The 42-inch LG C4 is the smallest size in the tech giant’s current step-down line of OLED TVs. It’s also a direct successor to the LG C3, a highly-acclaimed model that had been the go-to small OLED TV for many.

Does it live up to its predecessor’s legacy? Thankfully, after putting it through its paces in our viewing rooms, we’re delighted to confirm that the 42-inch LG C4 is a fantastic OLED TV for those short on space, or simply not wanting a giant TV dominating their living room. However, there are a couple of small caveats you should be aware of before purchasing one.

Price

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The 42-inch LG C4 made its debut with a suggested retail price of £1400 / $1499 / AU$2195, making it slightly more affordable than its predecessor, the LG C3, which launched at £1500 / $1400 / AU$2599.

However, the price of the 42-inch LG C4 has seen a significant drop. In recent months, it has been available for as low as £1099 / $1119 / AU$2195. At the time of writing, you could find it for just £870 / $999, making it the most economical 42-inch OLED TV on the market, despite its relative newness.

Comparatively, the 42-inch Philips OLED809 launched at £1399 in the UK and now sells for £999. Meanwhile, the 42-inch Sony A95K, Sony’s current small OLED model, which has been around for a couple of years, currently retails at £1299 / $1299 / AU$2199.

Design

Our latest product offers a sleek and modern design that's sure to catch your eye. It's crafted with precision, ensuring both aesthetics and functionality. Its user-friendly interface not only enhances usability but also adds a touch of elegance to your daily routine.

Taking the 42-inch LG C4 out of the box, we immediately noticed several design differences from its larger siblings. Unlike the central stand of its bigger counterparts, it features twin feet that clip into the bottom of the TV instead of being screwed in.

This design allows just enough space to fit a small soundbar between the feet, but they can only be set to one height. So, measuring before purchasing a soundbar is crucial. The compact Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the largest soundbar the set will accommodate before the soundbar starts blocking part of the screen.

The back of the TV has a matte black finish, unlike the faux stone finish seen on larger models. While some might find this makes the 42-inch C4 appear a bit basic, we actually prefer the matte black finish; it feels robust and less flashy. Besides, as we've often mentioned, you won't spend much time looking at the back of the TV, so the finish is less important.

We do have three major concerns regarding its design: the port placement, power supply, and remote. Due to its smaller size, LG has placed all of the 42-inch LG C4’s ports, including HDMI, on its side. On larger models, this usually works fine since there's enough space to hide the cables out of view.

However, on this smaller model, the connected cables stick out of the side, making them impossible to hide. Not only does this look unattractive, it also means you'll need to factor in an extra inch to accommodate the cable sticking out when placing the set if you plan to connect a soundbar or game console.

Like all the C4 TVs, the 42-inch model’s power cable is non-removable and surprisingly short. This means the TV must be placed close to a power outlet. Moreover, you'll need to get the TV serviced if the cable gets damaged, which can easily happen if your pet has a penchant for chewing cables.

The remote is identical to other C4 models. Functionality-wise, this is fine as it includes shortcut keys to all common streaming apps and a useful pinwheel for quickly scrolling through menus. The motion control option, reminiscent of a Wii remote, remains; this lets you navigate the TV using an on-screen cursor. However, the shiny plastic still feels cheap, and the lack of a backlight makes it cumbersome to use in the dark.

Features

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User-Friendly Interface

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Although there are a few small design annoyances, it's clear that LG has excelled in packing the 42-inch C4 with features that movie fans, gamers, and general TV watchers will love.

The 42-inch C4 lacks the Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology found in the premium LG G4. However, LG has still managed to boost the display’s max brightness, a key theme for this year’s step-down OLEDs.

The standout feature is that, despite its smaller size, the 42-inch C4 offers the same connectivity as its larger counterparts. It includes four HDMI 2.1 inputs with 48Gbps bandwidth, supporting 4K/144Hz gaming with VRR and ALLM. This is complemented by three USB sockets, aerial, and optical connections.

