LG C4 vs G4 OLED TV: 6 Key Aspects
By Naila Syifa
Updated March 2024
LG has released its 2024 lineup of OLED TVs, and the C4 and G4 are expected to be two of the most popular models in the series. To find out which one better suits your needs and budgets, let's examine these two models across 6 key consideration aspects: price, design, picture quality, audio quality, smart features, and gaming support.
Key Takeaways
The key difference between LG C4 and G4 lies in their OLED panels and processors. Featuring a Micro Lens Array (MLA) panel and the latest Alpha 11 chip, G4 offers much better picture and audio quality than C4 with an Alpha 9 chip and no MLA panel. Both TVs have similar smart features, but MultiView in G4 supports 4 screens, while C4 only supports 2.
LG C4 OLED evo
Mid-Range Popular OLED TV
✓ α9 AI Processor 4K Gen7
✓ Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
✓ Virtual 9.1.2 Up-mix
✓ 144Hz Gaming Refresh Rate
LG G4 OLED evo
High-End Premium OLED TV
✓ α11 AI Processor 4K
✓ MLA, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
✓ Virtual 11.1.2 Up-mix
✓ Gallery Design
#1 Price
LG C4
As a mid-range model, the LG C4 is more affordable than the high-end LG G4. Its smallest 42-inch size retails at $1,500, while its largest 83-inch size costs $5,400.
The price for the LG G4, on the other hand, starts from $2,500 for its smallest 55-inch size and goes up to a whopping $25,000 for its largest 97-inch size. The price jump between the two sizes is quite significant, but the 83-inch LG G4 is priced at $6,500, just $1,100 more than the 83-inch LG C4.
#2 Design
LG G4
Just like any modern OLED TV, both models feature ultra-thin bezels for a sleek and seamless look. You can display paintings or photos when the TV is not in use, making the TV look like a piece of art on your wall.
However, the G4 model has an advantage with its Gallery Design, just as the G in its name stands for "Gallery". This Gallery Design refers to the back panel of the TV, which is uniformly slim at only 0.94" (2.4 cm) thickness, resembling a picture frame. This allows for a Zero Gap Wall Mount, meaning that the TV can sit flush against the wall like a painting in the gallery.
On the other hand, the LG C4, resembling its predecessor C3 and the other C-series models, has a thicker lower back panel that protrudes slightly from the wall when mounted.
Read also: LG C3 vs LG C4 OLED TV: What's Improving?
However, the C4 has an advantage with many size options available, including 42”, 48”, 55”, 65”, 77”, and 83”. The G4, on the other hand, is only available in five sizes, the 55”, 65”, 77”, 83”, and 97”. If you have a smaller space, the C4 offers more options to choose from.
#3 Picture Quality
LG C4
As OLED TVs with 4K UHD resolution and 120Hz native refresh rate, both the LG C4 and G4 deliver stunning picture quality with vivid colors and deep blacks. However, the gap in picture quality between the two may be quite wide and noticeable, especially when it comes to brightness, clarity, color, and upscaling of lower-resolution content.
The G4 is built with Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology, currently the brightest OLED panel that LG has to offer. It is 150% brighter than the entry-level B4 model and provides a more vivid and luminous picture. The C4, on the other hand, doesn't feature this technology. However, take note that the 97-inch G4 model does not feature the MLA technology.
LG G4
In addition, the G4 is powered by a high-performance Alpha 11 AI Processor, which offers better upscaling of lower-resolution content and smoother motion handling compared to the Alpha 9 Gen 7 AI Processor used in the C4. LG promises that this new processor delivers a 70% upgrade in graphics performance and 30% faster processing than its predecessor.
With the MLA panel and new Alpha 11 AI Processor, the G4 delivers a noticeably superior picture quality with better brightness, clarity, and color accuracy than the C4. Its picture quality resembles that of the higher-end flagship LG M4 model, which also features the MLA panel and Alpha 11 AI Processor. Currently, both the G4 and M4 are LG's two brightest OLED TVs in the market.
Read also: LG G4 vs LG M4 OLED TV: Same Except 3 Things, Consider This!
#4 Sound Quality
LG C4 vs G4
Both TVs have incredible audio quality with their built-in speakers, but different processors result in different audio outputs. With the Alpha 11 AI Processor, LG claims that the G4 can produce "richer and fuller audio". The G4 can also create a virtual 11.1.2 surround, which provides a more immersive audio experience compared to the virtual 9.1.2 surround sound that the C4 can generate with its Alpha 9 Gen 7 AI Processor.
Virtual surround sound enables you to feel like you're in the middle of the action, with sound coming from all directions, even if you're relying only on the TV's built-in speakers. However, if you have additional speakers or a soundbar, you can connect them to the TV via Bluetooth for an even better audio experience on both models.
The audio of the G4 model is also more powerful, with its 4.2-channel speaker system consisting of four speakers and two subwoofers. The C4, on the other hand, comes with a 2.2-channel speaker system consisting of two speakers and two subwoofers.
#5 Smart Features
webOS 24
When it comes to smart TV features, the LG G4 and C4 have a lot more in common. They both feature the new webOS 24, which allows for up to 10 password-protected user profiles. They both support voice control, intelligent voice recognition, Room-to-Room Share, sports alerts, ThinQ AI, a full web browser, Magic Remote, and many others. You can also get 300+ free LG channels and enjoy diverse content from various streaming apps on both TVs.
Both models also feature built-in Alexa and work with Apple Airplay 2, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Hey Google. Similar to other LG's 2024 OLED TVs, both the LG C4 and G4 also add a new Matter support. Matter is the new smart home connectivity standard that allows for seamless integration between smart home devices from different brands. Support for Matter means that both TVs can now serve as a smart home hub for you to easily manage and control your smart home devices from one place.
The only difference between the two models concerns the MultiView, a feature that allows you to split the screen to display different content simultaneously. While the G4 allows for up to four different screens to be displayed at once, the C4 only allows for two. The G4 also allows 2 HDMI input sources to be displayed at once, while the C4 only allows for one.
#6 Gaming Support
LG C4 vs G4
The LG C4 and G4 are also equipped with a range of features that make them great for gaming, including LG Game Dashboard, Game Optimizer, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), NVIDIA G-Sync, and AMD FreeSync Premium. With a response time of less than 0.1 ms, you can enjoy smooth and fluid gameplay with minimal input lag on both models.
The four HDMI inputs on both models also allow for more gaming devices to be connected at once, and both TVs support 4K gaming at 144Hz. However, as gaming consoles now max out at 120Hz, you can only enjoy the full 144Hz gaming experience if you own a PC with a 14Hz graphic card.
LG C4 vs G4 OLED TV
Final Thoughts
LG C4
As a high-end OLED TV, the LG G4 delivers superior design, picture, and audio quality, as well as more advanced smart features than the mid-range LG C4.
LG C4 may not be the OLED TV with the best picture and audio quality in the market, but it offers a more affordable price range for quality and performance that should be great enough for most average consumers. It is also equipped with most of the smart features and gaming support that the higher-end G4 has, making it a great option for those who want a good balance between price and features.
If you like to read more about Smart TVs, check out our other relevant guides here:
LG B3 vs B4: Entry-Level OLED TV Gets Better
LG G3 vs G4: What's New?
LG M3 vs M4: Wireless OLED TV Compared
LG B4 vs C4: 6 Differences
Don't miss out on tech
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest tech trends and guides on the best gadgets around.
Recommended reading
