At a look
Knowledgeable’s Ranking
Execs
- Lovely OLED panel
- Nice gaming options
- Wonderful distant management
- Up to date webOS platform
Cons
- Restricted sizes
- Struggles with sudden movement
- Sound high quality can’t match the image
Our Verdict
The LG B3 OLED is actually a sensible purchase in comparison with higher-end LG TVs, due to its cheaper processor and nice format help, although image high quality purists might take subject with its recurring movement points.
The LG B3 OLED is the most recent in LG’s long-running B Collection vary, providing the standard OLED panel and intuitive sensible TV platform of higher-end 2023 units, with out fairly the identical price ticket.
There are some corners reduce to deliver that RRP down, primarily within the processing division – and concerning brightness output – however that is nonetheless a near-complete OLED bundle, with a bunch of nice options for TV watchers and players alike.
Design & Construct
- Three TV sizes
- Central TV stand with choice to wall-mount
- LG Magic Distant
The B3 has the same old type issue for an LG OLED: an extremely slim display and near-invisible bezel, with a barely jutting rear that incorporates the display’s numerous inputs and audio system.
The entire depth is 46.9mm, although a well-placed show will make sure the again stays clear out of view – particularly if you happen to resolve to wall-mount the B3 somewhat than use the (included) central TV stand.
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You will get the LG B3 in 55-, 65- and 77-inch sizes, which means you’re sorted for the most typical sizing choices, although anybody after a extra compact display should look elsewhere. For instance, the LG C3 OLED is available in 42- and 48in sizes.
LG’s Magic Distant returns, with an ergonomic design that’s as pleasing to carry and multi-functional as ever. It’s quite simple to modify between a mouse-like cursor, directional buttons, or the distant’s scrolling wheel, permitting any consumer to navigate their TV the way in which they like.
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Granted, you get this with each LG OLED, nevertheless it’s a giant perk nonetheless – and the bottom of the distant packs in shortcut buttons for the most-used TV streaming providers, which means (on the UK mannequin examined) Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ are all on present right here.
A microphone button lets you entry voice search and utilise sensible assistants, although it’s not fairly as outstanding because the blue button on Amazon’s Alexa Voice Distant.
Specs & Options
- Up to date webOS interface
- 120Hz refresh price
- HDMI 2.1 (for 2 ports, not less than)
Regardless of a less expensive α7 AI Processor 4K Gen6 processor in comparison with some higher-end LG OLED units, the B3 does supply a full suite of specs for cinephiles and players alike.
Out of its 4 HDMI ports, two are the most recent HDMI 2.1 spec, permitting for 4K passthrough at 120Hz in addition to eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) for two-way soundbar communication. You’ll get two USB 2.0 inputs, Ethernet, a single optical port, inputs for satellite tv for pc and antenna, alongside help for Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
the brand new model feels far tidier and extra geared in direction of what’s helpful for the viewer.
Henry St Leger / Foundry
The principle distinction between the LG B3 and final yr’s B2 mannequin is within the interface. Your entire webOS platform has been overhauled for 2023, with a brand new smooth structure that appears to refine the structure of earlier years. Many of the display is now taken up with a single banner, with ‘playing cards’ beneath pertaining to gaming, work, music, sports activities, and sensible residence capabilities – so you’ll be able to simply leap into no matter you want your OLED TV for.
Under which are app icons, however you might want to transfer all the way down to a second overview to get content material suggestions and examples of exhibits or movies on key streaming providers, like Ted Lasso or Platonic on Apple TV. The earlier structure had content material solutions a lot larger, however the brand new model feels far tidier and extra geared in direction of what’s helpful for the viewer. High marks.
All the key gamers in the case of streaming apps are included right here (UK mannequin examined), with Netflix, Prime Video, Now TV, Apple TV, iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My5, Disney+, Spotify, Twitch, YouTube, and BBC Sounds all supported.
Henry St Leger / Foundry
The Settings menu is much more obtrusive now, protecting a stable cutout of the display’s left facet as an alternative of a clear overlay, which is an odd alternative – although it does make it simpler to see plenty of image and sound settings at a fast look.
The B3 makes a powerful case as a gaming TV, notably. The display helps top-tier gaming options resembling 4K at 120Hz, VRR (variable refresh price) for suitable Xbox and PlayStation consoles, and a devoted recreation mode for responsive, low-latency play.
You gained’t get the built-in microphone that enables for hands-free voice management on the C3 and LG G3 OLED, although you’ll be able to nonetheless entry voice assistants by a touch-to-speak button on the distant.
Image & Sound High quality
- Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR
- No OLED evo
- Dolby Atmos and AI Sound Professional
- Solely 20W audio energy
So, what of the image? The LG B3 has lots of issues going for it, notably its self-emissive OLED panel, which provides vivid colors, unimaginable (‘infinite’) distinction, and impossibly deep blacks due to the flexibility to show pixels off totally.
It truly is a succesful image, and one which thrives when depicting every part from newsreels and TV dramas to immersive open-world video games.
The actual benefits of OLED are additional heightened for fantastic impact.
