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To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our 1-year video update with our latest findings on temporary image retention, burn-in, and more!

LG A1 OLED TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.11
Review updated Aug 02, 2022 at 04:31 pm
Latest change: Retest Feb 13, 2024 at 11:44 am
LG A1 OLED Picture
8.1
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
7.7
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
8.0
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
8.5
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
8.2
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
8.5
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
8.4
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: no price info
This TV was replaced by the LG A2 OLED

The LG A1 OLED is an entry-level OLED released in 2021, sitting below the LG B1 OLED and the more popular LG C1 OLED. It delivers nearly identical picture quality to the higher-end models, but it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and doesn't support variable refresh rate technology (VRR). It runs the same great webOS smart interface, which is fast, easy to use, and has a great selection of additional apps and features. It also comes with the same great Magic Remote, which makes navigating the interface and finding your favorite content a breeze. It's available in a range of sizes from 48 to 77 inches, all of which offer the same features, so you're sure to find something that fits your needs.

Our Verdict

8.1 Mixed Usage

The LG A1 OLED is an excellent TV for pretty much any usage. Deep, inky blacks make it an outstanding choice for watching movies in the dark. The low input lag and nearly instantaneous response times help deliver an amazing experience playing games in SDR or HDR. It's also great for watching sports or TV shows thanks to the wide viewing angles and superb reflection handling, but it can't get very bright, so it's not ideal for a bright environment.

Pros
  • Near-infinite contrast ratio.
  • Nearly instantaneous response time.
  • Superb viewing angles.
  • Perfect black uniformity.
Cons
  • Risk of permanent burn-in with static content.
  • Not bright enough to overcome glare.
7.7 TV Shows

The LG A1 OLED is great for watching TV shows during the day. It has outstanding viewing angles, making it a great choice if you like to walk around with the TV on, and the smart interface has a huge selection of streaming apps. It also has remarkable reflection handling, but, unfortunately, it can't get very bright, so it's not the best choice for a bright viewing environment. The TV also has impressive gray uniformity.

Pros
  • Superb viewing angles.
Cons
  • Risk of permanent burn-in with static content.
  • Not bright enough to overcome glare.
8.0 Sports

The LG A1 OLED is a very good TV for watching sports. The nearly instantaneous response time results in very little blur behind fast-moving objects. Although it has outstanding reflection handling, it's not very bright, so it's not a great choice for a brighter environment. On the other hand, the outstanding viewing angles make it a great choice for watching the big game with a large group of friends, and it has impressive gray uniformity.

Pros
  • Nearly instantaneous response time.
  • Superb viewing angles.
Cons
  • Risk of permanent burn-in with static content.
  • Not bright enough to overcome glare.
8.5 Video Games

The LG A1 is an excellent TV for playing video games. The OLED panel has a nearly instantaneous response time, so there's almost no blur behind fast-moving objects, and it has outstanding low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. On the other hand, it can't take full advantage of the PS5 or Xbox Series X, as it doesn't support 4k @ 120Hz gaming, it doesn't support variable refresh rate technology, and it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate.

Pros
  • Near-infinite contrast ratio.
  • Nearly instantaneous response time.
  • Very low input lag.
  • Perfect black uniformity.
Cons
  • Risk of permanent burn-in with static content.
  • Doesn't support variable refresh rates or HDMI 2.1.
8.2 HDR Movies

The LG OLED65A1 is excellent for watching movies in HDR. The nearly-infinite contrast ratio results in perfect blacks with no blooming, without the need for a local dimming feature. It also has an amazing color gamut, with nearly perfect coverage of the DCI P3 color space used by most current HDR content. Unfortunately, it has disappointing peak brightness in HDR, so small highlights in many scenes don't stand out the way the content creator intended.

