LG C4 OLED review: Brighter with added AI

The C Sequence has lengthy been the spine of LG’s OLED vary, regardless of the G being the flagship mannequin, providing a candy spot in terms of excessive finish efficiency and options. That continues to be the story of the tape in terms of 2024’s C4 OLED.

It might not have the modern specification of its G4 stablemate, however then it’s extra inexpensive, and considerably LG has nonetheless managed to improve the package deal over final 12 months’s already implausible C3 OLED. 

The LG C4 on check is a 65-incher. It’s additionally out there in  42-, 48-, 55-, 77- and 83-inch display sizes with costs beginning at £1,399.99/$1,499 RRP.

The C4 presents increased peak HDR brightness, advantages from an improved processor, and is mostly simpler to reside with, because of AI sound and imaginative and prescient administration. So is the LG C4 your subsequent TV? I wouldn’t wager in opposition to it…

Design & Construct

• Trendy and well-made
• 4 HDMI inputs
• Slimline Magic Distant controller

LG has upped its design sport with the C4, including a cool slate design to the again of the TV. It’s additionally smoothed off the digital bump, giving it a somewhat extra fashionable profile.

The acquainted LG Magic Distant has additionally been slimmed down, so it sits somewhat simpler within the hand. Management stays the identical, with a cursor and thumbwheel. There are additionally devoted buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Rakuten TV, Amazon Alexa and LG Channels.

Steve Might / Foundry

Steve Might / Foundry

Steve Might / Foundry

All 4 HDMI inputs help 4K 120Hz playback, which is nice information in case you personal each a PS5 and Xbox Sequence X/S. There’s additionally eARC/ARC on HDMI enter 2.

The set is appropriate with each Nvida G-Sync and AMD Freesync. The TV may accommodate a 144Hz sign in case you’re utilizing it with a suitably geared up gaming PC.

Extra ports embody a trio of  USBs, an optical digital audio legacy output and Ethernet. Wi-fi connectivity covers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Tuner choices comprise Freeview Play and satellite tv for pc.

Specs & Options

• LG webOS sensible platform
• Wi-Fi
• Recreation Optimizer and Recreation Dashboard

Smarts come through an upgraded webOS 24 platform. Now you can create as much as ten particular person accounts, ostensibly to enhance personalise content material suggestions.

I feel webOS, for all its energy, is now one of many extra sophisticated sensible platforms to make use of, and whereas many tech-savvy sorts will really feel at dwelling, I think others could not discover it so intuitive. To assist navigate the platform, LG makes use of Fast Playing cards, which group collectively associated providers. 

There’s a completely stocked cabinet of streaming providers, together with Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+, in addition to all mainstream catch-up TV, plus Apple AirPlay.

Steve Might / Foundry

Steve Might / Foundry

Steve Might / Foundry

On the plus facet, the set makes use of AI to handle sound and film settings to maximise efficiency. Given that almost all watchers not often delve into settings, this could solely be a very good factor. 

Operating the present is an Alpha 9 AI processor Gen7 chip, which sits one rung down from the Alpha 11 AI processor discovered reserved for the dearer G4 OLED and M4 OLED fashions.

Image & Sound High quality

• Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10, HLG and HGiG help
• Excessive Brightness OLED EX panel
• Wow Orchestra appropriate

The LG C4’s photos are remarkably dynamic. Not in an exaggerated, showy means, however of their general believability. Photos exhibit sparkle and depth, with brilliant highlights and a deep, nuanced black stage.

Even common SDR content material advantages from an uplift in general, balanced brightness.

The Brightness Booster know-how behind all this doesn’t depend on extra {hardware}; it’s extra a mixture of up to date OLED EX panel know-how and Alpha 9 AI processor Gen7 processor. 

The latter encompasses a raft of sunshine boosting algorithms allied to Deep Studying Neural Community, AI powered modes, together with AI Brightness, AI Image Professional, and AI Style Choice.

Color constancy can be distinctive. You get vibrancy with out over saturation, deep reds and alluring blues. The set runs the complete gamut of Gelato hues.   

Steve Might / Foundry

Steve Might / Foundry

Steve Might / Foundry

Image presets embody Customary, Vivid, Customary, Cinema, Cinema House, Sports activities, Recreation, in addition to Filmmaker Mode and two ISF Skilled modes (Shiny Room/Darkish Room). 

HDR efficiency is extraordinarily good. I measure peak HDR brightness at 1150 nits, utilizing a ten% window, in Vivid picture mode. Measured in Customary mode, HDR peaks stay above 1100 nits. Exceptional for this class of OLED, and making it greater than able to portraying the specular highlights of the vast majority of TV exhibits and films.

However such metrics are simply a part of the story. There’s a lustre and lushness to the C4’s pictures, whether or not you’re viewing in 4K HDR or SDR HD, that’s mesmerising. Colors are daring and exquisite.

Clearly, the C4 delivers conventional OLED inky blacks, however the TV additionally does an suave job of presenting close to shadow element, in order that dimly lit interiors seem to have depth, somewhat than emulate a flat gray gap.

Latency for gaming is nice. I measured enter lag at 13ms (1080p/60fps) in Recreation mode.

Sonically, the LG C4 doesn’t shame itself, but it surely’s clear that LG hopes consumers will choose to associate the set with a companion soundbar, routing Dolby Atmos bitstreams out over eARC.

Steve Might / Foundry

Steve Might / Foundry

Steve Might / Foundry

Whereas the set’s onboard processor has the sensible to virtualise a 9.1.2 soundstage, the TV actually doesn’t have the {hardware} onboard to make this in any respect convincing. 

Hook up with a appropriate LG bar and you can too profit from Wow Orchestra, which allows the TV audio system and soundbar to work collectively to create a wall of sound.

Value & Availability

Accessible now, the LG C4 OLED is available in 42-, 48-, 55-, 65-, 77- and 83-inch fashions (OLED42C46LA, OLED48C46LA, OLED55C46LA, OLED65C46LA, OLED77C46LA and OLED88C46LA respectively), priced at £1,399, £1,499, £1,899, £2,699, £2,899, £3,799, and £5,999 respectively (cheaper than the LG C3 at launch).

Within the US, the identical set of sizes and mannequin numbers promote for $1,499, $1,599, $1,999, $2,699,  $3,699 and $5,399.

You possibly can buy it from LG in addition to retailers reminiscent of Amazon, Currys, John Lewis and extra. Head to the likes of Amazon, BestBuy and Walmart within the US.

These are the RRPs and on the time of writing you’ll find the TV with reductions making it rather more inexpensive. You may get it beginning at £1,079/$1,196.

Try our chart of the perfect TVs to see extra choices. 

Do you have to purchase the LG C4 OLED?

The LG C4 is an outstanding 4K OLED. Any issues that it would pale compared to the range-topping G4 mannequin, which has an MLA (Micro Lens Array) panel, show unfounded.

Thanks in no small half to the Alpha 9 AI processor Gen7 and LG’s newest suite of brightness Booster algorithms, it’s brilliant sufficient to keep up dynamics and color throughout daytime viewing and is gorgeously punchy when the lights dim.

The most recent tweaks to webOS additionally reserve it from sinking below the burden of its personal performance, and gaming credentials are excessive. Solely audio warrants a mean mark, and that’s as a result of LG is set to make you spring for an identical soundbar.

Specs

• OLED-EX show know-how
• Decision: 3840 x 2160 4k
• Dimensions:1441(w) x 826(h) x 45(d)mm     
• Weight: 16.6kg
• HDMI: x4
• HDR help: Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10, HLG, HGiG
• webOS sensible platform
• Freeview Play tuner