Compare: LG UR781 vs LG OLED C4

LG UR781 is currently the cheapest model from the Korean manufacturer. It features an excellent WebOS system, which is the main advantage of this television. It satisfies most users with access to various streaming platforms and capabilities. The TV offers adequate picture quality for its price, which will certainly meet the expectations of many basic users. Although its HDR capabilities are somewhat limited by the lack of Dolby Vision or HDR10+, it supports basic formats such as HDR10 and HLG. The television handles low-quality content quite well, thanks to the smooth transition smoothing feature, which provides smooth and clear transitions, particularly appreciated when watching films from low-quality sources (e.g., free-to-air television). When it comes to gaming, the television has a very low input lag, which is a fundamental criterion. If we are looking for a budget option, it is quite a nice choice for those willing to compromise on a 120Hz panel for the sake of price. Although the brightness of the television is lower than in competing models, and the colour gamut coverage is limited, the LG UR781 still offers impeccable HDR content appearance due to the presence of dynamic tone mapping. With proper calibration, the television can achieve better colour reproduction and optimal sharpness, significantly enhancing comfort and enjoyment while watching.

LG C4 is a television that will likely have no competition in its price range for many users. Thanks to the wide options for purchase, it will appeal to those looking for a TV strictly for movies and series, as well as for gaming. The advanced WebOS system and a remote that works like a mouse will certainly make everyday use much easier and ensure that we will likely stick with this brand for a much longer time. The OLED panel implemented by the manufacturer, resulting from over 10 years of history, shows that it has not yet said its last word. Brightness results in HDR material are very solid and can display an incredibly dynamic and deep image. Here, it’s worth mentioning the excellently implemented dynamic tone mapping feature, which makes HDR10 images look almost as good as Dolby Vision. And if we’re talking about fidelity to artistic vision, we can't forget about how calibratable LG TVs are, allowing for a great deal of freedom for the calibrator and classic calibration for home users, as well as 3D LUT for professionals. However, if we are looking for a gaming TV, then the LG C4, like most of the manufacturer’s OLED TVs, will be the ideal choice. With the implementation of HDMI 2.1 ports and the full use of their potential, we can enjoy extremely smooth gameplay with all the benefits, such as VRR, ALLM, FreeSync, or G-Sync. Of course, the panel, which has a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hz and an advanced smoothing technology, will also allow for very smooth and sharp images during broadcasts of various sporting events. It’s hard not to give a high rating to LG OLED C4, as it's difficult to find a TV in a similar price range with such advanced features among the competition.

LG UR781 is a TV with a VA panel that stands out for its good native contrast, significantly better than that of IPS or ADS screens. Thanks to this technology, bright elements on a dark background look natural and there is no issue with distortion. Unfortunately, the lack of local dimming means that in darker rooms, the blacks are not ideal – they take on a bluish hue, which can be noticeable during nighttime viewing.

Despite this, the LG UR781 offers sufficiently good quality in dark scenes, especially for movie fans. The blacks are deeper than those of IPS panels, allowing for a more cinematic experience. The VA panel also provides stronger contrast, making the image look sharper and details in darker shots more visible. It's a solid choice for those who appreciate better picture quality in evening conditions.

LG OLED C4, as the name suggests, uses an organic panel of its own production. This series definitely belongs to one of the most recognisable on the market. Over 10 years of experience in building self-emissive panels has allowed for the refinement of each subsequent design, with the models from the 2024 range being the quintessence of this process. Of course, the use of this type of screen enables the achievement of flawless contrast and blacks, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the world created by the director. This is possible thanks to the OLED panel, characterised by the absence of conventional backlighting, which instead allows current to pass through organic pixels. This permits super-accurate image control, thereby eliminating issues such as dimming of delicate fine details or the halo/blooming effect. Looking at both of our test scenes, we can notice two things: perfect light separation and a plethora of details in the movie "Sicario 2".

In HDR mode, LG UR781 unfortunately does not impress with its brightness. In tests on five screens, the television achieved only around 200 nits, which is quite a low value for HDR standards. This brightness is comparable to levels typical for SDR, which means that HDR effects are not sufficiently vivid, and the picture may look less impressive, especially in dynamic, bright scenes. In HDR mode, it has certain limitations in colour reproduction. This means that colours may not be as intense and rich as in televisions that handle a wider colour gamut better. In practice, this can make the image less vibrant and dynamic, and HDR effects may not be as spectacular as one might expect. Additionally, UR781 LG has some issues with accurate colour representation in HDR mode, which makes content look less lively.

The results of HDR materials are definitely among the better ones. Practically every film significantly exceeds the 700 nits barrier, which allows for a very realistic image. Of course, none of them surpasses the magical thousand, however, the combination of such results along with unlimited contrast and black effectively boosts the visual outcome. The last of the scenes, featuring a fullscreen sun burst, is indeed less bright than the others, although it still represents a respectable level. It's also worth mentioning the excellent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette, which will enable the achievement of exceptionally vivid colours.

Colour reproduction in LG UR781 in Filmmaker Mode, which although it is the best mode available from factory settings, is not without its flaws. First and foremost, the issue is with white balance, where the graph shows dips in the blue colour level. This phenomenon results in a shift towards yellow hues, making the image warmer than it should be. Such deviation means that the colours on the screen are not reproduced naturally, which may be particularly noticeable in scenes with white or neutral backgrounds. This can be confirmed by the Color Checker Test, which showed that some colours "escape" into other shades, indicating that the LG UR781 TV does not display colours accurately. This distortion can affect visual experiences, making film scenes seem less realistic and details may be displayed in incorrect colours, negatively impacting overall picture quality.

In terms of contrast, analysis of the gamma graph revealed drops to a level of 2.0, while the optimal value should be 2.4. This means that the TV may display darker parts of the image brighter in some scenes, reducing their depth and dynamism. Additionally, on the EOTF curve, which is responsible for brightness reproduction, an unnatural spike was noticed at the beginning. This phenomenon may result in excessive brightness boosting in the brightest parts of the image, leading to a loss of details in very bright scenes.

The best factory mode implemented in the tested television was "Filmmaker". That was the one we used during all tests. This mode, in terms of colour reproduction, turned out to be quite decent, although other flaws effectively detracted from the enjoyment of the viewing experience. Starting with the most basic one, which is white balance, it was easy to notice that this was marked by a dominance of red, which completely altered the characteristics of the picture. We could see a strong yellowing of the whites and a shift of all colours to warmer tones. The gamma, which is a graph as equally important, if not more so, was quite severely reduced, resulting in a significant drop in contrast, except for the start of the graph, where the television insidiously lost details. That’s all regarding SDR materials. Looking closely at films with a wide dynamic range, we can observe exactly the same phenomenon of white balance yellowing as in films with a standard colour palette. The EOTF curve, which replaces the gamma chart for us, is practically perfect and cannot be faulted.

After calibration, colour reproduction in SDR content is quite good. The white balance has been effectively improved, resulting in natural, balanced hues across different scenes. The gamma has also been adjusted, providing a more precise representation of details in the shadows and bright areas of the image. As a result, the LG UR781 TV performs well in everyday use, offering solid colour quality and clear, well-balanced images in SDR mode.

However, the situation is less favourable for HDR content. The LG UR781 TV does not support a wide colour gamut, which limits the depth and richness of colours that HDR can provide. The EOTF curve deviates from the ideal, leading to excessive highlighting of details in the bright areas of the image. Unfortunately, this approach results in significant colour reproduction errors, as confirmed by tests on the Colour Checker. Additionally, the low brightness level of the panel further negatively impacts HDR image quality, causing the effects of dynamic range to not be fully realised and colours to appear washed out.

Despite some shortcomings in HDR mode, the TV has significantly improved after calibration, especially in SDR content. The enhancement of white balance and gamma has notably increased image quality, providing a more natural and cohesive colour reproduction. Compared to its pre-calibration state, the difference is clear, and the LG UR781 TV now offers better performance in everyday use, particularly in standard dynamic range.

