LG showed off a series of new OLED models at CES this year, but rounded it out with a wireless OLED TV. The new flagship model has a screen size of 97 inches and is the largest OLED screen that LG can offer.
The size itself isn’t new, as LG launched the 97-inch OLED last year. The main technological advance here lies in wireless signal transmission.
LG’s wireless OLED TV is one of the biggest TV news at CES 2023, both technically and physically. (Photo: Audun Hage, Sound & Image)
It can wirelessly transmit 4K/120Hz video signals
The LG OLED M3 can transmit images in 4K quality, from a separate junction box across the room, with no cables in between. In this way, the TV can stand freely in the room or be mounted on the wall without any “cable clutter” visible underneath.
After all, the TV still requires power. But the point is that you don’t have to have many HDMI cables hanging from the screen and that placement becomes more flexible.
External video sources such as TV receivers and game consoles, Blu-ray players, etc. are connected to the Zero Connect wireless box. The relatively compact device can stream video signals up to 4K/120Hz in HDR quality to the screen. To do this, it uses LG’s “proprietary technology,” which is reportedly significantly faster than Wi-Fi 6.
LG claims the box can be placed up to 9 meters from the TV. And to ensure seamless data transfer from box to TV, they developed an algorithm that instantly identifies the optimal transfer path. It can adjust to changes in the room, such as when someone moves between the box and the TV.
LG OLED97M3 is practical
We got to see the OLED97M3 in action, first in a stylish suite in Mandalay Bay, and later in the Central Hall exhibit area at the Las Vegas Convention Center. And the technique seems to work. With a 4K Blu-ray player hooked up to the transmitter box, transmission of signals was seemingly flawless, with no visible buffering, stuttering or noise.
But as long as you still have to run a power cable up to the screen, much of the profit is lost, we think. And once you’ve drilled holes in the wall for power and hidden cables, most of the work is done.
Samsung has been offering an alternative solution on its top models for some years: the so-called One Connect box. Here, both power and video signals are sent over the same cable and can therefore achieve something of the same. The new QD-OLED model S95C delivered with One Connect this year.
Many have also become accustomed to using their TV’s apps, streaming services and games and don’t necessarily have many video sources to connect to – except Xbox and Playstation of course!
That’s why we’re excited to see how video broadcasting for games works, in terms of input lag. We can’t wait to check it out when the TV hits the test bench later this year!
LG OLED M3 – Price and availability
The LG OLED M3 is expected in the summer of 2023. Prices are not official yet, but since the current 97-inch G2 series costs just over SEK 250,000, this model will likely be expensive too.
Luckily, LG says the M3 series will also come in smaller, cheaper 83-inch and 77-inch versions. These too use the same new technology for increased brightness that we find in the new G3 series.
