LG OLED evo C3: 55" 4K Smart TV LG - Review 🏆

The LG OLED evo C3 is LG's latest 2023 model of its award-winning C-Series OLED TVs. As the successor to last year's C2 model, the C3 offers a few notable upgrades while maintaining LG's reputation for outstanding picture quality and sleek design.

The C3 comes in 55", 65", and 77" screen sizes. The 55" model reviewed here features LG's latest evo OLED panel technology, providing increased brightness compared to standard OLED displays. With self-lit pixels and perfect black levels, OLED TVs are renowned for their exceptional contrast and color performance. By further boosting brightness, the new evo panel helps improve highlights and deliver an even more impactful HDR experience.

In addition to its best-in-class display, the C3 includes LG's updated webOS smart platform for accessing popular streaming apps and services. Gaming performance is also a highlight, with features tailored for the latest consoles and PC graphics cards.

Overall, the LG OLED evo C3 presents a compelling upgrade for home theater enthusiasts seeking a future-proof 4K OLED TV option in 2023. This review will take a deeper look at the display quality, design, features, performance, audio, and connectivity of the 55" model.

Display Quality

The LG OLED evo C3 features a stunning OLED display that delivers an exceptional viewing experience. OLED stands for organic light emitting diode, and this display technology offers deep blacks, vivid colors, and excellent contrast. Unlike LED displays that use a backlight, each pixel in an OLED display emits its own light. This allows for perfect black levels when pixels are turned off.

The C3 has a 4K resolution of 3840 x 2160 which provides four times the detail of 1080p full HD. This level of resolution allows you to see all the fine details in content and provides an immersive viewing experience. In addition, the OLED panel has over 8 million self-lit pixels that can individually dim and boost their own brightness as needed for precision contrast.

For high dynamic range support, the C3 is equipped with Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10 Pro, and HLG Pro. This allows it to optimize HDR content on a scene-by-scene basis for the ideal picture quality based on the room's lighting conditions. It also supports Dolby Vision gaming at 4K 120Hz for a smooth, responsive HDR gaming experience when paired with the latest gaming consoles or PCs. Overall, the stellar OLED display of the LG C3 delivers an exceptional viewing experience with deep blacks, vivid image quality, and support for all the latest HDR formats.

Design

The LG OLED evo C3 has an attractive, minimalist design that will blend seamlessly into any living room. At its thinnest point, the TV measures just 4.7mm thick, allowing it to maintain a very slim, streamlined profile when wall mounted. The stand is made of metal and is fairly unobtrusive as well.

There are two stand options - the standard stand has a rectangular base, while the gallery stand has a smaller transparent base that makes the TV appear like it's floating. This helps keep the focus on the display. The gallery stand allows for flush wall mounting as well.

Overall, the design is very refined and contemporary. The thinness and small stand options allow the C3 to achieve a light, airy aesthetic. It's a TV that makes a statement through its performance and display rather than loud or flashy design elements. Those wanting a sleek, modern TV that doesn't dominate or distract from their decor will appreciate the minimalist style of the LG OLED evo C3.

Smart TV Features

The LG C3 runs on LG's user-friendly webOS platform, which provides quick access to popular streaming apps and services. It comes with built-in support for apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, YouTube and more.

The webOS interface is fast and responsive. You can easily switch between apps and inputs using the magic remote, which also allows you to control the TV with voice commands. The ThinQ AI technology enables hands-free control of the TV using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant devices.

With webOS, you can create personalized profiles for different users and quickly switch between them. This allows the TV to remember your favorite apps, inputs and settings for a customized experience. Media files and apps can also be mirrored from your smartphone to the TV screen using the LG ThinQ app.

Overall, the webOS smart platform offers an intuitive and seamless smart TV experience. Navigating between apps and inputs is smooth, and voice controls work reliably well.

Gaming Performance

The LG OLED evo C3 is an excellent gaming TV thanks to its impressive specs. It has a low input lag of just 5ms, ensuring your gameplay feels responsive without any noticeable delay between your controller and on-screen action.

The TV also supports up to 120Hz refresh rates when paired with the latest consoles or a compatible PC. This allows supported games to run at up to 120 frames per second for an incredibly smooth and fluid gaming experience. Fast motion in shooters, racers, and sports games will appear crisp and clear.

For variable refresh rate support, the TV is compatible with both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. This syncs the refresh rate with your GPU's frame rate output to prevent screen tearing and stuttering. Games look buttery smooth without distortion.

