Apple is planning to refresh the MacBook Pro with M4 chips starting in late 2024, and this guide aggregates everything that we know about Apple’s M4 MacBook Pro plans.
M4 Update
Apple built the M3 chip on a new 3-nanometer process, and we are not expecting a node change for the M4. It too will be a 3-nanometer chip, but Apple supplier TSMC could introduce updates that make it more efficient and faster.
New artificial intelligence capabilities are rumored for Apple’s upcoming products, and so the M4 will focus on AI. Apple wants to improve performance for AI functionality, and rumors suggest that the M4 (and the A18 chips for iPhone) will have an upgraded Neural Engine with “significantly” more cores.
The M3 chips all have a 16-core Neural Engine, and Apple has not increased the Neural Engine cores for several years.
Entry-Level 14-Inch MacBook Pro
With the M3 chip launch last year, Apple did away with the 13-inch MacBook Pro. It’s been replaced with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which Apple now offers with three different chip options.
The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro has an M3 chip and a $1,599 starting price, and this is the model that will get the standard M4 chip. The current M3 chip has an 8-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU, and the M4 could be similar.
Higher-End 14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro Models
For customers who want a more “pro” machine, the higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are set to be refreshed with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, which are more powerful versions of the faster M4 chip.
The current M3 Pro has up to a 12-core CPU and up to an 18-core GPU, while the M3 Max has up to a 16-core CPU and up to a 40-core GPU. CPU and GPU improvements for the M4 Pro and M4 Max aren’t yet known.
Design Changes?
There are no rumors of a design change for the MacBook Pro at this time, and we’re not quite due for one. Apple last updated the MacBook Pro design in 2021 with the transition to Apple silicon. In recent history, Apple has redesigned the MacBook in 2012, 2016, and 2021, so following that pattern, we’ll see the next design tweak in 2025 or 2026.
This year’s M-series update will likely be limited to the MacBook Pro’s internals.
Launch Date
According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro could get an M4 chip in late 2024, while the timeline for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro refresh is estimated at late 2024 to early 2025.
We could see the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max variants come out all at once like the M3 chip lineup, or Apple could space them out across several months.
The M3 MacBook Pro models came out in October 2023, so a refresh around October 2024 would come at the one-year mark.
“It’s time to reintroduce HDR,” according to Sony’s chief distinguished engineer, Toshiyuki Ogura, who has been working with and developing HDR (high dynamic range) technology since its inception. Speaking at Sony’s home theater spring showcase in March, Ogura was referring in part to the company’s latest LED TV tech, which Sony hopes will help reshape the future of HDR and bring viewers closer to the intent of creators.
Through a whirlwind of demos across the sprawling Sony Pictures production lot, the event provided reviewers like me an unprecedented look behind the scenes, and behind the actual screens, of Sony’s new 2024 home theater creations. Highlights included Sony’s blazing new flagship mini LED TV—the Bravia A9—alongside three other new 2024 TVs that represent a subtly different approach over last year’s lineup.
We also got a peek at other new gear, from Sony’s updated soundbar fleet to its powerful new professional monitor, the HX3110, designed to set the standard for movie and TV mastering for years to come. Here are some first impressions of the latest from Sony Home Theater.
What’s in a Name?
Sony told us part of its goal this year was to streamline and simplify its 2024 home theater lineup. As part of that process, Sony’s best OLED and LED TVs will no longer be separated by their A-series and X-series naming conventions respectively. Instead, all of the new TVs—OLED and LED—will have the A-series moniker.
The new flagship A9 mini LED TV sits at the top of the new lineup, replacing last year’s X95L. Below that is the update of last year’s A80L OLED TV, now called the Bravia A8. Next is the Bravia A7, another new mini LED TV, and finally the cheapest of the new brood, the A3 LED TV. In a surprise move, Sony’s flagship A95L OLED TV (8/10, WIRED Recommends) won’t get an update, but will remain available as an A9 alternative.
I’m all for simpler names, but I’d argue the new system is actually more confusing for buyers, with no easy way to differentiate between OLED and LED. I even got the A7 mini LED and the A8 OLED TVs confused in one demo, naturally expecting the step-down LED TV to come directly after the A9 in the batting order. The A95L, meanwhile, seems adrift with no numeric connection.
While I can’t speak to Sony’s intent, the jumbling of the opposing panel technologies comes as the brand seems to be leaning away from its outsourced OLED TV panels and into the brightness wars with its housemade LED and mini LED panels. We’ll have to see how it all plays out—the new mini LED TVs look quite impressive so far—but I expect some head-scratching from shoppers this year.
The New Hotness
Sony’s latest mini LED TVs offer multiple improvements over last year, including increased brightness and more dimming zones for better backlight control. But before we saw the end result, Sony gave us a look behind the curtain to show that its new backlights are not only brighter, but also better at understanding content.
Samsung’s your best bet for ultra-large TVs. The company has a wide range of models available in sizes as large as 98-inches, including with its premium display technologies like Neo QLED. However, since they tend to be on the more expensive side, Samsung has now expanded the ultra-large lineup with a new 98-inch 4K model that’s a bit more attainable.
The 98inch Samsung Crystal 4K TV is the newest member of Samsung’s 2024 TV lineup. It provides an optimized big screen viewing experience at an attractive price point. Samsung’s ultra-large portfolio includes Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K, and QLED 4K models.
Samsung’s newest 98-inch 4K TV is now on sale
There’s a rising demand for larger screens and Samsung is catering to it by enhacing its TV lineup accordingly. James Fishler, SVP of Home Entertainment at Samsung Electronics America pointed out that “the number of 98″ TVs sold across the industry has grown nearly 15 times since last year.”
Samsung has equipped this new 98-inch TV with Supersize Picture Enhancer that improves the picture quality for this massive screen size. It increases sharpness and reduces visible noice across scenes, thereby eliminating pixel distortion.
The 4K upscaling and HDR support also ensures that viewers see all of their content in glorious UHD resolution with a wider spectrum of colors on the screen. An up to 120Hz refresh rate and Motion Xcelerator techology also makes the gaming experience on this TV smoother. The integrated Game Bar also makes it easy to change the screen ratio for gameplay.
The newest Crystal UHD 4K TV in 98-inches, bearing model number DU9000, is now on sale for $3,999 at Samsung.com and at select retailers.
Apple today announced that customers and independent repair shops will be able to utilize used genuine Apple parts in repairs starting later this year.
Apple told The Washington Post that the new policy will initially apply to parts for iPhone 15 models and newer, including screens, batteries, and cameras. Apple’s press release said the policy will also apply to used biometric sensors for Face ID and Touch ID. Apple’s existing parts “pairing” process will confirm whether or not a used part is genuine.
In the fall, Apple says calibration for both new and used genuine Apple parts will happen on device after the part is installed. If an iPhone has been repaired, a “Parts and Service History” section appears in the Settings app under General → About, and Apple says it will be expanding this section to show whether a genuine part is new or used.
Apple also announced that customers and service providers will no longer need to provide a device’s serial number when ordering parts from its self-service repair store for repairs not involving replacement of the logic board.
To deter stolen iPhones from being disassembled for parts, Apple said it will be extending its Activation Lock security feature to iPhone parts:
Apple will also extend its popular Activation Lock feature to iPhone parts in order to deter stolen iPhones from being disassembled for parts. Requested by customers and law enforcement officials, the feature was designed to limit iPhone theft by blocking a lost or stolen iPhone from being reactivated. If a device under repair detects that a supported part was obtained from another device with Activation Lock or Lost Mode enabled, calibration capabilities for that part will be restricted.
Apple’s hardware engineering chief John Ternus said the new policy will be more environmentally friendly by extending the lifespan of parts:
For the last two years, teams across Apple have been innovating on product design and manufacturing to support repairs with used Apple parts that won’t compromise users’ safety, security, or privacy. With this latest expansion to our repair program, we’re excited to be adding even more choice and convenience for our customers, while helping to extend the life of our products and their parts.
Apple said the policy will apply to future iPhone models.
It has been nearly a year and a half since the current Apple TV was released, so the device is becoming due for a hardware upgrade. Below, we recap rumors about the next Apple TV, including potential features and launch timing. The current model is the third-generation Apple TV 4K, announced in October 2022. Key new features compared to the previous model from 2021 include a faster A15…
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 lineup will feature bigger battery capacities compared to previous-generation models with the exception of the iPhone 16 Plus, which will have a smaller battery than its predecessor. That’s according to the Chinese Weibo-based leaker OvO Baby Sauce OvO, a relatively new source of supply chain leaks with an as-yet unproven track record for accuracy. The iPhone 16 …
While rumors have been focused on new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, some Apple customers are wondering when the next iPad mini will be released. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said new iPad mini and entry-level iPad models will be released in late 2024 at the earliest. “The company is also working on new versions of the low-end iPad and iPad mini, but those…
Following a few notable discounts on MacBooks yesterday, Best Buy today introduced a sale on the 10th generation iPad, including numerous all-time low prices on the tablet. Prices start at $349.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, and include $100 markdowns on both Wi-Fi and cellular devices. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may…
Microsoft will advertise that its upcoming Windows laptops with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor are faster than the MacBook Air with Apple’s latest M3 chip, according to internal documents obtained by The Verge. “Microsoft is so confident in these new Qualcomm chips that it’s planning a number of demos that will show how these processors will be faster than an M3 MacBook Air for CPU…
Apple is “unlikely” to hold an event to announce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, according to sources cited by Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman already said Apple was not planning to hold an event for the new iPads, but he made this claim back in early March, before it was reported that the devices were postponed due to manufacturing delays. With the…
Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus may come in seven colors that either build upon the existing five colors in the standard iPhone 15 lineup or recast them in a new finish, based on a new rumor out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker Fixed focus digital, Apple’s upcoming larger 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus model will come in the following colors, compared to the colors currently available for the…
Earlier this year, Samsung unveiled its 2024 lineup of TVs. Those new TVs were recently launched in Europe, South Korea, and the US. Today, Samsung started teasing the launch of its new Neo QLED and OLED TVs in India.
2024 lineup of Samsung’s Neo QLED and OLED TVs will launch in India soon, available for pre-booking
Samsung has revealed that its new Neo QLED 4K, Neo QLED 8K, and OLED TVs will be launched in India. These TVs can be pre-reserved today, and they will be available for pre-order starting April 17. There will be a special Samsung Live event, and those who buy upcoming Samsung TVs during that event will get additional benefits.
Samsung will likely launch QN85D and QN90D models in the Neo QLED 4K lineup. It will also likely launch two Neo QLED 8K TVs (QN800D and QN900D) and two OLED TVs (S90D and S95D) in various sizes.
Consumers interested in buying any of these upcoming TVs can pre-reserve them starting today by paying INR 5,000 and getting the ‘Early Order VIP Pass.’ The Early Order VIP Pass is completely refundable if a consumer decides not to purchase. Once the TVs are available for pre-order, those who purchased the Eary Order VIP Pass will get a couple worth INR 10,000 when pre-ordering a Neo QLED 4K or OLED TV. Those pre-ordering a Neo QLED 8K will get a coupon worth INR 15,000.
There could be additional cashback benefits using select credit and debit cards. If a purchase is not made during the redemption period (17 April – 7 May 2024), the Early Order VIP Pass will be canceled and the amount (INR 5,000) will be refunded to the consumer’s payment source.
At CES 2024 earlier this year, Samsung unveiled its new home appliance lineup. Today, the company has announced the global launch of its new home appliance lineup, including 14 new products, for this year. The new appliances in the lineup were showcased at separate events titled ‘Welcome to BESPOKE AI’ in Paris and New York City.
Samsung showcases BESPOKE AI home appliances lineup and launches it globally
Samsung has added SmartThings connectivity to most of its new home appliances launched this year. Samsung DX CEI JK Han said that the new appliances can do a lot more than just the basic tasks. The refrigerator, induction range, and laundry machines have large touchscreen displays for improved connectivity and smart home integration. Samsung also showcased the new 3D Map View functionality in the SmartThings app. It offers enhanced usability and a bird’s eye view of all smart home devices in the home.
The 4-Door Flex AI Family Hub+ Refrigerator has a giant 32-inch touchscreen and an internal camera. You can view what’s inside the refrigerator without opening its doors. The refrigerator keeps track of groceries inside, tracks their expiry date, offers recipe suggestions via Samsung Food, and reminds you to refill your groceries. It can even send recipe instructions to Samsung’s new induction range or microwave oven. It can also be used to stream videos, listen to music, and control smart home devices.
The Bespoke Infinite Induction Line has a 7-inch touchscreen that can display recipes, notifications from your home, and videos. The Bespoke Slide-in Range with AI Home has a built-in microwave with an internal camera that shows your cooking progress. You can watch the cooking progress video on your Samsung TV while watching movies.
The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo has a dryer and washer in the same device. It also features a 7-inch touchscreen that lets you easily select washing programs, adjust various factors according to the washing load, and send instructions to your phone, refrigerator, or TV when the washing and drying tasks are finished. You can even watch the live video feed from the security camera or a connected smart doorbell camera.
The Bespoke Jet Bot Combo is a robot vacuum cleaner with a built-in mop. It uses the camera, sensors, and AI to intelligently recognize nearby objects, map the whole home in 3D, and adjust cleaning metrics and performance as per the flooring and dirt. It can automatically empty dirty water and get refilled with clean water from its charging station (Clean Station Steam+). It sprays high-temperature steam on the mop to dry it and clean 99.99% of harmful bacteria.
Samsung’s Mobile Smart Connect pushes an alert to the phone when it is close to a registered home appliance. The phone gets a pop-up notification with frequently used quick controls, reducing the need for a remote controller. The Calm Onboarding feature reduces the hassle of registering a product and connecting to it. Products purchased via a Samsung account are automatically registered and added to the SmartThings app.
Samsung DX CEO JK Han said, “Since the first introduction of BESPOKE in 2019, Samsung Electronics has presented to the market on how appliances can be customized to best fit each user’s home and lifestyle. Five years later, we now share our vision for AI in appliances with the products that expand the Bespoke legacy through enhanced connectivity and AI capabilities that will take the consumer experience to the next level.”
I returned the next day and the most blatant issues had abated, but the TV’s lack of contrast and black levels when compared to last year’s excellent QN90C (8/10, WIRED Recommends) made me confident I wasn’t getting the full picture (literally). A few colleagues also said the TV looked great when they viewed it earlier this month. As such, I’m reserving judgment until the full review.
What I can say is the TV showed the same excellent off-axis viewing that gave its predecessor a leg up over many backlit LED and QLED TVs, and I expect it to once again be a top contender in its class when the final version arrives. Even so, Samsung has its work cut out this year, as competitors are promising big things, including massive upgrades to lower-priced models like Hisense’s U8N and TCL’s QM8 that double their peak brightness (or more) over last year. That should make for an exciting QLED showdown in 2024.
Sonic Framework
Samsung’s Frame TVs have always been more about style than performance, though they’ve offered enough 4K brilliance to become a popular mainstay. That’s what makes the new Music Frame speakers such an interesting addition to the party. They’re designed to be both standalone wireless speakers and extensions of Samsung TVs and soundbars over Q-Symphony. The question we’ve had since CES 2024 is, do they sound any good?
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
The answer in my brief time with a pair of them is, somewhat surprisingly, yes. The solid bass provided by dual woofers along the back panel lends some body and punch to the sound, while the midrange and treble drivers are suitably clear and engaging, if not pristine. That’s better than you’d expect from picture frames that spill out sound from small creases along their sides.
The Music Frames can sit on stands or be wall mounted, and we only got to hear them in the former position where their sound was freer to expand in the lower frequencies. Still, I walked away impressed by their clear and accessible sound and I’m looking forward to hearing more.
Popular accessory brand Mophie today announced the launch of new iPhone charging products that use the new Qi2 wireless charging standard. Qi2 is similar to MagSafe in that it is able to charge compatible iPhone models at up to 15W rather than being limited to 7.5W.
The $70 Snap+ Wireless Charging Vent Mount is designed for use in the car. It is able to attach to a vehicle’s vents, and it comes with a 30W USB-C car adapter and USB-C cable. A MagSafe-compatible iPhone is able to attach to the charger magnetically, and it will charge at 15W.
Mophie’s Snap+ Wireless Charging Vent Mount is available today, and two other products are coming in April. The $130 Snap+ 3-in-1 Wireless Charge Stand has an upright 15W Qi2 charging pad that works in landscape or portrait mode, plus it can be tilted to an ideal viewing angle.
There’s also an Apple Watch charging puck that can fast charge compatible Apple Watch models at 7.5W, and a 5W charging platform at the bottom that is designed to work with AirPods. All three devices can charge at one time.
Mophie’s $70 Snap+ Powerstation Mini with Stand is a charging stand that comes with a 5,000mAh internal battery for charging the iPhone while on the go. Like Mophie’s other Qi2 products, it is able to charge an iPhone at up to 15W. The Powerstation Mini and 3-in-1 Charge Stand will launch on April 30.
Qi2 products from Mophie and other manufacturers are compatible with the iPhone 13 models, iPhone 14 models, and iPhone 15 models. Older iPhones do not support Qi2 charging speeds.
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce…
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple’s password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they’ll respond favorably to social engineering. An…
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as “Instant Digital.” Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will…
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There’s also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who…
iOS 18 will allow iPhone users to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, according to sources familiar with development of the software update. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, our sources said that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18….
Apple today added a “Why Upgrade” section to its website, which is aimed at encouraging customers with older iPhones to upgrade to a newer model. The website allows customers to compare the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max. Each comparison shows what new features someone with an older…
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new…
As the haul of sparkling new 2024 TVs prepares to arrive this spring, some TV brands have invited A/V fanatics like me to get a glimpse of their latest and greatest models before they hit the streets. LG’s event came in the form of a trip to the company’s impressive new US headquarters in NJ for its Annual TV Reviewer Workshop.
In a crowded room loaded with reviewers and YouTubers, LG put its best and brightest new 4K TVs on display, including this year’s G4 and C4 OLEDs, as well as its latest mini LED TV, the QNED90. We only had a few hours with the TVs in a very controlled environment, so first impressions are limited, but it’s clear that LG isn’t rocking the boat much for its prized models, offering much the same performance as last year with a few enhancements.
The biggest change for 2024 may be the latest webOS smart platform, which gets a total facelift this year with some much-appreciated usability features. From a Chatbot that can help you adjust your picture to an available always-on info screen, webOS looks better than ever, which LG hopes will help the brand’s best TVs stand out.
Incremental Updates
Even when shown side-by-side, it’s hard to see a big difference in LG’s latest G-Series and C-Series TVs over last year’s. That is to say, the new TVs looked stunning, with excellent colors, contrast, and detail, but not notably better. LG has no big updates to its MLA (Micro Lens Array) technology, which means the G4 will see only a minor brightness boost this year. LG did add the tech to its 83-inch G-Series models for the first time, but the step-down C-Series once again misses out, so it too will offer only minor upgrades over 2023.
The G4 has the new A11 processor designed to further enhance picture and audio, while the C4 steps up to the A9 gen 7. The most interesting upgrade was the G4’s new Professional Mode which lets picture purists control TV brightness with more granularity to get a bigger burst from HDR content without losing detail. As LG describes it, complaints that its flagship OLED doesn’t blaze quite as brightly as top competitors derive from purposely limiting its peak brightness to preserve detail and prevent “clipping” in bright scenes like a lightning bolt or an explosion.
With Professional Mode, you can fine-tune the brightness at a micro level for content mastered at 1,000 nits, as well as 4,000 and 10,000 nits, well above what current OLED TVs can reproduce. We got to see the feature in action with scenes from titles like Mad Max Fury Road and it was cool to see how perfectly you can adjust the screen, letting you push the brightness limit without blasting away finer details.
I recently attended an LG reviewer workshop and saw its full 2024 TV lineup, which was originally announced in January 2024 ahead of CES 2024. LG’s latest range continues its usual trend, starting from a budget LED screen and leading up to a wireless OLED. At the workshop, we were treated to a preview of the range and given a breakdown of what we can expect from each model.
LG is responsible for making some of the best TVs every year and 2023 was no exception, with the likes of the LG B3, LG C3 and LG G3 all scoring highly in our reviews and featuring in our best OLED TVs, best gaming TVs and other buying guides. Needless to say, its 2024 range has a lot to live up to.
We’d already seen the LG C4 and LG G4 at CES this year and were suitably impressed by both. Although we didn’t get to do full tests on the new sets ahead of release (although we’re hoping to soon) it was great to see them in person. Below, I’ve listed the 3 TVs from LG’s 2024 TV lineup that I’m most looking forward to.