As we mentioned earlier, LG televisions are equipped with advanced tools for carrying out the calibration process. We used them to model the picture in line with what the director envisioned. And without modesty, we must admit that we achieved this phenomenally. Both SDR and HDR materials present a level that clearly indicates this is how a film should look. It's worth taking a look at the colour errors on the "ColorChecker" palette, where practically none of them exceed "1", except for two samples.

TV LG UR781 handles tonal transitions exceptionally well, delivering very high picture quality in all scenes. Issues with gradation only arise in darker colours; however, they are subtle and not glaringly obvious. People with particularly sensitive eyes may notice these imperfections, but overall, the television provides very smooth tonal transitions.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in LG televisions has always been a rather sensitive issue, as the manufacturer, despite impeccable performance in other areas, has almost always struggled to get this right. The evaluation results for the fluidity of tonal transitions in the tested television were quite good, with issues mainly visible in darker scenes, such as the last two scenes. Interestingly, this is a significantly better result than the highest model from the manufacturer, namely the LG G4.

Let's now address the function of smoothing tonal transitions and its impact on overall picture quality. As illustrated by the photo on the left, this function performs exceptionally mediocre; we chose the "low" level, which does not enhance quality but also does not blur the film grain. There is a possibility to increase the strength of this function, which could soften this gradation, but one must consider that the image will be too softened in certain scenes.

On the other hand, regarding image scaling, the television does not perform outstandingly, which may be particularly noticeable with lower resolution content. The LG UR781 television applies a slight, artificial sharpening boost, making the image appear sharper; however, this mainly results from the application of artificial contours. For some users, this may be an advantage, as they prefer more vivid, pronounced details. However, this is a subjective matter—such an effect may not appeal to everyone, especially if they desire a more natural appearance of the image.

Once again, we will take a look at the feature responsible for gentle gradation, but we will also address the one that aims to enhance the quality of lower-quality materials. The default smoothing of tonal transitions, as we could see, was not the worst, but it can be improved further. The function has a slider that allows us to adjust its intensity. We recommend using the former, as it produces very good results and does not blur important details.

Image scaling on LG C4 is quite good, however, it cannot be said to be without flaws. The image is slightly sharper by default, although not in a very noticeable way. While jagged edges of trees can be seen, it is not a major issue when compared to other manufacturers.

The LG UR781 TV offers quite decent smoothness for movies, thanks to the "True Motion" option, which allows users to adjust the motion smoothing level on a scale from 0 to 10. Users can choose whether they want to maintain a more traditional, cinematic effect with a slight stutter (lower settings) or prefer a smoother image with a theatrical quality, which, although slightly deviating from the cinematic standard, may appeal to many.

In dynamic sports content and gaming, the LG UR781 TV performs worse. The TV has a 60Hz panel, which limits its interpolation capabilities to these values; therefore, smoothness can be improved in films, but motion blur cannot be reduced. Additionally, the lack of support for 120 Hz and BFI (Black Frame Insertion) technology means that fast-moving objects become blurred, and the panel's response time is too slow, negatively affecting clarity in fast scenes. As a result, the TV may not meet the expectations of gamers and sports fans who are counting on a smooth, clear image without motion blur.

The maximum refresh rate we can set on the LG G4 is 144 Hz. Naturally, this is only possible when connecting the TV to a very powerful PC. Otherwise, we will operate at a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz, which is recommended if we primarily want to watch sports or content with a lot of motion dynamics. For those who require high fluidity of the image, the manufacturer has implemented a multi-level motion smoother called "TrueMotion". It has been divided into two separate sliders that adjust the sharpness of moving images (De-Blur) and judder (De-Judder). Both sliders can be set in the range of 0 to 10, with each degree affecting the level of smoothing, allowing everyone to find their sweet spot.

The panel of the LG OLED C4 features an average response time of less than 1 ms (which directly results from our measurements), enabling the achievement of an extremely clear image, unattainable for LCD TVs, which can have response times of up to several milliseconds. This is clearly evident in the images from the "UFO Test," which show no trailing blur behind the object.

When playing on a console, the LG UR781 TV offers several significant features that can affect the gaming experience, but it also has some limitations. On the plus side, it includes ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), which automatically optimises the picture settings by switching the LG UR781 TV to low latency mode, which is beneficial for gamers. The TV also supports correct implementation of HGiG, meaning HDR games look as intended by the creators.

