LG has whipped up what it believes to be the "world's first" 1,000Hz 1080p gaming monitor, and the only question in my head is a resounding "why?" I don't like being a grump when it comes to absurd refresh rates made for esports-style gaming, and I do dabble a little in Overwatch myself. Nevertheless, I'm not convinced it's a panel even competitive players will care about right now.

Introduced in a press release, LG claims the 24.5-inch UltraGear 25G590B is the "world’s first Full HD gaming monitor with a native 1000Hz refresh rate." By that, the screen maker means it's not leveraging dual resolution modes and integrated scaling to dial down a 4K screen to 1080p to achieve faster speeds, meaning the lucrative refresh rate is a default trait.

The pitch is the same as always: 1,000Hz will help competitive players "track opponents and scan in-game environments efficiently, supporting faster reaction times and more tactical decision making." It's a line you've likely heard before when researching speedy screens, but the idea also relies on other features like efficient motion blur techniques.

LG's solution to the latter is "Motion Blur Reduction Pro," a feature that should help combat any ghosting or smeering in fast-paced visuals. The idea is that, despite rapid movements, you'll still see subtle glimpses of opponents, shadow changes, or anything other visual information that'll help give you an edge in-game. It also aids overall accuracy when popping a shot at enemies in the distance, since you're more likely to hit them rather than the space they stood in milliseconds before.

Again, I'm aware I'm being grumpy about 1,000Hz monitors as a concept, and I'm willing to be proven wrong about their place in the screen scene right now. I want you to keep in mind, though, that very few rigs out there will be hitting a frame rate that can remotely satiate the panel, and you'll need to spend a bomb on graphics cards and other upgrades to even come close.

I also like to think that, since most players will be using under 500Hz to play Overwatch, Valorant, and other popular competitive shooters, players will still end up top of their game. That is to say that a 1,000Hz display isn't going to transform you into an esports star overnight, and while there's every chance that hitting those figures will improve your reaction times, there's more to the sport than the panel you pick.

The LG UltraGear 25G590B will bring native 1,000Hz refresh rates to the table in the second half of 2026. While the screen maker's head says it's a "defining moment for gaming monitors,” I'm wondering whether speed is becoming less of an alluring pitch now we've hit quaduple digits.

• Gaming monitors at Amazon
• LG monitors at Amazon

Looking for a console-friendly screen? Swing by the best monitors for PS5 for some solid panel picks.

I'm not being funny, but picking a gaming monitor can be pretty painful. You'd think shopping for a new panel would be enjoyable, but it normally means having to decide whether you want to invest in a higher resolution display or one that can hit faster refresh rates for competitive gaming.

However, the screen scene has changed for the better, and Prime Day monitor deals include dual resolution screens that'll save you from making difficult decisions. Specifically, you'll want to check out the LG UltraGear 32GX870A-B, as it's a version of my best gaming monitor pick that's down to $999.99 from $1,399.99.

Okay, look, $1,000 is a lot to pay for a gaming monitor. I don't blame you if you'd rather aim for a cheaper UDH screen or even a QHD OLED panel for closer to $500. But the secret sauce here is that dual resolution panel tech, as you're effectively getting a 4K 240Hz and 1080p 480Hz screen in one.

Being able to hop between 4K and 1080p with the push of a button has completely changed my approach to PC gaming. Before trying the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B's Dual Resolution mode, I'd normally sacrifice hitting the fastest refresh rates in the name of having access to native 4k. This worked perfectly fine for playing big adventures with UHD visuals applied, but high resolutions aren't so helpful when it comes to competitive shooters like Overwatch 2.

So, rather than restricting my setup to 4K, I now switch to 1080p 480Hz when the need for faster refresh rates arises. Romps like Overwatch 2 can boost fps to ridiculous heights at 1080p if you're using one of the best graphics cards, and being able to switch on pixel-perfect full HD scaling allows me to avoid downscaling issues.

Simply put, LG's Dual Resolution mode helps its monitors double up as fast refresh rate screens and ultra-sharp 4K displays. While I'm fairly certain some of you will still want to pick up a specific competitive-grade display like the Sony Inzone M10S or even faster 1080p 600Hz screens, the UltraGear 32GX870A-B strikes a more versatile balance than single-res displays.

Dual Resolution shenanigans aside, the 32GX870A-B is still a phenomenal OLED gaming monitor. It pretty much packs the same vibrant punch as the 32GS95UE-B, achieving ultra-deep black levels, rich colors that make a ridiculous difference at 4K and 1080p, and HDR True Black 400 certification. The only difference I can actually spot between these two models is that the first version packs “Pixel Sound” built-in speakers that use exciters behind the panel to enhance audio, whereas the 32GX870A-B sticks with a conventional setup.

Would I spend more on the model with Pixel Sound? Absolutely not, and ditching the extra perk actually resolves my price grip with LG's Dual Resolution display. I'm not big into the idea of paying over a grand on any monitor, so the fact that there's a cheaper version available this Prime Day is a huge win in my book.

• More gaming monitors at Amazon
• Check out gaming TVs at Amazon

Looking for more seasonal savings? Swing by Prime Day gaming PC deals for rig offers, Prime Day PS5 deals for console discounts, and Prime Day Nintendo Switch deals for portable price cuts.

I kicked off the summer by finally upgrading my old LCD TV with a 55-inch LG OLED C4. I wasn't originally planning on splurging as much on a new console screen, but now that my eyeballs have become accustomed to its deliciously deep blacks and vivid colors, the purchase feels completely justified.

That said, I do have one regret - I wish I'd waited for larger versions to drop in price, as you can currently grab the 65-inch LG OLED C4 for $1,299.99 at Best Buy. That's the exact same price tag as the 55-incher, and while MSRPs are a little bit different in the UK, the fact that US players can get the larger version without spending more stings a little.

I reside in the UK, so I ended up grabbing my 55-inch C4 for £899 at Richer Sounds. Comparatively, the 65-inch version is going for £1,199, meaning there's a much wider gap between the two than in the US. Yes, that does mean I got a pretty sweet deal on the 144Hz LG OLED screen, but with discounts emerging ahead of Prime Day, there's a chance the larger models could end up cheaper than I paid.

I want to stress that I'm over the moon with my OLED C4, even if you can grab the 65-inch version without spending more in the US. I grabbed the TV just after getting the Nintendo Switch 2, and the screen does wonders for Ninty's new handheld in TV mode. The colors pop ridiculously hard compared to my old LCD panel, and it's nice having a display that can cut through the daylight supplied by my unfortunately placed living room windows.

Keep in mind that I also review the best gaming TVs, and that means I've experienced firsthand what flagships like the LG OLED G4 are capable of. I'm also fully aware that 2025 models like the G5 and C5 are now serving up even better specs with faster refresh rates and better brightness. Yet, I'm not convinced that paying vastly more for any of those models is worthwhile unless you're a panel purist, and the results are going to blow you away regardless.

If you're wondering whether grabbing an OLED screen like the C4 is the right move, there are two core benefits I want you to keep front and center in your mind. The first is that thanks to proper certification, these screens can produce proper HDR and tap into better visuals where supported. My older TV allegedly boasted High Dynamic Range support, but in reality, it lacked the brightness to give consoles like the Switch 2 and PS5 a proper canvas to work with.

The other perk is faster refresh rates, as the C4's 144Hz abilities are going to futureproof your setup. You might not have much need for anything faster than that right now, especially since HDMI cables tap out at 4K 120Hz. However, if you're planning on adding a gaming PC to your living room (I use this stylish retro mini PC) or want to be prepared when next-gen consoles rock up with faster frame rates, this screen already has you covered.

It's well worth noting that you don't have to splash out on an OLED TV to gain better specs. Cheaper mini LED alternatives like the Hisense U7N are available and can offer up 144Hz visuals and impressive brightness for well under $1,000, and even the 75-inch version is down to $798 at Amazon right now. That said, colors and contrast won't quite hit the same pleasing notes, and I'd personally rather trade size for deeper blacks and extra vibrancy.

I'm only half joking when I say I'm mad at anyone who buys the 65-inch LG OLED C4. I'll be here telling myself that I don't have the space, even if it also shows up for the same price as the 55-inch version in the UK, and I'd say it's well worth considering the investment before the 2024 models start to vanish from shelves.

Still searching for the perfect panel? Swing by the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X and best 120Hz 4K TVs for more screen options. Alternatively, check out the best gaming monitors for desktop-friendly displays.

As a middle child, I live in the shadow of my sisters, and I feared the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B would suffer the same fate. Not only does it have a 32-inch 4K dual resolution monster as a sibling, but it also has to fight with other 1440p 480Hz contenders for attention. Thankfully, the 27-inch OLED screen does enough to justify not locking it in the attic and placing it on a diet of fish heads, and while it’s got some brutish QHD cousins out there to contend with, it manages to hold its own.

Since the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B sits at the top end of the best gaming monitor spectrum, it wears a premium $999.99 price tag. Yes, that is expensive for a 1440p display, but not unreasonable since we’re talking about a WOLED panel that drives things to 480Hz. Plus, it undercuts its main rival, the $1,099.99 / £1,199 Sony Inzone M10S, while providing a pretty similar approach to punchy competitive visuals.

The 27GX790A-B shares the same DNA as my current favorite screen, the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B, but it does stick to a specific niche. I can certainly see why players would want to stick solely to 1440p to hit 480Hz rather than using a 1080p dual resolution mode, but pricing does leave me wondering if those of you who are really serious about esports-grade specs would choose this panel over faster alternatives.

Design

At a glance, you can tell the UltraGear 27GX790A-B grew up alongside the 32GS95UE-B. Both monitors wear a hexagon pedestal stand and a similar bezel, but LG has snuck a few changes in there. For starters, the 27-inch screen’s base is metal, which helps it feel more premium than its $1,399.99 sibling. More importantly, it’s thinner, which helps give it the same low-profile vibe as the Inzone M10S. At least, it’s similar when it comes to sliding soundbars and other desktop bits over it since it doesn’t match Sony’s slick 360° pivoting mechanism.

That’s not to say the 27GX790A-B doesn’t pivot; it will swing from side to side and rotate. It’s also height adjustable, so you can position things to your liking. It’s just that LG hasn’t stepped up its stand with this 27-inch model, and while I do appreciate a “not broke, don’t fix it” approach, it does help the Inzone M10S stand out a little more.

Since we’re talking about a smaller 27-inch panel with fewer extras within, LG has switched up the back of the 27GX790A-B. Rather than using a curved enclosure, the model instead makes use of a hexagon hump that’s accented by RGB lighting strips. That same area features the monitor’s IO, which just so happens to be facing outwards rather than under a lip this time around. That’s my preferred approach since I find it easier to manage cables and plug things in from the front.

Just like most other monitor makers, LG has an aversion to buttons. The result is naturally one of those joystick nubs that every screen uses for OSD controls, and if you’re a first-time reader, let it be known I don’t get on with those. The 27GX790A-B does ease the pain by placing it under the bottom lip rather than flat to the back, and it’s easier to rock thanks to its larger size. But, I now simply crave other control methods since some screens include a remote, and it’s always going to be something I’ll shout about.

Features

The 27GX790A-B has a pretty specific mission – deliver snappy 1440p 480Hz visuals with minimal distractions. That apparently includes not letting other features get in the way of that quest, as this specific panel is armed with fewer extras than its counterparts. Notably, you’re not getting dual resolution capabilities here, which makes technical sense since it’s a QHD display that can’t tap into the same 1080p to 4K perfect scaling techniques.

The issue here is that it’s not just the more expensive 32-inch UltraGear that can pull off dual resolution mode – the 27-inch LG 27G850A-B can do it too, albeit using an IPS display. That means the 27GX790A-B is really geared towards players who specifically need an OLED 1440p panel while being able to hit 480Hz, but depending on your PC build, you might need to fall back to 1080p to do that in most shooters. For the record, I was able to pull it off in Overwatch 2 using the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and low settings, so that gives you an idea of the oomph you’ll actually need.

All that begs the question: are 1440p 480Hz monitors a niche? They certainly feel like a better fit for high-end rigs that can easily boost fps to match higher refresh rates. However, their very nature contradicts conventions within the competitive space that tie into using 1080p screens to maximise performance. I do think we’re at the stage where everyday PC players are jumping from full HD to QHD, but it’s worth asking yourself if you’ll benefit more from hitting a straight down the middle resolution rather than being able to switch from 1080p to 4K depending on what you’re playing.

Another feature missing in the 27GX790A-B is speakers. It’s not entirely surprising, given it’s targeting competitive players who’ll use a headset anyway, but this does factor into the higher price of LG’s QHD panel. You are still getting a USB hub, though not one with Power Delivery for your Steam Deck or alternative gaming handheld. The overall package places emphasis on the price tag being directly linked to the 1440p 480Hz OLED panel above any other extras or perks, and that might have you questioning where you want to put your money.

On the OLED side of things, the 27GX790A-B taps into LG’s usual array of protective features. ScreenMove, Saver, and Image Cleaning all help mitigate the long-term effects associated with the screen type, like image retention and the dreaded burn-in. The software suite isn’t quite as intricate as what’s included with the Dough Spectrum Black 32, a monitor that happens to use an LG WOLED panel under its hood. Regardless, it’ll certainly keep the display healthy in the long term, even if the passage of time is cruel to these particular panels.

Performance

Throughout my UltraGear LG 27G850A-B road tests, I was focused on seeing whether the 1440p panel could provide a competitive edge while still looking the part during slower-paced adventures. This is a screen that’s going to suit high-end PC players who don’t want to ever dial back on resolution, instead sticking with 1440p to boost frame rates beyond comfortable. If you find yourself playing with QHD presets enabled as a necessity, this perhaps isn’t the screen for you, but it is out to impress if you can spare the system performance.

Let’s kick off with my experience playing Overwatch 2 using the 27G850A-B, as the hero shooter really helped the OLED screen shine. Blizzard’s FPS frolic boasts one of the highest maximum frame rates out there since it will happily run at 600fps, and most high-end GPUs should be able to at least match LG’s 480Hz refresh rate of choice. The panel’s 0.03ms GtG response time and excellent motion clarity mean that zipping around maps will both feel slick and still benefit your personal performance levels on the visual side of things, and that makes all the difference when trying to spot pesky hitscan characters from the air as Pharah.

Playing at 1440p does naturally help with clarity too, but I do think 1080p holds up pretty fine on 27-inch screens. Therefore, I’m hesitant to say that the jump to QHD is a game-changer even if it does mean less pixelated edges and a boost to in-game sightseeing. I’d argue that making use of an OLED panel benefits the latter more since you’re getting those inky blacks and vivid colors that make colorful and darker maps pop.

I also like to dabble with Marvel Rivals when testing monitors, but the third-person comic book caper doesn’t really make full use of a 480Hz panel. More often than not, I find that the screen can’t steadily maintain that high a frame rate across all maps, no matter what panel you’re using, but playing at 1440p does mean you’ll hit those higher numbers easier. You’re in for a visual treat regardless, and the hero romp could become more optimized for competitive play in the future.

When it comes to brightness and HDR abilities, I always like to take a little trip to Night City. I specifically like to check how the glare of Cyberpunk 2077’s neon street lights is replicated and how it handles those shadowy corners of the metropolis comparatively. The display’s 600 nits capabilities with High Dynamic Range enabled help it pull off some excellent results that can keep up with other WOLED models, but it’s certainly not the brightest display out there. I found that SDR levels struggled at times to completely cut through my daylight-flooded office, and reflections were a bit of an issue thanks to my left-hand window.

I’m still on a DOOM replay ahead of the Dark Ages, so I’ve been using the opening stages in my monitor tests. The aggressive reds of Mars come across ridiculously well on LG’s OLED screen, and 1440p at 27 inches is always going to look pretty nice even when up against 4K alternatives. That said, I can see why someone would want to invest in the QD-OLED Alienware AW2725Q since its lofty 166ppi does provide strikingly sharp results without much Quantum Dot compromise.

Make no mistake, the UltraGear 27G850A-B packs punchy performance that gives it a seat at the 1440p 480Hz table. It’s worth remembering that this is really the QHD bar right now, so you’re paying a premium for the fattest possible refresh rate at this resolution. The display does a grand job of reliably hitting those notes in competitive scenarios while still providing lavish OLED visuals across all genres, but you’ll absolutely want to make sure your rig has the guts to handle QHD across all your games.

Should you buy the LG UltraGear 27G850A-B?

The UltraGear 27G850A-B is one of the slickest 1440p gaming monitors on the market right now, and has the OLED chops to both provide gorgeously vibrant visuals and hit competitive speeds. However, not every player is going to benefit from having 480Hz at their disposal, and LG’s dual resolution models could actually serve players with better versatility.

At the same time, there will absolutely be competitive players out there who want the fastest 1440p screen possible. I want to stress that even if you do play at QHD resolutions, you’ll need a beefy PC build to actually hit frame rates that tie in with 480Hz. That narrows the pool of potential buyers down quite a bit, but that’s exactly the same position the Sony Inzone M10S is in.

TLDR? Pick up the LG UltraGear 27G850A-B if you want a super speedy 1440p monitor for under $1,000. Otherwise, you’ll want to explore 4K dual resolution options or a cheaper QHD panel with dialled-back specs.

How I tested the LG UltraGear 27G850A-B

For two weeks, I used the LG UltraGear 27G850A-B as part of my main gaming PC setup for everything from general work tasks to benchmarking. During that time, I used specific games to test the monitor's visual capabilities, like Cyberpunk 2077, Overwatch 2, DOOM, and Marvel Rivals. I also used specific scenarios to test brightness, HDR, and responsiveness to compare them to other models within the same specs and price range.

For more information on how we test gaming monitors, swing by our full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I have been hoping, saving, and waiting for a Black Friday OLED TV deal this year. I got a 4K TV in August of 2020, and although it's served me very well, it's starting to get backlight bleed - an annoying degradation of the display where its backlight rings shine through the panel and become easy to spot. As someone who reviews all sorts of technology for a living, I know that OLED TVs are the ones worth spending money on these days, but they're not the easiest to afford.

This year I've been scraping money together where I can, and I've been watching the price of LG's 55-inch OLED C4 like a hawk because I know that it's the perfect TV for me, but this brand's screens only enter my price range once or twice a year. I've been waiting for it to drop as close to the $1,000 mark as possible - mainly because I still want to be able to pay my rent. Black Friday has finally delivered the goods, because it's now down to $1,196.99 at Amazon, giving it a $300 discount.

Besides a blip on the price history data that sort of looks like someone pressed the wrong button somewhere, this is the cheapest this screen has ever fallen to. A brief Black Friday OLED TV deal brought it down to $1,096 about two weeks ago before it was immediately hoisted back upward. The 55-inch models of LG's OLEDs can be tough to find deals for because they're one of the most popular sizes in the range, and stock can disappear in a heartbeat.

Today's best Black Friday TV deals

• Amazon: 4K from $139.99
• Best Buy: OLED from $599.99
• Walmart: QLED from $248
• Samsung: save up to $4,000
• B&H Photo: from $119.95

Should you buy the LG OLED C4?

So why is it the LG OLED C4 that I'm so desperate to go for? Other brands do make OLED displays these days, and some of them can be a bit cheaper than LG. Well, for starters, I know that LG is the company that makes the OLED technology for a lot of smaller TV brands, so you know you're getting the purest form of panel straight from the source if you buy from them.

Next, it's the 55-inch size I'm looking for because that suits my home the most. A 65-inch 4K display might actually look like better quality due to viewing distances and pixel densities, but I think that size of screen would be a bit intense for the room I'd put it in. I think 55-inch is the best value spot for a living room screen size worth investing in, without overspending on the sizes TV manufacturers tell you you need.

Then there are specs, which might help you to decide which of the best gaming TVs is the best for you. I watch a lot of movies and TV shows, and my time for viewing them is sacred. I want to make it as close to a cinema atmosphere as possible, and an OLED panel combined with Dolby Vision support will really bring that feeling home. Next, I want to use it for PC gaming, so I'd like a high refresh rate. The C4 sports a stunning 144Hz refresh rate that my Maingear Zero Ruby will absolutely be able to make use of.

I wouldn't wait around if any of this sounds relatable to you. LG OLEDs are popular choices, and I'd expect the 55-inch model to fly off the shelves this Black Friday.

There are other offers to make the most of if this is out of your price range. Black Friday Meta Quest deals, Black Friday Xbox deals, and Black Friday CPU deals might get you a bigger saving that's more achievable for you.

The LG OLED C3 sometimes like to taunt me during sales. It's the one gaming TV I always feel is primed for discounts, but I sometimes end up finding it with a higher price tag than newer models. Well, today's the day the 120Hz 4K panel breaks its unfortunate price cut curse, as the display is finally down to a record low I can get on board with.

Over at Amazon, you can now pick up a 65-Inch LG OLED C3 for $1,296.99 (was $1,499.99), thanks to a delicious $203 discount. In fact, it's currently the same price as the 55-inch version for whatever reason, demonstrating that there's still some MSRP weirdness going on with last year's model. Not that I'm complaining, as being able to grab one of the best gaming TVs around for under $1,300 makes it feel like Black Friday TV deals have come early.

As for what the OLED C3 has been up to price-wise over 2024, LG's TV has been slowly descending for a while. That's what's naturally supposed to happen with last year's models, but it has been a little bit irritating to see it sometimes jump up higher than fresh displays. In fairness, it's the 55-inch version that usually falls into this trap, which is perhaps why we're still seeing issues in that department. That's what you get for wanting a "normal" sized TV, I guess.

Should you buy the LG OLED C3?

Opting for the LG OLED C3 could be a sure-fire way to save money and still end up with tremendous gaming specs. Yes, it will mean missing out on the generational upgrades provided by the LG OLED G4 and its kin, but if we're being real, last year's premium panel is still going to serve as a mighty PS5 and TV Series X TV, particularly for those of you who love fast-paced shooters.

What I will say is that, in 2024, refresh rates above 60Hz are becoming a norm, with even cheaper entries like the Hisense U7N serving as a more approachable option. That particularly display might even show up among other 120Hz 4K TV Black Friday deals when the sales kick off, and there should even be alternatives for around $500, albeit without a glorious OLED panel.

Simply put, the less you spend, the less fancy your visuals should be. Don't get me wrong, cheaper mini LED tech can produce outstanding results, and response times are generally top-notch on 120Hz displays designed around high frame rate gaming. Where things can really start to matter is when watching HDR content and 4K Blu-ray, as MLA (Micro Lens Array) tech works wonders for movies.

If that sounds like something you'd personally prioritize, you'll maybe want to check out the LG OLED G3, as it's currently down to $1,996.99 from $2,796.99 at Amazon. At just under $2,000, it's hardly a spur of the moment deal decision, and I'd urge you to check out our review and do some homework on the former flagship. Personally, while I have no doubts that it'll produce phenomenal results in gaming, I can't see myself spending the extra $700 just to elevate the three UHD Blu-rays I own (even if Pray absolutely slaps on premium panels like this.)

Looking for more screen savings? Swing by the best Black Friday 75-inch TV deals and best Black Friday monitor deals for different sizes. Alternatively, take a peek at the best Black Friday curved monitor deals if you fancy something more immersive.

In many ways, I regret ever laying eyes on the new LG OLED G4, as the speedy gaming TV has spoiled living room screens for me. That wouldn’t be so much of a problem if the premium panel were remotely in my price range, but the 144Hz heartthrob is trying to lure me back to it right now with a rather attractive $600 off the 65-inch model. 

You can now grab the 65-inch LG OLED G4 at Amazon for $2,799.99 (was $3,399.99), and the 18% saving knocks it back down to its lowest price. The discount matches up with previous Prime Day discounts but marks only the second time it has dropped below $3,000 since its release. Keep in mind this premium gaming TV is a 2024 model and one that can completely revamp your PS5 or Xbox Series X setup with an ultra-fast 144Hz refresh rate and incredible 4K upscaling abilities. 

It’s needless to say even at its lower price, the OLED G4 is one of the most expensive gaming TVs out there, and those of you with a high-spec setup might be eying up last year’s LG OLED G3 instead. However, after spending most of the summer playing console and PC games on this glorious screen, I think it’s well worth up-spending on the 2024 version, especially if you’ve got a budget at this level anyway.  

Should you buy the LG OLED G4? 

The LG OLED G4 has made a big impression on me, so much so that I swiftly declared it the best gaming TV in 2024. That’s not an accolade I was willing to just hand out, but the colors, contrast, and level of 4K upscaling this screen provides more than justifies its premium price point. 

To play devil’s advocate, I would expect no less from a TV that costs over $3,000, and I’m fully aware that the panel’s MSRP is monstrous. Put it this way – my personal budget more or less caps out at around $1,000, meaning I’m more likely to go with something like the Hisense U7N. Even that display’s mini LED capabilities and 144Hz refresh rate are more than enough to provide a sensational living room gaming experience, but my whole situation is best summed up by that Distracted Boyfriend Meme. 

Okay, here’s the deal – I couldn’t afford to buy the LG OLED G4 outright at full price, but with a $600 discount, I’m tempted to find a way to get hold of one. If you’d asked me the same question before just the other night, I wouldn’t have gone to such financial lengths, but after playing Overwatch 2 at 120Hz on both the G4 and Hisense’s cheaper mini LED challenger, I get why players would splash out on the former.

It ultimately all comes down to upscaling, as while I couldn’t have told you that Overwatch 2 was running at 1080p on PS5 to hit 120Hz on the G4, I could immediately notice a difference using Hisense’s model. That’s not to say the U7N does a bad job handling full HD visuals, but the LG OLED screen’s AI Super Upscaling clearly does a lot of heavy lifting, in turn justifying its price point. 

Of course, there are plenty of other models out there that could very well bring the challenge to the G4, and it’s not exactly a fair fight to pit an OLED flagship against a mid-range mini LED screen. The point I’m really trying to make is that investing in LG’s expensive display comes with potentially unbeatable benefits, and discounts like the one featured here could be key to actually affording the punchy panel. 

Looking for more screens? Check out the best 120Hz 4K TVs and best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X for high-spec models. Alternatively, swing by the best gaming monitor if you need a display for your desk.

Reports circled this week that Meta and LG would be collaborating on a future mixed-reality headset, and the other day Meta confirmed the news. While we don't have confirmation of what the end product will be, most are assuming it's the Meta Quest Pro 2. 

While getting a company with the OLED prowess of LG to make a premium VR headset is intriguing, I honestly couldn't be less interested. 

The Meta Quest Pro took a big swing and a miss at our best VR headset list, losing out for its expensive cost, dreadful battery life, and oodles of privacy concerns. While the reception of the headset was pretty dire across the board, you could argue that it paved the way for Apple to capitalize on its misgivings with a premium headset of its own. 

The Apple Vision Pro has now launched in the US, and although it caters to more of a "spatial computing" market than a direct gaming one, it has the wider VR market and a mainstream Apple crowd completely hooked. It's certainly had a better reception from the off than the Meta Quest Pro. Of course, the Vision Pro's bubble of launch excitement has already begun to burst, because while it seems like an innovative and trend-setting device, it is prohibitively expensive for the majority of people. 

Paying over $3.5 grand for a first-of-its-kind mixed-reality device is not something most people can do on a whim. In fact, most tech journalists and pundits have said the device feels like a toe in the water - a test for a much more affordable version at some point down the line. In other words, Apple is merely experimenting with a small market of consumers, purposefully limiting its own risk in case its first foray into this technology doesn't work out. The plan would seem to hinge on opening things up to the mainstream with a cheaper version later.

Apple is the sort of luxury technology brand that can get away with that kind of tactic because it has built up that trust and reputation over the years. It has fans who are willing to defend a $3,500 device until they're blue in the face - even if they can't afford to buy it. Meta, Facebook, and Mark Zuckerberg are not brands that have built up the same level of good faith. Personally, if they plan to put out another premium headset to compete with the Apple Vision Pro, I don't see a way that doesn't end in tears.

The Meta Quest 3 has been competing in its own right. It offers a mainstream, more affordable alternative to Apple's ski mask while offering slightly downgraded features. Moreover, it appeals to the established standalone VR gaming market that exists from the Quest 2. Surely, if anything, Zuckerberg should be recognizing that that's the market to keep wrapped around his finger - especially when going after the premium business crowd has proven such a failure for Meta previously.

It's not just Meta that's fallen short of that market, either. HTC's Vive XR Elite failed to capture the Metaversal buzz, and that's a company that's already established a solid following from PCVR devices like the HTC Vive Pro 2. To me, that says that the high-end audiences aren't really interested in standalone goggles that cost an arm and a leg - perhaps that audience doesn't exist at all, and let's face it, anyone who does fall into that category will probably already have bought an Apple Vision Pro.

As far as LG's involvement goes, I can't imagine they'll be drafted in for anything more than OLED technology. LG supplies its OLED expertise to so many devices these days because it's one of the leading manufacturers of that type of panel. This would certainly be a feather in the Quest Pro 2's cap because OLED displays in PSVR 2 and the Apple Vision Pro do outclass Meta currently. If you combine the Pancake lenses of the Quest Pro and Quest 3 with an OLED display, you will undoubtedly get a brilliant result, but if it isn't priced correctly, what's the point?

Who knows what the future may hold for Meta's Quest devices? Could this LG collaboration be for something new entirely? I for one would be a lot more interested in a PC-dedicated VR headset from Meta, especially since there's a growing gap for those devices in the current market.

Want to prepare for PC VR gaming? Check out the best gaming PC, the best graphics cards, and the best RAM for gaming.

Cable management drives me round the bend, so it’s needless to say I’m excited about the LG OLED M4. Just like its predecessor, the new panel cuts the cord using a wireless Zero Connect Box that beams inputs wirelessly, meaning you can pop your consoles and set top boxes out of sight. Theoretically, the proprietary tech should bring us one step closer to a future untethered by HDMI cables and other gubbins, but there are a few potential caveats that are haunting the high spec gamer in me. 

Before we get to that, it’s worth covering why the LG OLED M4 could be one of the best gaming TV options in 2024. For starters, we’re talking about a screen that pairs the company’s brightest panel with its in house MLA (micro lens array) tech, meaning you’re getting something that’ll outperform most OLED and mini LED screens on the market. Under the hood, it’s also armed with a shiny new Alpha 11 processor that’ll spruce up your visuals with AI enhancements. Rather than being another instance of jumping on the bandwagon, branding the tech as ‘artificial intelligence’ is somewhat appropriate, as the chip will help intelligently adjust contrast and sharpness.

Of course, those are traits you’ll also find in the LG OLED G3 and the upcoming OLED G4, so it’s reasonable to frame wireless connectivity as the M4’s enticing tech cherry on top. However, it’s LG’s magical cord cutting box that’s giving me pause for concern, particularly when it comes to experiences with higher stakes. After all, wireless tech always comes with caveats linked to latency, and while casual players might not notice a difference, anyone that’s used to using a premium gaming monitor may say otherwise.

It’s worth noting that the LG OLED M3 didn’t suffer from any noticeable latency issues, and anything around 10ms and under is considered acceptable within the realm of TVs. The difference this time around is that the M4 supports up to 4K 144Hz, meaning it targets players who are more likely to play esports games. Naturally, the fact we're talking about a living room TV means it inherently targets PS5 and Xbox Series X players, who will both be capped to 120Hz and likely aren't thinking too hard about response times.

However, if you’re looking to hook up a premium gaming PC using HDMI 2.1 and experience the same responsiveness as you would at your desk, I suspect you’ll need to look elsewhere. Naturally, I’d need to test the screen for myself to see whether this is the case, but transmitting and processing a wireless signal that can keep up with a hardwired connection feels like an improbability. Simply put, you'll be faced with above latency 10ms, and that you'll potentially feel the difference if you're used to speedier screens. 

I’m also wary of the fact that wireless connections are inherently less reliable. That’s not to say the M4 will have any consistent issues transmitting a signal, but connectivity issues aren’t completely improbable. 

Admittedly, these sorts of thoughts aren’t going to go through the majority of players' minds when looking for a TV. I mean, there’s a reason enthusiasts pick up the best gaming monitors in place of a traditional living room screen, and that’s not going to chance any time soon. I guess I’m just acutely aware that while adding wireless connectivity and fancy AI processing to displays is nifty, it’s easy to forget about the drawbacks tied to responsiveness and speed.

Looking for something for your desktop? Check out the best ultrawide gaming monitors and extend your screen space. Alternatively, check out the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X if you want to stick to console gaming.

The LG OLED C2 is one of my favorite gaming screens, and I'm thrilled to say that a Prime Day TV deal has brought it back down to its lowest price. For just over a grand, you can currently grab a display that'll let your PS5 and Xbox Series X strut its 4K 120Hz stuff, not to mention it'll transform games and movies with its exceptional contrast capabilities. You'll need to be quick, though, as this is a proper 'Big Deal Days' offer that'll likely vanish come midnight.

Over at Amazon right now, the 55-inch LG OLED C2 is down from $1,499.99 to just $1,096.99, thanks to the hearty Prime Day gaming deal mentioned above. While the best gaming TV contender has popped up for a similar amount before, it's still the lowest price on record for the premium panel. Naturally, that means there's never been a better time to pick one up, especially if you'd rather upgrade your living room setup sooner than later.

In our review, we praise the LG OLED C2 for its surprising brightness, killer 4K 120Hz capabilities, and its Game Optimizer suite of settings. In fact, we reckon it's pretty similar to the newer OLED C3 model, despite releasing in 2022. So, rather than trying to keep up with the Jones's, it makes more sense to pick up the slightly older version for a chunk less.

Not to sound like a broken record, but you'll have to be speedy if you want to snag this Prime Day TV deal. While some offers are ultimately nothing to do with Amazon's Big Deal Days, this one proudly wears a red sale badge. That means it'll inevitably return to full price again at midnight, which means you'll hope there's still stock by the time Black Friday rolls around.

More of today's best Prime Day TV deals

• 4K TVs: Insignia, Toshiba, and Amazon starting from $169
• Fire TVs: save up to $210 on Omni and 4-Series
• QLED TVs: TCL, Samsung, and Hisense starting from $499.99
• OLED TVs: save up to $600 on LG models
• LG OLED C2 55-inch: now $1,096.99 (was $1,499.99) at Amazon 
• HDMI cables: high-speed cables for as little as $8
• Roku: streaming sticks from $21
• Fire Stick: Lite model now starts at $17.99
• TV stands: Save up to $80 with coupons

We're rounding up plenty more Prime Day gaming deals this week, as well as the best Prime Day PC deals and the latest Prime Day monitor deals if you're after something a little more permanent. 

I thought I knew what to expect before setting up the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE-B, but this gaming monitor has changed my whole opinion on ultrawide screens. That’s not to say I wasn’t into the idea before testing the curved OLED monster in question, but it’s now clear that large, engulfing panels can provide the kind of immersive experience you’d expect from a VR headset. Do I think 45-inches is overkill for a desktop screen? Well, yes, but it overwhelms my eyes in the best way possible with its colossal curves.

Admittedly, my opinion on the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE-B has changed since I wrestled with my initial unboxing. Initially, I scoffed at its ridiculous size, and my partner couldn’t quite understand why I’d swapped my usual gaming monitor out with ‘a weird shaped tele’. At a glance, that's exactly what this screen looks like, and it pretty much engulfs any spare space that used to exist on my gaming desk. Now that I’ve spent a few weeks with the display, I now feel like we owe LG’s panel an apology, as gaming TVs can only dream of matching its specs and abilities. 

Priced at $1,699.99, the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE-B is almost expensive to a fault. Sure, the premium panel’s cost is matched with cutting edge features that punch harder than any screen I’ve tried, but it feels a bit mean spirited raving about a display that 99% of you out there can’t afford, and no amount of razzle dazzle can absolve it of its financial sins. Still, I’m going to delve into why it's one of the best curved monitors around and worth the hype, even if few of you out there will get to experience its glory first hand. 

Specs

Dubbed the “world’s first 240Hz OLED monitor”, it’s clear that LG Ultragear 45GR95QE-B specs are out to impress. In fact, the 45-inch ultrawide display is probably one of the highest spec screens I’ve reviewed to date, though it trades 4K for WQHD (3440 x 1440) resolution.  

Round the back, you’ll find two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort, two USB Type A for hooking up your gaming PC peripherals, and an optical audio port. I’m actually a bit surprised to see a TOSLINK connector on the back, but it’s hardly surprising given LG’s TV heritage. However, I’m slightly confused at where they’d put the standard aux headphone out jack, as it took me about ten minutes to realise it’s left of the power button underneath. Probably more of a design complaint than a specs gripe, but having a rogue audio cable sticking out at the bottom of the monitor feels a little silly.

Design 

Since we’re already chatting about the UltraGear 45GR95QE-B’s design, let’s delve into the screen’s overall setup, aesthetic, and layout. In case I’ve not already made it clear, 45-inches is gargantuan for a monitor, and you can tell it’s not a standard affair when taking it out of the box. If you do pick one up, make sure to have another human nearby to assist, as the screen’s wide stature and weight is a bit much for one person. I used to mount 55-inch plasma TVs on a supermarket wall as a job, and I even struggled a bit getting to grips with the display’s chonky design.

Thankfully, the 45GR95QE-B comes with a ‘one click stand’, meaning you’ll be able to attach the V-shaped base with ease. This is something I appreciated when carrying out our Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 review, and I was more grateful for the design choice this time around. Once you’ve got it attached, you’ll be able to tweak things using the stand’s tilt, swivel, and height adjustments, which fill the brief but feel a tad stiff for my tastes. 

Just like many expensive monitors in 2023, the UltraGear 45GR95QE-B is almost bezel-less, but still maintains a black border round the screen. Not that you’ll be thinking about that while using the display, as its sheer size and curved ultrawide shape will envelope you like no other screen can. At first, its dominating presence was a bit much, but I eventually managed to get into an eye rhythm. That’s not a technical term, I just don’t know how to describe the sensation of instructing your peepers to automatically navigate something in a specific way without feeling like they’re drowning in a sea of visual information.

Features 

It’s hard not to get distracted by the front of the monitor, especially since its 800R curved panel is like a gaping maw looking to gobble you up. Yet, it’s worth paying attention to the back, as LG has added some RGB lighting, hammering home the gamer aesthetic. This is nothing new, as screen’s like the BenQ Mobiuz EX3210U feature similar LED strips, but LG’s setup is actually bright enough to illuminate part of my wall, albeit when the room is dark. 

The front power button also happens to be an RGB light, and it does a commendable job of painting my white desk with some rainbow underlighting. I’m not sure how much expense this adds to the monitor, but if it’s significant, I’d rather it was omitted to cut cost. However, it’s still the best attempt at monitor lighting I’ve seen so far, so even though it’s not exactly Philips Hue levels of impressive, it’s still praiseworthy. 

Lighting isn’t the only feature shared by both the Mobiuz EX3210U and UltraGear 45GR95QE-B, as LG includes a remote with its display. Personally, I think every monitor should include a remote, as I find using OSD buttons on panels infuriating, and you’ll find yourself fishing through settings more than you’d think. 

Speaking of settings, the UltraGear 45GR95QE-B has a healthy array of options within its sleek OSD menu, including various overlays, a toggle for Adaptive-sync (G-Sync compatible Freesync) settings, and ‘game mode’ presets. You’ll also be able to dial in contrast, gamma, and color settings if you’ve not got HDR switched on, and there’s picture in picture functionality too. That latter quirk is handy if you’re a streamer looking to use a console and Windows 11 on one screen, as you’ll be able to use two inputs at the same time. 

For those of you terrified at the prospect of screen burn, you’ll be pleased to hear LG provides a whole separate menu for ‘OLED care’. While I'd need to test the display over a long period to tell if general use ghosting will occur over time, features like screen savers, image cleansing, and other preventive tools should prevent any rapid onset mishaps. I’d say I highly doubt anyone will burn this monitor, but you might want to be careful if you own an OSSC upscaler, as the retro console tool has a BOB deinterlacing setting that can cause temporary image retention within moments of use. 

Performance 

To put the UltraGear 45GR95QE-B’s capabilities to the test, and give LG’s incredible curvy OLED panel a chance to shine, I used the screen to visit my regular Steam haunts. My current go to game list includes Cyberpunk 2077, Overwatch 2, and the dystopian Tony Hawk shooter Rollerdrome, and the monitor sucked me into each world like a Jumanji board. 

That said, I did experience some turbulence before landing in Night City, as I had my settings up a little too high for the Nvidia RTX 4060 currently residing in my rig to handle. In a way, I’m glad it happened, as it demonstrated the effects of inconsistent frame rates when using the monitor. I basically ended up feeling dizzy and sea sick, an effect I last felt when playing a VR game with iffy fps on the original Oculus Rift. All side effects of jittery visuals paired with the 800R curve, so you’ll want to double check settings before diving in.

Naturally, switching on DLSS 3 and adjusting settings helped balance Cyberpunk 2077, and the results were staggering. Just like with the Xeneon 27QHD240’s LG panel, the neon glow of Night City comes to life when paired with the company’s OLED tech and HDR 1000, and the 800R wrap-around effect really convinces your peripheral vision that you’re not dwelling at your desk. Not bad considering we’re talking about a monitor and not a headset like the Apple Vision Pro, even though the effect isn’t quite the same. 

The UltraGear 45GR95QE-B’s 240Hz refresh rate is perfect for fast paced shooters, and while I’m hardly an esport pro, I felt like a bit less rubbish while playing Halo Infinite and Overwatch 2. Being able to clock enemy spartans at the every edge of the screen and spin quickly to engage is exhilarating, and raining justice from above as Pharah with a responsive, ultrawide view of the map absolutely slaps. 

I’ve also been playing a bit of Tunic in short bursts, as nightly visits from a hungry fox outside reminded me it exists. It’s a lovely match for the 45GR95QE-B too, as the Zelda-link's vibrant palette pops on the curved display, and each level’s sprawling isometric layout rolls across the ultrawide screen nicely. I did sadly notice the difference in resolution compared to my usual 4K 144Hz setup when playing the indie adventure, and pixel density felt a bit lacking. 

The bigger the screen, the more you’ll benefit from a higher resolution, and 1440p is perhaps pushing it a bit when it comes to the UltraGear 45GR95QE-B. If you sit a bit further away, you probably won’t notice the difference, but this curved, ultrawide display is begging you to sit close. I’d still argue QHD on this curved display is still passable, and this is more of a size mismatch issue.

Should you buy the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE-B? 

If you’re looking to go all out on a curved monitor with a superb OLED panel and excellent gaming abilities, the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE-B is a solid investment. That price tag will haunt the soul of any PC gamer on a budget, and its 45-inch stature draws attention to the fact it's 1440p. Nevertheless, LG’s big bold belter of a display is one of the best ultrawide monitors out there, and there are few like it that’ll soak your brain with immersive visual trickery. 

Price will likely determine whether you actually buy the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE-B, and it’s certainly not a financially approachable experience. I’m also not sure if there’s a Venn diagram of players looking for a 240Hz screen and something the size of a TV, especially since it’s not designed to be played at a distance. But hey, maybe I’m wrong, and those closing thoughts don’t remotely change the fact that this monitor is top of the premium totem pole.

How I tested the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE 

For three weeks, I used the LG UltraGear 45GR95QE as my daily driver for gaming and work-related shenanigans. This provided me with a chance to put the monitor’s ultrawide aspect ratio to the test in a practical setting as well as play numerous games with a high refresh rate. My selection of games this time around includes Cyberpunk 2077, Halo Infinite, Overwatch 2, and Tunic. I also hooked up a Steam Deck dock and the Ayaneo 2S to the monitor alongside my PC, which enabled me to use all three at the same time. 

If you’d like to learn more about the way we test monitors and TVs, check out our GamesRadar hardware policy to learn more. Alternatively, feel free to reach out to me if you have any specific questions about the screen and the experience using it.  

Looking for more speedy screens? Check out the best high refresh gaming monitors and boost your FPS game performance. Alternatively, take a peek at the best monitors for PS5 if you're after a console display.

The Intel Core i5-13600K is exactly what I hoped it would be. I was talking to my brother recently about the PC I just built, and when I mentioned the gaming, the benchmarking, the content creation, and the general work I'd be doing on it, he asked if the processor was an i7 or an i9. I shook my head. 

I'm a little surprised that the i5 still isn't considered viable by a lot of folks for more demanding workloads, even if its value reputation has been growing in recent years. With the 13th generation, and to a certain extent, the last generation of Intel's chips, the i5 has become an absolute powerhouse. So much so, that I'm beginning to question who an i7 and i9 are actually for.

PC components are expensive, and with the 13th Gen i5 starting at around £289.99 / $300 just under a year after launch, a higher-tier processor than this would definitely be asking for a lot. Especially when you consider the generational overhaul a lot of modern components are demanding at present. DDR5 RAM, SSDs that are fast as hell, not to mention a bespoke graphics card and a motherboard that's compatible with it all. Together, that amounts to a small fortune, so why bother spending any more money on a higher-ranking CPU if the i5 can be everything you need?

My hope going into this review was that it could be the best CPU for gaming I'd need. It didn't disappoint.

Specs and features

There isn't much to report about the aesthetics of the 13600K. It's standard fare in the looks department compared to Intel's other chips and has the handy triangle on the bottom left corner to tell you which way up it needs to be seated on your motherboard.

The socket all of the 13th Gen Raptor Lake Intel CPUs work with is the LGA1700, which means it's the same as 12th Gen processors. The jury's still out on whether 14th Gen CPUs, which are supposedly arriving in a few months, will also use this socket. I, for one, hope they will.

One of the biggest barriers to entry for a lot of people I talk to, whether they're interested in buying one of the best gaming PCs or upgrading their own rigs, is having a motherboard that's compatible with the latest parts. With three recent generations using one socket, we'd hopefully see some increased value across the board, and more people trading up to the latest and greatest. On another note, it'll be interesting to see what more can be tapped out of this chipset when the "Raptor Lake Refresh" wave arrives.

The 13600K has 14 cores - 6 performance, and 8 efficiency (a lot more than people would typically expect of i5 processors), and 20 threads. For those that may be unaware of what these things actually mean, picture this processor as a factory with 14 workers manning some conveyor belts going in and out. This particular factory has 20 conveyor belts, which the factory workers can use to spread out their workload so nothing gets backed up and the whole operation runs like clockwork. 

The 13th Gen i5 has that aforementioned Raptor Lake architecture and will work with DDR5 and Gen 5 SSDs, so long as you have a motherboard that's compatible. One thing you are missing out on compared to an i7 or i9, is that you don't have Raptor Lake's Turbo Max 3.0, a clever feature that identifies your particular processor's most efficient cores and prioritizes them for faster speed. To be honest, though, this isn't exactly something I noticed after having hands-on time with at least one of each CPU from this generation.

In terms of raw specs, the 13600K is perhaps the closest on paper to the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700K, which I happen to have a lot of hands-on time with since it was our testing rig's processor of choice until very recently. Compared to that processor, the 13600K has a slightly faster boost clock, and more cores, but is otherwise virtually identical. In terms of feel during general PC usage, this processor actually feels more efficient and tends to run cooler, perhaps because it's slightly less power-hungry. 

Maybe most importantly, the 13600K is cheaper than a 12th Gen i7, despite being newer. The i5-13600K means you get the unlocked multiplier for overclocking from the "K". If you go for the lightly cheaper 13600KF model, you get the same multiplier, but no integrated graphics, so make sure you have one of the best graphics cards if that's the one you go for.

Performance

I've put this CPU to the test in my own personal build for the past three to four weeks, and it hasn't once let me down. In that time, I've used it for working from home, which often means having a minimum of 15 tabs open at any one time, as well as a VPN, and a few other applications running all the while. Besides that, I've done some benchmarking and gaming too, and despite all reports that 13th gen processors run hot, I've had mine in a small-form-factor build in a Corsair 2000D Airflow RGB chassis, and its temperatures have been super-manageable.

In my spare time, I do a lot of content creation for YouTube, as well as some live streaming. Coming from an older AMD Ryzen 5 3400G CPU in my previous build, live streaming is absolutely where I feel the biggest difference with the 13600K. Where streams may have struggled before, and I had to be very cutthroat about the number of programs I had open while live, the 13th Gen i5 feels like it isn't even sweating. Playing games on the same PC as I was streaming definitely didn't seem like a sustainable practice, but it's now more than possible. I'm yet to test the i5's prowess when it comes to video editing, but given how it trounced playing city-building games while I was streaming, I have no doubts it will smash any video editing demands I have for it. Particularly because it's paired in my build with Sabrent's Rocket DDR5 RAM, which is up there with the very best RAM for gaming on the market.

Then, of course, there's gaming, and this is where I think the 13th Gen i5 will win over a lot of hearts. For testing processors like this one, we'll be taking typically CPU-intensive titles and seeing how they get on. Total War: Warhammer 3, Cities Skylines, as well as other City Building/RTS games, are a great test, since they require a CPU to keep track of a lot of moving parts in the game at any one time, be it hundreds of little citizens, or full-blown Warhammer armies tearing one another to shreds with magic and physics all running rampant. 

I ran Total War's three included benchmarks and loaded up the most populated community scenarios in Cities Skylines I could find. I then tracked frame rates, temperatures, total CPU power, and Core voltages, as well as quoted percentages of CPU usage. You can see the results below.

I also turned this CPU at one of my go-to testing games, HUNT: Showdown, to see how it compared to my playtesting with the 12th Gen i7. I managed to play at 4K with mid settings enabled and hit 60-80FPS more than comfortably, and the CPU only sat between 65°C and 75°C. Granted, this was while using an Acer Predator Bifrost Intel Arc A770 OC with 16GB of VRAM, but even so, I haven't seen those frame rates with the 12700K outside of testing the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, RX 7900 XT, and RTX 4070 Ti.

Lastly, I got oddly glued to Timberborn when testing the 13th Gen i5, another City Builder that's less demanding than Total War and Cities. I asked the CPU to simulate my small community of beavers as their district grew around them and was very pleasantly surprised at the results. Using a quoted 5% of the CPU, I was hitting 120FPS on and off stream at higher resolutions, with the temperature sitting comfortably in the 65°C range.

Industry-standard benchmarking tests were a similar story, with Cinebench and Blender pulling the hottest temperatures out of the 13600K I'd seen, all the while achieving some really decent results.

One thing I do want to touch on is that when it comes to wattage, voltages, and temperatures, these numbers might seem high for a mid-ranger. That said, the 13600K manages to get similar performance to last-gen's i7 and isn't as power-hungry.

For the most part, temperatures here are very manageable - I'm not using a radiator, AIO, or water cooler. Airflow alone keeps the ambient temperatures of the 13600K to an acceptable 40-50°C. In terms of ambient power, the CPU pulls through a core voltage of 0.728v, and an overall wattage of 10.6W. These things aren't nearly as extreme as an i7 or i9 - the latter literally reached boiling point when I tested it in the Acer Predator Orion 7000 (2023), so that's worth bearing in mind.

Overall, I'm so satisfied with the 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13600K. No matter what I require of it, it's always up for the task. Given the price points of Raptor Lake's CPU range, the strong performance of this CPU makes me question who on earth actually needs an i7 or i9.

Should you buy the Intel Core i5-13600K?

For the majority of people, the 13th Gen Intel i5-13600K is all you'll need. An i5 may be a "mid-range" processor, but in this day and age, I think we need to re-assess what that actually means. The fact this thing is, on paper, a 12th Gen i7, and feels to me from extensive use of both like the better CPU overall says a lot. Not to mention, it's cheaper.

Don't get me wrong, the 13th Gen i7 and i9 will no doubt give you better performance when pairing with the highest-end GPUs like the RTX 4090, and when trying to get the most out of the best gaming monitors. But for the majority of people that aren't running those expensive bits of kit, I'd recommend seriously thinking about what you'll need from a CPU before writing off an i5. PC components are expensive, and there really is no point in buying a more expensive brain for your computer when the i5 is powerful enough to give you what you want.

I doubt that many people will go quite as hard on their CPUs as I do. Hardware testing, content creation, and 4K gaming will put any chipset to the test. If you do one of those things, let alone all three, the i5-13600K won't let you down. Outside of looking at the AMD side, this is one of the best CPUs for gaming you'll find. 

How we tested the Intel Core i5-13600K

I put the 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13600K to the test in my own PC for almost a month leading up to this review. During that time I used it for work, content creation, live streaming, and gaming on almost a daily basis. I paired it with a Noctua NH-L9i-17xx Low-Profile Cooler, Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Paste, and supported it with 3 intakes chassis fans, and 2 extractors. The chassis used for this review was the Corsair 2000D Airflow RGB, the GPU was an Acer Predator Bifrost Intel Arc A770 OC, and the RAM was 32B of Sabrent Rocket DDR5. The motherboard pulling all these components together is an ASUS ROG Strix Z790-i. 

For industry-standard benchmarking tests, I used rendering tests from free and open-source Blender, as well as Cinebench. In terms of gaming, I tested how it handled games like Cities Skylines, and Total War Warhammer 3 which are known for being CPU-intensive. In the same vein, I played lots of Timberborn, as well as HUNT: Showdown. Where possible, I compared my experience with this CPU's performance to my time with the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700K, my old AMD Ryzen 5 3400G, and the 13th Gen Intel Core i9 that was inside the Acer Predator Orion 7000 I reviewed recently. 

To track numbers for all these things, I predominantly used Armoury Crate since I'm working on an Asus motherboard, but compared figures to ones found in iCUE and Predator Bifrost's software. 

To read more about the ways we test the latest PC components here at GamesRadar+, have a read of our hardware policy.

For more PC content, check out our thoughts on the best Alienware gaming PCs, the best PC cases, and the best computer speakers.

The LG OLED C3 is an Evo-class OLED flatscreen, powered by the brand’s latest Alpha 9 Gen 6 processor. The majority of C3 models earn their EVO stripes courtesy of clever Brightness Boosting algorithms. However, the 42-inch model tested here, as well as its 48-inch sibling, don’t get any such luminosity uplift, simply because the small pixel size on these panels simply can’t benefit from brightness algorithms. 

So does it actually warrant EVO status? Probably not. But don’t let that put you off. The C3 is still up there with the best gaming TVs, in part thanks to its updated version of LG’s webOS platform. Now a two-page design, it uses nested folders to reduce screen clutter, and has a customizable menu, which allows you to prioritize the settings you use the most. In-game chops are good too. The set boasts 4k 120HZ support on all four HDMI inputs, as well as extensive VRR coverage and a dedicated game interface.

Available now, the LG C3 range comes in 83-, 77-, 65-, 55-, 48- and 42-inch screen sizes which are priced at £6,499/$5,299, £3,99 /$3,599, £2,899/$2,599, £2,099/$1,899, £1,599/$1,499, and £1,499/$1,399 respectively. Australian buyers will find the same models priced at AUS$8,995, AUS$6,795, AUS$4,295, AUS$3,295, AUS$2,895, and AUS$2,595 respectively.

As you can see, there’s not a significant saving to be had by buying the smaller screen models. They’re actually more expensive than some rival 55-inch OLED screens. I’m testing the 42-incher for this review.

Design and Features

With its minimal border and dark metal finish, the C3 is undeniably a slick looker that'll give any of the best OLED TVs a run for their money. Build quality is high. While the larger models in the C3 range feature a central pedestal stand, the 42-inch model on my test bench comes with two widely spaced feet. This is a welcome refinement at this size, as it makes the screen more suitable for desktop gaming use. There’s more room for a keyboard, mouse, and associated tech.

The 42OLEDC3 is probably a little deeper than you might imagine, at 41mm. Larger OLED screens combine a wafer-thin screen with an electronics and interface chassis. Here, said chassis takes up virtually the entirety of the rear, due to the smaller screen area.

Connectivity comprises four HDMI ports, all of which are v2.1 compliant which puts the C3 in league with the best 120Hz 4K TVs. HDMI 2 is assigned eARC and ARC duties, for use with a soundbar or external audio system. There’s also Freesync Premium and NVidia G-Sync VRR support. Additionally, there are three USB bays, Ethernet, and an optical digital audio output.

The C3 has two tuners, one terrestrial, and the other satellite. Buyers in the UK get Freeview Play, with its rollback TV guide and integrated catch-up services. This is neatly integrated into webOS 23. 

I think LG’s Magic Remote control, with its onscreen cursor, is a bit of an acquired taste. If you’re migrating to the C3 from the likes of an LG OLED C2, you’ll be well aware of its foibles. If not, it will probably take a little bit of getting used to - that cursor never seems to go where I want it to.

Still, the choice of streaming services on webOS is immense. The zapper has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Rakuten TV, and LG Channels, and there’s much more in the app store. The webOS platform also supports Matter smart devices.

There’s a dedicated gaming dashboard, with Game Optimiser, to manage relevant settings, including latency, VRR mode, and Game Genre settings. The latter offers optimization for a variety of gaming genres. You can select Standard, FPS, RPG, RTS Sports, and Users.

While it’s often difficult to perceive a difference between them during gameplay, I did find myself using them, if only in the hope of clawing some minor competitive advantage. Better to be safe than sorry on the battlefield! The game dashboard also offers cloud games, specifically GeoForce Now titles and casual fodder from Utomik.

Performance

Brightness algorithms aside, the picture quality on this 42-inch OLED is remarkably good, although not dramatically different from what you’ll find on last year’s C2 OLED models. Superb fine detail, coupled with punchy contrast and lush colors, make this a lovely screen to peer at.

The inky blackness that self-emissive pixels offer is perfect for movie nights (letterbox bars are solid black) and cinematic TV show bingeing. The colors are vibrant.

Of the various picture pre-sets, Standard and Vivid suit most mainstream telly viewing. I found the Cinema and Cinema Home modes best for a more theatrical performance.

Of the two film modes on offer, I actually preferred Cinema Home, which gives a lift to mid-tone luminance and delivers more overt color saturation, compared to the standard Cinema mode and industry-standard Filmmaker mode. These benefits seem more acute on this smaller OLED screen. Movies have a little more pop.

Motion handling is undeniably good. LG’s TruMotion suite has a number of options, and they’re all very effective. The brand implemented a new picture interpolation technique (in 2022) which smoothes the image to reduce 24p judder, and increases frame count to 120 a second. It’s smooth but not entirely cinematic.

I found the best interpolation to be the Cinematic Movement mode, which allows the set’s processor to manage frame merging in real time, favoring original frames. This has the benefit of reducing judder without the image looking too soapy.

This C3’s HDR performance is very good. The 42-inch C3 averages around 670 nits in Standard picture mode and 700 nits in Vivid. I would actually expect the larger C3 models to outperform this, but I think this is a solid performance nonetheless, particularly if you’re using this model as a near-field gaming monitor. Greater peak brightness might actually be quite uncomfortable. Latency is reasonable. I measured 13.1ms input lag in Game mode (1080/60).

HD support covers HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision, along with the HGiG standard. There’s no support for HDR10+, the alternative to Dolby Vision which is favored primarily by Prime Video. Not the end of the world, but it is a niggle.

The set’s average picture level is relatively high and looks deliciously punchy with regular SDR material. Kicking back with The Rocky Horror Picture Show (HD, BBC), the shock of Little Nell’s red hair really pops against the inky black shadows of Frank N Furter’s castle.

Sonically, the diminutive C3 is nothing to write home about. It sports a pair of perfectly functional downward-firing speakers and sounds adequate. There’s an AI Audio mode, which attempts to push forward the soundstage and improve dialogue clarity, but I found it just a little bit exhausting to listen to. Probably best to plan for an upgrade to one of the best soundbars for TV.

Should you buy the LG OLED C3?

The 42-inch LG OLED C3 is an excellent small-screen OLED that works well both as a relatively compact everyday TV, as well as one of the best TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X. The provision of four, fully loaded HDMI inputs is a bonus if you have high frame rate compatible consoles, and need room for expansion. Overall, the smallest LG C3 OLED is tailor-made for gamers but it comes with a hefty price tag. 

HDR support is wide, although it's irksome that LG continues to snub HDR10+. Still, having Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HGiG support is probably all you’re really going to need. Black level, color fidelity, and detail are all top-notch.

I’m not sure I totally appreciate the new tweaks to webOS. It remains one of the more fiddly smart platforms to live with, certainly compared to intuitive alternatives like Panasonic’s My Home Screen and Android, but it’s powerful and there’s no shortage of streaming services.

When it comes to value, this is a harder panel to recommend. It may be the smallest C3 OLED you can buy, but it doesn’t come with a correspondingly small price tag. 

How we tested the LG OLED C3

As the smallest screen in LG’s C3 OLED range, we concentrated on using the set as a near-field display, both for gaming and TV watching. The TV’s HDR performance was measured using industry-standard test patches at both 5 and 10 percent sizes, and picture quality was assessed in both bright and dark room environments with a variety of sources, including UHD Blu-ray, 4K media streamers, and consoles.

The LG webOS smart platform was checked for streaming service availability and catch-up TV support. Finally, the TV’s built-in sound system was tested with games and content streamed from broadcast and Netflix.

If you want to hear a bit more about the ways we test the latest technology here at GamesRadar+, have a gander at our hardware policy.

Want more near-field display options? Have a look at the best gaming monitors, the best PS5 monitor, and the best 4K monitors for gaming.

The LG OLED C2 is an incredible TV. The only reason it isn't further up our list of the best gaming TVs is that LG's entire range of OLEDs is second-to-none, and with the older C1 being almost as good for less money, it makes sense to recommend the better value prospect first and foremost.

But as Prime Day approaches (we're only a week out now), prices are starting to move around in a much more exciting way. Even though early bird offers on Prime Day TV deals are starting to creep in already, we've spotted the 48-inch 2022 model of the LG OLED C2 down to just £899 in the UK, which is its lowest price ever on the world's largest retailer. 

The question on many people's lips will be, "but with Prime Day so close, should I buy it now, or wait?" - and this is a fair problem to ponder. With so many upcoming deals, it's not as though you're missing your only opportunity if you don't buy a C2 now. But If you want to ensure you get an OLED before stock issues perhaps come into play, it's not a bad time to pull the trigger. 

When something is at its lowest ever price, is it really ever that bad a time to buy?

This deal is only for UK Amazon shoppers, unfortunately, but we've supplied a very close US equivalent deal down below:

In our LG OLED C2 review, we said "I really found it difficult not to fall in love with the LG C2. It’s a fantastic screen, offering high full-field brightness with enviable HDR handling, and boasting a hugely impressive processor. 4Kk HDR looks terrific - Disney+ and Netflix Dolby Atmos shows are superbly cinematic - and upscaling of HD sources is top-notch too. This is a brilliant TV."

In terms of connectivity, you're getting 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, 3x USB bays, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Optical Audio, and a TV Ariel/satellite port. 

All things considered, this is a great deal to jump on. If you decide to hold fire for now, be sure to stay tuned to our Prime Day gaming deals coverage to catch the best bargains as and when they happen.

Want to research more potential TVs for Prime Day shopping? Read about the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, the best HDMI cables, and the best QLED TVs.

The LG G3 is a game-changing OLED TV. It introduces an all-new OLED panel design from LG Display, which uses a Micro Lens Array of tiny lenses to generate brighter images without the need to consume more power. 

This MLA innovation is coupled with Brightness Booster Max, a combination of a physical heatsink and brightness-boosting algorithms, courtesy of LG’s class-leading AI-powered Alpha 9 Gen 6 processor. It’s a formidable combo. This just may be the best-looking OLED display I’ve seen to date. Detail, color fidelity, and near-black shadow detail are all superb.

The G3 also takes its place amongst the best gaming TVs seriously, with four 4k 120Hz capable HDMI inputs, VRR (Variable Refresh rate) support, and a dedicated Game Optimiser user interface that groups all settings of interest in one place.

The downside is that all this goodness doesn’t come cheap. Available now, the G3 comes in 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch screen sizes (OLED55G3, OLED65G3, OLED77G3, OLED83G3). They’re priced at £2,600, £3,500, £4,500 and £7,500 respectively. I’m testing the 65-inch model. Also available Stateside, 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch G3 models are listed at US$2,499, $3,299, $4,499, and $6,499 respectively. Australian buyers will find the same 55-, 65, 77-, and 83-inch G3 models priced AUS$4,195, AUS$5,295, AUS$8,395, and AUS$10,995 respectively.

One concern that anyone shopping around for the best OLED TVs will have is image retention, caused by static images. These days, panels have a raft of tricks to combat this, but by way of reassurance, LG is selling the G3 with a five-year panel warranty, which covers ‘normal TV usage,’ which, when I asked, includes gaming.

Design and Features

The most obvious difference between the G3 and most other TVs out there is its One Wall Design - it’s conceived for wall-mounting. So much so that there’s no pedestal stand in the box. You’ll need to spend extra if you want to place it on furniture.

If wall hanging is your thing, there’s a custom plate provided in the box that fits a recess on the set’s back panel. LG has made the task of hanging this screen a little less onerous, by shifting chassis construction to a lightweight composite fiber, which reduces the overall weight compared to conventional OLEDs. That said, it still tips the scales at a sizeable 23.9kg. For this review, I mounted the G3 on an optional pedestal stand.

Connectivity is excellent. All four HDMI ports are 4k 120HZ capable, with eARC on HDMI 2. This means I could connect both an Xbox and PS5, and play games in 4k 120fps, and still have the option of adding one of the best gaming PCs if I fancied it. There’s also Freesync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync VRR support.

Other connections include a digital optical audio output, three USB inputs, and Ethernet. For this audition I actually stuck with Wi-Fi, simply because it was more convenient; I didn’t suffer any issues with buffering, although your mileage may vary depending on your internet speed.

The G3 comes with a Freeview Play terrestrial tuner in the UK, as well as a satellite option for those that prefer a dish connection. Freeview Play comes with a huge library of free content, as well as all the main channel catch-up services. Smart functionality is delivered by LG’s own webOS platform, which has had something of a redesign this year. There’s also the Game Optimiser, a dedicated interface to manage game settings.

The G3 ships with LG’s idiosyncratic Magic Remote, notable for its distinctive thumbwheel and on-screen cursor. This zapper has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Rakuten TV, Disney+, and Amazon Alexa as well as LG’s own FAST (Free Ad Supported Television) channels, of which there appear to be hundreds. I’m not a huge fan of the Magic Remote. Having to think about pointing and clicking with a cursor onscreen is a bit clunky, and doesn’t really add anything positive to the user experience.

The webOS platform redesign is a good one though. Helpfully, LG has cut back the number of content rails, opting instead for a two-page design. It’s also introduced a Quick Card system that groups apps into folders. I found this actually speeds up navigation, as there are fewer thumbnails to load. Also new is support for Matter smart devices, should you encounter any.

Performance

When it comes to picture quality, the G3 is king of the OLED jungle. Its images have an extraordinary level of dynamic snap and color depth. This TV makes everything look good.

The aforementioned MLA (Micro Lens Array) panel does a remarkable job, not just with HDR content, but also with regular SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) stuff. The brightness boost makes this a great screen for dark room movie watching, and bright room gaming sessions.

LG says the G3 is 70 percent brighter than a standard (non-EVO) LG B OLED model. This is down to the ability of the MLA panel to redirect light out from the screen which might otherwise have been lost inside the panel, and what is described as Light Control Architecture, which is effectively a physical heatsink that allows the panel to be driven harder. I measured peak HDR brightness at 1270 nits using a 5 percent window, with only a minor drop off, down to 1180 nits, with a 10 percent patch, using the Standard picture pre-set. This is good enough to make headlights glint, reflections sparkle, and emphasize image depth.

It’s worth noting that not all G3s are created equal. The jumbo 83-inch model is only 30 percent brighter because it doesn’t use an MLA panel. Still, brighter is brighter, right?

The benefits of this general luminance lift are obvious straight from the box. Blues and greens look luxuriant, while whites positively shine. There are a bunch of image pre-sets available: Cinema, Sports, Vivid, Standard, Filmmaker mode, ISF Expert settings, and Game. 

To my eye, Cinema and Standard were the two most consistently appealing with the widest range of content, although to ensure movies look suitably cinematic make sure you use the Trumotion Cinematic Movement interpolation mode. This stops that rather horrid ‘soap opera’ effect which makes movies look cheap.

HDR support is good, with Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR10 all covered. It’s not a full house though. The G3 doesn’t support HDR10+ active metadata, which is commonly used by Prime Video. I’m really not sure why LG continues to snub this standard, given that Philips and Panasonic TVs offer all the main HDR standards already.

The set’s gaming performance is impressive. Overwatch at 4k 120fps is buttery smooth, with a high level of detail and clarity. In Game mode, color vibrancy is high and detail crisp. Regular 1080p @ 60Hz is a treat.

And what of latency? I measured input lag at just 12.9ms (with a 1080/60 source) in Game mode, which I reckon is a respectable performance. It puts the screen ahead of OLED rivals I’ve seen from Sony (16.6ms on the A95K) and Philips (15.4ms on the OLED907).

The set’s audio performance is actually pretty good. It uses a 4.2 speaker configuration, and there’s weight and detail in the soundstage. An AI-assisted audio mode is able to upscale sources to virtual 9.1.2, while AI Clear sound boosts certain frequencies and masks others.

To be honest, I wasn’t too impressed with this AI Audio functionality, particularly when watching movies, as it makes them sound painfully thin. With noisy action scenes, it’s as if all the bass has been stripped out. I found the Cinema audio mode a much better option.

If you have an external sound system, be it a soundbar or fully-fledged home cinema, my advice is to take advantage of the eARC connection and bitstream immersive audio out of the set. I did this, partnering the screen with an AV amplifier and multichannel speaker system. It obviously sounded a whole lot better.

One cool new feature which I didn’t get to try is LG’s WOW Orchestra system. The idea here is that you partner a compatible LG soundbar with the G3, and all speakers then become active. While this wasn’t tested, I have heard the WOW system working and it creates a considerable wall of sound.

The set’s Alpha 9 AI processor determines how to balance audio across both units. The G3 will also support the decoding of DTS, DTS X, and IMAX Enhanced audio (coming soon to Disney+), and bitstream it out to an external audio solution.

Should you buy the LG OLED G3?

The G3 is a triumphant example of LG’s new MLA display technology and the processing prowess of that sixth generation Alpha 9 processor. Colour vibrancy and image depth is extraordinarily good, and Brightness Booster Max fillip really adds to the impact of images.

Combine this excellent performance with outstanding hardware support for gamers (most rivals OLED brands still limit 4k 120Hz to two inputs), extensive VRR, user friendly Game Optimiser, and impressive movie chops, and you can almost justify the set’s toppy price point. Long story short: this is one heck of a TV!

Cheaper alternative:

If the G3 is a little too pricey, consider the LG C3. This has the same gaming support as the G3, but uses an OLED.EX panel instead of the new MLA glass. Brightness boosting algorithms still give it a luminance boost over last year's G2 models.

Same price:

If you want to consider a direct rival, then consider the Philips 65OLED937. This uses an OLED.EX panel coupled to a physical heatsink. It has two HDMI inputs which support 4k 120 fps sources, but has the bonus of Ambilight, Philips lounge lighting system.

More expensive alternative:

There’s currently nothing priced above the G3, but keep an eye open for Panasonic’s MZ2000, which is due to launch later this year. That model also utilises an MLA panel with a heatsink, has a similar raft of gaming features, and also boasts a full blown Dolby Atmos sound system built in.

How we tested the LG OLED G3

As this was the first MLA OLED screen from LG display, we made a point of putting its dynamic performance to the test. The screen’s HDR capability was measured using industry standard test patches at both 5 and 10 per cent sizes, and more importantly, was viewed in both bright and dark room environments with a variety of sources, UHD Blu-ray, set top boxes and 4K media streamers.

The screens built in sound system was evaluated with  Dolby Atmos test clips delivered via the True HD codec as well as within a Dolby Digital Plus wrapper.

LG’s webOS smart platform was checked for smart app availability and catch-up TV support. 4k 120fps gameplay was assessed mainly with prolonged sessions of Overwatch.

Want to narrow your gaming TV search? We've rounded up the best 120Hz 4K TVs, the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, and the best QLED TVs.

The moderators of the Hogwarts Legacy subreddit have reinstated a ban on discussion of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

In a post last night, the subreddit's moderators said that they had recently been trialling a decision to ease restrictions placed on the topic of Rowling three years ago. Back then, the mod team said that "we would like to keep discussion on this subreddit focused on the game and away from political arguments," and that "we are all in favour of accepting everyone, no matter the sexuality, race, origin, or anything else."

In last night's update, however, the easing of those restrictions was said to "no longer feel possible." The team explains that "allowing conversation about JKR quickly spirals into bigoted language towards LGBTQ+ individuals," and that for both the "dignity" of those users and the state of the subreddit in the longer term, "we cannot provide any kind of opportunity for this language to start in the first place."

The post goes on to say that "users who rally behind JKR under the guise of  'keeping things about the game' are still taking conversations off topic from the actual game," and that users who claim to enjoy winding up those people who have taken a stance against the game are "still trolling" those people, in breach of the subreddit rules.

The mod team say that a megathread dedicated to the ethics of purchasing the game will remain available for "good faith" conversation, and that it "firmly believes LGBTQ+ individuals are deserving of dignity, respect, and inclusion."

The announcement echoes another significant forum's decision to ban all discussion of the game last month and marks another stage in a peculiar run-up to the game's release. Multiple user protests have bubbled up, with members of the voice cast also speaking up about their involvement with the game. For more information, we've attempted to outline the Hogwarts Legacy controversy.

Although she is not involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, GamesRadar+ acknowledges the role of J.K. Rowling in the creation of the Wizarding World, as well as her publicly-stated, harmful views regarding the rights of transgender people. If you'd like to offer your support to the communities affected by Rowling's rhetoric, consider donating to the National Center for Transgender Equality in the US, or Mermaids in the UK. 

Do you really need an 8K TV? No, you don’t but you'll still want to pay close attention to the new 2022 LG QNED99 8K Mini LED Nano Cell Smart TV. Because even without 8K content, there’s still lots to love about this new TV that is purpose-built for the highest quality movies, streaming, and gaming experience. 

Of course, as with most 8K TVs, this model isn't exactly cheap - though there are 4K screens that are much more expensive now too. But that hefty price brings you the best of LG’s AI picture upscaling, processing, and tone mapping for an experience that even the best gaming TVs and  best OLED TVs would take notice of...

Features & Design

The QNED99 looks practically indistinguishable from the LG QNED91; it looks good without drawing attention to itself. The 75-inch variant I got absolutely swallows up all but the biggest media cabinet. It also weighs 84lb/38kg without the stand means you’ll need two, even three, people, just to set it up. It comes with an equally massive arc shaped stand that handles the TV’s girth and weight well. 

The QNED has a brushed metal frame and the entire TV is less than 2in/5cm thick which is very impressive given it’s not OLED. This makes it great for flush, wall mounting.

LG generously provides a wealth of I/O including four HDMI 2.1 for 4K 120Hz gaming and one eARC. Sound comes via a set of 40W Dolby Atmos speakers for some decent but still very TV-like audio.

But it’s the 8K display that’s the star of the show. It uses almost 2000 Mini LED backlights with full-array local dimming and LG’s unique blend of Quantum Dot and Nano Cell tech. The result is a blindingly brilliant, vibrant colors with almost OLED like contrast to make for one of the best 8K TVs going. You also get Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG bolstered by a dynamic tone mapping engine that works across 5,184 areas on the screen. 

As an LG flagship, expect the best in AI picture and sound processing - this time thanks to a completely redesigned α9 Gen 5 AI Processor. The processor does a helluva lot behind the scenes to manage all the various wizardy and systems in real time. The TV also runs the latest version of WebOS which is simple, intuitive and unobtrusive to using it. Navigation is made all the easier by LG’s tried-and-true Magic Remote. It’s comfortable, well laid out with dedicated buttons for the major streaming services.

Performance

In spite of the scarcity of 8K content, the QNED99 still looks absolutely revelatory thanks to its upscaling wizardy. Image clarity and detail is incredibly high giving content an almost 3D feel while colors burst with vibrancy and punchiness. This works best with 4K content however while anything 1080p or lower in quality looks noticeably worse by virtue of the massive panel and pixel density. Streaming anything other than 4K will be a waste of this TV’s capability. 

Feed it right and the picture is bloody gorgeous. Watching The Rings of Power was such a treat as the QNED99 made the dream-like worlds of Middle Earth burst with detail, color and contrast. Some scenes literally looked life-like. Turning to games, playing God of War Ragnarok on the PlayStation 5 at such enormous scale has been my best gaming experience ever. The upscaling on the 4K 120Hz feed with HDR is simply stunning, smooth and responsive, and certainly makes it a contender for the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X and best 120Hz 4K TV you can get in 8K right now.

The QNED99 has everything the gamer needs; ALLM, VRR, FreeSync, 120 Hz refresh and the excellent Game Optimiser dashboard. Playing God of War Ragnarok in performance mode with high refresh yielded a buttery smooth 80-90fps play-through - something I’d never imagined possible on a console. 8K gaming remains in the realm of extreme YouTubers but if 4K looks this good, then 8K should be mind-blowing.

Unfortunately, just like the QNED91, there is still noticeable blooming - light halos around smaller bright spots that are against dark backgrounds. Things like loading animations, HUD or even closed captions in movies are the worst offenders. On the opening credits of Andor, the glittering stars became a mess of milky algae as the TV struggled to balance tiny bright spots against the black backdrop of space. But that was an extreme scenario that didn’t replicate in the shows various space scenes.

Overall - should you buy it?

The 2022 LG QNED99 8K Mini-LED TV is definitely one of the best TVs you can get for big-size couch gaming and media. I’m amazed at how close to OLED it gets while being much brighter and free from burn-in anxiety. I don’t think the 8K is worth 30-40% more than the 4K QNED91 yet though. Still, there aren’t any 8K OLED displays yet so if you want the best of the best, it’s hard to get better than this.

Editor's note: USA and UK availability for this model seems to be slim-to-non-existent for this model. We've even seen some sites speculate that it will just not reach the European or North American market. We can only hope this changes.

How we tested the LG QNED99 8K TV

For the last month, the QNED99 has been the only TV in the home - it literally took all the space. Situated in our living room, this has been used for many hours of Disney+ movies and shows. I also finally got my hands on a PlayStation 5 with God of War Ragnarok where I’ve sunk over 30 hours of playtime. Before that, I was catching up on the Last of Us Remastered on my PS4 Pro which was a good test of the upscaling. I’ve also used the QNED99 as an extended monitor via Apple AirPlay. Suffice to say, it’s had some great use these last few weeks.

You can read more here about how we test gaming TVs, gaming monitors, and projectors, and also get a full look at our approach to tech in our GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

However, if you're looking for the best of the best when it comes to the other kind of gaming screens then check out the best 4K projectors, best 4K monitors, and best ultrawide monitors you can get right now.

A Genshin Impact character is being called "satanic" by parents upset over his inclusion on a pro-LGBT middle school mural.

In stories from Today and NPR, a chaotic, hurtful scene at a school board meeting in Grant, Michigan is said to have stemmed from a mural painted in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. The painting was created by a high school student who won a competition to decorate a wall inside a teen health center, but parents of children who attend the school allege the mural contains LGBT propaganda and imagery of witchcraft and satanism.

The reason we're talking about this, of course, is because the mural includes a picture of a mask inspired by Genshin Impact character Xiao, which some opponents of the mural have misinterpreted as an image of Satan's head. Other parts of the mural some parents protested include a student wearing pink and white stripes similar to the transgender flag, another student in rainbow-striped attire, and other students dressed in colors represented in the bisexual flag.

There's also an image of what appears to be a hamsa hand, which NPR describes as "a symbol for the hand of God in many cultures."

"It's discrimination against Christian beliefs," one man said, adding that it equates to "hate material."

"I feel like she did a really good job finding excuses to defend the things she put on," another attendee said. "None of us are that stupid."

One woman argued that "adults [who] pretend things that are like real life" have "a mental illness" and argued for the use of counselors and bi-polar medication to "fix their brains."

In terms of the Genshin Impact character, Xiao is notably an immortal defender hired by one of the world's seven supreme gods to kill demons, so the whole Satan allegation definitely doesn't track. In terms of the other elements in the painting, the student said it's to promote an inclusive environment at her school.

"I put my artwork up there to make people feel welcomed," the student artist said through tears in defense of her work.

Other parents came to the student's defense, including Tracey Hargreaves, who has two children who attend the Grant Public School system.

"I am a conservative, right-wing, gun-loving American," Hargreaves said. "And I've never seen more bigoted people in my life."

"The meeting turned into a hate fest. Usually there are 10 people at these meetings, 50 showed up. It wasn't even about the mural," Hargreaves told Today. "People were talking about how we need to pray the gay away."

"Everyone’s accepted at our clinic," said Lori Donati, an employee of the middle school's health center. "What she was trying to say [is that] everyone's accepted no matter what your background is or who you are. You are loved and accepted and that's exactly our philosophy with our office, too."

School district officials recently announced a decision by "all parties involved" to remove certain elements, including the mask and the hamsa hand, from the mural. The student wearing the pink-and-white striped shirt and the one wearing rainbow stripes will stay.

"At Grant Public Schools, we are committed to promoting civility, respect, understanding and inclusion. We do not condone, and we will not tolerate discrimination, harassment or bullying whether in word, deed or on social media," reads a statement from the district.

If you want to know how to build a gaming PC in 2022 then you're in the right place. I've been a PC gamer for nearly a decade and like to think that I know my way around a rig or two. With that said, even if you're an experienced builder, you'll note that hardware changes all the time, so whether you're a prospective gamer looking to put a gaming PC together for the first time, or an old pro in need of a refresher course, our step by step guide has everything you need this year. 

I've tried my best to keep the technical jargon down to a minimum and be as concise as possible because building a gaming PC can be a daunting task for those not in the know. Not everyone can be brushed up on the latest CPUs for gaming, and the best graphics cards, so I've done my best to be as illustrative and authoritative as I can for all audiences. 

While some people may prefer to buy a prebuilt rig, and that's certainly a more-than-valid way into the PC gaming space, there's something special about assembling the machine of your dreams your own way. Not only will you choose all the components that are right for you, but you'll also be tailoring the rig to your budget, too. Here's how to build a gaming PC this year with our encompassing guide. 

GamesRadar 2022 Test Build - Full Specifications 

• CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K 
• GPU: RTX 3050 (review unit RTX 3090 Ti used in the guide) 
• RAM: Kingson Fury Beast DDR5 16GB @ 5200 MHz
• Storage: PNY CS1030
• Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X 
• CPU cooler: Corsair iCue H150i 
• PSU: Corsair RM1000x
• Case: Corsair 5000T RGB Smart Case 

Before building the gaming PC

Before any kind of gaming PC building can be done, you'll need to consider a few things. Firstly, you will need ample space for the construction to begin. This should go without saying, but once you've laid all your parts out on the table, you're going to want the room to maneuver things around, as well as get your hands in where they need to be without feeling cramped or cluttered. You'll want something such as a large, clear gaming desk or even a standard wooden kitchen table; wood being particularly important for a pivotal factor here - static. 

I'm sure you've heard the horror stories of people putting together machines only to short their boards at the last minute and have a rig that's dead on arrival before it's even powered up. Rest assured though, this won't happen to you if you're careful. When you're building, you build up static electricity as your move around, which is why it's incredibly important to ground yourself often before touching any sensitive components such as your motherboard, CPU, RAM - pretty much everything. 

You can ground yourself in one of two ways, with the easiest being to wear an anti-static wrist band. These are typically only a few dollars through the likes of Amazon, and completely mitigate this issue by grounding you to any metal object as your 'common ground' which discharges instantly through the band's crocodile clip. This is something I strongly recommend for new builders just to be safe, and if you're reading this, then that could mean you.  

Alternatively, you can ground yourself by touching metal objects every few minutes, generally before and after each task is done. This can be anything from a radiator to a metal door handle, or the top of a running faucet tap just to name a few examples. If you want to be extra careful, though, you can buy a specifically engineered ESD mat to work on top of which contains a built-in anti-static band that can connect to any grounded metal, too.  All of your precious components should come in anti-static bands as standard when unboxed, and you'll want to keep it that way until the building process actually begins. Follow this advice and you'll be fine; there's nothing to fear as long as you take the proper care. Also, it should go without saying but always read the manuals that come with your individual components thoroughly. 

It's also important to mention that you'll want to ensure that your parts are compatible with each other in the first place, meaning having the right socket motherboard for the processor, enough juice in your PSU, compliant RAM, etc. This can easily be done through websites such as PC Part Picker, which I've historically used myself for many years to great success. After all, no one wants to sit down with the gear only to realize mid-way through that you're going to need to replace factory-near components and be out of pocket further. 

Another great feature of this website is how it shows you motherboard usage as you scroll down the page. There, you'll be able to see exactly which components are using the cables, and their corresponding places on the board, which is always handy to refer to. You'll also get an overall power estimate as well, which will give you a rough idea of how much overhead you have in your machine for a more powerful graphics card in the future, etc. 

How to build a gaming PC in 2022

Installing the RAM onto the motherboard 

While there’s not necessarily a set order to do things, I opted to install the RAM stick onto the motherboard first as it gets it out of the way. As this is a DDR5 compatible motherboard with PCIe 5.0 connectivity, we’re using a 16GBx1 Kingston Fury Beast stick @ 5200 MHz to make the most of the available bandwidth. Our motherboard has a specific ‘first’ marker for where a single stick of RAM should go, however, if you’re installing a dual channel kit, then you’ll want to insert your RAM spaced apart in the relevant numbered section.   

Installing storage

I chose to install the PNY CS1030 as our boot drive as it's fast enough to serve as our OS install without breaking the bank. There isn't much of a speed difference here between Gen 3.0 and Gen 4.0, and our motherboard has a total of four NVMe M.2 ports to make use of in the future. Of course, feel free to use whichever model you desire.

Our Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X motherboard has both a dedicated M.2 port under its own heatsink and a heatshield guarding the additional three other slots. Be careful when taking the dedicated motherboard heatshield off so as to not damage the adhesive layer needed for proper thermal conduction. Once removed, simply slot your M.2 NVMe SSD into the port at a slight 45-degree angle and carefully push down. 

You’ll want to hold it down gently in order to screw it into place with an M.2 screwdriver; be careful not to apply any pressure as you’ll risk damaging the drive. Once it’s slotted in, you’ll hear a firm click, and that’s your cue to re-install the heatshield. It's important to note that if you've got any NVMe SSDs with their own dedicated heatsinks then you'll need to leave this off for clearing. 

 Installing the CPU 

We’re installing the Intel Core i7-12700K, the most recent generation at the time of writing, onto the Z960 LGA 1700 motherboard. It’s important to note that you will need the correct corresponding socket type for your CPU in order to install the processor, as one size does not fit all. 

Once the plastic guard is removed, you must gently lift the arm from its latch which unlocks the socket. Once lifted up, find where the diamond is on your chipset, this will line up with the marking on the socket itself, as there’s only one way a processor goes into place. Ensure that you don’t touch any of the pins as they are incredibly fragile and prone to bending. 

Hold the processor lightly at the edges once aligned over the slot and gently place it on. Do not apply any pressure, as this can damage the contacts, too. Once securely in place, lift the guard back up and lock into action with the arm. The CPU will now be successfully installed and secure. All you need to do now is apply a small amount of thermal paste to the top of the processor, which can be a pea-sized blob in the middle. 

Now that our RAM, SSDs, and CPU are installed, you'll need to screw the backplate onto the back of the motherboard to get it ready to be installed into our gaming PC case. This is done through 4x hex screws which are mounted on the rear over where the processor sits in order to line up correctly with the case itself securely.

Installing the motherboard into your PC case

Once we've got a few of our components connected to our motherboard then it's time to fix the Mobo to the case itself. Now, depending on the price of your motherboard, you'll also have to contend with the blanking plate itself. In some cases, such as with the Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X, the blanking plate can come pre-installed with the unit, but this isn't always the rule. All I had to do was line the rear I/O with the space in the back of the case which acted as our guideline, but if you need to manually install this plate things could be a little different. If yours isn't preinstalled, you just need to punch holes in the sheet metal and push it against the back of your case ready to line the motherboard up; it only fits in one way so there's little room for error. 

Most PC cases will support ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ATX, with only Full Towers usually accommodating EATX (the largest size available). We've got a standard ATX here. Included in your motherboard box will be the risers, which hold the board in place in your case, this is clearly indicated where the screw holes are in your case. Simply use as many as you need before sliding your motherboard into place; the PCB itself will have corresponding holes in it for this very reason, with the corners being the first place to start in diamond (opposing) order. 

Installing the power supply and relevant cables 

 With our build, we opted for the Corsair RM1000X fully modular 1000w power supply. This is because we’re going to be testing graphics cards, and other next-generation PCIe 5.0 components that require a lot of power. We opted for a fully modular power supply in order to make the building process a little easier on ourselves. The modular nature refers to the cables, meaning you only need to install the leads you intend to use instead of having unnecessary wires cluttering up your box when all is said and done. 

You’ll want to start by routing the 6+2 PCIe and the 24 Pin ATX cables through first, and these are most important for major components and overall power delivery. From there, depending on what you’re installing, such as SATA drives and any components utilizing a SATA connection, can be threaded through, too. Connectors will be clearly labeled saying CPU on them, etc. 

Assembling and installing the AIO water cooler 

Putting together your AIO watercooler, in this case our Corsair H150i RGB Pro XT, is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is screw the three included 120mm fans onto the radiator with a small Phillips head screwdriver. After that's done, you'll want to find a spot inside your case to put the radiator somewhere where it's not going to be obtrusive with the likes of your graphics card, etc. In this case, I choose to install the radiator on the top so it would be out the way. You'll want to remove any mesh or plastic coverings to see where screw holes will align. 

There's no specific amount of screws you need to use, but you'll want enough to take the weight of the radiator. In this case, I put a screw in each corner while putting four in the middle for maximum support. We opted for a 360mm radiator as this will provide far more efficient and powerful cooling than some smaller sizes, plus we had the space to spare in our Corsair 5000T case. If you're working on a smaller build, you may want to choose a 120mm or 240mm radiator size instead. 

Installing the pump onto your processor

Once your radiator is safely secured to your case, you'll want to screw the pump down onto your processor. Keep in mind that different sockets, such as LGA 1700 and AM4, require different mounts which correspond with the screw holes on the motherboard. In this instance, the mount we needed was provided in the box, which will likely be the case for you, it's worth double checking if you need to order one separately. 

Once lined up cleanly, all you need to do is carefully insert four of the included screws into the mount and gently onto the motherboard itself. When things are stable but not too tight as to bend or warp the board, you're done. You'll note the four hex screws on top of our Corsair-branded LED pump head, and this can be swapped out for some of the company's more advanced models - your mileage may vary. 

If you're installing an air cooler then the process is even easier; all you'll really need to pay attention to is the last point. Generally speaking with a lot of stock or aftermarket coolers, you just need to mount them onto the socket board with four screws as with the pump, except there's no radiator or additional hassle. 

Installing the graphics card

Installing a graphics card into your gaming PC is one of the easier things to do in the build and should only take you a minute or two. Depending on the size of your GPU, you'll need to remove a certain amount of PCIe slot covers from the back of your case. If you're using something small, like an RTX 3050, you may only need to remove one, however, larger video cards, such as the RTX 3090 Ti (pictured in our guide) could require up to three or more slots to be removed. 

As the RTX 3090 Ti is the largest and heaviest commercial GeForce model on the market at the time of writing, I choose to remove as many as possible to give the behemoth ample room. Once this is done, all you need to do is carefully slot the video card's PCIe x16 board into the corresponding port; you will hear a click from your motherboard which means that is safely in place. Once that's done, lock it to the side of your case with a sizeable screw that came in your case's box. Depending on the weight of the GPU, you may need a reinforcement bracket if mounting the traditional way, and not vertically, but this will depend on the card you have to hand. 

Powering your graphics card of choice are PCIe power adapter cables that branch off from your motherboard. Usually, you will only need a maximum of two of these 8-pin connectors for your video card of choice, though, some more powerful models, like our RTX 3090 Ti review unit, need three. If you're looking to futureproof your machine, you're going to want to route three 8-pin cables through to allow for your chosen card to get the power it needs depending on its TDP. Once that's done, it's all ready. 

Wiring up and cable management 

Now that all of your components are successfully installed, you're going to want to wire everything up. If things aren't connected properly then your machine will not boot. The best advice I can give is to read what your motherboard is telling you and you cannot go wrong. Even basic mobos have clear outlines for which cables go in what slots. Generally speaking, once your main ATX power cable is routed through, and your GPU leads are installed, you will want to route through the corresponding power cables for your CPU, radiator, and pump, which will be clearly marked close to the components themselves, and then any case fans and RGB controllers, too. Do things in a linear fashion and take it all one step at a time. 

Cable management is an optional step depending on who you ask. Our Corsair 5000T RGB case came with clear spaces for routing cables through as well as a big velcro strap to keep all the wiring tidy. Depending on your patience, you may feel the need to break out the zip ties and keep all the leads orderly; in the past, I've found this effective, too. 

After powering on - Installing Windows and drivers

Hopefully now you'll be able to successfully boot up your new machine - congratulations! If your rig doesn't spring to life then you might need to double check your cables just so anything that's hanging loose is firmly plugged in. Now you'll need to install your operating system, most commonly Windows. This can be done through either a USB flash drive or an external hard drive if you're forgoing physical media (which the vast majority of us have in recent years), or you could install it with a DVD. 

Installation of Windows pretty much does itself. Have your mouse and gaming keyboard plugged into either the front or rear I/O and follow the on-screen instructions, as the setup wizard is genuinely foolproof. Once that's followed through to completion, you'll want to install your graphics card's drivers. These can be found at the relevant AMD or Intel site, alternatively, you can download GeForce Experience and AMD Radeon Software to carry you through with minimal fuss. Both of these programs will auto-install anything needed on the Visual C++ and DirectX front, too. 

You're now all good to get gaming! Get out there and download Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy, Ubisoft Connect, and all other digital storefronts to see what awaits you this year. 

Building a gaming PC - Frequently asked questions

Make the most of your new gaming PC with the best gaming monitors, best gaming headsets, and best standing desks. 

The LG C1 vs C2 decision is a really tough choice for those picking a new television this year. That's because, when it comes to OLED TVs, LG has become the go-to brand for many buyers - and it’s been particularly dominant in the mid-range thanks to its generally-awesome C-series range. The 2021 LG C1 and its successor, 2022’s C2, have wowed us with their gaming support and exemplary picture performance which makes them a shoo-in for the top of the likes of best gaming TV and best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X guides up and down the internet.

But which is the better buy? As supplies of C2 models ramp up, the C1 can be picked up at increasingly tempting prices...

We’ve compared both the C1 and C2, weighing up their feature roster and comparing their picture performance. If you want to know what model to pick when comparing the LG C1 vs C2 directly, then we may well have the answer…

LG C1 vs C2 OLED: Price and screen sizes

If you’re opting for an LG OLED C2 TV, then you’ll benefit from a wider choice of screens, both large and small. The C2 line begins at 42-inches (OLED42C2) and grows through to 48-, 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch models (OLED48C2, OLED55C2, OLED65C2, OLED77C2, OLED83C2). 

Don’t expect to save much cash by buying small though. The launch prices of the 42- and 48-inch screens are around $1,399/£1,199 and 1,499/£1,299 respectively. The 55-inch model launched at $1,799/£1,699 and the 65-incher was $2,499/£2,499. The largest models were even more wallet-destroying: the 77-inch C2 launched at $2,499/£3,699 and the 83-inch model at $5,499/£5,299.  

The C1 is available in 48-, 55-, 65- and 77-inch sizes (OLED485C1, OLED55C1, OLED65C1, and OLED77C1). While the LG C1 OLED isn’t available in as many screen configurations, there are many, many deals to be had now as it 'benefits' from being a year older and overtaken by its C2 brethren.

LG C1 VS C2 OLED: Features and design

When it comes to features and smart functionality, there’s little to separate the two OLED ranges. 

They both are built on webOS and come with LG’s proprietary cursor-pointing Magic remote control. App support is also uniform and class-leading: there’s no shortage of streaming services available, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple+ HD, and Rakuten TV. Both models also offer Google Assistant and Alexa support too.

The 2022 C2 ships with the latest firmware version, appropriately dubbed webOS22, which adds User Profiles, but the overall smart experience is much the same.   

Both screens feature LG’s dedicated gaming dashboard, the Game Optimizer. This convenient UI groups all key gaming info into a single place, and offers quick access to things like game genre image presets (FPS, RPG, and RTS), VRR, and input lag. The Game Optimiser is automatically triggered when an Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or NVIDIA Shield is connected. Latency is good on both iterations, with the C2 TV delivering an input lag of 13.1ms (1080/60) and the older C1 12.6ms (1080/60). 

As a result, there really isn't an overall winner here and you'll get a great experience with either set.

LG C1 VS C2 OLED: Specs and performance 

Connectivity on both is uniformly excellent: all four HDMI inputs on the C1 and C2 are HDMI 2.1-enabled and support 4K at 120Hz, making them ideal TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X - or for use with one of the best gaming PCs. To make the combination with the latter even better, VRR support includes NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync.

The sets also share the same complement of USB ports, a digital optical audio output and Ethernet. Wireless options cover Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and Wi-Fi, and there’s also eARC/ARC for soundbar hook-up. 

However, when it comes to picture performance, there’s a clear winner. The LG C1 looks undeniably great with movies and games, thanks to OLED’s superior black level performance and rich wide-band colour. The LG C2, however, is deemed by LG to be an Evo class OLED, which means it uses a more advanced panel design with Brightness Boosting technology (this applies only to C2 screens 55-inches upwards), and LG’s latest processor, the Alpha 9 Gen 5 (on all models). Considerably more powerful than its predecessor, the Alpha 9 Gen 5 has the processing headroom to handle a raft of AI-driven image enhancing techniques, including AI object enhancement and dynamic tone mapping, which greatly enhance the impression of picture depth. The Alpha 9 Gen 5 also boasts better up-scaling, to improve SD and HD source material. As a result, whatever you watch looks a tad better on the LG C2.

HDR support on the C1 and C2 is good, but it’s not comprehensive, as there’s no HDR10+ compatibility. However, we do get regular HDR, HLG, and Dolby Vision support. 

On the C1, we measured peak HDR brightness at around 750 nits using the Standard image present. By way of comparison, the C2 delivers HDR peaks upwards of 810 nits, as measured on 65-inch models. The C2’s overall picture brightness is also higher, making the model a better set for bright room / daylight gaming and TV watching with SDR and HDR content.

When it comes to audio, the C1 and C2 are much of a muchness - they’re fine for everyday use, but you’ll ultimately be better off partnering them with a soundbar or external gaming sound system at some point.

LG C1 VS C2 OLED: Which should you buy? 

Both the LG C1 OLED and C2 OLED can be considered excellent TVs, with class-leading gaming support. From their accommodating connectivity making the excellent 120Hz 4K TVs, to LG’s handy Game Optimizer dashboard, they’re ready to reward serious gamers.

If you're approaching this from a purely value-focused point of view, the C1 is almost certainly the better buy as retailers look to clear stock for newer iterations. You're still getting a truly excellent TV and you could do so for much less now.

However, the LG C2 does offer a demonstrably better picture, thanks to its EVO glass and Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor. Side by side, its pictures have more punch, vibrancy, and subjective detail. The C2 is also the better model for bright room viewing, but if you intend to largely watch movies in the dark, the C1 remains a fabulous buy.

Perhaps the biggest argument in favour of the C2 is its wider range of screen sizes. The 42-inch LG C2 is particularly suitable for near-field gaming, allowing it to be used on a desktop in a way a 55-inch+ model simply can’t.  

If it's the C1 that has caught your eye, then here are the latest and lowwst prices across it sizes.

