Desk TV research · 42" 4K OLED TV, 144Hz
LG C5 42-inch OLED as a desk TV: what the testing says
The 42-inch C5 is the value pick. What Hi-Fi called it the best 42-inch OLED it had tested, and RTINGS reviewed it as a PC monitor. It has four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, 144Hz from a PC, and the same desk-friendly feet as the C6 42, for about $850. It's dimmer than the C6 (RTINGS measured about 240 to 250 nits in PC mode), tops out at 144Hz, and on Oct 7 it came from a third-party seller rather than Amazon.
Our take
The short version
LG's 2025 C5 is still on sale at 42 inches, and it's the cheapest way into this lineup's sweet-spot size. What Hi-Fi tested the 42-inch itself in October 2025, gave it a 2025 award, and called it the best 42-inch OLED it had tested. RTINGS reviewed the same size as a PC monitor (October 17, 2025): input lag stays low at 144Hz (11.5 ms with the PC input label), and LG's feet leave room for a keyboard in front.
What you give up against the C6 42 is mostly brightness and speed. RTINGS rates its SDR brightness as decent, around 240 to 250 nits in PC mode, and not bright enough for intense glare; peak brightness is locked once VRR or the 144Hz mode is on. It runs at up to 144Hz rather than 165Hz, has last year's α9 Gen8 processor and webOS 25, and, like the C6 42, misses the Brightness Booster that bigger sizes get (Tom's Guide adds that the 42- and 48-inch C5 also lack their anti-glare screen). RTINGS calls text slightly blurry at this pixel density, with ClearType fringing.
It launched at $1,399.99 in March 2025. On October 7 it was $849.95 on Amazon from BrandsMartUSA, a third-party seller, about $150 less than the C6 42 sold by Amazon. If that gap shrinks below about $100, buy the C6. What Hi-Fi's main complaint is the weak 20W sound, and it notes the low feet mean a soundbar placed in front blocks part of the screen.
Setup
At your desk
- ~105 PPI
- 4
- 144Hz
- 300 x 200 mm
- Stand: the same two feet as the C6 42, 28.3 inches apart and 6.7 inches deep, with room for a keyboard in front (RTINGS).
- Sound: the feet sit low, so What Hi-Fi notes a soundbar in front blocks the bottom of the screen. Desktop speakers beside it, a monitor arm, or a headset work better.
- Mounting: VESA 300 x 200 at 21.6 lb without the stand.
- Light: fine in a dim or controlled room; RTINGS says its PC-mode brightness isn't enough for intense glare.
Pixel density is plain geometry for a 4K screen at the class size, not a measurement.
Pros and cons
What we like
- What Hi-Fi's best 42-inch OLED (a 2025 award winner)
- Four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports; 144Hz from a PC
- Low input lag at 144Hz (RTINGS)
- Dolby Vision, including Dolby Vision gaming
- Desk-friendly feet and a 21.6 lb panel
Trade-offs
- Dimmer than the C6: about 240 to 250 nits in PC mode (RTINGS)
- Sold by a third party on Amazon; LG.com was out of stock
- 144Hz, not 165Hz
- Glossy screen; slightly blurry text with ClearType fringing (RTINGS)
- Weak 20W sound (What Hi-Fi)
Who it's for
Buy it if…
- Console players who don't need more than 120Hz
- Dim or controlled-light rooms
- Anyone who wants a 42-inch OLED for under $900
Skip it if…
- Bright rooms
- Anyone who can get the C6 42 for less than about $100 more
- Heavy static desktop use, for burn-in reasons
Spec sheet
C5 42 specs
| Screen size | 42" class (LG lists 41.5" viewable) |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Refresh rate | Up to 144Hz from a PC with VRR; 120Hz native |
| Panel | WOLED (LG OLED evo); no Brightness Booster at 42 inches (LG) |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (no HDR10+) |
| Variable refresh | HDMI Forum VRR, NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible, AMD FreeSync Premium; ALLM, HGIG |
| HDMI | 4x HDMI 2.1, all full 48Gbps (What Hi-Fi), 4K 120Hz (144Hz from a PC); eARC on HDMI 2 |
| DisplayPort / USB-C / KVM | None: no DisplayPort or USB-C video, and the USB ports can't connect to a PC (RTINGS) |
| Other ports | 3x USB 2.0 (TV use only), Ethernet, optical audio out |
| Processor | α9 AI Processor 4K Gen8 |
| Smart platform | webOS 25 |
| Speakers | 2.0 channel, 20W |
| Stand | Two feet, 28.3 in apart; 6.7 in deep; no height or tilt adjustment |
| VESA mount | 300 x 200 mm |
| Screen finish | Glossy |
| Weight | 21.6 lb without stand; 22.3 lb with stand |
| Dimensions | 36.7 x 21.3 x 1.6 in without stand; 36.7 x 22.7 x 6.7 in with stand |
| Warranty | 1 year parts and labor; LG's warranty card doesn't mention burn-in and excludes non-household use (it names offices) |
| Also notable | Game Optimizer; Dolby Vision game mode; “PC” input label; OLED Care (pixel cleaning, screen move, logo dimming) |
From the manufacturer sources listed below. “Not specified” means those sources don't state it.
