LG B3 vs. LG C3 - Which OLED Should You Buy?

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The LG C3 OLED and LG B3 OLED are similar TVs with nearly identical feature sets, but which is better overall? The C3 gets much brighter in HDR and SDR, has better image processing due to its better 4k processor, and has four full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports. Inversely, the B3 has two HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports, one of which also doubles as the eARC port, so you'll need to buy an HDMI 2.1 switch if you have multiple HDMI 2.1 devices.
Comparison: www.rtings.com/tv/tools/compa...
LG C3 Review: www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/lg/...
LG C3 Settings: www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/lg/...
LG B3 Review: www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/lg/...
LG B3 Settings: www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/lg/...
Models Tested: LG OLED65C3PUA & LG OLED65B3PUA
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0:00 Intro
0:29 Design & Build Quality
1:45 Inputs
3:00 Performance
3:09 HDR Brightness
3:24 SDR Brightness
3:30 Reflections
3:45 Sharpness Processing
4:09 Low-Quality Content Smoothing
4:32 HDR Native Gradient
4:47 PQ EOTF Tracking
5:21 Verdict
6:50 Outro
---
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[@TheUnusualSuspect101]

Brother, you've helped me make up a rationale decision backed by data. Thank you so much for doing all this research for us and putting it together in no bs manner. I'm going to recommend you to all my friends and circle and support as much as I can. Keep up!

[@ckcunningham1541]

Thanks for the comparison video. Almost picked up a B3 but then found a sale on Amazon where the C3 65" was $50 less than the B3 model. Very happy with this the C3 for the price, HDR content looks amazing.

[@kk-qu1zc]

I got the B3 65 for $500 how is the c3?

[@graysonpeddie]

I'm very happy with My 42" LG C2.

[@2wheelsonline]

Good information as I'm wondering which of these two to buy right now.

[@bentolmachoff]

I have an older B7A, and the comparison tool says that it gets brighter in a lot of peak brightness scores. Obviously metrics and tests have changed, but is that something you guys would say makes a B3 upgrade not an actual upgrade?

[@alphalunamare]

I upgraded direct to an LG C3 from an old tv because I had a few quid for once and thought sod it. I am totally blown away by it, the Mrs says it's OK. So I suppose there is some subjectivity here. What I am struck by is that with this tv I am 'on set' whilst they are filming, not looking through a window. The immediacy of it all is quite stunning. This of course makes film and tv from the 50's and sometimes onwards look a bit clunky but it is a delight to see how it was intended to be seen given the then conditions and creative set capabilities. I hazard to say but that OLED folk are so used to it that they may not notice this amazing reality? I got this tv because my Wife watches PSB and reality tv all day long and I thought it might make Her happier. No real appreciation truth betold but I am simply stunned by this miraculous device that when best used can open a World of such delight :-) I watch it when I get the chance, I wouldn't reccomend avatar 2 though, a film too far , ruined by personalities and little visual enhancement upon the original. I would love some tips as to films that bring out the best in Visuality on this beastie 🙂

[@supergogeta8728]

I have Samsung s95b 65 inch. I’m thinking of buying a 77 inch this year but I don’t know if I’m going to buy Samsung s90c or the s90d will have to see how prices will be on Black Friday, here in Sweden the prices are really high

[@billtinnell2206]

Just got my 65" C3 a few weeks ago. Best TV purchase I ever made!! It is amazing and cost only a few hundred bucks more than the B3. Better processor and better TV than the C3. The C3 has 10 picture modes and a picture wizard so you can adjust the picture a hundred different ways to fit your own eye. The C3 does everything except get me a beer from the fridge. I'm set for the next 5 years. LOVE MY C3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Hahaha glad to hear you're loving your purchase! Enjoy😄

[@battleforevermore]

no beer from fridge? I am out

[@iseeyou1312]

C3 doesn't make sense unless it's significantly cheaper than the S90C. WOLED colours are just too dull and washed out. The S90C is arguably even better than the G3. In Australia the C3 costs a lot more than the S90C, so I have no idea what LG is doing. They backed the wrong horse lol.

[@billtinnell2206]

@@iseeyou1312 Still loving my C3 over your S90C. It's processing and upscaling is much better than the S90C for the low bit content that I watch and has way more picture modes to adjust the TV to exactly how you want the picture to look instead of a super bright oversaturated cartoonist picture of the S90C.

[@t3rb0rg]

@@iseeyou1312It's more of an "It depends". If you're gaming, the S90C has support for a bit higher refresh rate. However, the C3 has much better upscaling for lower quality content. The S90C supports HDR10+ which the C3 doesn't, but for my uses, many more sources support Dolby Vision, which the C3 supports but Samsung does not. Finally, if you're doing OTA digitally tuned content, the S90C has a better tuner (ATSC 3.0 vs the C3's ATSC 1.0); otherwise that doesn't matter. You should also read RTINGs long-term tests; Samsung has some bugs in their pixel refresher technology that means it may not run when you want it to. As RTINGS noted in their comparison, if you want to game, the S90C is likely a better choice. If you're a movie/cinema buff, the C3 is a better choice. Because I game on other sources and not my TV, I chose the C3, and I'm not disappointed. Note: I did choose the Samsung HW-Q990C as my soundbar, which was an obvious choice over LG's competing SQ95R. For this coming year, I think the LG B4 is going to be the one to watch, now that the B4 is all HDMI 2.1 ports.

[@ste144]

C3 83" or G3 77" with MLA panel? Have read somewhere that the bigger the screen, the harder it is to get a homogeneous panel.

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Help with personalized buying advice is something our experts offer only via our insider forums: www.rtings.com/forums/insider-advice However, we have lots of self-service tools that may be helpful!

[@karlos5885]

depend of distance tv... if you have 5/6 meters 83 LG G3 because It has a heatsink-heat and five years guaranteed panel but it should be put on the wall because the stand is very ugly it is tilted backwards

[@kristfur]

Actually the B3 might work for me. I have a dark room, and I'd stream all my content from an nvidia Shield TV

[@craigturnbo3068]

How’s “Burn In” on these new OLEDs? I bought the C9 brand new back in 2019 and just recently noticed burn in when seeing certain colors on the screen. Crazy thing is I don’t even recognize the image.

[@RTINGSdotcom]

With most oleds, as long as you vary the content and don't display static images for very long periods of time, you shouldn't have much to worry about!

[@kk-qu1zc]

I went with the B3 because I got a new one for only $500

[@Ehrle6969]

Trash tv

[@ShashinKoppulaa]

If I plan to use AppleTV 4k, can B3 be as fast and snappy as C3? Unable to decide between both, looking for 77”. Price difference in Costco is about $500. Wondering if that extra price tag is worth it?

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Hello! Help with personalized buying advice is something our experts offer only via our insider forums: www.rtings.com/forums/insider-advice

[@-slim-3705]

day something of asking for a deep dive between the AI up scaling from the nvidia shield (2019) and the built in processors. i have no idea if tvs have caught up or if the shield is still better (maybe)

[@RTINGSdotcom]

👀

[@rooe9922]

I noticed the bezels get bigger with 83 inches c3 is that true or am i fooling myself?

[@Ronnie-ku8bk]

Please somebody help me im so stuck. I am debating between the G2 and C3. I will be using the tele for gaming, movies, sport and streaming apps. I don’t plan on wall mounting and understand the g2 doesn’t come with a stand but have done a bit of research and can buy a stand suitable for around £80 (not the lg official stand as am aware it’s rubbish). I know the c3 is more suitable as it comes with a stand and the g2 is designed to be hung on a wall BUT. I can currently get the g2 65 inch on sale for £1,050 where as the c3 65” is £1400. What do I do ? I just can’t see past the £350 saving but am I being stupid if I’m not hanging it on a wall!?

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Hello! Our experts offer personalized buying advice via our insider forums: www.rtings.com/forums/insider-advice However, we also have lots of self-service tools and recommendation articles that may be useful as well!

[@MarkNOTW]

G2

[@ChrisCurran-pn7rr]

Hi guys does logo brigtness on lg c3 g3 wharever dim the full screen or just the logo mite seem like a daft qeustion lol

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Hi! Indeed, the Adjust Logo Brightness setting on the LG C3 only dims logos. However, when set to 'High' it often overshoots the target and dims the entire screen instead of just the logo, so we recommend you set it to 'Low' instead. Hope this helps!

