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Every few years at CES, LG brings out another of its Signature OLEDs. These are supposed to encompass the latest and best display technology from the company that the TV maker is capable of, and they often come with exorbitant prices. In 2017 we had the ultra-thin “wallpaper” OLED TV. A year later came the rollable OLED TV concept which eventually evolved into a real $100,000 product. LG’s Signature range is expensive, to say the least.
We hit that moment again at CES 2023. But with the all-new Signature OLED M, LG isn’t focusing so much on the panel itself. It’s a beautiful, bright, huge 97-inch 4K display, sure, but what else would you expect from LG? Instead, the gimmick is what is outside TV. The OLED M receives all of its video and audio wirelessly from a “Zero Connect” box that can be positioned up to 30 feet away. All processing happens in the box; the TV is just a panel and speakers. LG touts the OLED M as the “world’s first wireless OLED TV”. This obviously goes a few steps beyond your typical wireless hdmi transmitter.
There are three HDMI ports on the box – all capable of 4K at 120Hz – as well as USB and antenna inputs. You can plug in the usual array of gadgets (a cable box, game console, 4K Blu-ray player, etc.) and that source content is streamed to the giant OLED screen. There’s a little pill-shaped antenna on top that you’re supposed to rotate to point in the direction of the TV for the best wireless performance.
Wondering how it all works? That’s thanks to LG’s proprietary technologies and algorithms, of course. “To ensure the seamless transfer of data from the box to the TV, the company has developed an algorithm that instantly identifies the optimal transmission path,” writes LG in its press release. “The algorithm also helps minimize transmission errors or disturbances because it can recognize changes in the immediate environment – such as people or pets moving through the room – and change paths accordingly.”
I didn’t notice any snags or dropouts during LG’s demonstration of the new Signature OLED in its Las Vegas hotel suite. And the video quality was really fantastic. The TV supports all the usual Dolby Vision, Atmos and other home theater features you’d expect, and it’s G-Sync certified on the gaming side.
But is the game really possible on this thing? What is the latency? There is surely some sort of compromise by going wireless. LG reps told me the company has yet to measure gaming latency on the OLED M, which I find a little odd. But they seemed convinced that the experience would be enjoyable. Still, we’ll have to wait for real-world latency measurements once the OLED M makes its way to buyers in the second half of this year.
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Some people might be curious why something like this even exists. It doesn’t have the same wow factor as a TV that rolls and disappears into a cabinet. Even so, LG sees the OLED M as offering customers a new level of freedom in choosing where to place the TV – and it greatly simplifies cable management since all you run to the TV is power. Maybe you want to put your massive OLED TV above a fireplace because it’s not easy to run multiple cables for different components. In other areas, people have to deal with concrete walls. It’s scenarios like this where LG thinks OLED M can offer a unique answer that won’t require hiding cables or leaving them in plain sight. Place the TV where you want it and the box can go anywhere else in the room. This seems like a very expensive solution.
LG’s Signature OLEDs are historically very expensive, but the company is not yet disclosing the prices for this one. When I asked the CES reps how it compares to the rollable, they confirmed it wouldn’t be that exorbitant. I’d still expect it to cost well above even the company’s largest 8K OLED set. Most people will (and should) stick with LG’s OLEDs aimed at us regular folks. At least they are excellent.
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