Im a certified TV calibrator, and I tested the LG C6 and LG G5 OLEDs side-by-side to see which is better value and I was surprised by the result

Date:
Sun, 10 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Description:
With the LG C6's launch imminent, is it better value than last year's
flagship G5? I tested the two side-by-side to find out

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Ive now fully tested the LG C6
, the brands mid-range OLED for 2026, and can say it deserves every bit of
its five-star rating. It delivers superb picture quality, with authentic contrast and punchy, natural colors, delivering a gaming experience that's up there with the best gaming TVs .

While I expect the C6 will be high of many people's list of the best OLED TVs to watch on Black Friday , when there should be plenty of deals, launch time is always an interesting time of year. This is because last years models are often available for significantly less, so despite the C6 being a major upgrade over its predecessor and one of 2025s best TVs , the LG C5 it can
be tempting to opt for last years equivalent instead. Were in an interesting situation, however, where the LG G5 last years flagship LG OLED is
available for the same price as the LG C6. Naturally, you'd assume that its a no-brainer: buy the G5. But since I had both TVs available for testing, I decided to run them side-by-side using reference scenes to see which actually offers better value for money. All of these tests were conducted in Filmmaker Mode with default settings. Latest Videos From You may like I compared the LG C6 and LG C5 OLED TVs here's which model I'd pick LG C6 review: a brighter, faster, and more accurate-looking OLED TV I compared the LG G6 OLED TV
against the G5, and it's a big upgrade Today's best LG OLED evo AI C6 4K
Smart TV (2026) deals 1,299 View Deal 1,299.99 View Deal 1,799.99 View Deal Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today's best LG OLED G5 deals Low Stock 1,199 1,099 View Deal 1,199 View Deal 1,999.99 1,199.99 View Deal Show more We check over 250 million products
every day for the best prices Brightness A scene from Lawrence of Arabia
shows off the G5's higher brightness, with the sand looking bolder on the G5 compared to the C6. (Image credit: Sony Pictures / Future) The LG G5 uses a Primary RGB Tandem OLED panel, while the 65-inch C6 I used for testing uses a standard WOLED panel. This means the G5 has a significant advantage in measured brightness over the C6. We measured the G5s peak HDR brightness at 2,268 nits in Filmmaker Mode, compared to the C6's 1,438 nits, also in Filmmaker Mode. For full-screen HDR brightness, the G5 measured 331 nits, whereas the C6 measured 245 nits.

These are big differences in favor of the G5, but how does it translate in real-world viewing? Watching the desert scenes in Lawrence of Arabia , the
G5s higher brightness showed up as brighter white sands with more pop
compared to the C6. The whites on the soldier and Prince Faisals uniform deliver more punch on the G5, too. The C6 still displays very good brightness throughout the movie, but the G5 has the edge.

Looking at some scenes showing snow from the Spears & Munsil demo footage, again, saw brightness on the G5 look punchier, with whites more vibrant in
any scene with lots of bright tones. Colors (Image credit: Universal Pictures / Future) Both TVs also delivered exceptional colors, with plenty of vibrancy and realism. In Lawrence of Arabia , the striking reds of the soldiers sashes and flags looked more dynamic on the G5, boasting higher color brightness. While the same colors still looked punchy on the C6 with decent brightness, the G5 had that little bit more. The same was true of the blue sky in the early desert scenes: the G5 had that extra pop, but the C6 did an excellent job, too. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

One color that had a more obvious impact on the G5 was the sandy browns of
the desert dunes and rocks. The browns seemed to really jump off the screen
in comparison to the C6, although it could be argued that the latter
delivered these with a more natural look.

I switched to Wicked next, known for its vivid colors. Once again, both TVs did a fantastic job capturing colors throughout the movie, delivering them with plenty of pop and dazzle. But once again, the G5 had the edge: the pink flowers in a tree that Elphaba stands beneath looked more vibrant compared to the C6. The glittering green and gold of the train to Emerald City again looked punchier on the G5, aided by its higher brightness.

However, there were some scenes where the C6 looked better, in particular
when it came to delivering natural colors. The green of Elphabas skin, more toned down than the Emerald City, looked more realistic on the C6. The sandstone-colored walls of Shiz also appeared more authentic on the C6, where they took on a more golden tone on the G5. What to read next The LG G6 OLED
TV got a picture update, so I tested it against the G5 again LG G6 review:
the best OLED TV for watching in even bright rooms Here are my top 3 upgrades on the LG C6 OLED TV, and one area it struggles Contrast (Image credit:
Warner Bros. / Future) Right off the bat (pun intended), both TVs showed superb contrast. As Batman stalks around the crime scene in Mayor Mitchells home, both TVs demonstrated an excellent balance between the light tones of lamps, torches and flashbulbs with the dark tones of Batmans costume, the police uniforms, and the dark-wood room.

Looking closer, the G5 had the advantage when it came to highlights from the aforementioned torches, creating a stronger perceived contrast. However, viewing in dimmed conditions, I found myself drawn to the C6. While
highlights weren't as vibrant, its contrast felt more authentic and natural, better suiting the tone of the movie.

In pitch-black conditions, during the subway fight scene, both TVs showed great shadow detail with the panelling of the walls in the background. While these details were clearer on the G5, it also demonstrated raised dark tones, with blacks took on a slightly gray hue. They again appeared more natural-looking on the C6, I thought. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future) Using a brighter but still high-contrast movie, Alien: Romulus , I
was surprised by how close the two TVs looked in Dolby Vision. The G5 had slightly more brightness in the stars against the black of space or the various colored lights in the blacked-out hallways, but the C6s contrast looked just as good. Switching to HDR, the G5 gained more brightness but, again, the C6s natural contrast stood out. Price is important (Image credit: Future) So, which TV should you go for? My personal favorite is the G5 with its more colorful and brighter scenes overall, particularly those in Lawrence of Arabia . But I did still find myself drawn to the C6 for darker, more high-contrast scenes in movies such as The Batman as it looked more
authentic.

Elsewhere, there really isn't much if anything to differentiate between the two TVs. Both boast a full suite of gaming features, including 4K 165Hz; both use LGs webOS smart TV platform; and both deliver solid overall sound although they could do with a soundbar. The C6 even has the Alpha 11 Gen 3 processor, the successor to the Gen 2 in the G5.

Really, it comes down to price and at the time of writing (weeks before the C6s launch), the G5 is better value. The 65-inch model will cost you about $2,499 / 2,299 (availability seems scarce in Australia), whereas the C6 65-inch costs $2,699 / 2,599 / AU$3,995. That means you can get a flagship OLED for cheaper than a mid-range model. As we near Black Friday later this year, the C6 could see some big discounts, at which point it becomes the better option.

On the surface, the G5 is the more striking TV and it really is fantastic.
The C6 is also fantastic. Youre honestly spoilt for choice between these two and it really does come down to price and personal preference. Today's best
LG OLED evo AI C6 4K Smart TV (2026) deals 1,299 View Deal 1,299.99 View Deal 1,799.99 View Deal Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today's best LG OLED G5 deals Low Stock 1,199 1,099 View Deal 1,199 View Deal 1,999.99 1,199.99 View Deal Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Follow TechRadar on Google
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/televisions/im-a-certified-tv-calibrator-and-i-teste d-the-lg-c6-and-lg-g5-oled-tvs-side-by-side-to-see-which-is-better-value-and-i -was-surprised-by-the-answer


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