The inclusion of four HDMI 2.1 inputs makes it an excellent choice for gamers, as current generation PCs and gaming consoles require this connectivity to perform at their best. By comparison, most TVs, including the Sony A90K, the Bravia 8, and the Philips OLED809, only have two HDMI 2.1 inputs—one of which doubles as the eARC input needed to connect a Dolby Atmos soundbar.

Dolby Vision gaming support is another standout feature that will excite Xbox Series X/S gamers. This gaming version of the standard Dolby Vision HDR enhances compatible game titles' contrast and color vibrancy.

Experience vibrant visuals with HDR support on the C4, compatible with HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG standards. While HDR10+ is not included, it's a minor omission given its limited support. For HDR10+ enthusiasts, consider the Samsung S95D.

Enjoy intuitive browsing with webOS 24, acclaimed for unparalleled app support and user-friendly interface. Whether you're a tech novice or a seasoned expert, webOS 24 makes navigation a breeze.

Access your favorite streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus and Apple TV+. Specialized platforms like Shudder, CrunchyRoll, and WoW are well-supported with consistent updates.

In the UK, catch up on shows with ITVX, 4, My5, and BBC iPlayer. Gamers will appreciate GeForce Now, Steamlink, and more, all performing seamlessly thanks to the Alpha 9 Gen 7 processor.

Though the Alpha 9 Gen 7 isn't LG's most powerful chip, it ensures smooth operation of webOS 24 and comes with features like virtual 11.1.2 sound upmixing and enhanced voice remastering, alongside notable picture processing improvements.

Picture

Immerse yourself in stunning visuals that enrich your viewing experience. Our advanced technology ensures every image bursts to life, providing clarity and vibrancy that will captivate your eye. Enjoy richer colors and sharper contrasts, making every scene more lifelike.

When it comes to picture quality, we've compared the 42-inch C4 with its 48-inch counterpart and other OLEDs, including the Bravia 8. We can confidently say it's the best 42-inch OLED we've tested.

We kicked things off with our Top Gun: Maverick test disc on our reference Oppo UDP203 Blu-Ray player. Our testing involves sending the signal in its native format, letting the TV handle all processing and upscaling, which is essential for 4K content.

Like most OLEDs, we found that tuning down the TV's picture settings yields the best results. The standard mode tends to exaggerate colors and brightness, causing an artificial look. Gradually adjusting the settings, we achieved optimal results with the 42-inch C4 set to Filmmaker Mode and Cinematic Movement active.

The results are stunning. The C4 delivers brilliant highlights, with scenes like the sun reflecting on the ocean in Maverick showing impressive detail and depth. Contrast levels, especially in scenes like Maverick riding his motorbike through the desert, are impactful and wide-ranging. Smooth movements with no artifacts make action sequences feel natural and fluid.

This holds true in a desert battle scene in Dune Part 2. The 42-inch C4's excellent light control makes the desert sand shimmer under the sun. The TV displays remarkable detail and a wide color palette, bringing the landscape to life. Even in the most challenging scenes, such as the fast-moving wings of the Ornithopter and intense knife fights, the picture remains natural without any over-smoothing or soap opera effect.

When it comes to testing peak brightness, the C4 TV shines during our go-to Pan scene, mastered at an exceptional 4000 nits. As the pirate ship sails into the sunset, the C4 maintains fantastic detail and presents warm, accurate colors. This small model matches the spectacle of its 48-inch counterpart and surpasses the older C3 in brightness.

However, in darker scenes, subtle issues arise, especially noticeable in our Blade Runner 2049 test.

When Ryan Gosling's character walks into the desolate old house, colors take on a cooler, blue tone, which isn't evident in other C4 sizes. The warmth in Dave Bautista's complexion is less pronounced compared to the larger models. This results in the 42-inch model delivering a color temperature that's more in line with the Bravia 8 than the 48-inch C4.

Faces lose a bit of their three-dimensionality with the cooler palette, reducing contrast in darker scenes. Despite this, detail levels remain excellent. Whites appear a tad washed out, whereas the larger C4 provides richer sepia tones and better detail in lighter areas of dim scenes. For instance, in the kitchen windows, the 48-inch model's additional details add a layer of authenticity.