That is largely frequent to any OLED panel, although, and the remainder of LG’s vary has been pulling forward on a key metric that the B Collection has but to atone for – brightness. A brand new OLED evo expertise can enhance the sunshine output of typical OLED by anyplace from 20- to 70%, in response to LG, although you’ll want to purchase the LG C3 or LG G3 to get it.
This B Collection display makes do with a extra conventional brightness output for OLED, and whereas the wonderful distinction helps to spotlight vivid factors and distinction it successfully with darkish objects or surroundings, remember the fact that different LG screens are doing higher on that entrance today.
The B3’s a7 AI processor can be a step behind the a9 chipset utilized in higher-end units. The distinction in processing isn’t all the time obvious, to the B3’s credit score, although sure triggers could cause a flash of video noise, pixelating objects and interrupting an otherwise-impressive image.
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That is largely attributable to quick movement, as when somebody stands or sits in a sudden style, and is aggravated in darkish scenes the place the motion is tougher to make out. For some, it could be a small grievance for the worth; for others, it could destroy the expertise totally.
Nonetheless, it’s laborious to fault the picture, other than these particular person incidents. The OLED panel excels at color accuracy and distinction, whether or not the shifting greens and browns of a forest, or the exact tones of a darkish cloak towards the night time sky.
That’s very true when watching in Dolby Imaginative and prescient, the dynamic HDR format that fine-tunes your image’s distinction and color output on the fly: tuning into the most recent season of The Witcher, it’s thrilling to see the sunshine of flames engulf a constructing towards a purely-black sky, or the glint of amber in Henry Cavill’s eyes in the course of the rush of battle.
The actual benefits of OLED are additional heightened for fantastic impact.
Sound continues to be largely efficient, with nice readability for voices, and the vary to output present soundtracks and SFX with relative aplomb
It’s value noting that you just solely get 20W of quantity right here throughout a stereo speaker system – about half the output of the LG C3.
LG claims its AI Sound Professional expertise is ready to just about recreate a 5.1.2 encompass sound, although I can’t communicate to its effectiveness in follow; whereas the AI Sound Professional instance you get at setup seems spectacular, utilizing it throughout Netflix binges is rarely fairly on the cash.
Sound continues to be largely efficient, with nice readability for voices, and the vary to output present soundtracks and SFX with relative aplomb – which can be a boon in the case of gaming. webOS comes with a devoted gaming dashboard, with an optimizer mode that routinely selects the settings most conducive to top-tier gameplay.
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Returning to the punishing Elden Ring, I used to be impressed by the crisp, high-contrast visuals, the brightness functionality (although we largely stored issues darkish, for ambiance), and the audio element discovered within the recreation’s screams, laughs, and weapon impacts.
Dolby Atmos help is nice to see, although the stereo audio system right here aren’t able to multi-channel sound to that extent, and also you’ll want to attach an exterior sound system to get an audio expertise that basically matches the standard image.
Worth & Availability
The LG B3 OLED is on the market in 55-, 65-, and 77in sizes. They value $1,699.99/£1,899.98, $1,999.99/£2,699.98 and $2,900/£3,799.98 respectively.
Meaning you don’t get fairly the dimensions number of the C Collection OLED, which might shrink all the way down to 42in or balloon to 83in; and if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing exterior of the B3’s three measurement choices, it’s possible you’ll need to take a look at the C3’s bigger unfold.
The entry-level A3 OLED, too, is available in a 48in measurement if you’d like one thing even smaller and cheaper than the 55in B3. Nonetheless, it doesn’t look like on sale within the UK or US but.
You will discover the B3 OLED on the majority of gadget or gadget-adjacent retailers that inventory TVs today, from LG, Currys, Argos and Amazon to John Lewis, Field, and Richer Sounds.
Within the US you will discover it at LG’s official retailer in addition to BestBuy and Walmart.
Nonetheless, final yr’s LG B2 isn’t too completely different, and you may presently discover it at a 65-inch measurement for even lower than this yr’s 55-inch mannequin.
For extra choices, try our chart of the perfect TVs.
Henry St Leger / Foundry
Verdict
The LG B3 OLED is as succesful as previous B Collection fashions – that’s to say, not overly completely different, apart from the brand new webOS platform out on LG’s 2023 TVs.
But it surely nonetheless provides a lot of the image benefits of a high-end OLED, with just a few small movement points, a restricted variety of HDMI 2.1 ports, and a fundamental 20W audio output to mood our expectations.
If these limitations don’t trouble you, then the LG B3 OLED is a superb alternative as a house cinema display.
Specs
- Sizes: 55/65/77in
- Mannequin examined: 55in
- Show expertise: OLED
- Decision: 3840 x 2160 4K
- Refresh price: 120Hz
- HDR help: Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10, HLG
- HDMI: x2 (2.1), x2 (2.0)
- Tuner: Freeview Play
- OS: webOS 23 Good Platform
- Dimensions: 1228(w) x 708(h) x 46.9(d)mm (with out stand)
- Weight: 18.9kg (with out stand)