The LG C2 OLED TV: A Premium Picture Quality Experience with Tradeoffs
If you’re looking for the best premium TV, you’d be remiss to ignore OLED technology. With exceptional contrast, deep blacks, and vibrant colors, OLED sets dominate the high-end TV market. The LG C2 series continues this tradition, offering a successor to the popular C1 and CX models with enhanced performance and features. But with the price tag hovering around Rs. 2,00,000, is the LG C2 55-inch OLED TV truly worth your investment? Let’s delve into the details.
Design and Specifications: A Straightforward Approach
The LG C2 series comes in various sizes, ranging from 42 inches to 83 inches, with the 55-inch variant I’m reviewing priced at Rs. 2,19,990. All models share similar specifications, including Ultra-HD (3840×2160 pixels) resolution, an OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, support for Dolby Vision IQ, and Dolby Atmos audio.
The LG C2 doesn’t boast a flashy, premium design like the similarly-priced Samsung 55QN95B. Instead, it takes a straightforward approach. Its slim profile, narrow borders, and easily accessible ports contribute to a clean aesthetic that focuses attention on the screen. The understated design is further emphasized by the lack of branding on the front, with only a power button, status light, and IR receiver discreetly placed on the bottom bezel.
While not visually dazzling, the LG C2’s design is practical. It’s slim enough for wall mounting, with a low-profile wall mount kit available separately. The included center stand allows for placement on even small tables, offering a compact footprint.
Key Ports and Features:
- Connectivity: Four HDMI ports (all supporting 4K at 120Hz, one with eARC), three USB Type-A ports, LAN, Optical Digital Audio-out, AV-in, antenna and cable sockets, and an analogue socket for an IR blaster.
- Gaming: NVIDIA G-sync, variable refresh rate (VRR), and AMD FreeSync support.
- Wireless: Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.
- Audio: 40W 2.2-channel speaker system.
- Processor: LG’s a9 Gen 5 AI processor 4K, enabling AI-based features for optimized viewing.
Remote Control and Smart Features: A Blend of Traditional and Modern
LG’s signature magic remote, included with the C2 55-inch TV, is a highlight. This full-sized remote, designed with a bottom-heavy grip, utilizes wand-like gestures to create a floating cursor on the screen. You can easily navigate the interface with simple movements. For those who prefer traditional controls, the remote offers a D-pad, scroll wheel, and traditional buttons for a familiar experience.
Remote Key Features:
- Hotkeys: Dedicated buttons for popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar.
- Voice Control: Integrates Google Assistant and Alexa for hands-free control, allowing for simultaneous use of both assistants.
- Additional Buttons: Power, volume, source selection, and quick access to the settings menu.
- LG ThinQ App Integration: Control the TV with your smartphone, including adjusting settings and accessing specific functions.
Smart Features:
- Apple AirPlay and HomeKit Support: Connect and control your Apple devices with ease.
- Hands-Free Voice Control: Use voice commands for a more intuitive experience.
- LG AI ThinQ Suite: This feature "senses" surrounding conditions, including daylight, to automatically adjust picture and sound settings for the best viewing experience.
Software and Interface: A Familiar OS with a New Look
WebOS, the operating system powering LG’s smart TVs, has consistently evolved. While the foundation remains similar, recent updates have introduced a stronger focus on content curation and recommendations. The interface has become more visually immersive, with elements like the Settings menu and source selection overlaying the entire screen.
Major Interface Updates:
- Home Dashboard: A tile-based interface displaying connected devices, AirPlay access, and IoT devices linked through the LG ThinQ app.
- Full-Screen Smart TV Interface: Tiles for weather, content recommendations, apps, and the web browser are displayed across the entire screen, delivering a more immersive experience.
App Library and Performance:
LG has pre-installed popular apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar. Additional apps can be downloaded from the webOS app library, offering a range of entertainment options, games, social media apps, and tools. While not as extensive as the Google Play Store for Android TV, the app library is reasonably well-stocked.
User Experience:
While the webOS platform is functional, I found the overall experience to be slightly cluttered and unpredictable. Certain actions, such as loading content, occasionally took longer than expected. Despite these minor inconveniences, webOS is a reliable and functional system.
LG C2 55-inch OLED TV (OLED55C2PSC) Performance: A Stunning Visual Experience
The LG C2 55-inch TV, with its premium price tag, is expected to deliver a top-tier viewing experience. Fortunately, it doesn’t disappoint. The LG C2 consistently ranks among the best TVs in its segment, thanks to its outstanding picture quality and overall performance.
