With Samsung’s OLED competition mounting, the LG OLED evo C4 delivers improved HDR peak brightness, advanced gaming features—including 144Hz refresh rates with compatible PC-connected content—and a new operating system, webOS 24, that adds Quick Cards for conveniently storing apps.
Of course, in true LG style, there are thoughtful inclusions such as four HDMI 2.1 ports, Dolby Vision with a new FILMMAKER MODE, and unmatched compatibility with the brand’s new soundbar range.
This all comes at a price point well below the brand’s faster and brighter LG OLED evo G4, but is it worth the upgrade over the even cheaper LG OLED B4? Let’s find out.
65-inch LG OLED evo C4 We Tested For This Review
We tested the most popular 65-inch model (OLED65C4PSA) for this review. Here’s a quick look at the stats:
- Price: from $4,299
- Screen size: 65 inches
- Model: OLED65C4PUA
- Resolution: 3,840×2,160
- HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Picture processor: α9 AI Processor 4K Gen7
- Ports: 4x HDMI 2.1, 3x USB
- Audio: 40-watt
- Smart TV software: webOS 24
- TV weight without stand: 16.6kg
RELATED: LG is ‘Mass Producing’ World’s First Gaming OLED Panel With Switchable Refresh Rate.
LG OLED evo C4 Price and Comparison
The LG OLED evo C4 starts at AU$2,199 for the smallest 42-inch model. However, we tested the most popular 65-inch model (OLED65C4PSA), which is priced at AU$4,299. The most expensive 82-inch model is priced at AU$7,999, which makes it as expensive as the better-performing 77-inch OLED evo G4.
Here’s the full list of pricing for the LG OLED evo C4:
- OLED83C4 – AU$7,999
- OLED77C4 – AU$5,999
- OLED65C4 – AU$4,299 (as tested)
- OLED55C4 – AU$3,299
- OLED48C4 – AU$2,499
- OLED42C4 – AU$2,199
Most consumers would stretch their budget for a better TV. However, the price jump from OLED evo C4 to OLED evo G4 is at least $1,000, which is considerable. We tested the 77-inch LG G3 OLED evo (OLED83G3PSA) late last year, and while it was a previous-generation model, we’d probably keep the change and choose the C4 as the differences are tricky to discern with the naked eye.
The new LG OLED evo B4 is a fairer comparison. While it doesn’t have the HDR peak brightness of the OLED evo C4, you will only notice this when using the TV in brighter rooms. The more expensive C4 we’re testing also seems to handle reflections better because of this and has higher SDR peak brightness.
Here’s the full list of pricing for the LG OLED evo B4:
- OLED65B4 – AU$3,299
- OLED55B4 – AU$2,499
If you’re shopping for an LG OLED, then you’re looking for a premium product that is best compared to these two TVs which come in at a similar price point, with similar features:
The Samsung is the better of the two TVs. It has brighter HDR content and is more suited to living room areas, especially those with plenty of natural light. This is particularly noticeable when comparing the TVs in their respective game modes, where the Samsung S90D’s HDR brightness is notably higher. Ultimately, the choice between these three TVs would come down to price point, and we recommend shopping around for a sale.
Ports and Connectivity
Here’s a list of ports on the LG OLED evo C4:
- 4x HDMI 2.1 inputs
- 1x HDMI audio return channel (eARC for connecting soundbars in port 2)
- 3x USB input (USB 2.0)
- 2x RF input (antenna/cable)
- 1x SPDIF (optical digital audio out)
- 1x Ethernet input
- 1x Simplink (HDMI CEC)
When you look at the ports, LG has clearly thought about future-proofing the TV with four HDMI 2.1 inputs that bring 4K at 120Hz and features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low-Latency Mode (ALLM). These allow you to get the most out of your next-gen game consoles, such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, while adding a second, third, and fourth device. In our case, that meant a Foxtel iQ5 box and Apple TV 4K.
Being a Smart TV, it’s crucial that you can stream from all your devices. The LG OLED evo C4 has the following Smart TV features:
- Apple Airplay2
- Full web browser
- webOS 24 operating system (OS)
- LG ThinQ smartphone remote app
- Bluetooth Support
- Wi-Fi 5
It’s also USB camera compatible and has intelligent voice recognition, hands-free voice control, room-to-room sharing, and various family settings.
