LG C8 OLED  TV Review

Reviewed Apr 13, 2018 at 04:33pm
Test bench update May 21, 2020 at 08:51am
Tested using Methodology v1.5 

Older Test Bench: This product has been tested using an older TV test methodology, before a major update. Some of the test results below aren't directly comparable with other TVs. Learn more

LG C8 OLED

Track

0.0
Mixed Usage 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

0.0
Movies 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

0.0
TV Shows 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

0.0
Sports 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

0.0
Video Games 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

0.0
HDR Movies 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

0.0
HDR Gaming 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

0.0
PC Monitor 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

Track

 1
 TV Settings
Notice: This TVs was replaced by LG C9 OLED
The LG OLED C8 is a great 4k OLED TV with excellent picture quality. The emissive technology allows it to produce perfect blacks, which is excellent for dark rooms. The image also remains accurate when viewed at an angle, which is great for those with wide seating. It performs well with HDR content, as it can produce very bright and saturated highlights. The motion handling and input lag are also excellent, so it feels very responsive to gamers or PC users. It isn't perfect though, as the brightness changes depending on the screen content and static images shouldn't be shown for long on the TV due to temporary image retention and the risk of burn-in.

Our Verdict

0.0
Mixed Usage 

Excellent TV for a wide range of usages. The LG 55C8PUA has perfect blacks, resulting in excellent dark room performance. The TV handles motion extremely well due to the instantaneous response time and ability to flicker the image at 60Hz to clear up motion. The picture also remains accurate at an angle, which is great for those with wide seating. Reflection handling is excellent for rooms with lights or glare on the screen.

Pros
  • Can produce perfectly deep and uniform blacks
  • Instantaneous response time
  • Image is accurate when viewed at an angle
Cons
  • May be a risk of permanent burn-in (see here)
  • Brightness changes with screen content (ABL)
0.0
Movies 

Excellent choice for watching movies in a dark room. Perfect blacks result in deep and detailed dark scenes. The TV can display most content without judder, but some stutter is visible due to the low frame rate of movies - especially for wide panning shots.

0.0
TV Shows 

Great choice for watching TV in a bright room. Reflection handling is excellent, which is great for rooms with lights or glare on the screen. The TV also has a good brightness to overcome ambient light. The WebOS smart platform works well for casual browsing or watching content on Netflix. For regular watchers of channels with a lot of static content, there may be a risk of burn-in though (see here).

0.0
Sports 

Excellent for sports fans. Motion handling is excellent due to the instantaneous response time and ability to flicker the image to clear up motion. Dirty screen effect is also not an issue, as the screen is very uniform. Picture quality is also excellent, and remains accurate when viewed at an angle which is great for large numbers of people to watch an important game.

0.0
Video Games 

Excellent TV for gamers. Input lag is very low, so the TV feels very responsive. Motion handling is excellent due to the instantaneous response time and ability to flicker the image to clear up motion. Picture quality is also excellent due to the perfect blacks.

0.0
HDR Movies 

Excellent for watching HDR movies in a dark room. Picture quality is excellent due to the perfect blacks and impressive uniformity. The LG 55C8 can produce very bright highlights in real scenes and also produces saturated colors, to make HDR pop. The fast response time does result in some stutter, especially when viewing movies in long panning shots.

0.0
HDR Gaming 

Impressive HDR gaming performance. Input lag is very low, so the TV feels responsive with HDR. Motion handling is excellent due to the instantaneous response time and ability to flicker the image and clear up motion. Picture quality is also excellent, and the TV can make HDR scenes pop due to the high peak brightness of highlights and ability to produce very deep colors. For people who play games with a lot of static content there may be a risk of burn-in though (see here).

0.0
PC Monitor 

Great choice for PC use. Image remains accurate when viewed at an angle so the sides of the screen are uniform. Supports chroma 4:4:4 for clear text across all backgrounds. Also, the LG C8P supports a 1080p @ 120Hz input for those who want the most fluid experience. Motion handling is excellent, due to the instantaneous response time. Unfortunately the brightness of the screen changes depending on the content and areas of static content may have a risk of burn-in (see here)

  • 0.0
    Mixed Usage
  • 0.0
    Movies
  • 0.0
    TV Shows
  • 0.0
    Sports
  • 0.0
    Video Games
  • 0.0
    HDR Movies
  • 0.0
    HDR Gaming
  • 0.0
    PC Monitor
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated May 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
    2.  Updated Feb 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
    3.  Updated Feb 28, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
    4.  Updated Dec 11, 2018: We have received a few notes that the 77'' model makes a hissing sound.  If you experience this, we suggest that you contact LG. 

    Check Price

    55"OLED55C8
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    65"OLED65C8
    Amazon.com
    77"OLED77C8
    Amazon.com

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    We tested the 55" model (OLED55C8PUA). For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 65" (OLED65C8PUA) and 77" model (OLED77C8PUA).

    If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their LG OLED 55C8PUA doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that due to variances between panels some results such as gray uniformity and image retention may vary between individual units.

    Size US Model EU Model
    55" OLED55C8PUA OLED55C8PLA
    65" OLED65C8PUA OLED65C8PLA
    77" OLED77C8PUA OLED77C8LLA

    Update 12/11/2018: We have received a few notes that the 77'' model makes a hissing sound.  If you experience this, we suggest that you contact LG. 

    Additional Review Notes.

    Popular TV Comparisons

    Comparison picture

    Top left: LG B6 (OLED55B6P). Bottom left: Samsung Q8C (QN55Q8C). Middle: LG C8 (OLED55C8PUA). Top right: Sony X930E (XBR55X930E). Bottom right: Sony X900F (XBR55X900F).  Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.

    The LG C8P offers excellent performance across the board. However, it isn't perfect and comes at a high price. Check out some of our comparisons below for different recommendations depending on your usage. See also our recommendations for the best TVs and the best OLED TVs.

    LG CX OLED

    Track

    48" 55" 65" 77"

    The LG C8 OLED and the LG CX OLED are very similar TVs. Their OLED panels allow them to individually turn off pixels, resulting in an infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity. Picture quality between each are similar, and the real differences are that the CX has HDMI 2.1 support, allowing it to support 4k @ 120Hz. It also has VRR support to reduce screen tearing, which the C8 doesn't have.

    LG C2 OLED

    Track

    42" 48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

    The LG C2 OLED is a lot better than the LG C8 OLED. There's not much difference in picture quality: they both display deep, uniform blacks in a dark room with no blooming around bright objects. The C2 is a lot brighter, especially in HDR, so bright highlights stand out much better. The C2 also has more advanced gaming features, including variable refresh rate support to reduce screen-tearing.

    LG B8 OLED

    Track

    55" 65"

    The LG C8 OLED is very similar to the LG B8 OLED for mixed usage. The C8 offers performance in the same ballpark, and the small differences between the two TVs could be due to panel variance. The C8 has the newer Alpha 9 processor, whereas the B8 still carries the Alpha 7 processor, but we did not see a significant difference in performance.

    LG B7/B7A OLED

    Track

    55" 65"

    The LG C8 OLED is somewhat better than the LG B7/B7A OLED. While the overall performance of the two is very similar, the LG C8 has an optional Black Frame Insertion feature that the B7A doesn't have. This feature helps to improve the perceived clarity of motion on the C8, at the expense of some brightness.

    Show more 

    Video

    How We Test TVs
    How We Test TVs

    We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.

    Test Results

    Older Test Bench: This product has been tested using an older TV test methodology, before a major update. Some of the test results below aren't directly comparable with other TVs. Learn more

    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    0.0
    Style
    CurvedLockedLocked

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    Stand

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    Back
    Wall MountLockedLocked

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    Borders
    BordersLockedLock" (Lock cm)

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    Thickness
    Max ThicknessLockedLock" (Lock cm)

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    0.0
    Build Quality

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    Picture Quality
    0.0
    Contrast
    Native Contrast
    LockedLock : 1
    Contrast with local dimming
    LockedN/A

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    0.0
    Local Dimming
    SAMPLE
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    LG C8 OLED Local Dimming Video Sample
    Local Dimming
    LockedLocked
    Backlight
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    SDR Peak Brightness
    SDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Peak 2% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Peak 10% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Peak 25% Window
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    SDR Peak 50% Window
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    SDR Peak 100% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 2% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 10% Window
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    SDR Sustained 25% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 50% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 100% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR ABL
    LockedLock

