LG C1 OLED55C1PUB 55"

The LG C1 scores 96.3 out of 100 for gaming, putting it in the 96th percentile of all TVs in our database. Four HDMI 2.1 ports, 120Hz, 1ms response, and G-SYNC plus FreeSync make it a gamer's dream. At USD 1,099 on Amazon, it's a killer deal for OLED contrast and top-tier gaming performance.

Let's talk gaming, because that's where this TV earns its keep. The 96.3 gaming score is top of the charts, and the specs back it up. You get four HDMI 2.1 ports, which means you can plug in a PS5, Xbox Series X, and a gaming PC without swapping cables. The 120Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time are the real deal for competitive play, and G-SYNC plus FreeSync compatibility means tear-free gaming no matter which GPU you're running. VRR and ALLM round out the package so you don't have to fiddle with settings when you switch between Netflix and Call of Duty.

The picture quality story is more nuanced. OLED gives you perfect blacks and infinite contrast, which makes HDR content look stunning in a dark room. Dolby Vision IQ is a nice touch for adapting to ambient light. But our database puts picture quality at the 36th percentile, which is underwhelming for a TV with this kind of pedigree. The a9 Gen 4 processor does decent upscaling, but it's not the brightest panel out there, and that matters if you watch in a sun-drenched living room. The display and HDR scores sit at the 89th and 85th percentiles respectively, so it's still a strong performer overall, just not the absolute best for pure movie watching.

Against the current OLED heavyweights, the C1 holds its own in gaming but shows its age elsewhere. The Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L is a newer, brighter QD-OLED that will beat the C1 on picture quality and HDR punch, but you'll pay a serious premium for that 77-inch panel. The Samsung Neo QLED QN75QN990FFXZA goes the Mini-LED route with much higher peak brightness, which makes it better for bright rooms, though it can't match the C1's perfect blacks. The Hisense U8 Series 100U8QG and TCL QM8K Series 75QM8K are interesting budget alternatives that offer solid gaming features at larger sizes, but their processing and motion handling don't touch what the a9 Gen 4 chip does here. The Roku Plus Series 55R6C5 is the value play, but it's not even in the same conversation for serious gaming. If gaming is your priority and you want OLED contrast without paying 2024 flagship prices, the C1 is still the smart buy.

Pricing on the C1 is all over the place right now. We're seeing USD 1,099 to USD 1,356 across two US listings, which is a USD 257 spread depending on where you shop. The lower end of that range is a genuinely good deal for a 55-inch OLED with this gaming feature set, especially if you can find it new rather than refurbished. Amazon has the best price we've tracked at USD 1,099, while Newegg's refurbished listings sit higher. For a TV that was a flagship gaming display in 2021, paying just over a grand for this level of HDMI 2.1 support and OLED contrast feels like a steal. Just make sure you're comparing new versus refurbished when you see those price differences.

The LG C1 OLED55C1PUB is a 55-inch 4K OLED that absolutely dominates where it counts for gamers. Our database puts its gaming score at 96.3 out of 100, which lands it in the 96th percentile for this category. That's the kind of number that makes console and PC players sit up and pay attention. The 120Hz panel, 1ms response time, and full HDMI 2.1 support with G-SYNC and FreeSync mean this thing was built to make your PS5 or RTX 4090 look its best.

But it's not a one-trick pony. The self-lit OLED pixels deliver perfect blacks and infinite contrast, and the a9 Gen 4 AI processor does solid work with upscaling and motion. Audio is surprisingly capable for a flat panel, with a 2.2 channel 40W setup that hits the 90th percentile in our rankings. The smart platform is fine, the connectivity is generous, and the overall package feels premium. Just don't expect it to be a portable speaker, because that 50.6 portable score is a real head-scratcher for a TV.

Skip this if you watch TV in a bright, sun-filled room. The OLED panel doesn't get bright enough to fight glare, and the picture quality score of 36th percentile reflects that weakness. If you're mostly watching movies and streaming shows rather than gaming, you can find better picture quality for the money in newer Mini-LED options like the TCL QM8K or Hisense U8. And if you need something portable, well, the 50.6 portable score should tell you everything you need to know about moving this 18,915 gram beast around.

The LG C1 OLED55C1PUB is a gaming beast that's aging gracefully. That 96.3 gaming score and 96th percentile ranking tell the story: this is still one of the best gaming displays you can buy, especially at the USD 1,099 price point we're seeing on Amazon. The OLED panel gives you perfect blacks and infinite contrast, the audio is genuinely good for a TV, and the build quality feels premium. The picture quality percentile is a bit disappointing for an OLED, and the brightness won't wow you in a sunny room, but those are trade-offs worth making for the gaming performance. If you're a console or PC gamer looking for a 55-inch display with full HDMI 2.1 support and don't want to spend 2024 OLED money, this is an easy recommendation.