[@ChrisCurran-pn7rr]

@@RTINGSdotcom thanks soo much great help

[@MSDOGS1976]

B3 would probably do the job for me but I would just get the C3 for more brightness. As of right now there is only a $200 difference on the 65".

[@infinitie_beaz]

what about the cs6 ?

[@marvel764]

Excellent review i have a C3, but LG pricing themselves out of the market, the c3's incremental upgrades and gap between the g3 for 2024 is a no go. LG is outta there minds

[@karlos5885]

a problem hdr gaming, i play with filmmaker mode

[@ItsOVAnoW]

Fact they trippin with the c4 g4 prices... trippin trippin..its the same as c3 c2..minus MINOR CHANGES NO consumer gaf about

[@jaimepontes3236]

Does the B3 have a better picture quality than, for example, an older "C" model, like de CX or C1?

[@RTINGSdotcom]

It does! You can take a closer look and compare the B3 to those older models using our comparison tool www.rtings.com/tv/tools/compare/lg-b3-oled-vs-lg-c1-oled/37847/21421?usage=1&threshold=0.10#main-diff

[@Keivz]

It doesn’t get as bright.

[@u.r.t.v.unit6672]

I hardly watch tv as I game on the Ps5 primarily. Budget is 1,500$ so since I mostly game, which should I go for? (Even the ones off this list that are nice choices)

[@bilp_bloup_bot]

the C3 doesn't add anything compared to the B3 when it comes to gaming

[@iLawfGaming]

Sony Bravia XR A80L. It's Sony's flagship advertised as made for PLAYSTATION. TV is a little bit on the pricey side, like $200 more than the LG C3. Sony has better sound for built speakers, dolby vision/Atmos, has more 120hz HDMI ports, and does better with dark scenes.

[@sawdust8691]

I primarily game as well, and decided to try out an OLED. I got a 55in LG C2 for around $1300 I think nearly 2 years ago now. I have never had such a beautiful TV. You can't go wrong with these LG OLEDs. They are particularly amazing for gaming since they support everything and more that a console is capable of. I even use mine for my PC as well. 2 years in of daily game use and still no sign of any image retention and I remain completely satisfied with it. If you do want an LG OLED you may want to look into the last model like mine, LG c2 or something. Since they are basically the same TV as the new C3/G3 models and probably notably cheaper now I'd guess.

[@iLawfGaming]

@@sawdust8691 tried looking at the c1s and c2s, but they were practically the same price new, and used you don't get a warranty. C4 is coming out, I'm just waiting for the LG c3 to go on sale. The 77in dropped below 2k, but the 55 and 65 haven't moved much. Saw better prices for black Friday and cyber Monday. Only oleds that have dropped are Samsung all across the board. If I'm not mistaken the s90c is lgs c3 equivalent.

[@Diggerless]

I think the B4 might sell well this year as it will have 4 * HDMI 4K/120Hz

[@rafanadulski6993]

Lg B9 2019 4*hdmi 2.1 120Hz

[@framo_official]

Just bought the 65" G3 some days ago, would you rather take the 77" s90c for $100 more?

[@supergogeta8728]

Yes easily

[@supergogeta8728]

Qd-oled are more rich in colors and the bigger the better the impact is going to be, 77 inch is a perfect size, much better then 65 And Samsung s90c is not a lacking tv either, it’s really nice

[@mark_reviews-reddit]

I'd personally look at a 77'' C3. I'm biased against Samsung products though. I've hated the 4 phones I've owned, I hate my washer that's Samsung, and the 4 TVs I've used feel very sluggish in the UI (granted, they were low to mid range). I just don't trust Samsung products to feel good for a long time. The initial experience is usually nice, but the software and user experience just feels like it gets worse every time I use the device.

[@iseeyou1312]

@@mark_reviews-reddit Don't buy the 77" TV with the better panel because you don't like your washing machine?

[@mark_reviews-reddit]

@@iseeyou1312 read the entire comment and reply lol

[@awkc63]

I still have my CX. I absolutely love OLEDs, so great.

