LG C5 OLED review: an exquisite television, in the appropriate environment
LG C5 OLED
MSRP: $1,399.99
Release Date: March 2025
“The LG C5 stands out amidst a highly competitive year for televisions.”
Pros
- Infinite OLED contrast
- Ultra-thin design
- Highly accurate image
Cons
- HDR is too dim
- Inferior remote control
- Slow and outdated operating system
The LG C5 OLED merges a sleek aesthetic with exceptional image quality, making it particularly suitable for cinematic content and dark environments. Priced more competitively than some other OLED options, it showcases a straightforward design with integrated inputs.
While it may not be as bright or as affordable as MiniLED displays, which are gaining popularity in the market, the C5 still holds its ground during this competitive year in television offerings.
LG C5 Specifications
Sizes: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 inches
Pricing (MSRP):
- 42″: $1,399.99
- 48″: $1,599.99
- 55″: $1,999.99
- 65″: $2,699.99
- 77″: $3,699.99
- 83″: $5,399.99
Panel Type: OLED evo (4K OLED)
Operating System: webOS 25
Screen Resolution: 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160)
HDR Support: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
Native Refresh Rate: 120Hz (VRR 144Hz)
Connectivity: 4× HDMI (1× eARC), 1× RF, 1× Ethernet (LAN), 1× optical S/PDIF, 3× USB 2.0
LG C5 Design: Ultra-thin, Premium Build
Summary: This model is among the most stylish I've encountered this year.
The LG C5 makes an impressive first impression. Its ultra-thin profile, though slightly challenging to unpack, instantly suggests high quality and thoughtful design.
I appreciate that LG has acknowledged the possibility of a beautifully thin display while still incorporating hardwired inputs at the back of the television, unlike some competitors.
The rear of the C5 features a faux black marble finish, which, while not often seen after mounting, is a nice detail.
Despite its weight, it feels well-constructed, so having assistance when setting it up and mounting it is advisable.
The stand of the C5 has a brushed metal plate on the more visible front, while the back is made of hard plastic.
Though not as heavy as some all-metal stands I've seen, it is nonetheless sturdy.
My main issue with the LG C5's design is actually the remote, which feels flimsy, is lightweight, and lacks backlighting.
An LG OLED undoubtedly targets a more premium market segment, so it’s puzzling why they cut corners here.
For example, my Roku streamer comes with a backlit remote, and other brands like TCL provide backlit remotes in their QM8K and QM9K models, which are priced lower than the LG C5 for similar sizes. Surely LG had the budget for this but chose not to include it for some reason.
Design Score: 8/10
LG C5 Interface: Slow, Unintuitive, and Feels Dated
Summary: webOS is probably my least favorite TV interface, but its impact is minimal.
I found the webOS interface on the LG C5 to be frustratingly slow. The menus lag noticeably, the TV takes time to boot up, and the overall navigation isn’t intuitive. The interface lacks visual appeal and feels cluttered.
However, when it comes to a TV's interface, I note that it may not matter as much anymore—most apps are used infrequently after initial setup. Once logged in, most users will likely rely on the remote's shortcuts.
Or, like me, you may be one of the millions using streaming devices connected via HDMI. I mainly need webOS for changing to HDMI 1, which was also cumbersome.
Interface Score: 5/10
LG C5 SDR Picture: Fantastic Color, Slightly Dark
Summary: The LG C5 demonstrates near-reference-level color accuracy.
In SDR, the color fidelity of the LG C5 is nearly perfect right out of the box. I measured brightness at 100 nits in filmmaker mode with all additional image processing features disabled, achieving a Delta E average of 0.32, with a maximum of 0.78. This is impressive for a TV that hasn't undergone calibration yet.
The C5 delivers a sharp image with excellent color volume, covering around 97% of DCI-P3. However, I found the brightness lacking, as the image often appeared too dark, particularly in well-lit spaces. Peak brightness was measured at about 600 nits. For comparison
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LG C5 OLED review: an exquisite television, in the appropriate environment
While it may not be as bright or inexpensive as MiniLED displays, which are becoming more prevalent in the market, the LG C5 manages to hold its own in a highly competitive year for televisions.