Samsung vs LG soundbars: which is best?

Whether you want a soundbar as part of a wider audio setup or you just want to add a bit more energy to films, both LG and Samsung promise to enhance your favourite movies, TV and music with powerful, room-filling sound.

Regardless of your budget, both of these popular brands have a wide range of feature-packed soundbars. But with an overwhelming choice of models available, traipsing through the shops or spending hours online trying to find the best soundbar can be confusing and tiring. Read the sections below to see how the two compare in our tests - you can click on the links to jump straight to the one you're interested in.

Best cheap Samsung and LG soundbars

Higher-end soundbars can cost you as much as your TV or more. But this won’t always guarantee you the best sound. Our reviews show that cheaper soundbars can still have the quality you’d expect from a premium model, if you make the right choice. We’ve found Don’t Buy soundbars that cost hundreds of pounds and Best Buys costing less than £400.

Our testing focuses on quality and doesn’t factor in price. So, whatever your budget, you can find a great soundbar. Here are some models that can take your home entertainment experience to the next level without breaking the bank.

Alternatively, check out the best cheap soundbars that rival the most expensive models from leading brands in the market.

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you’re not yet a member, you can get instant access by joining Which?.

Pricing and recommendations correct as of April 2024.

Best high-end Samsung and LG soundbars

In this price range, you’re looking at some of the best soundbars these brands have to offer. High-end models come with attractive extras such as media streaming features and a wireless subwoofer, which provides extra bass, especially in films and music. But a higher price doesn’t guarantee the best soundbar: we’ve tested high-end models costing over £500 that are Don't Buys.

Both Samsung and LG’s high-end soundbars offer wireless connectivity, allowing the device to be connected to speakers across different rooms for a multi-room speaker system.  

Samsung and LG's more expensive soundbars support Dolby Atmos, meaning they have upward-firing speakers that bounce sound off the ceiling to create a similar effect to having ceiling speakers. This should create a great sense of space, making you feel immersed in the action when watching a movie. However, we’ve found that very few soundbars manage to do this well. 

Some models also come with streaming services like Google Chromecast and Spotify Connect built-in, allowing you to stream your favourite playlists directly from your soundbar.

We’re not swayed by price – our tests focus on quality. Which? members can see the current top models below.

Latest reviewed soundbars

We review soundbars throughout the year. Here are a selection of the latest Samsung and LG models we've reviewed:

Should I buy an LG or Samsung soundbar?

If you have a Samsung or LG TV, getting a soundbar from the same brand might result in some benefits (such as being able to use your TV's remote to control the soundbar). However, there's no real need to restrict yourself to one brand - the core soundbar features will work with all TVs and shopping around can get you can excellent-sounding soundbar for less.

Samsung and LG both make soundbars that excel in our testing, and also ones that have been underwhelming. We also often find that paying more for a soundbar is no guarantee of more impressive sound. Ultimately, with LG and Samsung both having such a huge range of models, each brand has their standout soundbars and ones that disappoint, so you need to look carefully at the individual models to know for sure.

Our lab-tested reviews provide the definitive answer - find the best models the two brands produce by heading over to our LG soundbar reviews and Samsung soundbar reviews.

How to get the best deal on your soundbar

Most of us don’t need the very latest in audio tech, so it’s quite easy to save your hard-earned money if you know when to look. For TV brands like LG and Samsung, soundbars is an annual market and they launch new models each year. Brands tend to launch new soundbars in the spring and summer months. The new models will carry a higher price, while previous-year models often go on sale for a much lower price.

Soundbars generally tend to be cheaper in winter (from around October to March). You can also look out for special promotions too, and the biggest savings are often on remaining stock of models of soundbar ranges from previous years.

Our soundbar reviews include the date a model was launched, which can give you an idea of whether it could be discounted or whether it will be full price because it’s new.