If you’re going to spend a lot of money on a television, you’ll want to be sure you’re purchasing the greatest model. However, this decision is significantly more challenging than it was a few years ago, especially with the arrival of new screen technologies such as Mini-LED, which have altered the traditional dynamics of the premium television area. However, OLED televisions continue to fetch a premium, both in terms of capability and cost compared to the competition.
This television is a member of a series that has long been one of the most popular OLED television options in India. The LG C2 series is the successor to the popular C1 and CX series, and it offers enhanced performance and capabilities, as well as the advantages that OLED screen technology normally confers on televisions. Is this the best 55-inch premium television (about Rs. 2,000,000) currently available in India? Learn in this review.
The LG C2 series is offered in a range of sizes, from 42 inches (priced at Rs. 1,39,990) to 83 inches (priced at Rs (priced at Rs. 11,74,990). The 55-inch model that was supplied to me for review is officially priced at Rs. 2,19,990. All televisions in the lineup, regardless of size, are Ultra-HD (3840×2160 pixel) OLED televisions with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and have comparable specifications and features. On this television, Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos are supported.
LG’s C-series televisions are not normally known for their elaborate, expensive design, and the 55-inch C2 set is not quite as visually appealing as the similarly-priced Samsung 55QN95B. However, it is still a well-constructed television with a slim profile around the edges, easily accessible ports and sockets, and narrow borders around the display that allow you to concentrate on what’s on the screen.
There are no indications, not even an LG brand, on the front of the television. On the bottom is only the power button, which is housed on a module with the status light and IR receiver. All ports and outlets are located to the left of the screen and are easily accessible even when the television is mounted on the wall. The speakers fire from the bottom, and the overall design is as simple as it gets.
The LG C2 55-inch television weights 12.7 kilogrammes without the stand and 14.4 kg with the integrated centre stand. This design guarantees that the television may be placed on even a table with a relatively modest footprint. For my review, I wall-mounted the television using my own VESA-standard low-profile wall-mount kit; the wall-mount kit for the TV is not included in the box, but can be obtained during the brand’s free installation.
The LG C2 55-inch TV’s ports and sockets include four HDMI ports (all supporting 4K at 120Hz resolution, with one supporting eARC), three USB Type-A ports, LAN, Optical Digital Audio-out, a single-socket AV-in for use with an adapter, antenna and cable sockets, and an analogue socket for an IR blaster. Notably, the television lacks wired headphone connectivity.
In addition, gaming support is included for NVIDIA G-sync, variable refresh rate (VRR), and AMD FreeSync. The LG C2 offers dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 for connectivity, and its 2.2-channel speaker system has a maximum sound output of 40W. The television is powered by LG’s a9 Gen 5 AI processor 4K, which offers a variety of AI-based capabilities designed to enhance the viewing experience.
LG C2 55-inch OLED TV (OLED55C2PSC) remote and features
LG’s magic remote concept has proven to be successful, and the C2 55-inch television includes this one-of-a-kind remote. It is a full-sized unit with a bottom-heavy design for improved grip and manoeuvrability, which is required for its wand-like features. The remote creates a floating cursor on the TV screen, which you can control by waving the remote about. If you want, you may also utilise the standard d-pad, scroll wheel, and button controls; either way, the remote is straightforward to use and allows you to navigate the interface fast.
The remote contains shortcuts for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar, as well as individual buttons for Google Assistant and Alexa. It is possible to utilise both voice assistants at the same time on the TV, which is something I haven’t seen very often. The remainder of the remote is fairly normal, including controls for power, volume, source selection, and accessing the settings menu from anywhere in the user interface, or even when content is playing.
Other highlights of the LG C2 television include support for Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, hands-free voice control, and LG’s AI ThinQ suite, which is able to detect the environment, including daylight and other variables, in order to optimise the picture and sound. Linking the TV to the LG ThinQ app on your smartphone allows you, among other things, to use the phone as a remote for the TV and alter certain settings.
LG C2 55-inch OLED TV (OLED55C2PSC) software and interface
LG’s webOS platform, which was originally designed for Palm devices and is now the default operating system for its televisions, has evolved significantly over the years. In the past year or so, there has been a rising emphasis on content curation and recommendations. Some interface elements, such as the Settings and Source selection menus, remain to appear as overlays, but the majority of the interface fills the entire screen.
This features the Home Dashboard, which displays connected devices as tiles and provides rapid access to AirPlay and IoT devices linked via the LG ThinQ app. Now that the primary smart TV interface is a full-screen affair with tiles for weather, content recommendations, apps, and the web browser, pushing the home button will pause the currently playing media, whereas previously it would have resumed playback.
Numerous popular applications, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar, are already installed on the smart TV. Others that are optimised for the large display can be installed via the app library. There are also numerous games, social networking applications, and utilities available. Although not as well-organized and vast as the Google Play store for Android TV, webOS’s app catalogue is adequate, and apps function similarly to those on other popular TV platforms.
I found the whole programme experience to be somewhat chaotic and unpredictable, and items occasionally took too long to load. However, there were no major concerns, and webOS is completely useable as is.
LG C2 55-inch OLED TV (OLED55C2PSC) performance
With a price tag of nearly Rs. 2,000,000, the 55-inch LG C2 television is unquestionably a high-end option that is expected to deliver performance commensurate with its cost. LG’s OLED televisions have traditionally excelled in this regard, and the C2 is no exception; it is currently among the top televisions in its class in terms of picture quality and overall performance.
With compatibility for many HDR formats up to Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Atmos audio, and the pixel-level dimming characteristic of an OLED display, the LG C2 55-inch television is well-equipped for all types of entertainment. What truly stuck out about the C2’s picture performance was its almost instinctive ability to adapt to the content and lighting circumstances in the room, making nearly everything I watched appear as fantastic as possible.
Obi Wan Kenobi, The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals, Uncharted, and Man vs. Bee, to mention a few, were among the Ultra-HD Dolby Vision episodes and films that I watched on my television. The LG television performed exceptionally well across material and genres, notably in terms of contrast levels.
Contrast is almost infinite on an OLED screen due to its real pixel-level blacks, yet achieving the desired contrast might be challenging. The LG C2 delivers a picture that never appeared to be trying too hard and didn’t appear to need to emphasise the deep blacks, as is typically the case with more cheap OLED televisions.
The colours appeared subdued, aiming for authenticity and realism rather than the brilliant, sometimes overly vibrant image that many premium and high-end televisions typically provide. LG C2 55-inch TV substantially improved Dolby Vision’s excellent handling of colours, especially with the visually gorgeous places in The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals.
LG’s AI ThinQ feature did a remarkably fantastic job of reading the material and lighting to set up the picture correctly, getting the picture calibration correct with the dark, detailed shots of Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, the television took a couple of minutes to respond to changes in lighting circumstances (such as turning on a light), but when it did, the picture quality was excellent.
OLED televisions are not often known for their high levels of brightness, and despite LG’s promises that the C2 is brighter than prior models in the series, it falls short. On the rare occasions I attempted to watch something during the day, it proved to be a bit of a challenge. However, as I typically watched television at night in a darkly lit room, this was rarely a problem.
In contrast to the extremely bright Samsung QN95B Mini LED TV, the LG struggled to adjust to even cloudy daytime conditions, necessitating the use of curtains for a viewing experience. This can be difficult even in well-lit areas, so you should consider it if you are unable to swiftly adjust the ambient illumination.
Dolby Vision and HDR10 material could be viewed in a well-lit room since the TV’s brightness was automatically increased, whereas non-HDR content was difficult to view in anything except a dimly lit environment. Better Call Saul episodes were detailed due to the Ultra-HD resolution, although the dark nighttime scenes of this renowned programme were often difficult to view. Black levels were handled adequately, although skin tones and the show’s generic suburban backdrop occasionally lacked character and emotion.
With the LG C2 55-inch OLED TV, clarity and motion management were rarely problematic, despite some issues with brightness levels. Here, the seemingly natural ability of the television to adjust the picture for the content was on full display. During the languid portions of Man Vs. Bee, the LG C2 kept the focus on Rowan Atkinson’s wonderful range of facial emotions, yet the quick, exhilarating action parts of Uncharted displayed crisp, flowing motion, with just the correct amount of blur and almost no discernible artefacts.
With lower-resolution video, the LG C2 performed satisfactorily with vivid, colourful content. However, the brightness limitations meant that normally dark content had a significant impact on the image quality. The Batman on Amazon Prime Video was somewhat frustrating to watch, as the TV was unable to make the most of the stream’s low resolution and poor clarity. However, it was significantly better than on the tested (much more affordable) Philips Ambilight 7900 series television, indicating that the LG C2 makes a greater effort to upscale and process low-quality video.
Dolby Atmos produced a good soundstage, and even normal audio encoding was sufficiently clear if the volume was set up on the 55-inch LG C2 television. However, this was a problem for me; I frequently had to turn the TV volume up to 90 percent to hear anything in an otherwise silent room, so I couldn’t quite achieve the strong and dramatic sound that films like Uncharted and The Batman deserved. Likely, you will need a soundbar or speaker system to complement this television.
Conclusion
Premium televisions come with lofty expectations, and the Rs. 2,19,990 LG C2 55-inch set generally lives up to them. The television provides a very delightful watching experience with high-quality content because to its great colours, contrast, black levels, sharpness, and motion.
However, there are a few very substantial limitations, and if they conflict with your needs and viewing conditions, you may wish to examine alternative solutions. These include low levels of brightness, uneven performance with lower-resolution content, and a low-volume speaker system. Perhaps it would be prudent to examine the Samsung QN95B as an alternative.
However, the LG C2 55-inch OLED’s superior appearance and features, together with its respectable software, making it an overall top choice. If you are in the market for a new premium television, this model should be on your shortlist.
