LG OLED C1 review: "Simply a phenomenal-looking 4K TV" - thompsonprien1967

Our Verdict

The LG C1 is a tour DE force OLED TV with state-of-the-art AI image processing, and unsurpassed in class games console support.

Pros

Unbelievable image quality
Four 4K 120Hz HDMI 2.1 inputs
LG Game Optimizer

Cons

You'll belik need a soundbar

GamesRadar+ Verdict

The LG C1 is a tour de force OLED TV with progressive AI epitome processing, and primo in class games console support.

Pros

+
Fabulous image quality
+
4 4K 120Hz HDMI 2.1 inputs
+
LG Game Optimizer

Cons

-
You'll in all likelihood need a soundbar

The LG OLED C1 is the TV maker's 2021 OLED honeypot. Sure, the LG OLED G1 Gallery stablemate has a brighter Evo panel (more on it later), but it's a high-falutin'-interiors friendly screen, preferably than a display aimed directly at being the outflank gaming TV - we sort of believe a night playing Resident Evilness Village would freak it out, let alone United States of America.

The C1 is the much realistic choice, perhaps. Available in a orbit of sort sizes, including a 48-incher suitable for close-draw showing, it's powered by a razor-sharp AI picture engine and sports LG's freshly baked Game Optimizer bill of fare, a one-stop-shop for all aspects of play sound and vision.

The C1 too uses the all-raw LG webOS v6.0, accomplished with full-screen display, has an OTT larder overflowing with streaming apps, and comes with large catch-raised Telly services and apps too.

And so is this the best OLED TV dream screen next-gen gamers have been waiting for?

Features & Design

It'll surprisal no ane to learn that the C1 is wondrously thin in its innovation. The panel expands lone to accommodate electronics, sound system, and input board, and even then information technology's not by so much. The panel sits on a central pedestal. However, this requires a three-quarter wide trim to keep it vertical upright. IT looks nice enough, but you'll not want to sit a soundbar right in front of it, even purely from an aesthetic point of view.

HDMI connectivity is in the lead edge as all four HDMIs are v2.1, which agency they're compatible with a 4K at 120Hz display output past the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Serial X. There's sustenanc for VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), NVIDIA G-Sync, and AMD Freesync, as well as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Way). By nature, we acquire eARC too, used to path audio from the TV to a soundbar Oregon best beleaguer righteous system.

Additional connections include three USB ports, a digital sensory system audio output, and Ethernet, while wireless connectivity comes via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2.

The C1 ships with LG's slimmed-down Magic Remote contain. Functionally it's the same cursor pointer we've ill-used in front; but information technology just now sits a second more comfortably in the hand. There are dedicated buttons for Netflix, Meridian Video, Disney+, and Rakuten Idiot box, so a binge is only ever a button press gone.

Naturally, we made a beeline for the new Game Optimizer menu. This allows easy access to gaming-specific features, so you can easily get by brightness and VRR settings. We particularly like the Game Genre picker. This applies specific picture processing to suit different game styles, effectively optimising the TV for FPS, RTS, and RPG titles. Combine this with the HDMI 2.1 connectivity, and lame-centred features and this rattling is pushing for the mantle of best Video for PS5 and Xbox Serial X and unsurpassable 120Hz 4K Television receiver.

It's particularly helpful on fast-moving action games, lifting gamma so you're little likely to embody sniped unseen from the shadows. With the RPG mode selected, you get a more 'contrast-y' picture, piece RPG just lifts the average render level for greater clarity. The C1's latency performance is also very good: we measured stimulus lag at 12.6ms (1080/60) with Game Fashion on.

LG C1 — (Image deferred payment: LG/Steve May)

Carrying into action

So just how well does the field glass in the C1 compare to LG's flagship Evo control panel? As information technology happens, remarkably well. At that place's rattling not a huge gulf between the two when information technology comes to HDR peak luminance and largely, the screens look very mistakable.

The dynamic force here is LG's 4th Gen Alpha 9 image processor, which does a phenomenal job. AI has a big function in the C1's characterisation inventory as just switching off Artificial intelligence figure of speech enhancement results in a significant fall in texture and detail. Colour banding has been largely eradicated by AI. Improvements in Dynamic Pure tone map have also led to much smoother gradations, which makes all picture content look for many 'filmic'.

Standard, Pictorial (perhaps surprisingly), and Cinema Home with Dolby Vision content are our preferred presets when observation TV and movies. They combine a realistic average pic storey, with splendiferous colour saturation and punchy contrast that tail end well contende the best QLED TV contenders.

Cinema Home is in reality a Dolby Vision IQ setting. This means the Television receiver's ambient light sensor is being employed to monitor lighting levels in your viewing room, and it adjusts Dolby Imaginativeness content befittingly, to prevent over-darkening.

The set's HDR performance is connected the exact English of impressive. We measured peak brightness at around 750 nits using the Standard image present, and a five pct measure window. HDR support covers Dolby Vision, HDR10, HGiG, and HLG. There's no support for HDR10+, even though it remains the preferable dynamic metadata standard for Amazon Prime TV.

AI processing also plays a role when it comes to audio frequency. The C1's AI Sound Pro musical mode upscales stereo and 5.1 content, resulting in a surprisingly rich performance. The set has a Dolby Atmos decipherer, although on that point's not a great deal it can do with the immersive codec. Total power end product is rated at 40W, which means the set International Relations and Security Network't short of shouty bulk.

Overall - should you buy it?

The LG OLED C1 arrived with a lot to be up to. Its predecessor, the CX from 2020, became a blistering purchase for gamers and we guess the C1 will be just as popular. Indeed, the addition of the Spirited Optimiser mode, alongside ALLM and VRR, takes the level of customisation available on this TV to another level. So, if you want an OLED telly that takes gameplay seriously and boasts class-leading console support, then the answer to the higher up question has to embody a resounding 'yes'.

The provision of foursome HDMI 4K 120fps inputs, to make the most of those PS5 and Xbox Series X titles that support the display data formatting, gives the screen an edge over rival 2021 modules that limit the bi of congenial inputs.

Ultimately though, IT's the screen's image quality that genuinely sells it: the LG C1 is simply a phenomenal-looking 4K TV.

LG OLED C1 review: "Simply a phenomenal-looking for 4K TV"

The LG C1 is a tour de force OLED Television with land-of-the-art AI image processing, and best in class games console support.

More info

Acquirable platforms

TV, PS5, Xbox Series X, Technical school

Inferior

Steve May is a home amusement applied science specialist. Divine of Home Movie theatre Choice magazine, Steve writes about gadgets and gizmos for GamesRadar, T3, Louder Sound, TechRadar, Menage Cinema Choice and Chawbacon. He's as wel the editor of The Luxe Review and Pro AV site Inside CI. Steve one time wrote a games column for unreal British people comic 2000AD (and has a badge to turn up it), and maintains that when it comes to top shooters, Doom is the GOAT.