Compare: LG OLED C4 vs LG 55 B4

LG C4 is a television that, in its price range, will likely have no competition for many users. Thanks to its extensive capabilities, it will appeal to those looking for a television not only for films and series but also for gaming. The advanced WebOS system and a remote control that functions like a mouse will certainly be a significant convenience in everyday use, making it likely that we will stick with this brand for much longer. The OLED panel implemented by the manufacturer, resulting from over 10 years of history, shows that this brand has not yet said its last word. The brightness results in HDR materials are very solid and can deliver an incredibly dynamic and deep image. It is worth mentioning the excellently implemented dynamic tone mapping feature, which makes HDR10 content look almost as good as Dolby Vision. And when it comes to fidelity to artistic vision, one cannot overlook how calibratable LG televisions are, allowing considerable freedom for calibrators and classic calibration for home users, as well as 3D LUT for professionals. However, if we are looking for a gaming television, then the LG C4, like most of the manufacturer’s OLED televisions, will be an ideal choice. With the implementation of HDMI 2.1 ports and the full utilisation of their potential, we can enjoy incredibly smooth gameplay with all the benefits, such as VRR, ALLM, FreeSync, and G-Sync. Of course, the panel, with a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hz and an advanced motion smoother, will also provide a very smooth and sharp image during the broadcast of various sporting events. It is hard not to give a high rating to LG OLED C4, as a television in a similar price range with such advanced features is difficult to find among the competition.

LG OLED B4 is an exceptionally versatile device in the semi-premium category. For how else could one describe an OLED television that is so well-priced, and whose price, as history shows, will quickly fall? Ideal blacks and contrast are two things that inevitably mesmerise, and we are certain that anyone who has owned a device with this panel will not be able to return to LCD units. The brightness results of the television in HDR content may seem rather low; however, in this case, thanks to this particular panel, they will appear optically much higher. It is worth noting their stability and uniformity in practically every scene. In this case, a minor downside is the brightness of a full-frame shot filled with a large amount of white. However, we do not believe this to be a serious problem, as there are not many such instances anyway. The factory colour reproduction also deserves praise, which in our specimen is very decent, but one cannot help but remember how beneficial calibration has been for the image, allowing the director's intentions to be conveyed fully. LG B4 will be an excellent choice for all kinds of gamers, as well as sports enthusiasts. The former will certainly appreciate the rich support in the form of all the conveniences stemming from the HDMI 2.1 standard. Meanwhile, the latter will benefit from the advanced motion smoothing with multi-step adjustments. And lastly, one cannot overlook the convenience provided by the remote control with a built-in gyroscope, allowing it to function like a mouse. The WebOS system, which we will navigate, is extremely smooth and responsive. It offers a multitude of applications, which will be more than sufficient for the vast majority of users. The heart of the LG B4 television is the advanced Alpha processor, responsible for the smoothness of the image and advanced signal analysis. In summary: who is the LG OLED B4 for? It is the perfect device for those expecting the highest possible image quality within a given budget, but not only that. The LG B4 stands out significantly above its competition at this price point, which cannot offer such high-quality images.

LG OLED C4, as the name suggests, uses an organic panel of its own production. This series definitely ranks among the most recognisable on the market. Over 10 years of experience in the construction of self-emitting panels has allowed for the refinement of each subsequent design, with the models from the 2024 vintage being the epitome of this. Of course, the use of this type of screen enables the achievement of impeccable contrast and blacks, allowing for immersion in the world created by the director. This is made possible by the OLED panel, characterised by the absence of conventional backlighting, with current passing through organic pixels instead. This allows for super-accurate control of the image, thereby eliminating issues such as the dimming of delicate fine details or the halo/blooming effect. Looking at both of our test scenes, we can observe two things: perfect separation of lights and a whole plethora of details in the film "Sicario 2".

LG B4 uses OLED panels produced by LG Displays. The use of this type of panel provides us with perfect contrast and black levels. With such conditions, the picture is incredibly vivid and one might even get the impression that it is three-dimensional. The series of the manufacturer with the letter "B" has always been an ideal solution for those seeking very good picture quality while not wanting to pay extra for features that are only available in higher series. Therefore, these models have become something of a dark horse in this price range, as their advantageous pricing primarily competes with Mini LED televisions. It is not difficult to say that these models have won these battles due to the absence of characteristic flaws associated with LCD receivers with multi-zone backlighting, such as blooming/halo effects or dimming of images containing fine bright details. And as we can see in the test scenes from the films "Oblivion" and "Sicario 2," the fidelity is at the highest level. Looking at the first one, we see a spectacular play of lights that, despite their brightness, are perfectly separated from one another. Even a more challenging scene with a helicopter poses no problem for LG B4, showcasing a wealth of details and a unique colour grading specific to this title.

