LG just announced the smallest OLED TV yet — and it's a big deal

LG just announced the smallest OLED Tv all the same — and information technology's a big deal

(Image credit: Hereafter)

Update: Future LG OLED TVs could be transparent .

Among the company's many exciting Television receiver-related CES 2022 announcements, the reveal of a 42-inch OLED Idiot box is perhaps the most compelling. The popular C series volition see the smallest-ever TV sporting an OLED panel, though you could besides look at information technology equally a large, high-stop monitor.

In fact, that'south what makes the 42-inch LG C2 OLED Idiot box — first teased during last year's CES merely pushed back for unknown reasons — the model many accept been waiting for. The set will get most of premium features found in larger models of the gear up, including HDMI two.i ports, 120 Hz refresh rate and LG's latest Alpha 9 Gen 5 Processor 4K.

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The LG C1 OLED TV is currently the best gaming Television set you lot can buy, only its smallest configuration is 48-inches. While that'southward puny by OLED standards, information technology's a considerable option amidst the greater TV market.

With the exception of the ridiculous Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor, most of the best gaming monitors are under thirty inches. LG'south new OLED size bridges the gap of Tv set and gaming monitor, delivering a screen that's only equally suited for watching movies every bit it is partnering with your game panel.

Certain, you could utilize 1 of the best OLED TVs clocking in at 65-inches or even larger; but the bigger the screen, the bigger the cost tag. Even the 48-inch C1 OLED TV costs $i,200. If LG sticks to its existing toll structure for the C2 OLED lineup, we should see the 42-inch model land $100-$200 less. Dare I suggest the set will cost less than $1,000?

That'due south just speculation, as LG hasn't appear the official price or release engagement for the 42-inch C2 OLED Idiot box. What we practise know is that it'll continue the celebrated gaming features in the best LG TVs, while earning this twelvemonth'due south new tricks. The Game Optimizer card improves in 2022 with a Night Room Mode to help with eye wellness during long hours of gaming in lowlight weather condition. A sport gaming preset will join the FPS, RPG and other Game Optimizer presets, too.

And LG continues to back up Nvidia G-Sync, the Nvidia GeForce Now beta, AMD FreeSync and variable refresh rate (VRR.)

We mentioned the 42-inch LG C2 OLED TV will get well-nigh of premium features coming to larger C2 configurations, but not all. The 42-inch and 48-inch sizes volition miss out on the OLED evo panel arriving in the remainder of the C2 series. We first tested OLED evo on the LG G1 OLED TV, and while we didn't see a major difference, the engineering is existence tweaked this year.

Still, the smallest OLED Goggle box e'er finally materializing is large news, especially since it's included in the best TV line of the last three years. If anything, it could be one reason the C2 OLED is a true improvement over the C1 OLED.

While LG might go pocket-sized on OLED screens, Samsung is looing at shaking information technology up with its new QD-OLED displays.

Kate Kozuch is a senior writer at Tom'south Guide covering wearables, TVs and everything smart-home related. When she's not in cyborg mode, you can find her on an exercise bike or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army volition dominion the world one twenty-four hour period, just until then, attain her at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com.