The 6 Best Reasons to Avoid an LG C1 TV

Key Points

• The LG C1 is an OLED display that was originally released in late 2021 and was considered one of the best buys for a higher-end TV.
• Some reasons to avoid an LG C1 include the risk of burn-in, lack of brightness in well-lit rooms, stuttering with low frame rate content, absence of HDR10+ support, and lackluster built-in speakers.
• Despite being a good TV, the LG C1 is still relatively expensive compared to newer models in the line.

What are some reasons to avoid an LG C1? The LG C1 has clocked in as one of the better buys for users looking to get into an OLED TV. That said, the intervening three years have seen a shift of sorts with a variety of new display technologies on the market.

Users who are looking to get into their first higher-end television are likely looking at reputable brands like LG, Samsung, and Sony. Before you buy, take a glance at six of the reasons you might want to hold off on purchasing that LG C1. That isn’t to say it’s a poor TV, but the market has changed.

What Is the LG C1?

The LG C1 is an OLED display that was originally released in late 2021. At the time of its release, it was one of the best buys you could make for a higher-end TV. You get access to stunning colors, great contrast, and a host of other great features.

There were some issues with the initial launch, however. Gamers in particular noted some compatibility issues when trying to play console games at 4K resolution.

Specs

Reasons to Avoid an LG C1

Here are seven of our main reasons to avoid an LG C1.

Reason #1: Risk of Burn-In

Burn-in is a very real issue for any OLED display, let alone the LG C1. However, if you watch a lot of news, sports, and so forth, then this might be one of the reasons to avoid an LG C1. The C1 is just as susceptible to image burn-in as any other contemporary OLED display.

The main difference here is that newer televisions can incorporate technology that reduces the risk of burn-in like the contemporary LG C3 or LG G3.

Previous generations of OLED displays still remain at risk of damaging the display. LG has incorporated some smart choices to make sure your display isn’t nearly as susceptible to this issue.

Reason #2: Lack of Brightness

The LG C1 isn’t nearly as bright as some of its contemporaries. The C1 registers at around 700 to 750 nits, depending on whether you’re viewing HDR or SDR content. The more recent LG G3 as a general example has a peak brightness of up to 1400 nits.

If you’ve got a particularly brightly lit room, this could be a massive issue. When you consider the overall construction of the display itself, this doesn’t bode well for the C1. Now, you can mitigate this with the likes of blackout curtains and watching in a lower-light room.

However, if you’re buying for brightness alone, the LG C1 won’t cut it.

Reason #3: Low Frame Rate Content May Stutter

Low frame rate content doesn’t cope with the motion technology used by LG televisions, especially OLED displays. While more modern content with higher framerates benefits from the near-instant response of the C1, it’s older media like DVDs that don’t do well.

With lower framerates, you can expect very evident visual stuttering. You can try to mitigate this with some of the smart features the AI and motion technology support. However, this still leads to odd motion and noticeable black frame insertion.

If you’ve got older DVDs, this could be one of the reasons to avoid an LG C1.

Reason #4: No HDR10+ Support

The LG C1 comes with a plethora of HDR support out of the box. You’ve got access to standards like HDR10, HLG, and normal HDR. However, if you’re looking to take advantage of newer HDR10+ content, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.

This is to be expected, the LG C1 is fast approaching three years in age, and that’s a lifetime when it comes to adding features to television. If you’re looking to get the newest and greatest display technologies in your house, a newer OLED display might be in order.

Reason #5: Lackluster Speakers

If you’re less keen on implementing a soundbar or surround system with your home viewing experience, then you’ll likely be stuck with C1’s default speakers.

Now, for most viewing at moderate volumes, they work fine. However, if you’re looking for earth-shaking bass and punch, this is one of the reasons to avoid an LG C1. Distortion is handled adequately enough but gets noticeable when pushed to higher volumes.

Simply put, don’t buy this TV for the quality of the audio it is putting out.

Reason #6: Still Relatively Expensive for its Age

This is one of the stronger reasons to avoid the LG C1, but the price is still comparable to the newer LG C2 and C3. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy an older TV that costs roughly the same as its newer counterparts.

Conventional wisdom would indicate you should opt for the newer option. That said, you can sometimes net the C1 for a deal on Black Friday and other sales. However, that same principle is applicable to the newer LG C2 and C3.

Alternatives to the LG C1

So, what are some alternatives to the LG C1? Here are three of our absolute favorite high-end TVs that you might consider for your home viewing experience.

LG C3

Advanced Features

LG C3 65-Inch OLED evo

• LG ThinQ AI voice assistant included
• Features Dolby Atmos technology
• Superb contrast
• Comes in a variety of sizes from 48 inches to 83 inches

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The LG C3 is a successor to the C1 and comes with some notable improvements across the board. Brightness still isn’t top-notch, but the newer ABL features do help with HDR content quite a bit. You’ll find it handles stuttering marginally better.

All said the LG C3 is a great choice if you’re still considering the LG C1. It has all the benefits of the LG C1 but also has some additional improvements that make it a great consideration.

Samsung QN90A

Best for Performance

SAMSUNG 65-Inch QN90A

$1,577.95

• Upgrades your pictures to 4K
• X-tended Dynamic Range Pro 6x contrast
• X-Motion Clarity (120Hz)
• Acoustic Multi-Audio sound technology
• X1 Ultimate picture processor

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11/25/2023 07:15 pm GMT

If you’d prefer to sidestep the likes of an OLED display, then the QN90A is a great choice. Samsung’s display is about on par with the excellent colors and contrasts seen with a contemporary OLED. However, you also get access to the likes of HDR10 and HDR10+.

It doesn’t have Dolby Vision support, sadly. The QN90A is a stellar television that is well deserving of the praise it has been receiving from users and critics alike. It might not match up to an OLED in terms of overall thinness, but Samsung has made a great display.

LG G3

Best Splurge

LG G3 Series 65-Inch Class OLED

• a9 AI Processor Gen6
• Brightness Booster Max adjusts the picture for up to 70% brighter images
• Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
• Dolby Atmos and AI Sound Pro
• LG's Filmmaker Mode
• Features VRR, HGiG, and ALLM for lag-free gaming

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The LG G3 is a more deluxe choice when compared to the contemporary C series televisions. What the higher price nets you is all the great aspects of an OLED display coupled with unparalleled brightness. You’ll find yourself struggling to make out the picture in a brightly lit room with the C1, C2, and C3.

That said, the LG G3 is a massive leap ahead of the LG C1. You get access to the same stellar colors and other features from the C1 but with a brighter display and better support for modern HDR and SDR content.

Closing Thoughts

The LG C1 was one of the best televisions released in 2021, but time marches on. If you’re on the hunt for a new TV, it might be best to avoid purchasing it and go for a newer TV. You get access to better features, more HDR standards, and brighter displays.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Grzegorz Czapski/Shutterstock.com.