LG has invested heavily in OLED technology, so it’s no surprise that it has a plethora of television options at various price points. LG, as the primary manufacturer of OLED panels, has the ability to set its own price points for both budget and mid-range televisions.
The LG C2 is, for the most part, one of the best mid-range television options available today, especially for gaming. The LG A2 is a great “entry-level” choice that also takes advantage of many of LG’s OLED strengths.
Let’s dive into these two OLED TVs to see how they truly stack up.
LG A2 vs C2: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| LG A2 | LG C2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $899 MSRP (before sale pricing on 42”) | $999 MSRP (before sale pricing on 42”) |
| Screen Sizes | 55, 65” (only two models for 2022) | 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83” |
| Display Type | OLED | OLED Evo |
| Processor | Alpha 7 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K | Alpha 9 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K |
| Resolution | 4K UHD | 4K UHD |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Smart TV Software | LG ThinQ AI, webOS | LG ThinQ AI, webOS |
| Voice Assistance | Google Assistant, Alexa | Google Assistant, Alexa |
| VRR Support? | No | Yes |
| Inputs | HDMI 2.0 (three), 3 USB ports | HDMI 2.1 (four), 3 USB ports |
| Sound | 2.0 20-watt speakers | 2.2 40-watt speakers |
5 Must-Know Facts: LG A2 vs. LG C2
- The LG A2 is an entry-level model that only provides a 60Hz refresh rate compared to the C2 and its 120Hz refresh rate.
- For gaming, the LG C2 includes VRR (variable refresh rate) which helps your television adjust its refresh rate based on what you are viewing on your screen.
- The C2 has four HDMI 2.1 inputs, which is important for higher refresh rates and up to 120 frames per second. There are no HDMI 2.1 inputs on the A2.
- The C2’s OLED Evo panel is LG’s most advanced OLED panel, whereas the A2 only has standard OLED.
- The A2 employs the “older” Alpha 7 Gen 5 AI processor, as opposed to the C2’s Gen 9. They are both excellent at scaling non-4K content to fill the entire screen.
LG A2 vs C2: What’s the Difference?
Build
LG does not make a television that indicates poor build quality, whether it is considered entry-level, mid-range, or premium.
The C2 looks and feels more premium, with a slimmer bezel, and it weighs significantly less than the A2 thanks to a composite carbon-fiber construction. Despite the fact that the A2 is LG’s entry-level model, it feels more in line with higher-end models from other manufacturers, such as TCL or Hisense.
LG has limited the A2’s available sizes for 2022 to 55 and 65-inch models. This is a significant decrease, removing roughly two-thirds of the available screen sizes from the 2021 lineup. LG is all-in on providing customers with a variety of screen sizes ranging from 42 to 83 inches in size for the LG C2.
With the A2, you can add a “Gallery Stand” to make it look more like a home centerpiece while hiding cables. On LG C2 models 48″ and up, it comes with the Gallery Pedestal, which allows it to easily disappear in an entertainment center, or you can choose the Gallery Stand, which allows you to place it in unusual places around the house while still hiding the cables.
Panel & Screen
LG A2
The display will be one of the most noticeable differences between these two televisions. The good news is that, despite being the most “budget” television in the LG lineup, the LG A2 still has an excellent OLED display. That still means it will have excellent black levels, color saturation, and contrast.
Dolby Vision and rich colors are still available, thanks to the Alpha 7 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K, which ensures the A2 will automatically adjust the picture for the best viewing experience. On the A2, dynamic tone mapping is also hard at work to provide lifelike colors in true detail that mimic how they would appear in the real world.
Most importantly, the A2 makes no concessions in terms of 4K resolution, as this is a true 4K television. The 60Hz refresh rate is where it compromises. This means that you won’t be able to play anything faster than 60 frames per second, and it won’t be able to deliver as smooth of sports or fast-paced action sequence as the LG C2.
It’s not at all disappointing, but the C2 is, in a word, superior.
LG C2
For good reason, the LG C2 is at the top of many “best of” lists for 2022 as one of the best OLED TVs. The introduction of the OLED Evo panel in 2022 is notable because it improves overall brightness over previous models and is simply that good.
LG claims that it can achieve up to 20% more brightness than its standard OLED panel. The Alpha A9 Gen 5 processor also works overtime to deliver brighter colors that adjust automatically based on what you’re watching.
