The LG 48 C1 OLED is a TV that we tested as a monitor, replacing the LG 48 CX OLED from 2020. As it's a TV, it has many different features than most typical monitors. It has a large 48 inch screen, but that means it has a lower pixel density and, combined with its unique WBGR subpixel layout, text clarity isn't the best. It's advertised as a gaming monitor and has features that most gamers should enjoy. It has a 120Hz panel with FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. There are four HDMI 2.1 inputs, so you can play 4k games up to 120fps if you have a compatible graphics card, but it doesn't have a DisplayPort input. Its OLED panel can turn off individual pixels, resulting in a near-infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity. However, OLEDs have the risk of permanent burn-in, which could be problematic with constant exposure to the UI elements, so we suggest using a screensaver, hiding the taskbar, or watching varied content if you're going to use it purely as a monitor.
Note: We tested the 55 inch model as a TV, which you can read about here. However, the results of the two reviews aren't comparable because of the different ways we score and test TVs and monitors.
Our Verdict
The LG C1 48 is an excellent overall TV that we tested as a monitor. Since it has a ton more features than a normal monitor, it excels in a few areas. It's excellent for gaming because it has VRR support, a very quick response time, and low input lag. It's a fantastic choice for watching content in dark rooms due to its near-infinite contrast and perfect black uniformity. It's great for office use or content creators because it has a large screen, but text clarity is just decent as the WBGR subpixel layout isn't ideal.
- Large 48 inch screen.
- Fantastic reflection handling.
- Very wide viewing angles.
- 120Hz panel with FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Risk of burn-in with constant exposure to static elements.
- Gets less bright in 'Game' mode than other picture modes.
- Lacks a DisplayPort input.
- WBGR layout results in just decent text clarity; can be improved with scaling.
The LG C1 48 is decent for office use. The large screen lets you open multiple windows, but text clarity isn't the best due to the WBGR subpixel layout. It's good to use in well-lit rooms as it has fantastic reflection handling, even though it doesn't get extremely bright in 'Game' mode. The wide viewing angles ensure the image remains accurate even when sitting close to the TV.
- Large 48 inch screen.
- Fantastic reflection handling.
- Very wide viewing angles.
- Exceptional motion handling.
- Risk of burn-in with constant exposure to static elements.
- WBGR layout results in just decent text clarity; can be improved with scaling.
The LG C1 48 is excellent for gaming. It has a 120Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 inputs, allowing you to play 4k games up to 120fps from an HDMI 2.1 compatible graphics card. It has native FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility. Its response time is near-instant, and it has low input lag. It's fantastic for dark room gaming thanks to its near-infinite contrast and perfect black uniformity.
- 120Hz panel with FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility.
- Four HDMI 2.1 inputs.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Exceptional motion handling.
- Risk of burn-in with constant exposure to static elements.
- Gets less bright in 'Game' mode than other picture modes.
- Lacks a DisplayPort input.
The LG C1 48 is fantastic for consuming multimedia content. The 48 inch screen is big enough for an immersive viewing experience, and it has wide viewing angles in case you want to share the screen with someone else. It has a near-infinite contrast, so blacks look deep and inky, and there's no blooming around bright objects.
- Large 48 inch screen.
- Fantastic reflection handling.
- Very wide viewing angles.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Risk of burn-in with constant exposure to static elements.
The LG C1 48 is great for content creators. It has a big enough screen that you can open multiple windows, and you can view your entire video timeline without scrolling too much. It displays perfect blacks if you tend to use it in a dark room, and it has fantastic reflection handling for a well-lit room. Although its Adobe RGB color space coverage is good, there are better monitors for it, and text clarity isn't the best.
- Large 48 inch screen.
- Fantastic reflection handling.
- Very wide viewing angles.
- Exceptional motion handling.
- Risk of burn-in with constant exposure to static elements.
- WBGR layout results in just decent text clarity; can be improved with scaling.
The LG C1 48 delivers a fantastic HDR experience. The near-infinite contrast ratio delivers deep, inky blacks with perfect black uniformity. There's no blooming around bright objects in dark scenes, either, which is great. It also has a great wide color gamut, with excellent coverage of the most-common DCI-P3 color space. On the other hand, it can't get very bright in HDR, so although small highlights stand out well, large bright scenes are dimmed considerably by the TV's automatic brightness limiter.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Displays wide color gamut.
- No blooming around bright objects in dark scenes.
- Risk of burn-in with constant exposure to static elements.
- Limited brightness for HDR content.
Changelog
- Updated Feb 21, 2023: Confirmed that 1440p works with the PS5 and fixed the 1440p @ 60Hz result in Xbox Series X|S Compatibility because it works using the HDMI override setting.
- Updated Oct 06, 2022: We bought and tested the Sony 42 A90K OLED, and added a few relevant comparisons to the review.
- Updated May 02, 2022: We tested this TV with the PS5's new variable refresh rate feature and confirmed that it's working properly.
- Updated Apr 08, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.2, resulting in changes to the results and scores with the Response Time and Input Lag. Added tests for Console Compatibility and macOS compatibility and made minor changes to other tests, which you can see in our Changelog.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the LG C1 48 inch (OLED48C1PUB) as a monitor. Although our results in this review should be valid for the other sizes, we tested the 55 inch (OLED55C1PUB) as a TV, and our results for that are more representative of how people will use the larger sizes as a TV and not a monitor.
| Size | North America Model | EU Model |
|---|---|---|
| 48" | OLED48C1PUB | OLED48C14LB |
| 55" | OLED55C1PUB | OLED55C14LB |
| 65" | OLED65C1PUB | OLED65C14LB |
| 77" | OLED77C1PUB | OLED77C14LB |
| 83" | OLED83C1PUA | OLED83C14LB |
If you come across a different type of panel or your LG C1 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we'll update the review. Keep in mind that our results between the monitor and TV reviews aren't comparable because of the way that we test each. Some tests, like gray uniformity, may vary between units.
Our unit was manufactured in May 2021, and you can see the label here.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The LG C1 48 delivers fantastic picture quality thanks to its OLED panel, and it has much more features than most monitors. The HDMI 2.1 inputs are also good to have if you want high frame rate 4k gaming, as HDMI 2.1 inputs are only starting to come out with monitors. However, the LG is costly and, considering its risk of burn-in, it may be worth getting a standard monitor instead. If you're going to use the display for PC gaming and streaming content on the side, the burn-in risk shouldn't cause too much of a problem.
See our picks for the best 4k monitors, the best multimedia monitors, the best gaming monitors, and the best TVs to use as a PC monitor.
The LG C1 48 OLED and the LG C2 42 OLED are very similar, with the main difference being that the C2 is smaller. The smaller size increases pixel density, resulting in slightly better text clarity. The C2 also has a different stand that makes it easier to route your keyboard and mouse cables through. However, if you care about HDR or want to use the monitor in a bright room, the C1 gets brighter.
The LG C1 48 OLED is better than the Philips Momentum 436M6VBPAB, but they use different panel types. The LG has an OLED panel with a near-infinite contrast ratio and much wider viewing angles, while the Philips has an LED panel that gets significantly brighter and doesn't have the risk of permanent burn-in. The LG is much better for gaming because it has a 120Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 inputs, and it has a much quicker response time and lower input lag. Since the LG is a TV, it also has more features like a built-in webOS, so you can stream content directly from the TV.
The LG C1 48 OLED is the replacement to the LG 48 CX OLED, and both are very similar in performance. The C1 has lower input lag at 60Hz because of a new 'Prevent Input Delay' setting. The built-in webOS is updated, and it comes with a new Magic Remote. The CX scores higher for SDR peak brightness, but that's because we tested it with a different Picture Mode, and the C1 has about the same brightness in that Picture Mode.
The Dell S3221QS and the LG C1 48 OLED are different types of 4k displays. The LG is a TV that we tested as a monitor, so it has a ton more features like a built-in OS and processing features. Its OLED panel can turn off individual pixels, resulting in a near-infinite contrast. However, the Dell has an LED panel that gets brighter and doesn't have the risk of permanent burn-in like OLEDs. The LG has more gaming features such as HDMI 2.1 inputs and VRR support, and it has a near-instant response time for smooth motion.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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