LG 48 inch CX 4K Smart OLED TV (OLED48CXPUB)

Is the LG CX worth buying?

If you are looking for a premium TV experience, then the LG CX can be one to consider. It has an OLED panel that delivers rich colours, bright highlights and an infinite contrast ratio. The TV is also a smart TV and runs on LG’s WebOS UI. This gives you access to all popular streaming services from the get-go. 

If you will consume content in a dark room, then an OLED is a better option than an LCD because it can deliver true blacks and does not have the halo effect found on LED’s when trying to reproduce the colour black. However, if you consume content in a bright room, then a high-end LED might be a better option as a high-end LED can get brighter than an OLED in a bright room and the halo around the blacks is less visible. OLED also has the risk of burn-in if you do not vary the content you watch. Bur-in isn't a problem with LED TVs.      

LG CX specifications

The LG CX is an OLED TV with support for 4K resolution. The panel also supports HDR 10, HLG and Dolby Vision. It has a 2.2 channel output for audio with a sound output of 40W. The TV has four HDMI ports, all of which support HDMI 2.1, and it also comes with three USB ports for your connectivity needs. It also has a headphone out along with an optical port. The TV supports NVIDIA G-Sync, Free-Sync, VRR, 4K at 120Hz, Google Assistant, Apple AirPlay and Amazon Alexa. It comes with a voice-enabled remote control. It has dual-band Wi-Fi and an ethernet port to connect to the internet and also supports Bluetooth 5.0.

LG CX Display

The LG CX has an OLED display. It is available in four screen sizes - 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch and 77-inch. The performance of all four sizes should be at par, so your biggest concern should be which screen size is right for you. The display can produce rich colours and deep blacks thanks to the pixel level self-emitting nature of the TV. Because of this, the panel on the TV is extremely thin.   

LG CX Gaming features

The LG CX has four HDMI 2.1 ports. Because of HDMI 2.1, the TV supports ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and 4K at 120Hz. The TV also supports FreeSync and G-Sync. With all the above features, the LG CX is an excellent option for anyone looking for a gaming TV. 

LG markets the 48-inch variant as a replacement for those looking for a gaming monitor. The PS5 (review), Xbox Series X (review) and NVIDIA’s 30 series GPU all offer HDMI 2.1. You can exploit the feature on offer on the consoles on the LG CX. 

LG CX Sound

The LG CX has a 2.2 channel set up for sound with a total output of 40W. The TV also boasts of AI Sound Pro, which automatically optimises the settings based on the sound source. The TV supports Dolby Atmos but don’t expect the sound to come from above you or behind you. 

The LG CX has a good sound output giving you clear vocals, decent channel separation and a good dynamic range. Even though the speakers lack bass, they get the job done for watching movies, TV shows and gaming.  

LG CX UI

The LG CX runs on LG’s webOS UI. the UI covers only the bottom third of the display. All the apps, including the LG App store, are neatly laid out in the form of cards on the screen’s bottom. Hover over some of the apps using the magic remote brings up the second row of cards specific to the App. This doesn’t apply to all apps. Users also have access to a home dashboard. Users can control their IoT enabled home appliances from the comfort of the home dashboard like a security camera, smart lights, etc. 

The LG CX supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa as well. You can control the TV using an Alexa enabled speaker as well. The TV also supports HDMI CEC letting you switch on and off devices like a soundbar, set-top-box and more from the comfort of one remote control. 

LG CX remote control

The CX comes with LG’s Magic Remote control. Using the magic remote, users get a mouse-like pointer on-screen, letting you wave the remote in front of the TV like a magic wand to control the pointer. The pointer is responsive, and users can always change the size of the icon from the settings. 

The remote control is a mic of traditional buttons along with hotkeys for Netflix and Prime Video. It also comes with a button to bring up the voice assistant. The remote control is ergonomic and easy to use. 

LG CX tabletop stand and wall mount

The LG CX comes with a tabletop stand in the box along with a wall mount. The tabletop stand is angular and short, so don't expect to house a gaming console or soundbar in front of the TV. It could hamper your viewing experience. The stand holds the TV in place from the centre so it can be kept on a relatively small entertainment table. The stand holds the TV firmly in place. 

LG CX software updates

The LG CX receives regular firmware updates, and as of writing this article is currently at version 03.21.16. LG has a good history of updating the firmware on their high-end TVs, and users can expect support for a few years at least. 

LG CX vs C9: What’s New?

While the LG C9 and CX look identical when kept next to each other, there are many differences between the two TVs. For starters, the UI on the CX has slightly more squared icons when compared to the C9. The placement of some of the settings has also changed.

For Audio, the LG C9 has LG’s Clear Voice III while the CX has Clear Voice IV. The C9 has AI Sound while the CX has AI Sound Pro. The C9 has LG’s Alpha 9 gen 2 processor, while the CX has the Alpha 9 Gen 3 processor. The CX also has a Filmmaker Mode that changes the settings to represent the content as the creator intended. The C9 does not have Filmmaker Mode.

Is the LG GX better than the CX?

The panel performance of the LG GX (review) is almost at par with the CX, and only when the 2 TVs are kept side by side can you notice some difference. The GX is the more expensive of the two as it brings with it a more premium design. The GX is overall slimmer than the CX and sits flush with the wall when wall-mounted, giving it a picture frame like look. 

The LG GX also has far-field mics letting you control the TV with your voice without using a remote control. This is not available on the LG CX. 

The LG GX is available in 65 and 77-inch screen sizes, whereas the CX is available in 48, 55, 65 and 77-inch options. The GX has 60W of sound output when compared to the 40W on the CX. The GX also has a 4.2 Channel setup. 

What is the difference between the LG BX and CX?

While the CX is available in four screen sizes, the BX is available in only 55 and 65-inch screen sizes. Both the OLED TVs have the same sound output, with the difference that the LG BX has Clear Voice III, and the CX has Clear Voice IV. The BX has AI Sound while the CX has AI Sound Pro. 

The most significant difference between the two TVs is with the processor. The LG BX runs on the Alpha 7 Gen3 Processor the CX runs on the newer Alpha 9 Gen3 AI Processor 4K. The other features such as OLED display, HDMI 2.1 and more are the same on both the TVs.