Samsung vs LG TV: which TV brand is the best in 2023?

When it comes to TVs, Samsung and LG make some of the best-rated sets around. Deciding between the two giants can be tricky, especially as both brands make products that span the price gamut from cheap and cheerful to ultra-premium.

But there are some things you should remember when trying to decide between an LG or Samsung TV. While an expensive LG TV will beat a cheap Samsung set and vice versa, these points may help push you one way or another when looking at two sets in a similar price bracket. We'll also discuss the difference between OLED TVs and Samsung's alternative technology - QLED.

Keep reading to discover the key differences between Samsung and LG TVs, or head over to our guide to the best TV brands for more comparison.

• You can find out which models we chose as the best Samsung TVs and best LG TVs in our respective guides.

(Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung vs LG TV: General pointers

Before we get started on the specific differences between Samsung and LG TVs, it’s important to cover factors that add hundreds of dollars to your average TV price. 

The first is resolution, which is to say the number of pixels embedded in the screen: the higher the number, the sharper the image. In 2022, there are three resolutions sold: 1080p (or Full HD), 4K, or 8K, which ranges from just over two million pixels to more than 33 million. At the time of writing, you almost certainly want 4K, which is the sweet spot. 1080p images look a bit blurry on larger screens, while 8K adds a premium for a format that simply isn’t broadcast anywhere at the moment — not on cable and not on streaming platforms. 

Secondly, size plays a key role. As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the screen, the bigger the price tag. And while the difference between 55- and 65-inches may not sound like much on paper, in practice, it’s a lot more because that measurement is taken across the diameter. A 55-inch TV, for example, has an 89% greater area than a 40-inch set. So ask yourself, “what size TV do I need?” before you begin your search.

You can still find 75-inch sets that are cheaper than the best 40-inch TVs, though, and that’s down to the type of panel in use. More affordable sets will use LCD panels, and Samsung and LG have budget sets using this basic tech. But when you reach the more premium levels, the difference between LG and Samsung TVs becomes more pronounced.

(Image credit: LG)

Samsung vs LG TVs: Display technology

At the top end of the market, you've likely heard of two panel types fighting for dominance: OLED and QLED. While Samsung has recently released its first OLED panel, it's chiefly known for championing QLED. LG, meanwhile, is renowned for its OLED panels (and makes them for other manufacturers.)

What's the difference? OLED stands for 'Organic Light-Emitting Diode,' meaning that each of the TV's pixels - over 8 million in a 4K panel — are individually lit. This leads to incredible immersion in darker scenes (because the pixels turn off, so they are completely black) and unbeatable contrast. So there's a reason the

regularly tops lists of the best TVs around the web.

The main drawbacks are a lower peak brightness than panels with backlights, making them poorly suited to rooms with a lot of natural light during the day. There's also the risk of burn-in — where an image can be permanently scarred into the screen if it remains static for too long (think news tickers and sports scores.) But modern OLED panels have precautions in place to ensure this is more of a theoretical risk than an actual problem with regular use.

Despite the name QLED, Samsung's proprietary technology significantly enhances the LED panels in cheaper sets. While the pixels don't individually light, QLED has several dimming zones and uses quantum dots for improved color and contrast. Also, look out for the mini-LED QLED sets - such as the

- as these have smaller backlights for tighter control. 

Ultimately, the picture quality isn't as good as OLED in perfect conditions, but it's not far off, and the enhanced brightness makes it far better suited to bright rooms or daytime viewing, which is significant.

LG also has something called NanoCell, similar to QLED — where a layer of nanoparticles is placed between the LED backlight and the screen to boost colors and contrast. These are cheaper than OLED panels, with essentially the same pros and cons as QLED.  

(Image credit: Samsung)

Samsung vs LG TVs: Formats and operating systems

With little to choose between Samsung and LG in terms of raw quality, you might want to consider the formats supported. While LG supports Dolby Vision in its top-end TVs, Samsung chooses HDR10+ instead. LG has the advantage here, given Dolby Vision has a 12-bit color gamut to HDR10+’s 10-bit. It’s also a bit more widely supported.

There’s also the TV software to consider. To be clear, both LG’s WebOS and Samsung’s Tizen support all the major streaming apps. Both are well-regarded (especially compared to the historically rather half-baked Android/Google TV). Still, you may find one more appealing than the other. LG’s high-end sets also come with the “Magic Remote,” where you can select things via a mouse-like pointer on the screen. For more on these user interfaces, head over to our guide to whether a smart TV or streaming device is a better investment.

Speaking of navigation, both TVs support voice assistants, with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in (and Samsung’s own Bixby assistant pushed on its sets, too.) This means you can control TVs with the power of your voice should you wish, though a remote is still most people’s preference. 

(Image credit: LG)

Samsung vs LG TVs: Which should you choose?

Hopefully, this guide will have offered some helpful pointers about whether to go with an LG or Samsung TV. Still, it's important to remember this is only general advice and can't apply to specific sets. Crucially, a high-end TV from one will always beat a low-end model from the other, no matter the relative strong points of the brands in general. 

Because of their commitment to lifestyle TVs like

and , we're big fans of Samsung TVs for the average style-forward living space. However, the brand is also arguably best for mid-range TVs that don't compromise too much on the tech and has a lot of choices regarding the best 8K TVs and best 85 inch TVs.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for a bargain, LG is our winner for the best budget models. In our opinion, OLED panels are the best screen tech around right now, so LG also comes out on top there, too. If you're in the position to seriously splurge, the LG Signature range could undoubtedly offer some inspiration. The brand has also released a rival to the Samsung Serif - the LG Posé.

If you have a specific model in mind, look up reviews to see its strengths and weaknesses. Ideally, see the set in person too — but remember that the showroom's lighting is unlikely to match that of your living room.