LG’s 2022 TV lineup is great news for OLED fans

CES 2022 is officially underway, and the TV industry’s biggest players are gathering in Las Vegas to show off the newest advancements in home theater technology. Unsurprisingly, LG—the manufacturer of some of our favorite TVs—has come out swinging.

Today, LG unveiled its TV lineup for 2022, including some big upgrades to its OLED display technology as well as some new entries in its “QNED” family of LED TVs. If that wasn’t enough, LG is also showcasing two unique lifestyle TVs that emphasize style and versatility.

Here’s everything we know so far about LG’s 2022 TV lineup.

2022 LG OLED TVs

In recent years, OLED TVs have skyrocketed in popularity. The self-emissive display technology blends perfect black levels and rich, saturated colors, making for some of the most impressive picture quality we’ve ever seen.

Last year, LG announced a new type of OLED panel that promised better brightness: OLED evo. In 2022, LG is improving its OLED evo technology. The new iteration of OLED evo will only be available in the LG G2 Gallery OLED, a follow up to the impressive OLED G1 we reviewed in 2021. According to LG, the newest version of OLED evo features Brightness Booster technology, which helps make the G2 the brightest OLED the company has ever produced.

In addition, the company is bringing the original OLED evo technology to its popular “C” series of televisions, with the LG C2 officially adopting the panel type in 2022 for four out of six of its size variants.

Here’s a rundown of every new OLED in LG’s 2022 lineup (no pricing has yet been revealed):

• Z2: LG’s top-of-the-line OLED TV in 2022 is an 8K stunner that’s only available in two huge size options: 77 and 88 inches. It features a standard OLED panel, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an 8K version of LG’s a9 Gen5 processor.

• G2: The LG G2 is a follow-up to the 2021 LG G1, one of our favorite OLED TVs from last year. Known as the “Gallery OLED,” the G2 showcases the next iteration of LG’s OLED evo panel. Like the Gallery OLEDs that came before it, the G2 features a flush fitting design that hangs on a wall like a portrait. It will be available in 55-, 65-, 77-, 83-, and 97-inch sizes, all of which feature a 120Hz refresh rate. Every size in the series runs on LG’s a9 Gen5 processor.

• C2: The LG C2 replaces the LG C1—our pick for the best TV of 2021. The four biggest sizes in the C2 series (55 inches, 65 inches, 77 inches, and 83 inches) will be equipped with the first iteration of LG’s OLED evo technology (previously exclusive to the LG G1). Every size option features LG’s a9 Gen5 processor and a 120Hz refresh rate.

• B2: If you’re looking for an OLED TV that falls somewhere in the middle of LG’s lineup, consider the B2. Like previous versions of LG’s B-series OLEDs, the B2 won’t net you all of the features you’re likely to find in the C2 and G2 models, but it features a 120Hz refresh rate and an a9 Gen5 processor. It will be available in 55-, 65-, and 77-inch sizes.

• A2: This year, LG’s entry-level OLED replaces the LG A1, but comes with a similar set of specs to its predecessor. Available in 48-, 55-, 65-, and 77-inch sizes, the A2 features a 60Hz refresh rate and runs on the a7 Gen5 processor. It’s likely that, like the A1, the A2 will feature HDMI 2.0b inputs rather than the newest specification, HDMI 2.1.

2022 LG QNED TVs

Last year at CES, LG unveiled a lineup of TVs that blend quantum dots and LG’s proprietary NanoCell technology, which is said to improve brightness and color production. LG dubbed this formula QNED, and in 2021, all of LG’s QNED TVs were illuminated by mini-LED backlights.

This year, the company is bringing QNED TVs back for another round, but there are a handful of changes to its QNED lineup.

Some of these new QNED TVs feature LG’s Precision Dimming technology, which is said to improve the TV’s overall dimming control. There are two advanced versions of Precision Dimming on select QNED models, depending on the TV’s processor and dimming zone count. LG is tentatively referring to these two technologies as Precision Dimming Pro and Precision Dimming Pro+.

LG’s non-OLED TVs—including last year’s QNED models—tend to use IPS-style LCD panels. We expect that all of its QNED offerings this year will use IPS-style panels, too. This panel type excels in providing wider viewing angles, but does so at the expense of better shadow detail.

Here’s everything we know so far about LG’s 2022 QNED TV lineup:

• QNED99: Like it’s 2021 predecessor (also called the LG QNED99), this year’s top QNED also features an 8K resolution. It offers the most mini-LED dimming zones in the QNED lineup, and thanks in part to its a9 Gen5 processor, the QNED99 offers Precision Dimming Pro+, the top-tier version of Precision Dimming.

• QNED90: The QNED90 is the top-tier 4K QNED in 2022. The QNED90 features mini-LEDs, and its processor, the a7 Gen5, is a step down from the QNED99’s a9 Gen5 chipset. And while the QNED99 features Precision Dimming Pro+, the QNED90 offers the step-down Precision Dimming Pro.

• QNED85: The QNED85’s display is outfitted with mini-LEDs, an a7 Gen5 processor, and Precision Dimming.

• QNED80: Unlike the rest of the QNED lineup to date, the 4K QNED80 does not feature mini-LED backlights. It does, however, offer Precision Dimming and an a7 Gen5 processor.

Being QNED TVs, all of these models feature LG’s NanoCell technology and quantum dots. We’ve yet to receive any additional information regarding sizing.

NanoCell and UHD lineup

In addition to the heavy-hitters above, LG also unveiled an array of LED NanoCell 4K TVs and some basic UHD models, to boot. There aren't very many details outside of what's presented on LG's virtual showroom, but here's what we know so far:

• NANO80: Available in four sizes (50 inches, 55 inches, 65 inches, and 75 inches), the 4K NANO80 runs on LG's a5 Gen5 processor and features NanoCell technology.

• NANO75: A step down from the NANO80, the 4K NANO75 is available in five sizes (55 inches, 65 inches, 70 inches, 75 inches, and 86 inches). It, too, features NanoCell technology and runs on LG's a5 Gen5 processor.

• UQ90: The LG UQ90 is the top-performing TV of LG's UHD lineup this year. Unlike the Nano models listed above, the UQ90 doesn't offer NanoCell technology. It runs on LG's a5 processor and will be available in 60-, 65-, 70-, 75-, and 86-inch models.

• UQ80: Available in five sizes (55 inches, 60 inches, 65 inches, 70 inches, and 75 inches), the UQ80 is another 4K option that does not feature LG's NanoCell technology. It uses LG's a5 Gen5 processor,

• UQ75: The UQ75 series features five sizes: 50 inches, 55 inches, 65 inches, 70 inches, and 75 inches. It is a 4K TV that uses LG's a5 Gen5 processor, but does not feature the company's NanoCell technology.

Not much more can be said about these particular models, but we'll be sure to update this space with additional information if more details are made available.

LG’s 2022 lifestyle TVs

• Objet TV: Perhaps influenced by Samsung’s lifestyle TV The Frame, the 65-inch LG Objet TV is an OLED display designed to resemble a canvas. By pressing a button, users can raise and lower a fabric screen cover. The cover itself was designed by the Danish textile company Kvadrat and will be available in three color options: Kvadrat Beige, Kvadrat Redwood, and Kvadrat Green. There’s no confirmation yet on any additional hardware specifications.

• StandbyME: The LG StandbyME is a 27-inch, battery-operated display connected to a moveable stand. The stand uses concealed wheels for easy portability, and the display itself can tilt and swivel depending on the viewing conditions. With Mobile Screen Mirroring, users can stream content from Android and iOS devices, and there’s also the option of hardwiring the display to a laptop or PC. LG claims that the StandbyME offers three hours of use before needing a recharge.

MicroLED in 2022

At its virtual press conference on January 4, LG revealed that its first ever MicroLED will be made available to consumers sometime "this year," and it's a big one: 136 inches, to be exact. MicroLED is an impressive, self-emissive display technology that is considered by many to be a fierce competitor for OLED TV tech.

Until now, Samsung has been the only mainstream manufacturer of MicroLED TVs, and these models have been big and prohibitively expensive for most shoppers (we're talking tens of thousands of dollars). This year, Samsung announced that it will be adding an 89-inch MicroLED TV to its already-existing lineup of MicroLED TVs, which includes 99- and 110-inch models. This will make LG's soon-to-be-released MicroLED TV a direct competitor to Samsung's offerings. Pricing and release date have not yet been announced, but we'll update this space with more information as it comes to light.

A new spin on Dolby Atmos soundbars

While the TVs get all the headlines, LG also unveiled a few intriguing soundbars as part of its 2022 home theater line, the most notable of which is the S95QR Dolby Atmos bar. We’ve seen enough Atmos bars to fill a concert hall in recent years, but the S95QR stands out, not only for its bevy of channels and 810 watts of power, but also for its “world’s first” center upfiring channel.

Dubbed a 9.1.5-channel bar by the brand, the SQ95R offers four traditional upfiring channels to bounce sound off your ceiling for hemispheric immersion when enjoying Dolby Atmos content, as well as a unique, center-channel upfiring driver which LG claims will improve voice clarity and “place the sound in the center of the TV.” This leads us to believe the driver will primarily showcase center-channel dialogue, but how it fits into the traditional Dolby Atmos soundstage has yet to be determined—we’ll have to wait until we can try it for ourselves.

The new center-channel configuration will also be showcased in the smaller, presumably more affordable 5.1.3-channel S80QR. Alongside several other new soundbars in a variety of configurations, the company also showcased a new, “ultra-slim” G1 soundbar designed to conserve space for wall-mounted setups. We’ll hope to go hands on with all of the best from LG’s new audio lineup as they make their way to shelves in the new year.

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We’re looking forward to testing and reviewing this impressive lineup of TVs in the coming months. For now, check back with Reviewed for all of the latest CES 2022 coverage.