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Overview
The LG OLED55C5 establishes itself as the natural successor to the highly acclaimed C4, maintaining the philosophy of balancing performance and accessibility that defines LG’s C series. This 55-inch TV features a new generation AI processor and an optimized OLED Evo EX panel, delivering a tangible improvement in HDR brightness while upholding the image quality standards that have made the range so successful. Positioned at the heart of LG’s 2025 OLED ecosystem, between the entry-level B5 models and the high-end G5, the C5 targets both movie enthusiasts and demanding gamers, offering a set of advanced features at a controlled price.
Technological Evolution: The α9 AI Gen8 Processor Serving Image Quality
At the core of the LG OLED55C5 lies its new α9 AI 4K Gen8 processor, a significant evolution over the previous generation. This chip incorporates enhanced artificial intelligence algorithms that analyze and optimize the image in real time according to the type of content displayed. AI Picture Pro automatically adjusts sharpness, contrast, and saturation, while AI Brightness Control adapts brightness to ambient lighting conditions. This approach ensures optimal rendering without manual intervention, whether for traditional SDR content or modern HDR productions.
The α9 AI Super Upscaling 4K is one of the notable improvements, using machine learning to reconstruct details in lower-resolution content. The processor automatically identifies content genres through AI Genre Selection, applying specific optimization profiles for movies, sports, documentaries, or video games.
Image Quality: Enhanced HDR Brightness on OLED Evo Panel
The C5’s OLED Evo EX panel benefits from optimized materials that allow for significantly higher HDR brightness peaks compared to the previous model. Technical measurements show peaks reaching nearly 1400 nits in Vivid mode and exceeding 1200 nits in Standard mode, a substantial improvement that enhances the visual impact of HDR content.
This increased brightness is paired with the infinite contrast characteristic of OLED technology, with each pixel turning off completely to produce absolute blacks certified as “Perfect Black” by UL. Color fidelity reaches 100% according to Intertek certification, ensuring precise color reproduction faithful to content creators’ intentions.
The TV supports HDR formats Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, with OLED Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro processing that optimizes each scene individually. However, the lack of HDR10+ support may limit optimal playback of certain Amazon Prime Video content.
Gaming Performance: A Complete Arsenal for Demanding Gamers
The LG OLED55C5 stands out particularly in the gaming field, offering a remarkably low input lag of 13ms, reducible to 9.2ms with the booster mode activated. The near-instantaneous response time of 0.1ms virtually eliminates any ghosting effect, which is crucial for competitive gaming.
All four HDMI 2.1 ports fully support modern gaming features: 4K at 144Hz, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), as well as NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium compatibility. This setup allows you to fully exploit PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles, as well as high-end gaming PCs.
The intuitive GameBar makes it easy to adjust settings during gameplay, allowing you to quickly switch between different profiles depending on the game type. Support for Dolby Vision Gaming in 4K 120Hz is a welcome addition for compatible content.
Artificial Intelligence and webOS 25: An Advanced Smart TV Platform
The webOS 25 platform integrates new artificial intelligence features that personalize the user experience. The interface adapts to viewing habits through customizable user profiles, automatically suggesting relevant content and optimizing settings according to individual preferences.
The intelligent voice recognition system with Voice ID enables extensive hands-free control, while the integrated AI chatbot makes navigation and content search easier. Compatibility with Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and major voice assistants ensures seamless integration into existing connected ecosystems.
Always Ready keeps certain features active even in standby mode, allowing quick access to streaming services or cloud gaming without startup delay.
Audio and Connectivity: Solid Yet Improvable Foundations
The C5’s built-in audio system delivers 40W of power across a 2.2 channel configuration with Dolby Atmos support. AI Sound Pro offers 11.1.2 virtualization that simulates an extended surround environment, while Clear Voice Pro enhances dialogue intelligibility through AI processing.
Connectivity is comprehensive with four HDMI 2.1 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3. However, the discontinuation of DTS support on LG’s 2025 range may pose issues for certain content or existing audio equipment.
Design and Ergonomics: Elegance and Functionality
The C5’s design evolves subtly from the C4, retaining the clean aesthetic characteristic of the C series. The reduced thickness and premium finish blend harmoniously into any environment, whether wall-mounted with VESA 300x200mm or placed on the supplied central stand.
