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LG Flex OLED TV Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Feb 22, 2024 10:46 AM

True Score

86
85
2

Experts

90
13

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Expert Rankings

This display’s call to fame is its impressive curvature, which makes for wide viewing angles, but only if you can pay its high-end price. The fantastic gaming features do make it worthwhile, especially for gaming enthusiasts.

$1,696.99

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The LG Flex OLED TV is a high-end, 42-inch 4K resolution display announced towards the tail end of 2022. The TV’s stand-out feature is that its curvature is adjustable, as it can be set into 20 different positions.

Its arc can be adjusted from flat to a 900R curve, and its positioning changed by adjusting its height up to 140mm or tilting the screen 10 degrees front or 5 degrees back.

This TV offers a rapid 0.1ms response time for fast action scenes devoid of motion blur and self-lit OLED pixels that facilitate its infinite:1 contrast ratio for inky blacks and bright whites.

The display supports both FreeSync and G-SYNC technologies, and with a variable 120Hz refresh rate, it aims to guarantee tear-free gaming. Like most top-tier TVs, the FLEX OLED display also has HDMI 2.1 inputs for compatibility with the latest gaming consoles.

Best For

  • 40-inch

  • Computer Monitor

  • LG

  • Small

Consensus

our Verdict

The LG Flex OLED TV boasts a near-perfect Infinite:1 contrast ratio, providing amazing blacks and whites for dark room viewing, and is complemented by a respectable 730 nits HDR peak brightness for well-lit rooms.

While its 4K picture quality doesn’t match top-tier models, the wide color gamut delivers color-rich visuals, enhanced by the curved screen’s wide viewing angles and superb reflection handling, perfect for large-crowd enjoyment.

Gamers benefit from a tear-free experience with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, a 0.1ms response time for blur-free gaming, FreeSync, G-Sync support, and four HDMI 2.1 inputs for next-gen gaming systems.

Overall, the LG Flex OLED TV excels with exceptional features that cater to viewing pleasure and competitive gaming needs. It’s a no-brainer for avid gamers seeking an uncompromising gaming experience.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Exceptional picture quality
    • The LG Flex OLED TV is great for movies or gaming as it has excellent color accuracy after calibration for vivid imagery. Its color gamut is also quite wide, with a 97.92% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, placing it in the top 3rd of our certified tested TVs.

  • Impressive brightness and contrast
    • At an average tested brightness rating of 733 nits, it sits in the middle compared to what other similar high-end alternatives have to offer, but it does get bright enough to remain visible in well-lit rooms. It also boasts exceptional black levels courtesy of an impressive near-infinite:1 contrast ratio, which places it at the top of its category in this regard.

  • Variable Refresh Rate support
    • A 120Hz variable refresh rate keeps screen tearing at bay, ensuring a judder-free gaming experience

  • Exceptional reflection handling
    • With LG’s proprietary Super Anti Reflection feature, images remain fully visible even when in a brightly lit room

  • Incredible response time
    • There’s very little blur during fast-action scenes since the LG Flex OLED has a category-topping 2.5ms response time.

Reason to Avoid

  • Limited height adjustment and no VESA support
    • This causes problems with mounting as it prevents full customization and can be cumbersome

  • Adjustable screen reverts to a flat position when off
    • Curvature requires constant adjustment when switched on, which can be inconvenient

  • Risk of permanent burn-in
  • Limited height adjustment and no VESA support
  • The glossy display may cause reflections in bright lighting conditions
  • Screen reverts to a flat position when off, which can be inconvenient
  • The price may be high for some consumers

LG Flex OLED TV Specs

Backlight TypeBacklight TypeFull-Array
Display TypeOLED
HDMI Inputs4
HDR FormatDolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
LED Panel TypeLED Panel TypeOLED
Max Resolution3840 x 2160 (4k)
Refresh Rate120 Hz
Screen size42"
Smart PlatformSmart PlatformwebOS
Sync TechnologySync TechnologyAMD FreeSync, G-Sync
VRRVRRYes

All Specs

Test Results

Color Gamut % (DCI P3 xy)97.92
Color Gamut % (DCI P3 uv)99.19
Color Gamut % (Rec 2020 xy)71.3
Color Gamut % (Rec 2020 uv)74.64
Color Gamut % (sRGB)0
Color Gamut % (Rec 709)0
Color Gamut % (BT.2020)0
Color Gamut % (Adobe RGB)0
Color Gamut % (BT.709)0
Contrast Ratio (x:1)0
SDR Brightness (nits)374
HDR Brightness (nits)738
Input Lag (ms)10
Response Time (ms)2.5
Color Washout (Degrees)52
Color Shift (Degrees)28
Brightness Loss (Degrees)69
Reflections (%)0.9
Low-Freq Extension (Hz)113.14
Freq Response StdDev @ 70db2.74
Freq Response StdDev @ 80db2.83
Weighted Total Harmonic Distortion @80db0.034
Intermodulation Distortion @80db1.95
EOTF (600 nit delta)0.0028
EOTF (1000 nit delta)0.0024
EOTF (4000 nit delta)0.0025

