LG OLED C5 Review

C5 / C54 / C5ELB / C51

Available screen sizes: 42”48”55”65”77”83”

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This TV was tested by:

Maciej Koper

Paweł Koper

Last updated::

8/26/2025 11:46:39 AM

Last year's LG C4 was one of the most cost-effective OLED televisions on the market – it offered excellent picture quality, support for gamers, and a reasonable price given its very high capabilities. This year, LG decided not to experiment too much and released the C5 model as its natural successor. Does the new version actually bring anything more, or is it just a slight facelift of the formula we know? We are checking this in our test!

LG C5 - Our verdict

8.2

Overall rating

LG C5 is a very successful continuation and, in some aspects, even a step forward compared to last year's model C4. The biggest change is the significantly higher brightness – for the first time in the history of the C series, the barrier of 1000 nits has been exceeded, which greatly improves the quality of the HDR effect. Both films and series look more dynamic as a result, and bright scenes finally have the proper "glow". After calibration, the picture quality is nearly reference-level, and one could get the impression that we are dealing with equipment that is much more expensive than its price suggests. C5 is also one of the best choices for gamers – four full HDMI 2.1 ports, low input lag, support for VRR, G-Sync, and correctly implemented HGiG. Additionally, the 144 Hz panel makes not only gaming but also watching sports pure pleasure. The convenient WebOS system and the Magic remote with cursor control function also deserve praise – everything works smoothly and intuitively. This is a television that you simply want to use.

However, there were a few minor reservations. This year, LG has decided to abandon support for DTS codecs, which may be problematic for those using physical media and collections of Blu-ray films. It is also worth noting the confusion regarding the different versions of the remote – depending on the model designation, we may receive a completely different remote than the one we held during our tests. Despite these few comments, LG C5 is a television that makes an excellent impression in almost every regard. Brightness, colours, gaming features, smoothness of the image, and overall build quality make it one of the best OLEDs in its class.

Advantages

Excellent black levels and infinite contrast thanks to the OLED panel
Above-average brightness (for an OLED TV)
Nearly reference image quality after calibration
A full suite of features for gamers: 4xHDMI 2.1, low input lag, HGiG, VRR and more
Very good motion smoothness – 144 Hz OLED panel
Intuitive and modern WebOS system
Convenient Magic remote control with gyroscope

Disadvantages

Different versions of the remote in derivative models – it's hard to predict which version we will get
Average reflection suppression – it can be distracting in very bright light
No support for DTS:X – an external amplifier is required for full compatibility with this format

Movies and series in UHD quality

8.5
Classic TV, YouTube

8.9
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

8.6
Gaming on console

9.4
TV as a computer monitor

8.6
Watching in bright light

6.2
Utility functions

7.9
Apps

8.7
Sound quality

7.2

LG C5 - TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Other inputs: IR (remote) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps

Build quality: Premium

Stand type: Central

Kolor ramki: Graphite

Regulacja podstawy: stand-Fixed
Montaż na płasko: Nie
Akcesoria: accessories-Stand

At first glance, the LG C5 looks almost identical to its predecessor, the C4 model. But is that a flaw? On the contrary. The C5 – like last year’s version – gives the impression of a premium-class device. The screen is surrounded by a slim bezel, and the whole thing resembles a sheet of levitating glass, especially when viewed from the side. The manufacturer includes a solidly made, centrally placed metal stand. Its construction is not only aesthetically pleasing but also cleverly designed: at the back, there are discreet channels for cables that help to keep things tidy. The back of the television may be surprising. It resembles marble, although in reality, it is just a well-designed imitation that, according to the manufacturer, dissipates heat better than a classic plastic/aluminium casing. This detail will be appreciated particularly by those who do not plan to mount the TV on the wall. Speaking of which, the LG C5, like most classic OLED televisions, does not sit perfectly flat against the wall when hung. A slight gap from the wall is natural, so for such a television, it is worth choosing a mount that is very slim.

