LG's C Series has been one of the sweet spots in the manufacturer's popular OLED range for a few years now, by getting the balance between performance and price spot on. This year's C2 looks, on paper, to be on to a similar thing.

After the range has expanded a little, it now sits towards the middle of LG's expansive OLED TV line-up, ahead of the A and B Series, but before the flagship G (Gallery) series. And while it can't quite match that latter range for panel sophistication, it comes darn close, and has far more screen size options to boot.

Does it manage to retain the buyability of its C Series predecessors in 2022? We've got the 65-inch model on test, so keep reading to find out.

LG C2 main
LG C2 OLED
Editor's Choice

With the C2, LG strikes an almost perfect balance between performance, design and value. Helped by new EVO panel technologies and a herculean processor, it’s both a brilliant movie screen, and a top-notch gaming display.

Pros
  • Stunning 4K picture quality
  • Good range of sizes
  • Game-friendly HDMI inputs
  • Well-equipped webOS smart platform
Cons
  • No HDR10+ support

Design

  • Screen sizes: 42in, 48in, 55in, 65in, 77in, 83in
  • 4x HDMI 2.1, 3x USB
  • Revised ultra-slim design

As we mentioned, the LG C2 OLED is available in a wide range of sizes, from 42 up to 83 inches. While the predecessor to this model - the LG C1 OLED - started at 48 inches, the new smaller size perhaps shows that there's an increased appetite for this level of quality on a smaller screen.

LG C2 OLED 4K TV initial review: Shining bright at 42in photo 3

It's classified by LG as an Evo display, and combines the company's powerful new Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor with LG Display's latest OLED panel design. This includes the rather novel Brightness Boosting technology, which is included in all C2 TVs over 55 inches (more on that later).

The C2 is almost alarmingly slim. It uses a newly developed composite backing material which significantly reduces overall weight, which is good news if you want to wall mount. It also comes with a practical central pedestal stand.

Connectivity is class leading. All four HDMI inputs are 4K 120fps ready, and HDMI 2 is eARC/ARC enabled, for routing audio to an external soundbar. That would be a good idea, as the C2's built-in audio provision is best described as routine, with a downward firing stereo speaker array.

LG C2 OLED 42in photo 5

There's also an optical digital audio output, a trio of USBs, plus Ethernet, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support covers HDMI VRR, NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, and there is ALLM (Auto Low Latency mode) is standard.

LG's idiosyncratic Magic Remote control has been downsized here, making it a more comfortable wand top to wield. It works the same way as before, directing an on screen cursor, and features dedicated buttons for Netflix, Disney+, Rakuten TV and Prime Video. There are also shortcuts for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

Features

  • webOS smart platform
  • Game Optimiser
  • Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support

At the heart of the C2 is the latest iteration of LG's webOS platform. It's well served with all the streaming services you'd want, including Netflix, Now, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Disney+, and comes neatly integrated with Freeview Play so all the mainstream catch-up players (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, My5, and UKTV Play) are within easy reach. There's also support for AirPlay 2, making it really easy to get content off of your iPhone and onto the big screen. You won't quickly run out of things to watch.

LG C2 OLED 42in photo 7

From a smart home perspective, the C2 is compatible with AI assistants, like LG's own ThinQ, but it will also work with Google Assistant, Apple Homekit or Alexa, so it doesn't need to stand solo, it can be integrated into your smart home.

For gamer's there's the Game Optimiser, a dedicated user interface which gathers together assorted relevant info, including selectable game genre image presets. Latency is reassuringly low - we measured input lag at 13.1ms with 1080/60 content.

Performance

  • 3840 x 2160 pixels, Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Atmos, HDR10 Pro, HLG, Filmmaker Mode
  • a9 Gen 5 AI processor
  • Brightness Boosting technology
  • 4K 120fps compatible

If you want premium image quality, you'll find it here. The C2 delivers beautifully balanced pictures, with excellent contrast and detail.

The Brightness Booster feature, which helps the C2 deliver the brightness that OLED tech is generally lacking, is actually algorithm based, and works hand in glove with LG's a9 Gen 5 processor. By intelligently analysing images in real time, the C2 is able to direct surplus energy away from the darker areas of the picture to any bright highlights that might benefit - and it works. In particular, it really helps to lift scenes which feature elements of high brightness set against a dark background.

LG C2 OLED 42in photo 8

Remember, the two smaller C2 screen sizes, 48 and 42-inches, do not benefit from this brightness bump. That's because the pixel pitch on these sets is too small to create a comparable uplift.

The screen's HDR performance is very good, although it's not in the same ballpark as some of its rivals. We measured HDR highlights at around 810 nits, which is an improvement on last year's C1 model.

Arguably more importantly, the set seems to enjoy a higher average picture level, which benefits all types of content. Whites generally look brighter, blues are more luminous and those HDR peaks have undeniable sparkle.

Picture presets are the usual mixed bag. Both Natural and Eco work well with most types of telly, while Sports and Vivid are equally unwatchable; they oversaturate with impunity.

LG C2 OLED 4K TV initial review: Shining bright at 42in photo 2

The set looks its best with Cinema Home, which is triggered by Dolby Vision content. It's cinematic without being overly dull. You can also opt for Filmmaker Mode which lifts mid-tone luminance without sacrificing shadow detail, but is flatter in comparison.

One area where LG has clearly improved is motion handling. New to the brand's TruMotion smoothing options is Cinematic Movement, which utilises interpolation techniques that don't curse movies with the dreaded 'soap opera' effect. It's excellent.

Cinematic Movement cleverly uses content analysis and frame-merging to combat judder. The ratio between actual and interpolated frames is biased toward the original frames, thereby avoiding that over-processed look.

Other interpolation modes include Natural and Smooth, plus Black Frame Insertion, which we advise against as it just makes pictures flicker.

HDR compatibility covers Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10 and HLG, as well as the HGiG gaming standard. There's no HDR10+ support, as used by Prime Video. This may not be much of a compromise, as even Amazon seems to be moving away from it (Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power is available in Dolby Vision), with Netflix full embracing Dolby Vision as standard.

High frame rate performance is outstanding. An increasing number of rival TVs have HDMI v2.1 compatibility with 4K 120fps, but few look as good as this LG. Playing Call of Duty Warzone at 120fps (on a PlayStation 5) is a visual thrill. The gameplay is smooth but still detailed and colours are not over cranked.

The set's audio performance is fine, as far as it goes. There's an AI Sound Pro mode which gives the impression that audio is coming from the screen rather than getting lost underneath the set. If you'd rather up your experience, Dolby Atmos is recognised and can be routed out of the eARC connection.

Verdict

The LG C2 is a blockbuster of an OLED screen. The new brighter panel makes for a consistently rewarding watch, even in rooms with relatively high ambient light, and its dynamics and colour subtleties are easy to appreciate.

Native 4K content, be it from Netflix, Prime Video or Disney+, offers blistering detail, and looks extremely cinematic. Up-scaled HD programmes look pretty great too. Even SD channels become quite watchable.

Where the C2 really steals a march on its competitors is its gaming prowess. With a full complement of high spec HDMI inputs, and outstanding High Frame Rate performance, this is the OLED panel to beat if you want an 4K HDR TV for next-gen gaming.

Overall, the LG C2 can be considered a top-flight 4K TV, and a good choice for both movie lovers and gamers. It comes highly recommended.