LG offers the smallest OLED TV to date: The OLED TV 48CX measures 48 inches and is now available in Germany for around 1800 euros. Traders from Austria list the TV from 1600 euros. The next larger model from the same series, LGs 55CX, costs between 2000 and 2300 euros depending on the shop.
Due to the smaller diagonal, the pixel density increases with the same Ultra HD resolution (3840 × 2160 pixels) from 80.1 to 91.8 pixels per inch (ppi) – on closer inspection, content appears sharper. LG advertises the 48CX as a gaming TV for PC and console gamers, but there are no functional differences to the larger CX models: All display Ultra HD with up to 120 Hertz and support HDMI 2.1 functions such as HDMI VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) for a low input delay and enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC).
What the HDMI forum calls VRR means for AMD FreeSync and for Nvidia G-Sync Compatible: The GPU with VRR support specifies the refresh rate, which adapts dynamically to the frame rate when playing to avoid tearing. In addition to modern PC GPUs, this works with Microsoft’s Xbox One X and Xbox One S as well as the upcoming game consoles Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
C9-OLED as a cheaper alternative
If you have a little more space in the game or living room, you do not have to spend 1,800 euros or more for a game-compatible OLED TV. The 55-inch 55C97LA from LG’s 2019 generation is available for just over 1,300 euros and, with the latest firmware version, has the same gaming functions as the CX models from 2020 including VRR.
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The C9 series from last year even comes with an advantage for the HDMI 2.1 connections: their ports transmit the full 48 GBit / s that the HDMI Forum has specified for the 2.1 version. LG limits the HDMI ports on the CX TVs to 40 GBit / s, apparently to save performance in the built-in processor Alpha 9 Gen 3. The CX-TVs can therefore display a maximum of Ultra HD at 120 Hertz with 10-bit color reproduction – the C9 predecessors create 12 bits in the same scenario.
This is not a problem with today’s content, because even UHD Blu-rays run at a maximum of 60 Hertz (films often with 24 Hz) and video games are typically limited to 10 bits with HDR display. In the However, Dolby Vision specification (PDF) is already Ultra HD with 120 Hertz and 12 bit noted as a future option.
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