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LG C3 OLED TV has great picture quality, near-infinite contrast ratio, and deep, inky blacks for an immersive experience. If you’re looking for a top-notch OLED experience, the C3 is excellent; otherwise, consider the more budget-friendly C2 model.
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Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
Released in 2023, the LG C3 OLED TV is the mid-tier option and the most popular in LG’s new OLED product lineup. The OLED lighting style eschews the LED back panel and instead uses individual lit pixels to create an image, a technology used on many of the market’s best TVs.
This creates near-perfect blacks and dynamic brightness levels. The OLED style also eliminates the haloing or blooming effect. Its superb reflection handling and peak brightness in HDR and SDR ensure pleasurable viewing experiences, even in bright rooms or environments with glare.
Equipped with LG’s latest α9 AI Processor Gen6, the C3 promises improved image processing through Brightness Booster Max and AI Tech technologies.
It also boasts four HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports, making it a great option for gamers seeking low input lag and a smooth gaming experience. For more, read our list of the best OLED TVs.
The LG C3 OLED TV has an excellent peak brightness of 474 cd/m² and exceptional reflection handling, suitable for bright rooms or areas with glare.
It also has an Inf. :1 contrast ratio and deep blacks ensure captivating viewing experiences for sports, movies, and gaming. The Gamers will love the low 5.4 ms input lag, offering instantaneous responses to their actions on-screen.
While it has aggressive ABL and potential burn-in concerns, they don’t overshadow the TV’s overall performance. LG’s webOS interface adds user-friendliness, and the support for DTS enhances the audio experience.
The four HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports also cater to PC users. The superb tested response time of 0.2 ms is among the best in the OLED TV category.
ReasonS to Buy
Excellent picture quality
The TV’s bright colors, deep blacks, and excellent reflection handling make it great for gaming, sports, and HDR content. The color gamut tests in at 99.51% color gamut, delivering stellar colors placing it at the top of the OLED category.
The near-infinite contrast ratio for perfect blacks
Displays near-perfect deep black levels, especially in dark rooms, as it boasts an Inf: 1 contrast ratio, which ranks at the very top of the OLED category.
Strong peak brightness
Delivers vibrant displays in brightly lit rooms, as the peak brightness tests at 815 nits, which is slightly above average for OLED TVs.
High-performance motion handling
The TV processes near-immediate commands and handles fast-paced scene changes without blurriness, as tests show it has a 5.4 ms input lag and 0.2 ms response time, both outstanding for OLED TVs.
Fast refresh rate
Images don’t tear during fast-paced scenes due to a 120 Hz refresh rate and VRR support.
Reason to Avoid
Aggressive automatic brightness limiter
ABL can be overactive in bright environments, which reduces image quality and is distracting
Subpar sound quality
Fails to produce strong bass and has distortion when turned up to high volumes
LG C3 OLED TV Specs
Backlight Type
No
Display Type
OLED
HDMI Inputs
4
HDMI Type
HDMI 2.1
HDR Format
Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
HomeKit Compatible
Yes
LED Panel Type
WOLED
Max Resolution
3840 x 2160 (4k)
Number of Audio Channels
7.1.2
Panel Type
–
Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Screen size
42", 48", 55", 65", 75", 83"
Smart Platform
webOS
Speaker Output
20 Watts
Sync Technology
AMD FreeSync Premium, G-Sync
VRR
Yes
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for TVs based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
Color Gamut % (DCI P3 xy)
98.98
Color Gamut % (DCI P3 uv)
99.51
Color Gamut % (Rec 2020 xy)
73.28
Color Gamut % (Rec 2020 uv)
76.01
Color Gamut % (sRGB)
0
Color Gamut % (Rec 709)
0
Color Gamut % (BT.2020)
74.7
Color Gamut % (Adobe RGB)
0
Color Gamut % (BT.709)
0
Contrast Ratio (x:1)
0
SDR Brightness (nits)
383
HDR Brightness (nits)
795
Input Lag (ms)
9.6
Response Time (ms)
2.3
Color Washout (Degrees)
63
Color Shift (Degrees)
34
Brightness Loss (Degrees)
70
Reflections (%)
1.1
Low-Freq Extension (Hz)
80
Freq Response StdDev @ 70db
1.14
Freq Response StdDev @ 80db
1.98
Weighted Total Harmonic Distortion @80db
0.085
Intermodulation Distortion @80db
4.49
EOTF (600 nit delta)
0.0056
EOTF (1000 nit delta)
0.0054
EOTF (4000 nit delta)
0.0051
All Tests
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Released in 2023, the LG C3 OLED TV is the mid-tier option and the most popular in LG’s new OLED product lineup. The OLED lighting…
Released in 2023, the LG C3 OLED TV is the mid-tier option and the most popular in LG’s new OLED product lineup. The OLED lighting style eschews the LED back panel and instead uses individual lit pixels to create an image, a technology used on many of the market’s best TVs.
This creates near-perfect blacks and dynamic brightness levels. The OLED style also eliminates the haloing or blooming effect. Its superb reflection handling and peak brightness in HDR and SDR ensure pleasurable viewing experiences, even in bright rooms or environments with glare.
Equipped with LG’s latest α9 AI Processor Gen6, the C3 promises improved image processing through Brightness Booster Max and AI Tech technologies.
It also boasts four HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports, making it a great option for gamers seeking low input lag and a smooth gaming experience. For more, read our list of the best OLED TVs.
While the LG C3 OLED TV is positioned as a mid-range model, the LG G3 OLED TV is a high-end option with more advanced features….
While the LG C3 OLED TV is positioned as a mid-range model, the LG G3 OLED TV is a high-end option with more advanced features. For example, the C3 is equipped with the α9 AI Processor Gen6, and the G3 boasts Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology in addition to its α9 AI Processor Gen6, meaning the G3 offers more refined image processing and enhanced display performance compared to the C3. Both TVs provide near-infinite contrast ratios and deep, inky blacks. However, the G3 excels in peak brightness due to its Micro Lens Array technology. Check out our LG G3 OLED TV review for a more in-depth look.
The main feature difference between the LG C3 OLED TV and the Samsung S95C OLED TV is that the C3 supports DTS audio formats, whereas…
The main feature difference between the LG C3 OLED TV and the Samsung S95C OLED TV is that the C3 supports DTS audio formats, whereas the Samsung does not, limiting home entertainment options. The other major difference between the two premium televisions is in display quality. The Samsung TV is brighter and holds its brightness better than the LG, especially during gaming mode and when streaming HDR content; it also has superior gradient handling. However, the LG C3 reigns in low-res upscaling for older content. For another glimpse at a competing OLED offering, check out our Sony A95K TV review.
Overall, the LG C3 OLED and C2 are very similar. However, the C3 delivers better brightness than the C2 and a higher resolution, although this…
Overall, the LG C3 OLED and C2 are very similar. However, the C3 delivers better brightness than the C2 and a higher resolution, although this makes low-resolution content come through clearer on the C2. The most significant improvement year over year is the inclusion of DTS audio format support to the C3, which enhances the home entertainment qualities by allowing it to support Blu-ray discs. However, the C2 is similar but significantly cheaper. We also have a couple of other great resources you can check out, like our Samsung S90C TV review or a Vizio M-Series Quantum X TV review.
The LG B3 OLED TV is an entry-level option compared to the higher-end LG C3 OLED TV, making it a more budget-friendly choice for those…
The LG B3 OLED TV is an entry-level option compared to the higher-end LG C3 OLED TV, making it a more budget-friendly choice for those seeking the benefits of OLED technology. The LG C3 OLED TV has the α9 AI Processor Gen6, which promises improved image processing through LG’s Brightness Booster Max and AI Tech technologies. The B3 has an older processor, resulting in differences in upscaling capabilities and overall performance. Both TVs utilize OLED panels, delivering near-infinite contrast ratios and deep blacks, characteristic of OLED technology. For more on this brand, check out our LG UQ9000 TV review.