[@martinchitembo1883]

Any sign of burn and brightness going down?

[@awkc63]

@@martinchitembo1883 Nope. I had a C7 before that, that after 3 years, burn in happened. But since I had the extented warranty though Best Buy, I was able to replace it with my CX, and haven't had one issue.

[@Keivz]

Same. Can’t justify an upgrade for what looks like marginal improvements

[@-SuperMan-]

⁠@@martinchitembo1883 I have a cx for years now to, no signs of any problems. Love it. Use it for PC Gaming with Vsync.

[@quabakos]

@@martinchitembo1883 no I have the same and I game and watch movies and football a lot. So far so good. Some dead pixels though in the corners..

[@zuzulove7504]

I bought one B3 today here in Spain, it cost me 989.00€

[@xtremegamer78]

I have a CX 55" and starting to get dead pixels smh. Dealing with LG now

[@nickitaabitov1265]

should i buy c4 or c3 in 2024 ?! i`ll w8 your comparison for sure ! thx a lot !

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Hello! Help with personalized buying advice is something our experts offer exclusively via our insider forums: www.rtings.com/forums/insider-advice However, we have lots of self-service tools and recommendation articles that may be useful!

[@nickitaabitov1265]

@@RTINGSdotcom thx ! but still w8 comparison from U)

[@PetrucciIbiza]

What about c3 vs g2? i can get them at similar price

[@RTINGSdotcom]

here is our comparison between both! www.rtings.com/tv/tools/compare/lg-c3-oled-vs-lg-g2-oled/37848/31238?usage=1&threshold=0.10

[@SaiKrishna-km5zt]

thanks

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Anytime! 😄

[@marvel764]

I have a C3 from a cx, the incremental upgrades are gonna kill the C series, LG is outta touch with what the customer wants. Throw a heat sink on it and push it to over 1000 nits and the price thats another topic.

[@LemonJelly777]

C3 83” all day. Almost had it for a month now and it just gets better and better. I’m almost afraid though that I’m getting TO knit picky thinking it has a dirty screen. Is that possible? I’m a psyching myself out?

[@RealTroyE23]

As someone who still has a CX I bought 3 years ago, you're psyching yourself out. This was my first BIG TV purchase and first OLED. I'm a perfectionist so I was always looking for tiny issues that didn't actually exist. Just enjoy your awesome TV🙂

[@LemonJelly777]

@@RealTroyE23​​⁠thank you for the reassurance. I’ve also heard roomers it takes 200hrs to “break in”. I’ve never had an Oled and also never have seen any dirty screen on others oleds. I DID however have a small block of dead pixels on a show, but I’ve never seen it again. I’m still well within my Costco return window so I may just switch it out at some point just to sleep better at night.

[@psychoticapex]

@@LemonJelly777 When I bought my B1 in 2020 I thought it was broken as well, asked to return it but due to the pandemic the courier didn't come for 2 weeks. In the meantime the colors shifted a lot for reason but finally stabilized and started looking great after a few tweaks. My SO confirmed I was not crazy. Also, I had 2 dead pixels which came back to life after a full pixel cleaning session. After 2 weeks I cancelled the return order and I still enjoy my Oled.

[@gutwallst6645]

​@@RealTroyE23same, I have a 55 inch CX, and a 55 inch C9, Both TV's are great. the C9 is in my sun room and with the blinds down the C9 handles reflections pretty good

[@iseeyou1312]

Nope, WOLED just makes dull colours. Should have gone for an S90C.

[@MrMokhov]

Got G3 65. Thinking of getting G4 77 next year.

[@user-hz1rj8my8s]

We want a review of the asus gaming monitor tuf vg27aq3a ❤❤

[@RTINGSdotcom]

👀

[@user-cz4nd2em6o]

Why Daniel ain't presenting tests?

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Daniel has moved onto a new role within our company for a while now!

[@einarjungmann273]

What about B2 Vs. C2? :-) thx

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Here is our comparison! www.rtings.com/tv/tools/compare/lg-b2-oled-vs-lg-c2-oled/31240/31229?usage=1&threshold=0.10

[@buscemizgz2555]

what about audio?

[@RTINGSdotcom]

We don't currently do in-depth audio testing but have some information in our full reviews: www.rtings.com/tv/tools/compare/lg-c3-oled-vs-lg-b3-oled/37848/37847?usage=1&threshold=0.10

[@bryanhenn3223]

I would say this video is a little too late in the game of TVs now that their next Generation comes out in about a month or two

[@RTINGSdotcom]

We'll be reviewing those as well, but not everyone upgrades to the latest generation or can afford to! We think this will still be useful for people looking to decide between the previous generation 😄

[@BillyBob-xv3fu]

B3 speakers are 20W. C3 speakers are 40W.

[@DKTD23]

The C3 covers everything I care about. I got the 65 inch in the December, and it was well worth it. The C3 also has the next gen ATSC 3 tuner, I won't have to worry about not receiving 4K over-the-air resolution. The C2 should've had the upgrade, but it did not. I'd mention that if there is an article comparison, or if the slide showing the differences can be updated to list that.

[@banderson1979]

Why is this coming out when C4/B4 are coming out? Wow.

[@RTINGSdotcom]

Not everyone purchases the most recent models, so we want to make sure our content helps the largest number of people!

[@iseeyou1312]

Because clearance sales are the best time to buy a TV, especially given how similar the C2/C3/C4 are. The C4 needed to get MLA given how much better Samsung's QD-OLED panels are, but LG doesn't seem to care lol.

[@user-cz4nd2em6o]

👍👍👍

[@johnny_bravo9990]

Bezel 4:24 C3 is clear winner 🏆 thinner bezel, looks more modern.

[@evlo8059]

3:31 that is tragic

[@UBGood]

❓PLASMA was amazing, anyone know what happened to them ❓

[@dennispham4953]

People stopped buying them because they were more expensive than the cheaper LEDs and the profit margins were much better

[@pauldavies4870]

Why are you reviewing 2023 models and not 2024?

[@RTINGSdotcom]

We haven't bought and tested any 2024 models yet. Also, not everyone buys the newest models as soon as they're released. Our goal is to help the largest number of people find the best product for their needs, so we feel these videos are still helpful to lots of users!

[@LEONARDOKLITZKE]

LAN /100 ? LAN/1000 ??????

[@CelahiR88]

C3, im not the one that gets saticfied with budget stuff

[@DrYouMrTube]

C3's (OLED's fault) poor movie performance is killing me. If you are a gamer who notices differences between 60 vs 120fps (don't have to be a gamer for this kind of difference) You may be appalled by the poor performance in movies. Panning shots are all just a blur. Any actions scenes are just blur, blur and more blur. You can adjust it in settings, it will look fake, and can help with what they call "soap opera" but it's not the same as that doesn't work the same as having more frames or better response. Oh and at least in Plex, it refuses to play video files in 7.1 audio as it starts stuttering the video. So It's peta trying to find 5.1 audio files. Then 4K of large movies over 25-30gb will stutter too, at least in Plex.Even with the best HDMI cable. It's like TV just can't handle large bit rates

[@karlos5885]

try 2-2 o 0-10

[@261185sedin]

none...c4

[@Dragon211]

That’s what I’m waiting for unless c3 suddenly becomes 40% off

[@RTINGSdotcom]

We'll be reviewing it as soon as we can!

[@bjiirn]

the c4 will be a blast

[@trewright1482]

Neither, buy a S90C or S89C

[@Banks401]

What about Dolby Vision on Netflix what’s your take on that because I don’t know much on the is it really a big difference?

[@trewright1482]

@@Banks401 I have the HD package on Netflix and all of the 4K content looks amazing with HDR.

[@nickz6143]

I wouldn’t buy either of them. TV’s are too small for the price and Zero immersion unless you sit 2 feet from them.

[@Diggerless]

Buy a projector then sunshine 😁

[@heatwaveps5]

c3 way better

[@Ehrle6969]

B3 is mid even c1 is better😂

[@MarkNOTW]

No it isnt.

[@mystyc9]

Samsung S90C is better. Especially for gaming.

[@karlos5885]

only gaming....