The LG C5 42 OLED is a 42-inch, 4k OLED TV that's popular to use as a PC monitor. It's an updated version of the LG C4 42 OLED, and it's the smallest size of the C5 series models. It's similar to the slightly bigger 48-inch TV, as they don't have the Brightness Booster technology that the 55-inch and larger sizes have, so the smaller models aren't as bright. Besides that, it has many of the same features as the larger sizes, including 4k @ 144Hz support in its Game Mode, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and VRR support. It's different from most typical PC monitors because it has a built-in processor, supports eARC/ARC with Dolby Digital passthrough, and has built-in webOS, but it doesn't have a DisplayPort input or an ergonomic stand.
Note: We tested the 65-inch LG C5 OLED as a TV. That said, the results aren't comparable because of the different ways we test monitors and TVs. We also tested it with different settings, as we used the TV's PC mode with low input lag to better represent how someone would use it as a PC monitor.
Our Verdict
The LG 42C5 is excellent for PC gaming. Although its 144Hz refresh rate is low by modern monitor standards, it's still fast enough for 4k gaming. It also has incredibly sharp motion thanks to its near-instantaneous response time, and gaming feels responsive with low input lag in its Game Mode. It delivers incredible picture quality with deep blacks in dark rooms, no haloing around bright objects, and a wide color gamut. Its 42-inch screen also delivers an immersive feel if you sit close, but you may find that not all images and text are sharp due to its low pixel density.
Incredibly sharp motion.
Low input lag in Game Mode.
HDMI 2.1 ports and VRR support.
Deep and inky blacks.
Highlights pop in HDR.
Distracting VRR flicker.
Limited to a 144Hz refresh rate.
Bright colors are somewhat muted.
The LG 42C5 is remarkable for console gaming. It has an HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that takes full advantage of gaming consoles, including supporting 4k signals up to 120Hz. It even supports Dolby Vision with an Xbox. Gaming feels responsive thanks to its low input lag in its Game Mode, and fast-moving objects look incredibly sharp. Plus, it's a fantastic choice for playing HDR games as it displays deep and inky blacks, displays a wide color gamut, and has highlights that pop.
Incredibly sharp motion.
Low input lag in Game Mode.
Deep and inky blacks.
Highlights pop in HDR.
Supports all common signals with gaming consoles.
Bright colors are somewhat muted.
The LG 42C5 is mediocre for office use. Despite its 4k resolution, it has low pixel density, and text isn't as sharp as on smaller 4k displays. Regardless, its 42-inch screen offers plenty of space to multitask. It's also fine if you want to use it in a well-lit room, as it reduces glare well, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight intense glare. Unfortunately, because this is a TV, it lacks some productivity features monitors have, including an ergonomic stand and a USB hub that you can use with your PC.
Large 42-inch screen.
Coating reduces glare well.
Wide viewing angles.
Low pixel density results in slightly blurry text.
No ergonomic adjustments.
Not bright enough to fight intense glare.
Can't use USB ports with your PC.
Risk of burn-in.
The LG 42C5 is excellent for editing. It's accurate out of the box, but there are white balance and gamma issues that you need to fix with a full calibration. It even has remarkable HDR picture quality thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio for deep blacks, a fantastic color gamut, and good brightness that makes highlights pop. It also has a big 42-inch screen that helps with multitasking, but because of its 16:9 aspect ratio, you may still not be able to view your entire video timeline at once. There are some downsides to using it for editing, as it doesn't come with an ergonomic stand like a typical monitor. It also has low pixel density, so despite its 4k resolution, images and text aren't as sharp as on a smaller 4k monitor.
Deep and inky blacks.
Highlights pop in HDR.
Large 42-inch screen.
Coating reduces glare well.
Locks colors well to the sRGB color space.
Bright colors are somewhat muted.
No ergonomic adjustments.
Not bright enough to fight intense glare.
White balance and gamma issues before calibration.
Risk of burn-in.
The LG 42C5 has good brightness. It's fine if you want to use it in a moderately lit room, and it makes highlights pop in HDR, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight strong glare in SDR.
Highlights pop in HDR.
Not bright enough to fight intense glare.
The LG 42C5 has a near-instant response time, resulting in incredibly sharp motion.
Incredibly sharp motion.
The LG 42 C5 amazing HDR picture quality. Blacks are deep and inky without any haloing around bright objects, and it makes highlights pop. It also covers most of the common DCI-P3 color space, but bright colors aren't the most vivid on it.
Deep and inky blacks.
Bright colors are somewhat muted.
The LG 42 C5 is remarkable for SDR. It has a near-infinite contrast ratio for deep and inky blacks, and it displays a wide range of colors.
Deep and inky blacks.
Displays wide range of colors.
