42” OLED Shoot Out!! - LG C2 vs Asus PG42UQ - The 5 Key Comparisons You NEED to Know

Which is the best 42” OLED display? We compare the LG 42C2 and Asus PG42UQ and highlight the 5 key considerations you should be aware of before you decide!
========================
PURCHASING
Buy relevant products (affiliate links):
Buy Asus PG42UQ on Amazon: locally.link/osHG
Buy Asus PG42UQ from Overclockers UK: tidd.ly/3JYhZ5J
Buy LG 42C2 from Amazon: locally.link/I53m
========================
USEFUL LINKS FOR THIS VIDEO
Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ review: tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/asus...
LG 42C2 review: tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/lg-o...
OLED Dimming Confusion - APL, ABL, ASBL, TPC and GSR Explained: tftcentral.co.uk/articles/ole...
LG C2 OLED settings guide: • The Settings You NEED ...
LG C2 Hardware Calibration guide: tftcentral.co.uk/lg-autocal
Asus PG42UQ settings guide: • Best Settings Guide - ...
Asus PG42UQ hands on and Q&A video: • A REAL 42” OLED monito...
========================
MAIN LINKS
Main website: tftcentral.co.uk/
Follow us on Twitter: / tftcentral
Support us and join our Patreon: / tftcentral
========================
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:15 (1) Connections
03:18 (2) Gaming
06:34 (3) HDR
08:36 (4) Office Use
11:36 (5) Screen coating
17:04 Conclusion and Price Considerations
========================
TFTCentral is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.de, Amazon.ca and other Amazon stores worldwide. We also participate in a similar scheme for Overclockers.co.uk.

[@vmirevi]

thanks for going in depth, I really appreciate it

[@Crozz22]

Thank you for the detailed comparison. Exactly what I was looking for.

[@TheRiteOfKindling]

Incredibly informative! Amazing review. The best I've found.

[@NinerJonny]

Let's factor in price...just got the C2 for $899 here in the US. At that price, there wasn't a decision to make...

[@macd7743]

That's what I'm thinking. I still haven't struck yet but it's looking like the C2 is going to be my new main. I'm currently running an Asus ProArt PA32UC as my main, so I'm thinking the difference should be quite noticeable in all the right ways. Text clarity is my main concern but I'm not finding too many complaints there.

[@Brian-kr7bw]

i bought it for just under $1000 then it goes on sale for $899 a week later :/

[@MIchaelSybi]

@@macd7743 Did you purchase it for work?

[@LordOishi]

Yes! The video I've been waiting for from people I can trust with this stuff.

[@MrWarshroom]

Thank you bro. Genuinely great video

[@DarkMaze05]

Thank you so much for this video!!

[@johnw91498]

I just got the LG C2 as a Christmas present. Blown away by the vivid colors....

[@vedantdesai1]

I got the C2. Because I also game on my console and watch movies. Dolby Vision, and the inclusion of eARC allows me to create a personal 7.1.2 home theater setup

[@smika710]

only person who makes sense talking about matte/glossy oled coatings

[@mm64e50]

LG screen vs Asus anti-glare. The reflective Screen on LG looks way better when viewed side by side.

[@davidedmunds4650]

Great Review, thank you.

[@nicholasjohnson9713]

your videos are sooo great i love it

[@MrStranger1944]

Great work! You made some good points about the screen coating. I just wish there was more of a conversation about the benefits of the heatsync on the Asus PG42UQ. For instance, does this make the ABL less aggressive? What does the image retention comparison look like? Do you attribute the marginally higher peak brightness to the heatsync?

[@tftcentral]

It’s very hard to know at such an early stage what difference the heatsink could have on image retention. Even if I had deliberately stress tested the Asus for burn in (which I haven’t) that would still only be a short couple of weeks which isn’t enough to learn anything valuable. My expectation is that it will help esp for extended gaming and HDR sessions. It can’t hurt :) ABL is shown in the HDR section of the video when talking about peak brightness levels and also in more detail in the review (tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/asus-rog-swift-pg42uq-oled) I expect the heatsink was what allowed Asus to feel comfortable pushing the panel capability for brightness higher yes.

[@brucesyvertsen2147]

A lot of excellent information. My third time watching this.Will likely go with the ASUS after watching your review. Thanks for the in depth reveiw.

[@coolvinay]

Thank you for a very indepth review of the reflections and side by side comparision. It was fun to watch. I have a question tho, whats dimly and moderately lit rooms, where reflections of your self start showing up on the LG when viewing dark content? If you had zoomed out a bit shown how much the room was lit when you said "dimly lit" and "moderately lit" that would have given a perfect idea of which one to buy. Still a great video none the less :)

[@2006chunming]

Omg!! 😹😹😹The End was classic!! It went from Serious to Comedy Central!... "At the end It all depends on what your wife would let you spend"....So True! Definitely didn't see that coming!! Just subed!

[@tftcentral]

😉 you know it’s true

[@vintatsh]

Thank you for this comparison. It's odd that marketed features like improved text clarity, heatsink, uniformity... don't really add too much compared to the C2. I thought they would be actual benefits over the TV. Considering how much cheaper the C2 is now (almost half the price here), the PG42UQ seems way less appealing to me.

[@vintatsh]

@Matthew Walsh C2 launched at 1649€ over here, now at 1000. 1899 for the Asus. You can‘t really buy a „non-evo“ or „evo“ panel, just a gamble depending on the date of manufactured I recon.

[@raymondb3531]

9:50 - I think Asus are referring to the fringing seen on the Samsung QD-OLED panel, used for the AW3423DW.

