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Review OLED TVs

LG C5 OLED 55 inch review: buy or skip?

Buy8.9/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want a top OLED picture in a medium room. Why: LG's all-round OLED with excellent gaming features at 55 inches. The catch: not as bright as G5.

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LG C5 OLED 55 inch

Our verdict on the LG C5 OLED 55 inch

Buy it if
you want a top OLED picture in a medium room.
Skip it if
your room is very bright in the day.
Best for
Best OLED for most
Key feature
LG's all-round OLED with excellent gaming features at 55 inches
Typical price
$1,199–$1,499
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

PanelOLED (WOLED)
Refresh rate144 Hz
HDMI 2.1 ports4
Sizes42–83 inch

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want a top OLED picture in a medium room
  • value perfect blacks
  • can spend around $1,199–$1,499

Skip it if you

  • your room is very bright in the day
  • mind this: not as bright as G5
  • mind this: reflections in daylight

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Perfect blacks
  • Four HDMI 2.1
  • 144 Hz gaming
  • webOS with Dolby Vision

Cons

  • Not as bright as G5
  • Reflections in daylight

The verdict in one breath

The LG C5 OLED 55 inch is an OLED TV we would point most people to. What earns it the buy: LG’s all-round OLED with excellent gaming features at 55 inches. In our list it is the pick for: best OLED for most.

Reasons to buy

  • Perfect blacks
  • Four HDMI 2.1
  • 144 Hz gaming
  • webOS with Dolby Vision

Reasons to skip

  • Not as bright as G5
  • Reflections in daylight

The specs that matter

  • Panel: OLED (WOLED)
  • Refresh rate: 144 Hz
  • HDMI 2.1 ports: 4
  • Sizes: 42–83 inch

Worth knowing

The C-series has been the default OLED recommendation for years; the C5 keeps that crown at 55 inches.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want a top OLED picture in a medium room. Skip it if your room is very bright in the day; the LG B5 OLED 65 inch is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best OLED TVs.

Alternatives worth considering

LG B5 OLED 65 inch

LG · OLED TVs

LG B5 OLED 65 inch

Buy it if you want OLED contrast on a budget.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Cheapest LG OLED
Typical price
$1,299–$1,699

Pros

  • Perfect blacks
  • Good gaming

Cons

  • Dimmer than C5
LG C5 OLED 42 inch

LG · OLED TVs

LG C5 OLED 42 inch

Buy it if you want an OLED for a desk, bedroom or console gaming.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Desk and gaming
Typical price
$899–$1,199

Pros

  • Great gaming monitor
  • Perfect blacks

Cons

  • Small for living rooms

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the LG C5 OLED 55 inch?

Buy it, if you want a top OLED picture in a medium room. Why: LG's all-round OLED with excellent gaming features at 55 inches. The catch: not as bright as G5.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if your room is very bright in the day. The LG B5 OLED 65 inch is the better buy then.

What does the LG C5 OLED 55 inch cost?

Usually $1,199–$1,499 on Amazon.com. It tends to dip during Prime Day and Black Friday.

Buyrskip Editorial Team

Part of the Buyrskip research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

LG C5 OLED 55 inch: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the LG C5 OLED 55 inch worth buying? Short answer: buy it, if you want a top OLED picture in a medium room. This review explains what this LG model gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs in the US and which OLED TV to buy instead if it is not the right fit for you.

What the LG C5 OLED 55 inch does well

The headline: LG's all-round OLED with excellent gaming features at 55 inches. Key specs: Panel: OLED (WOLED); Refresh rate: 144 Hz; HDMI 2.1 ports: 4; Sizes: 42–83 inch. In our list it is the pick for: best OLED for most. It usually sells for $1,199–$1,499.

The C-series has been the default OLED recommendation for years; the C5 keeps that crown at 55 inches.

The trade-offs

Good: perfect blacks, four HDMI 2.1, 144 Hz gaming, webOS with Dolby Vision. Not so good: not as bright as G5, reflections in daylight. Read the skip-if line before you order: skip it if your room is very bright in the day.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the LG B5 OLED 65 inch ($1,299–$1,699): entry LG OLED with perfect blacks at a lower price. Better if you want OLED contrast on a budget.

Instead, consider the LG C5 OLED 42 inch ($899–$1,199): small OLED that doubles as a premium gaming monitor. Better if you want an OLED for a desk, bedroom or console gaming.

Instead, consider the LG G5 OLED 65 inch ($1,999–$2,999): very bright four-layer OLED panel for movies in any light. Better if you want the best OLED picture and have the budget.

Before you buy

Brightness: newer panels (LG G-series, Samsung S95, Sony Bravia 8 II) are far brighter than older OLEDs; buy those for sunny rooms. Burn-in: modern OLEDs shift pixels and refresh panels automatically; normal TV and gaming use is not a real risk. Gaming: four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120 Hz and VRR matter if you own more than one console.

US buyer tip

OLED prices drop most between Black Friday and the Super Bowl; last year's model is often 30–40% cheaper than the new one with nearly the same picture.

Prices on Amazon.com move in a pattern. The deepest cuts land on Prime Day in July, Prime Big Deal Days in October and the Black Friday to Cyber Monday week, with smaller drops around Presidents Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and back-to-school. Judge a deal against the usual price we show, never against the crossed-out list price.

Order from Amazon itself or the brand's official storefront so the US manufacturer warranty applies, keep your order confirmation and register the product with the brand. Most items can be returned within 30 days, and holiday purchases often get an extended return window into January.