LG C2 OLED TV Review: Best High-End TV for the Money

Over the past several years, LG’s “C” series OLED televisions have become a leading choice for consumers seeking the best high-performance TV value, and the C2 model continues this trend. The C2 delivers superior picture quality surpassing any non-OLED television encountered, offers an expanded selection of sizes including a newly introduced 42-inch variant, all while maintaining a reasonable price point.

However, this year’s OLED TV market presents increased competition. Samsung, LG’s primary competitor, has also entered the OLED arena, touting improved color reproduction with a brand-new QD-OLED display panel. Sony also offers two distinct OLED options, including their own QD-OLED version which appears visually impressive. Additionally, the prevalence of mini-LED TVs has expanded in 2022, promising impressive picture performance at a more accessible cost than OLED.

While the C2 excels, it does not represent a significant advancement over its predecessors. Direct comparisons between the C2 and the previous year’s LG C1 OLED TV revealed very similar visual output, despite the C2 incorporating the new “Evo” panel, a key component among the 2022 enhancements promoted by LG.

Comprehensive reviews of other 2022 OLED TVs are pending, but initial observations suggest that substantial improvements over the C2 are unlikely. The C2 also benefits from a more affordable price and a wider range of available sizes compared to models like the LG G2 and QD-OLED TVs. It also outperforms QLED televisions such as the Samsung QN90B and TCL 6-Series. For these reasons, the LG C2 is considered a top choice as the best high-end TV for the money in 2022.

LG C2 OLED TV: Size Options and Series Overview

This review is based on a practical assessment of the 65-inch OLED C2, but the conclusions are generally applicable to other sizes within the series. All models share identical specifications and are expected to provide comparable picture quality. Exceptions include the 42-inch and 48-inch versions, which do not feature the “Evo” panel and may exhibit slightly reduced brightness compared to larger sizes (although the difference is likely minimal, based on comparisons with the non-Evo C1).

The C2 series occupies a central position within LG’s 2022 OLED TV product line, offering a diverse selection of screen sizes and encompassing all anticipated features of a premium television. Opting for the higher-tier G2 model provides a marginally brighter panel, according to LG, along with a wall-mountable “gallery” design. The more budget-conscious A2 omits HDMI 2.1 gaming functionalities, a 120Hz refresh rate, and advanced processing capabilities present in other 2022 LG OLED models.

Enhanced Design: Lighter Build and Expansive Display

The C2 presents an aesthetically pleasing design, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic consistent with previous LG OLED TVs, with subtle refinements for 2022. During setup, a notable difference was immediately apparent: the C2’s reduced weight compared to the C1, with weight reductions reaching up to 47 percent depending on the size. The 65-inch review unit weighed only 41 pounds with its stand, significantly less than the 72 pounds of the 65-inch C1.

LG attributes the lighter weight to the incorporation of new carbon-fiber materials, evident in the television’s rear panel construction. The panel edges also exhibit a slightly more squared-off profile. The narrower bezel, reduced by 6mm compared to the C1, contributes to an even more immersive, full-screen viewing experience, although this subtle difference might be imperceptible without direct side-by-side comparison. The stand design features a significantly smaller footprint than the previous model and elevates the panel slightly higher above the surface, considered beneficial improvements.

Regrettably, LG retained the same remote control. Personal preference leans towards simpler remote layouts, such as those found with Samsung and Roku/TCL, due to a growing aversion to overly complex button arrangements. LG’s remote does incorporate motion control for cursor navigation and a scroll wheel for menu traversal.

Smart TV Platform and Menu System

LG’s WebOS smart TV interface is not a top preference, primarily due to its cluttered presentation. The interface includes notification banners, weather updates, login prompts, a curated “Trending Now” content section, and finally, the application list. Account login enables a new 2022 feature: personalized recommendations and multiple user profiles. LG emphasizes the ability to set up favorite sports teams, but most users may bypass the interface clutter and directly access desired applications. Simpler interfaces like Roku are generally preferred, and Google TV is a stronger option for users desiring extensive customization. For a premium television like the C2, utilizing a dedicated streaming device is recommended for optimal user experience.

Another new feature for 2022 is “always ready” mode. Instead of complete screen power-off, the TV can display art wallpapers, a clock, “sound palette” visuals, or custom images. Designed for users who prefer displaying content rather than a blank screen, this feature is analogous to Samsung’s ambient mode. Personal preference favors energy conservation, so disabling this feature and powering off the TV remains the preferred approach.

The elements within the always-ready feature and LG’s screensaver incorporate movement to mitigate potential burn-in risk. It’s important to remember that like all OLED TVs, the C2 is more susceptible to both temporary and permanent image retention, also known as burn-in, compared to LCD TVs. However, the risk remains low, and burn-in should not deter most consumers from considering an OLED TV. Refer to dedicated guides on OLED burn-in for detailed information.

LG also introduced a multiview feature, enabling simultaneous display of two sources side-by-side or picture-in-picture. However, its functionality is limited. Displaying two HDMI inputs concurrently is not supported, and the primary function – phone screen mirroring alongside an input – was incompatible with Apple AirPlay in testing. The C2 does support Apple’s screen mirroring and also facilitates Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa voice commands via the remote or, new for 2022, hands-free voice control when using the designated wake word like “Alexa.”

Connectivity and Gaming Capabilities

LG continues to prioritize robust connectivity. All 2022 LG OLED models (excluding the A2) incorporate the latest HDMI 2.1 standard. This ensures HDMI ports are capable of handling 4K resolution at 120 frames per second and variable refresh rate (VRR) technologies (including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync), as well as enhanced audio return channel (eARC) and automatic low latency mode (ALLM) for game mode auto-switching. These features maximize compatibility with advanced graphics features found in PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles, along with high-performance graphics cards. Uniquely among high-end TVs, all four HDMI ports on the C2 support 4K/120Hz, making it ideal for gamers with multiple current-generation gaming devices.

• Four HDMI inputs with HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.2
• Three USB 2.0 ports
• Optical digital audio output
• RF (antenna) input
• RS-232 port (minijack, for service only)
• Ethernet (LAN) port

LG OLED C2: Visual Performance Analysis

Comparative assessments involved available high-performing TVs, with the LG C1 from the previous year as the sole OLED competitor. Being early in 2022, the C2 was the only current-year model in the comparison group; comparisons with other 2022 TVs will be conducted when available. The comparison lineup included:

TV Shows and Movies: The LG C2 delivers exceptional picture quality; however, direct comparison with the 2021 C1 revealed minimal perceptible improvements. Objective measurements supported these initial findings: both TVs exhibited nearly identical performance metrics and maintained excellent accuracy in their optimized picture modes. Both OLED TVs surpassed the TCL TVs in the comparison for overall image quality, as anticipated.

The comparison commenced with familiar high dynamic range (HDR) content, specifically the demo montage from the Spears & Munsil HDR benchmark 4K Blu-ray. Both OLED TVs presented equally compelling visuals. Perfect black levels and absence of blooming (stray light) in scenes like honey dripping and cityscapes resulted in superior contrast compared to the LCD-based TCL TVs. While full-screen bright scenes (snowscapes, deserts) on the TCL TVs appeared brighter than the OLEDs, smaller highlights, like a Ferris wheel at night, were actually brighter on the LGs. Light meter measurements indicated marginally higher brightness for the C2 on the Ferris wheel scene, though this difference was visually imperceptible. Enhanced color saturation and naturalness were observed on the LGs, particularly in reds like strawberries and flowers.

Switching to television content, Severance from Apple TV Plus was played on all sets with similar outcomes. The dark scenes in Episode 2, during Helly’s surgery, depicted more realistic and accurate blacks on the OLEDs, without blooming artifacts seen around operating lights on the TCLs. The brightness advantage of LCDs was evident in the office training scene, but faces of Mark and Helly appeared less dimensional and defined. Again, differentiating between the C1 and C2 visually proved challenging.

Gaming Performance: Similar to general content, OLED TVs outperformed LCDs in side-by-side gaming comparisons, although the two LG OLEDs again exhibited very close performance. The C1 was a top gaming TV in the prior year, and the C2 offers minor improvements.

