LG C3 vs C2 vs C1: How Does the Full OLED Lineup Compare?

For a lot of years, LG has been considered one of the benchmarks by which televisions are assessed. They have continuously produced excellent OLED screens with sharp images and excellent color reproduction. The C3, the most recent device in the C-series, made its debut at CES 2023 this year and appears to provide a number of advancements over its forerunner.

How do the C3, C2, and C1 compare to one another in light of this? Is it truly worth the money to upgrade?

To assess whether the cost is worthwhile of your time and money, as with any purchase, it is crucial to conduct adequate research. Let’s examine the LG C3, C2, and C1 in more detail to see whether an upgrade is in your near or distant future.

LG C3 vs C2 vs C1: Side-by-Side Comparison

	LG C3	LG C2
Screen Resolution	4K	4K
Screen Size	42-inch, 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch, 83-inch	42-inch, 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch, 83-inch
Display Type	OLED	OLED
Operating System	webOS 23	webOS 22
Low Latency Mode	Yes	Yes
Connections	USB, HDMI, Optical, RF, RS-232C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	USB, HDMI, Optical, RF, RS-232C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Audio Codecs	AC4, AC3, EAC3, HE-AAC, AAC, MP2, MP3, PCM, WMA	AC4, AC3, EAC3, HE-AAC, AAC, MP2, MP3, PCM, WMA
Hands-Free Operation	Yes	Yes

	LG C1
Screen Resolution	4K
Screen Size	42-inch, 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch, 83-inch
Display Type	OLED
Operating System	webOS 21
Low Latency Mode	Yes
Connections	USB, HDMI, Optical, RF, RS-232C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Audio Codecs	AC4, AC3, EAC3, HE-AAC, AAC, MP2, MP3, PCM, WMA
Hands-Free Operation	Yes

Here, the differences are generally negligible. It is apparent that this is an iterative product line rather than one where the most recent model represents a significant change.

LG C3 vs C2 vs C1: What s the Difference?

There aren’t many distinctions between these three televisions, as anyone can clearly see. They all belong to the same product category.

There are notable disparities in overall performance between the three, despite the fact that there are many commonalities between them. Despite any doubts the typical consumer may have, they aren’t the same.

Picture Quality

The LG C3, the pinnacle of the product range, has numerous outstanding upgrades that make it stand out from earlier models. The anti-glare technology built into the screen itself significantly widens the viewing angles.

Thanks to LG’s most recent application of the microlens array, it is also brighter. As a result, this is among the top OLED displays available today. When it comes to automatically dimming for lighting situations, it is about average. However, that doesn’t do the television any justice.

Despite the C3’s improvements, it’s crucial to remember that it isn’t significantly brighter or better than the C2 or C1. With only about 20% more brightness on the LCD, the C2 was merely a slight upgrade over the C1.

Even though the C1 and C2 displays are still quite competitive, you might need to pay attention to your viewing angles. The use of new materials for the screen’s physical construction is where the C3’s differences from the C1 and C2 are most noticeable.

The C3 employs microfibers and has bezels that are a little bit slimmer. With the C1 and C2, you still get excellent colors and a television that can be seen in any lighting condition.

Sound Quality

The majority of movie enthusiasts never prioritize the television’s sound quality over other factors. But it can be a factor if you don’t have a soundbar or surround system. There are no significant gains to be had here since the LG C3 has the same speaker configuration as the LG C2.

Despite this, the C2 and C3 have excellent overall sound quality; the C1 is where things sort of take a dip. Its driver isn’t as good as the C2’s, and as a result, it may be more susceptible to distortion at greater output volumes. This isn’t a factor if, like many people, you already have a soundbar or other audio solution.

Upscaling and Low Latency Modes

The underlying upscaling technology is the same across all three televisions, along with low latency and variable refresh rate features. As a result, the more sophisticated characteristics don’t differ significantly.

If you use the C3’s more potent and capable processor to rely on AI technology for things like color saturation and upscaling, you will notice noticeable gains. However, the C2 continues to perform this type of task flawlessly.

The low latency options on all three TVs operate identically and successfully. This is more than handled if you have a Playstation 5 or simply want to use anything like NVIDIA G-Sync.

In the end, the C3 is the best of the best on that front if you value modern televisions’ AI functions more than anything else. The processor powering the television’s most recent generation is more potent than the C2 and C1 versions, making it generally more suitable for that kind of job.

Connectivity

All three televisions have the same overall connections. Users can connect optical, HDMI, RS-232C, and RF-based inputs to the LG C3, C2, and C1. Additionally, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB connectivity are other options.

This can be useful for watching videos you’ve captured on your phone via AirPlay or streaming media from a hard drive. The actual connectors found on all three televisions are essentially the same, despite the fact that each television has its own unique characteristics. As a result, you can expect essentially the same functionality from any of these televisions.

LG C3 vs C2 vs C1: 6 Must-Know Facts

1. The LG C3 features a brighter screen than the C2.
2. The LG C3 has thinner bezels than the C1 and C2.
3. The LG C3 uses different materials for its overall construction.
4. The LG C2 is a marginal improvement over the C1 in terms of screen quality.
5. The LG C2 and C1 both feature AI upscaling technology for lower-resolution media.
6. All three displays suffer from issues related to glare and reflections due to the construction of the screens.

LG C3 vs C2 vs C1: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Choose?

You might as well choose the LG C3 if you’re in the market for a new television and simply want the greatest model on the market. Although there aren’t many improvements over the C2 and C1 in terms of performance or features, there are still enough to make it appealing.

Nevertheless, even at the lesser screen sizes, it is a considerable investment. It’s a fantastic standalone option for your home entertainment needs thanks to the general upgrades to the panel and respectable sound output.

Still, if you already own a C2 or C1, upgrading to the C3 isn’t worthwhile. The C1 and C2 are both still quite competitive televisions with a variety of appealing features. The C2 has exactly the same speaker array as the C3, and the displays are bright.

If you’re looking for a deal, the C2 and C1 are also less expensive than the C3, which hasn’t yet seen any major sales. It is necessary to balance your budget with your wishes and necessities, just like with any purchase.

The C3 might not be a good fit for you if you don’t get excited about all the AI upscaling, brighter screens, etc. Simply buying a C2 or C1 would allow you to save a little additional money, which you might use to pay for a music system or suitable VESA wall mount.

In conclusion, the C3 is a fantastic option if you have an older TV. If you already own a C2 or C1, it is not yet worthwhile to upgrade.