LG C5 vs LG B5 – here's which affordable LG OLED TV you should buy

LG's OLED TVs face stiff competition from the likes of Samsung, Sony and Panasonic, but continue to be one of the most popular OLED brands.

LG sets are often featured in our best TVs list, and in recent years, both the C-series and B-series OLEDs have appeared across a range of TechRadar best-of lists.

We've put LG's OLEDs up against its rivals before, but how do the company's two most affordable 2025 models, the LG C5 and LG B5, compare, and where should you invest your money if you're deciding between these two highly reviewed models? I put two of 2025's best OLED TVs side-by-side to find out.

LG C5 vs LG B5: price & availability

The LG C5 launched in April 2025, while the LG B5 followed later in the year, launching in August 2025.

A 55-inch C5 at launch cost $1,999.99 / £1,899.99 / AU$3,299, whereas the entry-level 55-inch B5 cost $1,499.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,499.

At present, prices for both TVs have fallen across their entire range of sizes. The 55-inch C5 is available for $1,399.99 / £1,499 / AU$2,299 and the 55-inch B5 will set you back $1,199.99 / £1,199 / AU$1,995. Of the two, the C5 is the better value for what it delivers, especially in the US and Australia. In the UK, the price gap is a little wider, so the B5 looks tempting. But really, it comes down to budget.

LG C5 vs LG B5: specs

LG C5 vs LG B5: benchmark results

LG C5 vs LG B5: Picture quality

Both the LG C5 and LG B5 deliver excellent picture quality that demonstrates real value for money, but there are some differences between them.

The biggest difference is brightness. The C5 has a much higher measured peak HDR brightness than the B5. When we measured it, the C5 hit 1,180 nits in Filmmaker Mode, whereas the B5 hit 668 nits in Movie mode. In real-world viewing, this translates to bolder picture highlights on the C5. This is most prominent in scenes with light tones contrasting with dark backgrounds, such as lightsabers in Star Wars: The Last Jedi or torches and lamps in The Batman.

Fullscreen HDR brightness is close between the two sets, with the C5 hitting 199 nits in Filmmaker Mode and the B5 hitting 131 nits in Movie mode. Neither TV is perfect in brighter viewing conditions, but the C5's higher fullscreen brightness and marginally better reflection handling make it the better choice.

Color reproduction on both TVs is brilliant. Colors appear vibrant and punchy in movies such as Wicked and Elemental, but the C5's higher brightness adds that extra pop and its stronger contrast (more on that below) means its colors appear bolder.

Measuring HDR color gamut coverage, the C5 and B5 were nearly identical. The C5 hit 99.4% of DCI-P3 and 75.8% of the BT.2020, while the B5 hit 99.5% and 74.8% of the same respective color spaces. It's no wonder colors look fantastic on both sets.

In our reviews of both TVs, they were praised for their contrast, black levels and shadow detail. Viewed side by side, however, the C5 has the advantage, with richer black tones and stronger contrast. The B5's black levels can at times look slightly raised, though in movies with deep blacks such as Alien: Romulus, both TVs deliver rich, inky black tones.

Textures are realistic and have a 3D-like quality on both TVs, but the C5's higher contrast makes details appear a bit crisper.

Both the C5 and B5's picture quality is superb, but the C5 takes the win thanks to its higher brightness and more refined detail.

LG C5 vs LG B5: sound quality

TVs with truly great built-in sound are rare, so adding one of the best soundbars to your TV is something we often recommend. While the C5 and B5 deliver acceptable sound for day-to-day viewing, neither really delivers built-in sound to match their picture.

The C5 has a 2.2-channel, 40W speaker array, and it delivers clear speech with good detail, but it lacks bass, a factor that detracts from action movies like Top Gun: Maverick and The Batman.

It's a similar story for the LG B5. With a 2-channel, 20W speaker system, it also delivers surprisingly good accuracy and clear speech, but with only limited bass, the sound lacks impact, and the soundstage is also narrow.

During my testing, I used the AI Sound Pro mode on both TVs, and it was a surprise for an AI sceptic like me who usually sticks with a TV's Cinema/Movie sound preset. This mode upmixes the sound to an 11.1.2 and 9.1.2 channel configuration on the C5 and B5, respectively, and I found it delivered a wider soundstage and higher volume. The bass also sounded more controlled, though it still lacked weight.

LG C5 vs LG B5: Features, smart TV & gaming

Both the C5 and B5 are packed with a great range of features for both smart TV functionality and gaming, and they deliver smooth performance during operation.

The C5 is equipped with a brighter OLED EX panel in its 55-83-inch models, while using a standard W-OLED panel for its smaller 42 and 48-inch models. The B5 uses W-OLED across all its screen sizes.

Both TVs support Dolby Vision HDR, used for 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming, but neither supports HDR10+. Both sets also support the HDR10 and HLG HDR formats.

Introduced in 2024, Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode is supported on both the C5 and B5.

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LG's TVs often shine when it comes to gaming, and the C5 and B5 are no exception. Both carry an extensive list of gaming features and deliver performance to match.

Both TVs support 4K 120Hz (the C5 goes up to 144Hz), VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync, HGiG, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming.

Both also feature LG's Game Optimizer mode, which automatically selects the best settings for gaming, and these settings can be adjusted to change picture, sound and more. There is also the Boost input lag setting, which drops input lag time to a measured 9.2ms (9.1ms on the B5), producing a smooth, responsive gaming experience that will keep gamers happy.

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The C5 and B5 both feature webOS 25, the latest iteration of LG's smart TV platform.

The major update in this year's webOS is the addition of AI-based tools: AI Search, for advanced content discovery; AI Concierge, for tailored recommendations; AI Art, to create AI artworks; and AI Sound Wizard, a sound version of the Picture Wizard where users can create a tailored sound profile.

The Quick Menu continues to be a useful tool for easily altering settings and Quick Cards allow for easy and customizable app organization based on different categories, such as Game or Sports.

Both the C5 and B5 carry very similar feature sets, so it's difficult to pick here, but the C5 does carry a few extras that the B5 doesn't have.

LG C5 vs LG B5: Verdict

Both the LG C5 and LG B5 are excellent, feature-packed OLED TVs that crucially don't break the bank compared to other OLED TV options. But which one is worth your investment?

The C5's picture is brighter with stronger contrast and richer colors. It also has more features and feels much smoother in its operation.

While there is a price gap between the two ($200 / £300 / AU$300 for the 55-inch models), the C5 is the better value for money, making it the overall winner. But for those whose budget tops out at the B5's price level, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Today's best LG C5 and LG B5 deals

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