Hey there, with spring approaching, you may be planning a long overdue living room upgrade. If so, odds are you‘ve scoured reviews and landed on LG as today‘s undisputed leader in premium television technology. And having read the unanimous praise heaped on their 2022 C2 series, your mouse finger likely twitched with temptation on more than one occasion.
But then rumors began swirling about an impending new G3 model set to usurp the throne…so now you agonize – do you pull the trigger on the widely worshipped C2 at recent record-low prices or hold out a few more months to see what this mysterious newcomer has in store?
Well my friend, fret no more! In the epic televisions guide below, we‘ll compare these two LG titans across every major category – so let‘s dive in and illuminate precisely what extra magic (if any) the bleeding-edge G3 brings to the table. Buckle up…
G3 vs C2 – The Flyover
Before examining each dimension more closely, let‘s briefly characterize the contestants:
LG C2 – Released in early 2022, the LG C2 has been showered in awards and praise as today‘s preeminent balance of display performance, features and value. It builds on the preceding C1 series with a brighter "OLED Evo" panel, upgraded α9 Gen5 AI processor unlocked more advanced picture and audio algorithms. Gamers applaud 4 HDMI 2.1 ports enabling 4K/120fps and both variable refresh rate and ultra-fast response time. At well under $1,500 for the popular 65" size, it‘s hard to beat.
LG G3 – Just unveiled at CES 2023, the G3 carries the mantle of LG‘s flagship TV with a slew of enticing improvements over the venerable C2. Most notably, special optical layering boosts OLED brightness by upwards of 30% while a heftier α9 Gen6 AI Processor unlocks more refined upconversion and processing. The sound system graduates to 9.1.2 virtual surround channels with Dolby Atmos immersion. Alas, this cutting-edge pedigree demands a lofty tariff – expect entry around $3,000.
Now let‘s scrutinize how the G3 and C2 models stack up across the attributes you care about most as a discerning television buyer…
| Price (65") | LG C2 | LG G3 |
| $1,399 | $2,999 (expected) | |
| Resolution | 4K | 4K |
| refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
Let‘s explore the meaningful differences in more depth…
Picture Quality Showdown
Beginning with the traits that matter most – how do these two ultra-premium sets compare when the lights dim and the opening credits roll?
Black Level – When it comes to inky blacks providing the crucial contrast that brings images to life, both the LG C2 and G3 shine equally. Each leverage LG‘s auto-calibrated Pixel Dimming technology to achieve near infinite contrast. This precision distinguishes over 8 million active pixels, shutting off individual diodes to create intense shadow delineation. You‘ll struggle to discern any difference here.
Peak Brightness – Where the G3 showcases its next-gen capabilities is peak brightness, rated for upwards of 1700 nits in Vivid HDR mode. This represents a notable ~30% leap over its elder C2 stablemate able to deliver roughly 1300 nits maximum luminosity. This manifestation of LG‘s brighter new "OLED EX" emitter unlocks more impactful HDR pop particularly for daytime viewing.
Viewing Angles – With OLED characterized by supercharged pixels directly producing light, viewing angles have always been a strong suit compared to LED/LCD competitors which rely upon external backlight elements. Both the C2 and G3 maintain rich color accuracy even from aggressive side seating. That said…LG is quick to promote that the G3‘s optical enhancements expand those ideal sightlines even further – so if your new dream television‘s placement invites off-axis observation, that could be another checkmark for the flashy succession model.
Gaming Groove – Make no mistake, both the LG C2 and G3 rank among the most responsive 4K big screens money can buy thanks to HDMI 2.1 connectivity enabling 4K/120fps, crazily fast sub 1ms response times, variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low latency mode (ALLM). But it‘s worth calling out that based on LG‘s G2 predecessor last year, I‘d expect the G3 to shave another ~5ms off input lag for an even crisper competitive edge. For the vast majority of gamers the C2 already provides a supremely fluid experience…but for elite twitch gamers hungry to wring out every last millisecond, the G3 will claim the mantle as LG’s fastest display ever.
Beyond these concrete numbers, how does the picture quality feel between the LG C2 vs flagship G3 challenger? Well according to Vincent Teoh – one of the most respected TV reviewers around – says perceivable variance will prove subtle:
"The C2 is already a class-leading product. So in real-world usage, the increased peak brightness and black depth precision will merely make an outstanding picture slightly more outstanding.”
Consider that unless staring side-by-side in critiquing mode, that faint upgrade likely won‘t dramatically transform your enjoyment…especially weighing the immense $1,600+ premium the G3 currently commands!
Sound System Face-Off
A television‘s audio often goes overlooked amid the glare of cosmetic fanfare and flashy neural processing claims. But next time your ears perk upon hearing clear, expansive surround emanate from an otherwise unassuming flat panel display, you realize…sound quality still matters!
So how do our contestants envelop your senses? Let‘s have a listen…
Virtual Surround Channels – While both the LG C2 and G3 integrate slit-firing speaker arrays coupled with bass-thumping woofers, its their artificial intelligence that steals the show. Leveraging built-in microphones, the α9 Gen5 CPU powering the C2 reflexively analyzes environmental acoustics to separate and distribute sound for a palpable 7.1.2 channel effect. Impressive indeed…but the G3‘s souped-up α9 Gen6 brain upgrades the enveloping algorithm even further – for a mighty 9.1.2 channel count conveying greater atmosphere.
Dolby Atmos – More and more cinematic content now streams equipped with Dolby‘s signature object-oriented surround encoding able to paint 3D soundscapes. The good news is both models boast hardware decoding and audio channel splitting for a supremely spacial impression that lifts the amplification beyond pedestrian TV-grade speakers. That said…the G3‘s upgraded internals synthesize Atmos information even more precisely – so those with golden ears may appreciate its holographic nuances.
For most buyers debating between LG‘s dazzling OLED options, their comparable acoustic mastery satisfyingly rounds out immersion into films, shows and games without needing add-on equipment. But discerning home theater audiophiles yearning for the utmost in directional separation could consider the G3‘s stepped-up sonic specs another notch in its favor.
Features Face-Off
Beyond the clarity of the scene rendered on-screen, today‘s smart televisions rely just as heavily on supplemental capabilities via integrated software and connectivity. There are some variances between the C2 and G3 worth noting here as well…
Smart TV – LG‘s webOS platform remains a perennial favorite of reviewers and users alike for its intuitive navigation, crisp Apple-esque aesthetic and wealth of included streaming apps. Both the C2 and G3 share this slickness along with support for popular voice assistants. That said…the G3 does introduce a subtly refreshed interface reorganizing where certain settings and content libraries live. I wouldn‘t call it a transformative leap, but the tweaks do streamline getting to the functions you toggle most often.
Gaming – I touched on gaming visuals and responsiveness earlier, but wanted to underscore this critical functionality gets full endorsement on both models via HDMI 2.1 ports, fast action reaction, genre-specific display modes and automatic low latency handshakes with detected consoles. Some may chalk up the G3‘s few milliseconds faster input lag as negligible in practice…and they may be right for casual gameplay. But considering these sets represent peak consumer display technology and PC/console gaming‘s surging popularity, even subtle speed gaps could satisfy discerning enthusiasts.
Connectivity – Beyond the onboard Ethernet port enabling wired internet access, both the C2 and G3 support speedy WiFi 6 wireless networking ensuring smooth 4K video streaming and lag-free general navigation. Each also offer a bevy of HDMI inputs (4) with the aforementioned advanced 2.1 specification capable of handling next-gen gaming consoles and forthcoming high frame rate Ultra HD Blu-Ray content. Outward expansion options are also plentiful with 3 USB hookups to augment functionality over time via external hard drives, webcams and other accessories.
Verdict – Which LG OLED Rules Supreme On Balance?
After dissecting the key strengths and compromises inherent to each offering, where do we net out?
Well friend…in an absolute vacuum gauging simply the superior television considering price no object, the G3 clearly carries next-generation advancements making an already sublime viewing experience incrementally purer. The extravisual brightness and Black bring a bit more HDR sparkle while its boosted sound projection nears a dedicated surround system. And I‘ll reiterate gaming granularity seems to take another baby step forward as well vs the responsiveness bar LG already set so (ridiculously) high with the C2 last year.
However…and this is an immense HOWEVER indeed…the C2 remains such a monumental achievement providing near top-tier enjoyment at literally half the cost of this freshly-minted aspirational offering.
Even the most scrutinous videophile would struggle to declare the G3 twice as immersive to rationalize the accompanying monetary assault. And the average television watcher casually streaming Netflix, YouTube, TikTok and the occasional sports event? They’ll revel in the C2 without a second thought toward imperfections only visible through an auditor‘s hyper-critical eye.
Of course bleeding-edge early adopters, enthusiasts eager to showcase LG‘s latest engineering effort and those simply boasting entertainment budget to spare may deem the G3‘s hyped evolution compelling enough to justify four figures more. The promise of future-proofing against accelerating A/V advancements carries real value as well.
But make no mistake…for the vast majority of discerning television shoppers including gamers, film buffs and sports nuts galore, the exalted LG C2 remains the unambiguous best blend of jaw-dropping quality and comparatively bargain price in consumer display technology today. Its OLED canvas stunningly renders feasts for the eyes while its smart platform satisfies every streaming and connectivity need. Even its sonic presentation impresses leagues beyond expectations.
Throw in rock-solid reliability with a 5-year panel warranty and before another frame flickers by, the advantage tips overwhelmingly toward LG’s “last year” model – still the 4K TV to beat in 2023 considering its still-unmatched infantry of imaging, features and value.
So there you have it my friend! Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy whichever route you wind up choosing. But my money says for the foreseeable future, you sure can’t go wrong pulling the trigger on LG’s magnificent C2!
