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Updated January 10, 2024·
When deciding between the LG C2 and LG C3, both being OLED TVs, the LG C3 is a newer model and may offer slight improvements in picture quality and features, such as voice command capability not found on the C2. However, the LG C2, being the older model, might be more budget-friendly. For those who prioritize savings and are satisfied with high-quality performance without the latest enhancements, the LG C2 could be the better value. Both models should offer excellent experiences for watching movies, sports, gaming, and general TV viewing, but if advanced features and slightly better performance are worth the higher cost, the LG C3 is the more advanced option. Keep in mind, both models might struggle with reflectivity in bright rooms due to the nature of OLED screens. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the LG C2 (OLED)
- The LG C2 (OLED) has no clear advantages over the LG C3 (OLED).
Advantages of the LG C3 (OLED)
- Very good for bright room
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for news, talk, & other TV
- Excellent for use as monitor
- Best in class viewing angle
- Best in class reflections
Key differences
Bright Room
7.5
8.3
9.3/10
VIEWING ANGLE
9.5/10
7.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
7.5/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
9.2/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
10.0/10
The LG C3 (OLED) is very good for bright room, while the LG C2 (OLED) is good.
The LG C3 OLED performs better in a bright room than the LG C2 OLED because the C3 has higher SDR and HDR brightness and better reflections handling. Contrast, color volume, and color gamut are comparable for both, but the improvements in brightness and reflection handling give the C3 an edge for bright room viewing.
Cost
$1,249
$997
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The LG C2 (OLED) has a price of $1,249 and the LG C3 (OLED) costs $997.
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Key similarities
Picture Quality
8.7
9.0
10.00/10
CONTRAST
10.00/10
7.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.1/10
WOLED
PANEL TYPE
WOLED
WBC
PANEL SUB-TYPE
WBE
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers LG C3 (OLED) to have excellent picture quality, while the LG C2 (OLED) has very good picture quality.
Movies & TV
9.1
9.2
10.00/10
CONTRAST
10.00/10
10.0/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
No
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The LG C3 (OLED) and LG C2 (OLED) are both excellent for movies & TV.
The LG C2 and LG C3 OLED TVs excel in watching movies and cinematic TV due to their perfect contrast, efficient local dimming, and excellent black uniformity, which are crucial for deep blacks and high picture quality in dark scenes. Additionally, their wide viewing angles, accurate colors out of the box, and good color volume make sure that the picture looks great from different seating positions and that the colors are rich and vibrant, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Sports
8.4
8.5
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.0/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
8.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
7.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The LG C3 (OLED) and LG C2 (OLED) are both very good for sports.
The LG C2 and LG C3 OLED TVs both have outstanding response times and motion processing capabilities, making them excellent choices for watching fast-moving sports. While they share similar qualities in handling reflections and wide viewing angles, the LG C3 slightly improves upon these features offering top-notch reflections handling, crucial for maintaining picture quality in bright rooms.
Gaming
8.9
9.0
10.0/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.0/10
100.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
100.0/100
8.0/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers LG C3 (OLED) to be excellent for gaming, while the LG C2 (OLED) is very good.
The LG C2 is highly regarded for gaming due to its top-tier response time and very good input lag, both crucial for smooth and responsive gameplay. The LG C3 builds upon that, maintaining the excellent response time while further improving input lag to the best possible level, making it an exceptional choice for gamers seeking the least amount of delay between their actions and what is displayed on screen.
Cartoons & Animation
8.6
8.8
8.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
8.3/10
7.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.1/10
7.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
7.9/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
7.9/10
10.0/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
10.0/10
The LG C3 (OLED) and LG C2 (OLED) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The LG C2 boasts commendable colors out of the box and a very good color gamut which is crucial for viewing animated content, while the LG C3 offers similar performance with colors out of the box and color gamut, and it edges ahead with a higher color volume score, enhancing the richness and variation for animation viewing. Both models perform well in aspects of gray uniformity, contrast, and SDR brightness, making either choice suitable for brightly colored cartoons and animation.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.8
9.0
7.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers LG C3 (OLED) to be excellent for news, talk, & other TV, while the LG C2 (OLED) is very good.
The LG C3 stands out with slightly better SDR brightness compared to the LG C2, enhancing visibility in well-lit environments, which is essential for daytime viewing of news and talk shows. Both TVs excel in upscaling lower resolution content and maintain good colors out of the box, local dimming, and contrast necessary for consistent picture quality across these types of programs.
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How the LG C2 (OLED) and the LG C3 (OLED) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG C2 (OLED) | LG C3 (OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,249 | $997 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | LG | LG | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | March 10, 2022 | |
Full name | |||
Full name | OLED42C2 | OLED42C3 | |
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 42" | 42" | |
Screen Resolution | |||
Screen Resolution | 4K | 4K | |
TV FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Operating System | |||
Operating System | webOS | webOS | |
Sound Quality Score | |||
Sound Quality Score | 8.6/10 | 8/10 | |
NextGen Ready | |||
NextGen Ready | No | No | |
HDMI Ports | |||
HDMI Ports | 4 | 4 | |
Coax Ports | |||
Coax Ports | 1 | 1 | |
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Picture Quality Score | |||
Picture Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 9/10 | |
Bright Room Score | |||
Bright Room Score | 7.6/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Movies & TV Score | |||
Movies & TV Score | 9.1/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Sports Score | |||
Sports Score | 8.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | |||
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | 21.3" x 36.7" x 1.6" | 21.3" x 36.7" x 1.6" | |
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | |||
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | 22.7" x 36.7" | 22.7" x 36.7" | |
Weight without Stand | |||
Weight without Stand | 19.8 lbs | 21.6 lbs | |
VESA Mount | |||
VESA Mount | 300 x 200 | 300 x 200 | |
DISPLAY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Color Depth | |||
Color Depth | 10 bit | 10 bit | |
Black Frame Insertion | |||
Black Frame Insertion | Yes | Yes | |
Auto Low Latency Mode | |||
Auto Low Latency Mode | Yes | Yes | |
Contrast | |||
Contrast | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Local Dimming | |||
Local Dimming | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Speaker Setup | |||
Speaker Setup | 2.0 | 2.2 | |
Speaker Power | |||
Speaker Power | 20 W | Unknown | |
Dolby Atmos | |||
Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes | |
DTS:X | |||
DTS:X | No | No | |
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LG C2 (OLED)
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
David Katzmaier | November 2022
"The C2 offers image quality that's a clear step above any non-OLED TV I've seen. The C2 is rare among high-end TVs in that all four of its HDMI ports support 4K/120, great for hard-core gamers with multiple next-gen devices. The C2 is plenty bright enough for just about any viewing environment. It also outperforms QLED TVs like the Samsung QN90B and TCL 6-Series. That's why I consider the LG C2 the best high-end TV for the money of 2022."
Get a great deal on the LG C2 (OLED) or the LG C3 (OLED)
About LG
LG, a prominent TV brand from Korea, has played a significant role in popularizing OLED TVs. OLED technology is hailed as the future of TV technology. Their TVs employ WebOS, a proprietary smart TV software that not only offers seamless functionality but also includes gaming-specific features, earning praise from players worldwide. Often regarded as the gateway to unparalleled viewing experiences, LG's mid-range OLEDs come highly recommended, making them a worthwhile investment for those willing to stretch their budget for superior quality.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec TVs team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest TV information and makes it digestible for you.
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