Samsung and LG are two of the most popular TV brands on the market. Which one is better? There’s no easy answer to this question, but it can help to look at what each company does best. Samsung has a great reputation for producing high-quality TVs with excellent picture quality, while LG offers some of the thinnest models you’ll find today.
- HANDPICKED BY AMAZON: They did the research so you don’t have to.
- DYNAMIC CRYSTAL COLOR: Witness millions of shades of color through powerful Dynamic Crystal technology
- CRYSTAL PROCESSOR 4K: See every detail with stunning clarity; The powerful processor, specifically tuned for Crystal Displays, converts what you're watching to 4K
- BUILT-IN VOICE ASSISTANTS: Access a world of content beyond streaming; Schedule recordings, search, auto-adjust gaming settings, seamlessly connect with a host of compatible devices, and control your smart TV with your voice, all with one remote
- HDR: Enjoy a whole new world of vivid color and detail found in newer films and streaming service content with HDR, also known as High Dynamic Range*
- OLED DISPLAY: Watch your content come to life in over 8 million pixels. Each pixel turns on and off independently so you'll see your content with perfect black, over a billion rich colors and infinite contrast for a viewing experience like no other.
- α9 GEN 4 AI PROCESSOR 4K: Picture and sound adjustment happen automatically with our best processor. The a9 Gen4 AI Processor 4K uses deep-learning algorithms to detect scenes and genres to make your content look its best no matter what or when you're watching.
- GAME OPTIMIZER: Game Optimizer gives you easier access to all your game settings, while the latest HDMI allows for fast gaming speeds. Plus, you'll get low input lag and fast response times with Auto Low-Latency Mode and HGiG.
- GOOGLE ASSISTANT & ALEXA BUILT IN: There’s no need for an extra device – just ask your TV for music, weather, news, your Amazon shopping list, and more. Plus, conveniently control your connected home and smart devices.
- HOME CINEMA EXPERIENCE: Get breathtaking picture and audio that makes you feel like you're in the action with Cinema HDR, Dolby Vision IQ & Dolby Atmos. See movies exactly how directors intended with Filmmaker Mode. And with built-in access to Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV plus, Disney plus and LG channels, your favorite content is at your fingertips.
Both companies have strengths in different areas, so when purchasing a new television set it pays to do your research before making a final decision. And to help out, here’s a Samsung vs LG comparison you can use to decide which company makes the best TVs.
Table of Contents
1. Brand Value and History
Both brands, Samsung and LG, have a rich history since the first television sets were manufactured in the 1950s and 1960s.
Both companies’ origins can be traced back to just one man: In-Ho Lee of South Korea and Guy Kliewer Buessing of the US, respectively.
The two TV manufacturing powerhouses have enjoyed great success as they kept innovating as time went by.
They started producing CRT TVs but as that technology was slowly displaced by LCDs, they followed up with their versions.
Despite having strong rivals such as Sony or Panasonic along the way, Samsung and LG always seemed to find a way to reach the top spot in worldwide rankings.
2. Operating System and Apps
This is where we can see a clear difference between the two TV manufacturers: Samsung has its OS and it’s called ‘Tizen’, while LG uses Google’s Android OS for its smart TVs.
Tizen was first released in 2013 and it’s mainly used by Samsung on most of their devices, such as smartphones or even refrigerators. Since then, Tizen OS has been updated to newer versions that include support for even more codecs and apps (Netflix 4K support is among them).
- HANDPICKED BY AMAZON: They did the research so you don’t have to.
- DYNAMIC CRYSTAL COLOR: Witness millions of shades of color through powerful Dynamic Crystal technology
- CRYSTAL PROCESSOR 4K: See every detail with stunning clarity; The powerful processor, specifically tuned for Crystal Displays, converts what you're watching to 4K
- BUILT-IN VOICE ASSISTANTS: Access a world of content beyond streaming; Schedule recordings, search, auto-adjust gaming settings, seamlessly connect with a host of compatible devices, and control your smart TV with your voice, all with one remote
- HDR: Enjoy a whole new world of vivid color and detail found in newer films and streaming service content with HDR, also known as High Dynamic Range*
On the other hand, LG opted for an open-source platform like Android: Even though they don’t have as much control over the interface as before (LG UX doesn’t offer too many customization settings), benefit from a multitude of apps and services.
3. TV Picture Quality and Size Range
These two manufacturers excel at different things as well: Samsung has usually been better with LED/LCD TVs while LG has worked wonders with OLED screens for quite some time now.
As such, you can expect the latest QLED TVs from South Korea or Signature OLED models from the US to be among the best in what they do and offer much better picture quality than budget-oriented sets.
However, we should note that both makers have recently started to produce much larger sets (from 55-inch up to 88-inch) that take your breath away when it comes to room-filling capacities but also tend to go over a thousand dollars more frequently than smaller counterparts.
