LG C6 vs. LG C5: I compared two generations of OLED TVs, and it was pretty darn close

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If you've been looking to upgrade your surviving country oregon location theatre with a high-end OLED TV, LG is 1 of the apical brands you tin choose. With the merchandise of the caller C6 OLED, the marque continues to beryllium wherefore it deserves to beryllium fig one, but is the yearly refresh worthy spending the other money?

Also: The champion OLED TVs you tin buy

On the surface, the C5 and C6 don't look each that different, with akin astute features and tech specs. But the main differences prevarication successful the improved Alpha processor and enactment for robust AI programs similar Copilot. I've breached down each upgrade and hardware refresh to assistance you determine which is the champion acceptable for your needs and your budget. 

Specifications

LG C5

LG C6

Display type

OLED

OLED

Display size

42 to 83 inches

42 to 83 inches

Refresh rate

Up to 144Hz

Up to 165Hz

HDRDolby VisionDolby Vision
AudioDolby AtmosDolby Atmos
VRR supportNvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync PremiumNvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium
Voice controlsAlexa, Apple Homekit, Hey GoogleAlexa, Apple Homekit, Hey Google
PriceStarting astatine $900
Starting astatine $1,400

You should bargain the LG C5 OLED TV if...

LG C5
Adam Breeden/ZDNET

1. You emotion a bully deal

With the LG C5 being a procreation behind, it's overmuch much apt to spot income and discounts than its successor, the C6. If you support a crisp oculus connected deals pages astatine your favourite retailers, you tin sometimes snag the C5 for arsenic overmuch arsenic 50% disconnected during large merchantability events. Saving connected your caller OLED TV means you'll person other currency to circular retired your location theatre with customized audio, crippled consoles, oregon adjacent lighting effects. 

2. You privation a high-end OLED for streaming and gaming

The LG C5 inactive gives you plentifulness of reasons to prime 1 up if you're looking to upgrade your location theatre oregon gaming space. With a assortment of surface sizes to take from, you'll beryllium capable to find a surface to acceptable immoderate space, from surviving rooms to offices. With a basal refresh complaint of 120Hz, you'll get creaseless question for sports, video games, and streaming. 

Also: LG C5 OLED TV review

And with enactment for some Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium, you tin boost the refresh complaint to 144Hz to destruct question blur. You'll besides get Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos for enhanced representation prime and virtual situation sound.

3. You privation little AI integration

Firmware updates volition alteration the LG C5 to enactment the LG AI concierge feature. But if you're similar maine and privation to support AI arsenic acold distant from your location theatre arsenic possible, you tin toggle features connected and off. And being an older model, the LG C5 won't person the processing powerfulness to enactment much robust AI programs similar Copilot and Gemini. 

You should bargain the LG C6 OLED TV if...

LG C6 OLED
LG

1. You privation a amended processor

The biggest update to the LG C6 is the caller Alpha 11 Gen 3 CPU. It gets a beefy boost for amended powerfulness efficiency, faster, much close representation and dependable rendering, and enactment for the caller AI chatbot and customization features. The caller AI Picture and Sound Pro and AI Brightness Control features fto you person a "set and forget" TV that automatically adjusts representation and dependable settings, tailor-made for your space. 

2. You privation a higher refresh rate

The improved Alpha 11 processor not lone makes the LG C6 much powerful, but it besides makes the TV faster. With enactment for VRR technologies similar Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, you'll beryllium capable to propulsion the refresh complaint up to 165Hz, making it a large enactment for unrecorded sports, console and PC gaming, and streaming fast-paced movies and shows. 

Watch: LG pushes OLED TV exertion adjacent brighter successful 2026

The basal refresh complaint of 120Hz is rapidly becoming the modular for 4K TVs and delivers smooth, cleanable question crossed each media.

3. You privation much AI integration

All 2026 LG TVs volition diagnostic a built-in AI concierge to supply personalized hunt options and media recommendations, but the LG C6 volition besides enactment Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini. With some AI programs, you'll beryllium capable to bash everything from adjusting representation settings to streamlining your workflow. 

And you'll beryllium capable to seamlessly integrate your caller TV into your AI-based astute location web without having to rebuild your preferences oregon readjust settings.

Writer's choice

While the LG C6 is an fantabulous OLED TV, its predecessor, the C5, inactive manages to eke retired the triumph with little intrusive AI features and much predominant discounts. With the C5 being a procreation behind, retailers are trying to wide banal to marque mode for the 2026 TV lineup, which means you mightiness beryllium capable to snag a premium-grade OLED TV astatine a hefty markdown if you support a crisp oculus connected sales.

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