What Changed After the Initial Review

Three weeks after we first published our hands-on assessment of the LG OLED evo G4, we went back to the same unit to see what actually shifted with extended use. The initial review focused on out-of-the-box calibration and first impressions in a controlled lighting setup. This follow-up looks at how the panel behaves after daily viewing, firmware updates, and a few deliberate adjustments we made based on reader feedback.

The most noticeable difference came from the brightness limiter. In the first review, we noted that full-field white scenes triggered an aggressive dimming after about ninety seconds. After the 03.10.25 firmware update, that behavior changed noticeably. The limiter still engages, but the drop is less severe, and recovery happens faster when the scene shifts. We measured a peak brightness of 1,420 nits in a 10% window before the update; after, the same window held 1,380 nits for nearly four minutes before any reduction kicked in.

Color accuracy also shifted after we switched from the default Vivid preset to Filmmaker Mode with warm color temperature. The initial review used the out-of-box settings, which lean toward oversaturated reds and a cool blue tint. After calibration with a SpectraCal C6 probe, we saw an average Delta-E of 1.8 across the DCI-P3 gamut, down from 3.4 in the default mode. Skin tones in particular look more natural, and the slight green push we flagged in the first review is gone.

Viewing angles held up better than expected in real-world conditions. We mounted the panel on a swivel bracket in a room with a large window on the left side. At 45 degrees off-axis, contrast dropped by roughly 18%, which is consistent with what we measured initially. The surprise came with ambient light handling. The anti-reflective coating handles direct sunlight better than the previous generation, though a bright lamp directly behind the seating position still causes noticeable glare on dark scenes.

One thing we did not expect: the panel's uniformity improved after about 120 hours of use. The faint vertical banding visible on 5% gray slides in the first week has mostly disappeared. We ran the same test pattern at the 200-hour mark and could not reproduce the banding at any brightness level. This matches what we have seen with other WOLED panels, but it is worth noting for anyone concerned about uniformity issues right out of the box.

Energy consumption stayed close to the manufacturer's claims. Over a week of mixed use, the panel averaged 98 watts with the eco mode enabled, which is about 12% lower than the previous model we tested. In standard mode, that number climbs to 141 watts, still below the 155-watt average we recorded on the older C3. For a 65-inch panel, those numbers are respectable, especially given the higher sustained brightness.

We also spent time with the new webOS 24 interface, which arrived with the firmware update. The home screen is cleaner, and the app launch times improved by roughly half a second across the board. The always-on ambient mode now supports more granular brightness scheduling, which is useful if you use the panel as a digital art frame during the day and a TV at night. The motion sensor still triggers a bit too eagerly, but you can adjust the sensitivity in the settings menu.

If you are deciding between this panel and the previous generation, the firmware improvements narrow the gap in brightness handling, but the hardware differences remain. The G4's heat sink allows for higher sustained brightness in HDR content, and that advantage shows in scenes with large bright areas, like sports broadcasts or nature documentaries. The C4 is still a solid choice if you are on a tighter budget, but the G4 justifies its premium with better peak performance and a slimmer profile that sits closer to the wall.

For anyone who already owns this panel, the firmware update is worth installing. The brightness limiter changes alone improve the HDR experience, and the color calibration options give you more control over the final image. If you are still on the fence, wait for a sale and consider the 55-inch model if your room is on the smaller side. The 65-inch version is the sweet spot for most living rooms, but the 77-inch model offers a noticeably more immersive experience if you have the wall space and the budget.