A Review of the LG OLED Evo 55C3 TV: A Premium TV User Experience.

It’s been almost 2 weeks since I did the unboxing and installation of the LG OLED Evo 55C3 TV at home and the remarkable thing is that it almost feels as if we always had it here. My entire family, me included, have taken to this new state-of-the-art TV, like ducks to water, and in the process we have progressed from the proverbial ‘dark ages’ of a 12-year-old LED TV to the latest OLED TV range from LG in Kenya.

To me, What has become painfully and clearly obvious is that it will be hard to go back to the ‘old ways’ as will be the case in a week or less once our time with the LG OLED Evo 55C3 comes to an end. But, to fully appreciate the quantum leap we have undergone from a TV entertainment perspective, it’s really important to talk about what makes an OLED TV so much better and visually gratifying than an LED TV.

OLED TVs VS LED TVs.

OLED TVs utilize an organic material that glows when an electric current is applied. Each pixel in an OLED display is made of this material and can produce light and colour independently. This means that each pixel can be turned on or off completely.

Since each pixel can be turned off individually, OLED TVs can achieve perfect black levels. When a pixel is turned off, it emits no light at all, resulting in deeper blacks and a high contrast ratio. OLED TVs are also known for their excellent color accuracy and vibrancy, as the colour output is controlled at the pixel level.

OLEDs generally offer very wide viewing angles, with little to no loss in colour or contrast when viewed from the side. Finally, OLED pixels can change their state extremely quickly, which results in outstanding motion handling and minimal blur in fast-moving scenes.

LED TVs are actually a type of LCD TV since they use a backlight made up of LEDs to illuminate a liquid crystal display panel. This backlight can be either directly behind the screen (direct-lit or full-array) or along the edges (edge-lit). The liquid crystals do not produce light; they merely block or allow light through, which then goes through colour filters to create the image.

LED TVs can generally achieve higher brightness levels than OLEDs because the LED backlight can be made very bright. LED TVs vary in power efficiency, but edge-lit models tend to consume less power than their OLED counterparts. LEDs do not suffer from burn-in issues as OLEDs can.

Burn-in is when a static image left on the screen too long permanently damages the pixels, leaving a ghost image. LED TVs are typically less expensive to produce and purchase, especially at larger screen sizes.

The choice between OLED and LED TVs often comes down to personal preference and your intended usage. OLED TVs are best for rooms where you can control the lighting to enjoy their superior contrast and black levels.

They are ideal for viewers who prioritize image quality and have a budget that accommodates a higher price. LED TVs are more versatile due to their brightness, making them suitable for well-lit rooms. They are also more budget-friendly and offer more variety in sizes and models.

So, there you have it. The general consensus though is that an OLED TV is considered to offer a better and more immersive user experience compared to an LED TV and therefore for this reason is the better option for most consumers.

Coming back to the LG OLED Evo 55C3 TV, here are the key reasons why it makes for a great investment:

Design & Aesthetics — Made Exceptionally Well.

The LG OLED Evo 55C3 TV has a minimalistic design that blends seamlessly into any room or environment. Its ultra-thin profile and nearly invisible bezels make the display appear endless, as if it’s ‘floating’ in front of you, so to speak, and provides a truly immersive viewing experience.

The OLED screen features brilliant contrast, deep and natural colour reproduction, and impressive HDR capabilities. If you have the budget, this is an incredible investment you will not regret from this perspective alone. Trust me!

Its reflection-resistant screen, premium aesthetic, and impressive motion handling make it a top choice for both home theatre enthusiasts and gamers as we saw at home. This is a 4K OLED TV with a 120Hz refresh rate that supports high dynamic range (HDR) content in Dolby Vision, HDR10, DTS, and hybrid log gamma (HLG), ensuring compatibility with a wide range of high-definition audio and video formats as we saw very evidently when using the vivid cinematic screen setting and watched Netflix content. It’s quite simply, stunning!

The build quality of the LG OLED Evo 55C3 is robust and designed not only for aesthetic appeal but also for durability and ease of installation. You have to see this for yourself to truly appreciate the level of engineering as well as the astute and compelling design language have been fused with the state-of-the-art LG OLED Evo 55C3 TV. This does not happen by chance — it takes significant intentionality and thoughtfulness to do so.

The α9 AI Processor Gen6 — The Heart of the LG OLED Evo 55C3 TV.

At the heart of the LG OLED Evo 55C3’s exceptional performance is its α9 AI Processor Gen6. This processor employs sophisticated AI-assisted technology to elevate picture quality far beyond anything I had experienced before at home. Indeed, this is one of the things where seeing is indeed believing. This powerful engine employs AI-assisted deep-learning algorithms to enhance image clarity and detail.

It excels in upscaling lower-resolution content and offers dynamic tone mapping that adjusts picture settings in real-time for the most impressive visuals possible. The AI Picture Pro mode uses advanced algorithms to enhance image resolution and dynamic tone mapping, ensuring every frame is rendered with maximum clarity and colour accuracy.

It intelligently identifies and enhances specific elements within the scene, such as human faces, providing them with astonishingly lifelike detail and HDR quality (I have experienced this firsthand hand and it’s quite remarkable the first time you see it as it almost feels like you could touch them beyond the screen).

In addition, the AI Sound Pro technology in the LG OLED Evo 55C3 is designed to create an immersive audio environment using the TV’s built-in speakers. It simulates a 9.1.2 surround sound setup, pushing the boundaries of what built-in TV speakers typically achieve in terms of spatial sound distribution.

