So you‘ve probably heard all the buzz around LG‘s latest C3 OLED TV. Reviews praise its sharp 4K visuals and silky smooth gaming chops. But hold up — should you rush out to buy one?
As an avid tech reviewer and home theater enthusiast, I dug deeper across expert analysis and user experiences to get the full picture. It turns out the C3 does have some definite downsides to weigh first.
Below I break down the 6 biggest complaints spotted across C3 reviews, with plenty of concrete proof. My goal isn‘t to bash a perfectly capable TV, but rather empower you with the facts so you can determine if it truly fits your needs and budget.
By the end, you‘ll understand areas where the C3 falls short of competitors or even older LG models. And hopefully feel fully prepped to choose the right display for you without buyer‘s remorse!
Overview: LG‘s Mainstream OLED Contender
LG‘s C-Series OLED televisions aim for a sweet spot combining the manufacturer‘s self-lit panel prowess with ample features at more affordable pricing than LG‘s high-end offerings.
For 2022, the LG C2 became a wildly popular option, renowned for spectacular contrast, vibrant gaming, and solid streaming in one future-facing package with HDMI 2.1 and more.
The C3 for 2023 retains the same sleek design and intuitive webOS smart platform. But with an upgraded panel dubbed "OLED Evo" promising higher brightness.
On paper, it seems like an easy way to score LG‘s acclaimed OLED technology at a mid-range price. But does the experience live up to expectations? Let‘s spotlight key areas that may give pause.
Complaint #1: Lackluster Peak Brightness Despite New Panel
The C3‘s new Evo panel and tweaked electronics do eke out some brightness gains over last year‘s C2 — but not much in real viewing.
|| LG C2 | LG C3 |
|-|:-:|:-:|
|Peak SDR Brightness|694 nits|747 nits|
|Peak HDR Brightness|738 nits | 761 nits|
Lab testing by Rtings confirms a mere 7-8% improvement generation over generation. And both remain well below LG‘s brighter G2 from 2022 topping nearly 1,000 nits.
In person, this means highlights in movies, shows, and games don‘t "pop" with as much realism on the C3. Scenes meant to dazzle you with blazing fireworks or glistening waterfalls end up looking a tad dull even with HDR engaged.
Considering LG positioned the new Evo panel as a major upgrade, it‘s no wonder many reviewers have noted unremarkable brightness gains over predecessor models.
Complaint #2: Hardly Any Improvements Over the Veteran LG C2
In fact, the LG C3 struggles to meaningfully move the bar over last year‘s C2 at all beyond some minor audio tweaks.
LG execs admit the two generations share nearly identical panels. And lab testing confirms similarly little variation in color, contrast, motion, input lag, viewing angles and more.
Here‘s a head-to-head overview:
|| LG C2 | LG C3 | Notes |
|-|:-:|:-:|:-:|
|Peak Brightness (SDR/HDR) | 694/738 nits | 747/761 nits | Just 7-8% gains |
|Color Gamut | 98.5% DCI-P3 | 99.6% DCI-P3 | Slightly wider range|
|Contrast | Infinite | Infinite | Virtually no change |
|4K Input Lag | 8.7ms | 8.1ms | Both superbly responsive for gaming |
|HDMI Ports | 4x HDMI 2.1 | 4x HDMI 2.1 | Features identical future-facing connectivity |
Reviewed side-by-side, both Rtings and HDTVTest found it nearly impossible to distinguish the C2 from C3 in real content. The key additions like DTS decoding support only help folks playing older physical media formats.
So those hoping for substantive upgrades to viewing may feel like the C3 got shafted. Considering it still costs $200+ over 2022‘s C2, that stings harder for buyers not needing niche format support.
Complaint #3: Lackluster Sound Quality from Built-In Speakers
While the C3 introduces DTS audio compatibility, its actual speakers leave much to be desired for a modern television.
The 2.2-channel 40W system suffers from:
- Weak bass unable to convey on-screen impacts
- Harsh highs causing shrill distortion at louder volumes
- Limited dynamics crushing detail during complex scenes
- Only average mid-range clarity for dialogue
An in-depth audio analysis by Rtings found the C3‘s speakers clearly lag the performance of Sony‘s higher-end TVs packing dedicated sound solutions like Acoustic Surface Audio+.