Overall, the stellar combination of low input lag, high refresh rates, and adaptive sync makes the LG C3 one of the best gaming TVs currently available. It provides a responsive, tear-free experience for fast-paced competitive gaming or immersive single player adventures.

Audio Quality

The LG OLED evo C3 has impressive audio capabilities thanks to its built-in speaker system and Dolby Atmos support. It comes equipped with 2.2 channel speakers with 40W output power. While the speakers are downward firing, they still produce clear and well-balanced sound.

The TV also supports Dolby Atmos, which enables a more immersive audio experience. Dolby Atmos creates a three-dimensional soundscape and makes it seem as if sounds are coming at you from all directions. This adds more depth and realism to the audio, especially for movies and shows that take advantage of Atmos.

Overall, the audio quality on the LG OLED evo C3 is very good for a slim TV. The combination of the decent built-in speakers and Dolby Atmos support means you'll get an audio experience that matches the stellar visuals of the OLED display. Most users will find the sound more than adequate without needing to invest in a separate soundbar or speaker system.

Connectivity

The LG C3 OLED TV offers a robust connectivity suite to meet your needs. For HDMI ports, it has 4 HDMI 2.1 inputs, allowing you to connect high-bandwidth devices like gaming consoles and Blu-ray players. The HDMI 2.1 ports support advanced gaming features like 4K 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM.

For USB ports, there are 3 USB 2.0 ports to connect external storage devices, keyboards, mice etc. One nice touch is that one of the USB ports is on the side, making it easy to plug in USB drives.

For wireless connectivity, the C3 has built-in WiFi (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.0. The WiFi is dual band, supporting both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Setting up the TV on your home WiFi is straightforward with the webOS smart TV interface.

Overall, with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, 3 USB ports, WiFi, and Bluetooth, the LG C3 OLED TV offers ample connectivity options for different use cases like gaming, streaming, and connecting peripherals. The inclusion of HDMI 2.1 makes it ready for the latest gaming consoles and graphics cards.

Pros

The LG OLED evo C3 55" 4K TV has several standout pros that make it a compelling high-end TV option.

Stunning OLED picture quality: The OLED panel delivers perfect black levels, infinite contrast, wide viewing angles, and excellent motion handling. The self-lit pixels produce vibrant, accurate colors and incredible detail. The upgraded "evo" panel provides higher peak brightness compared to last year's C2 model.

Sleek, thin design: Weighing only 38.1 lbs without the stand, the TV has an incredibly slim 0.8" profile that practically disappears when viewed from the side. The minimalist pedestal stand further accentuates the floating, wall-art aesthetic.

Great smart TV and gaming features: webOS provides access to all major streaming apps and easy content discovery. For gaming, it has HDMI 2.1 ports, G-SYNC, FreeSync Premium, and low input lag. The OLED panel's fast response time and 120Hz refresh rate provide a smooth gaming experience.

Cons

• Expensive: The LG C3 OLED is on the pricier side for a 55" 4K TV. The MSRP is around £1,300, putting it beyond the reach of some buyers. While the picture quality and features justify the cost for home theater enthusiasts, it's more than many consumers want to spend.

• Audio could be better: The built-in audio is decent but not amazing. The 2.2 channel speakers with 40 watts of power provide clear dialogue and adequate volume. However, the sound lacks richness and bass. An external soundbar would be recommended for a more immersive audio experience.

• Risk of burn-in: Like all OLED TVs, the C3 has the potential for permanent burn-in if static images are left on screen for extended periods. This isn't typically an issue with varied content viewing, but static HUDs in games or channel logos could cause uneven wear over years. LG has implemented features to minimize burn-in risk, but it remains a concern for heavy users.

Conclusion

The LG OLED evo C3 is an overall excellent high-end TV that delivers stunning picture performance with its OLED display and advanced image processing. It produces perfect blacks, vibrant colors, and infinite contrast for a remarkably lifelike viewing experience. The TV also has extremely low input lag and HDMI 2.1 ports, making it a top choice for gaming.

However, the OLED evo C3 doesn't come cheap. With its premium price point, this TV is best suited for home theater enthusiasts, cinephiles, and gamers who want the very best 4K picture quality and don't mind paying more for it. More budget-conscious buyers may want to consider other options.

For those seeking a future-proof TV for watching movies, playing games, and streaming content in the highest quality, the LG OLED evo C3 is a fantastic choice that delivers gorgeous visuals and responsive performance. But its high price tag means it's overkill for more casual viewers looking for good 4K TV value. Overall, it's a top-tier OLED TV aimed at discerning home theater lovers.