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Every year, technology companies showcase their new gadgets and latest developments at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). New TVs were some of the most anticipated products at the 2023 CES, and major competitors Samsung and LG go head-to-head every year at CES events.
For years, LG has been the leader in the production of OLED TVs, with the LG C3 being among their latest releases. Long-running champ Samsung has focused on its proprietary QLED technology, announcing the Samsung QN95C as one of its flagship 2023 releases. It’s no secret that Samsung and LG have maintained the first and second ranks, respectively, in global TV sales for several years.
With all that in mind, let’s compare the brand new Samsung QN95C QLED and LG C3, taking a look at their designs, size offerings, operating systems, and overall picture and audio quality.
Let’s get into it!
Samsung QN95C QLED vs. LG C3: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Samsung QN95C | LG C3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 55”, 65”, 75”, 85” | 42”, 48”, 55”, 65”, 77”, 83” |
| Display Technology | Neo QLED | OLED with Brightness Booster |
| Screen Resolution | 4K (3840 x 2160p) | 4K (3840 x 2160p) |
| Operating System | Tizen Smart TV | webOS 23 |
| Picture Processor | Neural Quantum Processor 4K | Alpha 9 Gen 6 AI Processor 4K |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
| Speaker System | 4.2.2 Channel | 2.2 Channel |
| Sound Output | 70W | 40W |
| Built-In Assistant | Alexa, Bixby | Alexa, Google Assistant |
- LG ThinQ AI voice assistant included
- Features Dolby Atmos technology
- Superb contrast
- Comes in a variety of sizes from 48 inches to 83 inches
Samsung QN95C QLED vs. LG C3: What’s the Difference?
Modern TVs often have similar exterior appearances but have significantly different internal technologies and specifications that distinguish them. Let’s break down what some of those key differences are.
Dimensions
Samsung and LG offer the QN95C and the C3 in several sizes, making them ideal for any space. If you have a larger space to fill, you can opt for the larger models (over 70 inches!), or the smaller displays if you’re limited on space.
The Samsung QN95C and LG C3 are yet to be officially released in the market but are expected to be similar in dimensions to their predecessors, the QN95B and LG C2.
- Amazon Fire pre-installed
- Comes with the Art Mode feature for when you are not using the TV
- Features Dolby Atmos built-in
- Anti-Reflection technology for clear display
- Great contrast, deep blacks, and over a billion colors
- 8 million self-lit OLED pixels
- α9 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K, exclusive to LG, intuitively adapts to what you're watching
- Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, and Dolby Atmos
- LG Game Optimizer mode with NVIDIA G-SYNC, FreeSync Premium, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Here’s a quick look at the dimensions of the Samsung QN95C and LG C3 without their stands to give you an idea of what to expect once they’re both available:
Samsung QN95C
- 55” – 48.2” x 27.8” x 0.8”
- 65” – 56.9” x 32.6” x 0.8”
- 75” – 65.7” x 37.7” x 0.8”
- 85” – 74.4” x 42.6” x 0.8”
LG C3
- 42” – 36.7″ x 21.3″ x 1.6″
- 48” – 42.2″ x 24.3″ x 1.8″
- 55” – 48.1″ x 27.7″ x 1.8″
- 65” – 56.7″ x 32.5″ x 1.8″
- 77” – 67.4″ x 38.7″ x 1.9″
- 83” – 72.9″ x 41.8″ x 2.2″
Design
The Samsung QN95C uses the company’s Infinity Design, which embraces minimalistic design aesthetics. As a result, the QN95C is slimmer than most TVs, including the LG C3. The design stands out because the back of the TV is almost as thin as the front.
To achieve this feat, Samsung did away with all the ports except one. The single port allows connection to the One Connect Box that contains all the ports, including HDMI and USB ports. Additionally, the bezel around the QN95C screen is barely visible, making it seem like the screen is floating mid-air.
On the other hand, the LG C3 looks like a conventional OLED TV. It has a thicker stand and a wider bezel. However, it retains a stylish look that can blend into most environments.
Operating System
The Samsung QN95C QLED runs on the latest Tizen Smart TV operating system (OS). The OS runs several functions on the TV, including Smart Hub, SmartThings, Samsung Health, and the NFT.
Smart Hub customizes content based on a profile’s preferences and watching behavior. It logs users’ preferences and recommends content they might like based on collected data. As a result, it minimizes time spent scrolling through streaming platform menus looking for content.
According to Samsung, SmartThings serves as a personal smart butler. It is responsible for connecting, controlling, and monitoring smart devices connected to your TV, like lighting, cameras, and sound systems.
On the other hand, the LG C3 uses the webOS 23 operating system. webOS 23 is an upgrade of the webOS 22 and is intended to make the TV’s interface more user-friendly. For example, webOS reduced the number of pages on its devices to two for easing scrolling.
webOS 23 also introduced the Quick Cards feature, which groups content into fewer categories than webOS 22. Some of the categories include music, games, and movies. In addition, webOS 23 supports multiple profiles containing preferences on color saturation, screen brightness, and image contrast.
Overall, webOS 23 edges out Tizen Smart TV OS, giving the LG C3 an upper hand in this category. The webOS 23 provides a more user-friendly interface than the Tizen OS, which first-time users may favor.
Picture Processor
The Samsung QN95C has a Neural Quantum Processor 4K comprising 20 neural networks. The networks are responsible for improving image quality. The processor influences shadow details in images, increasing the visibility of content filmed in dark settings.
The processor is also responsible for improving contrast, resulting in vivid bright and deep, dark colors while contributing to more natural and realistic color tones. The Neural Quantum Processor 4K also powers the QN95C’s surround sound features, including Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound+.
Conversely, the LG C3 has the latest picture processor, the Alpha 9 Gen 6 AI Processor 4K. The Alpha 9 Gen 6 microchip guarantees the AI Upscaling and AI Sound Pro features on the LG C3 run smoothly. The AI Upscaling helps improve picture quality, while the AI Sound Pro enhances audio performance.
Picture Quality
The Samsung QN95C has a QLED display of up to 4K resolution. The QLED display refers to Quantum Dot LED technology that projects LED light onto a quantum dot layer. Quantum dots are inorganic nanocrystals with semiconductor materials that emit different light colors depending on the crystal size.
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The QN95C’s Display Technology
The QN95C also has Quantum Matrix technology which consists of mini LED lighting that is substantially smaller than the LED lights found in older LED TVs. The smaller LED lights allow greater saturations of LED fittings in a screen, contributing to better light qualities and resulting in brighter images.
The Samsung QN95C also has Neo Quantum HDR+, which helps generate vivid colors in 4K resolution. It relies on the higher luminance offered by quantum dots. In addition, the TV has a Real Depth Enhancer that helps mimic the human eye’s image processing qualities, resulting in an almost 3D-like viewing experience.
Lastly, the QN95C has Eye Comfort Mode and Anti-Reflection features to protect viewers’ eyes. The Eye Comfort Mode adjusts the screen brightness and displays colors depending on an area’s sunrise and sunset times, while Anti-Reflection is a film that reduces glare from light reflections.
Display Technology of the LG C3
The LG C3 has an OLED display with a 4K resolution. The OLED display distinctly differs from the QLED display in the Samsung QN95C. For instance, an OLED display relies on self-illuminating organic technology to project images, while QLED uses inorganic LED crystals to emit light.
The LG C3 has HDR10 Pro and HLG Pro, which help create image depth, while Dolby Vision IQ allows users to control HDR qualities like brightness. The C3’s display also has LG’s brightness booster, which helps increase content visibility.
Overall, the Samsung QN95C has better image quality than the LG C3, mainly because of the QLED display which emphasizes image brightness. However, you can opt for the C3 if you prefer better contrasts, especially in bright environments.
Sound Quality
The Samsung QN95C has 4.2.2 channel speakers with a 70W output. That means it has four speakers on its top, two on its base, and two subwoofers. In contrast, the LG C3 has 2.2 channel speakers with a sound output of 40W, meaning it only has two top and two base speakers and no subwoofers.
The Samsung QN95C also has Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound+, which create immersive sound and facilitate 3D sound motion tracking. In addition, it has Q-Symphony, which enables the simultaneous use of TV speakers and the sound bar, resulting in a richer sound.
Like the QN95C, the LG C3 has Dolby Atmos for immersive sound and AI Sound Pro, which upmixes the 2.2 channels to a virtual 9.1.2 channel surround sound. Moreover, it has LG’s WOW Orchestra feature that synchronizes sound from the TV speakers and LG soundbar.
Prices and Availability
Samsung and LG launched the QN95C QLED and the C3 at the 2023 CES event. However, they are yet to be released in the market, though consumers can expect them to hit stores between March and May 2023 based on the companies’ release histories.
Regarding pricing, Samsung and LG are yet to announce the prices of the QN95C and C3. However, one can make estimations based on the release prices of their predecessors, the QN95B and the C2, respectively.
The Samsung QN95C is the company’s premier 4K TV, while the LG C3 is LG’s mid-range option. It is no surprise that the QN95C is expected to be more expensive than the C3.
Let’s take a look at their estimated prices:
Samsung QN95C QLED
- 55” – not available in the United States
- 65” – $3,299
- 75” – $4,199
- 85” – $5,799
LG C3
- 42” – $1,399
- 48” – $1,499
- 55” – $1,799
- 65” – $2,499
- 77” – $3,499
- 83” – $5,499
Samsung QN95C QLED vs. LG C3: 6 Must-Know Facts
- The Samsung QN95C uses a QLED display that improves color richness and brightness, while the LG C3 has an OLED display that provides better contrast.
- The Samsung QN95C has a Gaming Hub that offers access to console games without downloading.
- The Samsung QN95C has a refresh rate between 120Hz and 144Hz compared to the LG C3’s 120Hz.
- Both TVs have four HDMI 2.1 ports with at least one dedicated to enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC).
- The LG C3 has quick media switching and variable refresh rate (VRR) that minimize motion lag time, making it ideal for interactive gaming.
- The Samsung QN95C has Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro to enhance gaming by improving visuals.
- LG ThinQ AI voice assistant included
- Features Dolby Atmos technology
- Superb contrast
- Comes in a variety of sizes from 48 inches to 83 inches
Samsung QN95C QLED vs. LG C3: Which is Better for You?
Choosing between the Samsung’s QN95C QLED and the LG C3 is a matter of preference. The LG C3 will appeal to price-conscious consumers, and it certainly holds its own compared to the QN95C, especially when comparing operating systems.
Buyers opting for the Samsung QN95C will likely focus on the QLED TV’s specifications, not price points. However, the Samsung QN95C QLED is the superior product with better picture and sound quality, a more powerful processor, and a more aesthetically pleasing design than the LG C3.
