlights stand out bettee.
Real-World Performance and Viewing Experience
The practical differences between these technologies become apparent through testing in day-to-day viewing scenarios. OLED evo technology improves on earlier panels’ limitations and provides clear benefits in different settings.
Daylight Viewing: Bright Room Performance
OLED evo shows notably better results in rooms filled with light. The G1’s anti-glare technology and improved peak brightness keeps the picture visible even with surrounding light. This advancement fixes an old problem, as older OLEDs don’t deal very well with bright spaces. Ground application tests show the G1 keeps pictures clear during daylight hours. Users can now place it in bright rooms without needing blackout curtains.
Black Levels and Shadow Detail in Dark Scenes
These technologies deliver the perfect blacks that made OLED famous, but evo panels show more detail in darker scenes. The G1 handles subtle black color variations better than older models, as seen in the war movie Greyhound. Dark areas show clearer details that create a more immersive experience in low-light scenes.
Motion Handling and Upscaling Differences
Both technologies offer crystal-clear motion thanks to pixels that respond almost instantly. Notwithstanding that, evo models stand out with better motion handling for ever-changing content. The G1’s processor excels at smoothing color transitions and reduces blocking artifacts in compressed content. This results in cleaner playback from different video sources.
Color Accuracy: Delta-E Scores Compared
Tests by experts show OLED evo gets a Delta-E score of 1.64 while standard OLED scores 1.73. This shows a small improvement, since any score under 2.0 means the colors look excellent. The G3 model with advanced OLED evo technology performed even better with Delta-E values between 0.310 and 1.06 at different brightness levels. Tests of individual colors showed Delta-E ranging from 0.393 for reds to 1.58 for yellows
Conclusion: Is OLED evo Worth the Extra Cost for Most Users?
OLED evo makes sense mainly for specific viewing needs. The technology brings real benefits for bright room viewing, HDR content, and color-critical work. Regular viewers who mostly watch standard content might not notice these improvements as much.
Comparison Table
| Feature | OLED evo (LG G1) | Regular OLED (LG C1) |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Brightness | 412.05 nits | 388.88 nits |
| Color Accuracy (Delta-E) | 1.64 | 1.73 |
| 55-inch Price | $2,199 | $1,799 |
| 65-inch Price | $2,999 | $2,499 |
| 77-inch Price | $4,499 | $3,799 |
| Available Sizes | 55″, 65″, 77″ | 48″, 55″, 65″, 77″, 83″ |
| HDR Performance | 750-800 nits | 700-750 nits |
| Bright Room Performance | Enhanced viewing with anti-glare technology | Limited performance in bright spaces |
| Color Gamut (Rec 709) | 133.92% | 134.42% |
| Brightness Improvement | 20% brighter than standard OLED | Standard brightness level |
While OLED evo shows progress rather than a complete transformation (most notably being about 20% brighter) than regular OLED panels, the real question is whether spending an extra $400-700 makes sense.
Your viewing setup and priorities will help you decide. OLED evo brings real benefits if you watch lots of HDR content or have a bright living room. You’ll notice better brightness, less glare, and clearer shadows. These improvements matter to viewers who can recognize subtle picture differences.
Standard OLED might be your better choice if you watch TV in a darker room or stick to regular content. Both technologies give you perfect blacks, rich colors, and picture quality that beats most other displays at a substantially lower cost.
But again, the price difference is still very steep. As long as this is the case, standard OLED offers better value for most people, while OLED evo targets viewers who just need the best performance whatever the cost. Future versions will likely cost less and become more accessible to people. For now, it’s a premium option for those willing to pay more for small but meaningful improvements.
FAQs
Q1. What are the main differences between OLED evo and standard OLED?
OLED evo offers about 20% higher brightness, reaching 412 nits compared to 388 nits for standard OLED. It also provides slightly better color accuracy and improved performance in bright rooms.
Q2. Is OLED evo worth the extra cost for most users?
For most users, standard OLED offers better value. However, OLED evo may be worth the premium for those who watch a lot of HDR content, have bright viewing environments, or demand the absolute best picture quality.
Q4. Are there any differences in size options between OLED evo and standard OLED?
Yes, standard OLED offers more size options, including 48-inch and 83-inch models. OLED evo is currently available only in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 77-inch sizes.
Q5. How does OLED evo technology improve HDR performance?
OLED evo enhances HDR performance by achieving higher peak brightness levels of 750-800 nits compared to 700-750 nits on standard OLED. This allows for more vivid highlights and improved overall contrast in HDR content.