[@alpinestars-wm8rv]

Been waiting for this video, thanks! Curious as to whether the ASUS can be VESA mounted at all?

[@tftcentral]

It can indeed. 300 x 300mm

[@sharpz44]

Great comparison and well presented , was looking at the Asus but might go LG , this will replace the Gigabyte Auros FV43U as think these will be a lot better

[@Garlane]

Had my LG 38GL950-B in the workshop for 7 out of the last 24 months, they finally caved and gave me credit. The Asus will be my replacement 👍

[@fretless05]

Great video; this was exactly the type of comparison I was looking for. I am not sure which way to go, as the money is important, but there are still things I need to learn, like connectivity options with a Mac Studio, which (for some unknown reason) still comes with HDMI 2.0.

[@tbrowniscool]

I have had the ASUS for a while now (I have a couple of videos on my channel) Its VERY expensive. But If you use a monitor over 12 hours a day it works out very cheap in the long run. IU love it. But the LGC2 is also great

[@som3839]

Great video! I suppose recording reviews in 4k to match the quality of tech being reviewed😄

[@tftcentral]

Planning to at some point :)

[@N0N0111]

@@tftcentral But first make a video about the best and fastest storage product haha.

[@Dconectadostvfilms]

Great Video, I'm happy I came across your video. I was going with the Asus monitor but after your review I'm glad i didn't purchase the Asus, I mostly game and video production in a light controlled environment so glare is not an issue for me. I would like to use your affiliate link but seems to be down, for the LG C2. Thank you again for a well detailed video!

[@tftcentral]

Glad you enjoyed it! Which country are you in as I’ll check if we’ve got a link you can use?

[@omikurita]

Hi wondering if the latest firmware for the Asus makes it a better buy than the C3?

[@doyen86]

Love to see how the new 42inch Asus OLED does against the new slightly larger LG Ultragear OLED.

[@destroy-erase-improve9106]

Would be keen for you to take a look at the latest firmware V033 and use the Win 11 calibration tool. I bought this monitor and the HDR looks so sub par compared to my LG C9. Highlights don’t pop, dark detail is poorly defined and the calibration tool (if following instructions) results in a washed out image. Would really appreciate you having a look. Rtings updated their review and found the color mapping being a issue under the HDR color gamut section.

[@robbycastillo7862]

Thank you very much for this review. I'm tossing between the 2. If i understood it correctly, the uniform brightness mode has been fixed on both devices? via Firmware? I'm leaning towards the C2... as ill be using it 50/50 (50% productivity and 50% gaming)

[@tftcentral]

There isn’t a uniform brightness mode on the C2 but then the ABL has very little impact at all on that screen anyway. You do however need to content with the ASBL feature which detects static images and dims the screen, unless you turn it off via the service menu. Via special service remote The Asus has a uniform brightness mode that negates the need for ABL during use, and you can turn ASBL off too from normal menu

[@StreliziaDeWitt]

I will go with the Asus because i will do a lot of office work on the day. And entertainment after.

[@tftcentral]

New V032 firmware for the Asus PG42UQ OLED is now available. Includes wake from sleep bug fix at 138Hz, “HDR optimisation” of some sort, and user reports of improved Alt+tab speeds out of games over HDMI rog.asus.com/me-en/monitors/above-34-inches/rog-swift-oled-pg42uq-model/helpdesk_bios/

[@droknron]

When visiting that page now, there is only v025 and v028. Seems they pulled v032 because of reports that it's bricking peoples displays (really). Seems the software isn't a strong point for this display at current, hopefully they resolve it soon.

[@themoonshell-F4LFJ]

Thanks for this excellent comparison! It all come to a personal choice. I think the LG C2 is a TV with features for the latest gaming consoles. For gaming on computer, the Asus is a better choice. It’s not all about the glossy or matte screen finish but also about features available on each devices. For me the choice is the Asus despite it’s stiffer price. The DP ports, the USB hub, a better cooling system, and the look makes the Asus a better choice for my need. Even with no gloss coating, the picture quality on the Asus monitor is stunning.

[@superdbsfan8670]

I bought a Sony X85K 43” had to return it because the screen would randomly blackout. Really want to upgrade from my old 1080p. The LG looks good but I’m worried about the auto dimming

[@suitcafe]

LGC3 vs Asus PG42UQ vs Dell U4323QE , what do you think for a non gamer?

[@albertwinbush1739]

really enjoyed your review. Keep up the great work. Look forward to other monitor reviews. I will probably get the C2 since I watch TV a lot. By the way, all of you guys commenting, be sure to subscribe to this channel so that we can keep these reviews coming!

[@TheMagicWordRB]

I made up my mind earlier today! I went for the Asus over the c2.. I hate the idea of the anti glare coating as the colours don’t pop as much. However, as the Asus is a monitor rather than a tv, it has benefits like 120hz on MacBook, Wake to sleep feature etc I will be using this to do office work on my Mac, watching KZbin + Movies and playing games on PS5. I wanted an all round monitor that’s good for everything, although it’s a shame about the screen, everything else is perfect. I’ve ordered the Asus and it’s coming Saturday! 😁

[@tftcentral]

Enjoy! Let us know how you get on. And don’t forget our settings guide video to help you get it set up :)

[@HakimoCrays]

I'm in the same situation (Mac user), I'm a developer and I wanted so badly this monitor BUT with a glossy coating. But I'm not pulling the trigger, I already have a 42c2 but not using it as my main monitor since it's a TV

[@mostwanted2000]

They still have the pink tint from a side like the bigger C2s? The C1 had better viewing angles.

[@0rangeHead]

Can we use the PG42UQ for content creation? Where there's a lot of static tabs, windows, icons, texts in softwares like Adobe After Effects and Blender/ Maya. I'm rather worried about burn-in and image retention after closing/switching said programs. I've heard about the passive cooling on the Asus PG42UQ with the built-in heatsink. Can you elaborate further on this particular model about the burn-in and the cooling feature? I'd like to purchase this if it's $1500 or less.

[@tftcentral]

I think I’d always be a little worried about using any OLED when my uses were entirely or very regularly static. You might be ok, only time will really tell on these new screens including those like the Asus where a heat sink is added. I think it’s always going to be a risk or concern that could spoil your enjoyment somewhat tbh. They can handle that kind of work, sure (although the LG’s hardware calibration support could come in useful here too?) but it’s really only supposed to be a side use, with main usage for dynamic content like gaming. As Matthew says maybe a higher end proart screen would be more appropriate here. Some info here on those tftcentral.co.uk/articles/asus-proart-professional-monitor-range-round-up-and-buyers-guide

[@therealpureessence2437]

Someone please tell me about the oled burn in warranty, or any other type of warranty. I want to buy this monitor but £1400 for something that doesn’t tell about warranty is too much. The Alienware is £300 cheaper and has 3 year warranty

[@artemas7076]

The review I’ve been waiting for. Think I’ll stick with the LG C2 that I ordered. Have another monitor M32U that I could use for productivity if the auto dimming becomes annoying but the main reason for the Oled is gaming for me

[@tftcentral]

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for leaving us a comment :)

[@lrmcatspaw1]

Considering the coating, for sanity and bias removal check, is there a way to test the contrast loss from the screen in a moderately lit room? I really prefer the look of glossy coatings even in moderate lit environments (thou not directly aimed at the screen). This is based of a Panasonic 50VT60 and an Asus PG258q, but more specifically me having more issues with the loss of contrast in the Asus (the way I would try to describe it is this: When a light source directly hits the plasma screen, its like a bright reflection of that item, but everything else on the screen is still fine. When a bright light hits the ASUS, the intensity of the light is smaller, but it seems like it grows in size so that it affects more of the screen. Thou bare in mind the Asus is half the size of the plasma so there is that).

[@short5stick]

Me too. My C2 with 2 windows on each side I have no problem with glossy screen after 8 Hrs of Pc use. No eye strain. I think Lg wouldn't sell the glossy panel to Asus so they are stuck with the matte finish.

[@Akumetsu02]

Deff buying the matte one. YAAAAH, finally. I have stash of money for no compromise monitor, I almost bought the C2 but the reflections would be a total dealbreaker for me I have discovered. The asus is a godsend. Just waiting for it to be in stock.

[@mostwanted2000]

Wrong! If you have a window behind you, the mate screen will difuse the light all iver the screen. The glossy screen only shows the real reflection in a smaller area.

[@timyfin]

LG C3 48 u need to find from TV area and Asus PG48UQ on monitor area. I sill feel doubt that can i really use LG as monitor screen. Is it really made for PC monitor gaming and office use. Really difficult to make which one to pick. Maybe both, but LG leave on TV use.

[@kobirchowdhury5749]

Best review I've come across. I saw in another review there is an Optical digital out on the Asus but it's not in any photos I've seen. Can you confirm this? I know it's on the LG, being a TV it's expected.

[@tftcentral]

There isn’t an optical output in the normal sense, but the headphone Jack sized output is labelled as SPDIF, I can’t remember how that works but that’s what they mean

[@kwinders]

@@tftcentral if it is labeled as SPDIF then it has Digital Optical out, just not a TOSlink connection. They make adapters that go from TOSlink to this style of connector, yes it looks like a mini headphone jack or dedicated cable that have both styles of connectors, one on each end.

[@bloodherz9011]

Just purchased LG C2. It was fantastic, costing hundreds less than PG42UQ, not to mention the ROG product is still not in-stock in the West. Everything went smoothly after setup. The HDR was great on games like BF 2042, and I don't want to complain about any of reflection issues - I posited its screen facing the same direction as my windows. I altered ABL using the service remote, so no issues when I do essay writing or reading. I also installed the LGTV companion. It is a GOD-LIKE savior to PC users with LG TVs. It allows the TV to be turn on/off according to Wifi command from PC. Smooth af!!! The only downside I've noticed was the text clarity. I used to do reading on my M32U, which was an IPS panel. The text clarity (especially dots) on the WOLED panel is terrible. I highly recommend scaling up your text to 150-175% so that you won't notice any annoying rags from the distance around 80cm. The only difference that used to matter to me was the 18 hz difference in refresh rate. But come on, 4k gaming on my 3080Ti cannot even guarantee a smooth 100-fps 3A game. Just get the LG C2 if you are not living in a room with 3 suns!

[@tftcentral]

You might find our LG settings guide useful too :) The Settings You NEED to Change for Your LG C2 OLED for PC! kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKeQY6yGbLeoo9E

[@bloodherz9011]

@@tftcentral Already done that as the first step after turning on the TV! Pretty solid and useful tips, thanks!

[@sire_aut7008]

I have a question!! Does the Asus Pg42UQ switch itself on/off when the PC starts... or do I have to switch it on by remote control... or what happens when it is switched off...

[@tftcentral]

That’s a good point I should have mentioned actually. Yea it goes in to standby and wakes up like a normal monitor. It’s much better than the LG which you have to remember to turn on and off and that also has annoying smart tv app load ups when you power it on

[@TokyoAkiHara]

Hmm... I am really conflicted with the choice here. Comparing the color contrast, the C2 is clearly superior just because it doesn't have anti-glare. But the ROG Swift OLED does have a lot of benefits for gaming. And that heatsink is said to offset burn-in issues.

[@imadecoy.]

Any chance you had a look at the aspect ratio control mode on the Asus that allows you to simulate smaller monitors? I'm very interested in how well that works for games that need more focus and framerate like competitive shooters.

[@tftcentral]

Yes we did have a look at it a bit. Check out the written review as there’s a section in the gaming part about aspect ratio controls. tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/asus-rog-swift-pg42uq-oled

[@imadecoy.]

@@tftcentral Excellent, thank you

[@ouki4925]

Is the C2 in game mode when you compared the two at 14:47? I think that's more of an apple vs apple since the Asus doesn't have much post processing effects.

[@tftcentral]

It was calibrated to appropriate settings to get to a 6500K white point but for HDR the same settings that we used are available in each mode, so there shouldn’t be any difference. Basically it’s the same as game mode for those particular tests

[@maverichz]

Here the PG42UQ is 75% more expensive than the C2 lol.

[@pussnbootlp]

A question for anyone have the C2, have your C2 ever display "ADS" during the power on? I hear so many story before and my old LG LED TV have the same problem during the power on. It display thing like what to get on the streaming services don't even available here in Hong Kong.

[@RubenKemp]

I believe you can turn it off. There is a setting that skips the 'launch home on startup' or something similar. Advertisements and logo's as well. Go to settings, all settings, general, system, additional settings, home settings and turn off both things there (if enabled). For the ads, go to additional settings then 'advertisement'

[@LeoLiburon]

42 is the largest i can put in my closet for a change into office space and wont get in way of my VR. im pretty torn i mostly web brows and game now and then and getting more into movies since i realized i have never watched any. this will be inside a closet inside a room thats only light is dependent on a lamp. it will be split off from my bed setup of my 65inch samsung. c2 seems cheaper way more available but im worried about that dimming feature when browsing since m worry with asus is the coating when nothing too glare off in my room. advice is appreciated!

[@tftcentral]

I think the C2 is likely to be better for your room conditions and will save you money. You could always picks up a service remote and disable ASBL if you wanted for desktop use, explained in the OLED dimming article linked in the description :)

[@ak121deadlock]

No DP 1.4 on the C2 is an immediate disqualifier for me and for anyone who wants to use this with a MacBook and have 120hz refresh rate (from what I’ve researched). I’m in an interesting situation where I want to also use this with my PC for gaming and my MacBook for work. I’m getting my asus tomorrow and I’m going to test out a display port switch to switch between them.

[@Astro-ck6mh]

agreed... most of us have external speakers or headsets in our setup and don't absolutely need HDMI!

[@elan_07]

it's looking like my AORUS FV43U might be toast after the backlight started flickering in under a years ownership. PG42UQ could be looking like a good alternative...if there's a decent Black Friday sale!

[@itsneight1260]

GREAT video. Very informational and didn't feel opinionated at all either way. I AM wondering where the LG C3 fits in now though since the Asus is down to $999 usd but the 42" LG C3 is $899 usd (June 2024)

[@tftcentral]

Not much changed with the C3 other than updates to the processor and software side of things. We’ve got a review of that here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHbTppxtjbx7o7csi=0LmxqxuSzHBOjJ6g

[@donglobal]

What about wall mounting?

[@daandegooijer8964]

How are the monitor stand functions of the ASU’s? Does it tilt and can you adjust the height?

[@tftcentral]

It has only a simple and limited tilt but it’s better than nothing (like on the C2)

[@chosonminhang]

Can I use Thunderbolt - HDMI 2.1 cable or adapter to connect my Mac and have all the features like VRR and full 4k 10 bit 120hz on C2? Thanks in advance

[@tftcentral]

I don’t believe so but don’t know for sure and haven’t tested it. I think you can on displays with DP input more easily

[@chosonminhang]

@@tftcentral okay looks like I have to grab Asus 🙂

[@lonehero2754]

I was wondering about this video. I have both the C2 and PG42UQ and seems if you turn off HDR within windows on the PG42UQ and leave HDR on with the C2 the picture is almost identical with color vibrancy only lacking HDR highlights on the Asus but not by much. (I find this odd) SDR looks like HDR and HDR looks like SDR. The honey comparisons you've shown in this video is what got me turned off about the PG but seems there might be bugs throughout the hardware/software? When HDR is on in windows for the PG42UQ it looks as if I turned on the "Blue Light" feature and colors get washed out as a result of it along with a light yellow tint. I also notice when you turn on the G-Sync compatibility mode on the Asus and go into the Nvidia control panel on the "Set Up G-Sync" on option "3." still reads "Selected display is not validated as G-Sync Compatible" that's concerning as well since advertised as such? I've searched online and can only find reddit post about it but no one has answers and Asus Support only advice is to swap the panel and given most people are having the same issue I'm not sure if this will correct the problem if it's software related. I've tried firmware V25, V28 and V31 and get the same issue. I was wondering if you guys at TFT experienced the same issue during this review as it looks like yes due to the KZbin comparison. I like the PG over the C2 given some features I can take advantage of and the panel is brighter, at least when you compare HDR (C2) vs SDR (Asus) it just looks better IMO (Halo Infinite and Forza 5 have been my test games) but whatever the issue might be reason I take back the Asus and go with the C2. I was hoping someone would be able to get the word out to see if Asus can give a definitive answer on this issue since regular consumers get the typical runaround. If the response is return it for a new one this monitor will always be out of stock until there's a firmware/hardware fix/recall. Some people don't see it but noting they are coming from an HDR 400/600 or SDR panel their eyes deceive them for lack of true HDR I guess. I'm coming from a PG27UQ, maybe this monitor has cooked my eyes over the years and reason I'm having the issue. I doubt it though.... I hope this helps others in their decision. Thanks for listening if you made it through my rant and I hope you have a wonderful day!