Picture Quality
Picture quality has quickly become one of our least important considerations when testing new TVs, especially from category leaders such as LG. Truthfully, most OLED TVs at this price point look about as good as each other, with Samsung leading the charge in HDR brightness and LG’s α9 Gen7 processor leading the charge in image processing. The case rings true again with the LG OLED evo C4. It’s a gorgeous display, brighter than the LG OLED evo C3 it replaces, but it’s still behind Samsung in this regard.
We always run our tests through our Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), which supports Dolby Vision at 60Hz, HDR10, and HDR10+ content. However, you can also use the built-in LG webOS 24 system, which works well.
For this review, we tested Top Gun: Maverick and Dune: Part Two, which both looked very good. The LG OLED evo C4 has the 7th generation version of LG’s α9 processor with AI Super Upscaling 4K. It does an outstanding job of maximising the picture quality alongside other software like OLED Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro, AI Genre Selection, AI Brightness Control, OLED Motion, and the 10 available picture modes:
- Personalized Picture Wizard
- Vivid
- Standard
- Eco
- Cinema
- Sports
- Game
- Filmmaker,
- (ISF) Expert (Bright Room)
- (ISF) Expert (Dark Room)
New for this generation of LG OLED TVs is FILMMAKER MODE, which adjusts the picture and turns off motion smoothing. Typically, the TV adds smoothness, but here, it lets the natural 24fps judder shine through and brings a true-to-directors’ vision image onto the screen with a particularly accurate image. It’s sharper without being noisy and grainy, but the highlight is the natural and punchy colours, shadows, and details.
Gamers will be satisfied with the 120hz refresh rate (144hz for PC gaming), 4K picture quality, and essential features like Nvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync, and 4K Dolby Vision gaming. The input delay is marked at around 10ms, which places it firmly behind the quicker panel in the 77-inch LG G3 OLED evo we tested last year. Still, serious gamers will only consider gaming monitors, so this is perfectly fine for casual gaming.
Ultimately, unless you’re hell-bent on using 4K Blu-ray players or subscribing to the various streaming services at the most premium tiers (often costing more than AU$25 per month), you won’t find any huge differences between the LG, Samsung, and Sony options because they’re often only being fed low-quality streaming content. If you buy a new 4K OLED TV and want to make the most of it, pick up an Apple TV 4K and stream all the Apple TV+ originals you possibly want. Alternatively, Disney Plus and Prime Video offer 4K at all subscription tiers.
If you’re watching content in front of a window or a particularly bright room, we recommend checking out mini LED TVs like the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED because they perform better in brighter rooms. Alternatively, check out the more expensive LG evo G4 or the Samsung S95D, which has a peak HDR brightness of 1,700 nits.
Sound Quality
Like most TVs, the LG OLED Evo C4’s built-in TV speakers are serviceable but never impressive. They use a 2.2-channel speaker system that can output a maximum of 40 watts. This can be upmixed with an AI Sound Pro mode that attempts to provide a virtual 9.1.2-channel. However, you’re ultimately better off factoring in the cost of a soundbar that can take advantage of the TV’s Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
For this review, LG sent us their new LG Sound Bar S95TR system (AU$1,699) alongside the TV. After testing both the TV’s in-built speakers and this system back-to-back, we’d struggle to live without it. Producing a combined 810 watts through a 15-speaker (9.1.5-channel) surround sound system, it fills the room with sound as impressive as the picture quality on the TV.
It has LG’s WOW Orchestra system, which combines the TV and LG Sound Bar speakers and plays audio from both simultaneously. This results in more accurate dialogue from characters and actors on the screen.
Beyond the quality of the sound, the most impressive feature was the seamless integration, with wireless rear speakers and software such as AI Room Calibration Pro to optimise the audio of the front and rear speakers for the space. Like the picture modes on the TV, AI Sound Pro adjusts the sound based on the content.
Of course, we didn’t get to test this sound bar and wireless rear speaker system against others during our review, but it’s seriously impressive and something we’d factor into any budget.
Man of Many’s Verdict on the LG OLED evo C4
The LG OLED evo C4 is a great value-for-money mid-range OLED TV for gamers and people who stream and consume a lot of 4K content. Paying the extra price for the LG OLED evo G4 will give you brightness and a faster screen. However, unless you’re more than a casual gamer or play in a particularly bright room, it’s unlikely that you’ll notice a large difference between the two models.
We recommend cross-shopping other TVs at this price point, especially the 65-inch Samsung S90D and 65-inch Samsung S95D models, as they offer increased HDR brightness and similar picture quality.
Ultimately, the decision will come down to price and compatibility. Shop around for a deal, and if you’re already the owner of an LG soundbar, it’s probably worth staying in the family.
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