If you want the best possible home cinema experience, one word keeps coming up: OLED. For years, LG has led the way in large-screen OLED TVs — and with the 2024 97-Inch OLED evo G4, they’re pushing the limit of just how big and cinematic an OLED screen can be.
At a price around $19,996.99, this is no ordinary TV. It’s an ultra-luxury screen meant to replace your projector, your smaller OLED, and maybe your local cinema altogether. But is it really worth twenty thousand dollars? Could you get nearly the same cinematic picture quality for less — and who does it actually make sense for?
Let’s dig into the real-life pros and cons, use cases, comparisons, and smart buying tips for this incredible piece of display tech.
LG OLED evo G4: The Highlights
Here’s what you’re paying for:
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97-Inch Class 4K OLED evo Panel — the largest consumer OLED TV LG makes, with an advanced Micro Lens Array (MLA) for extra brightness.
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Alpha 11 AI Processor — LG’s newest chip for sharper images, smarter upscaling, and better tone mapping.
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Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Atmos — top-tier HDR and immersive sound.
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Smart TV with webOS & Alexa Built-in — intuitive interface with all the streaming apps you expect.
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Magic Remote — point-and-click remote with voice commands.
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Ultra-slim, gallery-style design — wall-hugging and sleek.
Major Pros of the LG 97-Inch OLED G4
1. True OLED Picture Quality at Cinematic Scale
OLED has an unmatched reputation for one reason: perfect blacks. Each pixel lights up individually and turns off completely when it’s black. That means:
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Infinite contrast — no blooming or haloing around bright objects.
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Brilliant, saturated colors that pop off the screen.
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Wide viewing angles — looks just as good from the side.
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Incredible shadow detail — dark scenes look like they should.
On a 97-inch screen, this becomes a true theater-grade image. Many home cinema fans would argue that OLED is the closest thing to what high-end filmmakers intend.
2. Brighter Than Older OLEDs
One knock against older OLEDs was that they couldn’t match LCDs or Mini LEDs for brightness, especially in daylight. But the evo G4 panel fixes that with MLA technology:
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Microscopic lenses on each pixel boost brightness significantly.
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Better HDR highlights in bright rooms.
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Still unbeatable black levels in dark rooms.
The result is that you get OLED contrast with much better daytime performance — something only recent LG OLEDs deliver well.
3. Alpha 11 AI Processor
LG’s newest chip does more than upscale your Blu-rays:
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Uses AI to adjust tone mapping scene by scene.
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Enhances detail and sharpness without introducing artifacts.
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Smart object detection and depth enhancement — makes images more 3D-like.
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Better motion handling for sports or gaming.
4. Best-In-Class HDR Support
You get Dolby Vision IQ, which adapts HDR dynamically to your room’s lighting — so a scene looks perfect whether it’s day or night. You also get HDR10 and HLG for maximum compatibility.
5. Slim, Art-Like Design
Despite its size, the OLED97G4 is designed to mount flush against the wall:
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The “Gallery Design” hides cables and fits like a picture frame.
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No chunky backlight or protruding parts.
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Looks clean in modern living rooms — no projector screen needed.
6. Excellent Gaming Specs
If you (or your kids) plan to game on this monster:
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120 Hz native refresh rate with VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode).
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HDMI 2.1 across all four ports — so you can hook up PS5, Xbox Series X, and gaming PCs at full bandwidth.
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G-SYNC and FreeSync Premium support for tear-free PC gaming.
7. Trusted Smart TV Platform
webOS is still one of the best Smart TV platforms:
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All the major streaming apps are pre-installed.
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Quick and smooth navigation.
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Magic Remote makes typing and searching easy.
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Alexa Built-in plus Google Assistant options.
Real-Life Use Cases — Who Actually Needs a 97-Inch OLED?
This is not just a big TV — it’s a room-defining, high-end home cinema piece. Here’s who actually benefits:
1. Dedicated Home Theater Room
If you have a custom cinema room with blackout shades and seating set 10–15 feet from the wall, this screen delivers near-projector size with OLED quality that blows most projectors away for black levels and HDR pop.
