LG OLED evo C5 55"

With a 98th percentile gaming score and a 0.1ms response time, the LG C5 is one of the fastest TVs we've ever tested. The built-in 3.1.1 channel audio is a genuine standout, often eliminating the need for a separate soundbar. Just be prepared for a love-hate relationship with the remote's un-disableable pointer function.

This thing is a gaming beast, plain and simple. A 0.1ms response time puts it in a class with the best gaming monitors, and with a 120Hz panel, NVIDIA G-SYNC, and AMD FreeSync Premium, you're getting tear-free, low-lag gameplay that feels instantaneous. In our database, a 98th percentile gaming score isn't just good, it's top-of-the-charts territory. You'll notice the difference immediately in fast-paced shooters or racing games where every millisecond counts.

Audio is another area where the C5 punches above its weight. The 3.1.1 channel setup with Dolby Atmos puts it in the 85th percentile, which is impressive for built-in TV speakers. We've seen multiple owners say the sound is so good they considered returning a separate soundbar. The α9 AI Processor Gen8 does a decent job upscaling lower-res content, though the picture quality score lands at a solid but not leading 72nd percentile. It's beautiful, especially with HDR content, but some competitors push peak brightness a bit further for truly dazzling specular highlights.

Stacked against the Sony BRAVIA 3, the LG is the clear winner for gamers thanks to its faster response time and full HDMI 2.1 feature set, while the Sony typically fights back with better out-of-the-box color accuracy and motion processing for movies. The Samsung Q7F is an older QLED competitor that gets significantly brighter, which helps in a sun-drenched room, but it can't touch the C5's perfect black levels or viewing angles. If you're looking to save some cash, the TCL Q6-Series gets you a great Google TV experience and solid gaming chops for a lot less, but you'll sacrifice that instant pixel response and the audio quality is a noticeable step down.

Pricing on the C5 is a bit of a moving target since it's often bundled, like the Amazon deal that throws in an S70TY soundbar. On its own, you're paying a premium for that OLED panel and class-leading gaming performance. Given the 98th percentile gaming score, the value for gamers is exceptional, you'd spend a lot more on a dedicated monitor with these specs. For pure movie watching, the value proposition tightens up against some very strong LED competitors that get brighter for less money, but you're still getting that perfect contrast and excellent built-in audio that can save you a few hundred bucks on a soundbar.

The LG OLED evo C5 lands in the 98th percentile for gaming in our database, which basically means it's one of the absolute best TVs you can buy right now if you've got a PS5 or Xbox Series X hooked up. That 0.1ms response time and full HDMI 2.1 support with G-SYNC and FreeSync Premium make motion look ridiculously smooth. It's not just a gaming monitor though. The infinite contrast you get from the OLED panel delivers those deep, inky blacks that make movie nights feel like a trip to the theater, and the built-in 3.1.1 channel audio is a standout, scoring in the 85th percentile, which is unusually good for a flat panel.

But it's not all perfect. While picture quality is strong, it sits around the 72nd percentile, meaning there are brighter, more color-accurate sets out there for pure cinephiles. The real story from owners, though, is a love-hate relationship with the remote. The picture and sound get rave reviews, but that magic remote's pointer function is a genuine pain point for a lot of people, and you can't fully turn it off. For a TV that nails the hard stuff, it's a weirdly basic annoyance.

If you're setting up a TV in a very bright room with lots of direct sunlight, you might want to look elsewhere. While the C5 has a 'Bright Room Ready' feature, its picture quality score sits at the 72nd percentile, and a high-end QLED like the Samsung Q7F will fight glare with much higher peak brightness. You should also skip this if you or someone in your household has unsteady hands, as the remote's mandatory pointer function has been a real accessibility issue for some owners, despite the TV's otherwise praised analog headphone jack.

The LG OLED evo C5 is a gamer's dream TV that also happens to be a fantastic all-arounder for movies and shows. The 98th percentile gaming performance is the headline, but the surprisingly great built-in sound and perfect OLED contrast make it a compelling package. The biggest hurdle isn't the picture, it's the frustrating remote experience that owners consistently complain about. If you can live with that quirk, or plan to use a universal remote, this is one of the best gaming displays you can hang on your wall.