This is the big one.

Each new C-series OLED TV from LG is a significant event due to the range’s near-legendary reputation for balancing performance, features, and price. The C4 garners even more interest this year, mainly due to an unexpectedly underwhelming performance from last year's C3.

It must be noted that initial signs aren’t very promising: the C4 resembles the C3 closely, and their specs appear almost identical. The price has dropped slightly in the UK, but this merely counters last year’s price hike. This alone wouldn't suffice to dethrone the current mid-range OLED champion – the Sony A80L.

However, the great news for everyone but Sony is that beneath the familiar design and specs, the C4 boasts substantial performance upgrades in both picture and sound, putting the C-series back on top.

Pricing and availability details for Canadian readers

In the UK, the C4 is slightly cheaper than the C3 was at launch. The same applies in most sizes in Australia, but in the US, prices have gone up by $99 in every size. Here is the full comparison:

Like previous C-series models, the C4 is positioned between the new B-series and G-series. The gap between the C4 and G4 is wider than before, primarily because of a difference in processors for the first time, while the gap between the B4 and C4 has narrowed, largely due to the B4 featuring four HDMI 2.1 sockets, a first for the B-series.

While we will discuss performance in more detail, it’s essential to note that it's not just about specs. We’ll be able to determine the standout model in the range once we’ve tested both the B4 and G4 side-by-side. For now, here’s how the launch prices compare:

More important than the intra-brand comparison is how the C4 measures up to its rivals. While pricing for these competitors is sparse, we anticipate the LG C4 will compete with the Samsung S90D (identically priced in the US but yet to be priced elsewhere) and Sony’s upcoming replacement for the A80L. In the UK, it will also face competition from the Philips OLED809 and the successor to the Panasonic MZ1500, both of which are yet to be announced. These models are likely to be in a similar price bracket.

As for availability, the C4 is already available in the US and can be pre-ordered from LG.com in the UK and Australia, with deliveries starting on April 17th and 8th, respectively.

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Despite some minor differences in finish, the C4 looks nearly identical to the C3, which in turn looked much like the C2. While design consistency might not always be thrilling, it’s crucial to remember just how groundbreaking the design of the C2 was – and that other brands have yet to match up.

Firstly, most of the chassis is incredibly thin – around half a centimeter. LG has expertly compacted all the connections, speakers, and processing hardware into an enclosure far more compact than rival TVs, making its slender profile even more remarkable. At its thickest, the TV is still just 4.7cm. That's thicker than the G4, which, like the G3 before it, is a uniform 2.4cm, but thinner than rivals such as the Sony A80L (5.3cm), Philips OLED808 (6.8cm), and Panasonic MZ1500 (6.9cm).

What’s even more impressive than the C4’s thinness is how extraordinarily light it is for a large TV. The 65-inch model under review weighs just 16.6kg without the stand and 18.5kg with it. That’s significantly lighter than the G4 (23.8/29.1kg), Sony A80L (23.3/24.2kg), Philips OLED808 (22.9/26.8kg), and Panasonic MZ1500 (19/24kg). This lightness makes the C4 much easier to handle during installation and puts less strain on your wall and fixings if you choose to mount it. Despite this impressive lack of weight, the C4 still feels solid and well-made.

The C4’s bundled pedestal stand is sleek, stylish, and compact, allowing the TV to stand on furniture much narrower than the TV itself. However, the design of the stand doesn’t leave room for a typical soundbar. While LG offers a soundbar that seamlessly integrates with the C4, it unfortunately doesn't deliver great sound quality, as explained in our LG USC9S review.

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The C4 closely resembles the C3 in terms of specs. It still boasts four HDMI 2.1 ports, catering to gamers who can connect up to three consoles or gaming PCs simultaneously, even with a soundbar taking up one port.

There are minor gaming upgrades too, like full Nvidia G-Sync VRR certification and 144Hz compatibility, which is an improvement from the 120Hz of the C3. This will delight hardcore PC gamers with advanced rigs. Dolby Vision gaming is supported up to the new 144Hz limit, though no current source can utilize this as Xbox Series consoles peak at 4K/120Hz.

We had hoped the C4 would adopt the first-gen MLA technology from last year’s G3, but that wasn't the case. Similarly, it lacks a brightness-boosting heatsink. However, LG did promise increased brightness for the C4 over the C3, which our testing confirms.

This year brings a processor change: whereas previous C- and G-series models shared a processor, the G4 has a new Alpha 11 chip, while the C4 uses an upgraded version of the Alpha 9 from the C3. This means the C4 benefits from new processing features like virtual 11.1.2 sound upmixing (up from 9.1.2) and enhanced voice remastering for clearer dialogue, although it misses out on bigger G4 features like the ‘Peak Highlighter’ for intense bright highlights.

Like all LG TVs, the C4 doesn’t support HDR10+. However, in practical terms, this isn't significant. The more crucial formats—Dolby Vision, HLG, and standard HDR10—are all supported.

Understanding picture quality: a guide for viewers

We conduct most of our TV testing in dark room conditions, but performance in a well-lit environment is crucial too. That’s where we start our evaluation of the LG C4.

Watching Season 2 of Netflix’s golf documentary Full Swing in Dolby Vision Cinema Home mode, the C4 stands out with more vibrancy than the Sony A80L in its Dolby Vision Bright mode. The C4 effectively stands out in well-lit rooms with lively greens on the courses, vibrant yellow flags, and a distinct pink cap, all staying true to life without exaggeration. The white text and caddy overalls are crisp and punchy.

Bright picture elements, like the sunlit white sand in bunkers, show plenty of detail. The image is as sharp and solid as the A80L, marking a significant improvement over last year’s comparatively softer C3. Skin tones are well-balanced and natural. The C4 captures Rory McIlroy’s naturally bronzed face with excellent shading and freckle definition, unlike the occasional ruddy appearance on the A80L.

In rare instances, the A80L makes people talking to the camera appear somewhat shaded, but the C4 consistently places the subject in the best light. The C4 also handles lower-res clips better, with cleaner edges and no flicker.

While neither the C4 nor the A80L can match the brightness of MLA or QD-OLED models, the C4 generally performs better in bright conditions. There are variations in performance when switching between Dolby Vision content from different streaming services, likely due to differing interpretations of Dolby Vision dynamic metadata, but overall, the C4 is the superior performer in these settings.

The bright room Dolby Vision performance of the C4 suggests LG has addressed feedback on the C3’s softness and lack of punch compared to the A80L. This improvement is confirmed when we switch off the lights and test further content.

Watching our 4K Blu-ray of Interstellar in HDR10, the C4’s picture is immediately sharper, more solid, and more impactful than last year’s C3, even in Filmmaker Mode, which employs the least active processing.

Importantly, these enhancements come without any exaggeration. Edges appear naturally sharp, and bright highlights are not artificially boosted, retaining plenty of detail as seen in the bright white clouds and ice on Dr. Mann’s planet. In all these aspects, the C4 matches or occasionally surpasses the Sony A80L, offering warmer and richer tones that align with cinematic intent.

Switching to Blade Runner 2049 in 4K and HDR10 confirms the C4’s richer tones and vibrant colors, making the A80L appear cool at times. The C4 delivers balanced and natural colors with superb subtlety and blending. Notably, it consistently maintains color volume from bright to dark areas, a notable improvement over last year’s LG OLEDs, which struggled with color retention in low-light areas. For instance, Sapper Morton's face remains naturally hued as he talks to K from the shadows.

Blade Runner 2049 is a favorite for testing motion handling, and the C4 excels here too. While some may prefer all TruMotion processing off, as in Filmmaker Mode, we recommend the ‘Cinematic Movement’ setting, which reduces judder without adding shimmer to fast motion or creating the ‘soap opera effect’.

On dropping to 1080p and SDR with the well-loved True Grit, we noticed that, unlike with HDR content, the TV’s Energy Saving mode is automatically on, even in Filmmaker Mode, resulting in a dull picture. To see the TV at its best, it’s crucial to switch this off in the ‘General’ menu.

Once this is done, the C4 delivers a bright, vibrant, and balanced picture that is clean yet crisp, skillfully balancing noise reduction with intentional film grain. While generally superb, the C4 reveals slightly less detail in shadows compared to the Sony A80L. This issue is minor and does not lead to black crush, but it’s worth noting.

Overall, the C4’s picture quality is exceptional for a mid-range OLED. It may not have the pop of an MLA set or a QD-OLED like the Samsung S95D, but it matches the market-leading Sony A80L in almost every area and surpasses it with warmer tones, richer colors, and smoother low-resolution signal handling.

Enhancing sound quality for optimal listening

One area in which LG's OLEDs have faced criticism over the years is sound quality, with last year's C3 and G3 models being some of the worst offenders. Thankfully, despite the audio hardware being seemingly identical to last year's models, the C4 sounds significantly better.

The major issue with the C3 was its dull sound, but with the AI Sound mode enabled, the C4 delivers a punchy and dynamic audio experience with good volume levels. While there is a bit of crackle from the cabinet when playing the super-bassy opening of Blade Runner 2049’s second chapter, it's less noticeable than on most rival sets. The C4 also excels over last year’s model in handling the scene’s rises in volume and instrumentation.

