As always, LG is poised to have one of the most stunning booths at CES 2024, filled with plenty of eye-catching displays to greet you as you walk into the Las Vegas Convention Center. Beyond the spectacle, however, there’s lots of cool tech on display as you weave through the space.
Even before setting foot on the show floor, we had the opportunity to learn about everything in advance through a virtual media pre-briefing session from home then at an advanced VIP media preview prior to the show’s official opening. So, what’s coming from LG in 2024? Here are the highlights in each major category.
AI-Powered Innovations
LG kicked off its press conference by discussing its plans for a focus on AI-powered innovations, and to transform into a “Smart Life Solution Company.” When it comes to AI, LG wants to determine how the technology, which it cutely refers to as “Affectionate Intelligence,” can provide tangible, real-world benefits.
The idea, said LG CEO William Cho, is to use the data acquired from millions of connected LG products to learn and analyze the user’s physical and emotional life patterns and behaviors. Everything will be powered by the LG AI Brain, a processing engine driven by LG’s large language model (LLM), which takes into account contextual learning and advanced reasoning. The result will be more intelligent services and experiences, says LG, while maintaining a level of security surrounding your personal data through LG Shield.
LG’s AI strategy will involve, of course, its smart ThinQ platform as well as new services like ChatThinQ, a generative AI chatbot that enables natural conversations with users. There’s also 3D Home View, a 3D visualization of the home that affords intuitive, integrated control. LG also plans to launch a new smart home hub.
webOS and Enhanced Features for TVs
Naturally, one of LG’s core areas of business is in televisions. The brand makes some of the most stunning OLED TVs on the market and sells its OLED panels to other brands as well. There will be several new series of TVs this year, including both OLED as well as QNED. But the big story is in the improvements to LG’s webOS platform, all part of LG’s earlier noted plans to transform into a “media and entertainment platform company.”
One of the newest additions to the smart TV interface is content recommendations. There will be new content partners added this year as well, but it’s really the improvements in the experience that are the star of the show.
Quick Cards were introduced in 2023 as a simple and efficient way to open your most frequently used apps and functions, and these will be enhanced in 2024 with an updated look and feel. They’re also smaller so you can see both the cards and useful content recommendations on the screen at once. Now dynamic, you can hover over a card to see the most recently used apps within that folder. There’s also a new card for accessibility. The idea, said LG’s David Park during a pre-media virtual briefing, is to mimic the cell phone experience on the big screen. You’ll also be able to add a PIN code password, ideal for parents who don’t want their kids accessing certain apps or content.
Voice ID recognition is added without the need to change your personal profile. Use the Magic Remote to ask for content recommendations, for example, and your voice will be recognized. Presumably, you’ll need to go through steps to store each family member’s voice first. LG is also integrating a chatbot into its TVs so you can get tips and assistance as needed.
Additional features include Multiview with up to four screens at a time, Chromecast built in, more free LG Channels, an upgraded program guide that includes over-the-air channels for those who have an antenna, and the LG smart cam for things like teleconferencing and fitness.
One of the common customer gripes about webOS is that older TVs can’t update to the latest version. LG is offering a five-year upgrade program for webOS called Re:New. This is only starting in 2024 with models dating back to the 2022 QNEDs and OLEDs, but it’s a great way to future-proof the investment of your new TV.
What’s New in TVs?
What about the hardware? The higher end TVs will feature the new Alpha 11 processor that the company says is smooth, quick, and responsive along with AI Picture Pro that adds deep learning technology to the equation. Together, they help provide better upscaling, dynamic HDR, object enhancing, and fine tuning of colour expressions and tones. There’s also improved peak brightness: with some models, Peak Highlighter is 150% brighter in peak highlights.
The visual experience is complemented by AI Sound Pro, which offers adaptive sound control, AI acoustic tuning, virtual 11.1.2-channel sound, dynamic sound booster, and voice remastering to help enhance clarity of dialogue. Gamers will appreciate the 144Hz refresh rate.
You’ll still enjoy the popular One Wall Design as well as the Zero Connect seamless set-up. New this year, the G4 model will come with a stand versus a wall mount for those who prefer that set-up instead.
There’s a new 86-inch and 98-inch size for the QNED TV line this year, the latter of which is the largest LG will have in the line. Overall, the QNED TVs will sport AI technology for better upscaling and overall better picture quality, precise lighting control with support for local dimming, a super-slim design with reduced depth (for the larger sizes), game dashboard and optimizer, and support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos content.
On the OLED TV side, the LG Signature OLED M4 now comes in a new 65″ screen size. The wireless Zero Connect Box eliminates all connected cables. The OLED M4 delivers wireless video and audio transmission at up to 4K 144Hz, among many other upgrades.
The showstopper for LG in this space, however, is the new transparent Signature OLED T TV, which combines a transparent 4K OLED screen with LG’s wireless video and audio transmission technology. It, too, will be powered by the new Alpha 11 AI processor and features a stunning 77-inch screen size. It’s effectively invisible once it’s turned off, blending into the environment. It will come with the Zero Connect Box and can be mounted in the middle of a room, against a wall, or mounted on a wall. You can also add standing or floating shelves on either side.
Enhanced Soundbars
Introduced prior to the show, LG has three new soundbars: the S95TR, SG10TY, and S70TY, all designed to complement an LG TV (though they can be used with any brand TV, of course). You get the most out of them with a compatible LG TV, however, because you can maximize the audio experience by leveraging LG’s WOW Orchestra technology. This technology enhances audio between the soundbar and TV.
All three soundbars deliver Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound with compatible content. WOWCast, available in the S95TR and SG10TY models, makes it easy to wirelessly connect the soundbar to LG TVs. All three have the WOW interface, an intuitive and user-friendly method to manage soundbar settings and share sound modes with the TV.
The top-line model is the S95TR, which delivers 810W output and surround sound through its 15 channels. The S95TR boasts five up-firing channels, including a centre up-firing speaker for creating a three-dimensional audio experience. The mid-line SG10TY is Wi-Fi-enabled while the S70TY is designed as a companion for LG QNED TVs with a simple, compact design and up-firing speaker. Use the dedicated bracket for this soundbar to seamlessly position it beneath a compatible LG QNED TV model, so there’s no need to drill holes in the wall.
LG Triple Level Spatial Sound technology applies channel analysis through a 3D engine while LG AI Room Calibration rapidly analyzes the environment of a room and adjusts the settings, enhancing the audio to harmonize with the room’s acoustics.
New for 2024, the AI Room Calibration extends its capability to calibrate the audio of rear surround speakers, expanding audio immersion and offering more flexibility for installation.
LG CineBeam Qube 4K Lifestyle Projector
LG is also showcasing a new compact and lightweight indoor projector. The CineBeam Qube 4K lifestyle projector is designed for use indoors, and provides 4K resolution playback at up to 120 inches in size, 450,000:1 contrast ratio, and 154% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut.
It comes with a 360° rotatable handle for easily moving it from room to room and positioning it for the best viewing experience. Auto Screen Adjustment includes an auto-focus feature that automatically optimizes image placement and size.
Running on LG webOS 6.0, the CineBeam Qube provides intuitive control and easy access to a diverse selection of streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and YouTube, with an appropriate subscription where required. When not in use for content consumption, you can turn on the projector’s image-mapping function and view digital images for ambiance in the space.
LG gram Laptops with AI
Not surprisingly, LG will be integrating AI in a big way into its new line of LG gram laptops. This includes the new LG gram Pro and LG gram Pro 2-in-1 that will feature the Intel AI Boost neural processing unit (NPU) that can handle AI workloads, with or without a network connection.
When used with the new LG gram Link app, these computers (and other new models in the line) can enjoy the simplification of tasks like file sharing, photo sharing, and screen mirroring across LG gram, Android, and iOS devices. The app also has an integrated AI function that intelligently categorizes photos stored on gram and simplifies image searches through keyword identification. LG gram Link builds an interconnected ecosystem of devices, such as running smartphones and tablets with LG gram’s keyboard and mouse, offering enhanced connectivity and scalability.
The LG gram Pro 2-in-1 (model 16T90SP) has won a CES 2024 Innovation Award and has been listed in the Guinness World Records as the lightest 16-inch 2-in-1 laptop: it measures just 12.4 millimeters thick and weighs only 1,399 grams. The convertible laptop has a WQXGA+ resolution OLED display making it easy to transport and ideal for productivity and entertainment purposes. The 360-degree adjustable hinge, four-way super-slim bezel design, responsive touchscreen, and wirelessly chargeable pen provide additional flexibility.
UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitors
For gamers, there’s the new line of UltraGear OLED gaming monitors. The line includes a 32-inch 4K gaming monitor (model 32GS95UE) that boasts a 240Hz refresh rate, an ultra-fast 0.03ms Gray-to-Gray (GtG) response time, and LG’s Dual-Hz feature and Pixel Sound technology.
LG is also introducing 39- and 34-inch models with ultra-wide curved screens: the 39GS95QE and the CES 2024 Innovation Award-winning 34GS95QE.
The most talked about model, however, is the 32GS95UE, the first UltraGear monitor equipped with the new Dual-Hz feature, allowing you to switch between 4K (3,840 x 2,160) at 240Hz and Full-HD (1,920 x 1,080) at 480Hz with one click. Managed via a hotkey or joystick’s directional switch, you can instantly apply the optimal combination of screen resolution and refresh rate for the genre of game you’re playing. For fast-paced action titles and shooting games, for example, select FHD 480Hz, while visually rich story-driven games can be enjoyed in 4K 240Hz.
In addition to the Dual-Hz feature, the 32-inch UltraGear OLED offers a 0.03ms (GtG) response time that helps eliminate motion blur, boosts clarity, and delivers dynamic gameplay. It features minimal screen bezels with LG’s four-side virtually borderless design. For audio, you get a three-dimensional soundscape with Pixel Sound technology and an integrated front-facing sound system featuring two woofers and support for DTS Virtual:X. The speakers are cleverly hidden behind the OLED panel itself, eliminating the need for external speakers and saving valuable desk space.
Winning CES 2024 Innovation Awards, the 34-inch 34GS95QE and its larger sibling, the 39-inch 39GS95QE, expand the gaming experience with their 800R-curved, 21:9 aspect ratio UltraWide Quad-HD (3,440 x 1,440) resolution OLED displays. These panoramic monitors also feature LG’s Anti-Glare & Low Reflection Coating, a four-side borderless design, 240Hz refresh rate, and 0.03ms (GtG) response time.
The latest LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitors also incorporate the new Unity Hexagonal design rear cover, seamlessly integrating sleek aesthetics with efficient cable management. The slim ‘L’ Stand, introduced this year, offers ergonomic benefits, stability, and space-efficiency. Along with tilt-, height-, pivot-, and swivel-adjustability, the stand has a smaller footprint than 2023’s V-shaped stand, helping to free up space and increase desk usability. The stylish and functional stand also provides installation flexibility.
LG MyView Smart Monitor
Consider the LG MyView smart monitor a hybrid device between a computer monitor and a TV. It’s on the smaller size as a “TV” at just 31.5 inches but as a monitor, it’s a decent size that offers access to programs like Microsoft 365 and Google Calendar. What makes it a hybrid device that can also function as a TV is the fact that it also includes the LG webOS smart TV platform built in, which means you can watch television content without the need to connect a streaming stick or PC.
The smart monitor has a 4K IPS display and comes in basic colours like essence white and mild beige as well as funkier ones like cotton pink and cotton green.
Perfect for the dorm room, the LG MyView line includes three models so far that also support AirPlay 2 and Miracast and comes with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Pair the top line model with a detachable webcam for video calling as well.
Smart Home AI Agent
LG’s booth would not be complete without an interesting robot of some kind. This year, it’s the smart home AI agent, a tiny robot home companion, assistant, and even listener who can trigger certain actions to help you through your day, even brighten your mood.
With a two-legged wheel design for navigating the home independently, it can verbally interact with members of the households. It even articulates “emotions” by moving its leg joints. As you give commands, it can understand context and intent thanks to multi-modal AI technology, which combines both voice and image recognition.
Like a traditional smart speaker, it can connect to smart home devices to remotely control them and uses sensors to gather real-time information about the temperature, air quality, and more. It can function as a pet or security monitor allowing you to see what’s going on and sending motion alerts, or even letting you know you left a window open or the lights on. Ask it about everything from the weather to the traffic, what’s on your schedule for the day, or to remind you to take your medication.
LG mycup Tumbler Washer
On the appliances side, LG has some interesting innovations. Most unique is the mycup tumbler washer, a dedicated washer for tumbler cups. Ideal for office spaces, gyms, cafes, and schools, the purpose is to encourage the use of reusable cups and tumblers while minimizing germs and mold.
Clean one tumbler at a time on either a quick wash or extra wash cycle, the latter ideal if you need to clean a tumbler that had a milk-based drink or protein shake in it, for example, with harder to remove residue. Get a notification on the app once the cycle is done. It uses 65°C hot water cycle for sanitary cleaning while the extra wash course adds air drying as well.
Check out these products and more at the LG booth #16008 in Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES 2024, taking place January 9-12, 2024.