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    0.0
    HDR Peak Brightness
    HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Peak 2% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Peak 10% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Peak 25% Window
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    HDR Peak 50% Window
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    HDR Peak 100% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 2% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 10% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 25% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 50% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 100% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR ABL
    LockedLock

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    0.0
    Gray Uniformity
    50% Std. Dev.
    LockedLock%
    50% DSE
    LockedLock%
    5% Std. Dev.
    LockedLock%
    5% DSE
    LockedLock%

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    0.0
    Viewing Angle
    SAMPLE
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    LG C8 OLED Viewing Angle Video Sample
    Color Washout
    LockedLock°
    Color Shift
    LockedLock°
    Brightness Loss
    LockedLock°
    Black Level Raise
    LockedLock°
    Gamma Shift
    LockedLock°

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    0.0
    Black Uniformity
    Native Std. Dev.
    LockedLock%
    Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
    LockedN/A

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    0.0
    Reflections
    Screen Finish
    LockedLocked
    Total Reflections
    LockedLock%
    Indirect Reflections
    LockedLock%
    Calculated Direct Reflections
    LockedLock%

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    0.0
    Pre Calibration
    White Balance dE
    LockedLock
    Color dE
    LockedLock
    Gamma
    LockedLock
    Color Temperature
    LockedLock K
    Picture Mode
    LockedLocked
    Color Temp Setting
    LockedLocked
    Gamma Setting
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Post Calibration
    White Balance dE
    LockedLock
    Color dE
    LockedLock
    Gamma
    LockedLock
    Color Temperature
    LockedLock K
    White Balance Calibration
    LockedLocked
    Color Calibration
    LockedLocked
    Auto-Calibration Function
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    480p Input

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    0.0
    720p Input

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    0.0
    1080p Input

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    0.0
    4k Input

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    0.0
    8k Input
    Pixels
    TypeLockedOLED
    Sub-Type
    LockedWRGB

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    0.0
    Color Gamut
    Wide Color Gamut
    LockedLocked
    DCI P3 xy
    LockedLock%
    DCI P3 uv
    LockedLock%
    Rec 2020 xy
    LockedLock%
    Rec 2020 uv
    LockedLock%

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    0.0
    Color Volume
    Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
    LockedLock%
    10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
    LockedLock%
    Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
    LockedLock%
    10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
    LockedLock%

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    0.0
    Gradient
    Color Depth
    LockedLock Bit
    Red (Std. Dev.)
    LockedLock
    Green (Std. Dev.)
    LockedLock
    Blue (Std. Dev.)
    LockedLock
    Gray (Std. Dev.)
    LockedLock

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    0.0
    Temporary Image Retention
    IR after 0 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 2 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 4 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 6 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 8 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 10 min recovery
    LockedLock%

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    0.0
    Permanent Burn-In Risk
    Permanent Burn-In Risk
    LockedLocked

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    Motion
    0.0
    Response Time
    80% Response Time
    LockedLock ms
    100% Response Time
    LockedLock ms

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    0.0
    Flicker-Free
    Flicker-Free
    LockedLocked
    PWM Dimming Frequency
    LockedLock Hz

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    0.0
    Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
    Optional BFI
    LockedLocked
    Min Flicker for 60 fps
    LockedLock Hz
    60 Hz for 60 fps
    LockedLocked
    120 Hz for 120 fps
    LockedLocked
    Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
    LockedLock Hz

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    Motion Interpolation
    Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
    LockedLocked
    Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Stutter
    Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
    LockedLock ms
    Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
    LockedLock ms

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    0.0
    24p Judder
    Judder-Free 24p
    LockedLocked
    Judder-Free 24p via 60p
    LockedLocked
    Judder-Free 24p via 60i
    LockedLocked
    Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Variable Refresh Rate
    Native Refresh Rate
    LockedLocked
    Variable Refresh Rate
    LockedLocked
    HDMI Forum VRR
    LockedLocked
    FreeSync
    LockedLocked
    G-SYNC Compatible
    LockedLocked
    4k VRR Maximum
    LockedN/A
    4k VRR Minimum
    LockedLocked
    1080p VRR Maximum
    LockedN/A
    1080p VRR Minimum
    LockedLocked
    1440p VRR Maximum
    LockedN/A
    1440p VRR Minimum
    LockedLocked
    VRR Supported Connectors
    LockedLocked