By comparison, even the cheaper TCL 6-Series offers 30% more bass depth, better treble extension, and clearer vocals from its integrated speakers.
Of course no TV speakers can rival a dedicated surround-sound setup. But it‘s reasonable to expect decent audio at this price point so that you can comfortably skip external equipment. Unfortunately, the C3‘s sonics simply can‘t keep up.
Complaint #4: No Support for Next-Gen ATSC 3.0 Over-the-Air Broadcasts
You‘d expect a modern television to provide easy access to the highest quality broadcasts available in your region. But the LG C3 still disappointingly ships with only an older ATSC 1.0 digital TV tuner rather than the next-generation ATSC 3.0 standard gaining wider adoption.
That means if local stations in your area broadcast 4K OTA signals over ATSC 3.0, the C3 flat-out won‘t support it. You‘d miss out on all that free 4K sports, news, or shows without ponying up for streaming or 4K Blu-rays.
By contrast, competitors like Sony‘s X95K offer full ATSC 3.0 compatibility. So while LG has otherwise been exemplary keeping up with video formats like HDMI 2.1, overlooking hungry over-the-air viewers seems short-sighted.
Complaint #5: Overly Aggressive Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL)
To mitigate OLED burn-in over the long run, TV makers carefully manage brightness by dynamically dimming down static areas showing logos or control UIs. But reviews called out the LG C3‘s ABL kicking in far more noticeably than competitors‘ approaches.
The result is sustained bright shots like a sunrise pan, flashing police lights, or even someone pointing a torch at night have their intensity throttled down hard only seconds later. This leads to an immersion-breaking "flashlight effect" where the panel wells in the middle appear up to 30% dimmer!
By contrast the Sony A95K maintained its dazzle 50% longer before gently applying its less noticeable ABL. And while OLEDs in general remain more burn-in prone than mini-LED displays, the C3 seems to excessively sacrifice peak impact that should be there.
Complaint #6: Perceivable Judder in 24p Movie & Streaming Content
While LG‘s OLED panels deliver near instantaneous response times key for gaming, that precise speed works against film watching. Today‘s movies natively run at 24 frames per second for an appropriately cinematic look. But with each frame shown for just 1/24th of a second, the C3‘s impulse response tends to introduce distracting jitter, or judder, to motion especially during slow panning shots.
Analysis found Sony‘s A95K leverages enhanced processing to better interpolate the 24p signal for its panel, avoiding the stuttering artifact. But whether watching Blu-rays or streaming Netflix, the LG C3 exhibits visible judder more frequently according to both casual and expert reviewers.
Granted, activating the C3‘s motion smoothing features can minimize this. But cinephiles will argue that also erodes the work‘s original creative intent. Ultimately, no single display handles every use case perfectly, but this requires extra consideration.
The Bottom Line: Who Should Consider the LG C3?
The C3 retains the stunning contrast and rich color LG‘s OLEDs have become synonymous with. Gamers will still marvel at its sub 10ms latency and vibrant scenes enhanced via HDMI 2.1 gameplay features. And anyone after a solid 4K smart TV for everyday viewing should find it pleasing with some minor picture adjustment.
But… if you hoped to score a meaningful upgrade over LG‘s own 2022 C2 model, want a sonically well-rounded TV without buying more equipment, prefer having cutting-edge tuners for free broadcasts, or plan to rewatch a sizable Blu-ray collection, the C3 likely leaves something to be desired versus getting an older C2 at discount.
And shoppers eyeing their first OLED wanting the full package should consider alternatives like:
- Sony A95K if visual splendor is your focus
- Samsung S95B QD-OLED for its luminosity and gaming prowess
- LG G3 to get LG‘s brightest Evo panel and richer sound
I hope breaking down what reviewers don‘t love about the C3 helps inform your buying decision rather than relying just on hype. We all have unique tastes, so feel free to let me know what‘s key for your setup below or on my YouTube channel!
