LG OLED65C4 Review
LG's mid-range C-series is an explosive OLED set
Verdict
The LG C4 is a beautifully designed OLED TV that combines a vibrant, dynamic HDR presentation with superb gaming functionality and a sophisticated smart TV OS. It sets the bar for 2024 OLED TVs encouragingly high…
Pros
- Sublime HDR performance
- Class leading connectivity
- webOS 2024 platform
- Stylish design
Cons
- Average audio
- Pricey at launch
Key Features
- Game Optimizer with Game DashboardIf you’re a next-gen console gamer you’re in the right place, thanks to generous 4J/120Hz, VRR support
- Latest webOSLG has refined its smart TV platform, making it more intuitive and content focussed. It’ll also benefit from webOS updates for years to come
- Personalised Picture WizardUse this simple picture comparison tool, powered by AI Deep Learning, to create your own ideal image preset
Introduction
This year, not all LG OLED TVs are created equal.
For 2024, LG is looking to put clear water between its flagship G Series and C Series models, which means the more expensive line benefits from its most advanced AI-powered processor. So where does that leave the ever-popular C Series. Is it now an impoverished sibling or actually the hottest set in the LG line-up when it comes to bang for buck?
I tend to think it’s the latter.
I’ve had the 65-inch C4 on the test bench, and this is what I discovered….
Availability
The C4 is available in a wide variety of screen sizes, so finding one that fits your living space should be a breeze. Choose from 42-, 48-, 55-, 65-, 77- and 83-inch models (OLED42C46LA, OLED48C46LA, OLED55C46LA, OLED65C46LA, OLED77C46LA and OLED88C46LA respectively).
On the test bench is the 65-incher. At launch, it sells for £2,699 in the UK, $2,699 in the US and AU$4,077 in Australia.
Design
- Central pedestal stand
- 4 x HDMI v2.1 inputs
- Dolby Atmos audio system
The LG C4 is extremely well turned out. From the dark, metallic wrap which embraces the panel, to its balletic central metal stand, this ultra slim screen screams premium quality. Even the back of the OLED panel looks fancy, courtesy of a striking, textured finish. The rear electronics and input hub have been rounded off for a neater, more contemporary design, too.
The C4 ships with a new slimmer version of the familiar LG Magic Remote control, complete with central thumb wheel and cursor functionality. It has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Rakuten TV, Amazon Alexa and LG Channels.
Connections comprise four HDMI inputs, of which HDMI 2 is eARC/ARC compatible. All support 4K/120Hz playback from suitably equipped games hardware.
There are three USB inputs, a LAN connector to complement Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and an optical digital audio output. The set has both a terrestrial tuner, with Freeview Play in the UK, and satellite, if a dish is more your style.
Features
- Game Optimizer
- webOS 2024
- AI picture modes
Gamers will immediately feel right at home with the C4. All four HDMI inputs support 4K/120Hz gameplay, and can stretch to 144Hz when connected to a PC with a suitably equipped graphics card. The C4 is also compatible with both NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, for tear and stutter free gaming.
The set’s Game Optimizer and Game Dashboard Pairing are extremely helpful when monitoring game settings, or switching between gaming genre presets.
Latency can be considered good. I measured input lag at 13ms (1080/60) in Game mode.
LG’s webOS smart TV platform gets a welcome tweak this year, with the introduction of profiles. Up to ten individual accounts can be created, to better personalise content recommendations. This saves your viewing history being contaminated by another member of the household (who watches Bluey all day).
Quick Cards group together related functionality and services, which also improves navigation. There’s the sense that there’s generally more personalisation on offer. Apple AirPlay also gets the green light.
It’s worth noting that LG is pledging to upgrade your webOS experience for five years, ensuring your smart platform doesn’t become dumber over time.
The C4 runs LG’s Alpha 9 AI processor Gen7 chip. This is one notch down from the Alpha 11 AI processor used in the step-up G4 and M4 models, but it’s by no means a slouch…
Picture Quality
- Personalised Picture Mode
- Dolby Vision
- Brightness Boosting algorithm
I reckon the LG C4 is the wowiest C Series OLED that LG has ever made.
