LG C5 Review: Brightest C-Series OLED Yet, But Is It Enough vs QD-OLED?
HDTVTest weighs the C5's brightness gains against QD-OLED rivals, per its title.
LG · 2025 · WOLED
LG C5 OLED evo
Last year's LG mid-range OLED: bright for a WOLED, strong for gaming, and now the value pick against the C6.
Previous generation, still sold
Choose a size
Exact model · United States
OLED65C5PUA
The size Tom's Guide and TechRadar tested, so most published lab numbers apply here.
Where to buy the 65″
List $2,700
Also check
Prices change. Each shows when it was last checked. We may earn a commission when you buy through these links; it never affects what we recommend. Amazon prices are not displayed.
The verdict
The C5 remains an excellent OLED and the independent lab numbers for its 65-inch version are close to the C6's, so a discounted C5 is often the sensible buy at 65 inches or smaller. Skip the 42 and 48-inch sizes if brightness matters, since a lab test of the 42-inch measured far less peak output than the 65-inch. Buyers wanting the brightest large OLED should look at the C6H or G-series instead.
The LG C5 is the 2025 model of LG's popular C-series OLED, replaced in 2026 by the C6. It uses a standard WOLED panel in all six US sizes, an Alpha 9 Gen8 processor, four HDMI 2.1 inputs and 4K gaming up to 144Hz. Reviewers praised its brightness and color for the class and its gaming features. The 42 and 48-inch sizes drop some brightness features.
Strengths
- Tom's Guide measured 1,165 nits of HDR peak brightness on the 65-inch and TechRadar reported 1,180 nits, strong for a standard WOLED panel.
- Low measured input lag of 9.1ms with the boost setting on, plus 4K gaming up to 144Hz and G-SYNC Compatible support.
- Four HDMI inputs listed for 4K 120Hz with VRR, and eARC on HDMI 2.
- Accurate color out of the box, with Tom's Guide measuring a Delta-E of 1.25.
- Dolby Vision support and Filmmaker Mode, with webOS 25 and AirPlay and Google Cast built in.
Weak spots
- No HDR10+ support and no ATSC 3.0 tuner, according to Tom's Guide and LG's spec list.
- The 42-inch measured 842 nits at a 10% window in Trusted Reviews' lab, far below the 65-inch.
- Tom's Guide says the 42 and 48-inch sizes lack the Bright Room Ready screen and Brightness Booster.
- Built-in sound was called unremarkable, and the 42-inch has only a 2.0-channel speaker system.
- Superseded by the 2026 C6, which adds the Alpha 11 processor and 165Hz PC gaming.
Great for
- Gamers who want 4K 120Hz or 144Hz without paying for a C6
- Bargain hunters comparing the C5 with the newer C6
- Mixed movie, sport and gaming use in a living room
Skip if
- Anyone who needs HDR10+
- Buyers of 42 or 48-inch sets who want maximum brightness
- Shoppers who want the 165Hz PC gaming support of the C6
How it fits
Calculated from published specs and independent tests. How this works
Tap a score to see what went into it. These are calculations, not lab results.
Claimed vs. measured
Independent test figures are kept apart from what the manufacturer says. Results vary by tester, test size and firmware.
Measured Claimed
Brightness
HDR peak brightness (2% window)How bright very small highlights get, like the glint on metal or a star on a dark sky.
- 820 nitsTrusted Reviews42″ tested · 2% window · Aug 26, 2025
HDR peak brightness (10% window)The most-quoted HDR brightness figure. A 10% window is about the size of a bright object in a scene.
- 1,180 nitsTechRadarPeak HDR brightness as reported in a three-model LG comparison · Dec 14, 2025
- 1,165 nitsTom's Guide65″ tested · 10% window, HDR · Apr 10, 2025
- 842 nitsTrusted Reviews42″ tested · 10% window · Aug 26, 2025
HDR full-screen brightnessBrightness of a completely bright image, like a snowfield or a hockey rink.
- 199 nitsTechRadarFullscreen HDR brightness · Dec 14, 2025
- 211 nitsTrusted Reviews42″ tested · 100% window · Aug 26, 2025
SDR peak brightness (10% window)How bright regular, non-HDR content gets, which matters most in a sunny room.
- 335 nitsTom's Guide65″ tested · 10% window, SDR · Apr 10, 2025
Color
DCI-P3 color coverageHow much of the color range used by modern movies the TV can show.
- 99.45%Tom's Guide65″ tested · UHDA-P3 coverage · Apr 10, 2025
Rec. 2020 color coverageA wider color target than DCI-P3. No consumer TV covers it fully.
- 76.18%Tom's Guide65″ tested · Rec. 2020 coverage · Apr 10, 2025
Color accuracy out of the box (ΔE)Lower is better. Under about 3 is hard to distinguish from perfect by eye.
- ΔE 1.25Tom's Guide65″ tested · Out of the box, SDR · Apr 10, 2025
Gaming
Input lag, 4K 60 Hz (game mode)The delay between pressing a button and seeing it on screen.
- 12.9 msTom's Guide65″ tested · Without the input-delay boost, Leo Bodnar 4K tester · Apr 10, 2025
- 9.1 msTom's Guide65″ tested · Game Optimizer with Prevent Input Delay on, Leo Bodnar 4K tester · Apr 10, 2025
- 9.4 msTrusted Reviews42″ tested · Boost mode · Aug 26, 2025
- 12.9 msTrusted Reviews42″ tested · Standard mode · Aug 26, 2025
What changes by size
The same name doesn’t always mean the same TV. Here is every size we’ve confirmed.
| 42″ | 48″ | 55″ | 65″ | 77″ | 83″ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | OLED42C5PUA | OLED48C5PUA | OLED55C5PUA | OLED65C5PUA | OLED77C5PUA | OLED83C5PUA |
| Lowest price | — | — | — | $1,500 | $2,200 | — |
| Width | 36.7″ | 42.2″ | 48.1″ | 56.7″ | 67.4″ | 72.5″ |
| Weight | 21.6 lb | 32.8 lb | 31.1 lb | 36.6 lb | 51.8 lb | 62.4 lb |
| VESA | 300×200 | 300×200 | 300×200 | 300×200 | 300×200 | 400×400 |
Will it fit?
From your seat
Viewing distance8′0″
A good fit. At this distance a 65″ screen fills 33° of your view. Most people like 59″–80″ from here.
Seen from above
Dimensions and mounting
- Without stand
- 56.7 × 32.5 × 1.8″
- With stand
- 56.7 × 34.6 × 9.1″
- Stand footprint
- 18.5″ between feet
- Weight
- 36.6 lb (40.8 lb with stand)
- VESA pattern
- 300 × 200 mm
- Power use
- 163.9 W typical
Full specifications
From the manufacturer unless noted. Shown for the 65″ model.
Picture
- Display technologyHow the screen makes its picture. OLED types light each pixel on their own for perfect black. Mini LED and QLED are LCDs with a backlight, and tend to get brighter.
- WOLED
- Panel typeFor LCD TVs: VA panels have deeper black but narrower viewing angles; IPS/ADS panels hold up better from the side but look grayer in the dark.
- OLED
- Panel notes
- Standard WOLED (white OLED) panel on all sizes, per Tom's Guide and TechRadar. LG's product page does not name the panel type.source
- BacklightFull-array backlights sit behind the whole screen and allow local dimming. Edge-lit TVs are thinner but dim far less precisely.
- Self-emissive
- Resolution
- 4K
- Picture processor
- α9 AI Processor 4K Gen8
HDR & color
- HDR formatsHDR formats describe how a TV should show bright highlights and rich color. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ adjust the picture scene by scene; a source and TV must both support a format to use it.
- HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
- Wide color technology
- LG 'Wide Color Gamut' (listed as Yes)
Refresh & motion
- Native refresh rateHow many new images per second the panel can really show. Marketing “motion rates” are often double this number, so check the native figure.
- 120 Hz
- Maximum refresh rateThe highest refresh the TV accepts over HDMI. Sometimes only available at reduced resolution or from a PC.
- 144 Hz
Smart platform
- Smart TV platformThe software your TV runs. It decides your home screen, app selection and how often you’ll see ads.
- webOS
- Platform version
- webOS 25
- Voice assistants
- Amazon Alexa, Hey Google
- Apple AirPlay
- Yes
- Google Cast
- Yes
- Broadcast tunerNeeded to watch free over-the-air TV with an antenna. ATSC 3.0 is the newer US standard; a few TVs have dropped tuners entirely.
- ATSC 1.0, ClearQAM
HDMI & connections
- HDMI ports
- 4
- HDMI 2.1 portsPorts with enough bandwidth for 4K at 120 Hz and beyond. If you have more than one current console or a gaming PC, count these carefully.
- 4
- HDMI notes
- LG lists all four HDMI inputs as supporting 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM and QMS, with eARC on HDMI 2. LG's page does not break out bandwidth port by port.
- eARCEnhanced Audio Return Channel sends high-quality audio from your TV’s apps and inputs back to a soundbar or receiver over one HDMI cable.
- Yes
- USB ports
- 3
- Optical audio out
- Yes
- Ethernet
- 1 x Ethernet
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.3
Gaming
- Variable refresh rateLets the TV match its refresh to a game’s frame rate, which removes tearing and most stutter.
- AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible
- Auto Low Latency ModeSwitches the TV into game mode automatically when a console starts a game.
- Yes
- Highest 4K gaming refresh
- 144 Hz
- HGiGA shared standard that keeps console HDR highlights accurate instead of letting the TV guess.
- Yes
- Game menu
- Game Optimizer
Built-in audio
- Speaker configuration
- 2.2 channel (42-inch: 2.0 channel)
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- DTS supportMany TVs no longer decode DTS. If you play discs or a media server with DTS soundtracks, check here and on your soundbar or receiver.
- No DTS decoder in LG's listed audio codecs
Accessibility
- Remote
- Magic Remote (MR25)
Warranty
- Warranty
- 1 years
- Warranty notes
- 1 year parts and labor, per LG's product page.
Primary source: lg.com
Setup notes
- eARC is on HDMI 2 only.
- All four HDMI inputs are listed as supporting 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM.
- Three USB 2.0 ports and an optical digital audio output are included.
- HDR formats are Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG; HDR10+ is not listed.
- The tuner is ATSC 1.0 and ClearQAM, with no ATSC 3.0.
- Maximum VRR refresh rate is 144Hz, versus 165Hz on the C6.
Video reviews
Each video was checked to exist and to be about the LG C5 OLED evo.
LG C5 OLED TV review: already on course to be one of 2025's best TVs
TechRadar's video review of the C5, framing it as a strong contender for the best TV of 2025.
LG C5 OLED TV review (with comparison to TCL Q7C and Hisense U8Q)
Compares the C5 against the TCL Q7C and Hisense U8Q mini-LED TVs.
LG C5 OLED Review: Gaming, Movies, Sports, Everyday Use
Covers the C5 for gaming, movies, sports and everyday use.
Don’t Buy the LG C5 Until You Watch This ⚠️ LG C5 OLED Review 2026
A cautionary-titled 2026 look at the C5 covering gaming, HDR brightness and picture quality.
What reviewers found
Summaries in our own words. Follow the link to read each review in full.
Editor's Choice review of the 65-inch that praised brightness, color and gaming features, plus a screen that handles room glare well. Complaints were the new remote layout, the lack of HDR10+ and an ATSC 3.0 tuner, and ordinary built-in sound. Notes the 42 and 48-inch sizes drop some brightness features.
Read the originalCompared the C5 with the G5 and B5 on the same content. The G5 is clearly brightest, but the C5 delivers the best balance for the money and was picked as the overall winner of the three.
Read the originalTested the 42-inch as a gaming display. Liked the quick interface, gaming speed and upscaling, but measured far less peak brightness than the larger C5 sizes and found colors only moderately rich, with some black crush before adjustment and no DTS.
Read the original
What owners are saying
From Reddit and forums, paraphrased with a link to the original discussion. Community reports are anecdotal.
A C5 owner is unhappy with the redesigned remote and its layout, a point that echoes press complaints about the new control scheme.
Read the originalA buyer of an open-box C5 found burn-in and was told by LG that open-box units are not covered for repair, a reminder that warranty terms can depend on how and where the set was bought.
Read the originalA commenter says burn-in is real but depends on usage, citing a relative whose C5 kept a faint streaming-box logo after under a year; the mark was hard to see and only showed on some solid-color scenes.
Read the originalSuggests the 42-inch C5 as a compact gaming option but cautions that larger C5 sizes are brighter, and that a gaming TV should have low input lag with VRR and 120Hz.
Read the original
Questions
Is the LG C5 still worth buying now that the C6 is out?
For 65 inches and smaller, reviewers found the C6 only moderately brighter, so the C5 can be the better value when it is discounted. The C5 lacks the C6's 165Hz PC gaming support and Alpha 11 processor.
What are the exact US model numbers?
OLED42C5PUA, OLED48C5PUA, OLED55C5PUA, OLED65C5PUA, OLED77C5PUA and OLED83C5PUA, all taken from LG's US product pages.
Do all C5 sizes have the same brightness?
No. Trusted Reviews measured the 42-inch at 842 nits for a 10% HDR window, while Tom's Guide measured 1,165 nits on the 65-inch. Tom's Guide also says the 42 and 48-inch lack Brightness Booster and Bright Room Ready.
Does the C5 support HDR10+?
No. LG lists Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, and Tom's Guide notes the lack of HDR10+ among its downsides.
Does it have an ATSC 3.0 tuner?
No. LG lists an ATSC 1.0 antenna tuner and a cable QAM tuner, and Tom's Guide also notes the missing ATSC 3.0 tuner.
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Sources for this page
- lg.com /us/tvs/lg-oled65c5pua-oled-4k-tv
- tomsguide.com /tvs/oled-tvs/lg-c5-oled-tv-review
- techradar.com /televisions/want-to-know-which-2025-lg-oled-tv-to
- trustedreviews.com /reviews/lg-oled42c5
- lg.com /us/tvs/lg-oled42c5pua-oled-4k-tv
- lg.com /us/tvs/lg-oled48c5pua-oled-4k-tv
- lg.com /us/tvs/lg-oled55c5pua-oled-4k-tv
- lg.com /us/tvs/lg-oled77c5pua-oled-4k-tv
- lg.com /us/tvs/lg-oled83c5pua-oled-4k-tv
Last reviewed Nov 9, 2026. Released March 2025. Spotted an error? Tell us.