LG OLED evo AI LG OLED evo AI C5 42" 4K HDR Smart TV Review

This is the ultimate 42-inch gaming display, scoring a perfect 100 in our gaming rankings. You get every next-gen feature: 120Hz, HDMI 2.1, and both FreeSync and G-Sync. The OLED panel delivers great contrast, though overall picture quality is mid-pack. At $897, it's a steal for a dedicated gaming setup.

The LG C5 is a 42-inch OLED that's built for one thing: gaming. It scores a perfect 100th percentile in our gaming ranking, and for $897, that's a serious statement. It's not just about the 120Hz refresh rate, it's the full suite: HDMI 2.1, FreeSync Premium, G-Sync, and a 0.1ms response time. This is a monitor masquerading as a TV.

But it's still a TV, and a good one. The OLED panel delivers those perfect blacks we expect, and it lands in the 93rd percentile for display quality overall. The a9 Gen 8 AI processor handles upscaling and motion, and with webOS 25, you've got a slick, familiar smart platform. It's a focused tool that happens to be great for movies, too.

Let's talk numbers. That 100th percentile gaming score isn't a fluke. It means this TV has every feature a modern console or PC gamer could ask for. The 0.1ms response time is essentially instantaneous, eliminating ghosting. With four HDMI 2.1 ports, you can plug in a PS5, Xbox Series X, and a high-end PC without swapping cables. The 120Hz native refresh paired with both AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility makes screen tearing a non-issue.

The picture quality is solid, though it sits at the 45th percentile in our database. That's not a knock on the OLED tech itself, which is fantastic for contrast, but reflects that this is a more affordable model in LG's lineup. The HDR support is comprehensive, hitting the 94th percentile with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. For connectivity, it's another perfect 100—Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 future-proof it nicely.

At $897, the LG C5 presents a compelling value, but it's a specific one. You're paying for elite gaming performance in a compact OLED form factor. Compared to a dedicated gaming monitor with similar specs (like a high-refresh 4K OLED), this TV often undercuts them on price while offering a full smart TV OS. However, if pure movie-watching is your top priority, there might be better pure-picture-value options, like some higher-tier Mini-LED TVs, that score higher in our picture quality rankings for similar money.

Stacked against its peers, the C5's niche is clear. The Sony BRAVIA 5 might beat it in pure processing and upscaling for movie content, but it can't touch the C5's gaming pedigree. The Hisense U6 series offers Mini-LED brightness at a lower price, but you lose the perfect blacks and instant pixel response of OLED, and the gaming features aren't as complete. Compared to its bigger sibling, the LG G5, you're getting the same core gaming tech in a much smaller, more affordable package—you just sacrifice peak brightness and some high-end processor tricks. For a desk or small room, the C5 is the smarter buy.

Skip this if your primary goal is the absolute best movie-watching experience for the money. Its picture quality score is in the 45th percentile, which means there are many TVs that prioritize sheer brightness and upscaling more. Also, if you need a large screen for a big living room, the 42-inch size will feel too small. Look at larger Mini-LED models or step up to LG's G-series OLED instead.

If you're a gamer who wants the best possible motion clarity and responsiveness on a 4K screen, buy this TV. The data doesn't lie: a 100th percentile gaming score is as good as it gets. The OLED picture is a fantastic bonus for everything else you watch. Just know that its overall picture quality isn't class-leading, and the 42-inch size limits its use as a primary living room set. For the right person, this is a nearly perfect machine.