The results of HDR materials are definitely among the better ones. Practically every film significantly exceeds the 700 nits barrier, allowing for a very realistic image. Of course, none of them surpasses the magical thousand, yet the combination of such results and unlimited contrast and black effectively boosts the outcome optically. The last of the scenes, featuring a full-screen burst of sunlight, is actually less bright than the others, although it still represents a commendable level. It is also worth mentioning the excellent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette, which will allow for achieving extremely vivid colours.

The brightness results in HDR materials for LG B4 are very good. It is true that none of them exceed 1000 nits, although the stability of luminance is excellent and looks practically the same in every scenario. The only moment where the tested television performs worse is the last of the scenes, although this should not be surprising. Large frames filled with a lot of white have always been, and probably will continue to be, somewhat of a weakness for OLED televisions. However, the combination of perfect contrast, black levels, and brightness of LG B4 allows for a full experience of the HDR effect. Additionally, the incredibly high coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut deserves recognition, reaching 99%. This makes the colours look incredibly vivid and striking.

The best factory mode implemented in the tested television was "Filmmaker". It was this mode that we used during all tests. This mode proved to be quite good in terms of colour reproduction; however, other shortcomings effectively detracted from the enjoyment of viewing. Starting with the most basic aspect, the white balance, it was easy to notice that it was marked by a dominance of red, which overall changed the characteristics of the image. We could thus see a strong yellowing of the whites and a shift of all colours towards warmer shades. The gamma, which is a curve just as important, if not more so, was quite significantly lowered, resulting in a considerable drop in contrast, except at the beginning of the graph, where the television insidiously lost details. That’s all regarding SDR materials. Taking a closer look at films with a wide dynamic range, we can observe exactly the same phenomenon of yellowing of the white balance as in films with a standard colour palette. The EOTF curve, which replaces our gamma curve, is practically perfect and cannot be faulted.

The best factory mode prepared by the manufacturer is "Filmmaker," which is exactly what we used throughout the entire testing procedure. We must admit that the unit we received out of the box had quite good colour reproduction. The biggest problem in both SDR and HDR content turned out to be white balance. In the former, a strong red hue was evident, causing the displayed image to have a pronounced yellow tint, particularly noticeable on skin tones and whites. In higher quality materials, this colour was also accentuated, but due to a lack of blue, there were also signs of green visible. Apart from these issues, we also encountered problems with grayscale and the colours themselves.

As we mentioned earlier, LG televisions are equipped with advanced tools for carrying out the calibration process. We therefore used them to model the image in the way that the director intended. And without modesty, we must admit that we achieved this phenomenally. Both SDR and HDR materials present a level that clearly indicates that this is how a film should look. It is worth looking at the colour errors on the "ColorChecker" palette here, where practically none of them exceeds "1", apart from two samples.

LG B4 has been providing very advanced calibration tools in its televisions for years. We can even say that as the only manufacturer on the market, it allows for such deep intervention in image adjustment. It is thanks to these tools that we were able to calibrate the device so well. Evidence of this is the extremely low deltaE errors, which can be said to be at a reference level. Both SDR and HDR materials now look exactly as intended by the film director. It is no coincidence that televisions of this brand are most often used as preview screens for various graphic or post-production studios.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in LG televisions has always been a fairly sensitive issue, as the manufacturer, despite impeccable performance in other areas, has almost always struggled to get this right. The results of the assessment of the fluidity of tonal transitions in the tested television were quite good, and the problems are mainly visible in darker scenes, such as the last two scenes. Interestingly, this is a result that is definitely better than the highest model from the manufacturer, namely the LG G4.

The fluidity of tonal transitions, often overlooked in various tests on competing portals, is an equally important aspect of image quality assessment. It is particularly important when watching material that features a wealth of colours and many intricate effects, where textures blend. This often leads to the so-called banding of colours, which is a lack of smooth gradation. The tested television handles tonal transition smoothing quite well. However, it is worth noting that it has its weaker moments, such as a bright coloured sky in the film "Kingsman" or "The Martian". Nevertheless, these are not aspects that detract from the viewing pleasure. Therefore, we positively assess the quality of tonal transitions in LG B4.

Once again, we will take a look at the function responsible for smooth gradation, but we will also address the one that aims to improve the quality of lower-quality materials. The default smoothing of tonal transitions, as we have seen, was not the worst, but it can still be improved. The function has a slider, which allows us to adjust its strength. We recommend using the first one, as it yields very good results and does not blur important details.

Image scaling in LG C4 is quite good; however, it cannot be said to be without flaws. The image is slightly sharper by default, although not in a very noticeable way. Admittedly, there are jagged edges on the trees, but this is not a major issue compared to other manufacturers.

In this paragraph, we will take another look at the function for smoothing tonal transitions, but we will also check how the television handles lower quality material. As we have managed to verify, the setting responsible for smooth gradation works quite efficiently, although it has its weaker moments. Just as the function works correctly in SDR content, it becomes rather useless in HDR content. Even at the lowest of the options, it blurs essential details, which is why we advise against using it.

The image scaling on LG B4 is rated rather moderately positively. Although there is no edge doubling, the image itself is naturally "soft." We can change this by adjusting the sharpness slider.

The maximum refresh rate that we can set on the LG G4 is 144 Hz. Naturally, this is only possible when connecting the television to a very powerful PC. In other cases, we will be operating at a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz, which is recommended if we primarily want to watch sport or content with a lot of motion dynamics. For those requiring high fluidity of the image, the manufacturer has implemented a multi-step motion smoother called "TrueMotion". It has been divided into two separate sliders that adjust the sharpness of moving images (De-Blur) and judder (De-Judder). Both sliders can be set within a range from 0 to 10, with each degree affecting the degree of smoothing, allowing everyone to find their golden mean.

The LG OLED C4 panel features an average response time of less than 1 ms (which directly results from our measurements), allowing for an incredibly clear image that is unattainable for LCD televisions, whose response times can be as high as several milliseconds. This is clearly visible in the pictures from the "UFO Test," showing no trailing blur behind the object.

The maximum refresh rate that we can set on the LG B4 is 120 Hz. This is the absolute minimum for those requiring high image fluidity. The manufacturer has implemented a multi-step motion smoother called "TruMotion". It has been divided into two separate sliders adjusting the sharpness of moving images (De-Blur) and jitter (De-Judder). Both sliders can be set in the range from 0 to 10, with each degree affecting the level of fluidity, so everyone can find their golden mean.

The LG OLED B4 panel features an average response time of 0.1 ms (which directly results from our measurements), allowing for an incredibly clear image, unattainable for LCD televisions, whose response times can be as high as several milliseconds. This is clearly evident in the pictures from the "UFO Test", showing no trail following the object.

We can already say that LG C4, like practically every OLED television from the manufacturer, is exceptionally good in terms of compatibility with consoles and PCs. Thanks to the implementation of four full bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps, the manufacturer has included all features that enhance the gaming experience, among which we find simultaneous support for FreeSync and G-Sync technology. With such a tandem, gamers with a graphics card from AMD or Nvidia can confidently opt for C4. However, what should delight the players requiring the highest possible quality the most is the simultaneous implementation of HDR Dolby Vision and HGIG mode. The first is particularly important as it works with extremely low input lag in all settings.

A standard in the Korean manufacturer's televisions is also the implementation of GameBar, allowing for quick adjustments of settings "on the fly" without the need to exit the game. It also enables image adjustments for visually impaired individuals, which is a very nice touch. Another important piece of information is that when VRR technology is enabled, we will not experience a drop in contrast. This is, of course, due to the panel's design and the absence of conventional backlighting. However, it is normal for shades of grey to flicker slightly, although this is a characteristic feature of this function regardless of the manufacturer and television.

In summary: LG C4, just like all of the manufacturer's OLEDs equipped with high refresh rate panels and HDMI 2.1 ports, creates a harmonious whole with consoles. In practice, it is a complete television, and if we expect the highest possible performance in gaming, C4 will be an ideal choice.

The LG B4 television is equipped with four fully-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports with a full bandwidth of 48Gbps. All features that are identical to this standard were activated without any issues, and throughout the entire testing process, they did not cause any problems. The combination of such extensive functionality and low input lag suggests that the tested television is truly made for gaming. This is not surprising, considering that the manufacturer has always placed great emphasis on this. Therefore, we can enjoy both the properly implemented HGIG mode and gaming in Dolby Vision with low latency. This pairing will certainly attract the attention of all passionate gamers for whom quality is paramount.

An additional standard in televisions from this Korean manufacturer is the implementation of GameBar, allowing for quick adjustment of settings "on the fly," without the need to exit the game. It also enables image adjustments for individuals with visual impairments, which is a very nice touch. Another important piece of information is that when VRR technology is enabled, we will not experience a drop in contrast. This is thanks to the construction of the panel and the lack of conventional backlighting. However, it is normal for shades of grey to flicker slightly; nevertheless, this is a characteristic feature of this function regardless of the manufacturer or television.

In summary: the LG B4, like all of the manufacturer’s OLEDs equipped with 120Hz panels and HDMI 2.1 ports, creates a harmonious whole with the console. In practice, this is a comprehensive television, and if we expect the highest possible efficiency in gaming, B4 will be the ideal choice.

The input lag of the LG C4 is at an incredibly low level in every scenario. Even the most dedicated gamers will surely appreciate the very low input lag at demanding 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR, which is just 5 ms. It is also worth noting that the lag at the same settings but with Dolby Vision HDR enabled remains unchanged, which is not so obvious with the competition. Therefore, it deserves the highest rating and recommendation.

Input lag for the LG B4 is at an incredibly low level in every scenario. Even the most dedicated gamers will certainly appreciate the very low input lag at demanding 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR, which is just 5 ms. It is also worth noting that the lag at these same settings, but with Dolby Vision HDR enabled, remains consistent, which is not as evident with the competition. Therefore, it deserves the highest rating and recommendation.

LG C4 in combination with a PC performs excellently, thanks to a very low latency of just 13.5 ms, which is practically an instantaneous response between the mouse, eye and screen. A particularly important issue when working on the screen is the readability of text, which in the case of the tested television is very good. However, it is worth noting that to achieve sharp fonts, you need to enable the passthrough option in the settings.

The RWBG pixel arrangement has no significant impact on the display of fonts or letters, which is a considerable advantage over Samsung's QD-OLED panels. Users of both computers equipped with the Windows operating system and macOS will certainly be satisfied with the experience on the screen of the tested television.

LG B4 combined with a PC performs excellently, thanks to a very low latency of just 13.5 ms, which is practically an instant response between the mouse, the eye, and the screen. An extremely important factor when working on a screen is primarily the readability of the text, which in the case of the tested television is very good. However, it is worth noting that to achieve sharp fonts, one must enable the passthrough option in the settings.

The RWBG pixel layout has no significant impact on the display of fonts or letters, which provides a considerable advantage over Samsung's QD-OLED matrices. Users of both Windows and macOS equipped computers are sure to be pleased with the performance on the screen of the tested television.

The undeniable advantage of OLED panels is their efficiency in the context of group viewing, that is, from various angles. LG C4 maintains very good contrast, colour saturation, and fidelity. Although this is not the result of organic televisions supported by MLA technology, it cannot be said that anyone who purchased the device was dissatisfied with the results obtained. However, it should be noted that at sharp angles, a slight greenish tint can be observed. This is a characteristic feature of WRGB panels from LG, without the aforementioned microlens technology, and unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about it.

The undisputed advantage of OLED panels is their performance in the context of group viewing, that is, from various angles. LG B4 maintains very good contrast, colour saturation, and fidelity. Although this is not the result of organic televisions supported by MLA technology, one cannot say that anyone who purchased the device was dissatisfied with the results obtained. However, it should be noted that at sharp angles, a slight greenish tint can be observed. This is a characteristic feature of LG's WRGB panels, without the aforementioned micro-lens technology, and unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about it.

The maximum brightness of the television in SDR materials is 367 nits. For an OLED television, this is a very good result that allows for quite comfortable viewing during the day. It is worth noting two things. Thanks to the glossy coating of the screen, reflections are held well in place and do not spill over onto the rest of the display. The second issue is the brightness of the screen at 100% white fill, which hovers around 220 nits, a remarkable result, as until recently OLED televisions in this range could only "boast" of brightness that was half as much. This means that conditions for watching, for example, winter sports will be very good.

