LG 48CX

[DeathSmasher]

The most innovation, from what I've looked at for my likes anyway, is that there is:

. . G95NC 57" FALD VA super-ultrawide. A 7680x2160 s-uw (4k+4k wide) that can do 240hz on amd and 120hz on nvidia (at least nvidia's current gen. currently, prob will be capable of 240Hz on a 5000 series in 2025 but there might be a chance some fw update could allow it on 4000 series). From the different videos I watched and screenshots I took of it, I found it would be too short looking to my perspective from typical seating distance personally.

. . Various 32" 4k OLEDs and QD-OLEDs that are 240hz are just coming out and other models due to release soon, where the oled gaming tvs have been 120hz for the most part (may have been a few that could do 165hz, or when running at lower than 4k rez). The 32" 4k OLED format allows people a much higher PPD when mounted directly on a desk ( PPD is pixels per degree, a measure of the perceived pixel size of a resolution at any given distance), and viewed at more central viewing angles which is also beneficial. That higher PPD (and thus smaller perceived pixel sizes) should help with OLED tech's non-standard subpixel format's effect on fringing things, especially text where the sub-sampling method used to mask how large the pixels actually are is based on standard rgb subpixel layout. I know you said "right now", but while there are a few models just released, I believe there are more competing 32 inch 4k OLEDs due out very soon.

Usually you can look at some of the topmost threads in the "Displays" section. Several of the most interesting displays out and upcoming are usually the most active threads, with a few other threads in the mix.

There are a lot of pros and cons with so many differing specs and screen formats, usage scenarios and room environments, etc. what gpu you have and your upgrade path, even the appeal factors vs price tier, "early adopter" price vs. price later in product cycle. So imo you really have to decide for yourself which would be best, and if (and when) a candidate is a worthwhile upgrade from what you have right now.

Wow!! Thank you so much for the info I am very interested in this neo g9. i just need to see in person. Next question the most i have ever experienced is 144hz do you personally feel that 240hz over the 120hz is a must? I play any an all types of games, so does say CS really have a huge difference or what are your thoughts. An this is why i never upgraded it gets frustrating fast because its like this is around the corner or this feature isnt in here an then its like why am i gonna waste money on something that i dont think is perfect. "problems of being low income lol i like to buy items that i feel have huge longevity" Thank you so much again for your input

 

[elvn]

We're on the verge of likely getting displayport 2.1 gpus from nvidia in 2025 but that's more of an issue with very high rez + very high hz, and there is displaystream compression that helps squeeze some high rez + high Hz through the existing narrower tubes anyway. That's one of the larger upgrades in the next few years, along with a newer gen of nvidia gpus, but how meaningful or necessary dp 2.1 will be for several years is questionable outside of bleeding edge.

240Hz capable screen will cut your FoV motion blur (sample-and-hold blur, image persistence) down increasingly topping out at cutting the blur by half (compared to 120fpsHz) at 240fpsHz.

You'll also get more motion articulation/motion resolution (more dots on a plotted dotted line curve, more unique animation frames in an animation flip book that is flipping faster) which probably has appreciable gains in look and feel past 200fpsHz.

Some screens can do BFI (black frame insertion) which makes the blur reduction facet less important if you like BFI. Personally I don't like BFI's tradeoffs, and it doesn't work with HDR and VRR for all practical purposes - where I prioritize HDR and "HDR injected/stretched SDR" gaming.

GPU power vs. resolution, bandwidth of ports/cables, and peak Hz.. Most things aren't a "must". Really depends. However it makes less sense to get a very high resolution + high Hz screen for gaming and not get a gpu capable of pushing that resolution at high fps imo. Budget minded, a 1440p screen for gaming is easiest to push high fpsHz (240, 360), but some of the better gpus can fps fill a 4k 120hz decently depending on the game.

You are never going to get perfect, there are always tradeoffs in monitor types, and in competition and tech discoveries/invention there will always be new features, new formats, higher performance, etc. ahead.

That said, if you did buy a higher rez, higher hz screen you could do that planning to buy a more powerful gpu a year or a few yrs. later, even used/refurb/open-box. (Kind of like how people sometimes buy a surround receiver and 2 speakers, then build from there over years to more speakers). A bunch of people bought 48cx OLED, some like me waited for sale prices sub-$1k, but a lot of people were on older gpus (e.g. 1080, 2080) while to get the full 120hz + VRR you needed a 3000 series gpu for it's hdmi 2.1 port. So a lot of people were playing at 60hz until they were able to get a 3000 series gpu later (some used a dp 1.4 to hdmi 2.1 adapter but you couldn't get vrr using that). Anyway point being people bought the screen ahead of time, often well before they had the chance (for various reasons) to get the GPU to drive it.

 

[SH1]

To my eyes, in this relatively dim room anyway, 120Hz BFI High + RTX HDR looks amazing on the CX.

If I had to buy something else right now then one of the 240 Hz 4K QD-OLEDs. I guess the Asus, which has re-introduced BFI to OLED. Unfortunately, only to SDR, which is perhaps an almost disqualifying BFI limitation at this point. Hope they relent on that. That should be up to the user.

(In contrast to their TVs, I would be weary of the screen coatings on the LG OLED panel monitors. Just saw a review from The Display Guy, though it wasn't discussing a 4K, where he found the coating particularly terrible.)

 

[elvn]

To my eyes, in this relatively dim room anyway, 120Hz BFI High + RTX HDR looks amazing on the CX.

If I had to buy something else right now then one of the 240 Hz 4K QD-OLEDs. I guess the Asus, which has re-introduced BFI to OLED. Unfortunately, only to SDR, which is perhaps an almost disqualifying BFI limitation at this point. Hope they relent on that. That should be up to the user.

(In contrast to their TVs, I would be weary of the screen coatings on the LG OLED panel monitors. Just saw a review from The Display Guy, though it wasn't discussing a 4K, where he found the coating particularly terrible.)

Matte abraded outer layer raises black depths in non-dim ambient lighting no matter what screen panel tech. QD-OLEDs also may raise blacks by nature of the quantum dot layer. If you want the best black depth, you'd have to use glossy or at least dim to dark viewing environment so that a matte-abraded layer's texture isn't activated by diffused light. (It still diffuses the light coming out of the screen itself though). The clarity can vary between models though, yeah.

Definitely something to consider between all of the different models and manufacturers, like you said. Just like cars, laptops, etc. you can't just go by manufacturer alone as different models and model years can have issues/tradeoffs.

 

[TwistedMetalGear]

My C1 has been powering itself down after sitting idle for a while. It must be from a recent update because it never did this before. What I like to do is use the "screen off" setting when I walk away to prevent burn in. This leaves the display powered on but the pixels off. I figure it's better to do that than to do a full power cycle a bunch of times each day. But now, when I use "screen off" and let it sit for a while, the display powers itself down. Is there any way to prevent this? I already confirmed that "Energy Saving Step" is off under "Device Self Care".

 

[elvn]

My C1 has been powering itself down after sitting idle for a while. It must be from a recent update because it never did this before. What I like to do is use the "screen off" setting when I walk away to prevent burn in. This leaves the display powered on but the pixels off. I figure it's better to do that than to do a full power cycle a bunch of times each day. But now, when I use "screen off" and let it sit for a while, the display powers itself down. Is there any way to prevent this? I already confirmed that "Energy Saving Step" is off under "Device Self Care".

My 77" C1 in my living room has always done that but it takes quite a while for it to decide to power it off. I actually like that it does it if I'm away from the tv for that long. I'm not aware of any way to set a timer for that, set a "keep alive" or to disable it. I haven't messed with the service menu at all so idk if there is anything in there.

I haven't noticed it doing it any faster lately but if I do notice I'll let you know. The "turn off the screen" (emitters) trick is very nice to have for sure. I use it all of the time when afk not giving the screen face time.

. . . .

 

[TwistedMetalGear]

Found the culprit. Somehow my Windows power settings got updated to turn my display off after 15 minutes. Not sure how. It was previously set to never.

 

[SH1]

Was just typing out a question to that effect.

 

[SH1]

...What I like to do is use the "screen off" setting when I walk away to prevent burn in. This leaves the display powered on but the pixels off. I figure it's better to do that than to do a full power cycle a bunch of times each day...

I would like to know more about this. Any consensus on turning it off, e.g., during a lunch break, versus leaving it on, but in Screen Off mode? Any downside regarding the latter in that the hours counter would continue to run given the counter's relationship to the Pixel Refresher? I'm racking up hours quickly on this display...

 

[elvn]

I would like to know more about this. Any consensus on turning it off, e.g., during a lunch break, versus leaving it on, but in Screen Off mode? Any downside regarding the latter in that the hours counter would continue to run given the counter's relationship to the Pixel Refresher? I'm racking up hours quickly on this display...

I'm pretty sure it compares the pixel wear, it doesn't just flush them all unnecessarily after # of hours. I don't have a source for that at the moment but I know that they switched to an AI monitoring system for it in newer models to save energy from needing circuitry to monitor that at the pixel level. Energy they could use for somewhat higher brightness supposedly, every bit helps.

 

[elvn]

I did notice that my C1 dropped off of my Google assistant recently, so maybe fw update broke that. Sucks because I use the stand alone voice assistant device to change picture modes without having to use the remote. I also use it to turn off the screen at night as part of a goodnight routine, or leaving home routine.

I'll have to remove and re add it to the voice assistant at some point to see if I can get it working again.

 

[MistaSparkul]

At this point I'm not sure if the CX continuing to get firmware updates 4 years after launch is a good thing or a bad thing given that all of the major issues are already fixed while the minor ones have gotten ignored all the way until now.

 

[SH1]

I'm pretty sure it compares the pixel wear, it doesn't just flush them all unnecessarily after # of hours. I don't have a source for that at the moment but I know that they switched to an AI monitoring system for it in newer models to save energy from needing circuitry to monitor that at the pixel level. Energy they could use for somewhat higher brightness supposedly, every bit helps.

Thank you. That sounds encouraging.

 

[SH1]

At this point I'm not sure if the CX continuing to get firmware updates 4 years after launch is a good thing or a bad thing given that all of the major issues are already fixed while the minor ones have gotten ignored all the way until now.

I'm also somewhat weary of firmware updates. As mine had sat in a box for so long I did one big update to catch it up about a year ago when I first got it. Since then it's been disconnected from the Internet.

 

[hhkb]

Still using my 48CX daily with 0 burn in, this thing is amazing. I'm thinking of buying one of the new 240hz OLED gaming monitors though. I would like to downsize, the 48" remains at the edge of "slightly too large" for me and I'm doing more productivity work than gaming these days. But I wonder if 32" is going to be too much of a reduction. Maybe a C3 42" is a better choice? It's also half the price of the gaming OLEDs.

 

[MistaSparkul]

Still using my 48CX daily with 0 burn in, this thing is amazing. I'm thinking of buying one of the new 240hz OLED gaming monitors though. I would like to downsize, the 48" remains at the edge of "slightly too large" for me and I'm doing more productivity work than gaming these days. But I wonder if 32" is going to be too much of a reduction. Maybe a C3 42" is a better choice? It's also half the price of the gaming OLEDs.

Not really. A C3 is around $700 while the MSI 321URX is $950.

 

[criccio]

Not really. A C3 is around $700 while the MSI 321URX is $950.

The cheapest you'll find a 42" C3 for is $850 on Amazon, not $700.

 

[MistaSparkul]

The cheapest you'll find a 42" C3 for is $850 on Amazon, not $700.

 

[hhkb]

Sorry should have specified I'm in the UK . Where all the 240hz OLEDs are £1400 for some reason (except the Alienware, but I don't want a curved screen). 42" C3 is 800-900 here, and cheaper on sale which happens fairly often (700 or less).

 

[criccio]

View attachment 645663

That appears to be a sale from 4 months ago. They don't sell for "around $700" right now.

 

[MistaSparkul]

That appears to be a sale from 4 months ago. They don't sell for "around $700" right now.

I didn't say right now. I just said you can find them for $700, as long as you have the patience. But anyways it's a moot point given hhkb is in the UK.

 

[SH1]

Sorry should have specified I'm in the UK . Where all the 240hz OLEDs are £1400 for some reason (except the Alienware, but I don't want a curved screen). 42" C3 is 800-900 here, and cheaper on sale which happens fairly often (700 or less).

I think you're lucky to have the CX. I know I feel lucky. (Sometimes my neck might disagree.) Finding a new 48" CX appears to be impossible at this point. Or almost so...

1) You can't turn off the dimming on the C3. Or you can, but it doesn't stick after you shut off the display. Would be happy to be wrong on that, but that was the last I heard.
2) The CX has advanced hardware based rolling scan BFI, which in terms of motion clarity is similar to having 300 FPS or more. It makes even scrolling text during productivity usage better. To get something similar you'd still have to drop down to a 1440P display presently. And be able to drive it to 300Hz or more in the game of your choice. (Asus is reintroducing literal BFI, not rolling scan, but only for SDR, which given my experience with the CX I'd say is unacceptable now that RTX HDR is here. You should at least have the option...)

 

[hhkb]

Planning to keep the CX, just want a smaller monitor primarily for productivity and FPS games. I think the 480Hz on the new LG 32" oled will also be pretty amazing for motion clarity on older games and I'm eager to try it out.

Interesting about the BFI on CX - I never tried it much though, as I felt the screen got too dim.

 

[SH1]

I'd check out the BFI High at 120Hz if you haven't. (I certainly do notice it more dramatically dimmer at 60 Hz. Though I am using this for Cyberpunk with the help of some game settings and RTX HDR...)

 

[hhkb]

Well I pulled the trigger on the Alienware as it's the only reasonably priced 32" 240hz OLED in the UK (930 after corporate discount vs 1300+ for everything else!). Let's see how the adjustment from 48"->32" goes . Planning to put the 48CX to the side on a separate desk purely for controller gaming.

 

[hhkb]

Well I pulled the trigger on the Alienware as it's the only reasonably priced 32" 240hz OLED in the UK (930 after corporate discount vs 1300+ for everything else!). Let's see how the adjustment from 48"->32" goes . Planning to put the 48CX to the side on a separate desk purely for controller gaming.

Well I gave up and I'm sticking with my 48CX for the time being (bought Alienware, scratches, returned, bought 42C4 but returned because of ABSL dimming can't be disabled, looked at my friends Neo G9 57" but PQ wasn't great). So I bought an ergotron HX and will make a small improvement to my setup with that. I might buy the LG 32" 240Hz whenever it becomes available in UK to try it out. But I think I want something a bit bigger really, without sacrificing OLED PQ.

 

[MistaSparkul]

Well I gave up and I'm sticking with my 48CX for the time being (bought Alienware, scratches, returned, bought 42C4 but returned because of ABSL dimming can't be disabled, looked at my friends Neo G9 57" but PQ wasn't great). So I bought an ergotron HX and will make a small improvement to my setup with that. I might buy the LG 32" 240Hz whenever it becomes available in UK to try it out. But I think I want something a bit bigger really, without sacrificing OLED PQ.

So the C4 really cannot have ASBL disabled with the service remote? Guess the days of using OLED TVs as monitors is over.

 

[elvn]

So the C4 really cannot have ASBL disabled with the service remote? Guess the days of using OLED TVs as monitors is over.

As desktop/app monitors maybe. I don't think asbl is bad in media and games. I only use my 48cx for media and games and it's never bothered me really.

 

[MistaSparkul]

As desktop/app monitors maybe. I don't think asbl is bad in media and games. I only use my 48cx for media and games and it's never bothered me really.

Which is what the vast majority of users seem to be using them for. I too only use my OLEDs for games but most people seem hellbent on using them as productivity displays even though these aren't the best suited for that.

 

[hhkb]

Maybe I'm crazy but I actually like my 48CX as productivity monitor. I use it probably 90% for productivity, 10% for games. I get up really close and use it like two portrait monitors, or center monitor for coding/web browser.

What I don't like it for is keyboard & mouse gaming - I have never found a great compromise for that. I've settled on a custom ultrawide resolution but would really prefer a smaller monitor for when I play kb&m games.

For controller games + content viewing of course it's incredible.

 

[SH1]

Maybe I'm crazy but I actually like my 48CX as productivity monitor. I use it probably 90% for productivity, 10% for games. I get up really close and use it like two portrait monitors, or center monitor for coding/web browser.

What I don't like it for is keyboard & mouse gaming - I have never found a great compromise for that. I've settled on a custom ultrawide resolution but would really prefer a smaller monitor for when I play kb&m games.

For controller games + content viewing of course it's incredible.

Also the polarizer/coating on the C series still seems to be the best on OLED. Quite spectacular actually. I just saw a review on the G4 and apparently even it has the magenta black thing. (Though less so than Samsung's offerings.)

I never would have thought to get a 48" display as a monitor, but that's when it all came together. The last piece being rolling scan BFI for me. On a stand immediately behind my desk, it's manageable. And kind of wonderful. Feels like we're in the future.

(Probably couldn't deal with it actually sitting on my desk or otherwise closer though.)

