LG OLED65C1 £1999
LG’S C-series model has been the go-to pick of its OLED range for several years, the most affordable with the company’s best panel and picture processing wizardry. LG has now introduced a new, brighter and sharper ‘OLED Evo’ panel for its G1 range. The C1 doesn’t have that, though it nonetheless benefits from a few subtle performance nips and tucks, and a lower launch price than its predecessor, the CX.
The included new version of LG’S Magic Remote is slightly thinner and feels even better in the hand, and there are more shortcut buttons to take you directly to streaming services. A full suite of core catch-up apps, via Freeview Play, adds to a good overall app selection that includes Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and Apple TV, all with full support for 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. With four 2.1-spec HDMIS, rated to 40Gbps supporting 4K@120HZ, VRR and ALLM, plus an input lag of less than 13ms, there’s no better specified TV for gaming right now.
The C1’s performance with Dolby Vision content is superb. Rogue One on Disney+ is beautifully vibrant with lots of detail and excellent contrast. The scenes in space play to its strengths, with perfect, pure blacks combining with bright, white stars to dazzling effect. The G1 produces an even sharper and brighter picture, but not to a degree that will have C1 owners feeling too left out. In HDR10, Blade Runner 2049 provides a fabulously punchy and detailed picture with a colour balance that never looks anything other than correct. LG has made slight improvements to its motion processing, too. Even in standard-def, the image is as clean and controlled as one could hope for from a TV that is essentially having to make up a lot of the picture.
While the C1’s speaker system is the same as that of the CX, the processing has changed and so has the presentation. The sound is more open and spacious, with a slightly more cinematic feel, and there’s more cleanliness and smoothness.
The C1 isn’t much of an improvement on its predecessor, but then the CX’S picture performance and feature set were already exemplary. Still, LG has slightly improved the former with its new Cinematic Movement motion processing and enhanced de-contouring feature, and the latter with a better menu system and a more complete app selection. As this Award attests, the C-series is still a winning OLED range, particularly for gaming.