Believe it—or believe it—because the 42-inch LG C5 OLED TV, or monitor, might just be the best OLED monitor you can buy today. Now, there are a lot of great options on the market right now, but why is the 42-inch LG C5 so good?
Well, there are a ton of reasons, but I think there are two standouts worth getting out of the way right now: it's much brighter than 32-inch OLED options on the market, including both WOLED and QD-OLED, and it also handles ambient light significantly better.
But despite those massive advantages the LG C5 has, is it the right display for you and your PC setup? Let’s go ahead and take a look and find out just that.
The LG C5 42″ OLED may be the most well-rounded OLED monitor on the market in 2025. It combines solid brightness (especially compared to 32″ WOLED and QD-OLED panels), premium contrast, and incredible ambient light handling in a desk-friendly form factor. It supports Dolby Vision Gaming, has near-instant response time, and performs beautifully for both gaming and media.
Downsides include its 144Hz limit (while 32” rivals hit 240Hz), average speakers, and the WRGB subpixel layout that affects text clarity. Despite that, the 42” LG C5 OLED remains a strong contender for best OLED monitor of 2025.
Disclaimer: This TV was purchased by me for this review from Value Electronics who did reach out to sponsor my original video review. Additionally, Home Theater Review may run advertising campaigns with various manufacturers including LG.
For this review I used an X-Rite i1 Pro spectrophotometer, Color Checker Display Plus colorimeter, Calman Ultimate, Portrait Displays Video Forge Pro 8K pattern generator, a Sony RX100 VII 1000fps camera, an SM208 Screen Luminance Meter, and a Sony Cinema Line FX3 mirrorless video camera. Plus, years of display testing experience.
The price for the 42” LG C5 is a bit high.
Above is the Connectivity for this TV. Most importantly it does come with four HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 4K 144Hz.
The LG C5 arrives in standard TV packaging with molded foam inserts and the Magic Remote included. The center-mounted stand is sturdy but has a wide footprint, which some users may find limiting on shallow desks. VESA 300×200 mounting is supported.
Setup is quick: all four HDMI 2.1 ports are clearly labeled and accept 4K/120Hz signals with VRR. Once connected, the display automatically detects input types and enables relevant features like Game Optimizer or Dolby Vision modes.
The LG C5 is sure to wow buyers coming from older LCDs, as I’ve found OLED can make colors seem more vibrant and enhance the depth thanks to their per pixel illumination. Additionally as usual LG delivers outstanding SDR accuracy and even supports Calman allowing for professionals to get great results out of the LG C5.
For home theater enthusiasts below are all my Calman results measuring the accuracy of the display. For everyone else, feel free to skip to the TLDR.
Rec. 709 Testing
Out of the Box in Film Maker Mode, the LG C5 follows the EOTF curve well.
After calibration it’s even better.
SDR Color Accuracy Test
Color Accuracy in Film Maker Mode for SDR content is decent.
HDR Testing
The default HDR FMM mode in HDR has some issues with under-tracking.
HDR Color Gamut
The LG C5 has mediocreHDR color coverage out of the box delivering around 74% BT.2020 UV.
HDR Color Accuracy
HDR Color Match results were decent.
The short version: Out-of-the-box calibration is solid. SDR color tracking is accurate, and HDR modes avoid common issues like crushed blacks or overbright whites, though it does fall short of QD OLED color performance, and does have some minor inaccuracies.
Professional calibration via Calman Autocal can further improve grayscale performance and adjust minor gamma tracking inaccuracies. DCI-P3 coverage is excellent, and color volume holds up well in HDR modes. For creative professionals and enthusiasts alike the LG C5 is great, especially in SDR.
The LG C5 performs better than any previous LG 42" OLED in real-world HDR brightness. It hits ~750 nits on 10% window tests enabling much better HDR presentation. Unlike QD-OLED monitors, the C5 holds up in actual movies and games delivering much brighter HDR visuals.
The LG C5 clobbers 32” OLEDs.
Again...
You might expect based on the window tests that 32” OLEDs with newer panels would outshine it, yet that’s not the case. Here the 42” panel still holds a commanding lead in real HDR content.
As expected from an OLED, contrast on the LG C5 is effectively infinite—but the C5 makes a particularly strong case for just how far ahead OLED still is in 2025. Whether you’re watching HDR movies, gaming in dark environments, or browsing in SDR, you get perfect black levels with no blooming, no halos, and absolutely no edge-lit distractions. It’s the kind of visual clarity that even the most premium LCD and mini-LED monitors still can’t replicate.
"Contrast on OLEDs is still unmatched—especially in scenes with mixed lighting or tiny light sources.”
Thanks to pixel-level dimming and better tone mapping, even difficult HDR content preserves highlight detail while maintaining deep, rich blacks. There’s no major crushed shadow detail, no lifted blacks in ambient lighting—just that signature OLED look that feels three dimensional and immersive. Compared to mini-LED competitors that still rely on large dimming zones, the difference is obvious—no haloing, no zone transitions, no distractions. It’s OLED contrast at its cleanest and most refined.
The LG C series sets the standard for picture quality in mixed lighting. Its glossy panel coating isn’t just clear—it’s engineered to enhance perceived contrast without washing out in bright rooms. Unlike traditional matte coatings that scatter light and dull colors, the C5’s glossy finish retains image vibrancy while suppressing ambient haze better than any OLED monitor I’ve tested.