[@tftcentral]

Regarding the Gsync Compatible message in nvidia control panel I expect that is simply because Nvidia haven’t yet updated their formal display list (see their website) or drivers so that the display is listed in this way. It makes no difference of course to being able to enable Gsync, or it’s performance. I guess we are taking Asus’ word here too that it has been certified by Nvidia as Gsync compatible, and that it’s just a lag in getting lists and databases updated. No reason to believe otherwise I don’t think with Asus

[@tftcentral]

Re the HDR mode. I did double check at the time that the Asus was capable of delivering peak brightness as per our HDR tests, so I’m confident it was really running in HDR mode, as reported by the OSD as well. I think the difference is just caused by the tone mapping and PQ Curve on both, even more so if you enable dynamic tone mapping on the LG which makes it brighter still. Asus have def seen my video and comparison and I’ve not had anything from them suggesting there was an error or issue. Perhaps they will tweak HDR performance in a future firmware though, there’s no reason they couldn’t get it looking more like the Lg here really

[@astrohanzo]

Awesome video man! Appreciate the timestamps. I believe both products have their own niche and application given certain conditions such as budget limits, lighting and etc. Asus could have done more with HDR (avoiding certification costs yet ROG is their premium gaming line, weird). First step for the end user should be upgrading the GPU, rather than spending 1k+ on a TV/monitor imo.

[@tftcentral]

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for leaving us a comment :)

[@astrohanzo]

@@tftcentral I wish I could watch this review before my purchase, but it is what it is now. Straight to the point video with accurate timestamps like yours is a rare find these days, keep it up! ✌️

[@Happy-295]

Can you compare Sony A90K 42" as well please?

[@tftcentral]

I’m afraid we don’t have any plans to test that screen. Sorry

[@alexandrustratulat8999]

awesome

[@Eskoxo]

as someone who has lg oled tv and this exact monitor i can say i definitely prefer asus with the coating as even on smallest light source in dark hdr images can still see some reflections and on the tv its like 10x worse

[@voluntarism335]

some of out just block out external light entirely so we would rather the glossy screen for a better viewing of oled

[@eduonkhl]

Don't get me wrong the video is very good but I think you have a slight misunderstanding of how the 2 different coatings work. You did mention that the matte coating looks a "little" bit more blurry. It also does so no matter how bright or dimm of a room you are in, I'd disagree with the little part since that is subjective but that's not what I'm taking issue with here. The issue is that even in a dark room you lose contrast which I didn't hear mentioned, it's only that it get's much worse in a brighter room. You also lose brightness from the panel itself since it's an additional layer the light has to pass through to make it to your eyes. If it's not down to camera settings you can even see this in your own dark room camparisons. One more thing you didn't mention is that anti-glare not only spreads the incoming light towards the display, but also everything the display emits itself. This is the reason AG always looks blurry with lower contrast and brightness since the light "spreads" itself inside the foil while the glossy finish enables the light to take a more direct part. Another issue is blooming which you also didn't mention either. For reasons mentioned above the light spreads itself behind the pixels that are turned on and you can see bloom in areas where it should be black very much the same way you can see bloom in FALD LCD displays. To see it in practice of what I'm talking about you can check out this amazing comparison by Rtings: www.rtings.com/monitor/tools/compare/asus-rog-swift-oled-pg42uq-vs-lg-42-c2-oled/31440/32614?usage=3623&threshold=0.10 Things to take a look at: Black Uniformity (blooming around the shown cross), same thing can be seen under the Contrast section where the light from the white boxes makes it's way into the black boxes around the edges, Text Clarity (check out the huge downgrade in overall clarity with an AG coating), Reflections (look at the loss in contrast). Also it looks like the Asus has no BFI at all while the C2 got downgraded from 120hz BFI from the C1 to 60hz??

[@darkultra]

Nice link it shows how glossy vs ag was in my case. I had one glossy IPS monitor and one ag IPS monitor and the glossy's color was much more vivid and had a better "pop" to it. Though I had no windows behind me...

[@vicariousvindicator7545]

Is there any perceivable difference on the Asus variant vs. the LG in snappiness given the Asus' higher refresh rate and lower input lag?

[@tftcentral]

Maybe a small improvement but likely the kind of thing in very serious gamers would notice. There is a improvement though even if it’s small

[@Alorand]

19:55 I think for text clarity ASUS is comparing itself to the Alienware QD-OLED which has triangular pixel arrangement.

[@tftcentral]

Agreed, and we reference that further in the written review, but Asus don’t really make that clear at all and it certainly implies (to the unaware) that it’s somehow better than other similar OLEDs, which of course it’s not really. Clever/sneaky marketing 😀

[@marcesmack]

Thanks for this video. I have the LG 48CX Oled panel and I have all those issues you mentioned (dimming down and reflections). I do use it primarily for my mac studio and also for a PC with an RTX3090. I do have 2 other monitors connected. This is the only "oled tv" that I'm using as a "monitor". So what I want to do is get the Asus because I want to connect it with the Mac Studio at 4k 120hz. And the LG doesn't have displayport and for some reason Macs can't do 4k 120hz over HDMI 2.1 (even coming from thunderbolt 4 to HDMI 2.1) ... Should I go with this? or is there any other 48" oled panel that will take 4k 120hz from my Mac Studio? that's all I care about. On the other hand the LG 48CX looks great with the PC and the RTX 3090 and PS5. I will put it on my side, so I will keep it as well. But just wondering if you know what to do here :). thank you!

