In the world of premium TVs, LG‘s OLED models have an unrivaled reputation for delivering the pinnacle of picture quality. Powered by self-illuminating pixels and LG‘s custom processors, these self-emissive displays continue pushing the boundaries of contrast, color and clarity. LG‘s "C" series has emerged as their high-value proposition that balances performance with price. But with the latest LG B2 now available, does it outclass last year‘s venerable C1? Let‘s scrutinize every aspect of these OLED juggernauts to crown the definitive winner.
Demystifying OLED TV Technology
Before evaluating the B2 and C1, it helps to level-set on exactly why OLED TVs have become the gold standard display technology:
Perfect Black Levels – Each OLED pixel can switch off completely to achieve truly infinite contrast ratio. This eliminates light bleed and enables perfect, inky blacks.
Wider Viewing Angles – OLED screens maintain color accuracy and contrast at wider off-angle viewing positions than LED-LCDs.
Vivid Colors – OLEDs can produce extremely vibrant, accurate colors across a wide DCI-P3 color gamut.
Blazing Fast Response – With response times below 0.1ms, OLED TVs offer super smooth, blur-free motion clarity.
Exceptional HDR – Self-emissive OLED tech and LG processing unlocks the full visual potential of HDR content.
Gaming Excellence – OLED combines 4K 120Hz Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), ultra low input lag and ultra-fast response times for phenomenal gaming performance.
Now let‘s scrutinize how LG has iterated on their OLED advantages with their latest α9 Gen5 AI Processor 4K powering the new B2 model…
Intelligent Picture Processing: α9 Gen5 vs Gen4
Delving deeper into their brains, both TVs leverage high-performance processors to analyze and optimize every frame of video. But LG has incrementally improved their proprietary α (Alpha) chip year-over-year:
| Processor | Key Upgrades |
|---|---|
| α9 Gen4 AI Processor 4K (C1) | Improved deep learning Face/object enhancement Dynamic tone mapping |
| α9 Gen5 AI Processor 4K (B2) | Higher processing speed Enhanced AI sound tuning Refined precision |
While images already looked razor sharp on the α9 Gen4, LG claims the Gen5 processes frames with higher speed while increasing analysis precision by up to 20%. This manifests through subtle enhancements to factors like noise reduction, contrast modulation and frequency-based sharpness.
These incremental benefits edge out the C1 in head-to-head comparisons under critical assessment. But make no mistake – both models showcase OLED‘s greatest strengths without compromise.
Advantage: LG B2 for its faster, more precise α9 Gen5 processor
Display Performance Benchmarks
Based purely on their OLED panel specifications, both TVs produce exemplary picture quality. They share the same 4K Ultra HD resolution paired with Perfect Black OLED pixels and wide color gamuts exceeding 95% of the cinema-grade DCI-P3 spectrum. Support for advanced HDR formats also match between models, including Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10 and HLG.
Lab testing measurements from technical experts at RTings.com provide deeper statistics around color and contrast performance:
| Display Metric | LG B2 Performance | LG C1 Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Contrast Ratio | Infinite (Perfect Blacks) | Infinite (Perfect Blacks) |
| DCI-P3 Coverage | 97% | 96% |
| Color Accuracy | Delta-E 1.9 (Excellent) | Delta-E 2.2 (Good) |
| Peak Brightness | 787 cd/m2 | 748 cd/m2 |
| Motion Handling | 9.7/10 | 9.4/10 |
We can ascertain a few slight advantages for the newer B2 model:
- Better color accuracy
- Incrementally higher peak brightness measurements
- Slightly improved motion clarity
But again, without directly comparing test patterns side-by-side, most viewers would be hard-pressed to identify any meaningful difference. Both TVs deliver exceptional sharpness, contrast and color – hallmarks of LG‘s panel quality.
Advantage: LG B2 with marginal performance gains
Gaming Goodness: HDMI 2.1 Features
Gamers will also appreciate how both models fully support the latest HDMI 2.1 specifications, including:
- 4K @ 120Hz
- VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
- ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)
- HGiG Mode
This means you can optimize either TV to game in 4K resolution at up to 120 frames per second. Variable refresh rate (VRR) dynamically matches the panel refresh rate to your console‘s graphical output for ultra smooth visuals free from screen tearing.
We see the same number and configuration of ports on both models as well:
- 4 x HDMI ports (HDMI 2.1)
- 3 x USB ports
Latency scores hit similar marks around 13-15ms, providing extremely responsive controller input without perceptible lag during gameplay.
