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
7.0/10
9.0/10
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
6.6/10
7.1/10
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.
The LG C1 (OLED) and LG A1 (OLED) both have very good picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.9/10
8.9/10
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
8.0/10
8.3/10
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
8.0/10
8.2/10
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
8.4/10
8.6/10
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
Price
$1,300
$1,300
Brand
Brand
LG
LG
Release Date
Release Date
March 1, 2021
April 2, 2021
Full name
Full name
OLED48A1
OLED55C1
Screen Size
Screen Size
48"
55"
Screen Resolution
Screen Resolution
4K
4K
Screen Type
Screen Type
OLED
OLED
Screen Sub-type
Screen Sub-type
WOLED WBC
WOLED WBC
Smart TV
Smart TV
Yes
Yes
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
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
60Hz
120Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
No
Yes
HDR Supported formats
HDR Supported formats
HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Accessibility
Accessibility
None
None
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
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
8.4/10
8.6/10
Cartoons & Animation Score
Cartoons & Animation Score
8/10
8.2/10
Use as Monitor Score
Use as Monitor Score
8.1/10
8.9/10
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"
29.1" x 48.3" x 1.8"
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
26.7" x 42.2"
27.8" x 48.3"
Weight without Stand
Weight without Stand
33.1 lbs
41.7 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
Gaming Local Dimming
Gaming Local Dimming
10/100
10/100
Game HDR Brightness Score
Game HDR Brightness Score
6.4/10
7.3/10
SDR Brightness Score
SDR Brightness Score
6.4/10
7.1/10
HDR Brightness Score
HDR Brightness Score
6.1/10
7/10
Gray Uniformity
Gray Uniformity
9.3/10
9.7/10
Black Uniformity
Black Uniformity
10/10
10/10
Viewing Angle
Viewing Angle
8.8/10
9.3/10
Reflections Score
Reflections Score
8.8/10
9.2/10
Upscaling
Upscaling
8/10
8/10
Motion Processing
Motion Processing
8/10
8/10
Color Gamut Score
Color Gamut Score
8/10
8.2/10
Color Volume Score
Color Volume Score
7.1/10
7.2/10
Response Time Score
Response Time Score
9/10
10/10
Input Lag Score
Input Lag Score
10/10
10/10
Colors Out of the Box Score
Colors Out of the Box Score
7.2/10
7.3/10
Quality Control
Quality Control
8.8/10
8.8/10
Chroma Subsampling Score
Chroma Subsampling Score
7/10
8/10
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
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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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