Unfortunately, it lacks support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which can result in worse gameplay smoothness, especially in more dynamic games. It also does not support Dolby Vision mode for gaming, which limits HDR picture quality in games using this format. The TV has a 60Hz panel, so it does not support higher frequencies at other resolutions, such as 1080p@120Hz, 1440p@120Hz, or 4K@120Hz, which is a significant downside for gamers expecting smoother gameplay at higher resolutions. There is also no support for G-Sync technology, which limits image synchronisation in games.

On the positive side, the presence of a Game Bar feature allows for quick access to settings for gamers and makes it easier to adjust picture parameters during gameplay.

We can now say that LG C4, like practically every OLED television from the manufacturer, is exceptionally good in terms of cooperation with consoles and PCs. Thanks to the implementation of four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps, the manufacturer has embedded all the features that enhance gaming comfort, including simultaneous support for FreeSync and G-Sync technologies. With such a tandem, players with graphics cards from AMD or nVidia can safely choose C4. However, what should please gamers demanding the highest possible quality the most is the simultaneous implementation of HDR Dolby Vision and HGIG mode. The former is particularly important as it operates with extremely low input lag in all settings.

A standard feature in televisions from the Korean manufacturer is also the implementation of GameBar, allowing for quick adjustments of settings "on the fly," without the need to exit the game. It also allows for image adjustments for people with visual impairments, which is an incredibly nice touch. Another important piece of information is that when VRR technology is enabled, we won’t experience a drop in contrast. This is, of course, due to the design of the panel and the absence of conventional backlighting. It is, however, normal for shades of grey to flicker slightly, although this is a characteristic feature of this function regardless of the manufacturer and television.

In summary: LG C4, just like all the manufacturer's OLEDs equipped with high-refresh-rate panels and HDMI 2.1 connections, creates a harmonious whole with consoles. In practice, it is a complete television, and if we expect the highest possible efficiency in gaming, C4 will be an ideal choice.

Measuring input lag on the LG UR781 television turns out very well, regardless of the signal or resolution. Gamers will surely appreciate the manufacturer's efforts, as gameplay in 4K at 60 Hz with HDR enabled achieves only 13 ms of lag. This is an exceptionally low score that provides smooth and responsive experiences, even in fast-paced online games where every millisecond counts.

The latency time of LG C4 is remarkably low in every scenario. Even the most avid gamers will surely appreciate the very low input lag at demanding 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR, which is only 5 ms. It's also worth noting that the lag at these same settings, but with Dolby Vision HDR enabled, remains unchanged, which is not so obvious with the competition. Therefore, it deserves the highest rating and recommendation.

Displaying text in 4K resolution at 60 Hz is exceptionally sharp, with excellent colour reproduction, meaning that even fine details like grey letters are clearly visible, despite the use of a BGR pixel layout. An input lag of 14 ms ensures quick responses, making the television ideal for work. Unfortunately, the employed 60 Hz panel and lack of G-Sync do not meet the needs of gamers using a computer, resulting in a lower rating for gaming. Nonetheless, the television performs well in office tasks and media viewing, which compensates for its use at work.

LG C4 combined with a PC works wonderfully, thanks to its very low latency of just 13.5 ms, which is practically instantaneous feedback between the mouse, eye, and screen. An extremely important aspect when working on a screen is the readability of text, which in the case of the tested TV is very good. However, it is worth noting that to achieve sharp fonts, you need to enable the passthrough option in the settings.

The RWBG pixel layout does not significantly affect the display of fonts or letters, which is a significant advantage over Samsung's QD-OLED panels. Users of both Windows-based PCs and macOS will surely be pleased with their experience on the tested TV screen.

A characteristic feature of VA panels is the noticeable drop in image quality at angles. In the case of this model, when viewed at a 45-degree angle, brightness decreases by as much as 70%, which significantly affects the depth of black and overall image quality. The LG UR781 televisions with VA panels do have better contrast when viewed head-on, but their viewing angles are limited compared to other technologies, such as IPS.

