Bigger is better as the prevailing sentiment seems to be these days, and LG is looking to satisfy that craving with the release of its latest flagship TV, the MAGNIT Active microLED. Unfortunately, North American readers will need to wait a little before they can see it for themselves, as the TV will initially launch as a Korean exclusive before expanding to NA markets.
A Quick Look at the New LG MAGNIT Active microLED
Coming in at 136 inches with native 4K, the MAGNIT Active features a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 144Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision support according to specs released by LG. Those features are further supported by LG’s proprietary surface treatment, which the company says helps deepen black levels while boosting color accuracy in ambient lighting.
While that size puts it at a slightly smaller scale compared to similar offerings in the channel—like Samsung’s The Wall All-in-One (which sits at 146-inches at its largest)—it’s the display’s active matrix technology where LG is looking to make a difference in the luxury residential video wall segment.
Active Matrix Tech
Compared to the more common Passive Matrix control system found in earlier microLED models, active matrix technology allows each individual pixel on the display to be controlled independently, with the intended goal to be providing more precise color recreation as well as deeper blacks overall.
AI Processing
Additionally, the new MAGNIT Active comes equipped with LG’s α9 AI Processor 6th Generation as has become commonplace in displays of this caliber nowadays for post-processing images. According to LG, the onboard AI analyzes content in real time to optimize clarity, color and detail.
The Broader Context: microLED in the Market
Over the past several years, CE Pro has reported a steady rise in microLED interest among luxury residential clients driven by the technology’s scalability, long lifespan and superior visual performance when compared to other popular TV tech like OLED.
While brands like Samsung and Sony first helped introduce the tech to the residential channel, recent innovations like those from LG, Quantum Media Systems and Just Video Walls underscore the growing competition in the category, showcasing that even at the top, it’s hard to escape that constant tussle for dominance in displays.
From what CE Pro continues to see, however, it seems two diverging paths have begun to form:
- All-in-One Solutions: Despite a key strength of microLED being scalability, brands like LG, Samsung and Sony are looking to offer clean, simple all-in-one solutions that cut complexity in the installation and set-up process.
- Full Custom: On the other hand, brands like Just Video Walls and Quantum Media Systems have leaned more into the ultra-luxury origins of the technology, offering a variety of customization options as part of their product offering.
The MAGNIT Active as an “All-in-One” Solution
Looking at market segmentation in that manner, LG’s MAGNIT seems to lean more towards the all-in-one solution route, particularly given its integrated audio system.
The display will come with a built-in 4.2-channel, 100-watt speaker system with eARC support for those that might want to tap into immersive audio without having to hook up and external amplifier.
In the context of luxury home cinemas, most integrators will likely prefer to pair it with their own selection of external audio components, though. Still, I would still be interested to hear what an onboard sound system at the MAGNIT’s theoretical price point would sound like.
The display also incorporates LG’s webOS platform, allowing access to LG Channels, major OTT apps, and gaming content, in addition to having AirPlay 2 and Miracast compatibility.
Users can even access LG Gallery+, a feature that turns the massive display into an ambient art canvas.
Pricing and Availability
LG hasn’t announced the cost of the MAGNIT active yet, nor has it stated when it will arrive in North American markets. The most we have currently is that it is now available for purchase in Korea with a North American release planned at the very least.
Pricing of this product will be curious to see, however, considering, as mentioned previously, competition within the microLED category has begun to bear some cheaper fruit, with Lunar Walls already having some surprisingly affordable options (at least by microLED standards).
