LG G5 vs C5: which 2025 LG OLED TV should you buy?

Until the new C6 and G6 arrive in a few months, the C5 and G5 will remain at the heart of LG’s OLED line-up.

• Check out our LG C6 hands-on and LG G6 hands-on

Even when those successor models do appear, the C5 and G5 will still make an awful lot of sense, thanks to heavy discounting. But, for many buyers, the choice between them won’t be straightforward.

Both are premium OLED TVs, both sit among the best TVs you can buy right now, and both benefit from LG’s years of refinement in panel tech, processing and gaming features – but they’re designed for subtly different priorities.

The C-series is LG’s long-standing sweet spot: more affordable, more flexible in terms of placement, and traditionally the one that offers the best balance of performance and price.

The G5, by contrast, is LG’s flagship OLED, pushing harder on brightness, design and outright picture performance thanks to its more advanced panel technology and gallery-style build.

On paper, the differences are clear enough. In reality, though, the gap between LG’s top-tier and step-down OLEDs has narrowed considerably in recent years, which raises an important question: is the G5 really worth the extra money, or does the C5 get you most of the experience for less?

We’ve fully tested both TVs using our usual mix of real-world viewing, reference discs and streaming content, assessing everything from HDR brightness and colour accuracy to motion handling, gaming performance and sound quality.

That means we’re in a position to go beyond spec-sheet comparisons and explain how these two OLEDs actually perform where it matters most.

Below, we break down exactly what’s new, what’s different, and – crucially – which of LG’s current OLEDs makes the most sense for you.

Pricing

As you would expect, at launch, both the C5 and G5 were very expensive, but the G5 commanded a clear premium.

Here's the full launch price comparison:

Discounts are now available on both models, but you can generally expect to pay a premium of at least £500 / $500 / AU$800 to go for a G5 over a C5 of the same size – and significantly more than that if you're going for a very large set.

If you're wondering why the premium commanded by the UK-exclusive 48-inch G5 is much smaller than that of the larger models, it's likely because it lacks the Primary RGB Tandem technology, so it will be less of an upgrade over its C series equivalent.

Ultimately, the LG C5 has to take this round. As for whether or not the G5 is worth the extra cash? We'll get to that...

Winner: LG C5

Design

Place these models side by side with their predecessors, and you might struggle to spot the difference. But while not much has changed from their respective predecessors, the G5 and C5 are very different to one another.

The G5 has a 'Gallery' design, which means it looks a bit like a picture frame.

But unlike G-series models of old, the G5 is offered in two versions: one with LG's Zero Gap wall mount, and the G5S variant, which includes a tabletop stand at the 55- and 65-inch sizes. You will also be able to buy a stand for the G5 separately as well.

The stand itself can be set to two positions for a sleek, low-profile look, or a higher position that accommodates a soundbar underneath.

The C5 retains the supremely slender side profile across much of the chassis, with a modest boxout that houses the connections and processing components near the bottom of the rear panel. It's also incredibly lightweight by TV standards.

On the front of the TV, we're treated to slender bezels around the display and a narrow, central pedestal-style stand that is both stylish and slightly obstructive to those who wish to position soundbars below their TV, due to the fact that it tapers outwards.

The G5 has a universal thickness of just 2.4cm, giving it a consistently slim profile compared to the C5's variable thickness.

Also, for the first time, the G series model comes in a 48-inch size, though it doesn't go quite as small as the C5, which comes in a 42-inch model. It's worth noting, however, that the 48-inch and 97-inch G5 variants don't feature the new Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel found in the other sizes.

The G5's tabletop stand is also swapped out for dual blade-style feet on the smallest model, while the largest version is bundled with a wider stand to accommodate the broader frame.

Ultimately, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and which of these two TVs is most visually appealing to you will probably come down to whether you're wall-mounting it or placing it on furniture.

However, to these eyes, the C5 is actually the more attractive TV, primarily on account of the incredibly thin sections of its chassis. Unlike the G5, all versions come with a stand (or feet), too, and its incredible lightness makes it easy to wall-mount.

Winner: LG C5

Features

The G5 has a couple of new tricks up its sleeve.

First up, LG has ditched the MLA screen technology of the G4 and switched to new Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel technology (also known as Four Stack OLED).

This new panel architecture comprises four individual OLED layers – two blue, one red and one green – to boost brightness and colour volume. This results in even more brightness with more vibrant colours.

According to LG, the G5 is three times brighter than the brand's entry-level B5. It doesn't offer a brightness comparison with the C5, but the difference there is clear to see. We'll get to that in the picture section below.

The C5 has to make do with a standard WOLED panel. Not only does it not feature the fancy new four-stack brightness-boosting panel architecture of the G5, it doesn't even get the MLA technology of the old G4 or G3. Nor does it feature a heatsink.

Even so, LG has managed to squeeze some more brightness out of this panel for the C5. Again, more on that below.

Both TVs are exceptional for gaming, with all four HDMI sockets being full-fat, 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 affairs with support for the all-important 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM features.

Both models can, in fact, support 4K gaming signals beyond 120Hz, with the C5 going up to 144Hz and the G5 right up to 165Hz. For console gamers, all of this is irrelevant, as even the Xbox Series X and PS5 Pro max out at 120Hz, but it will be a consideration for super-hardcore PC gamers with equally hardcore rigs.

Both TVs have excellent HGiG implementation, which makes it a doddle to get a spectacular and accurate HDR performance from most modern games, and both support Dolby Vision gaming, too.

Of course, both TVs also support Dolby Vision for movies and TV shows, plus the standard HLG and HDR10 formats. No LG TVs support HDR10+, but we don't consider this to be a big deal.

Rather than all-new processors, both the G5 and C5 feature upgraded versions of last year's respective offerings.

The G5 has the Alpha 11 AI Processor Gen 2, while the C5 has the Alpha 9 Gen 8. LG hasn't been clear on what improvements these bring, but it did say that the AI Picture Pro feature (which automatically improves the picture quality) has been enhanced.

The new processor in the G5 drives many of the AI-backed functions, including AI Picture Pro, which serves as an umbrella term for features such as AI Perceived Object Enhancer (which aims to enhance the three-dimensionality of the picture), AI Super Upscaling, and OLED Dynamic Tone Mapping.

The G4's Virtual 11.1.2-channel upmixing has also come to the C5, while the AI Sound Pro mode now has a Voice Remastering feature that intelligently boosts dialogue clarity without sacrificing the other elements of a soundtrack.

Both TVs will have three new features courtesy of LG's AI TV system: ‘Recognise You’, ‘Customise to You’ and ‘Care Around You’.

'Recognise You' uses voice recognition to detect which user is barking commands at it or asking it questions so it can respond correctly.

'Customise to You' lets the individual users customise the TV's picture and sound settings to their preference, and load them up each time they watch.

'Care Around You', meanwhile, helps you solve common issues using an AI chatbot.

The TVs also benefit from a large language model, meaning you can use natural commands such as "make the picture brighter" rather than having to remember specific phrases.

So, the G5 and C5 share an awful lot of features, but the Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel, faster processor and support for 4K/165Hz gaming mean this round has to go to the G5.

Winner: LG G5

Picture Quality

Having tested both the G5 and C5, we can provide detailed insights into their respective picture performances. The C5 offers a rich, dynamic, and detailed picture that impresses at every turn, with improved brightness over its predecessor. But the G5 takes things to another level entirely with its new panel technology.

The G5's Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel delivers truly dazzling brightness levels that can, in peak brightness highlights, literally make you want to shield your eyes. This is most noticeable in HDR content mastered for high brightness, such as 4K Blu-rays of The Matrix and Pan – both of which show off the G5's stunning highlights while maintaining excellent detail.

Colours on the G5 also benefit from the enhanced colour volume. The TV presents vibrant, rich hues alongside well-judged skin tones with a natural hint of warmth. The overall picture has a fantastic three-dimensional quality, with subjects standing out against backgrounds to striking effect.

Both TVs deliver excellent motion handling. They excel at presenting fast movement without judder or stutter when using the Cinematic Movement TruMotion setting. Even with motion processing turned off completely, both TVs still handle motion very well.

While the C5 doesn't have the pizzazz of the G5 at its best, it does offer a rich, dynamic, and detailed picture that still impresses at every turn.

When watching movies in Filmmaker Mode (now imbued with the power of Dolby Vision HDR for the relevant content), the C5 delivers an accurate and balanced picture. For HDR10 content, we highly recommend switching on dynamic tone mapping to experience the full brightness upgrade that the C5 offers.

