The LG OLED evo AI C5 is a natural evolution of LG’s universally acclaimed C-series OLED smart TVs. It’s not the flagship TV, that would be the G-series, but it is the one most people are likely to buy. It comes in sizes from 42 inches up to a wall-dominating 83. For most living rooms, though, the 55-inch model hits that sweet spot—big enough to feel cinematic, small enough to fit without rearranging the furniture. At $3,295 AUD, it’s a serious investment, with the 65-inch pushing $4,295. Compare that to last year’s C4 OLED Evo, which you can now find more than a thousand dollars cheaper, and the natural question is: why upgrade? LG’s answer is refinement. This isn’t a radical rethink but a careful tune-up—so those refinements have to matter.
On first impression, the C5 looks familiar: slim bezels, a minimalist profile, and a sturdy low-profile stand that works well in tighter setups. Wall-mounters will appreciate the flush fit. Around back, nothing major has changed—you still get four HDMI 2.1 ports, three USBs, optical audio, Ethernet and antenna inputs. That’s generous compared to most rivals. The rear panel now sports a marble-like finish that looks stunning but, realistically, no one will ever see it. LG has also tweaked the remote with a cleaner button layout and a dedicated AI button. Unfortunately, it still feels plasticky and lightweight, and unlike Samsung or Sony, LG hasn’t moved to rechargeable or solar-powered remotes. For a TV at this price, that feels like a missed opportunity.
The real changes are under the hood. The new Alpha 9 Gen 8 AI processor is faster, smarter, and more consistent. Colours pop with more depth but never tip into over-saturation. Dark scenes show richer detail, and motion stays smooth without smearing. LG’s AI Picture Pro analyzes faces, textures, and objects on the fly, subtly sharpening and balancing without looking artificial. AI Brightness Control adapts automatically to your room lighting, which means you can go from bright afternoon sun to evening Netflix without fiddling in menus. The same processor also drives AI Sound Pro, which widens the soundstage and makes voices cut through clearer in noisy action scenes. Even navigating menus feels more fluid and snappier. None of it is flashy on its own, but together these refinements make everyday use more seamless.
For gamers, the C5 is still one of the best panels around. On PS5, 4K at 120Hz feels buttery smooth, while PC players can push up to 144Hz with VRR, G-Sync and FreeSync all supported. Input lag is so low that every dodge and parry feels instant. In The Last of Us Part II, the gritty detail of rain-soaked streets came through perfectly. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s fast, precise platforming ran stutter-free, and Stellar Blade’s cinematic combat looked incredible without tearing or ghosting. The Game Optimizer menu makes tweaking HDR, black levels, and latency simple mid-session—something competitive players will appreciate.
Streaming and day-to-day use are equally strong. The updated webOS 25 interface is cleaner, faster, and better organized. LG’s AI Concierge suggests shows and apps, while the built-in chatbot can answer quick queries—but like most AI extras, they’re neat without being essential. What does matter is upscaling. Older HD content looks sharper and cleaner, with less noise. Watching Andor Season 2 in Dolby Vision showed off the C5’s strength with moody colour and deep shadows, while Shogun’s sweeping landscapes looked breathtakingly natural. Compared to the C4, the C5’s higher peak brightness helps highlights pop without washing out detail, making HDR films and shows genuinely immersive.
Sound is where the compromises show. The built-in 2.2-channel Dolby Atmos system is fine for casual use, with clear dialogue and some sense of space, but it won’t replace a good soundbar or home theatre. AI Sound Pro does help with voice clarity, but if you care about cinematic immersion, pairing it with something like LG’s own S80TS soundbar is a smart move. AI-powered extras like voice commands, personalized recommendations and the built-in chatbot are nice to play with but hardly life-changing. In my testing, I rarely relied on them day-to-day. They’re more of a bonus than a reason to upgrade.
Verdict
So, should you upgrade from the C4? Probably not, unless you really want the extra brightness, smoother OS, and slightly better AI picture handling. The panel technology and gaming performance are still remarkably similar, and with the C4 often going for much less, it remains the better value. That said, using the C5 every day is a pleasure. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or just channel surfing, it’s responsive, beautiful, and versatile. The design is sleek, the performance is consistently excellent, and while the new remote still feels a bit cheap, it’s at least a step in the right direction.
The LG OLED evo AI C5 is one of the best all-round OLED TVs you can buy in 2025. It’s not revolutionary, but it doesn’t have to be—it’s a refinement of a formula that already worked. But the competition from Samsung and Sony is nipping at LG’s heels. If you’re after a TV that’s equally at home with gaming marathons and prestige dramas, the C5 nails it.
LG Australia kindly loaned the C5 OLED Evo to PowerUp for the purpose of this review
