Maciej Koper
LG C5 has just debuted in stores, and we – taking the opportunity – are looking at the first reviews. The first to take the plunge was the RTINGS editorial team, which has already published its full test of this model. After all, we are talking about one of the most popular OLED series in the world, so any change – no matter how small – generates quite a bit of interest. Fortunately, we can analyse data from the best sources for you and draw the most important conclusions – specifically, without any marketing fluff! What’s new with the LG C5? Is it a "little" G5, or perhaps a clever evolution of last year's proven formula? Join us for the analysis!
👉 *Of course, we also encourage you to check out our review of the LG C4 – there are currently some great promotions on it, so perhaps it will turn out to be the better choice for you.
Construction and design – is it déjà vu?
If you've seen the LG C4, then... the LG C5 will be familiar to you. The design hasn't really changed – the television looks almost identical to its predecessor. We won’t get bogged down here with whether the casing colour is black, grey, or titanium black – visually, it simply looks the same as its predecessor.
But is that a bad thing? Absolutely not. The C5 still looks very elegant, especially from the side. The slim, metal bezel makes a great impression, and the whole thing presents itself in a modern and minimalist way. Yes, on the back, we still have that characteristic “bum” – which is the thickening of the casing at the bottom – it probably won’t bother anyone.
Availability of sizes
Here, there are no surprises – the LG C5 will be available from 42 to 83 inches. Most variants look identical, except for the 42” model, which – like in the C4 – has two separate feet instead of a central stand.
Black and contrast – the classic OLED at its best
As is fitting for an OLED, the black in the LG C5 is simply perfect. There’s a reason why OLED televisions have been regarded as the best choice for evening movie and series viewing for years, where every detail in dark scenes matters. With the LG C5, there are no major surprises – and that’s a good thing. What was already excellent hasn’t been improved because, quite simply... there was nothing to improve.
HDR Brightness – finally 1000 nits!
We can now confirm this measurement from our own experience, as we had the opportunity – albeit briefly – to test the new LG C5 live. And we must admit one thing: it is noticeably brighter than the C4. This is the first time that LG's “C” series approaches the level of 1000 nits peak brightness, meaning it has finally caught up with the first generation of QD-OLED panels in this aspect. Above this section, you will find our direct comparison of the brightness of the LG C4 and LG C5, conducted according to the same testing procedures.
Tonal transitions – unfortunately, the same issue as with G5
Unfortunately, not everything performs as well as we would wish. Similar to the LG G5, the RTINGS editorial team notes some issues with the C5 model. Specifically, the problem lies with tonal transitions in dark scenes on HDR10 signal. If you haven't had a chance to read our analysis of the G5 yet – we highly encourage you to do so. We mentioned back then what tonal transitions actually are. In short: it refers to the smooth blending of colours and shades, particularly in scenes with subtle gradients – e.g. dark skies, misty backgrounds, dimly lit rooms. Instead of a smooth transition between colours, unfortunately, there are noticeable bands that not only spoil the visual effect but also stray from the creators’ artistic intent.
Reports are starting to emerge online about a planned software update that is meant to address this problem. It is suspected that it concerns a new way of processing images by the processor, which somehow disrupts the graduation of shades. Nevertheless, as of today – the LG C5 performs worse in this regard than the C4, just as the G5 does compared to the G4.
LG is dropping DTS:X
They say that the final product is designed by accountants – and it seems that this is exactly what has happened to this television. The company has dropped support for DTS:X audio, even in the “C” and “G” series models which are aimed at more demanding users. This situation may disappoint home cinema fans, especially those who use physical media or their own library of high-quality files. Probably LG simply decided that it wasn’t worth paying for a license for something that only a few percent of users make use of.
Fortunately, this can be circumvented – you just need to connect a player directly to a soundbar or amplifier that supports DTS:X, and send the video on to the television. It works, but it’s another thing to keep in mind when purchasing a new model.
New remote and webOS
Luckily, not everything has been simplified "for savings." The LG C5 runs on the latest version of webOS, which is even faster and more responsive. The new home screen is clear, and navigating through the menu and apps is effortless.
Additionally, there's a refreshed remote, which – although minimized – still gets the job done. Not everyone will appreciate the lack of numeric buttons or "sources," but the wrist control, which is LG's signature gyroscope, remains. And it works just as well as in previous generations – once you get used to it, you probably won't want to go back to a regular remote.
Playing on C5? You'll be pleased
Here – much like with black and contrast – the television was practically perfect from the start, so LG didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. All the features known from C4 have been retained: HDMI 2.1, VRR, FreeSync, Dolby Vision in games, low input lag, along with support for HGiG. Moreover – the Xbox app (yes, the same one that until recently was reserved only for Samsung televisions) comes straight out of the box with C5. Thanks to it, you can play games from Game Pass without a console; all you need is a subscription and a Bluetooth controller. Maybe in a year or two, LG will be able to have a look at how Samsung adds its proprietary TruMotion smoother to the “Game” mode – similar to what is already working in Samsung models. Who knows, perhaps one day…
LG C5 – a TV that gives with one hand and takes away with the other?
LG OLED TVs from 2025 can be summed up in one sentence: they give and take away. On one hand, the LG C5 is a noticeable step forward from the C4, especially regarding the panel itself – brightness is higher, HDR handling is better, and support for new features like Xbox Game Pass is pleasing. On the other hand, it's hard not to notice the shortcomings that weren't there before. The lack of support for DTS:X audio, issues with tonal transitions in HDR10 (which will likely be fixed with an update), and the absence of a "Sources" button on the remote – these are minor things, but for some users, they can be annoying.
Don't get us wrong – the LG C5 is not a bad TV. Quite the opposite, it's a very good, at times even phenomenal model, that will probably be one of the bestsellers of 2025. Great brightness, refined system, strong features for gamers – all of this is impressive.
But... let's now talk about price, as this is what complicates the choice the most.
Therefore, if you care about the best quality-to-price ratio, we definitely recommend considering the purchase of the 2024 model – LG C4 or G4. This way, you can save as much as 40–50%, and you can comfortably use the difference in price for a soundbar, image calibration, or additional equipment for your home entertainment centre. Below, we leave links to current promotions and our reviews so you can assess for yourselves whether it might be better to choose last year's models!
Source: rtings.com, own measurements: choose.tv.
