The LG OLED65G5 arrives as a statement: an OLED that pushes brightness, packs full HDMI 2.1 gaming credentials and layers in LG’s latest webOS + AI features — but it arrives into an ultra-competitive field where picture nuance and built-in audio increasingly decide buyers. This review-based feature pulls together the Trusted Reviews assessment of the OLED65G5, verifies the headline specs against LG’s product messaging and independent reporting, and places the G5 in context for buyers who want the best OLED TV for movies, gaming and bright-room living.
Background / Overview
LG’s G-series has long been a “reference” OLED line aimed at cinephiles and dedicated home theater setups. The 2025–2026 refresh consolidated two major moves: a brighter, tandem RGB-focused OLED panel (marketed as a Primary RGB Tandem stack) and a heavier reliance on LG’s α-series AI processing for upscaling and system features. LG has also pushed webOS as a central smart-home hub and added multi-year update commitments, positioning the G5 as both a high-end display and a platform.
Trusted Reviews’ hands-on verdict describes the OLED65G5 as “an impressive 4K TV” with some important caveats: it’s brighter than prior LG OLEDs and excellent at upscaling, but it faces tougher competition on color and sound, notably from Sony’s Bravia 8 Mk II and Samsung’s QD-OLED models. The reviewer praises the G5’s gaming features, webOS polish and new Primary RGB tandem panel while noting that Dolby Vision HDR rendering and onboard audio don’t quite match the best in class. The core Trusted Reviews notes are reflected below and examined with additional verification.
Design and Finish
LG’s G-series aesthetic remains minimalist and premium: a flush wall‑mount option or a well-engineered stand that leaves room for a soundbar. The G5 ships in two chassis variants — a wall-mount model that sits almost completely flush and a stand-equipped model for sizes up to 65 inches; the larger 77–97-inch options are wall-only. The set uses LG’s Vanta Black anti-reflective coating to suppress reflections while preserving deep blacks, a practical choice for bright rooms. Trusted Reviews highlights the Vanta Black coating as effective though not quite as glare-resistant as some QD-OLED models.
- The practical takeaway: the G5 looks the part and balances a flush, gallery-style mounting option with a usable, adjustable stand when required.
- The G5 is not the absolute thinnest OLED on the market — some competitors favour ultra-slim fashion over soundbar accommodation.
User Experience and Smart Platform
LG continues with webOS, and the G5 benefits from the company’s “Re:New” update policy that promises five years of OS updates — a notable plus for longevity and security in a major purchase. webOS remains fast and customisable with Quick Cards and a growing app ecosystem (including LG Channels and music/radio apps). Microsoft Copilot’s presence is also included in LG’s 2025/2026 feature list, though in Trusted Reviews’ hands-on the Copilot integration was unobtrusive and still a nascent feature in daily use.
Key UX points:
- Five years of webOS updates builds confidence that the TV won’t be arbitrarily orphaned soon after purchase.
- Copilot and multi‑AI features are arriving as optional enhancements; early impressions show limited day‑to‑day utility so far.
Gaming: Console and PC Ready
One area where the LG G5 scores highly is gaming. Trusted Reviews confirms full HDMI 2.1 across all four inputs, support for ALLM, VRR, and 4K/120Hz for consoles — plus a 4K/165Hz option targeted at PC gamers and support for both AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G‑Sync. The set also includes gaming conveniences like Game Optimiser pop-ups, genre presets and cloud gaming apps (GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna). These claims align with LG’s own product positioning and independent reporting on the 2025/2026 OLED lineup.
Measured responsiveness reported by Trusted Reviews: input lag around 13 ms in normal mode and about 9.3 ms in Boost mode — strong numbers for 65-inch TVs in this class. Note: those specific lag figures are reviewer-measured; independent lab tests are always recommended for absolute confirmation.
Why it matters for gamers:
- Low input lag and HDMI 2.1 features make the OLED65G5 well-suited for competitive and immersive gaming.
- A 165Hz-capable 4K input path for PCs is an advanced offering that will appeal to high-end desktop gamers — but real-world support depends on the GPU, cabling and the game’s settings.
Connectivity and Features
The G5 ships loaded:
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports (all supporting high‑bandwidth features).
- eARC, QMS (Quick Media Switching) and QFT (Quick Frame Transport) for better source switching and reduced latency.
- Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, AirPlay 2, Google Cast and WiSA support.
- Multiple USB ports, optical out, Ethernet and CI+ slot for tuners.
These connectivity claims are consistent with LG’s high-end 2025 models and independent event coverage. For buyers, four full HDMI 2.1 inputs mean you can attach multiple next-gen consoles and a high‑end PC without relying on external HDMI switches.