The undisputed advantage of OLED panels is their efficiency in the context of group viewing, meaning from various angles. LG C4 maintains very good contrast, colour saturation, and fidelity. Although this isn't a result of organic TVs supported by MLA technology, it's fair to say that anyone who purchased the device was satisfied with the results obtained. However, it should be noted that at sharp angles a slight greenish tint can be observed. This is a characteristic feature of WRGB panels from LG, without the aforementioned micro-lens technology, and unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done about it.

Thanks to its satin finish, it handles glare well during daytime viewing, making reflections less bothersome. However, due to its low brightness in SDR mode, which is only 231 nits, it may struggle to display images clearly in brighter rooms, especially on sunny days. Watching in such conditions may result in poorer visibility and reduced image clarity.

The maximum brightness of the television in SDR materials is 367 nits. For an OLED television, this is a very good result and allows for quite comfortable viewing during the day. It's worth noting two things. Thanks to the glossy coating of the panel, the light reflections are well held in place and do not spill over the rest of the panel. The second issue is the brightness of the screen when fully filled with white, oscillating around 220 nits, which is a remarkable result, as until recently, OLED televisions in this category could only boast brightness half as much. As a result, the conditions for watching, for example, winter sports will be very good.

WebOS in LG UR781 televisions is a modern, intuitive system that provides easy access to popular streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube, among others. It features a simple interface and supports functions such as Screen Mirroring, AirPlay, and Bluetooth. The system supports the connection of external devices like keyboards and headphones, offering rich personalisation options and advanced multimedia features. Unfortunately, the base model of the LG does not come with a Magic remote (on-screen cursor), which is a shame! It's also worth noting that in the case of this model, WebOS was not particularly responsive and can be a bit annoying.

LG uses the well-known proprietary WebOS system that has been around for many years. The system offers virtually all the major apps, and the few that are missing can be counted on one hand, such as CDA or KODI. It's also worth noting that the modern web browser and the remote with a built-in mouse allow for convenient access to streaming services in this way, if there isn't a built-in app.

WebOS also features a highly praised ability to perform operations using a cursor that appears when the remote is moved. The convenience of this function is invaluable when entering queries or passwords for portals. WebOS, like most systems, also supports features such as screen mirroring, AirPlay, voice searching in Polish, and the ability to connect headphones via Bluetooth. On a more practical note, WebOS allows simultaneous use of headphones and the television speaker, which will certainly be a significant help for those with hearing impairments. One of the more interesting features, particularly appreciated by sports fans, is the ability to turn on an alert for an upcoming match, ensuring that we never miss a broadcast. The home panel also deserves praise, allowing for control of all smart devices connected to the home network. For example, the end of a wash cycle will be signalled by a notification in the top right corner.

In summary, the WebOS system, although less known and with certain limitations compared to Android TV, offers stable and quick performance and supports most functions that users may need. It is a solid solution for those looking for a simple and effective operating system in their television.

Television LG UR781 will play most files and video codecs, and when subtitles are added to the film, you can even change the colour or size of the font. The biggest downside is the lack of support for less popular photo formats.

The default file player on LG C4 handles all photo resolutions exceptionally well. It successfully plays videos recorded in practically all the most popular formats, including Dolby Vision. The only codec that the C4 won't play is H.266 VVC, although this is currently rather uncommon. It's a pity that subtitles in .txt format are not supported. Attention should be paid to the supported photo formats, of which there are only three: JPEG, PNG, and, importantly for Apple phone users - HEIC. However, the tested television cannot be faulted for a lack of variety in audio files, which can be played without a compatibility warning.

Although the TV offers a certain hint of bass, the overall sound quality is average. The television does not support most advanced surround sound codecs, which limits its capabilities in fully reproducing audio effects. The only support for surround sound is the ability to stream audio to an external device, such as a soundbar, using Dolby Digital Plus.

The audio system implemented in LG C4 is very well tuned, allowing us to experience strong bass as well as balanced mid and high tones. We can confidently say that in its price range, it's one of the better sounding televisions. However, we believe that those deciding to purchase the C4 will already have a dedicated audio set. The presence of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos codecs will also be significant.

LG UR781 vs LG OLED C4

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound