LG and Samsung are two of the largest TV manufacturers in the world, but how do you choose between LG vs. Samsung TVs? Unfortunately, there's no clear winner in a straight-up battle between these two giants; they both make a wide range of TVs, from entry-level 1080p models up to the most premium 4k flagships. Like anything, there are good and bad things about each brand, and although you shouldn't choose a TV solely by brand, understanding what each brand focuses on can help guide your buying decision. In this article, we'll break down the strengths and weaknesses of each brand to help you decide which one is the best for you. If you're ready to start shopping for specific models, check out our lists of the best LG TVs and the best Samsung TVs.
LG vs. Samsung TV Lineups
When we're talking about two huge companies like LG and Samsung, we can't really make generalizations and name one as better than the other; it's far more nuanced than that. Instead, we'll break down their different lineups, show you a few examples, and talk about each of their pros and cons to help you choose between an LG vs Samsung TV. We'll break their lineups down to separate the LED from OLED lineups.
OLED TVs Comparison
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Both companies produce a wide range of OLED models, but they take a very different approach to OLED technology. LG has been producing OLED TVs since 2016, and they've all used a specific type of OLED technology known as white-OLED, or WOLED. Samsung hasn't been in the OLED game for as long; they first started producing OLED models in 2022 with the Samsung S95B OLED. Samsung's OLED lineup uses a mixture of panel technologies, but their flagship models use a different type of panel known as quantum dot OLED, or QD-OLED. There are some important differences between these panel types, so the best one ultimately depends on your usage.
There's no clear winner between Samsung and LG when it comes to OLED technology. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. LG OLEDs are typically very popular for gaming and home theater usage, whereas Samsung OLEDs offer a bit more versatility, with a varied lineup that targets multiple user personas. Some Samsung OLEDs even have a matte screen coating, which helps significantly reduce direct reflections in a bright room but at the expense of some image clarity. So, in the end, it's best to compare specific models and look at how they perform for your needs before choosing which one is best.
LED TVs Comparison
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Samsung and LG both release a wide range of LED models, as well, from cheap, budget models up to high-end, premium 4k and even a few 8k models. Entry-level 4k models from both brands tend to be overpriced relative to competing models from brands like TCL and Hisense, and they're rarely worth buying. These models often have very limited picture quality, lacking advanced features like local dimming or wide color gamut technology. LG frequently uses a mix of IPS and VA panels in their lower-end lineup, so you don't always know what you're going to get. Their cheaper IPS models tend to perform poorly, with very low contrast. Samsung, on the other hand, almost exclusively uses VA panels at this end of the market, so they offer better picture quality, with much deeper blacks but slightly worse viewing angles.
Starting at the upper mid-range is where models from both brands tend to stand out a bit better. These models typically offer wide color gamut support, Mini LED backlighting, and advanced gaming features like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support. In 2026, both LG and Samsung are pushing RGB Mini LED backlighting in their premium LED lineups. If you're interested in either of these brands, look at the range of features offered in the specific models and the smart features that best fit your needs.
Lifestyle TVs Comparison
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If you're looking for something a bit outside of the box, both LG and Samsung have multiple models in their Lifestyle lineups. From gallery-style TVs to smaller, portable units, these models are designed for consumers seeking something a little different. There are a lot of similarities between the two companies' lineups, so you really can't go wrong with either one. LG targets the high-end market more than Samsung, with unique models like the Signature OLED T Series transparent OLED or their rollable OLED lineup, whereas Samsung offers a greater range of unique household models like the Samsung The Serif or the Samsung The Sero.
Smart Features
Nearly all TVs on the market come with built-in smart features. From your favorite video streaming services to home automation integrations, all TVs offer a wide selection of smart features. You generally shouldn't buy a TV solely based on its smart features, as manufacturers only support them for a limited time. You can add them to the TV via an external box anyway, but it's still good to know which platforms each supports before buying.
Smart OS
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Like all TV manufacturers, LG and Samsung TVs all come with a built-in smart platform. Unlike some of the other brands, though, they each make their own proprietary system. LG TVs come with the webOS platform built-in, whereas Samsung TVs come with Tizen. Both brands are starting to offer their smart platforms to other manufacturers, so you may have already seen or used this platform on another brand. They also both make monitors with the same smart platform built-in, so you get a consistent experience no matter where you're using it.
