Now we’re talking! 97” diagonal of incredible picture quality that only OLED technology can produce. Officially, this huge TV bares a model number of: OLED97G2, or just think of it in the long version as the LG OLED 97” G2 evo Gallery TV
LG’s 97” EVO TV is really big! . We’re talking just over 7 feet wide! Sports and movies will be awesome. I’ll talk more about the picture, but let’s check out the basics:
LG Evo 97” Smart TV – Basic Tech and Specs:
- 4K 3840×2160 resolution – Accepts 4K sources including HDR (High Dynamic Range) content using HDR10 and HLG standards.
- MSRP: $24,999 The largest consumer OLED TV certainly isn’t inexpensive, but the largest always is very expensive when first released. You should be aware that the last, biggest LG OLED, their 83” was also extremely expensive when released, but is now, a far more reasonable – if still pricy: $5999.99
- Upscales lower resolution content to 4K
- Capable of producing true black, because when black is called for, each pixel has it’s own light, so that pixel is switched off, so that no light is emitted, aka black!
- Optimization for Gaming – including very low input lag – 1 millisecond – perfect for all practical purposes), plus many more gaming enhancing features!
- Art Gallery – This LG comes with a mode ideal for displaying your favorite artwork and photos, when you aren’t watching/streaming content.
- Imagine a 97” stunning scene instead of a big black hole on your wall, when you aren’t watching
- Smart, very smart – LG was one of the very first to build in a web interface, and has an excellent layout, plus is preloaded with almost all of the major streaming services apps
- Comes with an unusual (and unusually fast) “Magic remote” that uses gyros. (I love the one that came with my own LG TV)
- Built in web browser
- Not suitable for a “Tiny House” the 97” LG evo measures roughly 85x64x23 inches.
- That’s right – just over7 feet wide
- Access to LG’s own collection of content channels (there’s plenty of interesting things to be found there
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, (Homekit/Siri, with an optional add-on)
- 4 HDMI 2.1, with HDCP 2.2, including ARC (audio return channel – needed for streaming, when used with external audio system), plus 3 USB, Ethernet, Digital Audio out…
- Support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, 4.2. channel audio, with 60 watts
- Comes with a wall mount, but if you need it, the floor stand is optional
That’s enough bullet points, now let’s get practical:
Game Changing?
Perhaps most significantly, we’re seeing an OLED that’s almost as large as most home theater folks have in their homes using projectors. I know, I was in the projector business as a reviewer (projectorreviews.com – now owned by my friends Phil and Diane Jones). Before that, I was the first online projector reseller (1994)– for a total of 28 years focused on projectors. But now its time for something new!
My own projector screen sizes over the years varied including my current 106” diagonal (pretty typical). Before I downsized to a condo, I had 124” and 128” screens in previous houses. Those two were larger than most HT projector owners have. Personally, I’m looking forward to this 97” to become more affordable. Myself, in addition to having a very good HT projector (in a small bedroom) I have a 3 year old LG 77” OLED C series 4K TV, (LG recently replaced my model with a newer one – for less, of course).
Back to the LG, or rather, the OLED Technology that LG uses in their flagship. It’s not so important as to how it works, as how good it looks:
Let’s talk the benefits of OLED for a moment.
With LG’s 97” EVO OLED TV, you’ve got one big picture, and with the OLED, the picture is superior to projection. That’s because LG’s OLED TVs can produce a true black – as can all OLED TVs. Everything else out there, be it LCD/LED or projector, can only do various degrees of dark gray as their “best.”
It may have a really big picture, but it is truly thin!
The 97” evo smart TV, is brand new, and part of LG’s highest end line-up, the G series, one step up from my C series. I can tell you that the image on my “small” 77” is outstanding.
Note: I am sorry hurricane Ian kept me from getting from SW Florida, to the CEDIA show in Dallas this year last week. I would have loved to see demoed, this top of the line, largest EVO, tackling the toughest images, movies, and videos reproduced spectacularly.
LG claims this as the world’s largest commercially available consumer OLED TV! (For now!)
Perfect blacks also make for rich pure colors. For that reason, primarily (other reasons too), OLED rules!
I strongly recommend OLED as worth the price, if the budget allows. True, any OLED TV is significantly pricier than lower end TV tech, but consider – my OLED typically sold for about $5K 3 years ago. Now, the newer version is just half of that. As one expects, prices keep coming down.
One downside relating to OLED, while this and other are very nicely bright, the brightest non OLED TVs are a good bit brighter.
So, this 97” version of LG’s evo OLED TV may be out of budget for many of us, please note that their 83” version is a far more affordable $5999 list price, but should sell for a good bit less.
LG’s EVO series MSRP
97”: $24,999.
83”: $5999.99
77”: $3799.99
65”: $2499.99
55”: $1899.99
Looks like I’m going to have to wait a couple more years before the 97” is in my budget! By then, who knows how big their flagship will be, but I suspect that for those with the available funds, will fully enjoy their investment!