[@tftcentral]

The PG42UQ is one of the only 42” OLEDs with Displayport so could be your only viable option. If you want 48” again you could get their PG48UQ instead. There are a couple of alternatives with DP coming soon too including the KTC G42P5 (one we are currently reviewing) tftcentral.co.uk/articles/introducing-ktc-who-they-are-their-international-expansion-and-gaming-monitor-line-up And the forthcoming Philips EVNIA model tftcentral.co.uk/news/philips-launch-evnia-gaming-monitor-brand-including-34-qd-oled-42-oled-and-34-mini-led-models

[@marcesmack]

@@tftcentral Thanks for your reply. I'm really looking for a 48" replacement for this LG 48 that i currently have. Do you know if there will be an oled without the coating that has displayport? :) thanks!

[@tftcentral]

Nothing announced so far. It’s possible Lg might add a Displayport to their C3 next year but keep the glossy coating but really don’t know at this stage. All current DP capable options have a matte AG coating

[@marcesmack]

@@tftcentral I’m going to try a hack with the Mac Studio and the LG 48 CX to get 4k 120hz. Will let you know if I succeed!

[@davysmith8569]

c2 is now 1/2 the price , so no brainer now.

[@alexxxvill69]

Will you review the LG 42" flex monitor when it comes out?

[@tftcentral]

Not sure at this stage. Probably not given it’s the same underlying panel as these, just with a curve added. The 240Hz bendable OLEDs look more interesting

[@alexxxvill69]

@@tftcentral ok, np. Hopefully the coating is glossy.

[@JacobGagoOfficial]

My heart wants the LG but the ABL and no auto sleep has been mad annoying. I’m using it mainly for productivity ( trading, music production, video editing and excel) and with my PS5 and occasionally tv watching. Considering what I do I should go with the PG42UQ but the $$$$$. Might still buy it and try it out. I sadly have return my LG C2 for now!

[@JacobGagoOfficial]

@E.L. Crisler dude this is great news for me to hear! So are you saying that the LGTVCompanion also helped with the auto dimming? If not, doesn’t the auto dimming bug you on excel, PowerPoint etc.

[@tftcentral]

That app will help you with the auto sleep. But it can’t change the ASBL (note this is different to ABL) You could buy a £10 service remote from Amazon and turn off ASBL from the service menu easily too. The auto dimming is noticeable and annoying in any desktop office use. see article linked in description for more on both topics :)

[@JacobGagoOfficial]

@@tftcentral Do you know if disabling ASBL would void warranty?

[@tftcentral]

Have a read of the article I linked as we discuss that topic in depth :)

[@SlimJ87D]

@@JacobGagoOfficial you do not need to buy the remote, running LGTV companion app will allow you to run the service menu also.

[@silviotorres4363]

Which one would you recommend the pg42uq or lg c2 if money is not an issue?

[@tftcentral]

The pros and cons and full comparison are covered as much as we can in the video you’re commenting on. It will depend on your usage types, lighting, preferences and only you can answer that I’m afraid

[@ThePakovia]

Does LG support picture by picture from multiple inputs (2 PCs)?

[@tftcentral]

It has a feature called MultiView but I can’t recall the specific modes and inputs it supports so you might need to have a read of the user manual online or have a search around. I seem to remember it being quite limited in scope and options

[@tylerweston6358]

Awesome

[@tarnishedd]

The fact that reflections can be resolved by moving it alone, is enough to choose the LG as nothing can be done with that coating if you indeed do not like it.

[@vhc8383]

Hola ! What is you favorite screen between PG48UQ and 48GQ900-B ?

[@tftcentral]

We’ve not reviewed either I’m afraid

[@vhc8383]

@@tftcentral I ask this question because I was able to test a 48 inch but not a 42. I'm looking for a 42 because 48 is too big for me and my desk. The sound of pg 42 is not as good as the sound of a 48gQ900. Do you think the PG42 is the best 42 inch on the current market?

[@Xolition]

Other reviews say ABL disable on Asus doesn't work can you confirm?

[@tftcentral]

You can’t disable ABL anyway. Do you mean ASBL? In which case yes you can def disable that. But I suspect what they’re referring to is the aggressive behaviour of the ABL when you change window sizes and content, which was bad until V031 firmware. Which I suspect they weren’t testing or using

[@zandermanwell7214]

im getting asus due to it fitting my pc and doing what i need it for

[@baldr9390]

$890 vs $1500 absolutely no contest

[@pussnbootlp]

I have the Asus PG48UQ and we don't have four but just two HDMI 2.1 port, there other two are HDMI2.0. Maybe that is why we got a display port. But my Asus screen keep going black and can't even power off the monitor when the screen go black. Major product quality issue. In fact, The one I have is the replacement since the first on my friend computer shop got it have screen defect and have to send it back for a second one which I'm currently having it. I might just change it to C2 and to be done with it.

[@pussnbootlp]

Before you ask, I try the monitor with RX6900XT, RX 6950XT, RX7900XTX, and also the RTX 4090, same black screen issue from time to time. Switching 4 difference HDMI2.1 cable and still no fix, even use the cable come with the monitor. Also when you use the remove to adjust the volume, the on screen volume menu will not time out, it will stay on the screen until you click the left button to quit it. Whose program on screen menu that ways???? Nope, it is on the November firmware already, and still have so many issue!