4. Smart Home
Samsung and LG are two of the top manufacturers for smart appliances, mainly fridges or washing machines that you can control remotely via an app on your smartphone.
We have to mention, in addition, that they both offer connected thermostats (to adjust the temperature in your house) with some models even offering remote control capabilities via a mobile app.
- OLED DISPLAY: Watch your content come to life in over 8 million pixels. Each pixel turns on and off independently so you'll see your content with perfect black, over a billion rich colors and infinite contrast for a viewing experience like no other.
- α9 GEN 4 AI PROCESSOR 4K: Picture and sound adjustment happen automatically with our best processor. The a9 Gen4 AI Processor 4K uses deep-learning algorithms to detect scenes and genres to make your content look its best no matter what or when you're watching.
- GAME OPTIMIZER: Game Optimizer gives you easier access to all your game settings, while the latest HDMI allows for fast gaming speeds. Plus, you'll get low input lag and fast response times with Auto Low-Latency Mode and HGiG.
- GOOGLE ASSISTANT & ALEXA BUILT IN: There’s no need for an extra device – just ask your TV for music, weather, news, your Amazon shopping list, and more. Plus, conveniently control your connected home and smart devices.
- HOME CINEMA EXPERIENCE: Get breathtaking picture and audio that makes you feel like you're in the action with Cinema HDR, Dolby Vision IQ & Dolby Atmos. See movies exactly how directors intended with Filmmaker Mode. And with built-in access to Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV plus, Disney plus and LG channels, your favorite content is at your fingertips.
Both TV brands also offer smart lights – mostly compatible with their TVs but sometimes not – with some models able to be controlled via an external device such as Alexa or Google Home.
5. Design and Build Quality
This is where things get more complicated when comparing these two companies: Samsung has always been known for its clean minimalistic design while LG’s choice fell on more striking aesthetics.
As such, you can expect Samsung TVs to look stylish yet unobtrusive while LG’s latest lineup might catch your attention with their bolder looks.
Samsung TVs usually boast an elegant metallic finish and thin bezels around the screen that makes them very attractive when placed into living rooms.
LG OLED TVs don’t have as clean a design but they offer much larger screens than their LED/LCD counterparts from other brands thanks to their super-thin panels. This also means they are easy to fix on any wall without the need for special installation services or tools.
We should mention that it’s getting increasingly harder to tell what kind of chassis both TV makers use because they tend to hide all sorts of cables behind the panel so you only see what they want you to see.
6. Pricing and Availability
Samsung TVs are more expensive than LG’s counterparts by at least $500 for the most part, but you can choose from a wider variety of screen sizes if that’s your primary concern.
They’re usually sold in stores worldwide, with Amazon being one of our favorite places to buy screens since it offers reliable shipping without having to worry about fakes (Of course, this doesn’t mean buying things online is always safe).
As for LG OLED TVs – even though their price tags are also very high – there aren’t as many sizes available as Samsung has to offer. If you want an ultra-large model make sure you scout out the latest “W” models that have just started being released.
7. Customer Support
Samsung has a much better reputation when it comes to customer support than LG, with many customers reporting that their queries are resolved within less than an hour by very skilled agents.
LG OLED TVs are known for having issues after the one-year warranty expires so if you plan on using your screen for more than 18 months make sure you buy some sort of protection.
Samsung’s Strengths
The Samsung KS9000 is a good example of what this Korean manufacturer does best: produce high-quality TV sets that have excellent picture quality.
Read: Samsung QN55Q70TAFXZA Review
One of its most impressive features is the way it handles black colors. When something on screen is supposed to be black, it will be very dark and deep. And when a scene contains many different blacks at once, the KS9000 maintains their distinction from one another. This results in some of the most striking images you can get from a modern television set. It also has impressively wide viewing angles thanks to the type of panel it uses. This makes it ideal for people who watch TV with a group of friends or family members.
- OLED DISPLAY: Watch your content come to life in over 8 million pixels. Each pixel turns on and off independently so you'll see your content with perfect black, over a billion rich colors and infinite contrast for a viewing experience like no other.
- α9 GEN 4 AI PROCESSOR 4K: Picture and sound adjustment happen automatically with our best processor. The a9 Gen4 AI Processor 4K uses deep-learning algorithms to detect scenes and genres to make your content look its best no matter what or when you're watching.
- GAME OPTIMIZER: Game Optimizer gives you easier access to all your game settings, while the latest HDMI allows for fast gaming speeds. Plus, you'll get low input lag and fast response times with Auto Low-Latency Mode and HGiG.
- GOOGLE ASSISTANT & ALEXA BUILT IN: There’s no need for an extra device – just ask your TV for music, weather, news, your Amazon shopping list, and more. Plus, conveniently control your connected home and smart devices.
