Exploring the LG Z3 OLED77Z3: A Comprehensive Review

Assessing the value of 8K OLED: Is the LG Z3 worth the investment?

8K OLED TV: LG OLED77Z3
(Image: © What Hi-Fi?)
last updated May 22, 2024

Verdict

While the LG Z3's 8K images are stunning, they come with a significant cost in both price and brightness.

Pros

  • + Stunning visuals
  • + Enhanced detail in every scene
  • + Elegant, premium styling

Cons

  • - Costly investment
  • - Dimmer than anticipated
  • - Audio lacks clarity

Imagine a world where every movie night turns into an awe-inspiring cinema experience, right in the comfort of your living room. This isn't just fantasy; it's the remarkable reality offered by LG's stunning 77-inch Z3 TV. Nestled at the crown of LG's impressive lineup, this marvel, alongside its 88-inch partner, stands as a testament to the pinnacle of TV technology mastered by the iconic South Korean brand.

The Z3 isn't just any ordinary television. It's a gateway to unparalleled brilliance, incorporating LG's revolutionary Brightness Booster Max OLED technology paired with an eye-popping 8K resolution. The detail is so vivid, so real, you might just forget you're watching a screen. With four times the pixels of a 4K TV, the Z3 promises a viewing experience that's as immersive as it is luxurious. But, in a world still catching up to 4K, you might wonder, is 8K worth the leap? The answer lies in the promise of future-proofing your entertainment setup, ensuring that as the world moves forward, your viewing experience remains second to none.

Exploring Premium Viewing: The OLED77Z3's Value Proposition

Investing in a top-tier television like the OLED77Z3 doesn't necessarily mean breaking the bank, but a healthy budget certainly wouldn't hurt. This model may not reach the exorbitant price points of the ultra-luxurious LG Signature R rollable OLED TV or the innovative, transparent OLED T series showcased at this year's CES, yet it stands proudly with a price tag of £14,999 in the UK and $15,999 in Australia—remarkably absent from the US market. This absence raises eyebrows concerning the future market dynamics of 8K televisions.

In recent years, the landscape of the premium TV market has drastically transformed, with the cost of owning a large-screen TV becoming more accessible. Today, a 75-inch 4K LCD TV boasting decent performance can be yours for under £1000 in the UK, setting a new standard in affordability. Comparatively, Samsung's flagship 75-inch 8K TV is priced at merely a third of what the OLED77Z3 demands.

The intriguing part comes when comparing the OLED77Z3 to another gem in LG's crown, the 77-inch G3 OLED, which also employs the state-of-the-art Brightness Booster Max technology but at a fraction of the cost—£3699 / AU$6995. This raises a poignant question: Are the additional £11,000 / AU$8000 justified for an 8K resolution paired with Brightness Booster Max technology? The decision rests with the astute consumer, weighing the unparalleled clarity and depth of 8K against the price premium.

8K OLED TV: LG OLED77Z3
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Streamlined Design, Refined Experience

The elegance of the LG OLED77Z3 design captivates at first glance. Its nearly invisible frame crafts an immersive viewing spectacle, reminiscent of the iconic architecture of the Sydney Opera House. Beyond its visual appeal, this masterpiece exemplifies high-quality construction, ensuring durability. Moreover, the clever inclusion of a recessed wall mounting point offers a seamless integration with your living space, enabling the screen to blend elegantly against the wall.

However, the reflective finish on its rear panel might not be to everyone's taste, causing minor distractions. Despite its cutting-edge design, the screen's depth is noticeable, deviating slightly from the slim profile expected of OLED models. This might lead to the screen protruding more than anticipated when mounted on a wall. Additionally, while the provided feet facilitate a straightforward setup, their appearance might not match the premium feel of the screen itself.

Setting up the LG OLED77Z3, whether mounted or on its stand, demands attention and care. Given its significant value and heft, ensuring it's handled with care is paramount for such an exquisite piece of technology. This step in your setup journey emphasizes the importance of treating your tech investments with the respect they deserve.

Discover the Wonders of High-Resolution Entertainment

Introducing the LG OLED77Z3, a marvel that elevates your viewing experience to dazzling new heights with its innovative Brightness Booster Max technology paired with breathtaking 8K resolution. Immerse yourself in a world where every detail is magnified in vibrant clarity, bringing the essence of real life right before your eyes.

The heart of this technological masterpiece lies in the advanced 8K-optimized Alpha 9 Gen 6 video processor and Micro Lens Array technology. These innovations work in tandem to enhance the illumination of OLED pixels, ensuring a luminosity that sets new standards for OLED displays.

Experience a visual feast with the LG OLED77Z3's 8K resolution, offering a staggering 7680x4320 pixels. This leap in pixel density transforms your viewing experience, making every scene unfold with lifelike detail and depth.

While some might question the utility of 8K in today's content landscape, our examinations present a different story. We find the enhanced detail and realism of 8K content compelling, especially when viewed on a screen engineered to showcase its full potential.

LG's cutting-edge Alpha 9 Gen 6 processor not only masterfully upscales lower resolution content but also introduces an AI Picture Pro mode that enriches visuals with meticulous AI learning. Equally impressive is the AI Sound Pro option, which envelops you in a virtual 9.1.2-channel soundscape from any audio source, courtesy of its sophisticated 4.2 speaker setup.

