LG C4 OLED Review: The People’s Champion, Polished

For years, LG’s C-series OLED has been the default recommendation for anyone seeking a high-end television without venturing into the stratospheric prices of flagship models. It’s the people’s champion—a masterful blend of performance, features, and price that consistently hits the sweet spot. Now, the LG C4 arrives to carry that torch. But in a market of fierce competition and with its excellent predecessor, the C3, still on shelves, is this a worthy successor or just a minor tune-up?

A Familiar, Brilliant Glow

Let’s address the panel first. The C4 utilizes LG’s OLED Evo technology, now with a “Brightness Booster” algorithm driven by the new Alpha 9 Gen 7 AI Processor. In practice, this delivers a picture that is noticeably brighter than OLEDs from a few years ago, and a touch brighter than the C3. Specular highlights in HDR content pop with impressive intensity, and the added full-screen brightness helps combat glare in moderately lit rooms. However, let’s be clear: this is an incremental improvement. The C4 still lacks the Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology reserved for the flagship G4, which remains the key differentiator for peak brightness.

Where the C4 truly excels is in its processing. The Alpha 9 Gen 7 chip does a phenomenal job with upscaling lower-resolution content, rendering it sharp and clean without obvious artifacts. Color accuracy out of the box in Filmmaker Mode is superb, delivering lifelike tones and respecting creative intent. As always, the foundational OLED advantage of perfect black levels and infinite contrast provides a sense of depth and dimensionality that even the best LCD TVs struggle to match. Motion handling is also top-tier, capably managing fast-paced sports and action sequences with minimal stutter or blur.

Built for Gamers, Designed for a Living Room

LG continues its reign as the undisputed king of gaming TVs. The C4 doubles down on this legacy by becoming the first in the C-series to support a 144Hz refresh rate, a direct appeal to high-end PC gamers. This is complemented by a full suite of gaming features across all four HDMI 2.1 ports, including Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and certifications for both NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium. Input lag is exceptionally low, ensuring a responsive and fluid gaming experience whether you’re on a PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X.

Aesthetically, the C4 is virtually indistinguishable from the C3. It retains the same ultra-thin panel, impossibly slim bezels, and a lightweight composite fiber shell that makes it surprisingly easy to handle. The central pedestal stand is functional and stable, providing enough clearance for a slim soundbar. While the build feels solid, it doesn’t exude the same ultra-premium, metallic feel of some rivals. This is a pragmatic design choice, prioritizing function and weight reduction over lavish materials.

Smarts and Sound: An Evolving Experience

The C4 runs on webOS 24, the latest version of LG’s smart TV platform. The interface now supports individual user profiles, which tailors content recommendations to each person in the household. While the system is generally snappy and responsive, the home screen remains a point of contention. It’s busy, prioritizing sponsored content and ads over a clean, user-centric layout. It’s a powerful platform, but one that could benefit from a bit of restraint.

Audio performance from the C4’s built-in speakers is adequate for casual viewing. The new processor enables AI Sound Pro, which can upscale audio to a virtual 11.1.2-channel experience. It creates a wider soundstage than you’d expect from a thin TV, but it’s no substitute for a dedicated soundbar or surround sound system. For a television that delivers such a premium visual experience, skimping on an external audio solution would be a disservice.

The Verdict: A Refined But Safe Upgrade

The LG C4 is, without a doubt, a fantastic OLED television. It delivers a stunning picture, class-leading gaming features, and a mature smart platform. It expertly refines the winning formula of its predecessors.

However, it’s an evolution, not a revolution. The performance gains over the heavily discounted LG C3 are marginal for most users, particularly for movie-watching. The C4’s primary advantages—144Hz support and slightly better processing—make it the superior choice for dedicated PC gamers or buyers who simply must have the latest model. For everyone else, especially those on a tighter budget, the outgoing C3 offers nearly the same breathtaking experience for significantly less money. The C4 is the new champion, but its toughest competition might just be the old one.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon