2025 was an electric year for the TV business, but for LG in particular, it was an especially impressive turn. The brand launched some of the best OLED TVs we’ve ever seen, including the mid-range C5 OLED, the only TV we awarded a five-star rating this year.
We also saw the debut of LG Display’s all-new, fourth-generation OLED panel, whose starring role on the LG G5 made that TV one of the brightest, most impressive-looking OLEDs I’ve ever seen. In a year full of top-notch TVs, few stood taller than LG's flagship OLED.
Where can LG take its TVs in 2026? With CES right around the corner, I’ve put together a wish list of what I’d most like to see out of the brand in the coming year. These are not official announcements — we’ll have to wait and see what LG brings to the table at CES for the final word.
More-affordable OLED TVs
One of my favorite LG TVs of 2025 is the B5, the brand’s entry-level OLED. It’s not as flashy as higher-end OLEDs, but it brings the benefits of OLED technology down to a more manageable price point, carefully cutting corners in a way that emphasizes value. For the second year in a row, there’s a Best Buy-exclusive, 48-inch version of the B Series that’s been immensely popular with budget-shoppers.
It’s not just that I want to see a new LG B Series OLED in 2026 — I want to see prices come down for all of the brand’s newest OLED TVs. In addition to making the technology more accessible, it could convince competitors to do the same.
Here’s a look at the prices of the C5 and G5 at launch across the 55- to 83-inch size points:
Size | LG C5 | LG G5 |
|---|---|---|
55-inch | $1,999 | $2,499 |
65-inch | $2,699 | $3,399 |
77-inch | $3,699 | $4,499 |
83-inch | $5,399 | $6,499 |
As is usually the case, the C5 and G5 steadily dropped in price throughout the year. This pattern is standard across the industry. But if their successors debut at a lower price, end-of-year pricing might shake out to be lower, too.
If I had to place a bet, I don’t think a price cut is in the cards in 2026. More than likely, the TVs set to replace the C5 and G5 will launch at precisely the same price. A person can dream, though, right?
An upgraded C Series OLED
I’d love to see LG’s next mid-range OLED get a little refresh in 2026.
Speaking of the C Series, I’d love to see LG’s next mid-range OLED get a little refresh in 2026. Currently, the LG C5’s top competitor — the Samsung S90F — is equipped with quantum dot-color on select size options. This gives the S90F an edge when it comes to color brightness and overall volume.
I don’t foresee LG switching to Samsung Display’s QD-OLED panels anytime soon, but what if the brand began engineering its mid-range OLEDs with display technology that used to be reserved for its flagship OLED?
In 2025, LG Display’s Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology — which previously adorned the LG G4 and G3 OLED TVs — was abruptly replaced with LG Display’s 4th-generation, four-stack OLED technology. MLA’s brightness-boosting capabilities allowed for scintillating, energy-efficient highlights on these flagship OLEDs, but with LG Display’s 4th-generation panel doing an even better job at this, MLA has spent a year without a home.
I propose that LG standardizes MLA tech across select sizes in its mid-range OLED series going forward. It wouldn’t do much to close the gap in color volume between WOLED and QD-OLED, but it would likely give LG’s mid-range OLEDs the edge when it comes to HDR highlight brightness.
Once again, I must admit that I don’t really expect this to happen — especially in a hypothetical world in which LG OLEDs are receiving a price cut in 2026. It’s probably not a cost-effective way to do business right now, all things considered. One thing that could — and should — happen in 2026 is LG’s reinstatement of ATSC 3.0 support.
The return of ATSC 3.0 support
If you own a reliable TV antenna, ATSC 3.0 support is the feature that makes it possible to pipe-in native 4K content. Unfortunately, LG TVs don’t support it after LG quietly removed it from its TV lineup a few years ago.
It’s confusing to me why LG and other TV-makers assume that most folks have no use for 4K, over-the-air programming. While it’s true that 4K, terrestrial broadcasts are few and far between, they do come around every now and then (like the Super Bowl).
Despite the ubiquity of streaming, plenty of people still rely on an over-the-air signal for free TV. This is an undeniable truth: Free TV is awesome. And if you’re shelling out for a decent TV, it ought to be able to receive 4K broadcasts, period.
LG TVs in 2026: outlook
We won't know for certain what 2026 has in store for LG until the brand shares its road map for the coming year. In all likelihood, most of that roadmap will be made clear at CES (and in the weeks that follow).
Remember: Most of us in the industry did not expect to see the release of LG's 4th-generation OLED panel until we were face to face with the G5 in Las Vegas. There's still plenty of time for LG to surprise us.
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