Pros
  • Near-infinite contrast ratio.
  • Wide color gamut.
  • Perfect black uniformity.
Cons
  • Not bright enough for small highlights to stand out.
  • Some stutter in low frame rate content.
  • Can't remove judder from all sources.
8.5 HDR Gaming

The LG A1 OLED is an amazing TV for gaming in HDR. It has low input lag for a responsive gaming experience, and a nearly instantaneous response time, so motion looks clear with little blur. It has a nearly infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity, as well as an amazing color gamut, all of which are important for a good HDR experience, but it can't get very bright. Unfortunately, it doesn't support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and it doesn't support variable refresh rate technology, so it can't take full advantage of the latest gaming consoles.

Pros
  • Near-infinite contrast ratio.
  • Nearly instantaneous response time.
  • Very low input lag.
  • Wide color gamut.
  • Perfect black uniformity.
Cons
  • Not bright enough for small highlights to stand out.
  • Risk of permanent burn-in with static content.
  • Doesn't support variable refresh rates or HDMI 2.1.
8.4 PC Monitor

The LG A1 OLED is an excellent TV for use as a PC monitor, with some limitations. It has outstanding viewing angles, exceptional low input lag, and a nearly instantaneous response time. It's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, though, and it doesn't support variable refresh rate technology or HDMI 2.1. Unfortunately, there's a chance of burn-in with static content, and the RGBW subpixel structure causes text clarity issues in some cases.

Pros
  • Nearly instantaneous response time.
  • Superb viewing angles.
  • Very low input lag.
  • Displays proper chroma 4:4:4.
Cons
  • Risk of permanent burn-in with static content.
  • Doesn't support variable refresh rates or HDMI 2.1.
  • 8.1 Mixed Usage
  • 7.7 TV Shows
  • 8.0 Sports
  • 8.5 Video Games
  • 8.2 HDR Movies
  • 8.5 HDR Gaming
  • 8.4 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  3. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  5. Updated Aug 01, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.11. With this update, we've added a new Upscaling: Sharpness Processing test and revamped our Blooming test so the scores and picture better match the real world experience. With this change, it was necessary to remove the Black Crush test. Finally, we've updated our usage scores to better align our scores with user expectations.
  6. Updated Jun 22, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.10. With this update we've revamped our Gradient testing, added a new test for Low Quality Content Smoothing, and expanded our Audio Passthrough testing.
  7. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  8. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  9. Updated Feb 28, 2023: We corrected a mistake in the PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility results from a previous test bench update.
  10. Updated Feb 24, 2023: Updated to Test Bench 1.9, modifying our Contrast testing and splitting our local dimming testing into multiple sections covering Blooming, Black Crush, and Lighting Zone Transitions. You can see our full changelog here.
  11. Updated Feb 16, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  12. Updated Dec 16, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.8, adding a new box for PQ EOTF tracking and updating our Color Volume and Color Gamut tests to better reflect real world usage. You can see our full changelog here.
  13. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  14. Updated Oct 26, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.7 with an updated HDR Brightness test that better reflects real world usage. We've also split the console compatibility boxes into separate PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility tests. You can see our full changelog here.
  15. Updated Sep 12, 2022: Compared the SDR Brightness on this TV with its successor, the LG A2 OLED.
  16. Updated Aug 02, 2022: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  17. Updated May 06, 2022: We changed the subtype from WRGB to WOLED as it's more accurate and more consistent with other TVs.
  18. Updated Jul 30, 2021: We retested judder with native apps.
  19. Updated Jun 11, 2021: Review published.
  20. Updated Jun 08, 2021: Early access published.
  21. Updated May 26, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  22. Updated May 21, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  23. Updated Mar 17, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the LG 65-inch A1 (OLED65A1PUA), which also comes in 48-inch, 55-inch, and 77-inch sizes. Note that the last three letters in the model number (PUA in this case) vary between retailers and individual regions, but there's no difference in performance.

Size North America Model   EU Model
48" OLED48A1PUA OLED48A16LA
55" OLED55A1PUA OLED55A16LA
65" OLED65A1PUA OLED65A16LA
77"  OLED77A1PUA   OLED77A16LA

If you come across a different type of panel or your LG A1 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we'll update the review. Note that some tests like gray uniformity may vary between individual units.

Our unit was manufactured in March 2021, and you can see the label here.

Compared To Other TVs

The LG A1 is a good cheaper option if you want the impressive picture quality that OLED TVs are known for and don't care about the extra gaming features on the more expensive LG models.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best OLED TVs, the best 4k TVs for watching movies, and the best TVs on the market.

LG C1 OLED
48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

The LG A1 OLED and the LG C1 OLED deliver very similar picture quality but differ in the extra features available. The C1 is a better gaming TV, with four HDMI 2.1 ports, support for variable refresh rate technology (VRR), and a 120Hz refresh rate. For movie lovers, the C1 is also a slightly better choice, as it can remove judder from any source, and it has an optional Black Frame Insertion feature to help reduce persistence blur.

LG C2 OLED
42" 48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

The LG C2 OLED and the LG A1 OLED deliver similar picture quality overall, but the C2 has more advanced features. The C2 is better for gaming, with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all four HDMI ports, and support for advanced gaming features like variable refresh rates. The C2 is also a bit brighter, especially when watching HDR content, as bright highlights stand out better.

LG B1 OLED
55" 65" 77"

The LG B1 OLED is a higher-end TV than the LG A1 OLED, so it performs better overall. They deliver similar exceptional picture quality thanks to their OLED panels, and even though the B1 gets brighter, it's not a significant difference. The B1 uses a different screen finish, so it has better reflection handling. The main differences are with the gaming features because the B1 has a 120Hz panel with VRR support and HDMI 2.1 inputs, delivering a better gaming experience. The A1 is limited to a 60Hz panel with no VRR.

LG CX OLED
48" 55" 65" 77"

The LG CX OLED and the LG A1 OLED deliver nearly identical picture quality, but the CX offers better gaming features. The CX has 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, and it supports more advanced gaming features like variable refresh rate technology (VRR). The CX is also a bit better for movie watching, as it can remove judder from any source, and it has an optional black frame insertion feature to reduce persistence blur. 

LG A2 OLED
48" 55" 65" 77"

The LG A2 OLED is an improvement over its predecessor, the LG A1 OLED. The main difference is that the A2 gets brighter, providing a better HDR experience. It also uses a newer version of the LG webOS platform that has a few extra features like support for user profiles, but other than that, the two TVs are very similar in terms of features.

LG B2 OLED
55" 65" 77"

The LG B2 OLED has more features than the LG A1 OLED, so if you're a gamer and need HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, the B2 is the better choice. The B2 also performs better in well-lit rooms as it gets brighter, and highlights pop more in HDR. If you don't care about extra features and you're not after premium picture quality, the A1 delivers the same incredible dark room performance as the B2, thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio.

LG NANO85 2021
50" 55" 65" 75" 86"

The LG A1 OLED is vastly superior to the NANO85 2021. The A1 has a near-infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity, resulting in much deeper blacks with no blooming around bright objects. The A1 also has better reflection handling and a wider viewing angle if you want to use it in a well-lit room with a wide seating area.

LG G2 OLED
55" 65" 77" 83" 97"

The LG G2 OLED is much better than the LG A1 OLED. The G2 is a lot brighter, especially in HDR, so bright highlights stand out better. The G2 also has more advanced gaming features, including a higher native refresh rate, a backlight-strobing feature, and variable refresh rate support. All four HDMI ports on the G2 support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, whereas the A1 is limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth. The A1 is a bit more versatile out of the box, as it comes with a stand, whereas the G2 is designed to be wall-mounted and doesn't include one.

Samsung QN90A QLED
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85" 98"

The Samsung QN90A QLED and the LG A1 OLED are very different TVs, as they use different panel technologies, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The LG is a better choice for watching movies in a dark room, as it displays perfect blacks with no blooming, and has better uniformity. The Samsung is a better choice for gaming or for watching TV in a bright room, though, as it has a faster refresh rate, it supports advanced gaming features like HDMI 2.1 and variable refresh rate technology (VRR), and it's significantly brighter.

LG BX OLED
55" 65"

The LG BX OLED and the LG A1 OLED deliver nearly identical picture quality but differ in their extra features and gaming performance. The BX is much better for gaming, with 2 HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen consoles, a 120Hz refresh rate, and support for advanced gaming features, including variable refresh rate technology (VRR). The BX is also better for movies, as it has an optional Black Frame Insertion feature, and it can remove judder from all sources.

LG NANO99 8k 2021
65" 75" 86"

The LG NANO99 8k 2021 and the LG A1 OLED are different types of While the NANO99 is an 8k TV with an LED panel that gets bright, the 4k A1 has much deeper blacks thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio. The 8k NANO99 supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and has a 120Hz panel, which the A1 doesn't have, but neither TV supports any VRR. Also, the NANO99 doesn't suffer from the risk of permanent burn-in like the C1.

Samsung QN85B QLED
55" 65" 75" 85"

The LG A1 OLED is better than the Samsung QN85B QLED. The LG delivers much better picture quality, thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio, so blacks look deep and uniform in a black room with no blooming around bright objects. The Samsung gets a lot brighter, so it can handle more glare in a bright room. However, it has worse picture quality.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The LG OLED65A1PUA has a very similar design to the LG C1 OLED, but the stand is different, with two v-shaped feet similar to the LG UP8000.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures
Design
Stand

The stand supports the TV well but has a wide footprint. It sits low, leaving about 2.4 inches between the bottom of the bezel and the table, so some soundbars don't fit without blocking part of the TV.

Footprint of the 65-inch TV stand: 44.3" x 11.0"

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 300x200

The back of the TV is plain, and unfortunately, there's no cable management. Like the LG C1 OLED, the top half is metal, but the thicker bottom portion that houses the electronics is plastic. Most of the inputs face to the side and are easy to access, but there are a few less commonly used inputs that face straight back from the TV, and these are very difficult to access, especially when the TV is wall mounted.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.39" (1.0 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 1.89" (4.8 cm)
8.5
Design
Build Quality

Overall, the LG A1 has excellent build quality. The display portion of the body is metal and feels well-built. The section that houses the electronics is plastic but seems to be well-built. The plastic stand feels a bit weaker than the solid stand on the other models, like the LG C1 OLED, making the overall package of the A1 feel a bit less premium.

Picture Quality
10
Picture Quality
Contrast
Contrast
Inf : 1
Native Contrast
Inf : 1

As OLED displays don't have a traditional backlight, they have nearly infinite contrast, as each pixel can be individually disabled. It results in perfect, inky blacks, which is ideal in a dark room.

10
Picture Quality
Blooming
10
Picture Quality
Lighting Zone Transitions
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
No Backlight
Dimming Zones Count Of Tested TV
8,294,400
9.5
Picture Quality
Contrast And Dark Details In Game Mode
5.7
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
416 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
261 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
119 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
458 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
459 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
331 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
196 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
107 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
447 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
452 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
316 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
185 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
102 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.098

Unfortunately, the LG A1 has disappointing HDR peak brightness. Although it tracks the EOTF correctly, displaying most scenes at the correct brightness, it peaks at a low brightness level and rolls off gradually. It's not bright enough for most HDR content, and small highlights don't stand out as well as the content creator intended. Like all OLED displays, there's a fair amount of variation in brightness depending on the scene due to the Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL). If you find this distracting, setting Peak Brightness to 'Off' results in almost all scenes being displayed at about 370 cd/m². Even with this off, very bright scenes are dimmed considerably, dropping as low as 111 cd/m² with a sustained 100% bright window.

These measurements are with the default settings in the 'Cinema' Picture Mode, with Brightness and Contrast set to max, Peak Brightness on 'High', and Color Depth set to '50'. All other picture processing settings were left disabled. If you want to make HDR brighter, enable HDR Tone Mapping and set Auto Dynamic Contrast to 'High', which can help as seen in this EOTF.

To get the brightest possible image at the expense of picture quality, use the 'Vivid' Picture Mode, enable HDR Tone Mapping, and set Auto Dynamic Contrast to 'High', and leave the other settings as mentioned above. The TV reaches a peak brightness of 625 cd/m² in the 2% window using these settings.

5.6
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
399 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
242 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
112 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
444 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
445 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
328 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
198 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
106 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
433 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
437 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
321 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
188 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
101 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.097

Switching to Game Mode makes no noticeable difference to the peak brightness, which is great. These results are with the same picture settings as outside of Game Mode.

8.9
Picture Quality
PQ EOTF Tracking
600 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0049
1000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0078
4000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0078
6.1
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
262 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
350 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
352 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
318 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
260 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
121 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
332 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
333 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
302 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
246 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
116 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.069

The LG A1 has mediocre brightness in SDR. It's noticeably less bright than the LG C2 OLED. Like all OLED displays, there's a fair amount of variation in brightness depending on the scene due to the Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL). If you find this distracting, disabling the Peak Brightness setting results in almost all scenes being displayed at about 230 cd/m². There's almost no variation in peak brightness with that setting, but it's too dim to overcome glare in a bright room. If you want something brighter, then look into the LG A2 OLED.

These measurements are with the full calibration settings, using the 'Expert (Dark space, night)' Picture Mode, Color Depth set to 'Warm 50', and Peak Brightness set to 'High'.

If you want an even brighter image and don't care about accuracy, set the Picture Mode to 'Standard', set Brightness and Contrast to max, Peak Brightness to 'High', and Auto Dynamic Contrast to 'High'. It reaches a peak of 458 cd/m² with a 2% window using those settings.

8.7
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
97.04%
DCI P3 uv
99.08%
Rec 2020 xy
72.34%
Rec 2020 uv
78.02%

The LG A1 has an excellent color gamut, with almost perfect coverage of the DCI P3 color space used by the majority of HDR content currently available and good coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space. It also has good tone mapping in both color spaces, ensuring that fine details in areas of bright saturated colors are preserved.

7.8
Picture Quality
Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
67.6%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
32.9%
White Luminance
476 cd/m²
Red Luminance
77 cd/m²
Green Luminance
279 cd/m²
Blue Luminance
29 cd/m²
Cyan Luminance
303 cd/m²
Magenta Luminance
96 cd/m²
Yellow Luminance
326 cd/m²

The LG A1 has good color volume. Due to the extra white subpixel, colors aren't as bright as pure white. Thanks to the nearly infinite contrast ratio, dark saturated colors are properly displayed.

7.4
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
3.32
Color dE
2.31
Gamma
2.30
Color Temperature
7,267 K
Picture Mode
Expert (Dark Space)
Color Temp Setting
Warm 50
Gamma Setting
2.2

The LG A1 we tested has good accuracy in SDR out of the box. All colors are slightly inaccurate, but most people won't notice it. The white balance is the biggest issue, affecting mainly brighter shades of gray, and the color temperature is a bit cold, giving everything a slightly bluish tint. Gamma is a bit higher than the 2.2 target we use for a moderately lit room, as most scenes are darker than they should be.

9.5
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.16
Color dE
1.16
Gamma
2.20
Color Temperature
6,512 K
White Balance Calibration
22 point
Color Calibration
Yes

The LG A1 was very easy to calibrate. After calibration, the white balance is nearly perfect, and gamma tracks our target of 2.2 almost perfectly. The color temperature is very close to our target, and any remaining inaccuracies in colors aren't noticeable.

You can see our full calibration settings here.

8.3
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
1.773%
50% DSE
0.139%
5% Std. Dev.
0.873%
5% DSE
0.089%

The LG OLED65A1 has great gray uniformity, but some bands appear slightly different from the rest of the screen. These aren't noticeable with regular content. In near-dark scenes, it's a bit better, but like all OLEDs we've tested, there are some faint vertical lines. These aren't noticeable unless you're looking for them.

10
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Std. Dev.
N/A
Native Std. Dev.
0.272%

Since each pixel can be turned off, the LG A1 has nearly perfect black uniformity, with no sign of blooming around bright objects in dark scenes.

9.4
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
70°
Color Shift
32°
Brightness Loss
70°
Black Level Raise
70°
Gamma Shift
70°

The LG OLED65A1 has an outstanding viewing angle, making this a great choice for a wide seating arrangement, as the image remains consistent even if you're watching from the side.

9.0
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
2.0%
Indirect Reflections
0.4%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.6%

The LG OLED65A1PUA has superb reflection handling. However, it's noticeably worse than the LG C1 OLED. The semi-gloss screen finish doesn't diffuse reflections as well as the glossy coating on the LG C1 OLED.

8.0
Picture Quality
HDR Native Gradient
100% Black to 50% Gray
6.0
50% Gray to 100% White
8.0
100% Black to 50% Red
8.0
50% Red to 100% Red
10
100% Black to 50% Green
8.0
50% Green to 100% Green
8.0
100% Black to 50% Blue
8.0
50% Blue to 100% Blue
8.0
7.1
Picture Quality
Low-Quality Content Smoothing
Smoothing
7.5
Detail Preservation
6.0
4.5
Picture Quality
Upscaling: Sharpness Processing
Picture Quality
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
RWBG
Type OLED
Sub-Type
WOLED

The LG A1 uses a WRGB subpixel structure. Like other OLEDs, all four subpixels are never lit at the same time. This image shows the red, white, and blue sub-pixels. You can see an alternate photo with the green, red, and white subpixels lit here.

Motion
9.4
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
0.3 ms
100% Response Time
7.3 ms

The LG A1 has an outstanding response time, but it does behave a bit differently from the other 2021 LG OLED TVs, including the LG C1 OLED. Transitions from dark scenes to bright scenes are significantly slower than usual, causing a bit more noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects. That said, it's still fantastic, and there's almost no noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects. Due to the panel's sample-and-hold technology, though, there's more persistence blur due to the fast response time.

10
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

Like all OLED displays, the LG 65A1 isn't quite flicker-free, as there's a small decrease in brightness that corresponds with the refresh cycle of the display. It's very different from pulse width modulation flicker (PWM) on TVs with LED backlights, as the entire screen never dims at once.

Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
No
Min Flicker For 60 fps
N/A
60Hz For 60 fps
No
120Hz For 120 fps
N/A
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
N/A

Unlike the rest of LG's OLED lineup, the LG A1 OLED doesn't have a Black Frame Insertion (BFI) feature.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
No

The LG A1 OLED has an optional motion interpolation feature, which reduces the amount of stutter when watching low framerate content. Unfortunately, it doesn't perform very well, with significant artifacts and haloing in action scenes.

6.2
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
34.4 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
9.4 ms

Due to the slightly slower response time on the LG 65A1, there's a bit less stutter than the other OLED displays we've tested, like the LG C2 OLED or the Sony A90J. It's still noticeable when watching movies, especially in slow panning shots.

7.8
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
No
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
No
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
Yes

The LG A1 can only remove judder from 24p sources and the native apps. It's different from the other LG OLEDs we've tested and is likely due to the 60Hz refresh rate.I

0
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
HDMI Forum VRR
No
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC Compatible
No
4k VRR Maximum
N/A
4k VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1080p VRR Maximum
N/A
1080p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1440p VRR Maximum
N/A
1440p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
VRR + Local Dimming No Local Dimming

Unlike the LG C1 OLED, the LG A1 is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, and it doesn't support variable refresh rate technology, so it's not as versatile for gaming, and you'll see more flickering and tearing in some games.

Inputs
9.7
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
10.1 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
134.4 ms
1080p @ 120Hz
N/A
1080p @ 144Hz
N/A
1440p @ 60Hz
10.1 ms
1440p @ 120Hz
N/A
1440p @ 144Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz
10.0 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
10.0 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
10.1 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
134.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
147.7 ms
4k @ 120Hz
N/A
4k @ 144Hz
N/A
8k @ 60Hz
N/A

The LG A1 has outstanding low input lag, resulting in a very responsive gaming experience.

7.1
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
480p @ 59.94Hz (Widescreen)
Yes
720p @ 59.94Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 144Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes (forced resolution required)
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 144Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4
No
4k @ 144Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

The LG A1 supports many common formats, but only at 60Hz, as it can't refresh faster than that. Although it'll accept a 120Hz 1080p signal, it just skips every other frame. All supported formats can display chroma 4:4:4 properly, which is essential for clear text from a PC, but a 4k 60Hz signal can only display chroma 4:4:4 in SDR with 8-bit color due to the bandwidth limitations of the HDMI ports on this TV.

Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
No
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

The LG A1 OLED only supports a 4k @ 60Hz input from the next-generation consoles, as it lacks the HDMI 2.1 ports necessary for higher refresh rates. Although the TV exposes that it can accept a 120Hz signal at 1080p, it just skips every other frame, resulting in a 60Hz image.

Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
No
HDR
Yes
VRR
No
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
HDR10+
No
Dolby Vision
Yes
HLG
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
ATSC Tuner
1.0
USB 3.0
No
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
Inputs
Input Photos
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 3
USB 2
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 0
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0

There's no composite input, even with an adapter.

Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC/eARC Port
eARC
eARC: Dolby Atmos Over Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
eARC: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Yes
eARC: LPCM 7.1 Over Dolby MAT
Yes
eARC: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Yes
eARC: DTS:X Over DTS-HD MA
No
eARC: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
No
eARC: LPCM Channels (Bitstream)
7.1
ARC: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
ARC: DTS 5.1
No
Optical: Dolby Digital 5.1
Yes
Optical: DTS 5.1
No

The LG A1 supports eARC, meaning it can pass most high-quality audio formats to a connected receiver or soundbar. It doesn't support DTS or DTS:X, though, which is disappointing, as many Blu-rays use DTS for the main audio format. If you have a UHD Blu-ray player, it might be best to connect it directly to your receiver instead of using eARC.

Sound Quality
6.7
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
80.00 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
6.00 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
5.46 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
5.45 dB
Max
91.7 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
3.95 dB

The LG A1 has an okay frequency response. The low-frequency extension (LFE) is okay, but like most TVs, the bass lacks thump or rumble. Above the LFE, the sound profile is balanced, resulting in clear dialogue. It can get loud, but there's a bit of compression at higher volume levels.

6.4
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.143
Weighted THD @ Max
0.627
IMD @ 80
6.63%
IMD @ Max
23.35%

Unfortunately, although the overall distortion is acceptable, at max volume, there's significant intermodulation distortion. It varies depending on the content, though, and not everyone will even notice it.

Smart Features
8.5
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS webOS
Version 6.0
Ease of Use
Easy
Smoothness
Average
Time Taken to Select YouTube
2 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
6 s
Advanced Options
Many

The LG A1 runs the same webOS smart interface as the LG C1 OLED. Instead of the dual ribbons found on 2020 models, the Home hub is now full screen, with emphasis placed on rows of suggested content, connected devices, and apps. The interface is easy to use and very responsive, and we didn't notice any issues with it during testing.

0
Smart Features
Ad-Free
Ads
Yes
Opt-out
No
Suggested Content in Home
Yes
Opt-out of Suggested Content
No

Unfortunately, the interface is full of ads in the home menu and the app store. There's even an entire section of the home menu dedicated to home shopping.

8.0
Smart Features
Apps and Features
App Selection
Great
App Smoothness
Average
Cast Capable
Yes
USB Drive Playback
Yes
USB Drive HDR Playback
Yes
HDR in Netflix
Yes
HDR in YouTube
Yes

LG's app store has a huge selection of apps, meaning you won't have any issues finding an app for your streaming service of choice.

9.0
Smart Features
Remote
Size
Large
Voice Control
Many Features
CEC Menu Control
Yes
Other Smart Features
Yes
Remote App LG TV Plus

LG has finally updated the design of the Magic Remote, which had remained virtually unchanged for a few years. The new remote is slimmer but has the same great features as the previous model. The remote has built-in voice controls and can be used to change inputs, search for content, or search the web.

Smart Features
TV Controls
Smart Features
In The Box

  • User manual
  • Remote
  • Batteries
  • Cable tie

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 87 W
Power Consumption (Max) 121 W
Firmware 03.11.25