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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the LG C3 OLED TV and the Samsung QN90A LCD TV comes down to a few important considerations: The LG C3 offers superior contrast and black levels, making it exceptional for watching movies and ideal for viewing in dark rooms. It also has a wider viewing angle, which is great for gatherings. The Samsung QN90A shines in bright-room viewing due to its higher brightness capabilities. If you watch a lot of TV during the day in a sunny room, this might be the better option. Moreover, while it's also good for gaming, it may not match the LG C3's performance in this area. Both are premium-priced, offering high-quality experiences with subtle differences in performance and suitability for different viewing environments. 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 C3 (OLED)
- Excellent for dark room
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for movies & TV
- Very good for sports
- Excellent for news, talk, & other TV
- Excellent for use as monitor
- Best in class viewing angle
- Best in class reflections
Advantages of the Samsung QN90A (LCD)
- Best in class for bright room
Key differences
Picture Quality
9.0
8.1
10.00/10
CONTRAST
7.00/10
8.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.2/10
WOLED
PANEL TYPE
miniLED FALD
WBE
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The LG C3 (OLED) has excellent picture quality, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) has very good picture quality.
Movies & TV
9.2
8.0
10.00/10
CONTRAST
7.00/10
10.0/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
7.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
No
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The LG C3 (OLED) is excellent for movies & TV, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good.
The LG C3 OLED excels in movies and cinematic TV thanks to its perfect black uniformity and superior contrast and local dimming capabilities, which are inherent advantages of OLED technology, providing an immersive viewing experience. Meanwhile, the Samsung QN90A LCD, although very good for such content, cannot match the OLED's performance in these areas but compensates with its impressive brightness, which can be more suitable in well-lit environments.
Sports
8.5
7.0
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.0/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
8.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The LG C3 (OLED) is very good for sports, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) is good.
The LG C3 OLED boasts superior viewing angles and response time which are crucial for a clear and consistent sports watching experience, especially in groups. On the other hand, the Samsung QN90A LCD has an excellent handling of reflections, which makes it a better fit for rooms with lots of light but offers narrower viewing angles and slightly slower response time.
Gaming
9.0
8.3
10.0/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.3/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.0/10
100.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
70.0/100
8.0/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.3/10
The LG C3 (OLED) is excellent for gaming, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good.
The LG C3 OLED is superior for gaming primarily due to its exceptional response time, which is the best in its class, ensuring that motion appears very smooth and there's virtually no blur behind fast-moving objects. Additionally, both the LG C3 OLED and the Samsung QN90A LCD have the lowest input lag possible, making them highly responsive to gaming inputs, but the OLED technology inherently offers better performance in terms of response time compared to the LCD's very good response time.
Bright Room
8.3
9.7
9.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
6.5/10
8.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
8.0/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.3/10
10.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
9.0/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the LG C3 (OLED) is very good.
The LG C3 OLED provides very good SDR and HDR brightness suitable for bright rooms, along with the best reflections handling, yet its lower brightness capacity compared to LCD may reduce visibility under intense ambient lighting. The Samsung QN90A LCD, on the other hand, offers excellent SDR and HDR brightness levels that outperform many OLEDs in well-lit conditions and very good reflections handling, making it superior for viewing in exceptionally bright environments.
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Key similarities
Cartoons & Animation
8.8
8.8
8.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.8/10
8.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.2/10
8.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
7.9/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.5/10
10.0/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.4/10
The LG C3 (OLED) and Samsung QN90A (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The LG C3 (OLED) delivers very good colors out of the box and has a color gamut that enhances the vibrancy and variety of hues in cartoons, with superior contrast and excellent gray uniformity that keep cartoon images crisp, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) with its best score for colors out of the box and a good color gamut provides lively and accurate colors, complemented by high SDR brightness that makes it well-suited for rooms with more ambient light.
News, Talk, & Other TV
9.0
8.9
8.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
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 Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good.
The LG C3 excels in upscaling and has excellent colors out of the box, an important aspect for natural and vibrant viewing of everyday programs. In contrast, the Samsung QN90A has higher SDR brightness, making it a better option for well-lit rooms, though it is slightly behind in local dimming performance compared to the LG C3.
Cost
$1,297
$1,239
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The LG C3 (OLED) has a price of $1,297 and the Samsung QN90A (LCD) costs $1,239.
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How the LG C3 (OLED) and the Samsung QN90A (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG C3 (OLED) | Samsung QN90A (LCD) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,297 | $1,239 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | LG | Samsung | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 2, 2023 | February 3, 2021 | |
Full name | |||
Full name | OLED55C3 | QN55QN90A | |
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 55" | 55" | |
Screen Resolution | |||
Screen Resolution | 4K | 4K | |
TV FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Operating System | |||
Operating System | webOS | Tizen | |
Sound Quality Score | |||
Sound Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.3/10 | |
NextGen Ready | |||
NextGen Ready | No | Yes | |
HDMI Ports | |||
HDMI Ports | 4 | 4 | |
Coax Ports | |||
Coax Ports | 1 | 1 | |
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Picture Quality Score | |||
Picture Quality Score | 9/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Bright Room Score | |||
Bright Room Score | 8.3/10 | 9.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Movies & TV Score | |||
Movies & TV Score | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Sports Score | |||
Sports Score | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | |||
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | 27.7" x 48.1" x 1.8" | 27.8" x 48.3" x 1" | |
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | |||
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | 29.8" x 48.1" | 30.3" x 48.3" | |
Weight without Stand | |||
Weight without Stand | 31.1 lbs | 39.0 lbs | |
VESA Mount | |||
VESA Mount | 300 x 200 | 200 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 | 7/10 | |
Local Dimming | |||
Local Dimming | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Speaker Setup | |||
Speaker Setup | 2.2 | 4.2.2 | |
Speaker Power | |||
Speaker Power | Unknown | 60 W | |
Dolby Atmos | |||
Dolby Atmos | Yes | Bypass only | |
DTS:X | |||
DTS:X | No | No | |
Get a great deal on the LG C3 (OLED) or the Samsung QN90A (LCD)
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.
About Samsung
Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, holds the title of being the largest global TV vendor in terms of units sold. They offer a diverse lineup of TV products that cater to various budget ranges. A notable achievement in recent years is the development of Quantum Dots, a technology that enhances color reproduction, resulting in richer and more vibrant hues. Samsung TVs are well-regarded for their high manufacturing quality and user-friendly software, making them an excellent choice for consumers seeking an intuitive viewing experience.
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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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