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Updated January 10, 2024·
The LG C3 (OLED) offers a better overall experience with higher performance in picture quality, gaming, sports content, and especially in bright rooms compared to the LG A1 (OLED). The C3 also has newer features like a higher refresh rate and additional HDMI ports that support more advanced gaming specifications. However, the LG A1 is generally less expensive, so if budget is a concern and you primarily watch movies in darker environments, the A1 could be a suitable choice. The C3's better bright room performance and gaming features may justify its higher price if those factors are important to you. 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 C3 (OLED).
Advantages of the LG C3 (OLED)
- Very good for bright room
- Excellent for dark room
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for movies & TV
- Excellent for news, talk, & other TV
- Excellent for use as monitor
- Best in class viewing angle
- Best in class reflections
Key differences
Picture Quality
8.2
9.0
10.00/10
CONTRAST
10.00/10
7.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.1/10
WOLED
PANEL TYPE
WOLED
WBC
PANEL SUB-TYPE
WBE
The LG C3 (OLED) has excellent picture quality, while the LG A1 (OLED) has very good picture quality.
Sports
8.0
8.5
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
8.0/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The LG C3 (OLED) and LG A1 (OLED) are both very good for sports, though the LG C3 (OLED) is somewhat better.
Both the LG A1 and LG C3 are exceptional for watching sports due to their OLED panels, which provide an excellent response rate that makes fast-moving objects look crisp with no motion blur; a pivotal aspect when tracking players and balls across the screen. Both TVs have wide viewing angles too, ensuring that colors and details remain consistent even when watching from the side—important for gatherings. The LG C3 handles reflections better than the A1, reducing glare from windows and lights, and its improved motion processing might make fast-paced action appear even smoother.
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
8.0/10
The LG C3 (OLED) is excellent for gaming, while the LG A1 (OLED) is good.
The LG C3's high refresh rate of 120Hz and outstanding input lag response make it excellent for gaming, providing a more fluid and responsive experience. In comparison, the LG A1, while still offering excellent response time, is limited by its lower 60Hz refresh rate and doesn't respond to inputs as rapidly, making it merely good for gaming.
Cartoons & Animation
8.0
8.8
8.0/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
8.3/10
7.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.1/10
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
7.1/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
7.9/10
9.2/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
10.0/10
The LG C3 (OLED) and LG A1 (OLED) are both very good for cartoons & animation, though the LG C3 (OLED) is somewhat better.
The LG A1 and LG C3 OLED TVs are great for watching cartoons and animation due to their very good color accuracy straight out of the box, which ensures that the colors on-screen closely match the intended hues without the need for extensive calibration. Both models also boast a very good color gamut, providing a wide range of vibrant colors which is essential for the often vivid and varied color palettes found in animated content.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.4
9.0
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
The LG C3 (OLED) is excellent for news, talk, & other TV, while the LG A1 (OLED) is very good.
The LG A1 delivers fair SDR brightness and good colors out of the box, making it suitable for watching news and TV programs in most conditions; however, the LG C3 offers very good SDR brightness and similarly good colors out of the box, enhancing visibility and color fidelity in brighter rooms, thus providing a more versatile viewing experience.
Bright Room
6.6
8.3
8.8/10
VIEWING ANGLE
9.5/10
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
6.1/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
8.8/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
10.0/10
The LG C3 (OLED) is very good for bright room, while the LG A1 (OLED) is only fair.
The LG A1 has a lower SDR and HDR brightness and is rated as fair in handling reflections, making it less suitable for bright rooms, while the LG C3 offers very good SDR and HDR brightness and the best reflection handling, making it much better for well-lit environments.
Cost
$1,300
$1,097
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The LG A1 (OLED) has a price of $1,300 and the LG C3 (OLED) costs $1,097.
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Key similarities
Movies & TV
8.9
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
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers LG C3 (OLED) to be excellent for movies & TV, while the LG A1 (OLED) is very good.
The LG A1 is valued for its perfect contrast, flawless black uniformity, and strong local dimming, which enhance the depth and realism of movies and cinematic content, albeit with slightly less impressive color volume and gray uniformity. In contrast, the LG C3 ups the ante with superior SDR brightness and color volume for a more vibrant and immersive cinematic experience while maintaining the excellent contrast and black uniformity typical of OLEDs, and better viewing angles, thus providing an overall more premium viewing experience.
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How the LG A1 (OLED) and the LG C3 (OLED) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG A1 (OLED) | LG C3 (OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $1,097 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | LG | LG | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | April 1, 2023 | |
Full name | |||
Full name | OLED48A1 | OLED48C3 | |
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 | 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 | 9/10 | |
Bright Room Score | |||
Bright Room Score | 6.7/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Movies & TV Score | |||
Movies & TV Score | 8.9/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Sports Score | |||
Sports Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
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" | 26.6" 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 | Unknown | |
Dolby Atmos | |||
Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes | |
DTS:X | |||
DTS:X | No | No | |
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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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