Importantly, the aggressive sharpness of last year’s AI Sound mode has been addressed. While a hint of fuzz can be detected around certain sounds at very high volumes (such as the interrogator’s voice during Blade Runner 2049’s first baseline test), this is fairly rare, not very distracting, and can be almost completely resolved by keeping the TV’s volume below the loud 75 mark.

There are TVs with better sound quality, but they often come at a higher price and feature more prominent speaker systems. At this level, the Sony A80L stands out for its clarity, control, directness, and spaciousness. However, the C4 offers greater weight and tonal richness, which is evident in all scenes but especially prominent in larger movie soundtrack moments.

While the C4 may not surpass the A80L overall in sound, the fact that it comes close is a significant improvement for LG. However, we'd still recommend using a quality budget soundbar, like the Sonos Arc, to match the picture performance of this TV.

The ultimate guide to gaming in Canada

LG’s OLEDs have consistently been the preferred choice for gamers seeking a high-end experience, and the C4 model continues this trend with only minor upgrades. Key enhancements include support for 4K/144Hz signals and full Nvidia G-Sync VRR certification. However, to fully utilize these features, a high-spec PC is required. The latter mainly ensures ongoing game compatibility rather than offering a noticeable performance boost.

The previous C-series was already feature-rich, so a gaming spec boost wasn't necessary. The C4 includes four HDMI 2.1 ports, all accommodating 4K/120Hz (and 144Hz), VRR, and ALLM. It also supports Dolby Vision gaming. Another standout aspect of LG’s OLEDs is their excellent implementation of HGiG, ensuring accurate HDR game performance with remarkable contrast and detail in highlights and shadows, a feature also seen in the C4.

While the gaming specs haven't changed much on paper, the C4’s overall picture quality improvements significantly enhance the gaming experience. Every game, especially visually demanding titles like Halo Infinite on the Xbox Series X and The Last of Us Part 2 on PS5, looks more robust and three-dimensional, with vibrant colors and striking highlights.

As with previous models, the C4 features a Game Optimiser pop-up menu, providing quick access to game-specific signal info and settings. While this menu might seem overloaded with options that many users might not utilize, it is convenient to check the frame rate of your game without navigating the main TV menus.

Remote control, user interface and smart platform features for Canadians

Keeping with the classic design, the TV's remote control remains as impressive as ever. The 'Magic Remote' fits perfectly in hand, boasting just the right amount of buttons arranged flawlessly. The unique pointer functionality continues to be a mixed bag for users—some adore it, while others find it a tad bothersome. However, it never really detracts from the overall user experience.

On the software front, webOS 24 builds on the solid foundation laid by last year's webOS 23, bringing in slight but valuable enhancements. Notably, personalised recommendations have made a comeback on the home page. This feature owes its revival to the new 'Quick Cards'—compact folders organizing related apps and features—and a marginally smaller ad banner. Despite its reduced size, the ad banner's presence in a premium TV can still be debated.

The webOS 24 layout is user-friendly, operating swiftly and smoothly throughout tests. Even the detailed menus for picture, sound, and other settings are more approachable compared to those of other brands.

Just like webOS 23, webOS 24 is packed with apps. Major players like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video, along with localised services such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Channel 4, and My5 in the UK, are all available. There are even game streaming apps like Nvidia GeForce Now. It's not just about having these apps onboard but ensuring they're optimised for the TV platform to perform flawlessly and deliver content in the best possible formats, unlike some other TVs, especially those running on Google's TV platform.

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While the C4 is more affordable in the UK and Australia compared to the C3's launch price – and slightly pricier in the US – it remains quite expensive relative to last year's heavily discounted TVs.

The upgrade over the C3 is notable, but as of now, you can snag a 65-inch C3 for around £1500 / $1600 / AU$3300. The Sony A80L, which closely matches the new C4 in performance, is also considerably cheaper at £1999 / $2000 / AU$3795 in March 2024. If you're in the market for a TV right now, you'll get better value with one of these models, but the wisest move might be to wait for C4 prices to drop in the coming months.

Check out the latest prices for the 65-inch versions of the C4, C3, and Sony A80L:

detailed analysis of breakdown scores

We meticulously scrutinize the LG C4 across multiple critical aspects, matching it up against its top competitors within the same price range. This comprehensive analysis helps us position each model accurately in its respective category. Below, you'll find our ratings:

Things to also consider

When thinking about buying the LG C4, there are several new 2024 TV models you might want to check out. These include the Samsung S90D, Sony’s upcoming successor to the A80L, and LG’s own G4 and B4. As we haven’t reviewed these models yet, we can’t provide a comprehensive comparison. However, here are some TVs that are currently available and worth considering: