LG G5 OLED Review

The LG G5 OLED Review: A Masterclass in Refinement

In the fiercely competitive world of flagship televisions, creating something genuinely new each year is a monumental task. Rather than chasing a revolution, LG has opted for a masterclass in refinement with its 2025 Gallery Series OLED, the G5. This isn’t just another incremental update; it’s a statement piece that pushes the boundaries of WOLED technology, aiming to perfect the formula that has kept LG at the top. The G5 faces a market obsessed with peak brightness, but it answers not with brute force, but with intelligent, nuanced power. So, does it earn its place on the wall of the discerning videophile?

Performance and Picture Purity

At the heart of the G5 is LG’s new Alpha 11 AI Processor, a silicon powerhouse dedicated to one thing: pristine image quality. Paired with the second generation of Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology and what LG calls the “Meta Booster 2.0” algorithm, the G5 achieves a level of brightness that was unthinkable for WOLED panels just a few years ago. Specular highlights in HDR content pop with blinding intensity, yet the TV maintains LG’s signature perfect black levels, creating a near-infinite contrast ratio that remains the gold standard.

Where the G5 truly excels is in its color accuracy and processing. The Alpha 11’s AI upscaling is remarkably clean, sharpening 1080p and lower-resolution content without introducing distracting artifacts. Motion handling is superb, rendering fast-paced sports and action films with clarity and minimal judder. For gamers, the G5 is a dream machine. It boasts four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, support for 4K at 144Hz, and seamless VRR integration with NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium. Input lag is practically nonexistent, making it a top-tier choice for competitive console and PC gaming.

Design: The Art of Disappearing

The “G” in the G-Series has always stood for “Gallery,” and the G5 leans into this identity more than ever. The television is impossibly thin, designed to be mounted flush against a wall with its included zero-gap bracket. With its uniform thickness and razor-thin bezels, it practically melts into its surroundings, resembling a piece of digital art more than a conventional TV. The build quality is exceptional, featuring a robust metal chassis that feels every bit as premium as its price tag suggests.

However, this design-first philosophy comes with a significant caveat. For the third year running, LG has decided not to include a tabletop stand in the box. While one can be purchased separately, it’s a frustrating omission for a flagship product. This decision firmly positions the G5 as a display for wall-mounting purists, potentially alienating those who prefer a traditional media console setup.

Features and Usability

The G5 runs on the latest version of webOS, which offers a fast and fluid user experience. The interface is loaded with content recommendations and popular streaming apps, though the home screen can still feel a bit cluttered with sponsored content. The Magic Remote remains an intuitive way to navigate, combining pointer functionality with a traditional D-pad.

On the audio front, the G5’s built-in speakers are surprisingly capable for their size, producing clear dialogue and a decent sense of space thanks to AI Sound Pro. However, they lack the low-end punch and cinematic scale to match the world-class visuals. To truly do this panel justice, an external soundbar or a dedicated surround sound system is not just a recommendation; it’s practically a requirement. The continued support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos ensures you get the best possible picture and sound from a vast library of compatible content, a key advantage over some rivals.

Final Verdict

The LG G5 OLED is not a television for the masses; it’s an uncompromising display for the enthusiast. It represents the pinnacle of LG’s WOLED technology, delivering a picture that is both dazzlingly bright and exquisitely accurate. Its gaming credentials are second to none, and its gallery design is a minimalist’s dream.

However, its high price and wall-mount-centric design make it a niche proposition. If you’re a home cinema perfectionist who plans to wall-mount your next TV and demands the absolute best in picture quality and gaming performance, the LG G5 is an outstanding, albeit expensive, choice. For everyone else, the more value-oriented C-Series will likely offer 90% of the performance for a fraction of the cost.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon