LG 65-Inch Class OLED evo AI 4K C5 Series Smart TV with Dolby Atmos, AI Super Upscaling (OLED65C5PUA, 2025) Review (2026)

Picture quality for movie night

LG's C5 uses a WOLED panel where each of the 8.3 million pixels lights and dims independently, which is what produces the deep, uniform black levels OLED sets are known for during dark scenes, space shots, and horror films. LG pairs the panel with its Alpha9 AI Gen8 processor and AI Super Upscaling, which cleans up lower resolution cable, streaming, and older Blu-ray sources so they look sharper on a 65 inch screen than the source material alone would suggest. Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support are both built in, covering the two most common premium formats used by major streaming services and 4K Blu-ray discs, so most modern content will play back in its intended dynamic range without extra gear.

Gaming and connectivity

All four HDMI inputs support the full HDMI 2.1 feature set, including 4K at up to 144Hz with variable refresh rate, and LG lists compatibility with both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium, which matters for anyone connecting a gaming PC or current generation console rather than just a set-top box. Response time is rated at 0.1ms, among the fastest available on a consumer TV, reducing motion blur during fast-paced games. Wireless connectivity includes WiFi 6E for a faster and more stable connection to home networks than older WiFi standards, useful for 4K streaming apps running directly on the built in webOS smart platform without a separate streaming box.

Size, design and setup

The 65 inch C5 measures roughly 34.75 inches high, 56.75 inches wide and 9.25 inches deep including its stand, with a panel thickness of about 1.8 inches, and LG specifies the stand needs a surface at least 19 inches wide to sit securely on a media console. The slim profile also makes it a reasonable candidate for wall mounting with a compatible VESA bracket if console space is tight. webOS handles the smart TV side, bundling the major streaming apps and a voice remote, so most buyers will not need an external streaming device unless they have a strong preference for a different platform's interface.

Where OLED has limits

Peak brightness on OLED panels, even with LG's brightness boosting processing, still trails Mini LED and other backlit LCD competitors in rooms with large windows or strong overhead lighting, so a very sunny living room can wash out highlights that would look punchy in a darker space. OLED technology also carries some risk of image retention or burn-in from static on-screen elements left in place for very long stretches, such as a 24-hour news ticker or a paused game HUD, though normal mixed viewing habits make this a minor concern for most households rather than a daily worry.

Who this TV is for

The C5 suits anyone whose primary use is movies, shows, and gaming in a living room or dedicated theater space with controllable lighting, where OLED's contrast and near-instant pixel response are the biggest visible upgrades over a mid-range LCD TV. Console and PC gamers benefit specifically from the full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports and high refresh rate support across all four inputs, not just one. Shoppers who mainly watch TV during the day in a bright, sun-facing room, or who display static content like security camera feeds for hours at a time, may be better served by a bright Mini LED alternative instead.

Frequently asked questions