Its images are incredibly beguiling: colour rich without oversaturation, naturally deep and contrasty, without crushing detail. The more I watched on the C4, the more I wanted to watch. Motion handling is great, and boy, does it shine!
The Brightness Boosting algorithm in play here is said to give a 30 per cent improvement over vanilla OLED panels, but all that really counts is just how subjectively better it looks, which to my mind is a lot.
There were times watching the C4 that sunlit scenes actually felt hot, such was their intensity.
When strolling around the deck of the Judgment Day (3 Body Problem, Netflix), the full frame brightness was quite something. I think I might have squinted.
Peak HDR brightness was measured at 1150 nits using a 10 per cent window, which is more than good enough to make specular highlights like lamps and reflections leap realistically from the screen.
But the set’s inherent brightness isn’t just about paying fan service to peaky grading; the entire frame benefits. There’s lushness, a royalty to its colour rendering which is mesmerising. The colour gamut volume comfortably exceeds that of DCI-P3 colour space; rich reds and deep blues are particularly striking.
You would expect blacks to be pitch perfect, but the set also does a great job of rendering near shadow detail. The often dark and moody interiors in the aforementioned Netflix show have depth and tangible detail, while its VR sequences are bold and brilliant.
Picture modes comprise Vivid, Standard, APS(Auto Power Save), Cinema, Sports, Game, Filmmaker mode and two ISF Expert modes (Bright Room/Dark Room). Standard provides a reliable baseline performance that doesn’t look unnecessarily dour (there’s limited sharpness enhancement and artefact free motion), but for movies, the Cinema Home preset, which increases mid-tone luminance, is probably the better bet.
Filmmaker mode has rarely been my go-to when it comes to movie night, principally because it tends to look lifeless in a typical living room setting. On the C4 however it comes allied to Dolby Vision, which manages HDR tone mapping. It actually looks OK with 4K movie content.
Alternatively, the C4 also offers a rather adept Personalised Picture Mode. This is created by the Personalised Picture Wizard you’ll encounter during setup. It uses AI Deep Learning to deduce your preferred image characteristics, through a series of comparison stills. At the end of it, you get a preset that reflects your preferences. I found it worked rather well, and happily used it with a wide variety of content.
Sound Quality
- AI Sound mode
- Wow Orchestra
Audio is a little less clear cut. The LG C4 can deploy the power of its AI chipset to interpolate audio sources into a 9.1.2 virtual soundscape, the implication being that it’ll deliver something akin to cinematic sound immersion with its somewhat confined speaker array – but that’s not really what you get from the screen’s down-firing drivers.
Sure, the AI sound mode widens the soundstage and pushes the vocal presentation forward, but it also raises the noise floor and tends to boost background noise, which can be intrusive.
If you’re not routing audio out over eARC to an external sound system, I’d recommend leaving the model in its Standard audio configuration.
Partner the C4 to an LG soundbar, and you’ll unlock Wow Orchestra functionality, wherein the soundbar and TV audio system work in tandem to create a more immersive soundstage. This is a good reason to buy the C4 with an LG soundbar, if you can strike a deal.
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
Boost in brightness works a treat
It’s not just highlights that get a boost, but the overall brightness benefits from the increased headroom too
If you don’t have a soundbar to go with it
The sound system is not much more than decent, so if you are a home cinema fan, you’ll want to partner this with a soundbar, especially a recent LG soundbar
Final Thoughts
The LG C4 is an astonishingly well-conceived high-end OLED TV. It’s a must-audition for hard-core home cinema fans and pernickety gamers alike, as well as those who simply want a great looking telly for everyday use.
Build and design is outstanding, with admirable attention to detail. I have niggles – I’d like a swivel stand, and I’m still not a massive fan of that click wheel remote – but they don’t amount to much in the scheme of things.
The LG C4 is an fabulous OLED screen. To see one is to want one.
How we test
We test every television we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
Tested for several days
Tested with real world use
Benchmarked with tests
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FAQs
The MLA META OLED panel is still reserved for the G4 OLED, but the brightness on the LG C4 has been boosted over the C3 model.
Full specs
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
