LG C3 vs Sony A95K: Which OLED Wins?

CES 2023 saw some major announcements for televisions. LG’s C3, especially, made some waves, partly thanks to its bevy of visual improvements over the previously excellent C2. The latest OLED television from LG looks to be a straight upgrade across the board over its predecessor. How does the C3 stack up against the excellent Sony Bravia A95K?

Sony’s own OLED television has had universal acclaim from critics and customers alike. Let’s take a look at the specs, the tech, and everything else that matters with these two televisions. Purchasing a television in this price range is a substantial investment, so finding the right fit is paramount.

LG C3 vs Sony A95K: Side-by-Side Comparison

LG C3 vs Sony A95K: What’s the Difference?

On paper, there are quite a few similarities between these televisions. Unfortunately, full details aren’t around for the actual performance of the LG C3. This is due to it not being entirely available to retailers just yet, but there are some key things to glean from the CES 2023 showcase LG put on.

Picture Quality

The image produced by the Sony A95K is something special. It has incredible color reproduction, excellent tone mapping, and a variety of optimal viewing angles. The A95K also excels at lower latencies, making it ideal for gaming.

Sony’s offering has a special OLED panel as the main screen; something it calls a QD-OLED. This allows for greater color reproduction and a nearly infinite contrast ratio.

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03/15/2023 04:46 pm GMT

LG’s C3 also has an enhanced panel, and during the LG showcase, it exhibited some great colors, contrast, and tone mapping. The C3’s tone mapping, in particular, has vastly improved, supporting 20,000 zones over the C2’s 5,000.

Both displays are capable of supporting variable refresh rates, making them ideal fits for your gaming station at home. LG and Sony have support for the gaming modes offered up by the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Support for Freesync and G-Sync is also present, making them great choices for PC gamers that opt for a living room experience.

Audio Quality

LG’s showcase didn’t allow for the C3 to really show off its audio capabilities. It supports standard codecs, however, and allows for connecting your own external sound systems.

The quality of the speakers in the previous C2 was excellent overall, if a bit lacking in bass. As such, it can be assumed that the C3’s speaker array will be of similar build quality.

Sony’s A95K has decent speakers and supports the same audio codecs as the C3. The speakers are likewise lacking in bass, but have minimal distortion at higher volumes.

If you’re seeking the best in audio quality, you’ll likely be leaning toward an external sound source. Soundbars and surround sound systems will coax the best audio out of both of these televisions, so it’s hard to give an edge to either here.

User Experience

LG’s webOS is just as friendly to navigate as it has been for past iterations. There are, of course, some changes that arise with the latest version included on the C3.

Navigation has been extended to a full-screen interface, and the content available covers two pages instead of three. If you’re familiar with webOS, it is more of the same, just with minor usability improvements.

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05/05/2023 09:43 pm GMT

Sony’s A95K utilizes Android TV and offers a similar browsing experience to a smartphone. The interface is clear and easy to read, and navigation is a breeze.

Both televisions have a good variety of content on offer from streaming providers. Users will find Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video, and other major streaming services all on the respective operating systems, negating the need for a streaming device.

One downside that arises with all smart televisions is the inclusion of advertisements. You can opt out of personalized ads on Sony’s offering, but cannot switch off the advertisements entirely. It is a shame, considering how much a customer is paying for either of these televisions, but it isn’t likely to change anytime soon.

Build Quality

Sony’s A95K has excellent build quality, overall. The television has a superb fit and finish, with premium materials and seamless construction throughout. Sony’s unique stand also differs from others and allows for the television to resemble a flat panel against your viewing surface. The stand fits on the back of the unit, rather than leaving the television perched atop.

LG’s C3 looks to be of the same fit and finish as its predecessor. The C3 is a lightweight television, weighing nearly 20 pounds less than the A95K. It uses the typical LG stand, with the panel perched atop a mounting arm that connects to the base.

Both televisions support universal VESA mounts, allowing for some degree of flexibility as to how you go about viewing them. The Sony A95K is a far more striking television when mounted on the stand, however, and the 65-inch panel blends seamlessly with its stand.

LG C3 vs Sony A95K: 6 Must-Know Facts

1. LG C3 has a brighter panel than LG C2.
2. LG C3 has more tone mapping zones and better color contrast than its predecessor.
3. LG C3 supports custom picture modes thanks to webOS 23.
4. Sony A95K supports custom picture modes for Netflix.
5. Sony A95K has support for surfing the web with the optional installation of a web browser.
6. Sony A95K can utilize a camera with supported camera apps.

LG C3 vs Sony A95K: Which One Is Better? Which Should You Choose?

Now that both televisions have tested their mettle, it’s time to decide which is best for your home entertainment purposes. The LG C3 is sadly not available for purchase just yet, so it is hard to make a recommendation on a television that hasn’t been properly vetted by critics.

Preorders are readily available, however, and LG has been indicating the television will be fully released in late March or early April.

The Sony A95K packs a good many smart features into an attractive package. The picture quality is astounding and the latency is low enough to satiate even the most avid gamers. Where Sony falters is in the overall quality of its speaker array, but that is quite readily mitigated by the installation of an external sound source.

With both of these televisions coming in at roughly the same MSRP, the edge has to go to Sony. The A95K is almost the best in its class and is let down only in a few areas. Where it counts, however, the television absolutely exceeds expectations.