LG 42 C2 OLED Monitor Review

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LG 42 C2 OLED Monitor Review Tested using Methodology v1.2 Reviewed Jun 15, 2022 at 11:31 amLatest change: Writing modified Aug 26, 2024 at 07:53 am By Samuel Breton, Nicholas Di Giovanni, and John Peroramas 8.3 Mixed Usage 7.0 Office 8.9 Gaming 8.9 Media Consumption 8.1 Media Creation 8.9 HDR + Create your own SearchingFinding Store overview test results deals 1 comments This monitor was replaced by the LG 42 C4 OLED Size 42" Pixel Type OLED Max Refresh Rate 120 Hz Variable Refresh Rate Yes Native Resolution 3840 x 2160 HDR10 Yes

The LG 42 C2 OLED is a TV that's popular to use as a PC monitor, especially for gaming. It replaces the LG 48 C1 OLED, and it's available in a smaller 42-inch size with a headphone jack and wide-set feet that make it easier to use as a PC monitor. It has gaming features most high-end TVs have, like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, a 120hz panel, and variable refresh rate (VRR) support, but it lacks other features monitors normally have, like a DisplayPort connection and an ergonomic stand. As it's a TV, it's also easy to stream content while you're not gaming as it has a built-in smart system, a tuner, and image processing features, so you don't need to use your PC to watch movies and shows.

Note: We tested the 65-inch model as a TV, which you can read about here. However, the results of the two reviews aren't comparable because of the different ways we score TVs and monitors. We also test them using different picture settings.

Our Verdict

8.3 Mixed Usage

The LG 42 C2 is great overall. It's amazing for gaming as it has a fast 120Hz refresh rate with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and variable refresh rate support that make it ideal for console gaming or PC gaming with an HDMI 2.1 graphics card. It also has low input lag and a near-instantaneous response time for a responsive feel. It's fantastic for watching SDR or HDR movies in the dark because it displays perfect blacks, has no blooming, and highlights stand out. It's good for the office, as it has decent text clarity and wide viewing angles, but it doesn't get bright in PC Mode, meaning it isn't ideal to use in well-lit rooms.

Pros

• Fantastic reflection handling.
• Wide viewing angles.
• Perfect black levels.
• No blooming around bright objects.

Cons

• Not very bright in PC Mode.
• No ergonomic adjustments.

SearchingFinding Store See our Mixed Usage Recommendations 7.0 Office

The LG 42 C2 is decent for the office. It has a large screen that makes it easy to open multiple windows at once, and the text clarity is decent too. It has wide viewing angles that make the image remain consistent from the sides, which is ideal if you need to share your screen with someone else or if you sit close. It has fantastic reflection handling that reduces the amount of reflections, but it doesn't get very bright. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer any ergonomic adjustments, but you can mount it if you want to adjust it. Also, OLEDs run the risk of permanent burn-in when exposed to the same static elements over time, like the static elements from the PC software.

Pros

• Fantastic reflection handling.
• Wide viewing angles.
• Large 42-inch screen.
• Flicker-free backlight.

Cons

• Risk of permanent burn-in.
• Not very bright in PC Mode.
• No ergonomic adjustments.

SearchingFinding Store See our Office Recommendations 8.9 Gaming

The LG 42 C2 is amazing for gaming. It has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth that allows you to play 4k games up to 120 fps from HDMI 2.1 graphics cards or current-gen consoles. It also has low input lag and a near-instantaneous response time for a responsive feel while gaming, and it has variable refresh rate (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing. It's also fantastic for dark room gaming as it has a near-infinite contrast ratio, and there's no blooming around bright objects. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a DisplayPort input, so you'll need an adapter if your PC doesn't have an HDMI port.

Pros

• HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
• VRR support.
• Low input lag in Game Mode.
• Near-instantaneous response time.
• Perfect black levels.

Cons

• No DisplayPort input.

SearchingFinding Store See our Gaming Recommendations 8.9 Media Consumption

The LG 42C2 is fantastic for media consumption. It looks incredible in dark rooms thanks to its perfect black uniformity, and it has no blooming around objects. It's also big enough to comfortably share your screen with someone sitting next to you, and it has wide viewing angles. Although it doesn't get bright in Game Mode, it gets brighter outside of it to make colors look vivid, and it displays a wide range of colors in SDR.

Pros

• Fantastic reflection handling.
• Wide viewing angles.
• Large 42-inch screen.
• Perfect black levels.
• No blooming around bright objects.

Cons

• Not very bright in PC Mode.

SearchingFinding Store See our Media Consumption Recommendations 8.1 Media Creation

The LG OLED42C2 is great for content creators. The big screen has enough screen real estate to easily see your entire work area at once. It also has decent text clarity, but editing programs don't support the RWBG subpixel layout, meaning text doesn't look as clear in some programs. It also has wide viewing angles that make the image remain consistent from the sides, but it doesn't come with an ergonomic stand if you need to swivel the screen to show a client or coworker. Sadly, OLEDs risk permanent burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, like if you constantly have your editing program open.

Pros

• Fantastic reflection handling.
• Wide viewing angles.
• Large 42-inch screen.
• Flicker-free backlight.

Cons

• Risk of permanent burn-in.
• Not very bright in PC Mode.
• No ergonomic adjustments.

SearchingFinding Store See our Media Creation Recommendations 8.9 HDR

The LG 42 C2 is amazing for HDR. It displays perfect blacks without any blooming around bright objects, meaning it's a fantastic choice for watching movies in the dark. It also delivers a satisfying HDR experience because small highlights pop, and it displays a wide range of colors with minimal banding between shades of similar colors. However, it has only decent color volume, meaning it struggles to display some very vivid colors.

Pros

• Perfect black levels.
• No blooming around bright objects.
• Near-perfect DCI-P3 coverage.
• Small highlights pop in HDR.

Cons

• Limited Rec. 2020 coverage.
• Only decent color volume.

SearchingFinding Store

• 8.3 Mixed Usage
• 7.0 Office
• 8.9 Gaming
• 8.9 Media Consumption
• 8.1 Media Creation
• 8.9 HDR

+ Create your own

1. Updated Aug 26, 2024: Added that the LG 42 C4 OLED has much better SDR Brightness.
2. Updated Jun 06, 2023: Corrected a mistake in Input Lag to clarify that there's a high input lag outside of the Game and PC Modes.
3. Updated May 18, 2023: We rechecked the input lag with VRR and confirmed that the 42-inch model we tested as a monitor and the 65-inch TV we tested perform the same with the latest firmware.
4. Updated May 12, 2023: Added that the new LG 42 OLED Flex has a curved screen in the Style section.
5. Updated Mar 09, 2023: We've added a comparison to the recently reviewed Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G85SB S34BG85, which has a higher