I want to give you a full rundown comparing LG’s latest flagship OLED TV against one of their last generation models. Specifically, we‘ll be looking at how the brand new LG G3 stacks up versus the now previous-gen LG B2 from 2022.
In this guide, you‘ll get:
- A beginner-friendly overview explaining exactly what we‘re comparing
- A detailed, side-by-side spec comparison
- Easy-to-understand tables breaking down the key pros and cons
- Background essentials every buyer should know about OLED
- My personal insight having owned both models
My goal is to arm you with everything to decide:
- Should you upgrade to LG’s latest OLED flagship?
- Or is last year’s model still nearly as good and a better value?
Let’s dive in and compare this awesome new G3 television to the already excellent LG B2!
Overview: LG‘s New G3 vs Their Older B2 OLED TV
First, let’s cover exactly what these TVs are so you have the right context:
The LG G3 is LG’s latest 2023 flagship OLED television. It sits at the very top of LG‘s TV lineup, meant to showcase the best of their display technology with premium performance and features.
The LG B2 came out in 2022 and has been one of LG’s most popular OLED TVs over the past year due to its balance of performance and price. It now sits one tier below the G3 as a lower-cost offering after being essentially replaced by the newer model.
These are both what is known as "WOLED" televisions. That stands for white OLED. The key thing to understand about OLED is that every pixel on the screen is self-illuminating. Each one can turn on or off individually, allowing for essentially perfect black levels and incredibly fast response times.
Now in terms of comparing these two specific WOLED models:
The LG G3 brings improved brightness, sound, smart features, and processing power to the table. But those upgrades also come at a higher price tag.
The LG B2, while now outdated, still maintains excellent picture quality from its OLED panel and solid performance for a discounted price.
So this comparison really comes down to a classic value-for-money evaluation. Let‘s analyze the exact differences between these two OLED televisions across various categories. Small details that make a big impact.
Detailed Side-By-Side Specs Comparison
Let’s establish a baseline, looking first at how their technical specifications measure up:
| Specifications | LG G3 | LG B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Q1 2023 | Q1 2022 |
| TV Technology | Self-lit WOLED | Self-lit WOLED |
| Screen Sizes | 55′′, 65′′, 77′′, 83′′ | 55′′, 65′′, 77′′ |
| Display Resolution | 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160p) | 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160p) |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz Native | 120Hz Native |
| HDR Formats Supported | HDR10, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Pro | HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG |
| HDMI Ports | 4 (HDMI 2.1) | 4 (HDMI 2.0) |
| USB Ports | 3 (USB 2.0) | 2 (USB 2.0) |
| Smart TV OS | webOS 23 | webOS 22 |
| Integrated Speakers | 4.2 Channel | 2.2 Channel |
| CPU | α9 Gen6 AI Processor 4K | α7 Gen5 AI Processor 4K |
Glancing at their on-paper specs, you can see the core elements like the OLED panel, 4K resolution, refresh rate, and operating system are quite comparable between the two.
But looking closer, the distinction really comes down to substantial improvements in five key areas:
- Picture Quality
- Audio Performance
- Gaming Capability
- Future-Proofing
- New Features
Now let’s analyze each area more closely.
1. Picture Quality Advantages on the LG G3
The G3‘s upgrades combine to make meaningful improvements to picture performance:
Improved Brightness
The LG G3 introduces a new “Brightness Booster Max” technology not found on the B2. This helps enhance peak brightness in HDR content by up to 70% compared to older LG OLEDs like the B2.
That translates to increased intensity in highlights, deeper contrast levels, and superior clarity in brighter viewing environments.
| Model | Peak SDR Brightness | Peak HDR Brightness |
|---|---|---|
| LG G3 | Up to 800 nits | ≈1,900 nits w/ Boost |
| LG B2 | Up to 770 nits | ≈800-850 nits |
.α9 Gen6 AI Processor
The upgraded α9 Gen6 processor inside the G3 enhances overall picture processing. This chip handles tasks like:
- Upscaling lower-resolution content to match native 4K
- Smoothing motion for fast-action scenes
- Optimizing HDR color, contrast, and brightness
Improvements here lead to sharper clarity, minimized banding, and reduced noise/artifacts fast-moving imagery compared to the B2‘s older α7 Gen5 chip.
Quick Switching Between Sources
Thanks to a Quick Media Switching feature exclusive to the G3, switching between input sources now happens instantaneously. This eliminates the lag you may see on models like the B2 when toggling between devices.
Noticeable improvements across brightness, processor performance, and responsiveness add up to definitively better picture quality on the new LG G3 over previous models.
2. Upgraded Immersive Sound on the G3
Beyond better visuals, LG also enhanced the audio capabilities inside the G3:
- The G3 now utilizes upward-firing speakers
- This enables a virtual 9.1.2 channel surround setup
- Rivals premium soundbars w/ 3D spacial audio quality
- Delivers extremely immersive Dolby Atmos performance
By contrast, the LG B2 tops out at a standard 2.2 channel speaker system.
So while the B2 is perfectly capable for everyday TV watching, the G3 provides a supremely theater-like auditory experience straight out of the box. This gives it a leg up for cinematic content or gaming.
3. Improved Gaming Features on the G3
For gamers, the LG G3 pulls notably ahead as well:
VRR & FreeSync/G-Sync Support
The LG G3 has full support for:
- Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
- AMD FreeSync
- Nvidia G-Sync
This allows for super smooth visuals free from stuttering or screen tearing during gameplay.