1. LG B4
The LG B4 (pictured) seems to have higher brightness levels than the LG B3 on a first impression. (Image credit: Future)
When we received information about the LG B4, several specs and features immediately stood out. It will come equipped with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz, and will also be available in a 48-inch screen size- perfect for smaller environments such as bedrooms. It also comes equipped with LG’s latest Alpha 8 AI processor, an upgrade from last year’s Alpha 7 processor. LG claims the Alpha 8 AI matches the performance of the one found in last year’s C3 model, meaning the LG B4 could hit higher peak brightness levels around 800 nits (peak brightness on the B3 was 649 nits).
Seeing the B4 in person, I was pleased to see the rich black levels and contrast I expected. This was showcased through a picture contrast demo that not only highlighted the B4’s impressive shadow detail, but also the fine textures it was capable of.
Another demo was of a soccer (football) game and this showed off the B4’s motion processing and full-screen brightness as it tried to maintain the consistent green of the pitch on screen. There was a further demo of a forest drive and this showed off a perceived increase in brightness, with the greens of the trees and grass taking on a more luscious, dynamic quality, and also the B4’s excellent texture rendition again.
It would have been nice to see more, but the LG B4 remains my most anticipated OLED TV of 2024 and I can’t wait to get in some proper testing time with it.
2. LG G4
LG G4 (pictured) seems to have deeper contrast levels and even higher brightness than the G3. (Image credit: Future)
At the opposite end of the scale to the LG B4, the LG G4 is one of LG’s flagship OLEDs for 2024. It comes equipped with the same micro-lens-array (MLA) tech as its predecessor, the G3, but LG says it’s capable of about 1,600+ nits peak brightness , which is a 20% increase over the G3 and a 150% increase over last year’s B series.
The LG G4 will also feature LG’s latest processor, the Alpha 11 AI. Aside from getting a stack of AI Picture Pro settings and upgrades, the G4 will also be able to transmit wireless, lossless Dolby Atmos audio to compatible LG soundbars, starting the next big home theater race with Samsung, which features similar tech in its TVs. The G4, along with the LG C4 and flagship M4, will also support 144Hz refresh rate for PC gaming for the first time on an LG OLED .
Initially, I was more excited by the prospect of seeing the C4 in action, as at CES 2024 we confirmed the new brightness boost to be very real. However, seeing the C4 and G4 next to one another, it was clear what the upgraded processor in the G4 was doing and after our impressions at CES, the brighter picture of the G4 was just the beginning. Viewing the same footage on both TVs, HDR highlights were significantly brighter and contrast levels seemed much deeper on the G4. This was to be expected, but actually seeing it first-hand was impressive.
3. LG QNED90
LG’s mini-LED, the LG QNED90 (pictured) has a bright, bold color profile that caught our eye. (Image credit: Future)
LG’s QNED TV range is a mix of LED and mini-LED models, with both local and ‘precision’ dimming backlights. Both the QNED80 and QNED85 are LED TVs with local dimming backlights and a QLED panel to increase brightness. The most eye-catching set however was LG’s 4K mini-LED model, the QNED90.
LG faces stiff competition in the mini-LED market from not only Samsung and Sony, but Hisense and TCL, both of which sell budget mini-LED TVs that are catching up with premium rivals in terms of performance and features. Nonetheless, I was intrigued to see how LG’s mini-LED TVs handled several of the pitfalls the technology can suffer from, such as backlight blooming.
Seeing a couple of demos in person, the LG QNED90 had extremely vibrant and bold colors, with eye-popping brightness, particularly in a green-centric woodland demo. In a scene with extreme levels of contrast, where a well-lit ferris wheel is set against a black sky, the picture was rich and detailed, even by mini-LED standards. However, I did notice some backlight blooming in one sequence – a brighter central object that had a halo effect around it.
Nevertheless, the QNED90 was still impressive. Its bold and bright picture was attention-grabbing to say the least, suggesting it could be one of the brightest mini-LEDs we’ve seen. It’s got a very crowded field to navigate, but I’m intrigued to see how it will compare to its fierce rivals.
