The LG C5 was simply among the best TVs launched in 2025, because it continued the C-series OLED lineup’s lengthy legacy of delivering wonderful image high quality and a full vary of options at a mid-range OLED worth.
Once I examined the C5 final yr, I awarded it the complete 5 stars in my LG C5 overview – because of its vibrant but correct image, and its top-tier gaming efficiency – so its successor, the LG C6, has some large sneakers to fill.
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LG OLED evo AI C6 4K Sensible TV (2026) offers
How has the LG C6’s brightness improved?
The LG C6 (left) boasts a pleasant brightness increase over the LG C5 (proper) which works effectively for brilliant scenes and scenes with white, as pictured above (Picture credit score: Future)
We weren’t positive if we would get a lot of a brightness increase within the C6, somewhat than the C6H, however I have been very pleasantly stunned. As quickly as I loaded up some snow scenes from the Spears & Munsil demo footage I all the time use for reference materials, the C6’s larger brightness was apparent. Whites had a a lot bolder, vibrant look that made the snow actually pop on display. Crucially, it by no means overexerted the brightness both, protecting it effectively managed in peak areas.
Different scenes the place the solar sits on the horizon or within the sky confirmed the advantages of the height brightness increase. Because it sat on horizons or within the sky in motion pictures equivalent to High Gun: Maverick or Depraved, these peak areas on display seemed extra impactful and noticeably brighter, even in comparison with the already strong LG C5.
However this is the fascinating twist: I measured the C6’s peak HDR brightness (in a ten% window) at 1,438 nits and its fullscreen HDR brightness at 245 nits, each in Filmmaker mode. This can be a large bounce from the C5’s 1,180 nits peak HDR and 195 fullscreen HDR brightness in the identical Filmmaker Mode. That every one is sensible, on condition that I might see a transparent brightness improve.
Nonetheless, the C6 really measured decrease in brightness on 25%, 50% and 75% brightness home windows. It measured 694 nits at 25% (C5: 775 nits), 389 nits at 50% (C5: 443 nits), and 287 nits at 75% (C5: 317 nits).
Regardless of this, in real-world use, all scenes seemed brighter, even when they appeared like they might fall into these classes. We have reached out to LG to debate this consequence, in case it might be a quirk of the measurement course of.
What to learn subsequent
One space the place the C6 hasn’t made an enormous change, nevertheless, is in its reflection dealing with. The C5 struggled with reflections and the C6 is not any completely different. Regardless of a brightness improve, darkish scenes can nonetheless be a battle in brighter rooms on the C6, because it didn’t obtain the anti-glare improve that G6 did, which I discovered very efficient when evaluating it to the Samsung S95F.
Have the colours improved on the LG C6?
The C6 (left) boasts bolder colours and a extra correct image over the C5 (proper), because of the previous’s extra correct coloration temperature throughout the display (Picture credit score: Common Footage / Future)
To check the C6 and C5’s coloration copy, I made a decision to return to an outdated favourite reference testing disc in Depraved. With each TVs set to Dolby Imaginative and prescient Filmmaker Mode, it was clear that the C6’s colours have been certainly an improve over the C5’s. For one, coloration accuracy gave the impression to be improved, as a result of by comparability the C5 had a barely inexperienced tinge, however the C6 seems to be simply how I might count on.
Within the ‘Wizard & I’ scene, whereas each TVs delivered robust, vibrant colours, the C6’s demonstrated better accuracy. The C6’s coloration saturation seems to be dialled again in comparison with the C5, which is one thing I additionally discovered when testing the step-up G6 and G5 side-by-side. This choice was by design, and I really feel it’s benefitted the C6.
However colours on the C6 nonetheless had a stunning punch, with the pink flowers within the tree wanting vibrant and the inexperienced of Elphaba’s pores and skin and the blue particulars on the wall and different scholar’s uniforms placing a pleasant stability between genuine and daring.
The C6’s added brightness additionally helped with different scenes. Because the prepare arrived into Emerald Metropolis, the dazzling greens of the prepare actually popped on display and the gold particulars of the prepare’s mechanisms dazzled extra on the C6 than the C5.
Pores and skin tones additionally appeared extra correct on the C6, wanting extra true-to-life throughout every particular person on display. The C5’s didn’t look dangerous by any means, however the C6’s authenticity actually gave it the sting.
One component I will dig deeper into earlier than finishing my full LG C6 overview is the way it handles coloration banding — the LG G6 is far improved on this space in HDR10 in my expertise, and it is because of the processor, so I am hoping for a similar right here. Watch this house for the complete overview.
Has the LG C6’s distinction improved over the C5?
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The C6 (left) creates stronger perceived distinction as a result of punchier brightness within the lamps whereas nonetheless sustaining deep black tones(Picture credit score: Warner Bros. / Future )Each TVs present robust distinction, however once more the C6’s extra correct coloration temperature throughout the display provides it a extra true-to-source look(Picture credit score: Warner Bros. / Future )Once more, distinction seems to be nice on each the C6 (left) and C5 (proper) however the C6 seems to be extra refined(Picture credit score: Warner Bros. / Future )
To do an preliminary comparability of the C6 and C5’s distinction, I used my go-to disc: The Batman. All through the film, there are many high-contrast scenes that are excellent for exhibiting off what an OLED is able to.
The C5 did an outstanding job with The Batman after I first examined it and whereas it nonetheless seemed nice right here, as you’d count on from among the best OLED TVs, the C6 once more seemed higher.
Whereas each TVs delivered robust distinction with a great stability between darkish and lightweight tones, the C6’s larger peak brightness gave stronger perceived distinction. As Batman walks down a hallway of against the law scene in Mayor Mitchell’s Home, the wall lamps had extra shine on the C6.
The place the C6 actually succeeded was within the finer particulars. Black tones have been a bit bit richer and shadow element was higher. As Batman and Catwoman first meet within the darkened workplace, portraits on partitions have been extra seen on the C6. The identical was true of the opening subway scene, as extra of Batman’s armor and the platform’s environment have been seen on the C6.
Crucially, the C6 didn’t elevate black tones to take action. Actually, in some scenes, the C5’s blacks appeared crushed at instances, with some element loss within the aforementioned armor.
Each the C6 (left) and C5 (proper) do a fantastic job with black and white motion pictures equivalent to Sundown Boulevard, however the extra correct coloration temperature proves the distinction maker for the C6 (Picture credit score: Paramount Footage / Future)
One other distinction take a look at was to see how these TVs displayed black and white motion pictures. I opted for Sundown Boulevard. As you’d count on from two OLED TVs, display uniformity was wonderful and each demonstrated deep blacks, punchy whites and a full vary of grey tones to ship a extra full image.
Whether or not it was the daytime scenes as Joe walks to the gates of Paramount Footage studio or in Norma’s gloomy drawing room as she’s clad in black, each TVs did a great job with the distinction of the film.
As soon as once more although, with each TVs side-by-side, the C6’s extra correct coloration temperature got here throughout. The C5 once more had the slight inexperienced hue throughout the display, whereas the C6 had the cooler, blue look I might count on, which meant it seemed extra correct with a black-and-white film.
In isolation, the C5 was nonetheless nice for black-and-white footage — you do not actually discover the inexperienced hue except you might have one thing to match it to — however the C6 confirmed how a lot of an enchancment it was.
The C5’s secret weapon
(Picture credit score: Future)
Having put these two TVs side-by-side, I might say the C6 is a pleasant improve over the C5. Not solely do colours look extra pure, but it surely demonstrates barely higher and extra balanced distinction, a pleasant brightness increase and a extra correct coloration tone throughout the entire display. The C5 remains to be an excellent TV that deserved each little bit of its five-star score, however the C6’s changes give it a extra full image.
Nonetheless, for those who’re seeking to purchase proper now, in early 2026, the C5 is clearly the higher possibility. For a 65-inch C5 you’ll be paying $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,599 on common. Because the C6 has solely simply launched, the 65-inch mannequin will value round $2,699 / £2,499 / AU$3.995. That’s a enormous distinction.
Whereas the C6’s worth received’t keep that prime for lengthy — the C-series is commonly the primary mannequin in LG’s TV lineup to get a reduction — the C5 is a a lot better worth possibility because it stands.
In the event you’re not in a rush to purchase, the C6 delivers higher image high quality based mostly on this take a look at, so it will be my decide as soon as worth drops are occurring. However, the C5 remains to be an outstanding TV that received’t actually allow you to down so for those who’re seeking to purchase a C-series mannequin quickly, the C5 is the higher alternative.
LG OLED evo AI C6 4K Sensible TV (2026) offers
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