The LG C4 is the latest mid-range OLED TV from the Korean brand that has essentially defined this display technology for more than a decade. While not deviating drastically from previous generations, that’s a reflection of the fact that LG has refined this particular model to within an inch of its life over the past few years.
This means you get a sleek and well-made 4K HDR TV that uses the brand’s ‘evo’ OLED panel with Brightness Boosting tech to squeeze every last nit out of its self-emissive pixels. There’s support for HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision (but still no HDR10+), and on the audio side there’s onboard decoding of Dolby Atmos for a more immersive sonic experience.
So, what’s new? Well, the C4 uses the webOS 24 smart platform which boasts a few tweaks along with its usual comprehensive choice of video streaming options. There’s also the seventh generation Alpha9 processor for superior AI-enhanced picture and sound, and you can now use the more accurate Filmmaker mode with Dolby Vision content. If you’re a cutting-edge gamer who’s rocking a high-end PC rig, you’ll also be delighted to discover there’s support for frame rates up to 144Hz.
LG has led the way, in terms of OLED development and image accuracy, over the past 12 years - so my expectations are pretty high for the C4, and if it measures up to its predecessors this 4K TV should make a great allrounder whether it’s for watching movies, hardcore gaming or bingeing your favourite show. Let’s find out…
Picture Quality
The LG OLED65C4 immediately impresses with a picture that displays all the strengths of OLED as a display technology. The blacks are absolute, the shadows just above black are delivered with detail, and the pixel-precise highlights are wonderfully defined. The 4K panel and AI-enhanced Alpha9 Gen7 processing renders images that are sharp and free of any distracting artefacts.
In more general terms the screen uniformity is impressive, with no visible banding or tinting. There are no annoying reflections, and the incredibly wide viewing angles ensure everyone in the lounge has a good view. As a reviewer I am delighted to measure errors in Filmmaker mode that are well below the visible threshold, even if as a professional calibrator it puts me out of a job!
The motion-handling is also excellent, with Cinematic Movement working well at improving the perceived movement without losing that all-important film-like quality. However, anyone susceptible to the effects of motion-smoothing on film-based content are best advised to turn TruMotion off - but it is worth experimenting with the different settings on sports content.
OLED has an inherent contrast advantage with both SDR and HDR - but when it comes to the latter, Brightness Booster does what it says on the tin. The processor also analyses the signal and applies Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro, which breaks the image down into thousands of blocks to tone map in a more precise and efficient manner - each frame is analysed, and objects are enhanced for superior visual perception by adding greater depth and sharpness to the image.
If I might get technical for a moment: when it comes to HDR, the C4 hits just over 1000 nits on a 10% window and 200 nits on a full-field pattern. While not as bright as some LCD models, and even some higher-end OLED TVs, this brightness in combination with those self-emissive pixels delivers an awesome contrast performance. Once you add LG’s AI-enhanced processing to the mix, the result is a dynamic presentation that’s sure to please even the most demanding of cinephiles.
HDR isn’t just about brightness, of course, and the C4 covers 99% of the wider DCI-P3 colour gamut - and does so with exceptional levels of accuracy. Crucially, the tone mapping tracks the HDR target curve precisely and thus retains the content creator’s artistic intent. The C4 passes all my tests, producing pictures that not only have greater impact but do so accurately in terms of colour and tone mapping, with no signs of clipping in the highlights or crush in areas just above black.
The C4 supports HDR10 (as evidenced by the sumptuous images in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2) and Dolby Vision, with the latter really showing off the benefits of its dynamic metadata. To put it simply: the more information you have to work with the better the results - and whether it's Batman’s fight in a pitch-black hallway illuminated only by muzzle flashes, or epic battles against a backdrop of burning spaceships, everything the C4 displays looks mesmerising.
Sound Quality
The LG OLED65C4 sounds pretty good when you consider its ultra-slim proportions - but there’s only so much you can do with a sound system based on a pair of downward-firing drivers. LG’s AI Acoustic Tuning certainly helps by optimising the audio for your specific environment, though, and the Adaptive Sound Control tweaks the delivery based on real-time analysis of the signals and effective use of the TV’s 2.2-channel speaker system and 40W of built-in amplification.
The C4 supports Dolby Atmos decoding, and the processing is capable of generating a greater sense of immersion with objected-based audio, while non-Atmos soundtracks benefit from AI Sound Pro, which gives the soundstage greater dimensionality. The processing also makes dialogue clearer by bringing it forward in the mix and improving the intelligibility, plus there’s the Dynamic Sound Booster feature for giving the sonics an added kick in the pants.
While the C4 can handle general TV viewing, given its picture and gaming prowess you really should consider investing in a soundbar and enjoying the power, scale and deep bass that perfectly complements the big-screen images. If you decide to buy an LG soundbar (and why wouldn’t you?) make sure it supports WOW Orchestra - because then you can combine the TV’s speakers with those in the soundbar to create a synchronised and cohesive audio system.