[@pussnbootlp]

Sound is horrible also. Even on paper it have a sub-woofer, but the speaker of my Asus PG48UQ missing the mid-range. High frequency like female vocal already not impressive for a 15,000HKD price tag. Plus the monitor stand are too big to put any good soundbar under the monitor. I end up using an after market TV desk mount to mount the monitor so I can have more space on my desk.

[@joseluisruiz3789]

I took the time to read your experience and i appreciate it alot. Thank you for giving your feedback, usually the only people anyone can really trust is those of us who buy the stuff with our own money. Im going with the C2 42 inch for my set up, i currently have a razer Raptor 27 monitor and ive had it for 14 months and the monitor sometimes blacks out and also the RGB lighting in the stand randomly starts to flicker and i find it annoying for such an expensive monitor. Also 27 inches to edit 4k videos is too small for me with my 24" depth desk. Thanks for the honest feedback. 😎👊

[@dracidio]

Just now ordered the LG c2 42 today for my PC and got it for £799 +20% cashback. Whereas the Asus costs a ton £1399

[@merlinsxbeard]

My exact dilemma - ASUS seems like the better all arounder but that price difference is significant

[@rlangguth809]

Where did you get this deal?

[@patjcoan]

I have them both, and the image quality on the LG is FAR superior. Now i have yet to test the asus on HDMI2.1 so perhaps without DSC it’s comparable.

[@therealpureessence2437]

So the C2 is the better screen for pc use you’d say?

[@patjcoan]

@@therealpureessence2437 not even close IMO. I was very disappointed with the asus.

[@therealpureessence2437]

@@patjcoan you returned it?

[@patjcoan]

@@therealpureessence2437 the asus? Yes I was hoping for the same as the lg with a nice heat sink , but the matte screen does not serve it well

[@Adri9570]

@@patjcoan What about the -droid- ABL attack on the -wookies- viewings?

[@Winimarik]

1000€ for the LG vs 1700€ for the Asus Here in Germany.... No thanks Asus. I Go for the LG. For gaming and movies in a Always DARK room with perfekt Lights. BlueRay player, Mac, Apple TV and a PC with a HDMI 2.1 grafics Card

[@N0N0111]

7:34 The amount of light on the DESK is day and night difference. 11:40 The screen coating is nothing compare to the insane lack of HDR performance.

[@tftcentral]

agreed, the DTM makes a massive difference visually. The same can be said on the LG C2 between using HDR mode with DTM on or off. We think most people will prefer that visual pop as opposed to being fixated on "artistic intent".

[@2006chunming]

Great video! I think I'll go with the LG. I love the last line!! Of course it'll come down to what you're wife will let you spend!!...lol Ha!! 😂😹♥️

[@KingOfNaraka]

Another youtube reviewer says ABL is still an issue with the Asus as well. Even with it turned off in the menu.

[@tftcentral]

Which reviewer?

[@KingOfNaraka]

@@tftcentral kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZuldHetobZrd9U

[@busybossybee]

Thanks for being so reasonable, I'm in the market for an OLED monitor and have just now discovered a group of people with such extreme opinions about matte vs glossy coatings. I agree that a choice of either or would be great but, pretending like a monitor is "garbage" because of the matte coating is pretty ridiculous. To each their own as they say but, I think it's important to note some (I would argue most) people wouldn't mind matte coating for their *desktop* monitors.

[@JohnDowis]

I absolutely hate how the C2 will not turn off automatically when I turn off the PC, and having to use a TV remote on my monitor is also annoying, so I returned mine. Does the Asus have these issues?

[@tftcentral]

No, it behaves like a monitor and goes to sleep when the Pc turns off/sleeps

[@Vextime77]

Such a hardship hitting the power on/off.

[@RuneMamba]

@@Vextime77 😂😂

[@Killswitch1411]

@@Vextime77 I know guess he should just throw out his TV.. Useless lmao

[@macd7743]

Someone in the comments said there's an app that makes the C2 behave like a monitor in that regard. I think it's called LG Companion. It might be worth looking for that comment or researching the app.

[@lrmcatspaw1]

If a Matt coating diffuses light and a glossy coating gives us reflections, why don't we just take the coating off? :D

[@Shilly_JD]

Thank You for the review, but the current $400 price difference makes the LG a win proposition - especially with a 4-year vs 1 year warranty through Costco.

[@YakuXYZ]

In canada it's 2years. What a scam.

[@macd7743]

Exactly 👍

[@cxq198859]

its actually $500 now, Costco has C2 for 899 and you can hardly find anything RSRP for Asus @1399.

[@JacobGagoOfficial]

How were you able to get a PG42UQ? Sponsorship? Doesn’t look like anyone from US has one.

[@tftcentral]

We are Uk based and we were given the sample by Asus UK after their Apex launch event from a few weeks back for the screen. Not in stock in the uk yet either, but we work closely with Asus to ensure we can bring you all early reviews and content for monitors 😀

[@JacobGagoOfficial]

@@tftcentral thanks for the response this makes sense.

[@short5stick]

@@tftcentralTell them to change to a glossy screen before launch.

