As I review the latest LG OLED Evo C3 4K smart TV, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since LG introduced OLED TVs to the world. I was still a freshly married young man with a second child on the way, still watching movies on a Sony WEGA boob tube. A lot has changed since then, and with this 10th anniversary, LG has a lineup of OLED TVs that once again prove why it has been the leader in OLED technology and the de facto standard.
The C3 may not be LG’s flagship (that title belongs to the G3), but you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at the spec sheet—this TV has everything, including the latest in AI 4K upscaling, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, 4K 120Hz gaming with Game Optimizer, NVIDIA G-Sync, VRR, and perfect color accuracy.
Retail pricing starts at $2,595.00 for the 42-inch model, which is PC desk-friendly, and goes all the way up to $8,995.00 for the massive 83-inch model. The only reason the C3 is not considered the flagship is that it doesn’t have LG’s new MLA tech that supercharges panel brightness by up to 75%. If you want that, then the OLED Evo G3 is the TV to look at, as it easily outshines the C3.
But does the brightness boost mean the C3 is a murky, unviewable panel that isn’t worth the bother? Absolutely not. The C3 remains one of the best TVs ever made, and for possibly 98% of humans, it will be more than enough.
LG OLED Evo C3 65-Inch TV
For the purpose of this review, I have the 65-inch model, which doesn’t differ from the 55, 77, and 88-inch models in terms of design. The smaller 42 and 48-inch C3 models differ slightly, with a different stand design, no OLED Evo panel, and a few other missing features.
On the whole, LG hasn’t changed the design of the C3 much compared to the C2—it’s more of a refinement and tweaking. The panel itself is still ridiculously skinny, skinnier than most smartphones. A polished metal frame surrounding the panel gives the C3 an air of sophistication. This is matched with the new metallic stand, which keeps the C3 stable without any wobbling.
The back panel is redesigned this year and is much more discreet, protruding only about an inch from the back of the TV and occupying less space. Even better, LG ensured that all the ports are on the side of the back panel to allow for cleaner cable management, especially when wall mounting. The ports include 4 x HDMI 2.1 (with one eARC) ports, all capable of 4K 120 Hz gaming.
Also hidden in the back panel are the two 20W down-firing speakers, which get plenty loud with enough strength in the mids to avoid sounding tinny or hollow. They aren’t the loudest speakers out there, and I often had to raise the volume above 20/100 just to hear dialogue. That said, the audio is crisp, clean, and warm, but the bass is lacking.
At 65 inches, the new C3 is a great size for the average home. It measures about 1.4m wide, and I had no problem fitting it onto my cabinet. Even though the C3 isn’t that heavy at 18.5 kilos, it’s still advisable to have a second person help you set it up as you don’t want to put pressure on that slim panel. It’s enough to immerse you in your content without being overwhelming in your space.
TV Smarts and WebOS
At the heart of the C3 is the newest iteration of the α9 AI Processor 4K Gen6. This processor is responsible for image processing, operating system performance, and application performance. LG didn’t provide me with the specs of the α9 processor, but it’s clearly focused on AI, neural, and image processing. Basically, it handles the behind-the-scenes heavy lifting to ensure you have the sharpest, most color-accurate image at all times, and it succeeds.
Additionally, the α9 AI Processor powers the TV’s new WebOS 23, which is now smoother and more responsive when navigating settings, apps, and more. Compared to last year’s C2, which often felt sluggish and stuttery when using WebOS, the C3 feels much better.
I’m still not a fan of the new User Interface of WebOS, which is becoming less and less distinguishable from Google TV OS. However, thanks to the ever-reliable Magic Remote, it’s easy to navigate and quickly access content. I do think the remote is overdue for a more modern and minimal design. Moreover, it’s surprising that remotes still require AA batteries in 2023.
But back to WebOS. The home screen is divided into three tiers, with the top and largest tier dedicated to sponsored content and ads. The second, smaller line features tiles for different scenarios like gaming, work, and music. For instance, clicking on the Game tile takes you to a hub where you can find apps like GeForce Now or your connected consoles. The last line of tiles displays your most frequently used apps, and you can install or rearrange them more easily than in previous iterations.
The TV supports LG’s ThinQ AI, which serves as a hub for all your connected devices and smart appliances around your home. While I’m not big on automated home tech, if you are, the C3 provides a great interface to see and control all your devices through the TV.
Additionally, the TV supports voice recognition, allowing you to issue basic commands. As with previous generations of LG C-line TVs, you get support for Apple AirPlay and Apple TV+ built-in. So if you’re in the Apple ecosystem, the C3 will integrate nicely.
Game Optimiser returns yet again, and while it’s not strictly part of WebOS, it’s definitely one of the best features on LG TVs. This dashboard overlay pops up whenever the TV is in Game mode and you press the settings button. It displays your current frame rate, adaptive sync mode, black levels, and allows you to quickly switch between preset gaming picture modes on the fly.
There’s a more detailed overlay that provides even finer control over the TV’s picture, audio, and performance settings, allowing you to get the best out of each game. PC gamers may tinker more here, as consoles don’t offer as many options with graphical settings.
Performance and Gaming
Speaking of gaming, I maintain that gaming on OLED is an unrivaled experience to this day. Thanks to the infinite contrast and wide color gamut that OLEDs offer, games look absolutely stunning. HDR with Dynamic Tone Mapping brings content to life in a way LCD TVs just can’t.
Diablo IV, in particular, looks insanely good with all its dark, dank dungeons illuminated by contrasting orange glows from lamps. Shadow detail is excellent, while colors are vibrant and punchy thanks to the contrast. In Ghost of Tsushima on the PlayStation 5, the wide-open flower fields that Jin Sakai rides through are rich with detail and color.
But perhaps more importantly, games run smoothly thanks to adaptive sync and VRR. The C3 supports both Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate and AMD FreeSync Premium, with the 120 Hz refresh rate being more than sufficient for PlayStation and Xbox. PC players with more powerful hardware might find the 120 Hz limiting, but most people don’t have an RTX 4080-powered rig in their living rooms.
However, the C3 isn’t just a gaming TV but rather a versatile content consumption device. Thanks to support for various forms of HDR, spatial audio, and image upscaling, the C3 excels as a streaming hub. Even the remote comes with dedicated buttons for Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Stan. I subscribe to Disney+, which offers a lot of Dolby Vision content, and watching Ant-Man & Wasp Quantamania was a treat.
The TV automatically detects the type of content and adjusts the picture mode accordingly. Dolby Vision content defaults to the ISF Expert mode, which mimics the director’s true vision. The C3’s excellent handling of contrast and colors seamlessly transitions from the bright, punchy colors of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to the muted tones of Inception.
If you wish, you can delve into the settings to further tweak and customize the picture to your preferences. However, for 98% of people, the TV performs admirably out of the box, and I never found myself complaining about the on-screen visuals. Additionally, despite being a traditional glossy OLED panel, I never encountered any issues with reflections hampering the viewing experience. My review unit was set adjacent to very large glass doors with ample light, yet I could always watch movies and play games without any problems.
Now, in terms of upscaling and image processing, the C3 does a great job, but it’s largely dependent on the source. Watching a 1080p YouTube or MP4 file from a USB looks beautiful and nearly indistinguishable from 4K content. However, when it comes to local broadcast channels, the upscaling falls flat on its face. Watching local channels is noticeably worse compared to streaming from Disney+ or Netflix. If you rarely watch local broadcast TV, this might not be a dealbreaker, but if you do, you’ve been warned.
Verdict
Without a doubt, the LG OLED Evo C3 is a truly fantastic smart TV and unquestionably one of the top five TVs money can buy in 2023. It’s difficult to find any flaws with this TV other than the fact that it lacks the fancy MLA brightness-boosting technology found in the G3. Nevertheless, the C3 is a great evolution of the C-line of TVs and delivers the best features for gaming, movies, and streaming. With smart features for home automation, Apple AirPlay, and much more, there’s really nothing missing here.
I will say that for many people, and at a price well over $3000, the C3 is probably more TV than they need. Models like the LG OLED CS or B3, which cost $1000 less, would still be exceptional choices. So if your budget doesn’t allow for the C3, those would be my recommendations. However, if you can save up and wait for inevitable discounts, the LG OLED Evo C3 is truly a fantastic TV that is hard to beat in almost every category.