LG’s Game Optimizer mode provides numerous adjustable settings, with an improved overlay menu that organizes options logically, placing VRR and FPS information prominently, along with shortcuts to features like the new Dark Room mode. Dark Room mode dims the image to reduce eye strain, but despite frequent dark-room gaming, its utility was limited. Playing Horizon Forbidden West in HDR on PS5, Dark Mode diminished the visual impact of the moonlit forest and muted the mountain snowscape, but it could be beneficial for users sensitive to bright game sequences.

A new Sports mode is added to picture modes, but as previously, Standard mode was preferred for most games, balancing shadow detail and contrast effectively. FPS mode is suitable for increased shadow visibility, or the Black Stabilizer control can be adjusted (at the cost of image washout). Dedicated gaming-specific adjustments are a valuable feature not commonly found on other TV brands.

Within Game Optimizer, the “Reduce input delay (input lag)” setting offers “Standard” and “Boost” options. Standard, the default for gaming, provides an excellent input lag performance consistent with prior LG OLEDs: approximately 13.5ms for both 1080p and 4K HDR sources. Boost mode further reduces lag to under 10ms for both. However, Boost is limited to 60Hz sources, excluding 120Hz games or VRR. The 3ms lag reduction is likely imperceptible to most users.

Brightness Performance: Despite LG’s claim of 20% increased brightness for the C2 over non-Evo OLED TVs like the C1, measurements did not fully substantiate this. The C2 measured slightly brighter, about seven percent on average, but this difference was not visually apparent in most viewing scenarios. Such minor variations are often attributable to sample variance.

Brightness measurements in nits for comparison TVs, in both brightest and most accurate picture modes, using standard dynamic range (SDR) and high dynamic range (HDR) test patterns, are shown below.

The C2 provides sufficient brightness for virtually any viewing environment, though it is not as bright as competing LCD-based models. As with most TVs, the brightest modes (Vivid on the C2) are color-inaccurate for both HDR and SDR. Accurate measurements for the C2 were obtained using ISF Expert Bright picture mode (Peak Brightness: High) for SDR, and Filmmaker mode for HDR. C2 owners are advised to use these modes for accurate color reproduction in brightly lit rooms. For SDR, disabling Auto Energy Saving (Support > Energy Saving > Energy Saving Step > Off) is needed to achieve maximum brightness.

Like all OLED TVs, the C2’s brightness diminishes considerably when displaying full-screen white content, like a snow scene, but remains adequately bright even in these situations. The C2 screen’s finish effectively preserves black levels, performing better than TCL’s matte finishes in this regard, though TCL models were superior at reflection rejection. The C1 screen appeared marginally more reflective than the C2, but the difference was minor.

Uniformity and Viewing Angle: Consistent with other tested OLEDs, the C2 exhibits exemplary uniformity and viewing angles compared to LCD TVs, showing no significant brightness or color variations across the screen and maintaining nearly perfect image quality from off-axis positions. Comparing the C2 to the C1, a subtle blue and magenta color shift was noted on the C2 at extreme viewing angles, potentially attributable to the Evo panel structure. However, this slight shift is only visible at very wide angles and has minimal real-world impact.

Recommended Picture Settings

The most accurate settings for both HDR and SDR are Cinema and Filmmaker modes, along with the ISF modes available for SDR. For SDR viewing in dark rooms, Cinema mode is recommended (aligning closely with a 2.2 gamma target), while ISF Bright is preferable for brighter environments. For HDR, Filmmaker mode (slightly brighter than Cinema HDR) is suggested. Game Optimizer is optimal for gaming due to its processing optimizations, but it exhibits a cooler color temperature. For best color accuracy in gaming, adjust the color temperature towards red (Picture > Advanced Settings > Color > White Balance > Color temperature > Warm50).

Like many TVs, the C2 includes motion smoothing settings, often referred to as the soap opera effect. Deactivating this feature is generally preferred for TV shows and movies (and it is disabled in Game Optimizer mode to minimize input lag). Experimentation with these settings is possible (Picture > Advanced Settings > Clarity > TruMotion), and they are disabled by default in Cinema and Filmmaker modes.

Refer to TV Testing Methodology for further details on testing procedures.

Portrait Displays Calman calibration software was used in this evaluation.