Key takeaways of zdnet
- LG C5 OLED enhances shiny glow and color.
- It has an ultra-slim body, with material options that develop premiums.
- This is relatively high for nominal upgradation on last year’s model.
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Major retailers have exempted LG’s latest C5 OLED TV You give a discount of $ 700 depending on which size.
I will argue that the most important aspect of any television set is the quality of its picture. Never pay attention to your smart abilities, brand reputation or super-high refresh rate. For humans, at first glance, visual stimulation overrides everyone else.
This is why when you walk in costco, you are arrested by the best images shining on a group of Big-screen TV set to marry your 4K beauty. The first impressions are always based on appearance.
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From that criterion alone -picture quality – LG’s 2025 C5 OLED Rank today from the best OLED TV you can buy. This seems like a case of a case-tatha, but I am standing behind it because as soon as I removed our review unit for the test, I knew it was a win. This is good this year.
The C5 has a unique construction and a future beauty. For one thing, it is one of the thinnest screens that I have ever seen – only 0.25 inches thick. When taking it out of the box, my colleague and I was careful to handle the edges of the screen because they looked very delicate. The lower section of the panel is more sufficient, to grab some while setting it.
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It is as if LG’s engineers were shooting for “more screens, low panels” in this year’s design, an angle that he successfully pulled. It is almost four times thinner than the trendy frame TV on the market, but it is only responsible for about two-thirds of the surface area of the screen.
I want to give a shout to the person designing packaging for this model. When you open the cardboard box top, you immediately find the remote control with a battery in your small sleeve Pre -installedThe base plate (stand) and all its components are in another styrofome box, making it easier to get out and go. (These are the things you notice when you do some 65 -inch TV.)
Other fine details separate the C5, such as black marble pattern behind the screen, and small square silicone pads on the bottom of the base plate that prevent the TV from the scooter.
LG OLED is a pioneer in technology, so we can expect each recurrence that produces it to improving it finally. While the image quality of C5 is a will for the continuous discovery of the perfection of LG alone, many hardware upgrade accounts for this year’s progress.
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The Alpha 9 is a general 8 processor, which is responsible for a deep list of AI features. From AI Super Apsscelling to all other streaming services that increase the quality of low-resolution material to look like 4K, for a-assisted deep learning, which only analyzes and learns your viewing preferences for you to customize pictures and sound settings for you.
I also tested AI Kansiaz, which pays attention to your viewing preferences and content to provide suggestions for your next biping -able show. These features are not due to upgrading to the latest models per per, but they are a step in the correct direction in terms of AI devices, most consumers can use.
LG C5, like last year’s C4, comes with four HDMI 2.1 ports and three USB 2.0 port.
Adam Breeden/ZDNET
While I am enamored with C5’s default visual, it also comes with a host of features that make your viewing experience ideal. Immediately, it offers two options for the setting: using your phone or remote. LG ThinQ app needs to be downloaded for your phone option. I did this, and it made life easier, initially asking if your TV is resting on a stand or wall-mounted, which can affect the performance.
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Holy, in response to my ThinQ commands, TV responded with a female voice, which was speaking super fast, such as reading disclaimer at the end of the commercial of micro machines. However, this is fine, as it accelerated the process.
The C5 then invites you to turn on some AI tasks like AI Picture Pro. This section shows a brief video clip of a child (doing the baby’s things) with a left to right screen sweep. This real -time disassemune performance impressed me so much that I enabled the convenience (which could be closed anytime).
How is the visual performance?
LG C5, although one step below the company Real Flagship, G5, tested for a visual experience which was high in our performance list.
In addition to inserting TV through various systematic calibrations and stress tests in the ZDNET lab, I test the TV performance by examining some film scenes with visuals like “Avengers: Endege” with my explosive war scenes and CGI spectacles.
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From the most dark moments (eg at the beginning of Tony Stark), the moment Thanos snatches its fingers, LG C5 OLED provides an image quality that crosses my expectations. The colors are surprisingly vibrant, contrasting pure and accurate, and the image details are determined.
Even when the C5 is resting, it manages to affect. With your “always prepared” function, the motion sensor of the TV displays wallpaper or motion graphics in response to activity in the room. This is the place where I focus on the real-black nature of this OLED, which adds an element of depth near 3D, such as you can reach behind silent, shiny fireworks, which can explode on the screen while waiting for your conversation.
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I was not keen on LG’s AI Sound Pro Tuning, so I kept it closed despite making a TV emphasisThis feature took the sample music from the background to the foreground, possibly doubled in decibels but not quality. It was too much tinni and high on the trable, although adding a soundbar can easily be the remedy.
I insist on closing any energy saver mode to enjoy the best possible HDR shine. Energy-saving modes on AI Smart TV are gimmick and impractical as they “save” only one modicum of electricity use, affect the performance of C5 in a bright room. In the event of various lighting, I found that ISF expert bright room setting is best.
About magic remote
LG still uses its magic remote feature to navigate UX, which I have never been a big fan; I do not enjoy feeling that I am using a WII controller to change the settings. Thankfully, the cursor part of navigating with magic remote is now an alternative feature (invited and commanded by wheel button instead of the only means to select the item. You can also use directional pads for navigation.
In particular, the remote lacks a very important button on any remote – muted button. The streamlined, left rotation switch for NTH degree doubles as you pull it down, and you have to hold the volume rocker for two seconds to really to keep the TV silent. Also – and it can be urine for me – I think I feel disappointing whenever there is no remote backlit of a new TV. All remotes must have an enlightened button for accessibility. (And a huge silent button.)
ZDNET purchase advice
LG C5 OLED There is an exemplary TV that is quite loving – whether the screen is on or closed. About $ 1,997 (on sale at the time of writing), 65-inch C5 upgrades from its predecessor that is equal for the course, but not necessarily a game-changing. For example, the test measurement of C5 is slightly higher than the 2024 C4 chain unit (such as the marginal growth of NIT).
Similarly, the C5 does not step on C4 about its latest rate, which continues to be maximum at 144hz instead of 165Hz, such as we are looking at some high-end (and competition) models. Until that price tag falls, you will stay away from just lifting C4 series Unit for half the price of C5.
The article was originally published on 29 April 2025, and was updated on 21 July 2025.
