For several years in a row, the LG OLED Evo C series, including the CX, C1, C2 and C3, has been ranked among the bestsellers every year. However, its high popularity is due to a completely objective reason. Offering almost flagship specs, this series is significantly cheaper. As a result, its superb price/quality ratio provides it a place on the top lists. Of course, the difference decreases after the launch prices are adjusted, but remains significant. In particular, the current price ratio of last year’s models is (65-inch models):
– C1 vs G1 (2021) ~ $ 1,400 vs $ 2,000;
– C2 vs G2 (2022) ~ $ 1,400 vs $ 2,200;
– C3 vs G3 (2023) ~ $ 1,500 vs $ 2,200 (£ 1,370 vs £ 1,765).
The latest LG OLED Evo C4 is no exception.
The launch price for 65″ model is ~ $ 2,700 vs $ 3,400 compared to the G4.
It’s curious, but despite technological improvements, the difference between C1 / C2 / C3 and G1 / G2 / G3 is practically absent. In fact, this indicates an objective reduction in prices due to an increase in the price-quality ratio. Today C4 TVs prices are very close to the launch prices of last year’s C3 (C4 vs C3):
– 42″ – $ 1,500 vs £ 1,500 / $ 1,400 / AU$ 2,595;
– 48″ – $ 1,600 vs £ 1,600 / $ 1,500 / AU$ 2,895;
– 55″ – $ 2,000 vs £ 2,100 / $ 1,900 / AU$ 3,295;
– 65″ – $ 2,700 vs £ 2,900 / $ 2,600 / AU$ 4,295;
– 77″ – $ 3,700 vs £ 4,000 / $ 3,600 / AU$ 6,795;
– 83″ – $ 5,400 vs £ 6,500 / $ 5,300 / AU$ 8,995.
LG OLED TVs 2024
All new LG OLED TVs run on the improved webOS 24.
The updated version supports up to 10 password-protected user profiles, voice control, intelligent voice recognition, Room-to-Room Share, sports alerts, ThinQ AI, and many others. Moreover, the South Korean giant offers 300+ free LG channels.
Of course, it has built-in Alexa, supports Apple Airplay 2, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Hey Google. Moreover, all new OLED series support a new Matter connectivity standard to simplify compatibility between smart home devices from different brands. In fact, TV with Matter support turns into a smart home hub. Last year’s C3 has webOS 23 and does not support Matter, but for last year’s models the company promises webOS 24 via an update later in the year.
The differences in smart functionality of different series are very minor. For example, G4 can simultaneously display up to four different screens vs two screens in C4. In addition, it offers personalized recommendations and returns to the first page with support for user profiles.
Gaming
– 4K@144Hz gaming refresh rate (for PC with a 144Hz graphic card, С3 2023 – up to 120Hz).
Dolby Vision gaming are supported up to 144Hz. But, to be fair, the maximum signal of the best Xbox’s Series consoles today does not exceed 4K@120Hz;
– 4x HDMI inputs;
– response time ⩽ 0.1 ms;
– LG Game Dashboard;
– Game Optimizer menu (simplifies settings in games).
– Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM);
– Variable Refresh Rate (VRR);
– NVIDIA G-Sync (full Nvidia G-Sync VRR certification instead of ‘G-Sync Compatible’ certification);
– AMD FreeSync Premium.
LG C4 vs G4
Specs:
– lineup – 42″, 48″, 55″, 65″, 77″ and 83″ vs 55″, 65″, 77″, 83″ and 97″;
– price (65″) ~ $ 2,700 vs $ 3,400;
– panel type – WOLED vs WOLED MLA;
– peak brightness ~ 1,000 nits vs up to 3,000 nits in 3% window;
– video processor – α9 AI Processor 4K 7 Gen vs α11 with new Peak Highlighter feature;
– OLED EX vs OLED EX + MLA 2.0 + heatsink (except 97″);
– Brightness Booster vs Brightness Booster Max;
– Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos vs MLA, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos;
– sound – virtual 9.1.2 up-mix vs virtual 11.1.2 up-mix;
– Flat vs Zero Gap design (Gallery Design);
– WiFi 5 / 802.11ac vs WiFi 6 / 802.11ax;
– Bluetooth 5.0 vs 5.2.
Like the premium G4 and M4, the mid-range C4 supports AI Picture Pro and AI Sound Pro technologies, but without the ‘Director Tone’ feature. According to LG, this option adjusts image settings to make it look ‘as the director intended.’ But then it’s not clear how it differs from Flickmaker mode.
OLED panels and processors are their key difference.
Other differences are less significant.
G4 with Micro Lens Array (MLA) 2.0 panel and α11 processor offer higher brightness, clarity and color accuracy, better upscaling of lower-resolution content and audio quality.
The ‘G’ in the name stands for ‘Gallery Design’. Their uniformly slim back panel is only 0.94″ (2.4 cm) thick, which is comparable to a picture frame. As a consequence, it’s compatible with the Zero Gap wall mount, which ensures that the back panel fits tightly against the wall. As a result, G TVs look like a painting in the gallery.
Key Features
Both models provide superb picture quality with vivid colors and deep blacks, which provides ‘infinite’ OLED contrast.
The G4 with MLA 2.0 panel technology is the brightest LG OLED TV. For comparison, it’s 150% brighter vs entry-level B4. But the 97-inch G4 model comes without MLA technology.
As known, MLA technology was first introduced at CES 2023 in the flagship G3. It uses a layer of tiny convex microlenses between the glass and the OLED panel.
In particular, their number in a 77″ panel reaches 5,000 microlenses per pixel.
By focusing light from the panel, they reduce internal reflections, increasing the brightness, energy efficiency and viewing angles of OLED displays.
In fact, META technology 2.0 comprises ‘Micro Lens Array Plus (MLA+)’ featuring a pattern of optimized micrometer-scale lenses.
New a high-performance α11 AI Processor 4K offers better upscaling of lower-resolution content and smoother motion handling. According to the company, its graphics performance and processing speed have been increased by 70% and 30%, respectively. Moreover, it supports new ‘Peak Highlighter’ option, which boosts the intensity of bright highlights.
In fact, the G4 picture quality is very close to the wireless higher-flagship LG M4 model. It comes with a Zero Connect box that enables wireless A/V streaming.
According to the company, the new α11 also significantly increases the immersiveness of audio scenes by creating virtual 11.1.2 surround vs 9.1.2 in C4.
G4 has a built-in 4.2ch speaker system (four speakers and two subwoofers), C4 uses only a 2.2ch configuration (two speakers and two subwoofers).
However, both models have LG Sound Sync and Bluetooth Surround Ready features for connecting additional speakers or a soundbar.
LG OLED Evo C4 vs C3
Despite lacking even the first-generation MLA technology of last year’s G3, the C4 is brighter vs last year’s C3, delivering up to 900-1,000 nits peak brightness. However, the brightness of 42″ and 48″ TVs is only 750-800 nits.
But their basic specs are almost identical.
The audio hardware hasn’t changed.
Like the C3, the C4’s chassis is super-thin. The model still uses the stylish central pedestal without height adjustability, which unfortunately prevents a soundbar from being placed under the screen. Only the 42-inch model has the legs, the distance between which is sufficient for a compact soundbar.
The difference between the launch price of C4 and the current price of C3 reaches $ 1,000 ($ 2,700 vs $ 1,700), which, of course, is inadequate to their specs:
– webOS 24 vs webOS 23 smart platform;
– 144Hz max refresh rate (auto-adjustment for 144Hz input without using refresh rate dithering) vs 120Hz;
– Room to Room Share (wirelessly sharing the screen of the C4 with another compatible TV), and AI Concierge (personalized recommendations with voice recognition and history);
– upgraded α9 7gen (improved upscaling, motion processing and power management) vs α9 6gen processor.
In addition, C4 with new processor supports collaboration with a compatible LG soundbar, providing lossless Dolby Atmos audio. In fact, it streams uncompressed audio over Wi-Fi from the TV to the soundbar.
LG OLED Evo C4 vs B4
The entry-level B4 is available in three sizes, including 55″ ($ 1,700), 65″ ($ 2,200) and 77″ ($ 3,400). In fact, the less powerful α8 AI Processor 4K is the only significant difference. The higher performance of α9 AI Processor 4K Gen7 provides higher color accuracy, deeper blacks and better upscaling lower-resolution content with clearer and more detailed image. Other specs are almost identical.
Both TVs have a similar design and can display artwork or photos, turning the TV into an interior element.
In addition, C4 has more size options, 3 vs 2 USB ports and a higher 144Hz max gaming refresh rate.
Both series support Dolby Atmos to create a 3D audio effect and AI Sound Pro to create a virtual 9.1.2 surround sound. But C4 has a 2.2ch speaker system (two speakers and two subwoofers) vs 2.0ch configuration of B4 with only two speakers.
Smart features are identical. The work of the Room to Room Share feature is the only difference. It provides content sharing across different LG TVs. C4 can act as sender and receiver, B4 can only receive content.
Conclusion
LG OLED C-series is positioned between the flagship G-series and entry-level B-series. This year α11 video processor and META 2.0 (3rd gen) panel became the main differences between the C and G series. B4 offers almost identical specs. The launch prices of the 65″ models are $ 3,400 (G4) vs $ 2,700 (C4) vs $ 2,200 (B4). But the traditional correction will change them significantly. For comparison, the launch price of last year’s 65″ C3 reached $ 2,600, but today it dropped to $ 1,700.
Curious, but LG C3 clearly outperforms the new series due to its superb price-quality ratio.
Superb brightness of LG OLED Evo G4 promise the success of this series in the premium segment. To be fair, the unprecedented 3,000 nits of peak brightness were achieved in a 3% window and within a few seconds. But this conceptual success gives new impetus to the development of OLED technology.
However, brightness mainly affects HDR performance. The SDR format via satellite or cable television is reproduced perfectly even with a brightness of 400 nits. In fact, the high brightness of OLED panels is only important for playing HDR content, for example, from Blu-ray or from Netflix.
C4 competes with superb Samsung S95D / S90D (hybrid QD-OLED panel) and QN95D / QN90D (QD mini LED). In addition, flagship Hisense U8N and TCL QM891G from Chinese giants also claim a place among the bestsellers. But after the price cut, its marketing prospects seem cloudless.
This video shows the LG Game Optimizer.