While embracing the latest in sound and image processing, the OLED77Z3 ensures compatibility with a wide spectrum of content and devices. It supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision high dynamic range formats, enhancing your gaming and viewing sessions with unparalleled depth and color.

For gamers, the OLED77Z3 is nothing short of a dream. With support for VRR, Nvidia G-Sync, and AMD Freesync at up to 120Hz, every game plays smoothly, complemented by quick access controls and live performance metrics to enhance your gaming journey.

Powered by LG's intuitive webOS platform, the OLED77Z3 offers a user-friendly interface complete with personalized user profiles, ensuring a tailored viewing experience that caters to the preferences of every household member.

Embark on a journey of unparalleled visual delight with the LG OLED77Z3, where advanced technology meets stunning 8K resolution to redefine your entertainment.

8K OLED TV: LG OLED77Z3
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Discover the Unparalleled Clarity of 8K with LG OLED77Z3

Embark on a visual journey like no other with the LG OLED77Z3, where 8K resolution transforms your viewing experience into something truly spectacular. This isn't just about having more pixels; it's about seeing the world in a way you never thought possible, right from the comfort of your living room.

Utilizing high-definition 8K content, the LG OLED77Z3 showcases its prowess. From the stunning detail of wildlife to breathtaking landscapes, every image is a testament to the power of 8K. This television takes visual storytelling to another level, offering clarity and realism that surpasses even the best 4K displays.

What makes the OLED77Z3 stand out is not just its ability to dazzle with native 8K content. The magic also lies in its exceptional upscaling capabilities. 4K content is transformed, appearing more lifelike, richer, and more detailed, without the pitfalls of conventional upscaling processes. This enhancement extends to gaming, providing a more immersive and visually stunning experience.

However, the journey into 8K isn’t without its challenges, especially when stepping down to HD and standard definition content. While HD can still shine on this TV, thanks to its adept upscaling, lower quality sources may not showcase the OLED77Z3 at its best. Yet, it's a small compromise for what is otherwise a revolutionary viewing experience.

Investing in 8K technology with the OLED77Z3 offers more than just resolution. It's about the meticulous attention to detail in every pixel, courtesy of LG's innovative technology. Each pixel shines independently, contributing to a picture that's not just watched but deeply felt. The contrast, colors, and lighting achieve an almost dreamlike quality, making every moment on screen unforgettable.

Concerns that OLED technology might compromise on vibrancy are quickly dispelled with the OLED77Z3. Its display is strikingly bright and colorful, setting a new standard for excellence. This is complemented by LG's diverse picture presets, catering to preferences for both dynamic scenes and those favoring accuracy to cinematic standards.

While perfection is the goal, the LG OLED77Z3 humbly acknowledges its limitations, such as challenges with motion handling and a brightness level that, while improved, doesn't quite reach the leaps seen in LG's 4K models. These aspects, however, do not significantly detract from its overall performance, leaving the LG OLED77Z3 as a compelling option for the discerning viewer.

The LG OLED77Z3 proves that 8K resolution is not just a luxury but a gateway to an unprecedented viewing experience. It reaffirms LG's commitment to pushing boundaries and redefining what's possible, inviting us all to look forward to a future where every detail matters.

Enhancing Your Audio Experience with LG's Latest TV Technology

LG has been at the forefront of audio innovation, bringing some remarkably clever audio processing techniques to the table. Even in their high-end offerings like the OLED77Z3, there's a noticeable dedication to pushing the boundaries of what TV speaker hardware can achieve.

The AI Sound Pro feature is a testament to LG's commitment to audio excellence. It impressively transforms any received sound into a 9.1.2 soundscape, spreading it across and beyond the room with notable width, height, and depth. This technology excels in extracting the best out of movie soundtracks by accurately positioning sound details and anchoring dialogue directly to the screen, offering a more enveloping experience even if it slightly compromises on low-frequency richness.

However, the brilliance of this sound processing technology is somewhat hampered by the physical limits of the TV's speaker system. The sound produced, while lucid and expansive, doesn't quite match the expected volume levels, particularly when paired with the OLED77Z3's stellar Brightness Booster Max display. Additionally, the bass, though clear, struggles to reach the lower depths without losing quality, and the overall sound immersion might feel contained, as if originating from behind the screen rather than enveloping the viewer.

8K OLED TV: LG OLED77Z3
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Let's Dive Into the LG OLED77Z3

Standing alone, the LG OLED77Z3 embodies a masterpiece in design and technology. With its 8K resolution, this screen is not just a visual treat; it's a journey into the depths of image clarity and color vibrancy. OLED's self-emissive pixels, known for their precision and brilliance, are pushed to their limits, delivering exceptional HD and 4K content upscaling and making native 8K content look out-of-this-world.

However, it raises eyebrows that despite employing the Brightness Booster Max technology, this flagship model doesn't reach the luminosity levels of its more affordable sibling, the 4K G3 series. This observation leads us to a pivotal aspect — the price tag. Priced at £14,999 / AU$15,999, it transcends what most avid home cinema enthusiasts would consider attainable.

While the OLED77Z3's performance is undeniably stellar, this hefty investment prompts us to consider value. It's hard to overlook the OLED77G3, which costs substantially less and benefits more from the same brightness technology. This makes us question if the 8K model's additional pixels truly merit the significant price difference, despite its breathtaking visuals.

8K OLED TV: LG OLED77Z3
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
8K OLED TV: LG OLED77Z3
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
8K OLED TV: LG OLED77Z3
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
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