All Tests

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    Product Comparison

    LG Flex OLED TV Review

    True Score

    86
    92
    NR
    NR

    Ranking

    #

    40

    /

    158

    #

    4

    /

    158

    #

    /

    #

    /

    Market Context

    The LG Flex OLED TV is a high-end, 42-inch 4K resolution display announced towards the tail end of 2022. The TV’s stand-out feature is that…

    The LG Flex OLED TV is a high-end, 42-inch 4K resolution display announced towards the tail end of 2022. The TV’s stand-out feature is that its curvature is adjustable, as it can be set into 20 different positions.

    Its arc can be adjusted from flat to a 900R curve, and its positioning changed by adjusting its height up to 140mm or tilting the screen 10 degrees front or 5 degrees back.

    This TV offers a rapid 0.1ms response time for fast action scenes devoid of motion blur and self-lit OLED pixels that facilitate its infinite:1 contrast ratio for inky blacks and bright whites.

    The display supports both FreeSync and G-SYNC technologies, and with a variable 120Hz refresh rate, it aims to guarantee tear-free gaming. Like most top-tier TVs, the FLEX OLED display also has HDMI 2.1 inputs for compatibility with the latest gaming consoles.

    The LG Flex OLED TV and the LG C2 OLED are similar in many aspects, but they do have a number of differences. For instance,…

    The LG Flex OLED TV and the LG C2 OLED are similar in many aspects, but they do have a number of differences. For instance, the LG Flex OLED TV is a curved display while the C2 is not, and while both TVs have a stellar Infinite:1 contrast ratio, the LG C2 OLED offers much better color accuracy out of the box. On the other hand, the OLED Flex handles reflections much better than the C2 OLED does, and while the C2 has a VESA 300×200 wall mount, the LG OLED Flex does not. If you’d like to learn more about the C2, we’ve covered it in-depth in our LG C2 OLED TV review. However, the LG G2 OLED is a similar alternative available in five different sizes as opposed to the OLED Flex, which only exists in one size. Check it out in our LG G2 OLED TV review.

    The LG Flex OLED TV has good viewing angles but is not as wide as the Samsung S95B OLED. This makes the S95B ideal for…

    The LG Flex OLED TV has good viewing angles but is not as wide as the Samsung S95B OLED. This makes the S95B ideal for group viewing. Another difference is that the S95N OLED uses the Tizen Smart OS, while the OLED Flex runs on the webOS platform. Finally, while both TVs have HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen console gaming, the Samsung S95 OLED can render HDR10+ content while the Flex OLED cannot, and conversely, the OLED Flex can render Dolby Vision content while the S95B OLED cannot. That said, another disadvantage of the Flex OLED is its screen stutter. A good alternative with much lower screen stutter is the Hisense U6H, which we covered in our Hisense U6H TV review

    While the LG Flex OLED TV is only available in a 42-inch size, the Sony A80K OLED is available in 55, 65, and 77-inch screen…

    While the LG Flex OLED TV is only available in a 42-inch size, the Sony A80K OLED is available in 55, 65, and 77-inch screen sizes. However, the OLED Flex offers better reflection handling and supports FreeSync technology, which the A80K OLED does not. Their operating platforms are also different, as the OLED Flex runs on the Google TV platform while the OLED Flex runs on the webOS user interface. However, the LG OLED Flex misses out on local dimming, which is a feature that’s present on the Sony X95J. We’ve covered it in our Sony X95J TV review, in case you’re interested.

    Backlight Type

    Full-Array

    Self-Emitting Pixels

    Display Type

    OLED

    OLED

    HDMI Inputs

    4

    4

    HDR Format

    Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG

    Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG

    LED Panel Type

    OLED

    OLED

    Max Resolution

    3840 x 2160 (4k)

    3840 x 2160 (4k)

    Refresh Rate

    120 Hz

    120 Hz

    Screen size

    42"

    42", 48", 55", 65", 77", 83"

    Dig Deeper

    LG C2 OLED TV Review →

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    Score Card

    E

    Expert Score

    85

    *.75

    We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

    C

    Customer Score

    90

    *.25

    We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

    True Score

    86

    Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh

    Expert Scores

    • Rtings
      101.4

      Category Trust Rating

      By:

      Samuel Breton
    • Techradar
      67

      Category Trust Rating

      By:

      Michelle Rae Uy