I tested LG's 'best OLED TV for most people' and it'll be tough to beat in 2025

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s LG’s mantra for the OLED C5, the 2025 iteration of its best-selling OLED TV line. Indeed, it's one of the best OLED TVs of the moment.

Very much an evolution of last year’s OLED C4 model, this new arrival applies a dab more polish to picture performance and introduces a raft of improved functionality, yet still hits that premium sweet spot.

It’s that bottle of wine that sits mid-menu that we all go for; neither too expensive nor too cheap, but guaranteed to delight, thanks to sublime imagery and uncompromising connectivity.

LG's OLED C5 refines rather than reinvents, a testament to the maturity of LG’s expertise. But in an era where Mini-LED and QD-OLED continue to push the envelope, does the C5 still warrant its place as the king of the OLEDs?

How much does the LG OLED C5 cost?

The 65-inch LG OLED C5 I'm reviewing here will arrive in the UK at £2,699 ($2,699 also in the US), mirroring last year’s C4 launch price.

The OLED C5 comes also comes in 42-inch (£1,399/$1,399), 48-inch (£1,499/$1,599), 55-inch (£1,899/$1,999), 77-inch (£3,799/$3,699) and 83-inch (£5,999/$5399) screen sizes.

LG C5 vs LG C4: What's New?

Let’s start with what the C5 doesn’t have – and that’s LG’s new Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel technology. That particular innovation is reserved for the flagship OLED G5 model, where it comes with an appropriately lofty price tag.

Instead, the OLED C5 counters with its own updated Brightness Boosting algorithm, built on the shoulders of an eighth generation Alpha 9 processor. This savvy brings with it enhanced upscaling of HD and lesser sources, and subjectively sharper imagery than the Gen 7.

The webOS platform, in its updated 2025 guise, also comes with improved functionality, including AI personalisation through voice ID. After a short training session, the TV can ostensibly recognise different users by voice, switching User Profiles accordingly.

AI also powers a chatbot, based on Microsoft’s Large Language Model, that offers troubleshooting help. It’s a novel inclusion, albeit one that still feels like a work in progress; stray too far from expected commands, and the chatbot becomes as confused as a senile satnav on a country road.

My advice is limit your voice interaction to volume and brightness Up/Down commands, and programme title/content searches. These the set can manage with some efficiency.

Gamers will find little to fault with the set’s universal High Frame Rate HDMI 4K 120Hz support, complete with 144Hz PC compatibility for those with fancy graphics cards, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). With Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync on-board, stutter-free, tear-free PC gaming is the order of the day.

LG’s Game Optimizer and Dashboard modes allow those that need to, to keep a watchful eye on settings mid-play. At a glance, you can spy Black Stabilizer, VRR, frame rate, latency and so on.

I measured input lag is a respectable 13.1ms at 1080p/60Hz, which is competitive but not ground-breaking.

How good is the LG C5 picture quality?

'Masterful'. That’s one word to describe this 65-inch screen’s picture talents. 'Brilliant' would be appropriate too. The C5 delivers an OLED image that is as close to class-leading as you can get without stepping into LG G Series or Panasonic Z95A territory.

With its latest brightness boost, I measured peak HDR brightness just under 1,400 nits in Vivid mode (on a 5% patch), and over 1,200 nits in the default Standard picture preset (with a 10% patch).

That’s a solid jump over last year’s model, making HDR content truly pop onscreen. Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG are all supported (though HDR10+ remains absent, even though it’s still favoured by Prime Video).

The deep blacks are signature OLED, but what really impresses is the near-black detail – the OLED C5 renders dark scenes with a delicacy that’s truly artful.

Picture modes include Vivid, Standard, Cinema, Sports, Filmmaker Mode, Personalised Picture mode and a couple of ISF presets. Dolby Vision content brings with it some suitably optimised viewing modes.

Dolby Vision inflected Cinema Home works a treat on high budget TV shows, like high-concept thriller Paradise (on Disney+). There are plenty of settings for adjustment if you want to dig deeper, too.

Filmmaker Mode gets an interesting tweak this time around, with an intelligent ambient light sensor that subtly adjusts the image for viewing conditions, without sacrificing the director’s intent (the raison d'etre for the setting). It’s a minor embellishment but one that I think is genuinely useful for Filmmaker Mode diehards when not watching in a light controlled environment.

Almost diametrically opposed is the AI-powered Personalized Picture Mode. This is tuned during installation and adjusts settings according to your preferences. It’s a clever option for the menu-averse. I found it a solid option, although Standard for everyday viewing, and Cinema mode for movies, remain my go-to recommendations.

Motion handling is really rather good too. I never found myself pulled out of the viewing experience by weird motion artefacts.

While picture quality is where the C5 shines, its built-in audio remains a tad perfunctory (although that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it keeps a lid on costs).

There’s an AI Pro audio mode that does a commendable job of widening the soundstage, but comes with overly sharp dialogue. True home theatre enthusiasts should pair this OLED with one of the best soundbars for LG TVs and take advantage of any available Dolby Atmos bitstream over eARC.

LG’s Wow Orchestra mode, which syncs the TV speakers with compatible LG soundbars, is a nice touch, adding an extra layer of depth and immersion. It’s the audio equivalent of all guns blazing.

Is the LG C5 well made and easy to use?

Aesthetically, the C5 is a winner. The ultra-thin panel, encased in a seamless metallic frame, oozes sophistication. The central metallic stand is stylish and sturdy, while the rear panel’s slate-like finish is so premium it’s almost a shame to wall-mount.

Connectivity comprises four HDMI 2.1 ports (HDMI 2 comes with eARC), three USBs, optical digital audio out, Ethernet, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The zapper looks much the same as before, but there’s now an AI button that provides a curated shortcut to the set’s Home page. There are also direct app shortcuts to Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Rakuten TV, Amazon Alexa, and LG channels.

The latter is LG’s own TV over IP service, comprising a long list of FAST (Free Advertising Supported Streaming TV) channels and On-Demand. We’re told this is also the reason why the set no longer supports Freeview Play in the UK.

LG says it will instead provide individual mainstream catch-up TV services, to supplement generic terrestrial listings, but on this early review sample it clearly still has some way to go...

LG OLED C5 review: Verdict

The LG C5 should be considered an exceptional OLED TV, with a premium feature set and a refined upgrade over its predecessor.

While it doesn’t revolutionise, it doesn’t need to. Boasting improved HDR peak brightness, smarter AI integration, and gamer-friendly features, it remains a great all-round OLED option for most people.

Movie fans will appreciate this year’s HDR peak brightness bump, while gamers get to fill their boots with 4K 120Hz and 144Hz PC compatibility.

So if you’re looking for a top-notch OLED picture performer the C5 is a no-brainer. Built-in audio is a bit lacklustre, mind, but LG will sell you a soundbar to fix that – and combined you'll have an ultimate OLED TV setup that's among the best 2025 has to offer.

Also consider

The LG OLED C5 sits among some key competition, including Samsung Q90F, if you're looking for a decent QD-OLED alternative.

Or, if you have more cash to spend and want something even brighter, than the LG OLED G5 is just the ticket. It's the first with a new multi-layer OLED panel type, making its picture quality extra bright.