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LG C5 - Contrast and black detail

Viewing mode Game mode

10/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Review LG OLED C5 Contrast and black detail

Result

∞:1

Result

∞:1

Result

∞:1

Result

∞:1

Result

∞:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

In the category of black and contrast, the LG C5 fits perfectly into what we have come to expect from OLED televisions – it is simply ideal. Thanks to the use of an organic matrix (WOLED), each pixel shines independently, which results in infinite contrast and perfect black. There are no halos, streaks, or other typical LCD television artifacts here. Details in bright parts of the image are perfectly visible, and watching in a darkened room is pure pleasure. If someone is looking for a television for evening screenings with great contrast – the C5 is a very strong contender.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

LG C5 - HDR effect quality

Viewing mode Game mode

7.2/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Supported formats: HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 97.0%, Bt.2020: 73.0%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review LG OLED C5 Brightness measurement

Result

1079 nit

Result

1059 nit

Result

1120 nit

Result

1094 nit

Result

707 nit

LG C5 finally does what we have been waiting for years in the C series – it exceeds 1000 nits of brightness! This is a significant change compared to previous models in the series, and it is very important – because most HDR content on streaming platforms is now created around such luminance. The image finally has the proper "shine," and the details in the highlights look as they should even without the use of dynamic metadata. However, there are scenes where the C5, like most OLED televisions, has certain issues. Especially when the screen needs to light up completely. In our test sequences, such as the bright shot from the film The Meg, the brightness clearly drops. Don't get us wrong, this result is not bad; it's more a reminder that OLED technology still has its limitations. Year by year they are becoming smaller, but still.

As for the colours? They are very good. Although the C5 does not match OLEDs with QD-OLED or Tandem RGB panels, the DCI-P3 coverage of 97% and 73% BT.2020 will satisfy even the more demanding viewers. The colours are saturated, natural, and very consistent in HDR material.

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

We decided to go beyond just test patterns and measurements to see how the LG C5 performs in the real world – that is, during a regular movie screening. And it is here that we particularly appreciate breaking the 1000 nit barrier. Why is this so important? Because in series and films shot with a reference of 1000 nits – like Billy Lynn – the LG C5 can deliver the picture with remarkable precision. Despite slight differences in colour, the overall image looks almost identical to that on professional monitors. You can feel the creators' intent here, rather than an interpretation by the electronics.

How does the C5 perform in the most demanding productions, where every flash, every explosion, and ray of sunlight counts? Quite well, although we noticed a slight difference compared to last year's C4 model. In films like The Master, where extremely bright details appear – for example, the sun on the full screen – the television sometimes noticeably dims them. This is typical behaviour for WOLED panels, and there is nothing shocking about it, but it is more apparent than it was a year ago. Why? Out of curiosity, we enabled the dynamic tone mapping feature, which handled this problem surprisingly well in last year’s C4. Unfortunately, in the C5, this feature works differently – indeed, we recover more detail in the highlights, but the entire image becomes too bright and too flat. It lacks depth and simply looks worse. For this reason, we advise against using it.

Therefore, although the picture quality of the C5 can still be described as excellent, not everything has progressed. It’s a pity that the manufacturer didn’t maintain the great implementation of dynamic tone mapping from last year – because then we would have had almost a perfect product.

HDR luminance chart:

Luminancja HDR

Luminance of RGB colors

And if at some point the LG C5 lacks brightness – don't worry, there's no need for concern. The television supports most popular HDR formats, including the very popular Dolby Vision. It is this format that is responsible for adapting the image – scene by scene – to the current scenery of the film or series. Thanks to this, on the C5, we are able to achieve even better image quality than with classic HDR10. In our test image featuring a white meadow and horses, this is visible to the naked eye – the version in Dolby Vision shows significantly more detail and better-preserved depth in the bright areas of the image.

Static HDR10

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

LG C5 - Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.2/10

WOLED televisions have not been known for their perfect fluidity of tonal transitions until now. It has often been noticeable that there were subtle bands between colours – particularly in the darker parts of the image – which gave the impression that the hues did not transition smoothly, but rather "stair-stepped" slightly. This year, LG has made significant progress. In the C5 model, this issue has largely been eliminated. Indeed, in very dark scenes, subtle boundaries between colours can still be seen, but they are non-intrusive enough that hardly anyone except for more discerning viewers will notice them. For most users, the fluidity of tonal transitions in the C5 will simply be impeccable.

Review LG OLED C5 Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7.8/10

Smooth transition function

Image without overscan on the SD signal

LG C5 handles lower quality materials really very well. One of the main problems older WOLEDs faced was posterisation – that is, unwanted “stair stepping” in colour transitions. The C5 utilises a system feature that smoothens these transitions, which works surprisingly effectively. The banding effect is nearly completely eliminated, and the picture gains in coherence. Compared to last year's model, we have the impression that this feature works slightly less effectively – but the good news is that it does not undermine the structure of the image. Film grain, textures, and details remain on the screen – nothing is unnaturally smoothed out.

