Our verdict
The LG C5 is the TV to start with when a household wants one high-end screen for films, sport and games. It is an OLED, so each pixel makes its own light and can switch fully off. Black areas look properly black, and skin tones look natural once you choose a sensible picture mode. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports, the connection that carries 4K pictures at up to 144 frames a second, so a PlayStation, an Xbox and a gaming PC do not compete for one socket. It supports Dolby Vision, a film format that adjusts the picture scene by scene. The 65-inch model was £1,499 on 1 August 2026. A very bright room may suit a brighter LED TV better, and fixed logos on screen all day need care.
Buy it if
- Films and streaming are important to you
- You have more than one modern games console
- The room is moderately lit or can be shaded
Skip it if
- Direct sunlight hits the screen for much of the day
- The TV will show fixed graphics, such as a news logo, all day
- You expect cinema-style sound without a soundbar
Featured in
How it would fit your home
Evening films
Deep blacks, strong contrast and accurate picture modes make this the C5's best use.
Console gaming
Four HDMI 2.1 ports remove connection compromises when you own a PlayStation, an Xbox or a gaming PC.
Very bright conservatories
A brighter LED TV with better control over dark scenes is more practical where sunlight cannot be blocked.
The details, in plain English
Picture
On an OLED each pixel can switch itself off, rather than shining a backlight through black areas. Dark scenes keep their depth and bright details stay crisp. TechRadar measured about 1,180 nits in Filmmaker Mode on a small bright patch (a 10% window), a measure of how bright highlights such as sunlight can get. The set supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG. A bright flagship LED TV, such as Samsung's QN90F, still looks punchier beside big windows in daytime.
Gaming
All four HDMI 2.1 ports support current gaming features. TechRadar lists 4K at up to 144Hz, variable refresh rate (VRR, which stops tearing when frame rates change) for AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM, which switches the TV to its quick-response mode automatically. It reports input lag of 9.2ms. That matters in homes with both a PlayStation and an Xbox, because neither console needs to take the only good socket.
Living with OLED
LG includes automatic screen-care tools. The sensible precaution is variety, not panic: avoid leaving a paused game, a rolling-news logo or a desktop on screen for many hours every day, and leave the TV plugged in so its maintenance cycles can run. Normal mixed viewing of films, sport and games is what these screens are designed for.
Sound and menus
Built-in sound is a 2.2-channel, 40W Dolby Atmos system, according to TechRadar. It is fine for news and soaps but a soundbar will do more for films. LG's menu is busy with recommendations at first, but the main picture and sound settings are easy to understand once you know where they are. Streaming apps are well supported. If you add a soundbar, check which HDMI socket you use for it, as that keeps a gaming socket free.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- OLED picture: deep blacks and strong contrast for films
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports and 4K at up to 144Hz: room for several consoles and a gaming PC
- Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, plus strong streaming-app support
- Slim design and wide viewing angles
- Built-in screen-care tools
What to watch out for
- Less punchy in a very bright room than the brightest LED TVs, such as Samsung's QN90F
- LG's menus can feel crowded with recommendations
- Built-in 40W speakers are fine for news but a soundbar suits films better
- Fixed images left on screen for many hours a day need care
Samsung's QN90F is brighter for daytime rooms, Sony's Bravia 8 II offers more refined picture processing and sound, and TCL undercuts all three with a brighter picture for the money. LG wins as the most balanced OLED for mixed viewing and gaming.
Make the LG C5 OLED easier to live with
Add-ons that answer a drawback we named above. Check compatibility with your exact model before buying.
Solves: built-in 40W speakers are fine for news but a soundbar suits films better
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Reviewed by us
A reviewed dialogue-focused soundbar can address the named weak built-in sound. Judge voices at your normal volume and include its cost before choosing the TV.
Check first: No separate bass box included; use compatible TV ARC/eARC or the manufacturer’s optical adapter. Confirm the TV’s exact outputs and plan the occupied HDMI socket.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 LG C5 OLED (65-inch) (this one) | The safest all-round OLED for films, sport and consoles, as long as sunlight does not hit the screen for much of the day. | £2,699RRP · 65 inches, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 LG C6 OLED (65-inch) | A well-equipped OLED all-rounder for people who want one TV for Dolby Vision films, several games consoles and a gaming PC. | £2,499.99RRP · 65 inches, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 LG B5 OLED | Worth comparing if you want OLED film viewing and 4K 120Hz gaming without automatically choosing LG's more expensive range. | £2,499RRP · 65-inch model, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 LG G6 OLED (65-inch) | An outstanding OLED for brighter rooms, backed by independent testing, for people who want a flagship picture in daylight. | £2,999.99RRP · 65 inches, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
Not sure it is the right one for you?
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Where our findings come from
Research-based review. It combines LG UK's listed format and gaming features with TechRadar's independent picture, brightness, speaker and input testing, and Richer Sounds' specification listing. Measurements are those of the named sources; we did not test the TV ourselves. Screen care is explained as a practical ownership point, not a reason for worry.