What is ‘evo’ in LG TV? OLED vs OLED evo & QNED vs QNED evo.

You may have noticed the term “evo” attached to some of LG’s QNED and OLED TVs. Does it actually signify something special, or is it just a marketing buzzword? We will explore the answer in this article.

What is the meaning of ‘evo’ in LG TVs?

The term “evo,” as used by LG for its TVs, basically refers to an evolution toward a more advanced model with improved brightness and color accuracy.

Or, in simple words, evo TVs are claimed to deliver a brighter display, more accurate colors and better overall picture quality.

These TVs come with the latest-generation Alpha series processors and more efficient hardware components.

But how good is an LG evo TV in reality?

Let’s find out step by step.

While we proceed, it’s important to note that LG reserves the “evo” branding for some of its OLED TVs and some of its high-end LED LCD models, i.e., QNED TVs.

QNED vs QNED evo

LG QNED, short for Quantum Nano-Emitting Diode, is an LCD TV that combines quantum dots with NanoCell technology and uses mini-LEDs for its backlighting.

The evo version of QNED TVs features the latest Alpha series processor and is marketed as offering better color accuracy, contrast, brightness, and overall picture quality compared to standard QNED models.

However, these claims shouldn’t be taken at face value. While the newer Alpha processor may bring few improvements to sound and image processing, the overall picture quality largely depends on the panel type and the backlighting system.

For example, a QNED TV with a VA panel will naturally deliver better contrast than one with an IPS panel, regardless of the processor used.

Similarly, an evo QNED TV with edge-lit backlighting can still suffer from noticeable blooming in dark scenes, even if mini-LEDs are used.

In fact, some TVs marketed as having mini-LED backlighting may only include a limited number of LEDs placed around the edges.

When compared to a TV with full-array local dimming (FALD) using even standard LEDs, the FALD TV often provides superior contrast, better black uniformity, and more consistent picture quality.

Since FALD TVs distribute LEDs across the entire backlight, they can also achieve higher peak brightness than edge-lit TVs with mini-LEDs confined to the edges.

As a result, for an LCD TV like QNED, the evo branding does not significantly impact picture quality if that is your main priority.

Other aspects such as refresh rate, response time, and gaming features may see some improvement in QNED evo models, but they still fall far short of OLED TVs, regardless of the processor or hardware enhancements used.

How does the LG QNED evo compare to other mini-LED TVs in the market?

LG QNED evo TVs are generally priced alongside the top-tier LCD TVs from other brands.

In comparison, Samsung’s high-end VA LCD TVs, the Neo QLED lineup, use full-array local dimming with mini-LED backlighting and are clearly superior to QNED TVs in terms of contrast, color volume, and peak brightness.

In LG’s LCD lineup, the evo tag mainly reflects the use of a newer processor and has little impact on actual picture quality.

That said, QNED models that use VA panels can still hold their ground against more affordable QLED TVs and entry-level mini-LED offerings from brands like Sony and TCL.

OLED vs OLED evo

LG OLED TVs (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) use self-emissive pixels that can switch on and off independently.

This allows them to produce perfectly black scenes with no blooming, resulting in a picture quality that comes very close to real life.

OLED evo TVs are the upgraded versions of standard OLED TVs which LG claims come equipped with the latest Alpha series processor and includes a brightness booster.

Since relatively low peak brightness has long been a limitation of OLED technology, manufacturers use various techniques to push their brightness levels closer to that of the bright LCD TVs.

LG does this in its WOLED lineup with a technology called MLA (Micro Lens Array), which places countless microscopic lenses over the display.

These lenses refocus light toward the subpixels, preserving intensity and making MLA-based OLED TVs noticeably brighter than conventional WOLEDs.

OLED evo TVs, however, don’t use MLA technology, rather, they rely on the newer Alpha processor to deliver improved brightness, better image processing, and typically enhanced gaming features compared to standard OLEDs.

In essence, the evo label in OLED TVs represents an evolution of traditional OLED or WOLED technology, offering incremental but meaningful improvements over regular OLED models.

How does the LG OLED evo compare to other OLED TVs?

Compared to standard OLED or WOLED TVs, OLED evo models are generally better, as they usually feature improved processors and higher brightness levels.

However, when placed alongside top-tier OLED technologies such as QD-OLEDs and MLA-based WOLEDs, the competition gets tougher.

Some of the best evo OLED panels match the brightness of MLA-based OLEDs along with QD-OLEDs, and some evo models can even surpass them.

Moreover, as the evo OLEDs are primarily WOLED TVs, they excel at displaying pure whites while still maintaining deep blacks,

even at higher brightness levels. QD-OLED panels, on the other hand, stand out for their superior color volume, making them more vibrant and colorful than evo OLEDs and other WOLED-based TVs.

However, in a well-lit environment, their black levels increase noticeably because of the ambient light.

Should I buy an LG evo TV?

LG uses the evo label for some of its select OLED and QNED models.

OLED evo models are superior to standard OLEDs in almost every aspect, although the comparison becomes much closer when matched against the most premium OLED models such as QD-OLEDs and MLA-based WOLEDs.

That said, some of the best evo OLED models offer flagship-level OLED performance at a more accessible cost, and thus, are definitely worth investing in.

On the other hand, a QNED evo TV is generally an improvement over a regular QNED, but it still doesn’t compete with the best LCD TVs from other brands.

QNED TVs with IPS panels or edge-lit backlighting are not recommended, as they tend to suffer from poor contrast, which negatively affects picture quality.

However, a QNED TV with a VA panel and full-array backlighting can be a decent option if it is priced lower than top-tier QLED TVs—since premium QLEDs outperform QNEDs overall.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about QNED evo and OLED evo TVs.

1. Do OLED evo TVs use QD-OLED panels?

No. OLED evo TVs are advanced versions of LG’s conventional OLED lineup. They use WOLED panels and are equipped with the latest Alpha series processors.

2. Do OLED evo TVs use MLA technology to enhance their brightness?

No. LG OLED evo TVs do not use MLA technology. Instead, they rely on a brightness booster along with an upgraded processor.

3. Are QNED evo TVs better than standard QNED TVs?

QNED evo TVs can be better than entry-level QNED models, but their actual performance depends heavily on the panel type and backlighting. A QNED TV with a VA panel and full-array backlighting will always outperform one with an IPS panel and edge-lit backlighting.

4. What processor is used in LG evo TVs?

The LG evo TVs feature the latest Alpha series processors like Alpha 9 Gen7 AI Processor 4K, Alpha 9 AI Processor 4K Gen8, Alpha 8 AI Processor 4K Gen2, Alpha 8 Gen7 AI Processor 4K, Alpha 11 AI Processor 4K, etc.