The C5's colours are rich and punchy, too, and yet never look overdone or unnatural. Low-light colour volume is a particular strength, allowing dimly lit scenes to appear atmospherically dingy while still maintaining rich hues and colour variation. This extends to skin tones, which are presented with lively-looking warmth that makes all the difference.

The picture's solidity and three-dimensionality are also exceptional, with subjects standing out against backgrounds to striking effect. Edges are sharp yet never over-etched or artificial-looking.

The extra brightness over the C4 is most noticeable in high-nit content, such as Pan, where the C5 presents scenes with stunning brightness and lavish colours. While it may not rival the highs of QD-OLED or the new Primary RGB Tandem OLED found in the G5, it's evident that LG has pushed the limits of 'traditional' OLED even further than before.

For Dolby Vision content, the C5 excels at low-light scenes. Colours remain punchy, and subtle lighting looks natural and effective. Dark details are well presented, allowing viewers to differentiate between different shades of black even in shadowy portions of scenes.

The C5's upscaling capabilities are equally impressive. When displaying HD and SDR content, the TV retains remarkable detail without introducing fuzziness or blockiness. The enhanced brightness is even apparent here, with intense light sources being replicated with the necessary impact.

Ultimately, though, everything the C5 does, the G5 does at least as well, if not better. Whether the level of upgrade is justified by the size of the price difference is something we'll tackle right at the end.

Winner: LG G5

Sound quality

Having tested both models thoroughly, we can confirm that neither the G5 nor the C5 offers particularly impressive sound quality.

The G5 features a 60W 4.2 channel sound system, but despite the impressive specifications on paper, the performance doesn't quite deliver.

In our testing of the G5, we found that the Cinema sound preset offers the best performance, providing a wider, louder and punchier sound compared with the Standard setting.

However, even in this mode, the TV struggles with dynamic shifts and doesn't dig particularly deep into the low end of bass-heavy soundtracks. Dialogue often sounds quite lifeless and lacks emotion, particularly in quieter scenes.

As for the C5, while it delivers dialogue with enough clarity for day-to-day use, the overall sound quality is merely adequate, rather than exceptional.

Voices have some warmth and presence to them and are outwardly projected enough to make them audible. There is a semblance of atmospheric effects, with background sounds coming across with decent detail, though upward-firing projection is limited, as height effects seem to stick to the top edge of the TV's chassis.

What's really missing, though, is a sense of low-end heft, as bass-heavy content feels lightweight. Increasing the volume can add some impact, but it also introduces unwanted crackling.

The AI Sound mode doesn't shine either, as it introduces an aggressively harsh quality with an unpleasantly abrasive edge that makes dialogue and effects sound forced.

Ultimately, you'll want to pair either TV with one of the best soundbars to match their impressive picture quality.

Winner: draw

Verdict

On a purely technical level, there’s no escaping the fact that the LG G5 is the more advanced TV.

It wins more of the individual rounds, delivers higher brightness, greater colour volume and a more striking design, and pushes OLED technology further than any LG model before it.

If you’re chasing outright performance and want to see what OLED can currently do at its limits (at least until the new 2026 models arrive), the G5 is hugely impressive.

But that isn’t the whole story.

The LG C5 may not hit the same extremes, but it gets close where it really matters. Its picture is vibrant, punchy and beautifully controlled, its feature set is comprehensive, and its gaming and smart credentials are every bit as strong as the flagship’s.

Crucially, it delivers that performance at a significantly lower price – and without the placement restrictions that come with the G5’s gallery-style design.

In day-to-day viewing, the gap between the two TVs is smaller than their spec sheets suggest. The G5’s extra brightness and colour headroom are undeniably impressive with the right material, but they only occasionally transform the experience to the extent that the price jump feels essential.

The C5, by contrast, feels like a TV that’s been tuned to perfection for real-world use, offering a level of performance that will satisfy almost everyone, almost all of the time.

So while the G5 is the more exciting technological showcase, the C5 is the smarter buy.

If you’re a committed enthusiast with the budget – and the desire – to chase the very best OLED performance LG can offer, the G5 is worth considering. For everyone else, the C5 remains the OLED TV we recommend most strongly.

Overall winner: LG C5

MORE:

Read our LG C5 review

LG 2025 OLED TV lineup: everything you need to know

Read our LG G5 review