The LG G5 OLED is the brightest, most gaming-focused flagship of 2025, powered by a Tandem WOLED panel, 4K 165Hz, and four HDMI 2.1 ports. It delivers punchy HDR, excellent reflection handling, and versatile performance for bright rooms. The Sony A95L OLED remains the color king with QD-OLED vibrancy, cinematic tone mapping, and flawless processing — perfect for dark-room movie lovers. LG wins for brightness and gaming. Sony wins for color purity and film accuracy. For most buyers, the G5 is the better all-rounder.
Introduction — OLED Royalty Faces Off Again
In 2023, the Sony A95L OLED earned the crown as the best TV ever reviewed — a masterpiece of color, contrast, and processing. It wasn’t just a TV. It was a cinematic experience.
Fast forward to 2025, and LG strikes back with the G5 OLED — its brightest, most advanced flagship yet. Built on a revolutionary Tandem WOLED panel, the G5 isn’t here to play second fiddle. It’s here to challenge the throne.
Both TVs deliver perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and wide viewing angles — the hallmarks of OLED. But their philosophies diverge.
- LG G5: A brightness brute and gamer’s dream, built for pop, versatility, and future-proof performance.
- Sony A95L: A color connoisseur and processing powerhouse, crafted for cinematic realism and film fidelity.
We’ve tested both side by side — in bright living rooms, dark home theaters, and high-frame-rate gaming rigs — to answer one question: Which is the best premium OLED TV for the US market in 2025?
Panel Technology & Design — Tandem WOLED vs QD-OLED
LG G5 OLED — Brighter Than Ever
The G5 introduces LG Display’s Tandem WOLED panel — a dual-stack emitter design that layers two blue OLED layers for higher luminance and better efficiency.
Available in:
- 55″, 65″, 77″, 83″ → Full Tandem WOLED benefits
- 97″ → Standard WOLED (no brightness gain)
- 48″ (UK-only) → Standard WOLED
The result? Significantly higher peak brightness, improved color luminance, and better energy efficiency than any prior LG OLED.
The design is sleek — ultra-thin bezels, glossy anti-reflective screen, and a premium metallic stand. It’s built to dominate bright rooms.
Sony A95L OLED — The Quantum Dot Edge
The A95L uses Samsung Display’s QD-OLED panel — a tri-layer stack with pure RGB quantum dots and no white subpixel.
Available in:
- 55″, 65″, 77″
This technology delivers richer color volume, higher color brightness, and purer hues — especially in saturated reds and greens.
Sony’s design is minimalist — acoustic surface audio (screen vibrates for sound), slim profile, and a two-way stand (soundbar-friendly).
Takeaway: LG G5 wins in peak brightness and size variety. Sony A95L wins in color purity and panel efficiency.
HDR & Brightness — Brute Force vs Subtle Mastery
HDR is where the G5 flexes.
The LG G5 is the brightest OLED ever made. It hits higher peak brightness in:
- Small highlights (sparks, stars, explosions)
- Full-screen bright scenes (snow, deserts)
- Game Mode (no dimming)
Even in Filmmaker Mode, the G5 rides slightly brighter through midtones — giving HDR content a punchier, more vivid look.
Enable Dynamic Tone Mapping (DTM) or Vivid preset, and the G5 can appear nearly twice as bright in specular highlights. It’s jaw-dropping.
The Sony A95L is no slouch — it’s one of the brightest QD-OLEDs — but it prioritizes accuracy over intensity. Its tone mapping is filmmaker-intended, with natural midtones and smooth roll-off.
Sony’s “Brightness Preferred” mode helps, but it still can’t match the G5’s raw luminance.
PQ EOTF Tracking: Both are excellent. Sony is slightly more neutral. LG is slightly brighter — but still within mastering tolerances.
Verdict:
- Want maximum HDR “wow” factor? → LG G5
- Want cinematic realism? → Sony A95L
Contrast, Uniformity & Reflections — OLEDs Still Rule the Dark
This is an easy win for both.
- Infinite contrast → Perfect blacks, no blooming
- Excellent uniformity → No dirty screen effect
- Superb shadow detail → Accurate near-black gradients
No haloing. No light bleed. Just pure OLED magic.
In bright rooms:
- LG G5: Superior anti-reflective coating + higher SDR brightness = vivid daytime viewing
- Sony A95L: Blacks slightly lift under bright light; reflections are well-controlled but less punchy
For sports, news, or sunny living rooms → LG G5 is the safer bet.
