LG C5 OLED42C5PUA 42"

This is the best gaming TV we've ever tested, landing in the 100th percentile with a 144Hz refresh rate and 0.1ms response time. It's a perfect OLED monitor replacement with four HDMI 2.1 ports and full VRR support. Just be aware that peak brightness is its main trade-off, and you should ignore the wild $29,650 price tag from one confused retailer.

The star of the show is that gaming spec sheet. A 144Hz panel with a 0.1ms response time puts it in a class of its own, delivering motion clarity that makes fast-paced shooters and racers feel incredibly responsive. Having four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports is a standout feature, meaning you can connect a PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and a soundbar all at once without any compromise on 4K 120Hz or VRR support. The a9 AI Processor Gen8 handles AI Super Upscaling, which does a solid job of cleaning up lower-resolution content, though it's not a night-and-day difference from last year's model. Picture quality lands in the 36th percentile, which sounds mediocre on paper, but that's a bit misleading. The inherent contrast and perfect blacks of the OLED panel are still stunning, especially in a dark room. The lower ranking is likely due to its peak brightness, which, while improved for bright rooms, still can't match the searing highlights of a high-end QLED. The built-in 2.0 channel audio with Dolby Atmos is surprisingly decent, landing in the 67th percentile, and might just save you from immediately needing a soundbar for casual viewing.

Stacked against the competition, the C5 carves out a very specific niche. The Sony BRAVIA 9 K85XR90 will beat it on overall picture processing and HDR impact with its QD-OLED panel, making it the better choice for pure movie buffs. The Samsung QN990F gets significantly brighter and is a better fit for a sun-drenched living room. But neither can touch the C5's gaming chops. The TCL QM8K Series and Hisense U8 Series are strong value contenders that offer great brightness and features for less money, but they use Mini-LED panels and can't replicate the per-pixel precision and viewing angles of this OLED. The C5 is the clear winner if your primary use case is a desktop or close-up gaming display where response time and VRR support are paramount.

Pricing for the C5 is a rollercoaster, with a spread of over $28,000 between the lowest and highest vendor listings. That's not a typo. You'll obviously want to ignore the absurd outlier and hunt for the real street price, which should settle closer to the $897 end of the spectrum once supply stabilizes. At that level, you're getting a phenomenal gaming and cinema display. The value proposition is simple: you're paying for the best gaming performance available, wrapped in a beautiful OLED panel. If you can snag it near the low end of that range, it's a steal. Just make sure you're not accidentally clicking on the $29,650 listing.

The LG C5 OLED42C5PUA is, without exaggeration, the best gaming TV in our database right now. It sits in the 100th percentile for gaming performance, and the numbers back that up: a 144Hz refresh rate, a genuine 0.1ms response time, and full support for G-Sync, FreeSync Premium, and VRR across all four of its HDMI 2.1 ports. This isn't just a TV that can game; it's a top-tier gaming monitor that happens to be a gorgeous 42-inch 4K OLED. For PC and console players looking for a single display to rule them all, this is the absolute best on the market.

Skip this TV if your room is flooded with natural light or you primarily watch during the day. The outdoor performance score of 48.1 out of 100 is a real weak spot, and the panel's peak HDR brightness, while improved, still can't fight significant glare. You'd be much happier with a bright Mini-LED set like the Samsung Neo QLED QN800D. Also, if you're a pure cinephile who prioritizes the absolute best picture processing and color volume above all else, the Sony A95L is the better, albeit pricier, tool for that job.

The LG C5 OLED42C5PUA is a no-brainer recommendation for one specific person: the gamer who wants a single, no-compromise display for both their PC and consoles. Its gaming performance is literally top of the charts, and the 42-inch size makes it uniquely viable as a desktop monitor replacement. It's not the brightest TV for a family room, and pure cinephiles might prefer Sony's processing, but for its intended purpose, nothing else comes close. If you find it at a reasonable price, buy it.