I’ve now fully tested the LG C6, the brand’s mid-range OLED for 2026, and I can say that it fully deserves its five-star rating. It delivers superb picture quality, with authentic contrast and natural, punchy colors, delivering a gaming experience on par with the best gaming TVs.
While I expect the C6 to top the list of best OLED TVs to look at during Black Friday, when there should be plenty of deals, launch time is always an interesting time of year. This is because last year’s models are often available at a significantly lower price. So while the C6 is a major upgrade over its predecessor – and one of the best TVs of 2025, the LG C5 – it may be tempting to opt for last year’s equivalent.
Brightness
The LG G5 uses a primary Tandem RGB OLED panel, while the 65-inch C6 I used for testing uses a standard WOLED panel. This means that the G5 has a significant advantage in measured brightness over the C6. We measured the G5’s peak HDR brightness at 2,268 nits in Filmmaker mode, compared to 1,438 nits for the C6, also in Filmmaker mode. For full-screen HDR brightness, the G5 measured 331 nits, while the C6 measured 245 nits.
These are big differences in favor of the G5, but how does this translate to the real world? Watch the desert scenes in Lawrence of Arabiathe higher brightness of the G5 manifested itself as brighter white sands with more pop compared to the C6. The whites on the soldier and Prince Faisal’s uniform also give the G5 more punch. The C6 still displays very good brightness throughout the film, but the G5 has the advantage.
Looking at some scenes showing snow from Spears and Munsil Demo footage, again, saw the G5’s brightness more punchy, with more vibrant whites in any scene with lots of highlights.
Colors
Both TVs also deliver exceptional colors, with plenty of vibrancy and realism. In Lawrence of Arabiathe vibrant reds of soldiers’ belts and flags looked more dynamic on the G5, delivering higher color brightness. While the same colors still looked punchy on the C6 with decent brightness, the G5 had that little extra. The same goes for the blue skies of the opening desert scenes: the G5 had that extra something, but the C6 also did a great job.
A color that had a more obvious impact on the G5 was the sandy browns of the desert dunes and rocks. The browns really seemed to pop off the screen compared to the C6, although one could argue that the latter presented them with a more natural look.
I moved to Wicked then, known for its bright colors. Once again, both TVs did a fantastic job capturing colors throughout the film, rendering them with plenty of pop and glare. But again, the G5 had the advantage: the pink flowers of a tree Elphaba is under seemed more vibrant than those of the C6. The shimmering green and gold of the Emerald City-bound train again looked more impactful on the G5, helped by its higher brightness.
However, in some scenes the C6 looked better, especially when it came to natural colors. The green of Elphaba’s skin, more muted than that of the Emerald City, appeared more realistic on the C6. Shiz’s sandstone-colored walls also look more authentic on the C6, where they take on a more golden tone on the G5.
Contrast
Right off the bat (pun intended), both TVs displayed superb contrast. As Batman walks through the crime scene in Mayor Mitchell’s house, both TVs demonstrated an excellent balance between the light tones of the lamps, torches, and flashes with the dark tones of Batman’s costume, police uniforms, and dark wooden room.
Looking closer, the G5 had the advantage when it came to reflections from the aforementioned torches, creating a stronger perceived contrast. However, watching in dark conditions, I found myself drawn to the C6. Although the highlights weren’t as vibrant, the contrast seemed more authentic and natural, better suited to the tone of the film.
In pitch black conditions, during the subway fight scene, both TVs showed great shadow detail with the wall paneling in the background. While these details are lighter on the G5, they also feature raised dark tones, with blacks taking on a slightly gray tint. They once again looked more natural on the C6, I thought.
By using a brighter but still high contrast film, Extraterrestrial: RomulusI was surprised to see how close the two TVs were in Dolby Vision. The G5 had a bit more brightness in the stars compared to the black of space or the various colored lights in dark hallways, but the C6’s contrast was just as good. By switching to HDR, the G5 gained brightness – but, again, the C6’s natural contrast stood out.
Price is important
So, which TV should you choose? My favorite is the G5 with its overall more colorful and brighter scenes, especially those of Lawrence of Arabia. But I always felt drawn to the C6 for the darker, higher contrast scenes in films such as The Batman because it looked more authentic.
Elsewhere, there’s really not much – if anything – to differentiate the two TVs. Both have a full suite of gaming features, including 4K 165Hz; both use LG’s webOS smart TV platform; and both deliver solid overall sound, although they could do so with a soundbar. The C6 even has the Alpha 11 Gen 3 processor, the successor to the G5’s Gen 2.
Really, it’s all about price – and at the time of writing (weeks before the C6 launches), the G5 offers better value for money. The 65-inch model will set you back around $2,499 / £2,299 (availability seems scarce in Australia), while the 65-inch C6 costs $2,699 / £2,599 / AU$3,995. This means you can get a flagship OLED for less than a mid-range model. As Black Friday approaches later this year, the C6 could see significant discounts, in which case it will become the better option.
On the surface, the G5 is the more striking TV and it really does look fantastic. The C6 is Also fantastic. Honestly, you’re spoiled for choice between these two models and it really comes down to price and personal preference.
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