 

[kasakka]

Which is what the vast majority of users seem to be using them for. I too only use my OLEDs for games but most people seem hellbent on using them as productivity displays even though these aren't the best suited for that.

I think a lot of people just want one display to do it all. I got the LG CX when it came out because it seemed like the best compromise at the time.

I used the 48" CX for two years as my desktop monitor working from home, then moved and decided it was a good size for a living room TV and sold my 65" C9.

Ultimately for me smaller dual 28" 4K displays have worked far better for desktop use, but I'd still rather have a single superultrawide, or a ultrawide 5Kx2K + small side monitor.

 

[kalston]

Maybe I'm crazy but I actually like my 48CX as productivity monitor. I use it probably 90% for productivity, 10% for games. I get up really close and use it like two portrait monitors, or center monitor for coding/web browser.

What I don't like it for is keyboard & mouse gaming - I have never found a great compromise for that. I've settled on a custom ultrawide resolution but would really prefer a smaller monitor for when I play kb&m games.

For controller games + content viewing of course it's incredible.

I don't think that's crazy, although I have no issue doing fullscreen gaming on it with m&k, since I put it on a floor stand behind the desk.

I just do absolutely everything on it, my backup LCD is mostly sitting in storage and I only use it when I need to access the BIOS of my home server nowadays.

And my laptop is a Surface Pro (so, tiny) which I can easily put next to or in front of my keyboard*, but honestly I often just remote into it anyway, just like I remote into my server. I not only love my CX I also love the full size mechanical keyboard and my comfy Logitech mouse so rather always use those anyway, one desk and one position for everything.

*I occasionally use it as a sort of extra screen if I really need to monitor something while doing fullscreen gaming on the CX. But that's not every day.

 

[MistaSparkul]

I think a lot of people just want one display to do it all. I got the LG CX when it came out because it seemed like the best compromise at the time.

I used the 48" CX for two years as my desktop monitor working from home, then moved and decided it was a good size for a living room TV and sold my 65" C9.

Ultimately for me smaller dual 28" 4K displays have worked far better for desktop use, but I'd still rather have a single superultrawide, or a ultrawide 5Kx2K + small side monitor.

There are plenty of screens that can do it all, but none that will do it all the best because there is always something you have to compromise for the time being and that's fine with me. OLEDs compromise before was just risk of long term burn in and text quality issues which I didn't care too much about but now if I'm unable to disable the ASBL then I would definitely no longer make the compromises for an OLED TV.

 

[hhkb]

There are plenty of screens that can do it all, but none that will do it all the best because there is always something you have to compromise for the time being and that's fine with me. OLEDs compromise before was just risk of long term burn in and text quality issues which I didn't care too much about but now if I'm unable to disable the ASBL then I would definitely no longer make the compromises for an OLED TV.

I agree, I really dislike the ASBL dimming. I've even turned it off on my C1 65" which I use as my main TV/media consumption device - it would trigger while watching movies and TV which was really annoying and noticeable.

I read that C3 has an improved algorithm for ASBL. But it's kind of ham fisted that LG just removed the option to disable completely - I think they should have instead added a warning about disabling it but let users decide what to do with their own device, and make it trip some permanent fuse if you do. I'm guessing they were simply getting too many returns from people for burn in who blasted their OLEDs at 100 brightness SDR with sports/news banners/PC taskbars.

 

[kalston]

I was initially OK with ABSL but then I ran into some dark films/series where the damn thing would trigger and absolutely ruin the whole thing (famously House of Dragon made many people notice that) since you had to pull the remote to reset it, somehow even the brighter scenes didn't bring the brightness back up.

So yeah, I downloaded ColorControl and never looked back. Maybe on the new models the implementation is a bit better though, I would hope.

 

[elvn]

I was initially OK with ABSL but then I ran into some dark films/series where the damn thing would trigger and absolutely ruin the whole thing (famously House of Dragon made many people notice that) since you had to pull the remote to reset it, somehow even the brighter scenes didn't bring the brightness back up.

So yeah, I downloaded ColorControl and never looked back. Maybe on the new models the implementation is a bit better though, I would hope.

I swap the letters sometimes too, but it's AS automatic static.. ASS brightness limiter helps me to remember the acronym.

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/lg-oled-tvs-just-got-201653540.html

"The type of auto-dimming that causes this issue in LG OLED TVs is referred to as Auto Static Brightness Limiter, or ASBL. It uses an algorithm to detech when there is movement on the screen. In theory, when the content on the screen is static, ASBL kicks in and reduces the brightness to reduce burn-in risk."