Color Performance — QD-OLED’s Secret Weapon
This is Sony’s domain.
The A95L’s QD-OLED panel delivers:
- Exceptional color volume
- Saturated tones that hold at high brightness
- Purer reds, greens, and cyans
The LG G5’s Tandem WOLED closes the gap dramatically — colors are vibrant, accurate, and bright — but QD-OLED still wins in color luminance and hue purity.
Both are factory calibrated to <1 dE accuracy in SDR and HDR. Both are easy to calibrate for ISF/THX standards.
For colorists, animators, or HDR enthusiasts → Sony A95L edges ahead.
Image Processing — Sony Still the Mastermind
Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR remains untouched.
It excels in:
- Upscaling (480p → 4K looks stunning)
- Motion handling (smooth panning, no stutter)
- Gradient cleanup (no banding in skies)
- Compression artifact reduction
The LG Alpha 11 is excellent — sharp, clean, and great with low-bitrate streaming (Netflix, YouTube). Firmware updates fixed HDR10 banding in most modes.
But there’s a catch: The G5 shows slight diagonal dithering and grain-like noise in near-black scenes — visible up close (3–4 ft). At couch distance (8–10 ft), it’s barely noticeable.
The A95L has cleaner near-blacks — ideal for close viewing or critical dark-scene analysis.
Verdict: Processing crown → Sony A95L Low-bitrate cleanup → LG G5
Gaming Performance — LG’s Unstoppable Advantage
Gamers, listen up.
LG G5 OLED — Gamer’s Dream TV
- 4x HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps)
- 4K @ 165Hz (PC-ready)
- VRR, ALLM, G-Sync, FreeSync Premium
- Ultra-low input lag (~4ms)
- Game Optimizer dashboard
Perfect for PS5, Xbox, PC, and Switch — no port juggling.
Sony A95L OLED — Great, but Limited
- 2x HDMI 2.1
- 4K @ 120Hz max
- Slightly higher input lag (~12ms)
- PS5-exclusive features (Auto HDR Tone Mapping)
Great for console gamers, but not future-proof.
Note for close-distance gamers: The G5’s dithering is more visible in dark loading screens at <5 ft. The A95L looks smoother.
Verdict:
- Multi-device or PC gaming → LG G5
- PS5 + movies → Sony A95L
Connectivity & Audio Support
| Feature | LG G5 | Sony A95L |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI 2.1 Ports | 4 (1 eARC) | 2 (1 eARC) |
| Max Refresh | 4K 165Hz | 4K 120Hz |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (eARC) | Yes (eARC) |
| DTS Passthrough | No | Yes |
| Smart OS | webOS 25 | Google TV |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6 / BT 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6 / BT 5.3 |
LG = More ports, more flexibility Sony = DTS support for Blu-ray fans
Price & Availability (US Market)
| Size | LG G5 OLED | Sony A95L OLED |
|---|---|---|
| 55″ | $2,299 | $2,499 |
| 65″ | $2,799 | $3,299 |
| 77″ | $3,699 | $4,199 |
| 83″ | $4,999 | — |
LG undercuts Sony by ~$200–500 per size Available at Best Buy, Amazon, LG.com, Sony.com
Pros & Cons
LG G5 OLED
Pros
- Industry-leading HDR brightness
- 4K 165Hz + 4x HDMI 2.1
- Excellent reflection handling
- Versatile for day/night use
Cons
- Slight dithering in near-blacks (close viewing)
- No DTS passthrough
Sony A95L OLED
Pros
- Best-in-class color & tone mapping
- Cleaner dark scenes
- DTS passthrough
- Cinematic perfection
Cons
- Only 2x HDMI 2.1
- Lower peak brightness
Verdict — Two OLED Legends, One Clear Winner
These are two of the best TVs ever made — but they serve different masters.
- Choose the LG G5 OLED if: You want maximum brightness, gaming supremacy, and all-day versatility. It’s the most future-proof, most flexible, and best value flagship OLED in 2025.
- Choose the Sony A95L OLED if: You’re a film purist, color enthusiast, or home theater snob. Its processing, tone mapping, and QD-OLED color deliver unmatched cinematic realism.
For 90% of buyers — bright living rooms, mixed content, multi-device gaming — the LG G5 is the smarter buy.
Final Score:
- LG G5 OLED: 9.6/10
- Sony A95L OLED: 9.4/10
- “The G5 isn’t just brighter. It’s better — for most people.”
Source: LG G5 OLED vs Sony A95L OLED: Brightness Brute or Color Connoisseur?
