LG C5 OLED Review: Gaming Powerhouse Meets Stiff Competition

The LG C5 OLED represents the latest iteration of the company's popular mid-range television line, featuring incremental improvements to brightness and color performance. While it doesn't include LG's newest Primary RGB Tandem technology found in the flagship G5 model, the C5 continues to deliver the exceptional gaming experience that has made the series a favorite among enthusiasts.

With a 144Hz refresh rate, full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 support, and impressive HDR capabilities, the C5 competes directly with Samsung's S90F at the same price point. However, the competition is fierce, and the C5's smart TV interface and remote control design present notable frustrations that may influence purchasing decisions.

LG's White-OLED technology has been refined over multiple generations, with each iteration improving output, efficiency, and color volume. The C5 continues this evolution with measurable enhancements to peak brightness and overall luminance, though it lacks the more advanced Primary RGB Tandem technology found in the flagship G5 model.

Independent measurements confirm the C5's separate RGB primaries generate excellent DCI-P3 color coverage. The display achieves approximately 1050 nits of peak brightness for real HDR content and delivers an impressive 290 nits of full-screen white output. These specifications place it firmly in the premium OLED category.

The television's WOLED panel maintains the same premium build quality as its predecessor, with the 55-inch version featuring brushed aluminum and faux marbling on the rear. The glossy, purple-black screen coating creates a distinctive appearance when the display is powered off, resembling a "magical mirror" according to observations.

Key Specifications:

• Panel Type: WOLED with separate RGB primaries
• Refresh Rate: 144Hz maximum with G-Sync/FreeSync support
• HDR Formats: HDR10+ and Dolby Vision compatibility
• Peak Brightness: Approximately 1050 nits for HDR content
• Response Time: 0.4ms average for gaming applications
• Smart OS: webOS platform

The C5's design maintains LG's premium aesthetic, with the 55-inch model featuring a reasonably thick 6mm OLED portion that feels more durable than Samsung's S90F. The brushed aluminum and faux marbling on the rear panel contribute to a sophisticated appearance that works well on both TV stands and deep desks.

However, some design choices feel inconsistent with the premium positioning. The flimsy plastic cover plate and cable guide seem out of place, and the permanently affixed power cable represents an odd choice when other brands offer detachable options. The glossy screen coating, while visually striking, may be susceptible to reflections in bright rooms.

Assembly of the stand proved challenging, with the manual described as "nigh inscrutable." The unconventional design requires assembling rectangles with other rectangles, flipping components, and screwing parts together in ways that don't immediately appear logical. Once assembled, however, the 55-inch model proves substantially easier to handle than larger 65-inch televisions.

Connectivity Options:

• Four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports (120/144Hz support)
• Three USB ports for external devices
• Ethernet port for wired network connection
• Optical SPDIF audio output
• RF antenna input for broadcast television

Notably absent is a headphone jack, though Bluetooth headphone support is available. The lack of a dedicated input selection button on the remote control proves particularly frustrating for users who frequently switch between gaming consoles, streaming devices, and cable boxes.

The C5 continues LG's tradition of delivering fantastic gaming performance. All four HDMI 2.1 ports support full bandwidth, enabling 120Hz and 144Hz refresh rates across every input. G-Sync and FreeSync compatibility ensure smooth, tear-free gameplay with compatible graphics cards and consoles.

For movie enthusiasts, the C5's incremental brightness improvements enhance HDR content delivery. The 1050-nit peak brightness provides excellent highlight detail in Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content, while the WOLED panel's color accuracy ensures faithful reproduction of cinematic content.

The television's 0.4ms average response time makes it ideal for competitive gaming, with minimal motion blur or ghosting during fast-paced action. The 144Hz refresh rate, while higher than the standard 120Hz found on most TVs, provides additional headroom for PC gaming enthusiasts with high-end graphics cards.

The C5 continues to deliver a fantastic gaming TV experience.

However, the sluggish webOS interface can detract from the overall experience. Accessing the picture menu or home screen often triggers loading animations, creating delays that feel unnecessary on a premium television. This "blood-boiling sluggishness" affects basic operations like switching inputs or launching apps.

The webOS platform on the C5 presents significant usability challenges. The interface exhibits sluggish performance reminiscent of low-end mobile devices, with loading throbbers appearing frequently during routine operations like accessing menus or switching to the home screen.

The Magic Remote, which features motion control, proves frustrating in practice. Users report constantly selecting the wrong options or mis-clicking due to the force required to press the scroll wheel. While this feature can be disabled, the menus aren't optimized for traditional D-pad navigation.

The home screen design wastes valuable screen real estate, displaying apps as a horizontal band of unusually small tiles. More critically, the input selection button has been removed from the remote, forcing users to navigate through the slow-loading Home Hub to switch between devices. The home screen only shows the most recent input, making it useful only for returning to the previous source.

By comparison, competing platforms like Google TV (used by Hisense) offer a more fluid, intuitive experience. The contrast highlights LG's need to modernize its smart TV interface to match current user expectations for speed and simplicity.

The C5's down-firing stereo speakers perform adequately for television audio, though they cannot compete with dedicated sound systems. The speakers excel at keeping dialogue and voices intelligible, a significant improvement over rear-firing designs that can make speech difficult to understand.

However, the audio quality shows limitations, particularly with music content. The sound profile emphasizes mid-bass and treble frequencies while lacking depth and richness. The overall presentation feels thin, especially when compared to dedicated audio equipment.

At higher volumes, the C5's speakers don't significantly improve, maintaining the same frequency balance without adding substantial bass response or clarity. This limitation reflects the inherent challenge of designing audio systems within the slim form factor of modern OLED televisions.

For users without a surround sound setup or soundbar, the C5's audio remains usable for casual viewing, particularly for news and dialogue-heavy content. However, movie enthusiasts and music listeners will likely want to invest in external audio solutions to fully appreciate their content.

The LG C5 OLED represents a solid, incremental update to an already capable television line. Its gaming performance remains exceptional, with 144Hz refresh rate, full HDMI 2.1 support, and impressive HDR brightness making it an excellent choice for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC gaming enthusiasts.

At the 65-inch size, the C5 matches Samsung's S90F at $1400, creating direct competition between two excellent OLED televisions. While the C5 delivers remarkable performance for gaming and movies, Samsung's S90F edges it out slightly in overall performance, particularly in smart TV usability.

The C5's webOS interface and remote control design represent its most significant weaknesses. The sluggish performance and unintuitive navigation detract from an otherwise premium experience. Users who prioritize smart TV functionality may find these frustrations outweigh the C5's excellent picture quality.

For gamers and movie enthusiasts who primarily use external devices and can overlook the smart TV limitations, the C5 remains a compelling option. However, those seeking a more polished overall experience may find better value in competing models that offer superior interface design alongside comparable picture quality.