- HOME CINEMA EXPERIENCE: Get breathtaking picture and audio that makes you feel like you're in the action with Cinema HDR, Dolby Vision IQ & Dolby Atmos. See movies exactly how directors intended with Filmmaker Mode. And with built-in access to Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV plus, Disney plus and LG channels, your favorite content is at your fingertips.
Samsung’s Operating System is Best
One final point where Samsung comes out on top against LG is its operating system. When using the Smart function on their TVs most LG users will be taken to an almost empty screen, while with Samsung everything loads up immediately. There are still some areas of the former company’s interface that will need work, but overall Samsung offers a better experience when it comes to your TV’s built-in software. You should also read our review of the Samsung UN75TU7000FXZA.
LG’s Strengths
The best part about LG TVs is their slimness. Many models are less than two inches thick, which means they look great when mounted to the wall in your living room or any other place you plan to use them. They’re so thin that this often becomes their main selling point, which might be a turnoff to people who are looking for an excellent TV set that excels in other areas.
Aside from their lack of thickness, LG TVs also have good clarity and viewing angles. They’re not quite at the level of Samsung’s KS8000 or KS9000, but they come close enough that this alone probably wouldn’t be enough to convince you one way or another.
Read: LG 65UM7300AUE Review
LG’s Cinematic Color
If picture quality is your number one priority when shopping for a new television set, the most important part is ensuring it can handle color correctly. Both companies have managed to do this well on most of their recent models. Where LG has an advantage its Korean competitor doesn’t is in the cinematic color department.
LG TVs tend to have a wider color gamut than Samsung’s. This means their color range is greater, which results in richer colors that mimic what you see when watching a movie on Blu-Ray or DVD at home.
- OLED DISPLAY: Watch your content come to life in over 8 million pixels. Each pixel turns on and off independently so you'll see your content with perfect black, over a billion rich colors and infinite contrast for a viewing experience like no other.
- α9 GEN 4 AI PROCESSOR 4K: Picture and sound adjustment happen automatically with our best processor. The a9 Gen4 AI Processor 4K uses deep-learning algorithms to detect scenes and genres to make your content look its best no matter what or when you're watching.
- GAME OPTIMIZER: Game Optimizer gives you easier access to all your game settings, while the latest HDMI allows for fast gaming speeds. Plus, you'll get low input lag and fast response times with Auto Low-Latency Mode and HGiG.
- GOOGLE ASSISTANT & ALEXA BUILT IN: There’s no need for an extra device – just ask your TV for music, weather, news, your Amazon shopping list, and more. Plus, conveniently control your connected home and smart devices.
- HOME CINEMA EXPERIENCE: Get breathtaking picture and audio that makes you feel like you're in the action with Cinema HDR, Dolby Vision IQ & Dolby Atmos. See movies exactly how directors intended with Filmmaker Mode. And with built-in access to Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV plus, Disney plus and LG channels, your favorite content is at your fingertips.
If you often watch movies on your TV set instead of going out to the theater, this is an important factor to consider when making your purchase. It can also be helpful for gamers who play titles from older generations since they typically have more detailed graphics and better use of color.
One last point worth mentioning about LG’s screens compared with most other manufacturers is that they don’t suffer from burn-in issues. This only matters to people who plan to use their TV for watching movies or playing video games, but it’s worth mentioning in case you prefer this aspect.
Which One Is Right for You?
Both companies make excellent TVs that excel in different ways, so at this point, it comes down to a matter of personal preference. If you want a TV that looks great and is also thin, goes with LG. But if picture quality is your biggest priority and you often watch movies on your set, Samsung is the better choice.
The Bottom Line
Both TV makers offer fantastic high-end products these days so it’s up to you which direction to take: If picture quality and range of specs are all you care about then go for Samsung; otherwise, make sure you get an OLED model from LG if the screen size is your primary concern.
It’s also worth mentioning that our reviews have found OLED TVs from LG to deliver a better overall picture, so it might be wiser to choose one of their models over a screen from Samsung if you care about how your favorite movies or games will look on your new TV.
In official reviews, we have seen that LG OLED TVs deliver a better overall picture than their Samsung counterparts in most cases which means they are probably more recommended for home viewing with family and friends. We hope you enjoyed reading our comparison article and feel free to leave a comment below in case you want
Frequently Asked Questions
Are LG or Samsung TVs better to purchase?
At this point, there isn’t one company that stands above the other in terms of quality. Both companies have excellent screens with their advantages. It all comes down to what you want from your TV, so be sure to compare features before making a decision.
Is burn-in an issue with LG TVs?
No, LG screens do not suffer from this problem. That said, if you want a TV that doesn’t have burn-in issues it’s best to stick with either Samsung or Sony. It’s worth mentioning that Panasonic models can also prevent burn-in but aren’t as widely used.
Is the operating system an advantage for most users?
For most consumers who won’t be using their TV for anything but watching movies and playing video games, the operating system isn’t something that needs to be taken into consideration. If you like smart functions and plan on using them frequently, however, you should buy a model from either company.
