LG 2016 OLED TV owners who care about gaming responsiveness in HDR mode has received an early Christmas present, because the South Korean television manufacturer has just released a firmware update to add [HDR Game] mode to its critically-acclaimed C6, E6 and G6 OLED series.
Previously, upon detection of HDR metadata (including from HDR games such as Battlefield 1 or Deus Ex: Mankind Divided on Microsoft Xbox One S or PS4 Pro consoles), LG’s 2016 OLEDs would kick into HDR mode, offering only three picture presets of [HDR Vivid], [HDR Bright] and [HDR Standard]. None of these presets yielded input lag that was lower than 50ms, causing frustrated owners to start a petition which was eventually covered by prominent AV journalist John Archer on Forbes.
But with the latest firmware update (exact version will vary from region to region), a new [HDR Game] preset will become available as the fourth option. Indeed, after engaging [HDR Game] mode on an LG C6, lag time only measured 34ms according to a Leo Bodnar tester. In other words, LG engineers have successfully cut down input lag by one frame, bringing HDR latency in line with SDR’s.
While still not as snappy as the class-leading Samsungs whose input lag measures around 20ms, this move by LG to reduce input lag will surely please users who can now enjoy low-latency responsiveness alongside OLED’s traditional strengths of true blacks, infinite contrast, rich colours, clean motion and wide viewing angles, all of which contribute to a supremely immersive HDR gaming experience.
Above all, the implementation of [HDR Game] mode on 2016 OLED TVs shows that LG is a progressive company who’s constantly seeking to improve its products, and who cares about its customers. The Korean brand could easily have reserved this feature only for 2017 models to generate more sales, but by opting not to do so, LG will definitely foster goodwill and loyalty among current and future owners alike.
LG’s [HDR Game] firmware update is available to download and install for US owners of the C6, E6 and G6, but not currently the LG B6 which uses a different SoC (system-on-chip). A similar update should be rolled out in other markets including the UK and Europe in a few weeks’ time.
Update 9 December 2016: LG has confirmed that it is working on a firmware update to add [HDR Game] mode to the B6 OLED series too for all regions, although hasn’t committed to any timeline.
Hi!
I received an update for my LG EG920V(2015 4k) yesterday as well but I can’t find any release notes containing what was changed. Do you know how to find them?
Forgot the most important part. The new firmware is version 04.25.55 :)
Nice of them to release the update in America only, while the rest of us peasants have to wait for weeks until we finally get the update.
Awesome, LG OLED is the best for everything :) C6 price is much lower than the E6 and they are the same picture quality wise but don’t you wanna review the C6 as well? :)
@Vincent Teoh
Since you run a UK based website, I’ve made the assumption that you applied the US firmware to your UK model LG C6 OLED? Is this correct or did you receive a preview version of the European firmware? Please let me know.
I have a LB B6V and i got the update to 04.35.65 this morning. Haven’t checked the lag yet tough and i live in sweden.
Another go…I have a LG B6V and i got the update to 04.35.65 this morning. Haven’t checked the lag yet tough and i live in sweden.
“including from HDR games such as Battlefield 1”
BF1 doesn’t support HDR yet, unfortunately.
btw. did you (manually) install the US firmware on a european C6V? Didn’t know that this was possible.
Once more, you are omitting facts and manipulating results.
This are the real results:
– LG Oled C6/E6/G6: 4K @ 60hz @ 4:4:4 + HDR: 34.1 ms;
– Samsung KS7000/8000/9000: 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + HDR: 37.6 ms.
To archive 20 ms, Samsung implements chroma subsampling and cuts the color information. LG Oleds archives 34.1 ms without chroma subsampling and with color lossless.
Don’t fool us.
That’s super from LG.
I own a C6V and very happy they fixed it by software method.
The other way which interst me is how they fix it ?
Does the picture quality is exactly the same ?
Waiting the europe firmware , very patient…
@Pheux
You’re right the oled is better input log than any samsung suhd.
Samsung said they got 20ms, but the picture quality is decreased …
And even more to complete.
On OLED the pixel reponse time is 0.1ms
On LCD SUHD is about ~8ms
So we have in real (pixel response time + input lag) if i’m in true:
– LG Oled C6/E6/G6: 4K @ 60hz @ 4:4:4 + HDR: 34.1 ms + 0.1ms = 34.2ms
– Samsung KS7000/8000/9000: 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + HDR: 37.6 ms + ~8ms = 45.6ms
So in real world Oled is really better in term of input lag, response time …
With the samsung chroma subsampling ~29ms (input + response time)
Vincent,
Any rumblings on whether a B6 update is truly in the works? I hate to hang on the word of LG chat representatives.
And no comments about the B6 model? Really hoping its not already obsolete…
@Pheux: Here’s one problem. The PS4 Pro and Xbox One S doesn’t output in 4K@60Hz@4:4:4…
Here’s another problem. The LG OLEDs accept 4K@60Hz at 4:4:4 but don’t actually display 4:4:4 in HDR mode, so your argument is moot.
Warmest regards
Vincent
Wait, will there only be a new firmware with “HDR Game” for the C6, E6, and G6? What about the B6? It has the highest input lag of all the current OLEDs, for whatever reason, and then there’s the weird cycling with 4K+HDR.
@ Vinz
If the Leo Bodnar device is used for measuring the input lag, as far as I understand it, the pixel response time, at least from black to white, is already included in the final input lag figure. So it would still be 37 ms.
Also, according to rtings.com, both the C6 and E6 can’t correctly display chroma in 4K+HDR+4:4:4, not even in PC mode with the new firmware.
Duh. Just re-read the article and noticed that the last paragraph was about the B6 and it having a different SoC and thus not getting the update. So you’d need to get at least the C6, which I don’t want because curved, and the E6 is way too expensive here. Shame.
FYI, rumours are swirling that there is no update to 2015 OLED models (EG, EF) or for 2016 OLED models outside of Europe.
The update isn’t working for me as I can’t see any HDR Game mode. Deep color option is on and my model is OLED55C6 but still nothing. Saw another user post the message below maybe this is my problem since I run sound through a sound bar via ARC.
“Noticed a flaw in the new update, if you use an external sound device the TV will no longer list game mode and an option that includes all game mode options including HDR. Once you go back to internal speakers the option returns.”
Anyone else have this issue or using a sound bar successfully wtih their TV on the new update?
To the post above I am also having that problem where if I use the LG Soundbar for some reason it disables Game Mode/Greys it out. Also I’ve not yet received the update for hdr/game mode. As always though America gets everything first.