According to LG, the LG C Series is LG’s most popular OLED TV every year. The LG C1 OLED was the best-selling OLED TV of 2021, and last year’s LG C2 OLED was the best-selling LG OLED TV of the year.
With this information in mind, if you are planning to buy an LG OLED TV in 2023, chances are that you are considering the new LG C3 OLED TV.
Before you spend big bucks on the latest and greatest OLED, it’s helpful to understand the differences between this year’s LG C3 OLED and last year’s LG C2 OLED. As we discovered at CES 2023 recently, the differences between them are significant — but perhaps not quite as groundbreaking as we thought.
Here are all the differences — and similarities — between the upcoming LG C3 OLED and last year’s LG C2 OLED.
Difference #1: LG C3 OLED has WebOS 23
While the latest version of WebOS isn’t much different from the one we saw on last year’s crop of LG TVs, it does have a few benefits — all of which will be exclusive to the 2023 models.
One of these benefits is a new picture mode that caters to your preferences. When you first activate it, you’ll be shown a series of images with varying amounts of brightness, color saturation, and contrast. You’ll then choose which of these images you like best, and the wizard will create a custom image mode that reflects that choice.
Other improvements to user profiles introduced by LG in 2022 are for better recommendations and will allow you to get accounts for your kids as well.
Difference #2: The LG C3 uses a newer processor
The software changes only slightly, but the hardware inside the 2023 TVs will see a major boost thanks to the new Alpha a9 Gen 6 processor. Not only does the new processor have better upgraded motion processing, it also enables AI Sound Pro which turns the TV’s basic 40W 2.2 channel sound system into virtual 9.1.2 surround sound.
Difference #3: The LG C3 is likely to be more expensive
To be frank about this, LG has not released any pricing information about the new LG C3 OLED. It will likely become available sometime in February or March, right before we see the LG C3 OLED on store shelves.
However, based on previous years, there is a very high possibility that the LG C3 OLED will be launched at the same prices as the LG C2 OLED launched nearly a year ago. The 55-inch LG C3 OLED will likely cost somewhere around $1,799 while the 65-inch version will cost somewhere around $2,499. Meanwhile, the LG C2 OLED is on sale now for $1,399 for the 55-inch version and $1,799 for the 65-inch version.
If price is the most important factor, the C2 OLED will be a better buy this year regardless of how you feel about the new processor and WebOS 23.
Similarity #1: They both have the same board
This is where things start to turn in favor of not upgrading to the LG C3 OLED if you already own an LG C2 OLED. For starters, both TVs will use the same OLED EX panel from last year. There are third-generation OLED panels coming later this year from LG Display, but these aren’t the panels that will be used in the new LG C3. While LG says the new changes to the lighting algorithm create perceptual changes in brightness, the maximum peak brightness remains the same on both devices.
Similarity #2: They both don’t have an ATSC 3.0 tuner
Another similarity between the LG C2 and C3 is that they don’t have an ATSC 3.0 tuner inside which is required for NextGen TV broadcasts. While some people don’t mind — or even care — whether or not their TVs have an ATSC 3.0 tuner, people who want an exceptionally future-proof TV should note that you’ll need to upgrade to last year’s LG G2 OLED or LG G3 OLED. for this year instead.
Similarity #3: Both will be available in the same sizes (mostly)
Since the LG C2 OLED and LG C3 OLED both have the same panels inside, both models will come in the same sizes. Namely, there will be 42-inch, 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch and 83-inch versions. LG says there may be a 93-inch LG C3 OLED this year, but if that does arrive it won’t be until after smaller models arrive in the spring.
LG C3 OLED vs. C2 OLED: Which Should You Buy?
Given how limited the differences between the two models are and how different their price tags are likely to be at launch, I’d say it’s probably not worth upgrading to the LG C3 OLED at launch. Once the LG C3’s price drops a bit — perhaps around Cyber Monday or Black Friday 2023 — the initial judgment call may change. Do you want to be 100% sure of a decision? Wait until we test the LG C3 OLED in our labs later this spring before making a final decision one way or the other.
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