Unfortunately, webOS and Tizen don't offer a dedicated offline mode, so you're stuck with the smart interface whether you want to use it or not. You can still use them without ever connecting the TV to the internet, but you may occasionally see requests from the TV to connect to the internet. Using them without an internet connection also means that most of the smart features won't work. Samsung and LG both offer firmware updates via USB through their support page, so you're not missing out on bug fixes and picture quality tweaks, either.
Updates
Both LG and Samsung frequently update their TVs, but the frequency varies by model. More popular models tend to be updated more frequently, especially immediately after launch, as they tweak the firmware. Lower-end models aren't updated as frequently. As for the quality of the updates, it's a bit of a mixed bag for both companies. New issues have been introduced in firmware updates from both companies, so if you're concerned about that possibility, you should disable automatic updates.
Beyond bug fixes and picture quality tweaks, both brands offer feature updates for a few years after the initial launch of a new TV. For LG, this means you'll receive new versions of webOS for five years after launch through their Re:New program. This includes new features, if the hardware of your TV can support it, of course. Samsung offers a very similar program, but they guarantee seven years of OS updates instead of five.
App Store
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Both brands offer their own dedicated app store. As these two brands represent a significant portion of the TV market, it's very rare to find an app that isn't available on either of these platforms, so you really don't have to worry about it.
Gaming
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LG and Samsung TVs both offer a wide range of gaming features. Most of their entry-level models are limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, but once you step up to their midrange and premium models, you'll find at least a 120Hz refresh rate, with some models supporting up to 165Hz. 2026 Samsung models also offer a dual-mode feature, which Samsung has branded "DLG". This feature offers an even higher maximum refresh rate, but cuts the active resolution of the display in half. LG doesn't offer anything similar at this time, so this gives Samsung TVs with this feature a slight edge over LG for PC gamers.
All midrange and higher models from both brands offer four HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can take full advantage of multiple consoles. They also all offer variable refresh rate support to reduce tearing, and recent LG and Samsung TVs offer G-SYNC certified modes to reduce tearing when paired with an NVIDIA GPU for PC gamers.
Both companies have a built-in gaming mode. This mode is designed to reduce input lag while also giving you quick access to extra gaming features. Samsung and LG both offer virtual aspect-ratio modes that let you simulate a 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratio. This feature is designed for PC gamers, and it changes the resolutions exposed to your PC. Samsung TVs offer a few extra gaming goodies, including a virtual crosshair feature that's typically found on gaming monitors. Samsung TVs also offer a low-latency motion interpolation feature that can increase the frame rate of low frame rate sources without adding significant input lag, making it great for retro gaming.
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Finally, both companies offer built-in game streaming through apps like GeForce NOW and Xbox. You can play your favorite PC and console games directly on the TV by pairing your wireless controller directly to the TV.
Format Support
One of the greatest differences between Samsung and LG TVs is the formats they support. Specifically, the video formats they support. While both TVs support basic HDR formats like HDR10 and HLG, when it comes to advanced HDR formats, the two brands have gone in different directions. LG TVs support the Dolby Vision standard, whereas Samsung supports HDR10+. We won't get into the nitty-gritty differences of these video formats here, but you can check out HDR10+ vs. Dolby Vision to learn more. Most people don't really need to worry about this, but if you're a collector of physical media and want to get the most out of your collection, Dolby Vision support is a must-have.
Smart Home Integrations
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Both LG and Samsung have built-in programs designed to act as a hub for all of your home automation systems. Most recent models are compatible with a wide range of products, from Matter-powered devices to separate ecosystems like Philips Hue and Google Nest. Both brands let you control a wide selection of products and program scenes based on your viewing preferences. There's no clear winner here, but make sure to check the full list of supported devices for each brand to make sure your existing equipment is supported.
Ads
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Unfortunately, there are ads throughout both the webOS and Tizen smart interfaces. Both platforms offer options to limit personalized ad tracking, but this only reduces how relevant the ads you see are. There's no option to fully disable ads, but if you choose not to connect your TV to the internet, you won't see any.
Conclusion
As you can see, there's really no clear winner between LG vs. Samsung TVs. Each brand produces a wide range of models, and, as with anything, there are both good and bad models. If you're considering an OLED, nearly any model from either brand is usually a safe choice. On their LED lineups, you're better off sticking to the higher-end models, as entry-level models from either brand are usually a bit overpriced, and there are better options out there.