LG C1 (OLED65C1) OLED TV review | ultimate gaming TV

The LG C1 is an exclusive 4k OLED flat screen, offering excellent picture performance, an advanced smart platform and best-in-class connectivity for next-generation gamers. But plan to add a soundtrack, as its sound is invisible.

The LG C1 is a well-equipped 4k OLED TV available in screen sizes of 48, 55, 65, 77 and 83 inches (OLED485C1, OLED55C1, OLED65C1, OLED77C1 and OILED83C1 respectively). The sample of our test bench is the 65-inch model.

What does the LG C1 TV do?

• The LG C1 is a Freeview Play OLED TV with a sophisticated webOS 6.0 smart platform.
• Its Freeview Play tuner offers all the major players to catch up on TV
• The OLED screen offers perfect black and excellent details in the shade when viewed in a dark room
• It boasts Dolby Vision IQ, designed to make HDR programs look better when viewed in bright rooms
• It will output Dolby Atmos cinematic audio to a Dolby Atmos soundtrack or home theater system
• There is a game optimization mode to set up the kit for a better console experience
• It can display high-speed games at 4k 120 frames per second from the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X
• Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa

The 65-inch C1 sells for around £ 1899. The 48-, 55-, 77- and 83-inch models are listed at £ 1,299, £ 1,399, £ 3,499 and £ 5,499, respectively.

C1 bristles with intelligent functionality. It works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, uses ThinQ AI’s own smart machine for voice control and search, and has a streaming platform, a web operating system, with comprehensive application support. If you want a very catchy TV, you’ve come to the right place.

Manual control is performed through the latest version of LG’s Magic Remote. This stopper differs from competing pointers in that it presents a cursor on the screen to click and drag things.

The LG C1 is a super slim OLED display, with electronics and inputs filling its lower third. The quality of workmanship and the overall coverage is high.

The center-weighted stand has an almost full width front, so the screen is almost flush with your furniture. There is no space to place a soundtrack underneath.

The connectivity is excellent. There are four HDMI inputs, all of which have the latest v2.1 specification. They support 4k @ 120Hz sources, good news for discerning gamers.

There is also a digital optical audio output, three USB and Ethernet. The wireless connection comes via Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Wi-Fi.

Initial setup and setup are easy, guided by on-screen prompts. Make sure you have your Wi-Fi password nearby.

Straight out of the box, the LG C1 offers great image quality. The photos are superbly sharp, with vibrant colors and excellent contrast. Like all OLED screens, the kit’s self-luminous pixels provide deep black with very fine detail in the shadows.

When it comes to HDR performance, the kit shines. We measured the peak HDR brightness at about 750 nits. That’s enough for bright light accents with HDR content, which add extra depth and texture to images and make sporting events look more three-dimensional.

The C1’s Alpha 9 image engine uses AI techniques, including deep learning, to optimize real-time images. AI Picture Pro mode applies noise and sharpness reduction, while AI Brightness gives a boost in HDR style to regular SDR programs. The kit looks best with natural 4k programs from Netflix, Prime Video and Disney +, but also improves HD material.

HDR support covers regular HDR, HLG and Dolby Vision IQ, but not HDR10 +. Prime Video prefers the latest standard and it is a pity that LG does not offer compatibility.

In terms of audio, the C1 is largely invisible. It has a 40W sound system, so it will certainly play loud and is compatible with Dolby Atmos, but the downward array of speakers is not good enough to give true justice to the soundtracks in the cinema. It will work and is good for uncritical listening, but it’s best to budget for a soundtrack or home theater system if you plan to make the most of your movie nights.

If you’re shopping for a premium 4K TV with premium picture quality and advanced connectivity, the LG C1 should be close to the top of your list. In terms of performance and value, this is a winner.

But there are (small) warnings. We like the latest smart platform for webOS, but it could be a little more user-friendly and offer more customization. At least there is no shortage of streaming services and catch-up TV applications.