Unfortunately VRR capability remains missing on 2021 LG TVs like the B2.
4K/120Hz Gaming
The G3‘s upgraded HDMI 2.1 inputs enable 4K gaming at up to 120 frames per second. This is perfect for the latest consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
The LG B2 peaks at 4K/60Hz since it still uses HDMI 2.0 ports instead.
For players who care about performance and visuals, the LG G3 definitely pulls ahead as the superior gaming television overall.
4. Future-Proofing Differences
In terms of longevity, the LG G3 again moves ahead with its future-proof design:
WebOS 23
LG‘s 2023 televisions upgrade to version 23 of their smart TV operating system. This most recent WebOS software offers:
- Faster navigation & loading
- Smoother transitions
- New intuitive menus
Unfortunately, the one-year-old B2 will be stuck on WebOS 22. Missing quality-of-life upgrades introduced in newer models going forward.
Latest Connectivity Standards
As mentioned previously, the upgraded HDMI 2.1 inputs on the G3 support higher resolutions and refresh rates. This won‘t make a difference today on the content/devices most people own.
But it does provide assurance down the road as 8K devices, GPUs, consoles, etc eventually go mainstream. Compared to the now outdated HDMI 2.0 ports on the B2.
The G3 is definitively better positioned for years into the future before needing to upgrade again.
5. Exclusive New Features on the LG G3
Lastly, there are a few brand new features exclusive to LG‘s 2023 TV lineup:
No Gap Wall Mount
Thanks to a smartly-designed bracket on the back, the G3 now sits flush against your wall when wall-mounted. This yields a clean, bezel-less aesthetic not possible on older models.
The B2 will still leave a ~0.5 inch gap between itself and the wall even when using LG‘s own mounting kit.
G3 (left) vs C2 (right) wall mounted
Brightness Booster Max
As discussed earlier, LG‘s new Brightness Booster Max technology enables up to 70% higher peak brightness exclusively on the G3.
This one addition considerably improves contrast and clarity during HDR content viewing.
While these may be considered minor enhancements by some buyers, they demonstrate the constant innovation pushing OLED TV technology forward year-over-year.
Weighing Key Pros & Cons
Now let‘s summarize the main advantages of each model:
LG G3 Pros & Cons
| Pros | – Significantly improved peak & sustained brightness – Top-tier gaming performance w/ new features – Audio already rivals many premium soundbars – Excellent future-proofing for connectivity & software |
|---|---|
| Cons | – Most expensive LG OLED release ever (- $300 over C2 price) – Risk of permanent burn-in over time – Only available up to 83 inches |
LG B2 Pros & Cons
| Pros | – Outstanding picture quality from LG‘s OLED tech – Deep blacks & extremely fast response time – Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos support – Usually discounted $200-800 below release price now |
| Cons | – Peak brightness under half of new G3 – Struggles in bright rooms – Lacks latest gaming features – Won‘t receive future WebOS updates – Still risks permanent burn-in over time |
Above all, the G3 provides a superior viewing experience – but demands a premium price tag for cutting-edge performance. The B2 delivers excellent OLED quality at solid value given discounts over the past year.
OLED Essentials: 5 Must-Know Buying Facts
If this is your first OLED TV purchase, keep these key facts in mind:
Perfect Black Levels — OLED pixels can turn completely off to achieve inky, infinite blacks that no LED/LCD can match. This adds considerable depth to images.
Lightning Motion Clarity — With response times below 0.1ms, OLED essentially eliminates motion blur for crisper, sharper motion resolution during action scenes.
Wide Viewing Angles — OLED maintains outstanding color accuracy and brightness at wider angles compared to LED TVs that worsen as you move off-center.
Risk of Burn-In — Static images left consistently over many cumulative hours/days can be permanently imprinted on screen. Real burn-in risk varies based on personal usage.
Eco-Friendly Efficiency — OLED panels consume ~30% less power than equivalent LED/LCD televisions, saving electricity.
When cared for properly, an OLED TV will provide the best overall visual performance money can buy today. Keep these attributes in mind while choosing your ideal LG model.
The Bottom Line Comparing the LG G3 vs LG B2
The brand new LG G3 brings meaningful improvements in nearly all areas over previous-generation OLED models like the LG B2.
You’re investing in vastly improved peak & sustained brightness, expanded screen size options, upgraded gaming capabilities with new features exclusive to 2023 models, and future-proof specs that won’t quickly become outdated.
Unfortunately, that excellent well-rounded performance comes at a steep $300+ premium over already expensive OLED pricing. Making the G3 prohibitively costly for buyers on a tight budget.
Meanwhile, the now discounted LG B2 still delivers outstanding OLED picture quality only a notch below the G3, with deep blacks and extremely fast response for under $1,000 in many sizes now. Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos provide excellent processing and audio as well within the B2‘s capabilities.
Casual viewers who plan to stream movies and shows in a darker home theater can save significantly opting for the prior-gen B2 and remain very satisfied. But more discerning videophiles wanting to maximize performance in their living space should consider the G3 a smart investment towards the ultimate home theater setup.
I hope this full side-by-side comparison between the LG G3 and LG B2 for 2023 has helped distinguish the right OLED television for your viewing needs and budget! Let me know if you have any other questions.
