Review: LG OLED C4 (OLED55C4)

LG is a recognized pioneer in OLED technology and has been one of the leading manufacturers ever since the technology was introduced more than 10 years ago. Among these, the traditional C series has been among the most popular thanks to extremely good performance for the price. Now the C4 generation is here, and it will be exciting to see what improvements LG has managed to wring out of perhaps their most important model – especially with Samsung breathing down their neck at home!

LG OLED C4: Design

On the design front, LG is sticking to its successful design that was first introduced on the C2 generation. This means a really slim OLED display with an almost invisible bezel, combined with a slightly thicker section on the back where the electronics and connections are located.

The 2024 model is now available in screen sizes up to 83 inches and has a distinctive slate-like surface on the back of the screen. Not that you will be seeing much of it from the couch, but it’s something. All in all, there’s not much to fault in the design, although it may not scream ‘premium’ to the same degree as Sony and Samsung. Note that if you’re planning to wall mount the TV, it might also be worth considering the more expensive G4 model, which is even better suited for this.

Ease of use and features

Existing LG owners will feel right at home when they unpack and set up an OLED C4. LG has seen no need to reinvent the wheel, and the familiar Magic Remote is in place – largely unchanged for generations. This means you can use an arrow to navigate the menus.

The WebOS 24 user interface, on the other hand, has received some updates over the years, including allowing more family members to have their own customized home screen when they turn on the TV. The LG OLED C4 is ready in a flash and quickly switches between menu options. The app selection is impeccable with all the leading streaming services in place. There’s also the option to display content from mobile via AirPlay 2 or Chromecast. And like Samsung, LG offers a bunch of free, ad-supported TV channels for you to feast your eyes on if you want to.

LG has even promised to keep the user interface updated for the next five years as they launch new features. This means you won’t feel like you’re being left behind every time LG launches a new generation. It’s a very commendable stunt that Samsung has also had to follow up with a similar guarantee for updates.

LG also boasts support for the HDR format Dolby Vision, which ensures optimal quality of very modern video content. Samsung has a policy of not supporting this format, choosing instead to focus on its own HDR image processing.

With four 2.1 HDMI inputs, the LG TV is well equipped for modern video sources and gaming consoles. It can even handle display frequencies up to 144 Hz and VRR if you have a gaming PC powerful enough. LG has a dedicated game bar menu full of relevant settings for gaming and a fast, low-latency gaming mode.

Image quality

It’s on the picture front that it really counts, and here we were full of anticipation as we’ve already been very impressed with this year’s top model from LG, the OLED G4. The cheaper C4 model is traditionally a slightly scaled-down version without the top-of-the-line MLA OLED panel, and thus the image processing is slightly downgraded.

That said, there’s no reason to underestimate the C4!

First impressions are that this is a very accomplished OLED TV, even by 2024 standards. The LG OLED C4 delivers the picture quality you’d expect from a premium OLED TV, and it’s also a noticeable improvement on last year’s C3 model.

The deep black level we take for granted, but when we look at HDR content, it’s clear that brightness has also taken a small jump this year, which is also confirmed by the measurements – from around 800 nits on the C3 to 1,000 nits on the OLED C4. This is an important step forward as most HDR movies are mastered at 1000 nits.

The LG display has an impressive contrast that makes TV content look vivid with excellent detail reproduction. Test scenes from Top Gun: Maverick, Dune 2 and Blade Runner have seldom looked better. LG also benefits from support for Dolby Vision, a widely used HDR format for streaming, gaming and UHD Blu-ray.

Color reproduction is also exemplary, so much so that even a ‘studio-correct’ competitor like Sony should feel threatened. In fact, the C4 model’s movie setting is very accurate in terms of color reproduction and grayscale. LG has obviously done a thorough job with the calibration directly from the factory.

When comparing with competitor Samsung and their S90D, we notice some small but distinct differences. For example, Samsung generally had a slightly brighter image than LG in the default setting. The S90D also has a very smart AI picture mode, which analyzes the content you’re watching and adjusts the picture settings automatically. But if you’re the type of person who prefers to choose your own picture mode based on what you’re watching anyway, this might not be so important.

Sound quality

In addition to the brilliant picture quality, the LG TV also has a pretty good sound quality. Voice reproduction is clear with a crisp mid-range and a distinct treble that helps bring out the dialog. LG has also provided a rich bass reproduction that helps make music and sound effects more engaging. However, we note that the OLED C4 can’t play as loud and clear as the Samsung S90D.

The sound is well above average, although it doesn’t compare to the competition, which is equipped with more lavish sound systems. LG does, however, offer a matching soundbar for its OLED screens that can also be used as a TV stand. It might be worth checking out if you’re looking to upgrade your sound.

Conclusion

The LG OLED C4 doesn’t differ dramatically from its predecessor, the C3, in terms of design and features, but LG has managed to squeeze a little more performance out of the 2024 model. Among other things, the C4 now has the ability to play frame rates of up to 144 Hz, which is probably most relevant for PC gamers.

More interestingly for regular TV viewers, the brightness has taken a noticeable jump, bringing extra realism to movies and series in HDR format. The picture quality is really sparkling! This makes an already good OLED TV even better, and the LG OLED C4 maintains its status as one of the very best TV purchases in the premium class.