On top of that, the C2 performs well above its price point by delivering some of the deepest blacks available, as well as crisp contrast. Dynamic tone mapping pro transforms HDR content on the C2 into a picture with incredible detail. If you weren’t already sold on the C2, Dolby Vision IQ helps seal the deal by adjusting programming to optimal levels based on the ambient lighting level in a room.
The LG C2 also differs from the A2 in that it has a 120Hz refresh rate, which gives it a significant advantage for next-generation gaming as well as sports and action movies.
Sound
If the picture is the most important consideration when purchasing a television, the sound may be the second most important. Fortunately, both the A2 and the C2 excel in this category, with the C2 slightly outperforming its younger sibling.
The LG A2, for its part, is heavily reliant on AI Sound Pro, which, according to LG, “mixes 2-channel audio into virtual 5.1.2 channel sound,” making it especially immersive for its price point. It’s not enough to disregard the need for a soundbar or surround sound system, but it’s more than adequate for 98% of potential buyers.
The C2 literally amplifies sound. The Alpha 9 Gen 5 AI processor kicks into gear, powered by the same AI Sound Pro, and “mixes 2-channel audio into virtual 7.1.2 channel sound.” Furthermore, the C2 includes Dolby Atmos, which enhances audio by creating a spatial sound that places you right in the center of any action on the screen.
Again, the LG C2 is the undisputed champion in this division.
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Smart TV
The smart TV operating system may be the only area where the A2 and the C2 are comparable.
The webOS 22-powered A2 and C2 can both take advantage of the improvements made to the webOS 6.0 software, including enhanced profile personalization for each resident of a home to aid in content recommendation. Another standout feature of webOS 22 is room-to-room home sharing, which makes it simple to mirror content between rooms as long as they are connected to the same WiFi network.
Both televisions can be used as the central hub of a smart home and support Google Voice and Amazon Alexa voice assistance. The webOS 22 update includes support for “Matter,” a new smart home technology standard, on both televisions.
Since the feature set of both televisions is essentially equal, there isn’t a clear winner in this category aside from those who purchase either television.
Inputs
This is yet another resounding victory for the LG C2 in terms of inputs. It surpasses the LG A2, which only offers three HDMI inputs and none of which support the more expensive 2.1 input, by having four HDMI 2.1 supports, all of which support 4K 120Hz video input.
The C2 outperforms the A2 in terms of USB inputs, offering three different ports as opposed to the A2’s two. Both TVs support eARC, a requirement for connecting any kind of soundbar or surround sound system.
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Gaming
The C2 is another of LG’s top-tier gaming televisions, which the company has long produced. It’s excellent right out of the box thanks to its lightning-quick response time and minimal input lag, and thanks to HDMI 2.1, it can easily connect 4K at 120Hz with next-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Additionally, the C2 has a feature called VRR (variable refresh rate), which greatly improves gaming by dynamically adjusting the refresh rate while you play. Owners of the C2 will eventually benefit from seeing consistently smooth motion even as frame rates fluctuate while playing.
Similar to the C1, the C2 has ALLM support, which triggers the C2 to enter its “game optimizer” mode when it detects gameplay. ALLM performs admirably on current-generation consoles and will work to minimize motion processing and maintain low latency. There are many gaming options available with the C2 that you might not even find on more expensive televisions from the competition because it supports G-Sync and FreeSync.
All of this is not to say that the A2 is a bad gaming television; on the contrary, it’s much better than the C2. Most importantly, it is only capable of a 60Hz refresh rate and lacks VRR, which prevents it from fully utilizing the power of the most recent Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Overall, though, the excellent blacks and strong contrast combined with the incredibly low input lag make for a good gaming experience.
LG C2 vs A2: Which One is Better?
In the end, there is only one clear choice regarding which television is superior overall: the LG C2. The greatest mid-range television from LG is an obvious winner because to its excellent OLED Evo panel, improved audio support, extra inputs, better gaming features, and more size possibilities.
FAQs
Between the LG C2 and the LG A2, which is the better television?
The C2 is the better television for most people because of its added gaming features, enhanced OLED panel, and improved acoustics.
Do both televisions include LG’s excellent Magic Remote?
The LG Magic Remote is included with both models, allowing you to point and select your menu option or use voice commands to find your next binge-worthy show.
Will LG ever offer the A2 in more sizes?
Unfortunately, there is no way to answer this question. Given the dominance of the C2, LG will undoubtedly showcase it as a mainstay of their TV selection, leaving the A2 as the most affordable alternative.
