What Is OLED evo? How Does It Differ From Regular OLEDs?



LG refreshes its OLED TV line-up every year. For the most part, it uses the same OLED panels from the previous year with subtle improvements to image processing. However, in 2021, the company introduced an all-new panel that promises to improve upon the existing ones.


If you're in the market for a new OLED TV right now, you'd ideally want to consider one that uses next-generation OLED technology. Here, we'll explore LG's new OLED evo displays so that you can decide if it's worth your hard-earned cash.
What Is OLED evo?

OLED evo is LG's fancy word for its new generation of OLED panels that focuses on brightness. According to LG, the combination of a new panel and optimized processing delivers helps it deliver better luminosity for higher brightness and punchier images.

LG uses an OLED panel that consists of an additional green emitting layer to reach these higher peak brightness levels. Additionally, the OLED evo panel improves the blue OLED material's efficiency, which helps boost the color range. This new panel will also last longer since it uses Deuterium, which is more heat-resistant than regular hydrogen.

Is OLED evo Better Than Existing OLED Panels?
Image Credit: LG

There's no doubt that the new OLED evo panels are better than the existing OLED panels, but the more important question is, by how much?

LG claims OLED evo panels have 20% higher peak brightness compared to its existing panels. However, these are just theoretical numbers, and therefore, it's important to know how well these values translate into the real world. So, let's compare 2021's LG C1 OLED TV, which uses the older panel, and the LG G1 with OLED evo, shall we?

We can see straight off the bat that the SDR brightness remains similar across both models—which is a little underwhelming. However, HDR content is where the OLED evo outshines the current panel as the LG G1 can deliver 728 nits, a whole 100 nits over the LG C1. So, is it really a twenty percent improvement?

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Well, not really, but it's close enough.

Apart from peak brightness levels, the LG G1 consistently outperforms the LG C1 in sustained HDR brightness, albeit by a fewer percent. Additionally, the greens do pop out more on the OLED evo panel due to the new layer, but this is subtle at best.

How Does OLED evo's Brightness Levels Compare Against QLED?
Image Credit: LG

Although OLED panels offer the best picture quality on any TV, they always fall short in the brightness department and pale compared to Samsung's QLED displays, which are much, much brighter. Hence, you want to know how the brighter OLED evo panels stack up against QLED TVs. So, let's pit the LG G1 against Samsung's QN90A.

As per RTINGS' in-depth testing, the QN90A absolutely crushed the LG G1 across all brightness tests. For example, the LG G1 could only manage a measly 294 nits in SDR peak brightness, whereas the QN90A delivered a whopping 1,428 nits. Moving on to the HDR peak brightness levels, the LG G1's 728 nits don't stand a chance against the QN90A's 1,800 nits of brightness.

As you can see, OLED evo may have improved over the current-gen OLEDs in the brightness department, but it still has a long way to go before it can even come close to the QLED and Neo QLED displays.

RELATED:QLED Vs. OLED Vs. MicroLED: Which TV Display Tech Is The Best?

Which TVs Use OLED evo Panels?
Image Credit: LG

This topic is interesting because we have an official answer and an unofficial one. At the time of writing in 2021, LG sells just one model under the OLED evo moniker, the LG G1 with Gallery Design. Even its more expensive OLED offerings use the same OLED panel as the LG C1. The LG G1 is available in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch screen sizes, with prices starting at $1,999 in the United States.

Now, let's move on to the unofficial answer. It's no secret that other companies use LG's OLED panels in their TVs too, like Sony, for example. The flagship Sony A90J OLED TV seems to be using the same panel as the LG G1 since they hit similar brightness levels. Sony hasn't confirmed it yet, but this is likely because OLED evo is LG's brand name.

Having said all that, this is just the beginning for LG's OLED evo displays. Chances are, LG starts using these new panels across its entire OLED line-up from 2022. So, you have a good chance of getting an OLED evo TV at a lower price next year.

OLED vs. OLED evo: Price
Image Credit: LG

Now that you know all the differences, let's look at the price difference between a model with the current-gen panel and the one with the new OLED evo display. The LG C1 costs $1,599 for the 55-inch variant. In comparison, the 55-inch LG G1 will set you back at $1,999, as we mentioned earlier.

However, keep in mind that LG always prices its G series models a step up from its C series since it's much thinner and follows the Gallery Design for a flush wall-mounted experience. So, you do get more for the extra four-hundred bucks other than the new OLED evo panel.


Realistically, we'd say the difference is much lower just for the new panel, but for now, if you want an OLED evo TV, you have to shell out at least two grand.

Is It Worth Upgrading Your OLED TV for OLED evo?
Image Credit: LG

The short answer is no, but it depends on what OLED TV you currently have. If your current OLED TV is a few years old or it's starting to show signs of screen burn-in, and you really need a new one, you won't be disappointed with a new OLED evo TV. You'll get additional features like HDMI 2.1, 120Hz, and G-Sync too.

However, if you already own a good OLED TV, there's not much use in upgrading to an OLED evo. It's certainly not worth paying the full price for roughly a hundred more nits of peak HDR brightness.

READ MORE:Is It Worth Buying An OLED TV? Pros And Cons To Consider

OLED evo Is a Step in the Right Direction

LG's new OLED evo displays attempt to address one of the main downsides of the OLED technology. A twenty percent improvement in peak HDR brightness levels will surely make a difference in a bright room, but it is still no match for Samsung's QLED panels that can achieve more than twice the brightness levels.

If LG can continue to improve its panels in this department, it'll become harder for us to recommend QLED TVs since OLEDs are already a class apart for picture quality and black levels.

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