The reputation of being of the finest quality is what OLED TVs have been winning since the first day due to their amazing picture. From the cheap TVs given to the masses up to the most premium, the image quality remains top-class. Out of the lot, the LG C4 is one of the best paradigms that complements high quality with affordable pricing, consequently setting pace over stiff competition.
In our testing, published comparisons tend to show small differences for OLEDs more frequently than they would in practice; that’s because in general, OLEDs are very good. In this comparison, we are testing the LG C4 against the Samsung S90D and the Samsung S95D. The S95D is the top-end offering from Samsung, and it includes a new glare-reducing finish first deployed this year. Our comparison lineup also includes the TCL QM851, which is the model that our current top TV replaced, so readers have that mini-LED-versus-OLED data point. The reader of this comparison has to come away with a sense of whether or not they should bother upgrading to an OLED TV.
LG’s C3 was our favorite high-end TV from last year, which leaves a lot of expectations for the C4. At the moment, it is almost $1,000 cheaper than the G4, LG OLED in the step-up that we have just recently written a review about. While we would say that the G4 is the better-looking TV, we would say something else in terms of value for the typical person.
While comparing the LG C4 and the Samsung S90D, we prefer the C4 by a small margin. This is mainly because the C4 exhibits better contrast than the S90D, which may be a trait that favors its screen in bright rooms. For gaming, we liked the cinematic image impression made by the C4, whose default picture mode looked more refined than the picture of the more dynamic S90D. These two TVs provide an amazing image experience overall, but the C4 has a slight edge.
It is still available at a huge discount off its MSRP; hence, this has a pretty good value. Indeed, it has most of the features the C4 has, which makes it better in terms of the idea for bids. Most times, we recommend that people buy the older TVs because, from one year to the other, the advancements are so very little. Still, we found the newest iteration of LG’s long-standing C-Series OLED TV to be pretty darned impressive and shaping up as one of the best high-end TVs of the year.
We got to spend some time with the 65-inch C4 for our hands-on review, but in many respects, this review will be able to be applied to the other screen sizes in this series, too. As, with every member in this generation, they are all well-connected with the same features. Just sizes separate them now. The C4 series runs from 42 inches up to the expansive 83-inch model.
The C4 panel is incredibly thin, yet the backside has this slick textured design that evokes shiny gray wallpaper. It’s a really neat design flourish, unseen for the most part if wall-mounted, that adds a touch of class to a TV’s physical appearance. The bezel is uniquely thin to the point of nigh nonexistence, a typical trait of OLED sets. The C4 is also substantially lighter than Samsung’s S90D.
The remote is big and full of buttons, and quite complex — we are not the biggest fans of the tidier one from Samsung, either. Those extra buttons and scroll wheel don’t help the LG remote move faster on navigation. Some, like the number pad, feel quite archaic in this world increasingly dominated by streaming. The motion-controlled point-and-shoot cursor also seems quite useless and fiddly for a TV, where people primarily navigate between apps and don’t need a cursor, like on a computer.
LG’s menus are simple to get around. Once you switch the TV on, streaming service apps are proudly displayed front and center. The TV stand is very sleek and stable, adding to the good looks of the C4.
The C4 and S90D both feature support for Dolby Atmos and a 144Hz refresh rate. The C4 is capable of Dolby Vision, which the S90D nor any Samsung OLEDs can’t, but we don’t think that’s a deal breaker. LG TVs, and some others, offer an idle mode that is similar to a screensaver and that automatically brings up art when the TV isn’t in use. This was a feature only earlier seen on matte-screen Samsung Frame but is now almost common to a wider number of TV manufacturers, thus making the TV almost merge with the wall, much like a gallery.
For gamers, it supports HDMI 2.1, and HDMI ports can support 4K at 120 frames per second and variable refresh rates, enhanced Audio Return Channel, and Automatic Low Latency mode (Auto Game Mode). Such HDMI versatility is quite important for gaming enthusiasts who would like to have support for several next-generation devices.
We contrasted the S90D in a dark room with the LG C4, the Samsung S95D, and the TCL QM851. The S90D and the C4 all looked very good, though the differences were not dramatic. While watching an action movie from Netflix, the LG held its contrast a bit better during bright and especially dark scenes. The C4 also retained more shadow detail in super-dark scenes than great contrast and detailed shadows would do.
In one of our comparisons, the TCL QM851, we noticed just how much brighter the mini-LED TV was than any of the OLEDs. A bright image makes a highlight pop, but it should be done accurately to the source. That included a figure in a black shirt in sunlight who seemed vastly less black with the QM851 compared with the OLEDs. The TCL was also somewhat mushy in motion—it wasn’t as clear or sharp—that provided much better contrast and a shade more real picture.
The detail of mini compared to OLED can be vast. If those two models are leaving you on the fence, it’s worth noting the differences for those who will be debating between moving up by price to an OLED or saving some money on a mini LED. The C4 has a glossier screen than the S90D and is, therefore, more prone to glare, though the preserved contrast and black levels make this a fair compromise in a bright room. If you’re in the market for a very bright room TV, then the Samsung S95D will be well worth the higher cost for its quality to minimize glare and reflections.
Examples from some critical light output measurements to match against:
- LG C4: 1,213 in HDR’s brightest mode, 414 in SDR’s brightest mode
- Samsung S90D: 1,218 in HDR’s brightest mode, 505 in SDR’s brightest mode
- LG G4: at 1,799 in HDR’s brightest mode—792 in SDR’s brightest mode
- Samsung S95D: 1,734 (HDR brightest mode), 544 (SDR brightest mode)
For HDR, Vivid was the brightest mode on the C4. On this display, the filmmaker mode was the most accurate. For SDR, if you want to obtain the full brightness level, ensure that you have turned off the Auto Energy Saving setting and then turned on Peak Brightness.
For gaming, the C4 offers a more cinematic picture in Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. Many settings give this set far more adjustment than just a genre change, so it is ideal for the fussy picture quality fans. The input lag for the C4 was the lowest in-game optimizer mode with the game boost on. Both OLED sets looked great for gaming, but subtle differences were observed.
The LG ensured the picture quality was maintained from every viewing angle, a proper standard indicator, as we have in most of the OLED TVs. Picture uniformity is also guaranteed. According to our quantitative measurements and visual assessment, the filmmaker mode proved to be the nicest picture mode of the C4. However, cinema mode was very close, but possible soap opera effect because of smoothing.
In most picture modes, the game genre option is grayed out. To enable it, one would have to go to the sound settings of Game Optimizer – not AI Sound Pro – and then change the genre settings.
As such, the LG C4 OLED TV is just great, irrespective of feature and picture quality support, and for this, at least, a nominee for a top high-end TV. It performs excellently in all conditions, comprising bright environments and gaming set-ups. With better contrast, adjustable settings, and consistent picture quality in any price range, the C4 offers far more impressive value that keeps LG in the game as one of the best OLED producers. The LG C4 is one really interesting option for comparison shoppers, providing very high performance and value in a sole product.