LG C5 OLED 42 inch review: buy or skip?

Buy8.6/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want an OLED for a desk, bedroom or console gaming. Why: small OLED that doubles as a premium gaming monitor. The catch: small for living rooms.

By Buyrskip Editorial Team Updated November 2, 2026 1 min read

We research products independently. When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we earn money

Our verdict on the LG C5 OLED 42 inch

Buy it if: you want an OLED for a desk, bedroom or console gaming.
Skip it if: you sit across a large living room.

Best for: Desk and gaming
Key feature: Small OLED that doubles as a premium gaming monitor
Typical price: $899–$1,199

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

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

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

you want an OLED for a desk, bedroom or console gaming
value great gaming monitor
can spend around $899–$1,199

Skip it if you

you sit across a large living room
mind this: small for living rooms
mind this: dimmer than larger sizes

Pros and cons

Pros

Great gaming monitor
Perfect blacks
Four HDMI 2.1
144 Hz

Cons

Small for living rooms
Dimmer than larger sizes

The verdict in one breath

The LG C5 OLED 42 inch is an OLED TV we would point most people to. What earns it the buy: small OLED that doubles as a premium gaming monitor. In our list it is the pick for: desk and gaming.

Reasons to buy

Great gaming monitor
Perfect blacks
Four HDMI 2.1
144 Hz

Reasons to skip

Small for living rooms
Dimmer than larger sizes

The specs that matter

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

Worth knowing

Many PC gamers use the 42-inch C-series as a giant monitor.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want an OLED for a desk, bedroom or console gaming. Skip it if you sit across a large living room; the LG C5 OLED 55 inch is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best OLED TVs.

Alternatives worth considering

LG · OLED TVs

LG C5 OLED 55 inch

Buy it if you want a top OLED picture in a medium room.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Best OLED for most
Typical price: $1,199–$1,499

Pros

Perfect blacks
Four HDMI 2.1

Cons

Not as bright as G5

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

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

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the LG C5 OLED 42 inch?

Buy it, if you want an OLED for a desk, bedroom or console gaming. Why: small OLED that doubles as a premium gaming monitor. The catch: small for living rooms.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you sit across a large living room. The LG C5 OLED 55 inch is the better buy then.

What does the LG C5 OLED 42 inch cost?

Usually $899–$1,199 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.

How we research products Editorial policy

LG C5 OLED 42 inch: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the LG C5 OLED 42 inch worth buying? Short answer: buy it, if you want an OLED for a desk, bedroom or console gaming. 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 42 inch does well

The headline: small OLED that doubles as a premium gaming monitor. 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: desk and gaming. It usually sells for $899–$1,199.

Many PC gamers use the 42-inch C-series as a giant monitor.

The trade-offs

Good: great gaming monitor, perfect blacks, four HDMI 2.1, 144 Hz. Not so good: small for living rooms, dimmer than larger sizes. Read the skip-if line before you order: skip it if you sit across a large living room.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the LG C5 OLED 55 inch ($1,199–$1,499): LG's all-round OLED with excellent gaming features at 55 inches. Better if you want a top OLED picture in a medium room.

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 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.