Watch
C5 42 on video
Video by RTINGS Computer on YouTube. Their views are their own.
Cross-shop
Alternatives to consider
LG C6 42-inch OLED
- 42" 4K OLED
- 165Hz
- 4 ports
- ~$999.99
The desk TV most people should buy: a 42-inch 4K OLED with four HDMI 2.1 inputs and 165Hz, for about $1,000.
Pros
- Pro: RTINGS' top TV for use as a PC monitor (Sep 2026)
- Pro: Four HDMI 2.1 inputs: an Xbox, a PS5 Pro, and a PC plugged in at once
- Pro: Up to 165Hz from a PC, with G-Sync, FreeSync, and HDMI VRR
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: No Brightness Booster at 42 inches (LG); RTINGS says it isn't as bright as bigger C6 sizes
- Trade-off: Glossy screen reflects windows and lamps behind you
- Gaming
- 5 out of 5
- Desk fit
- 5 out of 5
- Work
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: LG C6 42-inch OLEDSamsung S85H 48-inch OLED
- 48" 4K OLED
- 120Hz
- 4 ports
- ~$797.99
The cheapest way to a 48-inch OLED station: four 4K 120Hz HDMI inputs for consoles, under $800.
Pros
- Pro: Cheapest 48-inch OLED here: $797.99, sold by Amazon
- Pro: 4K 120Hz on all four HDMI ports, with VRR, G-Sync, and FreeSync
- Pro: Brighter than earlier entry OLEDs and the LG B6 (What Hi-Fi, 55-inch)
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: 120Hz maximum, the lowest here
- Trade-off: Glossy, reportedly polarizer-free panel; no Glare Free coating
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Gaming
- 4 out of 5
- HDR
- 3 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: Samsung S85H 48-inch OLEDLG C6 48-inch OLED
- 48" 4K OLED
- 165Hz
- 4 ports
- ~$1,099
The brightest desk TV here: a 48-inch C6 with a tandem panel and 165Hz, for a deep desk or a wall mount.
Pros
- Pro: RTINGS: clearly brighter and more colorful than the C5 42, thanks to a tandem panel
- Pro: Four HDMI 2.1 inputs, 165Hz from a PC, G-Sync and FreeSync; macOS works at 165Hz
- Pro: Very low input lag at 165Hz with the PC label (RTINGS)
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Needs a deep desk or a wall mount; text is softer at about 92 PPI
- Trade-off: Fixed 9.1-inch-deep pedestal that RTINGS says wobbles
- Gaming
- 5 out of 5
- HDR
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the breakdown: LG C6 48-inch OLED
Related guides and comparisons
Sources
Manufacturer specs
- LG OLED42C5PUA specifications (opens in a new tab) — Refresh rate, HDMI, VRR, HDR, stand, VESA, dimensions, weight
- LG 2025 OLED pre-order (press release, Mar 11, 2025) (opens in a new tab) — Launch price; Brightness Booster not available on the 42- and 48-inch C5
Published testing and reviews
- RTINGS LG C5 42 OLED (monitor review) (opens in a new tab) — Tested the 42-inch as a PC monitor (Oct 17, 2025): brightness, input lag, text, stand
- What Hi-Fi? (opens in a new tab) — LG C5 (OLED42C5) review (42-inch, Oct 2025): 2025 award winner
- Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab) — LG C5 review (65-inch, Apr 10, 2025): notes what the 42- and 48-inch sizes lack
Published reviews and manufacturer specs, researched October 7, 2026. We didn't test these TVs ourselves; judgments credited to an outlet are that outlet's.
Disclosure: Our picks are independent and editorial — a synthesis of published reviews and manufacturer specs, not our own lab measurements. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen October 7, 2026, not live quotes. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.