The Panel: Primary RGB Tandem OLED and Brightness Claims
Trusted Reviews highlights the G5’s Primary RGB Tandem panel as LG Display’s latest approach to push OLED brightness further while preserving the technology’s signature perfect blacks. Trusted Reviews reports the G5 can reach extreme peak highlights — in “specific circumstances” up to 4,000 nits — while offering a more realistic sustained peak (average) near 2,500 nits. These figures are exceptional for an emissive OLED and, if accurate, explain why the G5 behaves well in bright rooms.
Verification and context:
- LG’s 2025/2026 materials emphasise significant brightness improvements via tandem WOLED/RGB tandem stacks and AI-driven tone mapping, with Alpha‑series processors steering tone‑mapping and upscaling. Independent LG briefings and the wider coverage corroborate claims of much higher peak headroom compared with older OLED generations.
- Caution: manufacturer peak-brightness claims are highly dependent on measurement method (window size, test pattern, HDR mode and tone mapping). Trusted Reviews noted the testing equipment they use could not record the absolute peak in some cases, which is a red flag to treat the 4,000-nit bullet as a conditional spec rather than guaranteed sustained brightness in all modes. Independent lab verification is needed to validate the peak figure in standardized test conditions.
Practical conclusion: the OLED65G5 is materially brighter than legacy OLEDs and should suit brighter living rooms better than previous LG flagships; however, buyers should expect real-world HDR performance to be scene-dependent and should look for independent lab measurements for precise brightness figures.
Picture Quality: Strengths and Shortcomings
Trusted Reviews summary: the OLED65G5 delivers crisp, detailed 4K images, outstanding upscaling and a compelling sense of image depth thanks to strong contrast management. Dark scenes remain exemplary, while bright scenes get a new lease of life from the brighter panel. However, the reviewer felt the G5’s colour rendition and Dolby Vision handling lag behind Sony’s Bravia 8 Mk II in terms of subtlety and the most natural skin tones. Sony’s QD‑OLED approach shows advantages in certain color volume and perceptual brightness metrics.
Confirmed strengths:
- Best-in-class upscaling and texture preservation when feeding SD/HD sources into a 4K canvas, credited to LG’s AI upscaling pipeline and the α-series processor.
- Excellent contrast and black-level control typical of OLED — now paired with much-improved highlight headroom.
Noted limitations and caveats:
- Dolby Vision: Trusted Reviews observed that Dolby Vision content sometimes looked dimmer than SDR/HDR10 outputs on the same set, and that other brands executed Dolby Vision tone-mapping more favorably in their tests. Dolby Vision metadata handling varies by vendor; LG supports Dolby Vision IQ and Filmmaker+ modes, but tone-mapping preferences will produce different subjective outcomes. Treat Dolby Vision comparisons as content‑ and mode‑dependent.
- Colour volume: QD‑OLED competitors can push certain colour volumes and peak perceptual brightness benefits; LG’s new tandem approach narrows the gap but does not universally guarantee superiority across all colour-critical scenes. Independent colorimetric testing is required to settle head‑to‑head colour volume comparisons.
Upscaling and Motion Processing
Upscaling remains a headline strength for LG. Trusted Reviews praises the G5’s AI upscaling for rescuing low-bitrate and older sources (e.g., standard-definition DVD) and delivering excellent results with Blu-ray and higher-quality 4K masters. LG’s Dual Super Upscaling and on-device neural upscalers are part of this improvement. Independent coverage and LG’s technical briefs both describe a multi‑engine AI approach designed to run parallel upscalers for structural fidelity and texture preservation, which matches the real-world results reported.
Motion handling: LG’s TruMotion and advanced processing modes offer strong motion clarity, with the reviewer favouring Cinematic Movement for natural results and noting that Smooth/Natural can introduce judder/noisiness. Motion performance is competitive with Sony’s Bravia 8 Mk II, though the latter is sometimes judged more “film‑accurate” in certain test clips.
Sound: A Weak Link for an Expensive TV
Trusted Reviews is explicit: the G5’s built-in 4.2‑channel, 60W speaker system provides clear dialogue and a reasonably wide soundstage but lacks bass impact and cinematic dynamism. Dolby Atmos tracks feel underpowered compared with dedicated soundbars or TVs that prioritize bigger onboard audio. LG’s AI Sound Pro and virtual up‑mixing features promise multi‑channel virtualization (up to 11.1.2 virtual stages in marketing material), but practical results still lag a good discrete soundbar or modular Atmos system.
LG is actively promoting a modular Sound Suite with FlexConnect and wireless Atmos-capable components, positioning it as the solution for buyers who want easy Atmos without a receiver. Independent reporting confirms LG’s Sound Suite and FlexConnect roadmap — but also flags the usual wireless multi‑speaker caveats (latency, dropouts, and room-dependent tuning) that must be validated in real environments. For many buyers the sensible option is to pair the G5 with a quality soundbar.