While the physical limitations of built-in speakers are to be expected, the LG OLED Evo 55C3 creates a rich, immersive sound environment, enhancing the audio experience of movies, sports, and gaming without the need for external sound systems. As I mentioned in my previous blog post about the audio quality being on par with a really good soundbar, this is largely made possible by the α9 AI Processor Gen6.

webOS & ThinQ AI — A User-Centric Experience.

I can’t say I had much experience using LG’s webOS prior to the LG OLED Evo 55C3 but this was apparently completely reworked for this generation of OLED TVs with an all-new user experience. From what I can tell, it allows you to really personalize it using Quick Cards for easy access to frequently used apps and services. These cards are logically grouped into categories such as Sports, Home Office, and Gaming, making navigation intuitive and streamlined.

webOS is a well-developed system that incorporates the majority of streaming services including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube which are all usable in Kenya as well as ShowMax and DSTV which I found impressive given that these are Africa-based streaming platforms.

It also supports Apple AirPlay for streaming from your iPad, iPhone, or Mac, and features hands-free Amazon Alexa voice assistant access thanks to the TV’s microphones. It also has a multiview mode that puts two images side-by-side on the screen which I used a few times.

webOS, for me, looks good and works well enough via the standard LG remote control so as far as I can tell, this was well done. In addition to webOS, there is also ThinQ AI. ThinQ from LG enables devices to connect and communicate with each other via the internet, making it possible to manage and control home appliances and systems remotely using a smartphone or voice commands. This includes refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, air conditioners, and more. Yes, in a modern smart home, you can connect all these devices!

On the LG OLED Evo 55C3, you can use ThinQ AI to control the TV using voice commands through integrations with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. I actually installed the mobile app on my phone and was able to make this work as expected and it even negates the need for the remote control if you want to use your phone instead. This smart functionality extends beyond entertainment, allowing the TV to act as a central hub for your smart home devices. This is great since it means that all your digital devices can work together from the LG OLED Evo 55C3.

Picture Settings — Trust Me, They Matter!

The LG OLED Evo 55C3 comes with a broad range of picture settings designed to cater to a variety of viewing preferences and experiences. This is an important aspect of the TV since it completely changes the user experience depending on your mood or preferred lighting setup. In a nutshell, these are the main ones:

• Vivid Mode: Enhances brightness and color for a more striking image. This is personally my favourite since it just makes the viewing experience so lifelike!
• Standard Mode: Ideal for everyday viewing, providing a balanced picture.
• Cinema Mode: Adjusts the picture settings to provide a more cinematic experience.
• Sports Mode: Optimizes motion handling and color to bring live sports to life. Perfect for watching Arsenal hammering the competition!
• Game Optimizer Mode: Customizes the settings to minimize input lag and enhance graphics for a superior gaming experience. My son used this mode extensively for his gaming on the PlayStation and I can assure you it really does make a massive difference from his feedback.
• Filmmaker Mode: This mode turns off motion smoothing to preserve the original vision of the filmmaker, offering a more authentic movie-watching experience.
• HDR Effect: Enhances standard dynamic range content to HDR quality, improving contrast and colour. This one was also quite impressive.

Truly Flexible Connectivity — Connect Anything & Everything.

The LG OLED Evo 55C3 comes with quite a few advanced connectivity options, as follows:

• Four HDMI 2.1 Ports: Ideal for the latest gaming consoles and HD content.
• Three USB Ports: Impressive and makes it possible to connect a wide range of external devices.
• Optical Digital Audio Output: For connecting to external audio systems for an even more immersive sound experience — imagine that given the audio on this TV is already quite impressive!
• Ethernet & Wi-Fi: For stable and fast internet connections which enhances the streaming experience across all apps and use cases.

Gaming Performance — Made To Play!

The LG OLED Evo 55C3, from what I saw my son doing on it with a PlayStation, is clearly designed for superior gaming experiences. I did my homework and these are some of the reasons why it sparkles in the gaming arena:

• HDMI 2.1a Support: Includes Quick Media Switching VRR (QMS-VRR), which eliminates the black screen delay when switching between different sources or content formats.
• NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium: These technologies provide smoother gameplay by eliminating screen tearing and reducing stuttering, which is crucial for competitive gaming.
• Game Switcher: An easy-access hub for all gaming-related settings, enhancing the ease of use.

These features and functionalities significantly elevate the gaming experience for users of the LG OLED Evo 55C3 and I can assure you things will never be the same at home for this express purpose following the upgrade from our 12-year-old LED TV!

Conclusion — What Does It All Mean?

The LG OLED Evo 55C3 TV sets a new standard in Kenya’s television market, combining innovative visual and audio technologies with an advanced AI-enabled TV platform and superior design.

It caters to a broad range of needs and preferences, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to invest in a high-quality TV that will remain relevant and perform at the highest levels for years to come.

Whether for intense gaming sessions, movie nights, or daily viewing, the LG OLED Evo 55C3 promises to deliver an exceptional TV experience that is second to none.

Finally, as of this writing, for customers in Kenya, the LG OLED Evo 55C3 is available at a special price of Kes. 239,995, a significant discount from its usual price of Kes. 281,995. This offer includes free delivery and wall mounting services, making it an attractive option for those looking to upgrade their home entertainment system. Get it here: https://bit.ly/3WvXeGR