Yes, you'll see some reflection in extremely bright setups, but the panel holds contrast and black levels in a way that even premium QD-OLEDs or matte-coated displays simply can’t match. This makes it an excellent choice for those looking to get the benefits of OLED, but can’t completely control their lighting.
This is a feature that no other display under 55” can currently match, and if your chief concern is image quality in a room where you have a window or overhead lights, I would heavily consider purchasing the 42” LG C5 for use as a PC monitor.
Additionally text rendering remains clean at 100–125% Windows scaling, although as expected with a WRGB layout, there's minor fringing on the edges of text. Still, for most users at typical viewing distances, clarity remains excellent for mixed-use work and entertainment.
In short, the LG C5’s panel finish doesn’t just look premium—it behaves like it. It elevates the display in daily use and lets OLED perform in real-world conditions without compromise.
Motion performance is among the best in its class. The 144Hz refresh rate combined with OLED’s instant response creates smooth gameplay and blur-free transitions.
For movie watchers, the C5 handles 24p content well with no major frame skipping or excessive judder. LG’s TruMotion settings can be customized, but many users will prefer leaving them On the film mode when watching movies as a great compromise between defeating judder and staying true to the creator’s intent.
Latency is low (~28ms system), and response time is near-instant. Motion clarity in fast-paced shooters and racing games is excellent. Dolby Vision Gaming enhances HDR titles like Forza Horizon 5, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and Halo Infinite.
But what really sets the LG C5 apart for gaming is just how well it works as a desktop monitor. If you’re a PC gamer sitting 2 to 3 feet away, this is hands-down one of the best experiences you can have. The size is perfect—big enough to feel immersive, but not so large that it overwhelms your desk. And with 144Hz support, fast input response, and VRR, you get butter-smooth gameplay without tearing or stuttering.
Gaming on this thing is just awesome. It’s the most fun I’ve had playing games on a desktop monitor this year. Whether you're running high-refresh esports titles or cinematic AAA games, the image quality is stunning. OLED's instant pixel response eliminates motion blur, and the deep blacks with specular highlights really make games pop.
The Game Optimizer menu is a big help too. It gives you quick access to black level tweaks, genre presets, and VRR monitoring without needing to exit the game. And the C5’s support for full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth across all four ports means you can connect your PC, PS5, Xbox, and still have room for another device.
Color in Game Optimizer mode used to be hit-or-miss, but on the C5, I found it to be a step up from the LG C4. Additionally I was told by LG that game mode color had been “fixed” this year, so swapping between the presets should show minimal differences in the brightness and saturation of colors. I was shocked by how good HDR looked using it—no weird tone shifts or massive desaturation. It just looked right.
Viewing angles are wide, with minimal brightness or luminance shift off-axis, but there's still a notable issue that persists on LG’s WOLED panels—including the C5.
While brightness and contrast hold fairly well when viewed from an angle, there's a subtle magenta or green tint that can appear when looking at the screen off-center, especially on white or light-colored backgrounds.
This effect is most noticeable when browsing websites or working on documents where large white areas dominate the screen. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's something users should be aware of—particularly if you tend to move around your workspace or share the display with others.
It’s better than older models, but it’s not gone. And it’s something you don’t see as much on QD-OLED panels.
Uniformity, however, is one of the biggest upgrades over the C4, at least on my unit. There's minimal vignetting or banding making it suitable for productivity and color work in most lighting conditions. My panel panel showed excellent consistency, especially in center-to-edge luminance and color balance, though your mileage may vary.
Audio quality is functional but not premium. The built-in speakers are clear up to ~50% volume, but they lack low-end presence. Dialogue and casual YouTube viewing are fine; movies and games deserve a soundbar or external speakers.
WebOS provides a robust smart TV backbone with apps like Netflix, YouTube, and more. However, the UI can feel a bit slow compared to dedicated monitor OSDs. Firmware is updated regularly via Wi-Fi or USB. Picture modes are flexible and customizable, and Game Optimizer offers real-time gaming tweaks.
Other features include:
The LG C5 42″ OLED is a small, but appreciated refinement of LG’s popular C-series in a form factor that finally feels at home on the desktop. It doesn’t reinvent OLED, but it addresses a wide array of practical shortcomings from earlier models in a meaningful and measured way.
One of the C5’s most important selling points is its excellent ambient light handling. Thanks to its exceptional glossy finish and better light rejection, the panel retains deep contrast and black levels in bright environments in a way few OLEDs can match—especially at this size. This makes it one of the first OLEDs that can confidently hold its own during daytime use without sacrificing image depth.
In gaming, the LG C5 shines. It’s an outstanding desktop monitor with a perfect balance of size, performance, and versatility. The 42-inch footprint feels immersive without dominating your workspace, and the 144Hz refresh rate with VRR and near-instant response time makes it ideal for both fast-paced competitive titles and cinematic experiences, though I do wish LG would have jumped to 240Hz to match 32” OLEDs available.
That said, there are still some compromises. The WRGB layout means text rendering won’t satisfy pixel-purists, particularly at low scale factors. It’s off angle performance trails QD OLED, and WebOS, while functional, still lags behind dedicated monitor menus in responsiveness.
But despite these caveats, the LG C5 delivers an experience that few displays in 2025 can match. It’s a display that finally merges TV-caliber visuals with desktop sensibility—bridging the gap between work, play, and content creation in one polished package.
The LG C5 is a refined, versatile OLED display that balances performance, usability, and polish better than any competitor under 55 inches. This is the OLED monitor to beat in 2025.
