LG has unveiled a new 97-inch LG Signature TV called Signature M3, which will go on sale in the second half of the year. The glory of the new TV is that it features LG’s proprietary “Zero Connect1” wireless video input, which is fast enough to transmit a 4K/120Hz video feed perfectly.
All of the usual TV connections, typically found on the back of a TV, have been moved to a Zero Connect box that sits within 30ft of the TV itself. Therefore, users can impeccably install this OLED masterpiece to use the TV as a work of art to enhance the design of the room.
Zero Connect box (right) next to a Blu-ray player (left)
It’s hard to go wrong when you have such a beautiful display in every room. However, for the most demanding and design-conscious customers, LG’s Zero Connect could be the ultimate influencer, leaving only one cable for power.
We don’t have prices yet, but it’s not hard to imagine that this won’t be cheap. Admittedly, we suspect it won’t be as expensive as the LG Signature R rollable TV (approx.
LG’s wireless protocol does not use typical WiFi radio frequencies such as 2.4GHz or 5/6GHz to avoid interference. However, the company is still in the process of finalizing the specs before revealing more details.
Our team viewed and tested the Signature M3 in person and can confirm that the image streamed flawlessly, even in a crowded room.
The data throughput seems to be 3x higher than the fastest WiFi, but the latency between the Zero Connect Box and the display is unknown at the moment. That could be important for interactive applications like gaming, and since the TV is compatible with NVIDIA’s G-Sync, we know LG has already thought about it.
Technically, latency shouldn’t be a big issue for this type of point-to-point connection. Reading through LG’s announcement, there are additional details:
“In order to ensure the seamless transmission of data from the box to the television, the company has developed an algorithm that immediately identifies the optimal transmission path. The algorithm also helps minimize transmission errors or interruptions because it can detect changes in the immediate environment – such as when people or pets move around the room – and change paths accordingly. In addition, for maximum signal strength, the box’s antenna can be easily rotated and/or tilted to align with the TV’s location.”
The TV’s wireless receiver
Ideally, you would have a direct line of sight between the box and the TV’s receiver (located at the bottom of the display). In practice, there may be temporary obstacles such as people/animals or things (carts, chairs, etc.). The box’s radio controller seems to use beamforming and possibly radio bounces to find the best signal path.
Could you try hacking something like this with a pair of $250 HDMI wireless transmitters? Conceptually yes, but it would be difficult to find a 4K/120Hz transmitter with this level of reliability. 1080p/120Hz is doable, but that’s 4x less visual information that needs to be transmitted reliably.
In summary, we like the Signature M3’s design and overall user experience. To judge the final value, we need to know the MSRP and how much the wireless feature adds to the cost.
Filed in . Read more about 4K TVs, CES, CES 2023, LG and Oled.
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