The C5 also excels at enhancing the quality of older recordings. Thanks to the α9 Gen6 processor (8th gen), the "scaling to 4K" performs really solidly. The image is clear, the details are sharp, and the only minor downside might be slightly noticeable edge sharpening on some borders. However, there is no issue with overscan here – the image is neither artificially cropped nor shifted, which is a significant plus and still not a given.

LG C5 - Blur and motion smoothness

8.5/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz

Film motion smoothing option: Yes

Blur reduction option: Yes

BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)

Brightness drop with BFI: 49%

Review LG OLED C5 Blur and motion smoothness

The LG C5 is equipped with a 144 Hz display, and this, combined with the virtually zero response time of the OLED pixels, makes it one of the best screens for watching dynamic content. It doesn't matter whether it's sports, fast-paced games, or just action – the image is razor-sharp.

And what about movies at 24 frames? LG thought of that too. The built-in "TruMotion" smoother allows you to adjust the picture to your own preferences. The "de-judder" slider increases fluidity in films, while "de-blur" gently reduces motion blur – though to be fair, it is nearly invisible here anyway.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Smudging? What smudging? This is OLED! There's no mention of any trailing shadows or blurred edges here. Our test alien moved across the screen so smoothly that one could watch it over and over again. The C5 is simply a brilliant choice for anything fast and dynamic.

LG C5 - Console compatibility and gaming features

10/10

ALLM: Yes
VRR: Yes
VRR range: 40 - 144Hz
Dolby Vision Game Mode: Yes
Correct implementation of HGIG: Yes
1080p@120Hz: Yes
1440p@120Hz: Yes
4K@120Hz: Yes
Game bar: Yes

LG C5 is a television designed with gamers in mind – and there isn't a hint of exaggeration in that. It's hard to find anything to criticise here. We have a refresh rate of 144 Hz, full support for VRR, ALLM, and as many as four HDMI 2.1 ports with a full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s. For those who have an Xbox, PS5, Nintendo, and a gaming PC all in one room – there are no limitations, everything can be connected without any hassle.

The HDR configuration for games also poses no problems. The television correctly handles the HGiG mode, which allows for an image that matches the creators' intentions. For those interested, there is also Dolby Vision in Gaming mode, although we still recommend HGiG as the most predictable and "pure" version of HDR in games.

It also features Game Bar, which serves as a "command centre" for gamers. Everything important, from VRR settings, to picture modes, to frame rate information – is at our fingertips. The interface is simple and clear. It may look like it’s from a spaceship simulator, but it serves its purpose and just works; as it should.

C5 is truly a complete set for any gamer.

LG C5 - Input lag

10/10

The reaction time of the LG C5 to our movements with the controller is exemplary. Regardless of the chosen resolution or frame rate, the delay is so low that in practice it is almost imperceptible. Playing on this television is simply pure pleasure. Some delay is introduced by the Dolby Vision mode, which should come as no surprise – this applies to virtually every television on the market equipped with this mode. Nonetheless, even with Dolby Vision active, the input lag remains low enough that gameplay is still smooth and responsive.

SDR	HDR	Dolby Vision
1080p60: 11 ms	2160p60: 11 ms	2160p60 DV: 12 ms
1080p120: 5 ms	2160p120: 5 ms	2160p120 DV: 6 ms
2160p60: 11 ms
2160p120: 5 ms

LG C5 - Compatibility with PC

8.6/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good

Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 14ms

Matrix subpixel arrangement: RWBG

Max refresh rate: 144Hz

G-Sync: Yes

C5 – as we wrote – is a television created for gamers, so playing even on a computer is a real pleasure. The 144 Hz panel, low input lag, and original G-Sync certification only confirm this.

When it comes to work – it is also very good. Fonts are legible, the interface is clear, but it should be remembered that we are dealing with a WOLED panel and a WRGB subpixel arrangement. (slight shadows visible behind the font). Therefore, if someone plans to place the C5 on a desk in smaller sizes like 42 or 48 inches for everyday office work, it is worth checking this for themselves beforehand. For occasional desktop use and primarily for gaming – there are no reasons for concern.

LG C5 - Viewing angles

7.4/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 31%

The viewing angles on the LG C5 are nearly perfect. Although they fall slightly short compared to technologies such as QD-OLED or WOLED with micro-lens MLA, the picture quality from a large angle still leaves a great impression. Colours remain vibrant, and the screen does not lose much of its brightness even when set at more demanding angles.