Living with
The LG C4 is available in a range of screen sizes, from a 42in version that would make a great high-quality gaming monitor to a huge 83in model that’s ideal for anyone planning a home cinema. The sample reviewed here was the 65-incher, which is the perfect size if you want a TV that can deliver big screen action, immersive gaming, and all your favourite sport in exquisite detail.
The design remains unchanged from previous generations, with the same sleek chassis that widens out towards the bottom where the electronics, connections and speakers are housed. The screen is almost bezel-less, while the rear now boasts a stone-like finish that’s rather attractive.
The sloped stand is robust, and retains the smaller footprint that makes installing on a narrow surface easier. There’s also the choice of wall mounting using a standard 300 x 200 VESA bracket, or an optional Synergy Bracket offered by LG and designed to match its USC9S soundbar.
The C4 is a cinch to set up thanks to LG’s excellent webOS 24 smart platform and app. The operating system has been tweaked with the addition of three layers for recommendations, apps, and Q-cards. The latter can be arranged by theme, such as Game, Music, Sports etc, and they can also be curated for each user profile – which makes it easier to access your favourite content.
LG has added a new AI assistant called Chatbot that’s accessible via Q-card, quick menu or voice, and is designed to answer any set-up questions. In addition, webOS 24 has Amazon Alexa built-in, which can be accessed using the microphone on the zapper - and best of all, the brand has promised to support the webOS system with a minimum of five years of upgrades.
The C4 ships with LG’s Magic Remote, which remains the best controller around thanks to its on-screen pointer for quick, easy and intuitive navigation. It’s comfortable to hold, and has direct access buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and Rakuten TV, along with Alexa and the LG Channels. There’s also a microphone for voice interaction, and an NFC tag for quick connectivity.
Speaking of connectivity, the physical inputs are all located along the left-hand-side as you face the screen, where you’ll find four HDMI 2.1 inputs that support ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, and 4K at up to 144Hz with VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) for high-frame-rate gaming, along with eARC (enhanced audio return channel) on input number two.
There are also terrestrial and satellite tuners, a 3.5mm audio output, an optical digital output, an Ethernet port, three USB 2.0 ports and a CI (common interface) slot. In terms of wireless connections there’s built-in dual-band wi-fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 and support for Apple AirPlay 2, plus the C4 supports LG’s WOWCAST for a wireless connection to appropriate soundbars.
When it comes to gaming, the C4 offers more than just ALLM and VRR up to 144Hz. It also supports Nvidia G-Sync and AMD Freesync Premium, which makes it a great choice for those with high-specced PC rigs - and once you add a super-low input that goes down to 5ms, you’ve got a responsive gaming experience with smooth motion that’s free of tearing and stutter.
There’s a choice of six different game modes – Standard, FPS, RPG, RTS, Sports and User – plus an expanded Game Bar that pops up when the Settings button is pressed. It offers all the key game-related information and controls in a clearly laid-out interface, and also provides access to the Game Dashboard, where you can precisely control every aspect of your gaming experience.
Conclusion
The LG OLED65C4 is a first-class mid-range OLED - it delivers the kind of image accuracy I’ve come to expect from the brand, while also adding AI-enhanced picture processing to squeeze every last detail out of those self-emissive pixels. As a result, the performance with both SDR and HDR is fantastic, with inky blacks, sparkling highlights and vivid but natural colours, while highly accurate tone mapping ensures the content creator’s original artistic intentions are faithfully retained.
The design is elegantly sleek, the build quality excellent, and the sonic performance surprisingly good thanks to AI-enhanced immersive audio. The Magic Remote remains a joy to use, while webOS 24 is intuitive, comprehensive, and supported for the next five years. Gamers will be delighted by the addition of support for frame rates up to 144Hz, along with a host of other features and lighting fast response times, making this 4K HDR OLED TV an impressive allrounder.
Viewing Notes
The Batman (4K Disc)
What better way to test an OLED’s ability to deliver deep blacks and retain detail just above them than the crime-ridden streets of Gotham City? The OLED65C4’s contrast performance perfectly handles the Dark Knight’s vigilante justice with the night-time streets bathed in well-defined shadows, while the rain and neon pops out through the gloom. It’s exactly what the filmmakers meant you to see.
Dune part 2 (4K Disc)
The sun-bleached deserts of Arrakis and the brutal monochromatic arenas of Geidi Prime will push a display’s ability to handle bright pictures across the entire screen while keeping all the detail in highlights, and the C4 distinguishes itself with great aplomb thanks to the ‘evo’ panel and Brightness Booster ensuring these scenes retain the full effect of their retina-scorching imagery.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (4K Disc)
This fun sequel is a riot of day-glo colours and punchy primaries, which is befitting of a comic book movie - and the C4’s ability to deliver the entire DCI-P3 gamut accurately ensures the scenes on Ego’s planet are vividly saturated, while also remaining naturally nuanced. The result is a spectacular colour performance that really pops, especially when combined with the highlights.
If you’re looking for a mid-range 4K HDR TV that combines all the benefits of OLED with AI-enhanced picture processing and the kind of image accuracy that’ll terrify any self-respecting calibrator, then this TV is for you. But it isn’t just for film fanatics, a host of next-gen features and controls allows gamers to customise the best possible experience for themselves.