The maximum brightness of the television in SDR materials is 370 nits. For an OLED television, this is a very good result and allows for quite comfortable viewing during the day. It is worth paying attention to two things. The first is the rather mediocre handling of reflections caused by the satin finish of the panel, which means that direct light hitting the television will be quite obtrusive. The second issue is the brightness of the screen when filled 100% with white, oscillating around 260 nits, which is an excellent result, as until recently, OLED televisions in this price range could "boast" a brightness twice as low. Thanks to this, the conditions for watching, for example, winter sports will be very good.

LG uses the well-known proprietary WebOS system that has been around for many years. The system offers practically all the most important applications, and the few that are missing can be counted on one hand, such as CDA or KODI. It is also worth mentioning that the modern web browser and the remote control with a built-in mouse allow for convenient use of streaming services in this way, if there is no built-in application.

WebOS also features a highly valued ability to perform operations with a cursor that appears when the remote control is in motion. The convenience of such a function is invaluable when typing in queries or passwords for portals. WebOS, like most systems, also supports features such as screen mirroring, AirPlay, voice search in Polish, and the ability to connect headphones via Bluetooth. On more practical matters, WebOS allows simultaneous use of headphones and the TV speaker, which will certainly be a big help for people with hearing impairments. Among the more interesting features, particularly appreciated by sports fans, is the option to turn on an alert notifying about an upcoming match, ensuring that we never miss a broadcast. The home panel is also praiseworthy, allowing for the control of all smart devices connected to the home network. For example, the cycle of completed laundry will be signalled by a notification in the upper right corner.

In summary, the WebOS system, although less known and having certain limitations compared to Android TV, offers stable and fast performance and supports most features that users may need. It is a solid solution for those looking for a simple and effective operating system in their television.

LG B4 uses the well-known proprietary system WebOS. The system offers practically all the most important applications, and those that are lacking can be counted on one hand, such as CDA or KODI.

WebOS also boasts a highly appreciated ability to perform operations using a cursor that appears when the remote control is moved. The convenience of such a feature is invaluable when entering queries or passwords for portals. WebOS, like most systems, also supports functions such as screen mirroring, AirPlay, voice search in Polish, and the capability to connect headphones via Bluetooth. On a more practical note, WebOS allows us to use both headphones and the television speaker simultaneously, which will certainly be a great help for those with hearing impairments. Among the more interesting features, particularly appreciated by sports fans, is the option to enable an alert for upcoming matches, ensuring that we never miss a broadcast. The home panel also deserves praise for allowing control of all smart devices connected to the home network. For example, the end of a washing cycle will be signalled by a notification in the top right corner.

In summary, the WebOS system, despite being less known and having certain limitations compared to Android TV, offers stable and fast operation and supports most functions that users may need. It is a solid solution for those looking for a simple and effective operating system in a television.

The default file player in LG C4 definitely handles all image resolutions well. We can successfully play videos recorded in virtually all the most popular formats, including Dolby Vision. The only codec that the C4 does not support is H.266 VVC, although this is currently rather unused. However, it is a pity that subtitles in .txt format are not supported. Attention should be paid to the supported image formats, of which there are only three: JPEG, PNG, and, importantly for Apple phone users - HEIC. However, the tested television cannot be faulted for lack of diversity in audio files, the playback of which will not be met with a compatibility warning.

The default file player in LG B4 definitely handles most images well, although the absence of a few equally popular formats is surprising. We can successfully play videos recorded in virtually all the most popular formats, including Dolby Vision. The only codec that LG B4 will not play is H.266 VVC, although this is currently rather unused. However, it is worth noting the supported image formats, of which there are only two: JPEG and PNG. Users of Apple devices may feel disappointed by the lack of support for the HEIC format, which is the default format when taking photos. The remedy for this is to use the built-in AirPlay feature. We will also mention the lack of support for TXT subtitles.

The implemented audio system in LG C4 has been very well tuned, allowing us to experience strong bass, as well as balanced mid and high tones. We can confidently say that in its price range, it is one of the better sounding televisions. However, we believe that those deciding to purchase the C4 will already own a dedicated audio set. The presence of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos codecs will not be without significance.

The audio system built into the LG OLED B4 can be considered quite good. We can say that it performs well for its price range. The bass is quite noticeable, but does not overpower the other frequencies. It can be said that the sound is fairly well balanced. We believe that those opting for this class of display are, or will be, in possession of an appropriate audio system. Therefore, the presence of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos codecs is not insignificant.

LG OLED C4 vs LG 55 B4

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound