New year, new TV? I'd highly recommend going for this older LG OLED for gaming in 2026

I'm about to sound like a drama queen, but the LG OLED C4 has completely changed my living room gaming experience. Prior to investing in the gaming TV just this year, I found myself avoiding traditional couch console sessions due to my lacklustre old LED panel.

The only issue is that since we're about to enter 2026, the best gaming TV contender is about to turn two generations old. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and I made an active decision to pick up the C4 over the newer OLED C5 in 2025. The reason? Well, I always tend to try and pick up generational tech at the end of its life cycle to save money, but I wouldn't say the benefits included with new models are worth paying top dollar for unless you're an ultra enthusiast.

I'm not saying the LG OLED C5 isn't worthwhile, and I'd urge you to make sure it doesn't cost less than the C4 while searching for a TV in the new year. Retailers have a nasty habit of making newer models cheaper, which is usually a symptom of marketplace seller pricing being slightly out of sync. But, if you can grab the older model for a few hundred less than the latest, then it's absolutely worth doing.

You might be wondering why I'm telling you to buy a 2024 TV in 2026, especially since the LG OLED C6 will likely enter the ring this year. My thinking is that as a gaming screen, the C4 is going to provide you with solid vibrancy, refresh rates, and brightness, and once those new models arrive, it could be harder to find at its lowest price.

Largely, the generation differences between C-series LG OLED TVs are marginal. Yes, the latest gen panels boast improved Tandem RGB tech that goes the extra mile in terms of clarity and vibrancy, but the C4 models are still packing MLA+ (Micro Lens Array) tech that elevates brightness and colors beyond ordinary OLED screens. If you're truly nerdy about things like color purity and hitting a higher nit count, then you'll naturally want to look at newer models, but if you're just looking for an excellent PS5, Xbox, or Switch 2 experience, it's worth saving some money on the slightly older version.

That's not to say I don't appreciate top-end TV specs, and if money weren't a factor, I'd be buying a flagship model in 2026. However, I do think it's worth thinking about whether paying far more will actually benefit you, as while previous premium panels like the LG OLED G4 have blown me away, the difference isn't that dramatic in terms of HDR brightness and clarity.

Ultimately, I believe most of you will be stoked if you can grab an LG OLED C4 in 2026. It's currently my daily living room driver, and will hopefully be for quite a few years to come. Every time I sit down to play the Switch 2 in TV mode or dive into my PS5 collection, I'm always caught off guard by the screen's vivid visuals and sharpness, not to mention being able to hit 144Hz using PCs still feels like an absolute novelty.

The OLED C4 isn't the only screen out there, and you will want to still consider all options when making the jump in 2026. This recommendation absolutely comes from a place of subjective personal use rather than me declaring a winner out of every option out there, and if you can grab LG's display at a record low, I'd do it early in the year.

Looking for more displays? Swing by the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X for more big screen options. If you're a PC player, we've also got you covered with the best gaming monitors for your desktop setup.