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Updated January 10, 2024·
When deciding between the LG A1 and LG C1, both are OLED TVs released by LG in 2021, meaning they offer excellent picture quality with deep blacks and a wide color gamut. If you prioritize gaming and would like better performance in that regard, including lower input lag and higher refresh rates for smoother gameplay, then the LG C1 would be a superior choice. It also has a slightly brighter screen which can be beneficial in a bright room, and an additional HDMI port which could be convenient if you have multiple devices to connect. However, the LG A1 will generally be slightly less expensive, making it a more budget-friendly option still offering a great viewing experience for movies, series, and sports. It also has very good picture quality, although it may not perform as well in very bright rooms when compared to the C1 due to its slightly lower brightness. Both TVs support Dolby Vision and HLG, have great black uniformity perfect for dark room viewing, but neither offers HDR10+ support. If you're not a heavy gamer or you're planning to watch in moderate lighting conditions and want to save a bit of money, the A1 is still an excellent choice. 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 A1 (OLED)
- The LG A1 (OLED) has no clear advantages over the LG C1 (OLED).
Advantages of the LG C1 (OLED)
- Good for bright room
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent viewing angle
- Excellent reflections
Key differences
Gaming
7.0
9.0
9.0/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
10.0/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.0/10
100.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
100.0/100
6.3/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.2/10
The LG C1 (OLED) is excellent for gaming, while the LG A1 (OLED) is good.
The LG C1 stands out for gaming because it offers a higher refresh rate and better input lag performance than the LG A1, making it more responsive and smoother for fast-paced games. While both TVs have excellent response times, the C1's quicker refresh rate and lower input lag mean it can handle rapid on-screen actions more effectively, which is crucial for a superior gaming experience.
Bright Room
6.6
7.1
8.8/10
VIEWING ANGLE
9.3/10
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.0/10
6.1/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.0/10
8.8/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
9.2/10
The LG C1 (OLED) is good for bright room, while the LG A1 (OLED) is only fair.
The LG C1 OLED performs better in a bright room than the LG A1 OLED due to its higher SDR and HDR brightness, which means it can better overcome ambient light. Additionally, the LG C1 handles reflections more effectively, further enhancing its suitability for well-lit environments.
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Key similarities
Picture Quality
8.2
8.5
10.00/10
CONTRAST
10.00/10
7.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.2/10
WOLED
PANEL TYPE
WOLED
WBC
PANEL SUB-TYPE
WBC
The LG C1 (OLED) and LG A1 (OLED) both have very good picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.9
8.9
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 C1 (OLED) and LG A1 (OLED) are both very good for movies & TV.
The LG A1 and LG C1 OLED TVs both excel in watching movies and cinematic TV because of their perfect contrast, local dimming, and exceptional black uniformity, essential for deep blacks and high-quality picture in dark scenes. While both have good color accuracy and wide viewing angles, the C1 outperforms slightly in color volume and gray uniformity, enhancing the richness and consistency of images across diverse content.
Sports
8.0
8.3
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.0/10
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.0/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The LG C1 (OLED) and LG A1 (OLED) are both very good for sports.
The LG A1 OLED TV offers excellent response time, managing motion with little blur, which is critical for watching fast-paced sports. The LG C1 OLED takes it further with the best response time, superior reflection handling to combat glare, and wider viewing angles, ensuring a clear picture even from the side, making it ideal for group viewings of sporting events.
Cartoons & Animation
8.0
8.2
8.0/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
8.1/10
7.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.2/10
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
7.2/10
9.2/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
9.6/10
The LG C1 (OLED) and LG A1 (OLED) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The LG A1 and LG C1 OLED TVs are both highly capable when it comes to displaying cartoons and animation because of their strong color performance; the LG C1, however, has a slight edge in rendering colors directly out of the box. Furthermore, both models cover a very good range of colors within their color gamut, contributing to vibrant and varied on-screen animation.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.4
8.6
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
The LG C1 (OLED) and LG A1 (OLED) are both very good for news, talk, & other TV.
Cost
$1,300
$1,300
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The LG A1 (OLED) has a price of $1,300 and the LG C1 (OLED) costs $1,300.
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How the LG A1 (OLED) and the LG C1 (OLED) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG A1 (OLED) | LG C1 (OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $1,300 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | LG | LG | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | April 1, 2021 | |
Full name | |||
Full name | OLED48A1 | OLED48C1 | |
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 48" | 48" | |
Screen Resolution | |||
Screen Resolution | 4K | 4K | |
TV FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Operating System | |||
Operating System | webOS | webOS | |
Sound Quality Score | |||
Sound Quality Score | 6.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
NextGen Ready | |||
NextGen Ready | No | No | |
HDMI Ports | |||
HDMI Ports | 3 | 4 | |
Coax Ports | |||
Coax Ports | 1 | 1 | |
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Picture Quality Score | |||
Picture Quality Score | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Bright Room Score | |||
Bright Room Score | 6.7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Movies & TV Score | |||
Movies & TV Score | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Sports Score | |||
Sports Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | |||
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | 24.3" x 42.2" x 1.8" | 24.3" x 42.2" x 1.8" | |
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | |||
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | 26.7" x 42.2" | 25.6" x 42.2" | |
Weight without Stand | |||
Weight without Stand | 33.1 lbs | 32.8 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 | No | 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 | 40 W | |
Dolby Atmos | |||
Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes | |
DTS:X | |||
DTS:X | No | No | |
Get a great deal on the LG A1 (OLED) or the LG C1 (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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