The LG C series is a mess right now, and it’s the best for it
2 days ago
4 minutes read
Last year, I called the LG C5 “the best TV for the masses”, and that sentiment holds true for the LG C6, which is an even better TV.
We just awarded it five stars, and while I won’t give our full review, the bottom line is that there are a number of picture and sound improvements that LG has been very modest about leading up to the release of this highly anticipated TV.
It’s a terrific TV, and fixes a few niggles we had with the award-winning C5; but that doesn’t change the fact that the C series is a mess, and has been a mess for a long time. Thanks, I like that.
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The C series always floats in the mid-range of LG’s OLED lineup. It’s more expensive and has a better feature set than the B series, but it doesn’t get the advanced panel technology and sleek design of the G series. And that’s perfectly fine.
For years, we’ve been fighting for these Goldilocks TVs, as by our performance-per-pound metric, they offer the right performance for the asking price.
That all changed last year, however, as the latest generation of premium OLED TVs – including Product of the Year winner Sony Bravia 8 II and other five-star sets like the LG G5, Samsung S95F and Panasonic Z95B – really set themselves apart and justified the extra output.
Panel technology has advanced rapidly since then, with Primary RGB Tandem OLED and QD-OLED now fully established as step-up options that deliver rich colors, fast refresh rates, and brilliant brightness.
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That never affected the C series, as the C3, C4, and C5 all used “regular” OLED panels, also known as OLED EX. Although there have been bumpy light bumps and improvements in image processing and tuning, the C series has stayed in its mid-range lane.
That changes this year. The C6 now comes with a Primary RGB Tandem OLED, but only in its two largest sizes: 77- and 83-inches. In addition, it comes equipped with an Alpha 11 Gen 3 processor, while previous models sported a lower-end Alpha 9 series processor.
There was a time when the G series and the C series were very aligned – the C2 and G2 from 2022, for example, used very similar panels and processors. That changed from the C3 and G3 onwards.
Now it looks like LG has gone full circle, which is both confusing and great for home cinema fans looking for premium features at a reduced price. Especially, if you’re looking at larger sizes with that premium panel technology.
When I caught up with LG at CES 2026, I was told that the 77- and 83-inch C6 models are actually the “G5 plus”, as they appear to be using the first-generation Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel seen on the G5. They even have new Hyper Radiant Color technology, and a smaller version of LG’s anti-glare screen technology featured in the G6.
With this in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised if prospective TV buyers are torn between whether they should pay more for the G6 or save on the C6 and get more of what a more premium TV has to offer.
This comparison is very close, it should be noted, to the 55 and 65-inch sizes. The clear difference with the smaller screens is that the C6 uses a WOLED panel, while the G6 gets a Primary RGB Tandem OLED.
That being said, we also face the same problem at the smaller end of the scale. The C6 and G6 both come in 48-inch sizes, and that, again, sounds like the same TV on paper.
The Tandem’s basic RGB OLED panels don’t fit in this size, meaning both sets use WOLED panels and an Alpha 11 Gen 3 processor. If I were your average TV customer and didn’t know that much about the AV world, I bet I’d be right on the cheap side.
Now, in reality, there will be differences between the models. I highly doubt – and sincerely hope – that LG will simply reassemble the C6 on that lovely G6 chassis, buy a premium for it and call it a day; but we will need to test these TVs to see exactly what the difference is between them.
The bottom line is that, as of now, the C6 is at its worst in the middle of the segment. It reminds me of a plot thread from a little movie called Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Anakin Skywalker is given a place on the Jedi Council in that film, but is not promoted to Jedi Master. It’s like how the LG C6 has been upgraded to include many of LG’s top technologies, but it hasn’t been given a prominent title.
With overlapping features and changes between generations that have expanded and bridged the gap between the mid-range and flagship models, the C series can feel like a TV that needs to get its act together. Still, considering how amazing the previous three generations of the set have been, I don’t mind that.
MORE:
Read our full LG OLED65C6 review
And ours LG OLED65G5 review
Also check out our selection of excellent OLED TVs