This pattern continues with Oppenheimer, a predominantly dim movie capped at 200 nits. Though the black and white scenes retain plenty of detail—down to the stitching on characters' suits—whites feel more sterile, and the contrast between dark and light is starker, slightly diminishing naturalness compared to the warmer 48-inch C4.

The trend persists with our favorite upscaling test movie, True Grit. The C4 upholds the grain and delivers beautiful details, with the period-accurate clothing looking incredibly authentic. There's no sign of oversharpening or smoothing. However, dark sections occasionally lose detail, appearing somewhat flattened.

Sound

Experience the ultimate in audio with our latest sound technology. Our innovative sound systems deliver crystal-clear quality, ensuring every note and beat is heard with exceptional clarity. Whether you're enjoying your favorite music, watching a movie, or gaming, our sound systems provide an immersive audio experience that elevates your entertainment.

Unparalleled Quality

Our sound systems are engineered to perfection, using top-of-the-line components and advanced audio processing technologies. This guarantees the highest level of audio fidelity, making you feel as if you're in the studio with the artists or on the set with the actors.

• High-definition sound output

• Seamless connectivity with your devices

• User-friendly interfaces

• Stylish designs that complement your space

Why Choose Our Sound Systems?

Choosing our sound systems means more than just great sound. It means reliability, durability, and an investment in quality. Our commitment to excellence ensures that every product you purchase from us is built to last and perform beyond your expectations.

Explore our range of sound systems today and transform your auditory experience. Whether you're a casual listener or a hardcore audiophile, we have the perfect solution for you. Don't settle for less—let your sound system be as dynamic and impactful as your lifestyle.

Most built-in TV speaker systems are merely passable, and this is especially true for 42-inch models. The compact design of modern, flat-screen TVs poses a significant challenge for audio quality due to limited space.

For instance, the 42-inch LG C4 is equipped with a modest 20W, 2.0 speaker system. LG has promoted its AI Sound feature, which is designed to enhance general audio quality and virtual surround-sound accuracy. However, from the opening scene of Top Gun: Maverick, it's clear that the AI audio features fall short.

Jet engines zooming left to right do not align with the on-screen action, leading to a distracting experience rather than enhanced immersion. Switching to the standard audio setting renders the sound flat, with overlapping background noise and soundtrack elements—making parts of Kenny Loggins’ iconic anthem, Danger Zone, hard to hear.

The Cinema setting offers the best audio output, yet it is still imperfect. The soundtrack’s drums sound more distinct, but there's noticeable sibilance and a harsh, fizzy quality in higher frequencies, lacking depth.

The problem becomes more apparent with Blade Runner 2049. As a flying car navigates the futuristic cityscape, the 42-inch C4 struggles to reproduce the booming low-end synth sections without distortion, even at 60% volume. The audio lacks precision and the low-end is too weak to be immersive.

When a character converses with a hologram moving around K's flat, the speakers fail to provide enough separation and direction. All sounds come from the center of the TV, highlighting a clear need for a small yet effective soundbar to achieve optimal audio performance with the 42-inch LG C4.

Verdict

In the fast-evolving world of modern gadgets, it's crucial to make informed decisions. Our comprehensive insights aim to guide you toward the best choices, providing you with a clear perspective on the most excellent options available in the market.

Through our detailed analysis, we ensure you remain in the loop about the latest advancements and noteworthy features. Embrace the future with confidence, knowing you've got the right information at your fingertips.

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These traits are what set apart the leaders in the industry. Stay ahead by choosing products that exemplify these qualities, enhancing your lifestyle with peak efficiency and enjoyment.

The 42-inch LG C4 stands out as the top small OLED TV available today. While its audio performance may not be top-tier, it offers a vivid and captivating viewing experience, thanks to its impressive peak brightness that outshines older models.

When it comes to picture quality, the difference isn’t as stark compared to its larger C4 counterparts. Colors are a bit cooler, and dark scenes can sometimes seem slightly muted.

Despite these minor points, we assure you that there isn't a better small OLED TV at this price point. Just keep in mind that for the ultimate experience, you should consider adding a soundbar to your setup.