Tested: LG OLED C1 | Dream TV… and gaming | The Press

LG's OLED TVs have been critical darlings for years, and the C1 model launching in 2021 is no exception. In addition to the remarkable image quality, we've added a few improvements this year that will delight video game enthusiasts, a smarter processor and a new 83-inch screen size. But it is still just as tedious to connect Bluetooth headphones to it.

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The quality of the image produced by the OLED C1 television, of which we tested the 55-inch model, is still outstanding. This technology uses only one panel of so-called "organic" light-emitting diodes, hence the acronym DELO, in French. These diodes emit their own light instead of filtering white light like in the case of LED televisions, which consist of two panels.

The result, with OLED technology, is the possibility of having deep and complete blacks, a wide screen of barely 5 mm in its upper part, an almost infinite contrast and a greater richness of colors. The OLED C1 does a wonderful job in this regard, as does its predecessor, the CX, which we had on hand at the same time. In fact, you don't really see any difference between the two when you alternately display the same film.

We will not blame LG for having kept the same recipe, it works. Even in a brightly lit room, in broad daylight, the contrast and full colors make it easy to appreciate the nuances of a film.

This year, on the other hand, we are entitled to a new sub-menu when we connect a video game console or a computer to it: a “game optimizer”. This is where you can control several parameters, the type of image and the sound. This television is compatible with the rate of 120 Hz and is the only one to integrate Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync technologies, which make it possible to avoid having jerky images.

With its ability to reproduce video content at 120 frames per second, its Dolby Vision capabilities at 4K and its advertised latency of 6ms, the OLED C1 actually blurs the line between a television and a computer monitor designed for gaming. video.

The remote control, called Magic Remote, has been redesigned and fits better in the hand. It still includes the cursor that wanders around the screen like a laser pointer, and raised buttons for volume and channels that can be spotted even in the dark.

This TV is compatible with the two main voice assistants, Alexa and the Google Assistant, and allows you to stream content from Apple devices with AirPlay. The availability of apps in LG's in-house store is impressive, given the fact that its operating system, WebOS 6, is independent of Google and Apple. The most popular applications are there, with the exception of Tou.tv, which are still just as rare.

We are entitled to a new version of the processor, the fourth generation "4K IA α 9", which is touted as having the ability to recognize the content on the screen to better distinguish them. A face, therefore, will not be treated as a tropical landscape. Same nuances for sound, which distinguishes between voices and music, for example.

Honestly, it's hard to confirm that the processor is doing a better job than before. It's obviously more nimble, and the TV seemed to respond quicker to us, though.

For connections, we are entitled to four HDMI 2.1 inputs, each detecting the connected device and being able to become eARC, and three USB sockets. Ethernet and a/v inputs, as well as a 3.5mm jack, complete the picture.

Finally, prices continue to come down, at least for the smaller screens, with the 48-inch model for example at $1,799.99. For the all-new 83-inch, on the other hand, you have to shell out $10,081.

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Unlike much less capable televisions, the OLED C1 does not automatically reconnect to the latest Bluetooth headphones used. You have to constantly go to the settings to reconnect them except, once in five, when they are detected as soon as they are switched on.

The interface of WebOS 6 is honest, nothing more. We end up finding all the parameters, but we have to dig.

One buys ?

For any movie buff or video gamer who wants quality, and is willing to pay a hefty price without breaking the bank, the OLED C1 is the best choice. There are of course much less expensive 4K televisions even in supermarkets, but none have an image quality that approaches that offered by OLED technology.

King LG keeps his crown in this area.