The LG 42C5 has excellent color accuracy. Its accurate even before calibration as it clamps colors well to the sRGB color space. However, there are white balance and gamma issues that improve with a full calibration.
Locks colors well to the sRGB color space.
White balance and gamma issues before calibration.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Nov 10, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1.1. We removed the Vertical Viewing Angle test.
- Updated Oct 17, 2025: Review published.
- Updated Oct 15, 2025: Early access published.
- Updated Oct 06, 2025: Our testers have started testing this product.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We bought and tested the 42-inch LG C5, which is the smallest size available. The 48-inch model comes with a different stand and has lower pixel density, but performs like the 42-inch model for the most part, as they each lack the Brightness Booster technology that the 55-inch and larger sizes have. This means the results aren't valid for the 55-inch and larger sizes, including the 65-inch model we tested as a TV. Note that the full model code varies between regions and retailers, including with warehouse stores like Costco or Sam's Club.
| Size | US Model Code | Brightness Booster | Stand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42" | OLED42C5PUA | No | Two feet |
| 48" | OLED48C5PUA | No | Center-mounted |
| 55" | OLED55C5PUA | Yes | Center-mounted |
| 65" | OLED65C5PUA | Yes | Center-mounted |
| 77" | OLED77C5PUA | Yes | Center-mounted |
| 83" | OLED83C5PUA | Yes | Center-mounted |
Our unit's label indicates it was manufactured in May 2025 in Mexico. We tested it with firmware 33.21.67.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The LG 42C5 is a 42-inch, 4k TV that's the smallest size available as part of the C5 series models. Like its predecessor, the LG C4 42 OLED, it's popular to use as a PC monitor, and it offers versatility for someone who wants a small TV for occasional PC or console gaming. It's similar to the previous C4 in many ways, but it gets brighter because you can enable the Peak Brightness setting in PC mode, which helps if you want a brighter screen and low input lag. It performs like almost any OLED display with sharp motion and incredible picture quality, and its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth helps if you have a modern graphics card or a current-gen gaming console. However, there are some downsides to getting it over a dedicated PC monitor, like the LG 32GS95UE-B or the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM. It lacks an ergonomic stand and has a lower refresh rate, and, because of its lower pixel density, images and text aren't as sharp. Ultimately, it offers a niche spot in the display market as something in between a TV and a monitor, so you should get it if it suits your needs. Otherwise, go for a monitor if you don't plan on using it like a TV.
Also see our recommendations for the best 34-49 inch monitors, the best OLED monitors, and the best multimedia monitors. For dedicated TV recommendations, check out the best TVs for PC monitors.
The LG C5 42 OLED is an updated model of the LG C4 42 OLED with minimal differences. That said, the main difference between the two is that you can enable the Peak Brightness setting in PC mode on the C5, which allows it to get brighter than the C4 when you're using it with your PC. There are some other changes, like the new remote and the lack of DTS audio passthrough on the C5, but other than that, they're very similar.
The LG C5 42 OLED and the LG 45GX950A-B are both large OLED displays with a few differences. The C5 is a small TV that's popular to use as a monitor, so it has many features that are typical of TVs, including a built-in smart system, eARC/ARC audio passthrough, and a processor. The 45GX950A-B has more typical monitor features, like a Dual-Mode that switches its native 5k2k resolution and 165Hz refresh rate to a 1080p resolution and 330Hz refresh rate. Although they both have WOLED panels, there are a few differences, as the C5 gets brighter in HDR, while the 45GX950A-B has a dedicated sRGB mode that results in better accuracy before calibration. Overall, the C5 is the better choice if you want a small TV that you can use as a monitor, while the 45GX950A-B is the better choice if you want an ultrawide that you're going to use more like a typical monitor.
The LG C5 42 OLED and the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM are 4k OLED displays with notable differences. The LG has the bigger 42-inch screen because it's a small TV, so it has typical TV perks, like a built-in smart system. It's something you may prefer if you're looking for a TV that you can also use as a monitor for gaming. However, the ASUS still has many advantages if you don't need the extra perks of the LG. The ASUS has a higher pixel density, so images are sharper, and its 240Hz refresh rate offers a smoother feel. Plus, the QD-OLED panel of the ASUS delivers more vivid colors than the WOLED panel of the LG.
The LG 32GS95UE-B and the LG C5 42 OLED are both 4k OLED displays with a few differences. The C5 is a TV that's popular to use as a monitor, so it's something to consider if you want TV features, like a built-in smart system and image processing. The C5 also has the slight advantage in terms of picture quality because it gets brighter in HDR, and you may prefer its glossy coating if you want a clearer image. However, the 32GS95UE-B is the better choice for PC gaming because it has a higher native 240Hz refresh rate that you can boost to 480Hz with a lower resolution. The higher pixel density on the 32GS95UE-B also results in sharper text and images.
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.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for videos & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