However, if the C2 has won you over, then here are the latest and lowest price

If you're after more of the top TVs going then check out the best OLED TVs and the best QLED TVs.

It's a testament to LG's dominance in the OLED TV space that you’d be forgiven for not knowing that Sony has a couple of good ones too. The Sony Bravia XR A80J 4K HDR OLED is a sleeper hit that many didn’t know about or skipped because of its weaker gaming chops. Sony has only just delivered Variable Refresh Rate to their TVs, several years after LG.

At $1900/£1699, the 55-inch A80J is certainly a formidable TV for movie watching thanks to its Cognitive AI image processing and plenty of other tricks. But it’s not quite enough to put it up right up there with the very top-level panels vying to be the best gaming TV - but it's still an excellent TV. Let me explain.

Features & Design

The A80J goes for a minimalist design aesthetic that ensures your sole focus is on its gorgeous OLED panel and nothing else. The only visually-exceptional element is the plastic back panel housing that holds all the connections, speakers, and circuitry that powers the screen. The TV sits on dull-looking metal legs that are useful thanks to a 3-way positioning system which allows for varying TV-stand widths as well as height, so you can easily place a soundbar or parts of a gaming sound system under it. And if you don't like the stands, you can always wall mount.

The rear ports are easily accessible, no matter how you mount the TV. These include four HDMI 2.1 ready ports and an eARC interface, immediately making it a contender for those looking for one of the best 120hz 4K TVs. It also features Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and RF technology for old-school analog TV reception. The A80J supports all major HDR formats, including Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, and Netflix Certification. It has a dedicated game mode that the TV turns on automatically when it detects a console, and in addition to that, it now has VRR support from a firmware update that Sony rolled out to the TV post-launch - but more on this later.

The A80J runs Google TV instead of a custom OS and it is great for apps. It’s intuitive, fast, and smooth with a huge catalog of apps and games, and setting up the TV with my existing Google account was a breeze. Using my own photos for the standby Gallery mode was a particularly nice crowd-pleaser. You also get Google Assistant and Alexa compatibility for some voice-activated shenanigans.

The A80J also hides a set of clever speakers that attune themselves to the individual room while also using the screen as a center speaker. Some AI upscaling turns almost any audio into surround sound and there’s support for Dolby Atmos.

Performance

The picture quality on the A80J is excellent with deep, inky blacks, bright highlights, and great viewing angles with excellent handling of reflections. I had no trouble watching content in a brightly lit living room though nighttime viewing was much better. Movie lovers will delight in Sony's fantastic XR Picture processing that gives a very cinematic film vibe. But whatever tickles your fancy, there are plenty of menu options to further prod and tweak the picture to your liking with very helpful explanations of each one.

I thoroughly enjoyed binging Halo, The Offer, and Star Trek - Strange New Worlds. Star Trek SNW was perfect to test blooming and contrast and the A80J dazzled with perfect black space and glinting stars while phaser explosions blinded at times.

Games were just as stunning in HDR. I've been discovering the excellent Ghost Of Tsushima where the A80J made the world look so beautiful, lush, and inviting. Destiny 2 The Witch Queen bursts with gorgeous HDR color and excellent visibility in the dark spooky areas. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a visual spectacle to behold running via PC with max settings in 4K HDR too.

In addition to supporting 4K 120 Hz gaming, the A80J has an impressive latency of just 8.5ms which is great for twitch gaming. However, it only recently gained VRR and my experience was less than impressive. First off, VRR only works on one HDMI port at a time and requires digging deep into the settings to activate it. I connected a PC with an RTX 3080Ti to the TV so 4K was no problem but there was noticeable screen tear and juddering — even at fixed 60fps.

Additionally, there isn’t a Game Hub app similar to what LG and Samsung offer so gamers lack finer controls over the TV's game mode.

The handy Game Optimiser is here too, and with the TV supporting ALLM, VRR, AMD FreeSync, and Nvidia G-Sync, this could easily storm up our best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X guide..

Overall - should you buy it?

The Sony Bravia XR A80J OLED is simply a great TV. It's clearly made for movie lovers, and watching content of any kind is a sheer joy. But if you are a serious gamer with the latest hardware, the A80J comes up short. The lack of a game hub, proper Adaptive-Sync, and the resulting stutters isn’t good enough when you have TVs like the exceptional LG C2 or NeoQLEDs like the Samsung QN95A. Sure, this could be just a firmware update away but I think Sony needs to work this into the hardware better. I’ll wait and see if the recently released Bravia XR A80K OLED, and other newer models, improve things.

How we tested the Sony A80J

I used the Sony A80J as my only, go-to TV in the house for a period of a month. It was placed in our living room where it was used daily for everything from watching the evening news to streaming the latest movies and shows on Paramount Plus and other streaming services. I also connected my consoles to the TV's HDMI 3 & 4 which are designated for 4K 120Hz gaming and I connected an MSI Trident X 12th Gen PC with an RTX 3080Ti to test full resolution gaming across titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, Destiny 2 The Witch Queen, as well as all my 4K benchmarking. It was in this scenario that I was able to test Sony's recent VRR update.  

You can read more about how we test gaming TVs as well as how we make all our recommendations in the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Looking for a monitor instead of a TV? Check out our best gaming monitor list as well as our guides to the best Xbox Series X monitor and best PS5 monitor.

The LG QNED91 arrives and marks a moment in time where this new breed could give the LG's own best OLED TVs a run for their money at the top of the pile.

LG undoubtedly makes some of the best gaming TVs money can buy with their OLED TVs leading the charge with their excellent pixel response, fantastic picture quality, and game bar. But the days of LG OLED being king of the hill are numbered thanks to its new line of QNED panels. Using a proprietary blend of Quantum Dot and Nanocell technology with a Mini-LED backlighting system, the new LG QNED91 4K TV is, for all intents and purposes, as good as the infamous LG OLED C1. Combined with LG’s 7th Gen Alpha processor, AI smarts, and impressive gaming features, there is almost nothing to complain about this TV.

Features & Design

The LG QNED91 4K Mini-LED comes in three sizes 86, 75, and 65-inches - the latter being the size of our review unit. The TV is a little on the thick side compared to its OLED siblings and also pretty heavy at 28kg, but the wide, curved stand does a good job keeping it upright. It does need a fairly deep cabinet to sit on so watch out for that.

Likewise, the TV won’t win any beauty awards but it’s stylish enough in its simplicity with a gray metal finish and tiny bezels all around that let the panel shine. Round the back is a generous port selection that includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, Ethernet, Optical, and USB ports. For added connectivity, the TV supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth.

The star of the show is of course the panel. It has over 900 individual Mini-LED zones, more than the Samsung QN95A that we also loved. This enables the QNED to achieve impressive clarity, contrast, and vibrancy in both SDR and HDR modes.

The Alpha 7 Gen 4 AI processor works excellently behind the scenes to control those Mini-LEDs to a powerful effect. The intelligent 4K upscaling and real-time image processing guarantee a stunning image at all times, and there is also support for all the major HDR formats such as HDR10, HLG, HGiG, and Dolby Vision IQ. 

Like its OLED siblings, the QNED91 runs on Web OS 6 which is intuitive and easy to navigate with an emphasis on getting you into content quickly.

The handy Game Optimiser is here too, and with the TV supporting ALLM, VRR, AMD FreeSync, and Nvidia G-Sync, this could easily storm up our best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X and best 120Hz 4K TV guides on specs and feature sets alone.

Performance

It’s unsurprising that the QNED91 performs exceptionally well. The new Mini-LED backlighting is both bright and offers excellent levels of contrasts with much deeper blacks than any other LCD TV I’ve seen. There's still a little blooming around bright white objects or text but nothing distracting enough to ruin the viewing experience though.

The TV’s AI smarts do a phenomenal job in 4K upscaling and color management to display a beautiful, true-to-life picture in movies and streaming. Unlike the C1 OLED, I hardly experienced the soap opera effect when watching content. HDR performance is great thanks again to those Mini-LEDs and the improved contrast and brighter highlights for a peak 1000 nits and an impressive 6000:1 contrast ratio.

Unsurprisingly, gaming on the QNED91 is excellent. Colors were crisp and vibrant - easily matching the best QLED TVs - and details pin-sharp while the fast-paced movement was buttery smooth thanks to adaptive sync. Horizon Zero Dawn Frozen Wilds looked utterly spectacular with the HDR beautifully rendering the snowy peaks that contrasted with Aloy’s colorful armor and the chaotic explosions during fights. Halo Infinite runs fast and smooth with no noticeable latency in responding to my inputs.

The Game Optimiser makes monitoring and adjusting performance a breeze and the universal remote functionality even allows you to control your consoles with the TV's remote. Rounding off the experience is the exceptional audio performance of the QNED91. The 40W 2.2 speaker system produces a very rich and full sound soundscape with exceptional detail and strong bass. It impressed me with how precisely it rendered bullet casings dropping to the ground while Neo rescued Morpheus in the Matrix movie. Mind you it's a chaotic scene with a ton of gunshots, explosions, and the punchy soundtrack. LG’s AI Sound Pro system does an excellent job no matter the content.

Overall - should you buy it?

My colleague Steve called Mini-LED a transformative technology and the LG QNED91 is absolute proof of that. LG has made an LCD TV that's as good as its OLEDs in so many ways – possibly even a teensy bit better. No longer do you have to worry about the dreaded OLED burn-in. No matter whether you are watching Dolby Vision movies on Disney+ or playing Halo Infinite at 120fps, the QNED91 absolutely shines. It’s a shame then that at current pricing, the QNED91 is comfortably more expensive than the C1 OLED of the same panel size. It's a fantastic TV to be sure but is it worth that much more than an OLED? No, probably not. But that doesn't change the fact that the LG QNED91 is one of the best TVs you can buy right now.

Editor's note: USA availability for this model seems to be slim at the moment, but there has been word that this should reach the North American market.

The Dying Light 2 Broadcast radio transmitter choice tasks you with deciding who gets the VNC Tower radio, between Frank, Juan or Matt. Prior to this you’ll either have been helping Jack Matt with a plan to use the radio transmitter for the Peacekeepers, or Juan in his attempts to spy on Jack. Things get more complicated in Dying Light 2 when Frank gets involved, making this a tricky decision with big consequences later down the line. Here’s what you need to know about the radio transmitter choices in the Dying Light 2 Broadcast story quest.

SPOILERS AHEAD: If you don't want to know about certain aspects of the Dying Light 2 endings, stop reading now.

Dying Light 2 tips | Dying Light 2 fast travel and Metro locations | Dying Light 2 weapons and mods | Dying Light 2 gear | Dying Light 2 radio frequency | Dying Light 2 map | Dying Light 2 repair weapons | Dying Light 2 Inhibitors | Dying Light 2 coop | How to get the Dying Light 2 secret frying pan weapon | Does Dying Light 2 have crossplay? | Dying Light 2 length | Dying Light 2 safe codes | Dying Light 2 multiplayer fix | Dying Light 2 black screen | How to assign Factions in Dying Light 2 | Dying Light 2 new game plus | Dying Light 2 cheats

Give the radio transmitter to Frank, Juan or Jack Matt in Dying Light 2?

The Dying Light 2 Broadcast quest is a big one in the main story and sees you making a crucial decision over who gets control of the radio transmitter in Villedor. Ultimately, it comes down to Peacekeepers or Survivors choice, as with the Dying Light 2 Water Tower choice, but it affects events much further into the story and towards the end of the game. Partial spoilers for the end of Dying Light 2 follow, so be aware as you continue reading.

Note that Juan’s involvement only happens based on previous Dying Light 2 Juan choices that you will have made during the Welcome On Board quest, but we’ll explain the effects of these choices in more detail further down. In short, siding with Juan means you have the option to give the radio transmitter to Juan or Frank, but if you stuck with helping Jack Matt earlier, you have the option to give the transmitter to Jack or Frank, instead of Juan.

After a lot of setting up, you’ll enter the VNC Tower with a squad of Peacekeepers and will begin your climb. Things obviously go wrong, leaving Aiden to ascend the tower and reach the radio transmitter on his own. Along the way you’ll receive some advice from the drunken Survivor has-been, Frank, about reaching the top of the tower, and you’ll even get yourself a grappling hook.

As you near the top and you’re about to make your decision on who to give the radio transmitter to, you’ll have Frank speaking to you over the radio. He’ll tell you about his idea to set up a New Hope Radio for the Survivors of Villedor and will persuade you to consider the option. With this fresh in your mind, your previous agreements with either Jack Matt or Juan will be at risk. Now you must decide who you’ll give the radio transmitter to out of Jack Matt, Juan, or Frank. This choice does actually have an impact on the possible Dying Light 2 endings that you can get too.

Give the transmitter to Jack Matt

This choice is only available to you if you decided to stick with helping Jack Matt during a conversation with Juan in the Welcome On Board quest. If you went down this path, you would have been sent to retrieve some UV lamps from a man called Demoulin for Jack Matt prior to climbing the VNC Tower.

Giving the transmitter to Jack Matt has the immediate effect of giving total control of the radio to the Peacekeepers, causing propaganda to be blasted out across the city. Later on, you’ll have to help Jack with boosting the signal by activating extra antennas, which will eventually lead to you locating a key character for later in the story. Towards the end of Dying Light 2, when a missile strike is about to hit, the Peacekeepers do not use the transmitter to warn anyone of the strike, causing a lot of casualties.

Give the transmitter to Juan

This Dying Light 2 radio transmitter choice is only available to you if you agreed to help Juan spy on Jack Matt during the Welcome On Board quest. Making this choice will have led you to meeting a former GRE scientist called Kurt prior to climbing the tower. Kurt will fix a bug device for you as part of the Cathedral quest.

Allowing Juan to gain control of the radio transmitter means you will actually give it to the Peacekeepers and Jack Matt, but you will also plant Juan’s bug, allowing him to spy on them. In the cutscene after you make this choice, you’ll see the Peacekeepers using the radio to spout some propaganda and will then see Juan looking very pleased with himself.

As with giving control over the transmitter to Jack Matt, Juan and the Peacekeepers are unable to warn the people of Villedor of the incoming missile strike and so lots of people die as a result.

Give the transmitter to Frank

The option to give the radio transmitter to Frank is always available regardless of your choices in previous missions, so don’t worry about missing this one. Following through on Frank’s request will give control of the radio transmitter to the Survivors, thus allowing Frank to establish New Hope Radio.

Soon after, you’ll be tasked with boosting the signal by activating more antennas which will also lead you to locating a key character for later in the story. Later on, Frank is able to use New Hope Radio to warn fellow Survivors of the impending missile strike and they are able to evacuate with minimal casualties.

Dying Light 2 The Only Way Out choices | Tell the truth in Dying Light 2 Cheers or make a deal | Help Hakon or leave him to die in Dying Light 2 Revolution? | Go to Aitor or Sophie in the Dying Light 2 Raid quest? | Keep a promise to Alberto or go to the center in Dying Light 2 Revolution | Dying Light 2 Meet the People of the Bazaar | Split the goods or fight in Dying Light 2 The Ball is in Your Court | Help Anderson or not in Dying Light 2 | Dying Light 2 Aitor quest | Dying Light 2 True Friends

There are several Dying Light 2 endings you can get thanks to the choices you make in-game. Things can vary pretty wildly, with options spinning off depending on what Aiden does with the Survivors, Peacekeepers, Lawan, Hakon, Waltz, the Renegades and more. Whether you're looking for the best ending for Dying Light 2 and a proper happily-ever-after, or if you want to see which ending you're heading for based on your decisions, we'll explain the different Dying Light 2 endings and how to get them below. Obviously, spoilers follow since we address the final moments of the game, as well as the choices throughout the story that lead up to them.

OBVIOUSLY MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD: If you don't want to know how things end in Dying Light 2 then stop reading now.

Dying Light 2 tips | Dying Light 2 fast travel and Metro locations | Dying Light 2 weapons and mods | Dying Light 2 gear | Dying Light 2 radio frequency | Dying Light 2 repair weapons | Dying Light 2 Inhibitors | Dying Light 2 coop | How to get the Dying Light 2 secret frying pan weapon | Does Dying Light 2 have crossplay? | Dying Light 2 length | Dying Light 2 safe codes | Dying Light 2 multiplayer fix | Dying Light 2 black screen | How to assign Factions in Dying Light 2 | Dying Light 2 cheats

Dying Light 2 endings explained

There are quite a few Dying Light 2 endings to get and we'll be honest straight off the bat that we haven't found them all yet (though we'll be updating this guide the moment we do). However, we've laid out those we have obtained below, as well as the choices that seem to lead to them.

Regardless of your decisions during the game, Dying Light 2 concludes in the same place: a location called X13. Here, you make some choices that form the finale of the game where a final cinematic changes depending on certain key choices. While you do a lot over the course of Dying Light 2, there's actually only a small number of key decisions that impact the ending, who lives, who dies, and what happens to Villedor.

