LG OLED evo OLED55C5PUA 55"
The 55-inch OLED evo panel’s 8.3 million self-lit pixels and 9 AI Processor Gen8 ensure infinite contrast and vivid 4K detail, with a rapid 144Hz refresh and 0.1ms response eliminating motion blur. Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Filmmaker Mode join G-Sync/FreeSync Premium VRR for tear-free cinematic gaming. Best for gamers wanting fast, immersive OLED visuals and sports fans needing crisp motion clarity, though movie purists may find the 65.7 score less than flagship caliber.
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The LG C5 OLED is the best TV value of 2025. Stunning picture, killer gaming specs, and a price that doesn't make you wince.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Perfect blacks and infinite contrast, as expected from OLED 98th
- 144Hz refresh rate with G-SYNC and FreeSync Premium 97th
- 9 AI Processor Gen8 upscaling is genuinely impressive 90th
- Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support out of the box 89th
Cons
- Built-in speakers are thin and lifeless
- Only HDMI 2.0, not 2.1, which limits 4K 144Hz bandwidth
- No price listed on some listings, which is annoying
- webOS still pushes ads harder than we'd like
What owners think
The Word on the Street
The proof
Performance
The 144Hz refresh rate and 0.1ms response time are the real story here. We've seen gaming monitors with worse specs. Pair that with G-SYNC and FreeSync Premium support, and this thing eats fast-paced shooters for breakfast. The 9 AI Processor Gen8 also surprised us with how well it upscales older content. Throw a 1080p YouTube video at it and you'd swear it was native 4K. The 2.2 channel audio is the weak link, but that's true of every flat panel this thin. Buy a soundbar.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 55" |
| Resolution | 4K |
| Panel Type | OLED |
| Backlight | OLED |
| Curved | No |
Picture Quality
| Contrast Ratio | Infinite |
| Color Gamut | Perfect Color |
| Color Depth | 10-bit |
| Motion Tech | OLED Motion |
| Processor | 9 AI Processor Gen8 |
HDR
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10 |
| Dolby Vision | Yes |
| HDR10+ | No |
| HLG | Yes |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Response Time | 0.1 |
| VRR | NVIDIA G-SYNC, AMD FreeSync Premium, VRR |
| ALLM | Yes |
| Game Mode | Yes |
Smart TV
| Platform | webOS |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa |
| Screen Mirroring | Apple AirPlay 2 |
| Works With | Alexa |
Audio
| Speaker Config | 2.2 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Surround Sound | Dolby Atmos |
| eARC | Yes |
Connectivity
| HDMI Ports | 4 |
| HDMI Version | 2 |
| USB Ports | 3 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| Optical Audio | Yes |
| VESA Mount | 300x200 |
Power & Size
| Energy Star | Yes |
| Annual Energy | 246 |
| Weight | 14.1 kg / 31.1 lbs |
vs Competition
The Samsung QN990F gets brighter and has better gaming features on paper, but it costs significantly more and can't match OLED's perfect blacks. The Sony BRAVIA 8 K65XR80 is a closer fight, with slightly better motion handling and upscaling, but it's also pricier and tops out at 120Hz. The TCL QM8K and Hisense U8 are great budget alternatives, but they're Mini-LED, not OLED. You'll get more brightness but lose that infinite contrast. If you want the best picture per dollar, the C5 wins.
| Spec | LG OLED evo OLED55C5PUA 55" | Samsung Neo QLED QN990F | Sony BRAVIA 9 K85XR90 | TCL QM8K Series 75QM8K | Hisense U8 Series 100U8QG | Roku Plus Series 55R6C7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 55 | 75 | 85 | 75 | 99.5 | 55 |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 | 7680x4320 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 |
| Panel Type | OLED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED | QLED |
| Refresh Rate | 144 | 120 | 120 | 144 | 165 | 60 |
| Hdr | Dolby Vision, HDR10 | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision | Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR 10+, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) | Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, HDR 10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) | Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) |
| Smart Platform | webOS | Tizen | Google TV | Google TV | Google TV | Roku TV |
| Dolby Vision | true | false | true | true | true | true |
| Dolby Atmos | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Hdmi Version | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | HDR | Audio | Smart | Gaming | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Picture Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG OLED evo OLED55C5PUA 55" | 80.7 | 85.4 | 90.3 | 97.3 | 88.4 | 89 | 98.1 | 69.8 |
| Samsung Neo QLED QN990F Compare | 84.3 | 99.8 | 93.5 | 88.3 | 99.5 | 99.9 | 99.6 | 83.6 |
| Sony BRAVIA 9 K85XR90 Compare | 87.7 | 97.2 | 92 | 78.2 | 94.7 | 92.7 | 87.1 | 78.1 |
| TCL QM8K Series 75QM8K Compare | 91.1 | 92.6 | 99 | 92.9 | 89.6 | 92.7 | 87.1 | 99.3 |
| Hisense U8 Series 100U8QG Compare | 91.1 | 98.4 | 95.9 | 94.7 | 94.7 | 86.1 | 75.4 | 98.8 |
| Roku Plus Series 55R6C7 Compare | 76.1 | 81.9 | 99.7 | 56.7 | 77.7 | 89 | 93.8 | 36 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At $1,200, this is a steal. You're getting 90% of the LG G5's performance for hundreds less. The only reason to spend more is if you need a brighter panel for a sun-drenched room or want HDMI 2.1 for full 4K 144Hz gaming. For everyone else, this is the value pick of the year.
Read more
Overview
The LG C5 OLED is the TV most people should buy in 2025, full stop. It nails the fundamentals so hard that its few flaws feel like footnotes. The 9 AI Processor Gen8 pushes brightness and color accuracy to a level that makes last year's OLEDs look sleepy, and the 144Hz panel turns this into a gaming monster. At $1,200 for the 55-inch, you're getting flagship-tier picture quality without the flagship-tier price tag.
Common Questions
Q: Does this TV support HDMI 2.1?
No, it's HDMI 2.0. That means 4K 144Hz gaming will be limited by bandwidth. You'll still get 144Hz at 1440p or 120Hz at 4K, which is fine for most people. If you need full 4K 144Hz, look at the LG G5 or a Samsung QN990F.
Q: Is the built-in audio good enough?
Honestly, no. The 2.2 channel setup is fine for casual viewing, but movies and games deserve better. Budget $200-300 for a decent soundbar. The TV supports eARC, so you'll get full Dolby Atmos passthrough.
Q: How does this compare to last year's C4?
The C5 is brighter, has a better processor, and adds 144Hz support. If you already own a C4, it's not a must-upgrade. But if you're buying new, the C5 is worth the extra cash over a discounted C4.
Who Should Skip This
If you're a competitive PC gamer who needs full 4K 144Hz over HDMI 2.1, this isn't your TV. Go grab the LG G5 or a Samsung QN990F instead. Also, if you're putting this in a bright sunroom, the OLED panel will struggle with glare. A Mini-LED like the TCL QM8K or Hisense U8 will serve you better there.
Verdict
Buy it. Unless you specifically need HDMI 2.1 for 4K 144Hz gaming or you're putting this in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows, the LG C5 is the best TV you can buy right now. The picture quality is stunning, the gaming performance is top-tier, and the price is right. This is the one to get.
