The LG C4 OLED TV is the latest addition to LG’s prestigious OLED lineup, following the success of the popular C Series models such as the LG C2 and C3. Designed to cater to a wide range of users, from gamers to movie enthusiasts, the LG C4 continues to raise the bar in performance, offering unparalleled picture quality, enhanced gaming features, and a sleek, modern design. With the α9 AI Processor Gen7 powering this 2024 model, the LG C4 brings innovation to the forefront, making it one of the most compelling OLED TVs on the market today.
This blog will provide an in-depth look at the LG C4 OLED TV’s performance, features, pros, cons, and use cases, helping you decide whether it’s the right investment for your entertainment needs.
Design and Build Quality
LG is renowned for crafting sleek, minimalist TVs, and the C4 OLED is no exception. Its ultra-thin design allows it to blend seamlessly into any modern living space. The bezels are so slim that they’re barely noticeable, providing a truly immersive viewing experience. The central stand is sturdy and compact, offering excellent support while occupying minimal space on your entertainment unit.
The TV is also wall-mountable, thanks to its VESA compatibility, and its slim profile ensures it hugs the wall closely for a clean look. The back panel includes well-organized ports for HDMI 2.1, USB, and other essential connections, with cable management options to maintain a tidy setup.
Picture Quality
OLED Technology
At the heart of the LG C4 OLED is its self-emissive OLED technology, which allows for perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratios. Unlike traditional LED or LCD TVs, OLED panels can turn off individual pixels completely, resulting in unmatched black levels that enhance depth and realism, especially in dark scenes. This makes the C4 an exceptional choice for movie enthusiasts who value picture quality.
Color Accuracy and Brightness
The α9 AI Processor Gen7 ensures accurate color reproduction, delivering vivid, lifelike colors straight out of the box. The TV supports Wide Color Gamut (WCG) and HDR formats, including HDR10, Dolby Vision IQ, and HLG, which enhance the dynamic range of the image. These features allow the C4 to display brighter highlights and more detailed shadows, ensuring you don’t miss any nuance in your favorite HDR content.
Although OLEDs traditionally lag behind LED TVs in brightness, the LG C4 performs admirably, especially in Dolby Vision IQ mode, which dynamically adjusts brightness levels based on the room's lighting conditions. This makes it suitable for both dark and moderately lit environments.
Viewing Angles
Wide viewing angles are another strong point of OLED technology, and the C4 doesn’t disappoint. Whether you’re seated directly in front of the TV or off to the side, the image quality remains consistent, with minimal loss of brightness or color accuracy. This makes the TV ideal for family movie nights or gatherings where multiple people are watching from different angles.
Gaming Performance
The LG C4 OLED is a gamer’s dream, equipped with features that rival the best gaming monitors on the market. The TV supports a native 4K resolution at 144Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth and responsive gameplay for both console and PC gamers. HDMI 2.1 ports provide full support for next-gen gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, enabling features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and NVIDIA G-SYNC/AMD FreeSync compatibility.
Low Input Lag and Motion Handling
With an input lag of under 10ms in Game Mode, the C4 ensures instant responsiveness, making it perfect for fast-paced competitive games like shooters or racing titles. Its near-instantaneous pixel response time eliminates motion blur, delivering crystal-clear images even during high-speed action sequences.
Game Optimizer
The Game Optimizer menu gives gamers easy access to picture adjustments and real-time performance data. You can toggle between different gaming modes, such as FPS, RTS, or RPG, and optimize settings for specific genres. The inclusion of a black stabilizer ensures you can see enemies hiding in shadows without compromising overall contrast.
Smart Features and WebOS
The LG C4 OLED is powered by the latest version of WebOS, LG’s proprietary smart TV platform. WebOS is intuitive, fast, and packed with features, providing seamless access to streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and more. The updated user interface now includes personalized recommendations and a new dashboard that makes it easier to navigate between apps, connected devices, and settings.
Voice Control
The C4 comes with LG ThinQ AI integration, supporting popular voice assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. You can use voice commands to search for content, control smart home devices, and adjust TV settings, making the overall experience more convenient.
Multi-View and AirPlay
The Multi-View feature allows you to split the screen and watch two content sources simultaneously. Additionally, the TV supports Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, enabling seamless connectivity with Apple devices for streaming, screen mirroring, and smart home control.
Audio Performance
The LG C4 OLED features 40W speakers with Dolby Atmos support, providing a cinematic audio experience. The soundstage is expansive, and dialogue is crisp and clear, making it suitable for most casual viewing scenarios. AI Sound Pro further enhances audio by analyzing the content in real-time and optimizing sound settings accordingly.
However, while the built-in audio is decent, it doesn’t match the TV’s stellar picture quality. For a truly immersive experience, pairing the C4 with a dedicated Dolby Atmos soundbar or a home theater system is highly recommended.
Energy Efficiency
OLED TVs are known for their energy efficiency, and the LG C4 continues this trend. Its self-emissive technology consumes less power compared to traditional backlit TVs, especially when displaying darker content. Additionally, the TV includes Eco Mode, which automatically adjusts brightness and power consumption to reduce energy usage.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Exceptional Picture Quality: Perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and vibrant colors.
Smart Features: WebOS is user-friendly and loaded with apps and voice control options.
Sleek Design: Ultra-thin bezels and a minimalist look.
Wide Viewing Angles: Consistent image quality from any position.
Cons
Price: As a high-end OLED, the LG C4 is relatively expensive.
Brightness: While improved, it still lags behind high-end LED TVs in very bright rooms.
Burn-In Risk: OLED panels are susceptible to image retention with prolonged static content.
Audio Performance: Built-in speakers are good but not exceptional.
Comparison with Competitors
LG C4 vs. LG C3
While the LG C3 is an excellent TV in its own right, the C4 offers a significant upgrade with its 144Hz refresh rate, enhanced processor, and better brightness management. Gamers and enthusiasts may find the C4 worth the extra investment.
LG C4 vs. Sony A80L
The Sony A80L is another strong contender in the OLED market, excelling in motion handling and upscaling. However, the LG C4 surpasses it in gaming features, making it the better choice for gamers.
LG C4 vs. Samsung S95C
The Samsung S95C uses QD-OLED technology, which offers higher brightness levels and better color volume. However, the LG C4 is more affordable and offers a more comprehensive gaming feature set.
Who Should Buy the LG C4 OLED?
Gamers: The advanced gaming features, including 144Hz refresh rate and low input lag, make it one of the best gaming TVs on the market.
Movie Enthusiasts: Perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and Dolby Vision support create a theater-like experience.
Smart Home Users: Compatibility with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Apple HomeKit makes it a great addition to any smart home ecosystem.
Final Verdict
The LG C4 OLED TV is a premium television that lives up to its reputation. Its stunning picture quality, comprehensive gaming features, and smart functionality make it a standout option for anyone seeking top-tier performance. While the price and slight limitations in brightness may deter some buyers, the overall package is hard to beat.
Rating: 9.5/10
For those who value quality and are willing to invest, the LG C4 OLED is a fantastic choice for gaming, movies, and everyday use.