The Fate of Villedor

The city's rulers change according to your actions - specifically one action, from what we can tell - but there's also a more dramatic option that means there's no Villedor for anybody to really control by the end. This all takes place during the Broadcast quest with the Dying Light 2 radio tower. 

• Survivors rule Villedor: Give the Radio Tower to Frank
• Peacekeepers rule Villedor: Give the Radio Tower to Matt or Juan

This option locks in the ruling faction. However, in the final mission, if you choose to save Lawan rather than allow her to blow up the missiles the city is destroyed. It's technically ruled over by one side or another, but it's clearly a minor detail considering the game states most of the human population was killed in the missile strikes.

What happens to Lawan and Aiden in Dying Light 2

Beyond the larger question of control, there's also the question of whether our main characters survive or not. We haven't tried out every variation of this yet, but here's some results we can say for certain happen:

• Lawan blows up the missiles and survives: If you let her blow up the missiles in the final quest, but spared Hakon's life in the No Mercy sidequest, he returns to save her at the last second, meaning both her and Villedor get to live. The ending shows her and Aiden leaving the city to explore the world together.
• Lawan doesn't blow up the missiles and survives: If you try to intervene, you play a timed mission where you have two minutes to reach her before the bombs go off (don't worry if you fail, you just try again). Aiden reaches her in time but nearly loses control of his monsterness - only to go all King Kong and climb out of the base with her over one shoulder. However, the missiles launch, Villedor is blown up, and Aiden leaves the city afterwards alone, not wanting his transformations to hurt anybody else.

It's important to remember that you can keep playing in the world after the ending, though the game admits that it'll adjust certain choices to allow for this. For example, it assumes you didn't blow up Villedor because otherwise there wouldn't be any buildings to parkour across. There is is also no Dying Light 2 new game plus mode for you to try, but there are plenty of free roam activities and side quests for you to mop up.

Dying Light 2 The Only Way Out choices | Tell the truth in Dying Light 2 Cheers or make a deal | Help Hakon or leave him to die in Dying Light 2 Revolution? | Go to Aitor or Sophie in the Dying Light 2 Raid quest? | Keep a promise to Alberto or go to the center in Dying Light 2 Revolution | Dying Light 2 Meet the People of the Bazaar | Dying Light 2 Water Tower choice | Split the goods or fight in Dying Light 2 The Ball is in Your Court | Help Anderson or not in Dying Light 2 | Dying Light 2 Juan choices | Dying Light 2 Aitor quest | Dying Light 2 True Friends

Black Friday OLED TV deals can offer up some serious discounts on high-end displays; often giving us the lowest prices of the year. And while LG produces some of the most popular OLED panels on the market, choosing between an LG C1 and LG A1 model can be tricky considering their similar price points. However, there are a few key differences you should be aware of before Black Friday LG TV deals kick off. 

The C1 and A1 are part of LG's latest OLED TV line-up, and both occupy a more affordable space than the luxurious G1 model. That means they will be the models offering the best value this Black Friday. The C1 is the more premium of the two, with a $1,499 MSRP on the 55-inch model (though currently on sale for $1,299 at Amazon). However, the A1 isn't too far behind in price, coming in at $1,299. 

That $200 between the two is largely found in the additional features on offer. From refresh rate to stand design, HDMI 2.1 options to the generation of processor under the hood, there are several differences between the two options. 

We're showing you which OLED TV to buy this Black Friday, comparing the differences between the LG C1 vs LG A1 and determining who should buy which model.

LG C1 vs A1: which should you buy this Black Friday?

The LG C1 is the brand's middle of the road option, the best OLED TV for most people. It boasts an impressive array of specs, particularly well-geared towards gamers, as well as a (relatively) affordable price tag that won't quite break the bank like more premium G1 models. However, considering the display on offer is largely the same in the A1 model, is it worth jumping down to scoop up an even lower price?

It depends. The LG C1 and LG A1 panels will look very similar to one another in everyday viewing, so if you're just after a nice screen to watch, but still want the local dimming and color contrast of an OLED, the A1 will likely be the most valuable option.

However, you might miss some additional features on the C1 if you're watching particularly high-end movie content (and want it to shine as bright as possible) or searching for a Black Friday PS5 or Xbox Series X TV deal. 

The LG C1 offers a 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 connections - these are tailor made for the current generation of consoles. In fact, we expect the LG C1 to be leading the way in this year's Black Friday 4K 120Hz TV deals due to that fact that it's one of the best gaming TVs on the market. Games will run smoother and carry more visual information on the C1 model than they will the A1. Add to that the fact that you're missing out on Nvidia G-Sync and AMD Freesync for additional motion support in the A1, and those who spend more than five hours a week gaming will definitely want to invest in the slightly more premium model. 

It should also be noted that the LG C1 includes a newer a9 Gen 4 processor, one that will handle picture processing a little better thanks to the scene recognition feature baked in. This allows the TV to automatically enhance the experience based on what is being displayed, making picture adjustments for lower lighting scenes and changing the sound for dialogue. That means movie fans will spot a slightly more intelligent system at work here, manifesting in higher quality scenes that the A1 may struggle to accurately represent as well.

Ultimately, the debate of LG C1 vs LG A1 OLED TVs comes down to how you want to use your device. These are both extremely powerful displays, capable of offering some stunning scenes with excellent upscaling and motion handling. One does perform better than the other in terms of additional features, picture processing, and gaming-specific uses, but everyday viewers will likely not be able to pick the two apart from display quality alone.

You'll find a chart displaying who should buy which model just below.

LG C1 vs LG A1: Black Friday deals

Of course, actually getting your hands on an LG OLED TV on Black Friday is another matter entirely. It's well worth knowing the differences between these two models, as the lawless lands of the holiday sales could bring them much closer together in price this year. 

2021 marks the first time LG has had two affordable OLED TVs on the market. Previously the C-Series was the cheapest on offer, but the new A-line has swooped in at an even lower price point this year. That means there's potential for the LG C1 to only be around $100 more than the A1 model, in which case we would thoroughly recommend future-proofing yourself with the latest release. 

We often see LG OLED TVs taking their biggest discounts of the year on Black Friday, and we expect 2021 to be no different. While both models should receive similar price cut treatment in the November sales, the C1 model does have more wiggle room in that higher MSRP. That means we'll potentially see larger savings here overall, and potentially even the same price on both models. 

You'll find all the latest discounts on both of these models just below.

If you're not set on LG's offerings, we're also rounding up all our expectations for this year's Black Friday Samsung TV deals and the Black Friday QLED TV deals we're predicting will pop up as well. Or, if you're really going fancy, keep an eye out for this year's Black Friday 8K TV deals.

The LG OLED C1 is the TV maker's 2021 OLED honeypot. Sure, the LG OLED G1 Gallery stablemate has a brighter Evo panel (more on that later), but it’s a high-falutin’-interiors friendly screen, rather than a display aimed directly at being the best gaming TV - we kinda think a night playing Resident Evil Village would freak it out, let alone us.

The C1 is the more realistic choice, perhaps. Available in a range of screen sizes, including a 48-incher suitable for close-quarter viewing, it’s powered by a razor-sharp AI picture engine and sports LG’s freshly baked Game Optimizer menu, a one-stop-shop for all aspects of gaming sound and vision.

The C1 also uses the all-new LG webOS v6.0, complete with full-screen display, has an OTT larder overflowing with streaming apps, and comes with comprehensive catch-up TV services and apps too.

So is this the best OLED TV dream screen next-gen gamers have been waiting for?

Features & Design

It’ll surprise no one to learn that the C1 is wondrously thin in its design. The panel expands only to accommodate electronics, sound system, and input board, and even then it's not by much. The panel sits on a central pedestal. However, this requires a three-quarter wide trim to keep it standing upright. It looks nice enough, but you’ll not want to sit a soundbar right in front of it, even purely from an aesthetic point of view.

HDMI connectivity is leading edge as all four HDMIs are v2.1, which means they’re compatible with a 4K at 120Hz display output by the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. There’s support for VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), NVIDIA G-Sync, and AMD Freesync, as well as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). Naturally, we get eARC too, used to route audio from the TV to a soundbar or best surround sound system.

Additional connections include three USB ports, a digital optical audio output, and Ethernet, while wireless connectivity comes via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2.

The C1 ships with LG’s slimmed-down Magic Remote control. Functionally it’s the same cursor pointer we've used before; but it just sits a bit more comfortably in the hand. There are dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Rakuten TV, so a binge is only ever a button press away.

Naturally, we made a beeline for the new Game Optimizer menu. This allows easy access to gaming-specific features, so you can easily manage brightness and VRR settings. We particularly like the Game Genre selector. This applies specific picture processing to suit different game styles, effectively optimising the TV for FPS, RTS, and RPG titles. Combine this with the HDMI 2.1 connectivity, and game-focused features and this really is pushing for the mantle of best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X and best 120Hz 4K TV.

It’s particularly helpful on fast-moving action games, lifting gamma so you’re less likely to be sniped unseen from the shadows. With the RPG mode selected, you get a more 'contrast-y' picture, while RPG just lifts the average picture level for greater clarity. The C1’s latency performance is also very good: we measured input lag at 12.6ms (1080/60) with Game Mode on.

Performance

So just how well does the glass in the C1 compare to LG’s flagship Evo panel? As it happens, remarkably well. There’s really not a huge gulf between the two when it comes to HDR peak brightness and for the most part, the screens look very similar. 

The driving force here is LG’s 4th Gen Alpha 9 image processor, which does a phenomenal job. AI has a big role in the C1’s picture armory as just switching off AI image enhancement results in a significant drop in texture and detail. Colour banding has been largely eradicated by AI. Improvements in Dynamic Tone mapping have also led to much smoother gradations, which makes all picture content look more 'filmic'. 

Standard, Vivid (perhaps surprisingly), and Cinema Home with Dolby Vision content are our favourite presets when watching TV and movies. They combine a realistic average picture level, with splendid colour saturation and punchy contrast that can easily rival the best QLED TV contenders.

Cinema Home is actually a Dolby Vision IQ setting. This means the TV’s ambient light sensor is being employed to monitor lighting levels in your viewing room, and it adjusts Dolby Vision content appropriately, to prevent over-darkening.

The set’s HDR performance is on the right side of impressive. We measured peak brightness at around 750 nits using the Standard image present, and a five percent measurement window. HDR support covers Dolby Vision, HDR10, HGiG, and HLG. There’s no support for HDR10+, even though it remains the preferred dynamic metadata standard for Amazon Prime Video.

AI processing also plays a role when it comes to audio. The C1’s AI Sound Pro mode upscales stereo and 5.1 content, resulting in a surprisingly rich performance. The set has a Dolby Atmos decoder, although there’s not a lot it can do with the immersive codec. Total power output is rated at 40W, which means the set isn’t short of shouty volume.

Overall - should you buy it?

The LG OLED C1 arrived with a lot to live up to. Its predecessor, the CX from 2020, became a hot buy for gamers and we think the C1 will be just as popular. Indeed, the addition of the Game Optimiser mode, alongside ALLM and VRR, takes the level of customisation available on this TV to another level. So, if you want an OLED telly that takes gameplay seriously and boasts class-leading console support, then the answer to the above question has to be a resounding ‘yes’.

The provision of four HDMI 4K 120fps inputs, to make the most of those PS5 and Xbox Series X titles that support the display format, gives the screen an edge over rival 2021 modules that limit the number of compatible inputs.

Ultimately though, it's the screen's image quality that really sells it: the LG C1 is simply a phenomenal-looking 4K TV.

The OLEDG1 is LG’s top-of-the-line 4K OLED TV for 2021. It’s breathtaking, brilliant, bloody expensive (prices for the 55-inch model start at $2,199 / £1,999), and a little bit impractical. But it is a beauty, and LG's TVs are always vying for the top spots on best gaming TV lists up and down the internet, so we can have confidence.

Unlike the rest of LG’s best OLED TV candidates, it’s designed for wall-mounting and has a uniform depth of about 20cm. It also ushers in a whole new panel recipe, dubbed Evo, which offers higher brightness levels than previous LG OLED screens. This means it might not just be a regurgitation of last years' models - and it'll offer a distinct upgrade and experience.

(Note: at the time of writing, USA stock of the G1 seems to be wobbling - but it'll come back soon enough, and this page is a great place to check back in as our price finding tech refreshes all the time.)

Rival Panasonic has actually been leading the OLED brightness race for a year or so, thanks to its Pro Edition Master OLED panel. But the Evo panel is an opportunity for LG to even the score. The set also comes with an all-new webOS UI - that launcher bar of yore has been replaced with a full-screen alternative, which provides more room for curated content recommendations.   

Most importantly, the G1 also offers us the first opportunity to get hands-on with the brand’s new Game Optimizer, a dedicated suite allowing multiple gaming aspects to be tweaked.

Features & Design

When it comes to design, the G1 is the very definition of minimalism. Wall mounted, it presents nothing but image. The black bezel is ultra thin, with no surplus bodywork. However, if you don’t intend to wall-mount, listen up: there’s no pedestal stand included in the box. You’ll need to sort that out prior to unboxing. LG offers two solutions. Firstly there’s a pair of triangular feet, priced at $100 / £100, These attach at the extreme end of the screen, so you’ll need some wide AV furniture to match. Alternatively, there’s the Gallery Stand, a retro-style set of legs priced at $350 / £350. This is a bit of a disappointment given the TV's own high price of admission.

The G1 has all the right connections. HDMI inputs are v2.1 and enabled for 4K 120Hz gameplay. They’re also blessed with ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), VRR G-Sync, and VRR AMD Freesync. To route TV audio out to a soundbar or home cinema system, there’s also eARC. 

The G1 comes with a new slimmed-down Magic Remote control, which features dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Rakuten TV, as well as Google Assistant and Alexa shortcuts.

More significantly, there's a whole new look for the webOS smart platform. The v6.0 iteration here is a full-screen UI (rather than solo launcher bar), and it’s brimming with streaming apps.

The big development though is that new Game Optimizer interface. Accessible when you connect a console, it offers a wide variety of fine-tuning, including game genre selection, which dictates picture processing based on game style (more on that below).

Performance

Let’s cut to the chase: LG’s new Evo panel is absolutely gorgeous. It combines OLED’s trademark deep blacks with superb shadow detail, fabulous colour fidelity and sparkling highlights. The new panel achieves its higher brightness courtesy of a new, more luminescent blue material and new green layer, resulting in brighter, punchier pictures. 

The TV also employs a new 4th-gen Alpha 9 image engine, which bristles with AI enhanced processing. This has allowed LG to improve its AI Picture Pro picture system, so that it can better optimise and analyse images in real time, and handle upscaling. There’s also an Auto Genre mode which uses Deep Learning to tell the difference between various content types - movies, sports, animation, and news - and, again, optimise accordingly. The result is unerringly sharp and detailed pictures, which never look edge-enhanced. 

LG has also given its interpolation technology an overhaul this year, and the TV's motion handling is all the better for it. Gaming is buttery smooth, with no ugly artefacts, and when watching films, the Cinematic Movement preset is excellent.

The Evo panel really delivers when it comes to HDR. We measured peak highlights just under 800 nits using the Standard image present. That’s a significant improvement on LG’s 2020 models, and something to really give the best QLED TV candidates something to worry about.

As a gaming display, the G1 sets a high bar - this will be pushing for the mantle of best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X and best 120Hz 4K TV this year. In 2020, LG had the serious gamer market all to itself. This year, there’s competition in the wings. But rivals like Sony, Panasonic, and Philips will have to go some to match the G1’s specification and performance.

The Game Optimizer is an excellent new addition, with some great touches. In Standard mode, it effectively reduces input lag. Tell it you’re playing an FPS game, and it’ll immediately lighten detail in the darker recesses of the picture. Select the RPG mode, and the set adjusts for maximum contrast. Real-Time Strategy games get greater highlight clarity and a boost to mid/high-level brightness. The set puts in a strong low latency performance too, and we measured image lag at just 12.7ms (1080/60), in game optimizer mode.

The only area where the G1 underwhelms performance-wise is audio. It’s rated at 60W and has Dolby Atmos decoding, but there’s not a lot happening sonically here. The screen deserves to be partnered with a soundbar or a gaming sound system, to do it full justice.

Overall - should you buy it?

There’s no question that the LG G1 is a stunner. Its OLED picture performance is superb, and the new feature count is top-notch. HDMI 4K 120fps connectivity, perfect for PS5 and Xbox Series X, an all-new webOS smart platform, and its comprehensive Game Optimizer are all big ticks in the win column.

Yup, it’s hardly a bargain, and you’ll need to fork out even more if you want it to stand on its own two feet, rather than wall mount, but if you want the latest top OLED TV from the masters, then you'll have no regrets with the G1.