The new Magic Remote offers improved ergonomics and extended features, though the lack of backlighting remains regrettable. The intuitive pointer and voice controls make navigating the webOS interface easy.
Comparison with the Previous C4 Model
The C5 is a targeted evolution of the C4 rather than a complete overhaul. The main improvement concerns HDR brightness, up by 15 to 20% according to measurements, thanks to the new processor and OLED Evo EX panel optimizations. Gaming features remain identical, maintaining the C4’s already established excellence in this area.
Maintaining the same launch price further enhances the C5’s appeal, offering superior performance at no extra cost. This pricing strategy gives the model a strong position against the competition, especially as OLED prices tend to rise.
What the press says
The 48-inch LG C5 upholds the Korean giant’s legacy as one of the best manufacturers of small-sized OLED TVs, largely because it sticks very closely to the model that made previous C series TVs great, rather than introducing clever innovations.
Automatically translated — Show original (French)
Le LG C5 de 48 pouces conserve l'héritage du géant coréen en tant que l'un des meilleurs fabricants de téléviseurs OLED de petite taille, mais en grande partie parce qu'il s'en tient très étroitement au modèle qui a fait la grandeur des anciens téléviseurs de la série C, plutôt qu'à une innovation intelligente.
HDMI inputs: 4 (supports 4K 120 Hz, eARC, VRR, ALLM, QMS on all 4 ports)
HDMI audio return channel: eARC (HDMI 2)
USB inputs: 3 (v 2.0)
Ethernet input: 1
RF inputs (antenna / cable): 2
SPDIF (optical digital audio output): 1
CI slot: 1 (except UK and Ireland)
Bluetooth: yes (v 5.3)
Wi-Fi: yes (Wi-Fi 6)
Simplink (HDMI CEC): yes
Power
Power supply: AC 100-240 V 50-60 Hz
Standby power consumption: less than 0.5 W
Accessibility
High contrast: yes
Grayscale: yes
Color inversion: yes
Dimensions and Weight
TV dimensions without stand: 1222 x 703 x 45.1 mm
TV dimensions with stand: 1222 x 757 x 230 mm
Packaging dimensions: 1360 x 810 x 187 mm
Stand dimensions: 470 x 230 mm
TV weight without stand: 14.1 kg
TV weight with stand: 16.0 kg
Weight with packaging: 21.3 kg
VESA mount: 300 x 200 mm
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the C5 and the C4?
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The major improvement lies in HDR brightness, increased by 15 to 20% thanks to the new α9 AI Gen8 processor. The C5 reaches nearly 1400 nits peak compared to around 1150 nits for the C4. AI features are also enhanced with webOS 25, offering deeper personalization and new automatic optimization tools.
Should I invest in a soundbar with this TV?
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While the built-in audio system is decent with its 40W output and Dolby Atmos support, it limits the C5’s cinematic potential. A quality soundbar or dedicated home theater system will fully reveal this TV’s capabilities, especially for HDR content and action movies.
How does the C5 perform in a bright living room?
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The improved HDR brightness makes daytime viewing easier, but the average reflectance (25.9%) can cause distracting reflections from direct light sources. Thoughtful positioning or blackout curtains will optimize the experience, as OLED is primarily designed for dark or dimly lit environments.
What sizes are available and what are their specifics?
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The C5 range offers 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, and 83-inch sizes. All share the same features, with only dimensions and price varying. The 77 and 83-inch models benefit from slightly higher brightness thanks to their larger display area.
User reviews
Pascal
Excellent image quality. A smooth, comprehensive interface, and a design as polished as ever. We’d like LG to make improvements to audio quality and include a backlit remote at this price. This explains the 4-star rating instead of 5... This LG OLEDC5 EVO 2025 still represents good value for money.
Comment from September 13, 2025 — Experience from September 02, 2025
Automatically translated — Show original (French)
Une très belle qualité d’image. Une interface fluide et complète, et un design toujours aussi soigné. On aimerait que LG fasse des efforts sur la qualité Audio et fournisse à ce prix une télécommande rétroéclairée. Ceci explique l'attribution de 4 étoiles iso 5...Ce LG OLEDC5 EVO 2025 s’affiche encore comme un bon rapport qualité-prix
Eco-contribution of €14.59 included in the sale price.
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