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    Inputs
    0.0
    Input Lag
    1080p @ 60 Hz
    LockedLock ms
    1080p @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
    LockedLock ms
    1440p @ 60 Hz
    LockedN/A
    4k @ 60 Hz
    LockedLock ms
    4k @ 60 Hz + 10 bit HDR
    LockedLock ms
    4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
    LockedLock ms
    4k @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
    LockedLock ms
    4k @ 60 Hz With Interpolation
    LockedLock ms
    8k @ 60 Hz
    LockedN/A
    1080p @ 120 Hz
    LockedLock ms
    1440p @ 120 Hz
    LockedN/A
    4k @ 120 Hz
    LockedN/A
    1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
    LockedN/A
    1440p with VRR
    LockedN/A
    4k with VRR
    LockedN/A
    8k with VRR
    LockedN/A
    Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Supported Resolutions
    ResolutionLocked4k
    1080p @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
    LockedLocked
    1080p @ 120 Hz
    LockedLocked
    1440p @ 60 Hz
    LockedLocked
    1440p @ 120 Hz
    LockedLocked
    4k @ 60 Hz
    LockedLocked
    4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
    LockedLocked
    4k @ 120 Hz
    LockedLocked
    8k @ 30 Hz or 24 Hz
    LockedLocked
    8k @ 60 Hz
    LockedLocked

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    Input Photos
    Total Inputs
    HDMILockedLocked
    USBLockedLocked
    Digital Optical Audio OutLockedLocked
    Analog Audio Out 3.5mmLockedLocked
    Analog Audio Out RCALockedLocked
    Component InLockedLocked
    Composite InLockedLocked
    Tuner (Cable/Ant)LockedLocked
    EthernetLockedLocked
    DisplayPortLockedLocked
    IR InLockedLocked
    SD/SDHCLockedLocked

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    Inputs Specifications
    HDR10
    LockedLocked
    HDR10+
    LockedLocked
    Dolby Vision
    LockedLocked
    HLG
    LockedLocked
    3D
    LockedLocked
    HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
    LockedLocked
    HDMI 2.1
    LockedLocked
    CECLockedLocked
    HDCP 2.2LockedLocked
    USB 3.0
    LockedLocked
    Variable Analog Audio OutLockedLocked
    Wi-Fi SupportLockedLocked
    Audio Passthrough
    ARC
    LockedLocked
    eARC support
    LockedLocked
    Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
    LockedLocked
    DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
    LockedLocked
    5.1 Dolby Digital via ARC
    LockedLocked
    5.1 DTS via ARC
    LockedLocked
    5.1 Dolby Digital via Optical
    LockedLocked
    5.1 DTS via Optical
    LockedLocked

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    Sound Quality
    0.0
    Frequency Response
    Low-Frequency Extension
    LockedLock Hz
    Std. Dev. @ 70
    LockedLock dB
    Std. Dev. @ 80
    LockedLock dB
    Std. Dev. @ Max
    LockedLock dB
    Max
    LockedLock dB SPL
    Dynamic Range Compression
    LockedLock dB

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    0.0
    Distortion
    Weighted THD @ 80
    LockedLock
    Weighted THD @ Max
    LockedLock
    IMD @ 80
    LockedLock%
    IMD @ Max
    LockedLock%

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    Smart Features
    0.0
    Interface
    Smart OSLockedLocked
    VersionLockedLocked
    Ease of Use
    LockedLocked
    Smoothness
    LockedLocked
    Time Taken to Select YouTube
    LockedLock s
    Time Taken to Change Backlight
    LockedLock s
    Advanced Options
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Ad-Free
    Ads
    LockedLocked
    Opt-out
    LockedLocked
    Suggested Content in Home
    LockedLocked
    Opt-out of Suggested Content
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Apps and Features
    App Selection
    LockedLocked
    App Smoothness
    LockedLocked
    Cast Capable
    LockedLocked
    USB Drive Playback
    LockedLocked
    USB Drive HDR Playback
    LockedLocked
    HDR in Netflix
    LockedLocked
    HDR in YouTube
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Remote
    Size
    LockedLocked
    Voice Control
    LockedLocked
    CEC Menu Control
    LockedLocked
    Other Smart Features
    LockedLocked
    Remote AppLockedLocked

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    TV Controls

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    In The Box

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    Misc
    Power ConsumptionLockedLock W
    Power Consumption (Max)LockedLock W
    FirmwareLockedLocked