How the G5 Compares: Sony Bravia 8 Mk II and Samsung S95F
Trusted Reviews’ bottom line is pragmatic: the LG G5 is one of LG’s best OLEDs to date, but it’s not the absolute best in picture or sound when stacked against the latest Sony Bravia 8 Mk II and Samsung QD‑OLED models. The Sony often had the edge in colour nuance and Dolby Vision tonal mapping, while QD‑OLED variants can present stronger peak perceived brightness at some viewing angles. The G5’s advantages are its gaming depth, solid platform and improved brightness, which can make it the better choice for multi-purpose living rooms or gamers who also value TV features.
Choose LG G5 if:
- You need a bright OLED that copes with daytime living rooms.
- You want extensive HDMI 2.1 features and low input lag for console + PC gaming.
- You value webOS polish, cloud gaming portals and a five-year update promise.
Choose Sony Bravia 8 Mk II or a QD‑OLED if:
- Absolute colour fidelity, the most natural skin tones and the best Dolby Vision mapping matter most.
- You want the sharpest out‑of‑the‑box picture for film viewing in both bright and dark rooms.
Testing, Measurement and Verifiability
Trusted Reviews used real-world viewing, input lag benchmarks and the Spears & Munsil Benchmark UHD disc for color and angle checks. Where the review reports extreme peak brightness claims (4,000 nits in “specific circumstances”), independent product briefs and LG’s own material support the claim that the panel headroom is vastly improved, but they also emphasise that these numbers are driven by scene‑dependent algorithms and measurement methodologies. Independent test labs remain the final arbiter for exact nit figures and colorimetric performance.
Caveats to keep in mind when evaluating TV specs:
- Peak nit claims vary with scene window size and tone mapping mode.
- Dolby Vision IQ and adaptive HDR tuning can change measured peaks dramatically.
- Manufacturer “coverage” claims (e.g., BT.2020 / DCI‑P3 claims) indicate potential gamut volume, not guaranteed fidelity for all content.
Strengths, Risks and Final Analysis
Strengths
- Bright OLED performance: The Primary RGB Tandem panel and processing give the G5 an edge in bright-room HDR rendering versus older OLEDs.
- Full HDMI 2.1 and gamer-friendly features: Four HDMI 2.1 inputs, low lag and 4K/165Hz support for PCs make the G5 a modern gaming hub.
- Robust smart platform and update policy: webOS is mature and LG’s five‑year update commitment adds long‑term value.
- Excellent upscaling: LG’s on‑device AI upscalers shine with low-bit-rate and legacy sources.
Risks and weaknesses
- On-board audio is mediocre for the price: Dedicated AV kit is recommended for cinematic Atmos.
- Per‑scene Dolby Vision tone mapping inconsistency: Dolby Vision handling may be dimmer than other modes on this set in some content — check independent Dolby Vision tests if this matters.
- Claims need lab verification: Peak brightness and some performance numbers should be verified by independent testing before treating them as absolutes.
- Strong competition at similar price points: Sony and QD‑OLED rivals can outperform the G5 in colour or sound for the same money.
Should You Buy the LG OLED65G5?
For buyers who want a future-facing, bright OLED with full HDMI 2.1 connectivity,
excellent upscaling and a polished smart platform, the OLED65G5 is an excellent candidate. It’s particularly compelling for:
- Gamers wanting low latency and 4K/165Hz PC performance.
- Households that use the TV in bright rooms and need better highlight headroom.
- Buyers who value platform longevity and extra smart features like Microsoft Copilot integration.
However, for the absolute best out‑of‑the‑box film picture or for buyers unwilling to add a soundbar, alternate models such as the Sony Bravia 8 Mk II or premium QD‑OLED TVs remain attractive options. If you’re sensitive to Dolby Vision tonal subtleties or place huge weight on onboard audio, factoring in those competitors is sensible before committing.
Final Thoughts
The LG OLED65G5 is a statement of intent: LG is pushing OLED brightness and adding a richer software and gaming feature set while acknowledging that audio and subtle colour science still reward careful competition. Trusted Reviews’ hands‑on verdict captures that balance — a major step forward for LG’s OLED platform, but not an unequivocal class leader in every corner. Independent lab tests will ultimately quantify the G5’s headline brightness and colour claims; until then, the set should be considered a top-tier, versatile OLED with a few caveats and a recommended partner soundbar for true cinema-grade audio.
Key technical claims verified in this piece are cross‑checked with LG’s 2025/2026 product messaging and industry coverage confirming the α-series AI processing, webOS update commitments and high-refresh gaming features, while also noting that peak brightness and exact sound performance require independent measurement and long‑term listening tests to confirm.
Buy confidently if you prioritise gaming, smart features and bright-room OLED performance; budget for a soundbar if you want cinematic audio to match the picture.
Source: Trusted Reviews
LG OLED65G5 Review