Addressing questions that circulated last year regarding the C4 model – we did not notice any green tints, pinking, or other effects in the case of the C5, which can be read about online. The picture at an angle looked really clear.

LG C5 - TV efficiency during daytime

6.2/10

Matrix coating: Glare

Reflection suppression: Decent

Black levels during daytime: Very Good

LG C5 is one of the brighter OLED televisions on the market, so it should perform well in moderately bright rooms without major issues. The average brightness in SDR mode is around 450 nits – a value sufficient to keep the image readable even during the day. Importantly, the black does not lose depth and does not become "grey", which can still be an issue with QD-OLED panels.

A greater challenge, however, may be reflections. The WOLED panel used in the LG C5 has a glossy coating typical of this technology, which only partially diffuses reflections. In a well-lit living room with large windows, you can see your reflection on the screen – slightly muted, but still visible. In a very sunny room, it may turn out that curtains or blinds will be necessary to fully enjoy the great picture quality.

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

LG OLED C5: 435 cd/m2

LG C5 - TV features

7.9/10

System: WebOS

System performance: Good

HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
Other inputs: IR (remote)
Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)

Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): Yes
Recording programming: Yes
Picture in Picture (PiP): No
RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
Backlit remote control: No
Teletext: Yes
Audio only mode: Yes
Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV: Yes
Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker: Yes

Smart features:

AirPlay: Yes
Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
Wyszukiwanie głosowe: Yes
Voice search in native language: Yes
Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes

Classic TV functions:

In terms of classic television functions, the LG C5 performs really well. Here we have the ability to record programmes to USB from built-in DVB-T(2) tuners, teletext support, an EPG programme list, as well as seamless pairing of headphones via Bluetooth. For many users, these are still very important elements of daily TV use – and here LG doesn’t lack anything except for the PIP function. It is also worth noting the remote control, or rather... the different versions of the remote. In our test, we used the C54 model, which is equipped with the new version of the Magic remote. It resembles Samsung's minimalist approach – there is no numeric keypad or "source" button, but it looks modern and is comfortable for daily use. On the other hand, other variants, such as C5ELB, may be sold with an older version of the remote – a more classic one, with more buttons and a numeric keypad. Some will find it more practical, while others will consider it outdated. In short: quite a bit of confusion, so it's worth checking the model suffix before making a purchase.

Smart TV:

Regardless of the remote's version, we operate the same system – WebOS. This is one of the most enjoyable solutions in the Smart TV world. An intuitive menu, quick operation, and support for popular features such as AirPlay, screen mirroring, and voice assistant make the system perform very well on a daily basis. Additionally, cursor control via the gyroscope in the Magic remote remains one of the most convenient forms of navigation in televisions. There are really many applications available – Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV, and many others. However, it should be noted that this is not a system based on Android/Google TV, so it might happen that we simply won’t find some less popular application in the LG store.

LG C5 - Apps

8.7/10

LG C5 - Playing files from USB

Video Photos Audio

8.8/10

Video Photos Audio

Maximum photo resolution:	Supported photo formats:
4 Mpix	JPEG
6 Mpix	HEIC
8 Mpix	PNG
10 Mpix	GIF
12 Mpix	WebP
16 Mpix	TIFF
20 Mpix	BMP
24 Mpix	SVG
28 Mpix
32 Mpix

The LG C5 is equipped with quite a decent built-in media player, which should meet the expectations of most users. It supports popular video and audio formats, handles subtitles in SRT format, and opens most graphic files without major issues.

The interface itself is fairly simple and intuitive – it doesn't surprise, but it also doesn't cause difficulties in daily use. Of course, it's not on the level of external players or applications from Google TV, but for basic playback of films from a pen drive or hard drive – it is more than adequate.

LG C5 - Sound

7.2/10

Maximum volume

Supported codecs

(TV speakers)

Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Dolby True HD 7.1

Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)

Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD

DTS:X in DTS-HD MA

DTS-HD Master Audio

For such a slim television, the LG C5 surprises with quite good sound quality. Within its thin casing, a set of specific speakers has been incorporated, which produce clear sound, with well audible details and – surprisingly – a light yet noticeable bass. It is more than sufficient for everyday viewing, and in many cases, it might even offer a pleasant surprise. It is a pity that this year LG decided to completely eliminate support for DTS codecs. For most people, this will not be a problem, but if someone uses Blu-ray discs and enjoys this format – especially in its more advanced versions – they may feel its absence. In such a case, an external amplifier or soundbar with appropriate audio support remains the option.

Acoustic Measurements

No acoustic data