With next-generation gaming consoles from PlayStation and Xbox nearing their respective release dates, many are rushing out to find the perfect HDTV that can boost their gaming experience to the next level. 

And if you wound up selecting LG’s forty-eight-inch CX Series OLED—which is currently retailing for $1,500 at Best Buy—few would argue with that choice.

This particular model from the Korean tech giant is jam-packed with all of the next-generation perks and processing speeds you need to create the best picture and viewing experience on the planet.  

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll get with the CX Series: sleek and slim design, fantastic picture quality, accurate colors, deepest blacks, and inimitable uniformity and contrast ratios. And like the B9 and C9 Series, the CX also proves that its wide-angle viewing is second to none.

Powered by the α9 Gen 3 AI Processor 4K, the CX also features the much-coveted HDMI 2.1 features—including eARC—and comes with full-fledged support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple AirPlay 2. The ultra-handy remote control also lets you speak to those voice assistants. 

The set also comes with Cinema HDR, which supports a wide range of formats for scene-by-scene picture adjustment—including the must-haves of Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. 

You can rest assured that the CX supports the Nvidia G-Sync standard and AMD FreeSync, which help to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering. The end result is noticeably smoother gameplay—no matter how graphics-intensive the first-person shooter or sports games are. 

The one aspect that has the potential to disappoint some LG TV owners is the webOS operating system, as it lacks the innovative extras and app-based setup and coverage of Roku TV, Samsung’s Tizen, or Android TV. If you desire a bigger selection of apps, then your best bet is to go out and get an external streamer. 

Because of the CX’s reliance on organic light-emitting diode technology, there is no backlighting to be found, so the overall minimalist-driven design is vanishingly thin. There is, though, a noticeable slight bulge at the bottom of the panel, but this houses the necessary inputs, power supply, speakers, and other ancillary components. 

Finally, one caveat is that be aware that like all OLED TVs, the CX is susceptible to suffer from image retention or burn-in—although this pesky issue has become less common with further advances in OLED technology.  

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn. 

Image: Reuters