2. High-End Living Room
In a modern luxury home with space to properly mount it, this screen can replace both your TV and a projector. No fuss with bulbs, screens, or ambient light.
3. Serious Movie Collectors
If you collect 4K UHD discs or high-bitrate digital movies, the OLED97G4 gives you the full benefit of all that extra detail and wide color.
4. Big Sports Gatherings
Watching the Super Bowl or the World Cup with friends on a screen this size is an event in itself. The wide viewing angles mean no bad seats.
5. Next-Level Gaming
If you have a PS5, Xbox Series X, or high-end gaming PC and want the biggest OLED possible — this is it.
Honest Drawbacks
It’s critical to be realistic about what you’re getting — and what you’re giving up.
1. $20,000 Price Tag
This is a massive purchase — almost four times the cost of a premium 77–83 inch OLED. For some buyers, it’s worth it for the size alone. For many, 83 inches feels “big enough” and saves $15,000.
2. It’s Huge and Heavy
At nearly 97 inches diagonal:
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Measure your wall carefully.
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Make sure your seating distance is far enough — ideally 10–15 feet.
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Professional installation is strongly recommended. It’s big, fragile, and mounting it wrong risks a $20,000 disaster.
3. Still Not as Bright as Premium Mini LED
The G4’s MLA panel is bright for OLED — but it can’t quite match the sheer peak brightness of high-end Mini LEDs in fully sunlit rooms.
4. Burn-In Risk
Modern OLEDs are very resistant to burn-in, but static logos or tickers (news, sports scores) can cause uneven wear if you leave them on for hours every day. Most users won’t see this, but it’s something to know.
Comparison: Could You Get 95% of This for Less?
LG 83-Inch OLED evo G4
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Same panel tech, same processor.
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83 inches vs 97 inches.
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Costs about $6,000–$7,000.
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Huge savings — gives you OLED’s quality at a still cinematic size.
LG 77-Inch OLED evo C4
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The step down from G4. Same processor, slightly less peak brightness.
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Under $4,000.
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Still mind-blowing if you’re coming from an older 55 or 65 inch TV.
Samsung 98-Inch Neo QLED
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Similar size but Mini LED, not OLED.
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Costs about $15,000.
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Brighter for daytime viewing but doesn’t match OLED for perfect blacks.
Projector Setup
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High-end 4K laser projectors with an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen can deliver 120–150 inches.
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Can cost $5,000–$10,000.
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Needs a dark room to truly compete with OLED for black levels and HDR.
Why the 97-Inch OLED Still Wins
If you want the biggest OLED you can buy — with no compromise on contrast or cinematic feel — this is it. Projectors can go bigger, but they won’t deliver the same HDR pop or color uniformity in real-world living rooms.
Where to Buy Smart
For a $20,000 TV, never risk shady sellers:
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LG Direct: Order from LG for full warranty, white glove delivery, and installation options.
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Amazon (Sold by LG or major trusted sellers): Easy returns if something arrives damaged.
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Best Buy: Geek Squad installation packages are strongly recommended.
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B&H Photo Video / Adorama: Trusted dealers for high-end home theater gear.
Always confirm you’re getting a US model with LG’s official warranty.
Final Verdict — Who Should Buy the LG 97-Inch OLED G4?
✅ Buy it if:
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You’re building or upgrading a serious home theater.
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You want OLED’s perfect blacks at maximum size.
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You want the absolute best cinematic image without dealing with projectors.
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You have the budget and the wall space.
❌ Skip it if:
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Your room is small or you sit close — the pixel density might feel less sharp up close.
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You don’t watch a lot of dark-room movies — a premium Mini LED might suit you better for bright-room TV.
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You’d rather spend $5,000–$7,000 on a “big enough” 83-inch OLED and put the rest into killer surround sound.
Final Thoughts
The LG 97-Inch OLED evo G4 is one of the most jaw-dropping TVs on the market — a true home cinema dream for buyers who want no compromise on OLED’s world-class picture quality, but want it at near projector size.
It’s not cheap — but if you’ve always dreamed of owning your own “private IMAX,” this gets you remarkably close, with an image you can enjoy day or night. : https://amzn.to/4kPC6E0
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