LG C6 vs LG C5: Which OLED Should You Buy in 2026?

The C6 is LG's 2026 successor to the C5, its best-selling OLED. It looks the same and uses the same class of panel at 55 and 65 inches, but a new processor makes it measurably brighter. It also quietly drops a few features. Here is what changed, what the labs measured, and which one makes sense to buy.

Verdict: If you are buying now, get the C6. Two labs measured it about 15 to 20 percent brighter than the C5 in HDR, it adds 165Hz for PC gaming, and it keeps the four full HDMI 2.1 ports. The C5 still makes sense if you find it clearly cheaper (What Hi-Fi suggests the C6 becomes the clear buy once it is within about 20 percent of the C5's price) or if you want Wi-Fi 6E, a third USB port or built-in Alexa. If you already own a C5, there is little reason to upgrade.

LG 55" OLED C6 Flagship · 55-inch The current model: brighter, 165Hz for PC Check Price →

LG 65" OLED C5 Flagship · 65-inch The 2025 model: worth it at a clear discount Check Price →

A note on sizes: the 55-inch C5 has been replaced by the C6, so the C5 we cover is the 65-inch model, while our C6 review covers the 55-inch. Both models come in both sizes, and every difference below applies at 55 and 65 inches unless it says otherwise.

Full Specs Comparison

Feature	Editor's Pick LG 55" OLED evo C6 4K Smart TV (2026)	LG 65" OLED evo C5 Smart TV (2025)
Price Band	Flagship	Flagship
Screen Size	55"	65"
Panel Type	WOLED (OLED evo)	WOLED evo
Resolution	4K UHD	4K UHD
Refresh Rate	120Hz (165Hz VRR)	120Hz (144Hz VRR)
HDR Formats	Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG	HDR10, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
Smart Platform	webOS 26	webOS
	Check Price	Check Price

What Actually Changed

LG's US spec sheets for the two models show a short list of hardware changes. The headline is the processor: the C6 uses the alpha11 AI Processor 4K Gen3, the chip from LG's flagship G-series, where the C5 used the alpha9 Gen8. The C6 also moves to webOS 26 and a redesigned remote, and its maximum refresh rate with VRR rises from 144Hz to 165Hz (both panels are 120Hz native). The design, dimensions and central pedestal stand are essentially unchanged.

Brightness C6 Wins

Two labs measured the 65-inch models with the same method (a 10% HDR window in Filmmaker Mode). TechRadar recorded about 1,440 nits for the C6 against about 1,180 for the C5; Tom's Guide recorded about 1,355 against 1,165. Full-screen brightness rose as well, from about 195 to about 245 nits in TechRadar's test. The only 55-inch measurement we found, from TechRadar's side-by-side test, put the 55-inch C6 at about 1,430 nits, in line with the 65-inch.

How much that matters is where reviewers differ. What Hi-Fi called the C6 "a big upgrade by C-series standards"; Tom's Guide called it "only a marginal improvement over the LG C5". Both fit the numbers: the gain is real, but it shows mainly in bright HDR highlights.

Picture Accuracy Tie

Both are very accurate out of the box. TechRadar measured an average colour error of about 1.2 on the C6 and saw a slight green tint on its C5 in near-white tones that the C6 did not show. Tom's Guide's numbers went slightly the other way (an error of about 1.5 for the C6 against about 1.25 for the C5). Errors this small are hard to see, so we call it a tie.

Gaming C6 Wins (PC Only)

For consoles, nothing changed: both have four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming, with the soundbar connection (eARC) on HDMI 2. The C6's only gaming gain is the higher 165Hz ceiling, which needs a PC. Input lag on the C6 measured about 9ms in Boost mode (Tom's Guide 9.1ms, TechRadar 9.2ms).

Connectivity and Extras C5 Wins

This is where the C6 went backwards on US models. LG's spec sheets show:

Wi-Fi 5 on the C6, against Wi-Fi 6E on the C5 (the UK C6 keeps Wi-Fi 6E).
Two USB ports instead of three.
Alexa built-in and WiSA wireless speaker support listed on the C5 but not on the C6.
Bluetooth surround drops from two-way to one-way playback.

None of these affects the picture, but if you rely on Alexa on the TV itself or on WiSA speakers, they matter.

Sound No Clear Winner

Both use 2.2-channel speakers with Dolby Atmos. What Hi-Fi found the C6's sound "much-improved", while Tom's Guide and T3 found it thin. The C6 also loses the Cinema and Sports sound presets. Either way, reviewers recommend a soundbar for both.

Value Depends on the Price Gap

The two launched at the same US price. Since the C6 arrived, discounts on the C5 have made it the value pick in What Hi-Fi's and Tom's Guide's comparisons, and What Hi-Fi's rule of thumb is useful: once the C6 is within about 20 percent of the C5's price, buy the C6. Our two catalogue entries are different sizes, so compare like for like when you check prices.

Check LG 55" OLED C6 Price → Check LG 65" OLED C5 Price →

Who Should Get Which?

Get the C6 if...

You are buying new and the price gap to the C5 is small
You want the brightest C-series picture for HDR films and games (see our best TVs for movies)
You game on a PC and want 165Hz on an OLED
You want the newer webOS and LG's five-year update promise from a 2026 start

Get the C5 if...

You find it clearly cheaper, by roughly 20 percent or more
You use Alexa on the TV, WiSA speakers, or need Wi-Fi 6E or three USB ports
Your room is dim enough that the extra brightness won't show

Both share the same weak point: a glossy screen that reflects lamps and windows. If your room is bright, see our best TVs for bright rooms before choosing either.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the LG C6 brighter than the C5?

Yes, in lab measurements. On the 65-inch models, TechRadar measured about 1,440 nits on a 10% HDR window in Filmmaker Mode for the C6 against about 1,180 for the C5, and Tom's Guide measured about 1,355 against 1,165. Full-screen brightness rose too (TechRadar: about 245 against 195 nits). Reviewers credit the new processor rather than new panel hardware.

Do the C6 and C5 use the same panel?

The same class of panel. At 55 and 65 inches both use LG's WOLED panel with Brightness Booster; RTINGS describes the C6's as a slightly updated version of the C5's. The brighter Primary RGB Tandem panel goes only into the 77- and 83-inch C6H, which is a different model.

Should I upgrade from a C5 to a C6?

Probably not. Tom's Guide called the C6 "only a marginal improvement over the LG C5", and both use the same class of panel, ports and HDR formats. The C6 is the better buy for someone shopping now, not a reason to replace a C5 that works.

Which is better for gaming?

They are very close. Both have four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM for consoles. The C6 raises the maximum refresh for PCs from 144Hz to 165Hz. Input lag is about 9ms in Boost mode on the C6 (Tom's Guide, TechRadar).

What did the C6 lose compared with the C5?

On LG's US spec sheets, the C6 drops from Wi-Fi 6E to Wi-Fi 5, from three USB ports to two, and no longer lists Alexa built-in or WiSA speaker support. Reviewers also note that the Cinema and Sports sound presets were removed. Neither model supports HDR10+ or DTS.

Ready to Buy?

LG 55" OLED C6

Flagship: the current C-series, brighter and 165Hz-ready

Check Price on Amazon

LG 65" OLED C5

Flagship: last year's C-series, worth it at a clear discount

Check Price on Amazon

Also Compare

OLED LG C4 vs LG C5 Read comparison → OLED vs LCD LG C5 vs Samsung QN70F Read comparison → Mini-LED Hisense U7 vs TCL QM7L Read comparison →

Still Deciding?

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LG C6 Full Review

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Sources

This comparison is based on LG's published spec sheets and on reviews and lab measurements by the outlets below. We have not tested either TV ourselves; where a figure comes from a specific reviewer, it says so.