[@tftcentral]

It’s a bit late for that I’m afraid, and it’s also a deliberate strategic decision. For a desktop monitor the panel coating is better as AG imo. If you want a glossy panel then there’s always the Lg C2 though

[@kmorness]

I have a CX 48 (3 years old) and C1 48 (2 years old), which I've used extensively for PC gaming/development. Love the screens, but 42" would have been better and didn't come out until the C2 model. Had to get the service remote to disable the auto dimming -- total nightmare otherwise! Asus branded GPUs (30x/40x) have dual HDMI 2.1 making it feasible to use two of these. DisplayPort to HDMI 2.1 conversion doesn't work very well and have tried both passive and active. In any case, after 3 years of extensive usage (CX), no signs of burn-in or degradation. Same for my 2 year old C1. I use HDMI 2.1 cables for both screens. The thing that drives me nuts is the HDMI handshaking. When I put my PC to sleep, waking it up comes with a chance the screens won't respond, forcing me to do a hard reboot. Order matters as well... got to wake up the PC before turning on the screens. But even that isn't 100%. For me, I'd like to downsize to a pair of 42's -- and its cyber Monday and in Canada, can get the LG42C3 for $1500 or the PG42UQ for $1600. So the price difference isn't so much and I'd very much welcome the Display Port reliability, which wasn't addressed in this review. Just concerned about the matte coating -- I work from home but in a moderately lit room with no window glare behind me. I have strong desk mounts rated for 35 pounds. The 48" LG's weigh 34 pounds without the stand. The Asus is quite heavy, but the smaller 42" size weighs 30 lbs. The 42" LG weighs 21.6 lbs without stand. Really on the fence whether I should pull the trigger or not. Maybe I will if I can return it if I'm not satisfied.

[@kmorness]

After doing more digging, just not willing to pull the trigger. Retailers in my local area don't keep any stock so can't see it in person. I didn't call stores, just nobody had in store pickup as an option. The matte finish worries me, but also seems like a lot of folks are having poor experiences with RMAs and strange burn in software issues. I'm not in any particular hurry to switch. I can keep dealing with the annoying HDMI handshake issue. I'm thinking 2024 there will be more options to consider.

[@davidkertai7430]

lg c2 just wiped the floor with these overpriced underperforming pc monitors, so glad i made the change

[@misberave]

So both, glossy and matte cause issues in bright lighted rooms. I just bought this monitor from ASUS and I’m kind of regretting it now because it’s not glossy and I actually wanted to try some glossy now. I already know they will drop a new 42 version with glossy finish same as they did with the new 32 inch PG32UCDM so I’m gonna sell mine and get the other

[@MindController_]

Do you anything about the glossy version release date?

[@tftcentral]

Not heard anything on that myself and I’d be surprised if Asus released a glossy 42” tbh. Not sure where the source for that info is

[@ALM_Relaxed]

Here in my country: LG c2 is 901€ vs asus 1695€ (lower price) so it was an easy go on LG C2 😅😅

[@RephaelMendoza]

“What your wife is going to let you spend” Truer words have never been spoken 😂😂😂

[@thrasosthrasos7353]

You did not mention anything related to subpixels. Does Asus has white subpixel (it influence small text rendering a lot)?

[@tftcentral]

Exactly the same panel on both. Both are LG RGBW OLED panels

[@thrasosthrasos7353]

@@tftcentral thanks for the prompt answer

[@biomechanism1]

@@tftcentral so youre saying Asus is lying

[@tftcentral]

I’m saying they are being a bit naughty with their marketing. They make it sound like it’s a new, better panel, and imply that is relative to other 42” OLED although never actually say that. What they are probably really comparing to is QD-OLED panels like the Dell AW3423DW which is often criticised for its text rendering (somewhat unfairly) due to its unusual triangular RGB pixel layout. But they never specifically say what they’re comparing to. Hence being a bit naughty

[@cxq198859]

@@tftcentral can I understand that Asus is better in the text compared with Alienware, but not better compared with LG C2?

[@mikeatmo]

LG C2 for me. 12-bit color, no matte coating

[@sbacon92]

I would have preferred no hdmi 2.0, a usb-c port and a kvm.

[@nonamechad6996]

Great video! How does Gsync perform on the Asus? I've heard many complaints about the LG C2 having Gsync issues through the HDMI 2.1 connection, so I'm hoping Asus got it right with their spin on the C2

[@tftcentral]

Seemed to work fine from our experience with it. OLED can have some flicker in certain dark scenes with VRR enabled which you can sometimes spot though. That seems to be a general OLED issue with VRR

[@nonamechad6996]

@@tftcentral Ah, that makes sense. I wonder how the QD-Oled Gsync experience compares to normal Oled VRR. After playing games on a monitor that works great with Gsync, it's kind of hard for me to go back to anything without excellent Gsync support.

[@tftcentral]

I believe it’s the same kind of situation but there are many many people without any issue or concern so I wouldn’t worry about this topic too much tbh

[@nonamechad6996]

@@tftcentral Fair enough. Thank you for your insight!

[@ALM_Relaxed]

@@tftcentralcan confirm: using LG c2 as a pc Gaming monitor with gsync + vsync active during very dark loading screens there a very lite brightness flickering…

[@rccosplay3249]

This OLED 41.5" monitor is not to lit up, 500nits or so. Also the clean the screen crap pixel clean or something like that pops up often and overall it's ok at best. Also when reading text and or anything else the screen just might decide to dim a bit? Why did I ask it too? NO! I will wait for OLED to develop few more years or something new to take over as the screen can and WILL burn in eventually. There are a few mini LED high nit HDR IPS monitors out and I got one from Asus. It's 32" IPS 144 refresh rate, 650nits maximum(Not bad at all) Quite bright for me so I have to sit back more from the screen.