Picture Performance:
Equipped with support for various HDR formats up to Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Atmos audio, and the pixel-level dimming capabilities inherent to OLED displays, the LG C2 excels in picture quality. Its ability to adapt to content and lighting conditions is truly remarkable, making virtually everything look its best.
Ultra-HD Dolby Vision Content:
The LG C2 55-inch TV shines with Ultra-HD Dolby Vision content. Shows and movies like "Obi Wan Kenobi", "The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals", "Uncharted", and "Man Vs Bee" exhibited incredible contrast levels, thanks to the infinite contrast capabilities of OLED technology. This near-infinite contrast delivers deep, inky blacks without any hint of a struggle or forced exaggeration, a common issue with more affordable OLED TVs.
Color Accuracy and Realism:
The LG C2 emphasizes color accuracy and realism over excessive vibrancy. While not overly saturated, the colors are rich and lifelike, particularly enhanced by Dolby Vision’s expert color handling. This was most noticeable with the stunning visuals of "The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals".
AI-Enhanced Picture Adjustment:
LG’s AI ThinQ technology, which automatically adjusts picture and sound settings based on content and lighting conditions, effectively calibrates the picture. This is most noticeable in the detailed and dark scenes of "Obi Wan Kenobi". While it may take a few minutes for the TV to react to changes in lighting, once adjusted, the picture quality remains impressive.
Brightness Challenges:
One of the primary drawbacks of OLED technology is its relatively limited brightness. While LG claims enhancements in the C2 to address this, it doesn’t truly overcome the limitations. The TV handles dimly lit rooms with ease, but in brighter environments, like during the day with only overcast conditions, the picture suffers. It might be necessary to draw curtains for a comfortable viewing experience in these situations.
Non-HDR Content:
While Dolby Vision and HDR10 content are enjoyable even in bright rooms due to brightness adjustments, non-HDR content presents a challenge. Watching "Better Call Saul" with its dark scenes required a dimly lit room. Although the LG C2 delivered impressive black levels, the overall picture quality sometimes suffered in these situations.
Sharpness and Motion Handling:
Sharpness and motion handling rarely pose issues with the LG C2 55-inch OLED TV. The TV’s ability to dynamically adjust the picture for optimal performance is clearly evident in these areas. Slow-paced scenes, like those in "Man Vs Bee", maintain a sharp focus on facial expressions, while fast-paced action sequences in "Uncharted" exhibit seamless motion with minimal blur and artifacting.
Lower Resolution Content and Upscaling:
The LG C2 performs reasonably well with lower-resolution content. While brightness limitations can impact dark content, bright and colorful content generally displays well. It’s worth noting that the LG C2 outperforms the Philips Ambilight 7900 series TV in handling lower-quality content like "The Batman" on Amazon Prime Video. This shows that the LG C2 prioritizes upscaling and processing low-resolution content.
Sound Quality: Decent, But Room for Improvement
While the LG C2 55-inch TV delivers decent sound quality in certain scenarios, its limitations reveal a need for external audio solutions.
Dolby Atmos and Standard Audio:
Dolby Atmos creates a convincing soundstage, and even standard audio encoding delivers reasonably clear audio at higher volume levels.
Volume Limitations:
The main issue with the sound system is that it requires the volume to be turned up significantly to hear audio properly, especially in a quiet room. Even at 90 percent volume, the sound wasn’t as impactful or loud as some movies deserved.
Recommended Solutions:
For the best audio experience, consider investing in a soundbar or external speaker system to complement the LG C2’s visual performance.
Verdict: A Premium Viewing Experience with Tradeoffs
The LG C2 55-inch TV largely delivers the flagship experience you’d expect from a premium TV. Its exceptional colors, contrast levels, black levels, sharpness, and motion provide a truly enjoyable viewing experience with high-quality content.
However, certain drawbacks, which might be dealbreakers for some viewers, need to be considered:
- Dimmer Brightness: Limited brightness, especially in brighter rooms, can negatively impact the viewing experience.
- Lower-Resolution Content Challenges: The LG C2 struggles to deliver optimal performance with lower-resolution content, particularly darker scenes.
- Weak Built-in Speakers: The built-in speaker system needs to be significantly boosted to hear audio properly, making external sound systems a necessity.
Alternatives to Consider:
If brightness and audio performance are top priorities, the Samsung QN95B might be a better alternative. Its Mini-LED technology delivers exceptional brightness and superior audio capabilities.
Final Thoughts:
Despite its drawbacks, the LG C2 55-inch OLED TV is a strong contender in the premium TV market. Its stunning visual performance, excellent features, and solid design make it a compelling option for viewers seeking a premier entertainment experience. However, potential buyers should be mindful of its brightness limitations, lower-resolution content performance, and the need for external audio solutions to fully unlock its potential.