 

[elvn]

I was initially OK with ABSL but then I ran into some dark films/series where the damn thing would trigger and absolutely ruin the whole thing (famously House of Dragon made many people notice that) since you had to pull the remote to reset it, somehow even the brighter scenes didn't bring the brightness back up.

So yeah, I downloaded ColorControl and never looked back. Maybe on the new models the implementation is a bit better though, I would hope.

It was avoidable with ASBL disabled but the problem with that scene was that it was graded too dark, below 1 to 2 nit. HDTVtest did a whole episode about it showing that it was graded bad for all tvs.

"I've tested almost all of the flagship TVs from various manufacturers in 2022 and none of them don't suffer from issues during these very dark scenes, even after full calibration. "

View: https://youtu.be/D83SXcguwBU?t=197

" A peak of 1 to 2 nits is too dark for severeral reasons:

1. The recommended surround luminance should be 5 according to documents from the international telecommunication Union and also from Dolby Laboratories which developed the HDR10 PQ standard.

By capping a screen to a maximum of 1 to 2 nits, it's going to be even darker than the background light illumination even in a reference viewing environment, increasing the chance of shadow detail being overpowered by ambient lighting.

2. Such low luminance levels will amplify many problems on consumer televisions in the real world which some dps and colorists that are creating content on a 30,000 british pound mastering monitor may not be aware of. "


"I've tested almost all of the flagship TVs from various manufacturers in 2022 and none of them don't suffer from issues during these very dark scenes, even after full calibration. "

"The majority of consumer oleds will gradually dim down over time during prolonged dark HDR sequences due to a protective mechanism implemented on OLED televisions to reduce the risk of permanent burn-in. On certain OLED models you can disable the auto dimming by going into the service menu.
Many consumer OLED TVs exhibit dark uniformity issues such as thin vertical streaks or side vignetting that will rear their ugly heads druing playback of very dark HDR sequences such as the ones in house of the dragon"

"The current first generation of QD OLED TVs would actually appear desaturated at low luminance levels compared to a reference monitor".

FALD LED LCD

"At this point, you may ask, 'in that case, will a high end mini LED television fare better?
Well, even the best mini LED TVs will have their own problems in dimly lit sequences, largely owing to the lack of pixel level lighting control.
- Depending on the TV brand and model some mini LED TVs may manifest some backlight instability or a bluish hue in the shadows from the natively blue backlight which is beyond the reach of the internal light correction.
- Some local dimming alogrithms may crush some shadow detail to maintain inky blacks and keep blooming at bay, hence making shadow detail even harder to see.
- Moreover, the pixel response time of certain VA type LCD panels becomes slower the closer you get to black, leading to more ghosting and smearing artifacts in very dark scenes.
- Note that on samsung televisions certain dark areas would turn blue or purple in HLG or hybrid log gamma format, which is how 'House of the Dragon' is streamed in HDR from Sky Q boxes and Sky in the UK and some other countries. (This is not a sky problem)."
. .
"Not many consumer televisions can reproduce a sequence that's capped to one to two nits as cleanly and as accurately as on a reference mastering monitor, especially with compression which is more likely to fall apart in very dark scenes."

 

[kalston]

Yeah I remember his video. But IMO consumers displays should strive to be able to handle anything created by the professionals. And once you disable ASBL, OLED does display those scenes decently.

 

[kasakka]

There are plenty of screens that can do it all, but none that will do it all the best because there is always something you have to compromise for the time being and that's fine with me. OLEDs compromise before was just risk of long term burn in and text quality issues which I didn't care too much about but now if I'm unable to disable the ASBL then I would definitely no longer make the compromises for an OLED TV.

Totally agree with that. It's a real shame because those OLED TVs are pretty decent as monitors and the text quality on the WOLEDs is IMO not a problem as long as you use a bit of scaling.

I can't understand why LG would remove that option other than to try to push people to buy OLED monitors, or the more expensive monitor variants of large OLED TVs from their partners like Asus or Gigabyte. I have disabled ASBL on my CX and it has caused no issues during its lifetime.

I had it enabled again some time when I made the CX my living room TV, and then decided to turn it off when I saw those "dimming in dark scenes" issues again. For example Ozark is a great show but with a lot of dark scenes and it would always dim for me.