With feature parity across the board gaming-wise, neither model clearly pulls ahead. Both simply excel as gaming monitors. But this table summarizes how LG continues iterating to optimize the gaming experience:
| Gaming Features | LG C1 | LG B2 |
|---|---|---|
| VRR Range | 48Hz-120Hz | 40Hz-120Hz |
| HGIG Support | Yes | Yes + HGIG 4K |
| Game Optimizer Menu | Yes | Enhanced for 2022 |
| New for 2022 | – | Dark Room Mode |
Advantage: Draw – Virtually identical top-tier gaming performance
Built-in Audio Comparison
When comparing the audio capabilities, we see a larger disparity between the LG B2 and the LG C1:
| Audio Specs | LG B2 | LG C1 |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker Type | 2.0 Channel | 2.2 Channel |
| Total Power | 20W | 40W |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
With a 2.2 channel system and higher wattage, the C1 unquestionably outputs louder and richer audio. Mid-range and vocals sound fuller, while bass hits deeper on the C1. This better complements the stunning visuals displayed on screen.
That said, both TVs lack the wide sound separation that a dedicated sound bar provides. So external audio systems still warrant consideration for a truly immersive surround sound experience.
Advantage: LG C1 – Significantly better native audio performance
webOS Platform Showdown
Both models run LG‘s intuitive webOS smart TV platform, granting access to all the wildly popular streaming apps. But with each new model iteration comes incremental updates:
webOS 6.0 (LG B2) Highlights:
- Upgraded home screen with enhanced recommendations
- New sport-centric screens tailored around big games
- Additional voice command support
- Improved connectivity and account management
webOS 5.0 (LG C1) Core Features:
- Simple navigation via Magic remote point & click
- Fast app launch and switching
- Robust voice controls through LG ThinQ AI
- LG Channels app for free live TV
The streamlined interface remains highly usable on both versions. But the latest webOS 6.0 software on the B2 nudges ahead. The home screen redesign surfaces more relevant content from your favorite apps and services. Support for more third-party voice assistants also expands hands-free control functionality.
Advantage: LG B2 and its webOS 6.0 smart platform
Anti-Burn In Tactics
All OLED panels come with the risk of permanent burn-in, which is understandably concerning for long-term reliability. This manifests from static image elements, like network logos and game HUDs, getting "etched" into the organic material.
Thankfully, LG has developed reliable countermeasures to minimize the chances of burn-in on both models:
- Pixel Refresher – Routinely runs to clear away image retention
- Logo Luminance Detection – Automatically dims static logos
- Screen Saver – Engages after several minutes of idle time
- Pixel Shift – Subtly moves pixels to spread heat buildup
Multiple professional reviewers have subjected LG‘s latest generation OLEDs to extensive burn-in torture tests over thousands of cumulative hours. Very few instances of even temporary image retention were recorded, and no permanent burn-in resulted on the panels.
So while no OLED TV can claim perfect burn-in immunity, LG has virtually eliminated worries through these robust prevention systems across their lineup. Any differences between the B2 and C1 prove negligible here.
Advantage: Draw – Both highly effective at preventing OLED burn-in
Pricing Breakdown
As LG‘s 2022 mid-range OLED series, the B2 sees retailers price it lower than last year‘s C1 model across all sizes:
| Model | 55" | 65" | 77′′ | 83" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG B2 | $1,100 | $1,500 | $2,500 | N/A |
| LG C1 | $1,300 | $1,800 | $3,000 | $5,500 |
Cost savings run upwards of $500 on the largest configurations. Keep an eye out for additional seasonal sales too, especially on the older C1 inventory. Value-focused shoppers leaning towards the 55 or 65-inch class should choose the newer, discounted LG B2 without hesitation. Otherwise, pricing comes out as a relative wash between models on the 77-83 inch screens.
Advantage: LG B2 due to generally lower price tags
Verdict: LG B2 Scores the Technical Knockout
If you made it this far comparing every painstaking element between the LG B2 and LG C1 OLED TVs – congratulations! You now understand their uncannily similar DNA. Both series achieve near OLED perfection. However, by incrementally improving their venerable OLED formula year over year, LG seems to have perfected it even more with their latest LG B2.
The richer sound quality remains the C1‘s standout trait. But the B2 matches or outperforms its elder counterpart across all other categories – from display enhancements like higher brightness to smarter software and streaming. And as the newest 2022 model with favorable pricing too, the LG B2 emerges the winner in this epic head-to-head battle. Rest assured you can‘t go wrong either way, but the B2 generates that much more value for buyers today.
