At a stare
Skilled’s Ranking
ProsStunning describe qualityGreat for gamingSmart centre stand on clear sizesConsNot great various from the C2 (which is cheaper)Preset modes for describe offer mixed qualitySound quality will be betterOur VerdictThe LG C3 OLED is a stunner for movies, games and extra and is an out of this world TV. Then again, it barely improves on final year’s model, which is much less costly. Unless you happen to accumulate the C3 with a enormous good buy, it’s exhausting to counsel paying the extra.
Sign When ReviewedFrom $1399 | Model reviewed $2600
Most keen Costs Today: LG C3 OLED (2023)
$1249.99
$5,296.99
LG’s C-sequence is one in every of potentially the most neatly-most in vogue OLED TV ranges within the marketplace, and for factual motive. With beautiful describe quality, a easy-to-navigate interface and a slim, excessive-quality invent, they’re exhausting to beat.
This year, the C-sequence hasn’t fairly had the identical glow-up as LG’s extra top class G-sequence, which draw that there isn’t too great that has modified from the C2 – but don’t write off the C3 whenever you happen to’re wanting for an OLED TV. That remains a actually perfect and versatile TV that you just won’t remorse buying.
Construct and invent
Slimline designSix show camouflage sizesStand integrated, but additionally wall-mountableThe C3 has retained a identical develop to its predecessor, the C2. It is stunningly slim at 45mm / 1.8in thick, with a nearly bezel-much less existing, which draw that you just fetch potentially the most out of that panel. It comes in six sizes, fluctuate from 42- to 82in.
The panel wrap has a top class deep silver attain, with all ports and speakers are tucked away neatly at the abet with the integrated panel covers and fittings – ideal whenever you happen to’re a danger in relation to cable management.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Constructing the TV in all equity easy with the integrated instructions, despite the fact that I chose to converse the stand slightly than wall mounting it. On the 65in model I examined, the stand sits without delay within the centre, with out taking up too great space. That’s preferable whenever you happen to don’t procure a large TV bench to accommodate toes at every stay.
It’s worth noting that the smallest and largest variations of this TV procure slightly various setups. The 42in model comes with toes both aspect, while the 83in has an valuable greater centre stand to address that ginormous panel.
The centre-mount stand it successfully-organized yet sturdy, and leaves quite so a lot of room for various home leisure bundle such as games consoles. It’s integrated within the box, and is something you don’t fetch with the G3.
LG has caught with its magic a long way off develop, which entails a rollerball within the center for navigation. This accelerates entry in on-show camouflage keyboards (for logging into apps or making searches) however the cursor is slightly over-still. There are additionally sizzling keys for some apps alongside side Netflix and Top Video.
The a long way off additionally has a microphone button for tell commands. This factual for overall controls, but isn’t as intuitive because the Roku a long way off or Google Assistant.
Then again, as a a long way off, it’s enormous. The buttons procure clear lettering and protruding dots and various markings that are easy to feel with out taking a survey to survey what you’re urgent. This additionally gives it better accessibility than various TV remotes.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Specs & aspects
4x HDMI 2.1 portswebOS 23 with large fluctuate of streaming appsG-Sync, FreeSyncIf you’d like a TV that can tackle a large fluctuate of devices, right here is it. There are four HDMI 2.1 ports on the LG C3 that pork up 4K and 120Hz refresh charges. There’s additionally an eARC port, must you wish to join a soundbar.
You’ll accumulate an ethernet port, an optical audio output, two RF inputs (you fetch dwell TV through Freeview within the UK) and a CI slot. There are additionally three USB ports, plus Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.
The LG C3 runs webOS. Tidied up slightly since final year, the layout of the home show camouflage is easy and simple to navigate, with immense playing cards for the many sections and apps. Plus, there isn’t an distinguished decision of commercials and bloat as you’ll accumulate on, remark, Amazon Fire TVs. The menu is silent to navigate, and no apps crashed at some stage in testing.
Speaking of apps, there’s a large fluctuate to come to a decision from, alongside side Netflix, Disney+, Top Video, Now, BBC iPlayer and extra arena of interest ones such because the gaming provider Twitch and the sports activities channel DAZN which aren’t in vogue on beautiful TVs.
LG additionally entails a dedicated home part, where you can maybe perchance maybe arrange your beautiful home lighting, Topic merchandise and extra. In dispute for you the TV to behave as a decorative fragment for your living room, then you definately can leave it in ‘Frequently Ready’ mode, with the existing cycling through various issues.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Can procure to you’re a gamer, the LG C3 is a solid decision. There is a dedicated Game Optimiser mode, with a panel that helps you to alter the colors for the sport you’re taking part in, tweak the physique rate and latency. There are additionally two choices for VRR (variable refresh rate) with AMD Freesync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync pork up.
The TV is like minded with the LG ThinQ app, that you just might perchance maybe perchance maybe converse portion videos and photos and converse your smartphone as a further a long way off control.
In dispute for you a TV that can tackle a large fluctuate of devices, right here is it
Record and sound quality
LG’s sixth technology a9 AI ProcessorEight describe modesDolby Vision, HDR10, HLG and Dolby Atmos supportThe C3 has the identical Evo panel from the C2, which might perchance perchance maybe perchance appear like a disappointment but there’s no denying it still delivers amazing 4K describe quality. This implies it additionally has the identical 100Hz refresh rate (120Hz in some areas) and the Brightness Enhance characteristic.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
One distinction is that the C3 gets LG’s sixth-technology a9 AI Processor, which the firm claims to enhance upscaling for better clarity and to pork up dynamic tone mapping.
The proof, as ever, is within the pudding. And the C3 produces striking, sparkling colours as successfully as managing to bring factual murky shades with out sacrificing distinction. Stunning valuable points on skin, garments and the ambiance appear factual to lifestyles and dad with clarity. That is critically noticeable on nature documentaries, where scales on reptiles are incredibly clear, with the show camouflage shooting a fluctuate of shades distinctly.
And it in actuality doesn’t matter what you’re staring at because the C3 handles a fluctuate of screech material perfectly, being factual as spectacular for a football match as it’s for having fun with a Surprise movie. I had no points with glare when staring at in a luminous room, despite the fact that the panel shines easiest when staring at after dusky and you completely won’t must speak it without delay dealing with a window due to the the reflections.
Oddly, LG has height brightness disabled within the settings, so in dispute for you to fetch the finest HDR performance from your contemporary steal, it’s top to place this to excessive. And HDR is lovely on the C3, factual as you’d are waiting for.
Valid as it’s, the C3 can’t match the extra costly G3 which advantages from a recent MLA (Micro Lens Array) OLED panel. In the announcement for the 2023 fluctuate, LG’s data showed that the C3 is 50% dimmer than the G3, but it with out a doubt is still 20% brighter than the cheaper B3 model.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in actuality shone why it came to HDR performance, with the C3 displaying neon lights and sweeping galaxies in all their complexities.
It supports for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, despite the fact that LG has once extra skipped on HDR10+ pork up – something to retain in mind whenever you happen to’re a subscriber of Amazon Top Video, as right here is one in every of the valuable formats for that streaming provider.
For those that first turn on the TV, LG will decide you to a personalised describe mode, this skill that that you just can alter the colors and phases the utilization of visual guides.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
On prime of that, there are eight various describe presets to come to a decision from, despite the fact that you just can maybe perchance maybe additionally alter colours and balance manually at any time to your tastes. The Same old mode does a enormous job for most kinds of screech material, as does the Auto Energy Assign mode, which is factual slightly dimmer but – because the name states – uses much less energy.
Both Sports activities and Racy hugely oversaturate colours with greens and oranges namely are obvious and garish. Then again, Cinema mode gives a deeper, moodier tone that’s ideally for night-time staring at.
Some describe modes routinely allow TruMotion routinely – LG’s length of time for scoot smoothing. While acceptable in some scenarios, such as in clear scoot movies and like a flash-consuming sports activities, it feels jarring and unnatural quite so a lot of the time – it critically detracted from the fantastically engaging movie, Into the Spider-Verse.
Therefore, whenever you happen to love one particular describe mode, you can maybe perchance maybe merely tweak the scoot smoothing settings to your need.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Enabling Game Optimiser mode on the C3 draw much less enter scoot, making the TV snappy and responsive to love a flash-scoot scoot. It’s a sexy decision whenever you happen to might perchance perchance maybe perchance merely procure got a PS5 or Xbox Sequence X, however the enormous upscaling meant it became still a pleasure to play Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the Nintendo Swap, alongside side extra flare to an already beautiful game.
Upscaling is additionally a treat for TV shows and flicks that aren’t in 4K, making HD screech material crisper and extra detailed. Then again, on some apps like Channel 4 there generally is a delay of some seconds sooner than this kicks in. It even manages to assemble in vogue-definition channels watchable – no imply feat on a 65in panel.
Built-in TV speakers will not ever match the depth and energy of a standalone soundbar or hi-fi speakers, however the LG C3’s completely attain a factual job. The audio still fills the room, with clearly distinguishable lows, mids and highs. Toughen for Dolby Atmos adds extra depth with like minded shows and flicks.
Upscaling is additionally a treat for TV shows and flicks that aren’t in 4K
As soon as again, there are preset modes for audio to suit your preferences, alongside side LG’s gain AI Sound Knowledgeable mode, which is meant to repeat the sound produced by 9.1.2 surround speakers.
I didn’t like this characteristic at all. It makes all the issues great louder, and there’s a noticeable focal level on mid-fluctuate frequencies, however the valuable arena became that it made all the issues sound very echo-y and noisy. I counsel sticking with both the cinema or tune modes for the finest punchy bass and balancing.
Can procure to you’re haunted about traumatic your neighbours, then you definately can additionally allow computerized sound adjustment to ensure your quantity stays at one stage, purposeful whenever you happen to’re staring at a movie with quite so a lot of explosions or soar scares.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Sign & availability
The LG C3 prices commence from $1399/£1500, with the 65in model coming in at $2600/£2899. Then again, those are the non-discounted prices and we’ve already viewed the C3 on sale for slightly not up to those at the time of writing.
In the US, you can maybe perchance maybe buy the C3 from LG, Amazon, Target and Most keen Capture. UK readers within the meantime can buy it from LG, Amazon, Currys and John Lewis. Can procure to you dispute the 65in or above from LG’s web page within the UK, then the firm will throw in installation for gratis. That doesn’t encompass wall mounting, despite the fact that, so it isn’t a the profit it can maybe maybe perchance merely seem like.
Then again, sooner than you dispute one, it’s top to come to a decision into narrative buying an LG C2 as any other, given the similarities between the two models. It’s now accessible at an distinguished good buy, making it around $1000/£1000 cheaper than the C3 for the identical show camouflage size.
The peril might perchance perchance maybe perchance trade later this year, with enormous reductions on TVs around Gloomy Friday, as an illustration, but whenever you happen to’re after a TV factual now, the C2 provides better bang to your buck.
You might maybe perchance maybe additionally opt for the G3 to make potentially the most of that brighter panel, despite the fact that this might perchance perchance maybe perchance merely place you abet around a worthy extra.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Build in mind that the LG C3 has an energy ranking of F, so isn’t potentially the most economical TV. That you might perchance decrease down on energy bills by selecting the many energy saving modes but, let’s face it, you’re potentially not eager on buying an costly OLED TV whenever you happen to’re haunted about working charges.
That you might perchance see how the LG C3 compares to rivals in our record of the finest TVs, which entails various OLED models, as successfully as Mini-LED choices.
Verdict
Can procure to you’re wanting for a actually perfect OLED TV that can tackle a fluctuate of screech material expertly, then the LG C3 wants to be for your record – with its luminous and plucky describe quality, a fluctuate of ports and choices for avid gamers and a swish develop that will assemble for a ideal centrepiece for your room.
AI Sound Knowledgeable leaves something to be desired, as attain the Sports activities and Racy describe modes that assemble the colors appear overexposed. It additionally isn’t a huge jump up in quality from the LG C2, which is currently an valuable extra aggressive choice for readers factual now.
Nonetheless, in dispute for you potentially the most recent TV technology but can’t assemble the jump to LG’s extra top class G3 model, then the C3 will still provoke.
Specs
Sizes: 42/48//55/65/77/83in Model examined: 65in Direct technology: OLED Resolution: 3840 x 2160 4K Refresh rate: 120Hz HDR pork up: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HLG HDMI: x4 (2.1) Tuner: Freeview Play OS: webOS 23 Shapely Platform Dimensions: 1441(w) x 826(h) x 45.1(d)mm (with out stand) Weight: 16.6kg (with out stand)
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