LG OLED evo G5 OLED65G5WUA 65.1"

The LG G5 achieves a 99th percentile gaming score, rocketing it to the top of our charts. With a glare-free bright OLED screen and inclusive wall mount, it's a home theater masterpiece. Just watch out for wildly varying prices and the fact that our benchmarks didn't agree with how good users say the picture is.

The LG OLED evo G5 lands in the 99th percentile for gaming in our database, making it one of the absolute fastest TVs we've ever tested. With a 0.1ms response time, native 120Hz (capable of 165Hz), and full HDMI 2.1 support, this thing is a gamer's dream. It's also a standout in connectivity and smart features, placing in the top tier. But here's where it gets weird: our composite picture quality benchmark puts this model at just the 36th percentile, well below average. That doesn't match the glowing user reviews we've seen. The reality, based on what owners are saying, is that the picture is exceptional, with vibrant colors, deep OLED blacks, and brightness that finally makes an OLED work in a bright room. The glare-free screen and included flush wall mount seal the deal for a premium home theater setup. So is this a case of benchmarks missing the magic, or is there something more going on? Let's dig in.

In our gaming performance tests, the G5 is practically untouchable. It's in the 99th percentile, right up there with the best gaming monitors. You get four HDMI 2.1 ports, all supporting 4K at 120Hz (and up to 165Hz if you're using a PC), along with G-SYNC, FreeSync Premium, and VRR. Input lag at 0.1ms is as good as it gets for a big screen. The Alpha 11 AI Gen2 processor handles motion interpolation beautifully with OLED Motion, so fast content stays crisp without the soap opera effect. For connectivity, it's also 99th percentile, with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and plenty of USB ports (though they're only USB 2.0). The display quality, according to our display metric, lands in the 93rd percentile, which is excellent. The brightness improvements are real: LG calls it the brightest OLED they've made, and the Bright Room Ready anti-glare coating means you don't need to draw the curtains during the day. HDR support includes Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, with a 76th percentile HDR performance, well above average. The built-in 4.2 channel audio with Dolby Atmos is surprisingly decent for a TV this thin, landing in the 87th percentile. It won't replace a soundbar for movie buffs, but it's far from the tinny mess some ultra-thin sets produce.

Pricing is all over the map, with the G5 listed between $1,406 and $73,450 across stores. At the low end, it's a killer deal for a premium 65-inch OLED with this feature set. If you can snag it near $1,400, the performance per dollar is incredible, especially given the included wall mount. But be very careful where you shop; some third-party sellers are marking this up absurdly high. The best value we've seen is through the lowest-priced vendor we track, so compare prices before you click buy.

Against the Sony BRAVIA 5 K55XR50, the LG G5 delivers better gaming specs and a brighter screen, though Sony has the edge in out-of-box color accuracy and upscaling. The Samsung QN85D, a mini-LED, can get even brighter and has no risk of burn-in, but you sacrifice the perfect blacks and viewing angles only OLED can offer. The Hisense U7 and TCL QM8K are strong budget alternatives with impressive brightness and gaming features for far less money, but they can't match the G5's overall refinement and design. If you want the best of OLED for both dark-room movies and sunlit gaming, the G5 is hard to beat, but if your room is always bright, the Samsung might be the smarter pick.

If you're setting up a TV outdoors or in a bright sunroom where direct sunlight is common, the G5 is a bad fit. Its outdoor performance rating of 58.3/100 means you'll struggle with visibility and might risk heat-induced issues. Also, if you're on a tight budget, the massive price variance and premium starting point might push you toward the TCL or Hisense alternatives, which offer near-OLED brightness for much less. And if you're paranoid about OLED burn-in despite modern mitigations, a premium mini-LED like the Samsung QN85D will give you peace of mind.

Despite a confusingly low picture quality benchmark, the LG G5 OLED is clearly a crowd-pleaser with outstanding gaming chops and the brightest OLED picture we've seen. Owners love it, and the numbers back up its dominance in connectivity, smart features, and display quality. The outdoor limitation and the outlier picture score give us slight pause, but if you're using it indoors, especially for gaming and mixed lighting, this is one of the best premium TVs you can buy right now. Make sure you find a price near the lower end of the spectrum, and you'll be thrilled.