Should I buy the 42-inch LG C2 We test the smallest OLED 4K TV TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Should I buy the 42-inch LG C2 We test the smallest OLED 4K TV By Henry St Leger last updated 22 July 2022 A bite-sized OLED that delivers on almost every front (Image credit: LG) The 42-inch LG C2 is one of the most eye-grabbing 4K TVs to have been released this year. Not because it's the biggest, or flashiest, but precisely because it takes high-end technologies and condenses them into their smallest form yet, bringing features that the best 40-inch TVs have never seen before. The 42-inch LG C2 takes everything that shoppers loved about last year's LG C1, but brings it to a more compact and space-conscious size. There are a few compromises when you shrink down all that premium tech, but overall you're getting one of the best 4K TVs from a manufacturer that very much knows what it's doing. We have a full LG C2 review for its larger sizes, which praises its "vivid colors, a comprehensive smart TV platform, and a slick design that'll look great in any home" – with a new lightweight, durable design. Like all the best OLED TVs, you can expect deep blacks, excellent contrast, strong viewing angles, and a host of premium formats and gaming specifications too. But it's important to know that you don't get as bright a picture as some larger LG C2 sizes, and that's not the only difference we discovered. So if you want to know the full lowdown on the 42-inch LG C2 specifically, read on below. What does the 42-inch LG C2 cost Today's best LG OLED42C2 dealsReduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,399.99 (opens in new tab)$1,146.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,399.99 (opens in new tab)$1,146.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,399.99 (opens in new tab)$1,149.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices The 42-inch LG C2 may be the smallest C Series OLED to be released by LG this year, but that doesn't exactly make it cheap. The 42-inch model officially retails for $1,399 / £1,299 / AU$2,395, which is largely identical to the price of the larger 48-inch model ($1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,695), if substantially cheaper than the 55-inch. So it really does come down to what size will work best for your own home. Of course, TVs get discounted all the time – you can find the current lowest prices for the 42-inch LG C2 just above. Given how close the 42-inch and 48-inch models are for size, it's well worth getting a tape measure and sizing up your intended spot with the dimensions for both screens (932 x 540 x 41.1mm / 36.7 x 21.3 x 1.6 inches for the 42-inch, and 1071 x 618 x 46.9mm / 42.2 x 24.3 x 1.8 inches for the 48-inch, excluding any stands), in case you can actually take the larger one, and get more value for money. Generally a 42-inch screen is better placed in a bedroom or study, though it may fit perfectly in a narrow living room. 42-inch LG C2 design The LG C2 42-inch looks chunkier from the side than other OLED TVs, but that's just because it's not as all – normally, the thin screen extends upwards, but there's not enough screen here… (Image credit: LG) The 42-inch LG C2 is, by virtue of its size, one of the best looking OLED screens out there – on the outside at least. Whereas many 'slim' screens bulk out at the lower rear, with a tall and thin section of screen stretching above it, the 42-inch C2's compact size creates a very uniform shape – and it's small enough to be assembled or carried about by a single person quite easily. One thing we have to mention, though, is the feet. Whereas LG's range of OLED TVs generally use a signature central stand – partially designed to help funnel audio from downward-firing speakers towards the viewer – this compact 42-inch model does without. If you're not wall-mounting this screen – and you might want to, given how well smaller screens can blend into surrounding decor – you'll have to make do with two awkward-looking feet that screw into the screen's underside. We expect it was a cheaper solution than a center-placed stand, and a screen of this size doesn't need quite the same level of support as a larger 75-incher does. But this change does take away some of the glamor of LG's usual build quality. 42-inch LG C2 picture quality and OLED Evo The LG C2 features LG's OLED Evo screen, but has some limitations. (Image credit: LG) One of the biggest buzzwords around LG's top-end TVs is OLED Evo – officially, this refers to a new type of OLED panel combined with LG's latest-gen image processing. The main advantage of OLED Evo is supposed to be higher brightness than previous OLED screens. However, while all LG C2 sizes talk about OLED Evo, you only get the highest brightness at 55 inches and above. The smaller 42-inch and 48-inch sizes can't get the benefit of this, due to how tightly packed the screen's eight million pixels are, according to LG. You're still getting ample visibility and dynamism, but high-contrast highlights (candles in the dark, or white subtitles against a black background) may appear very slightly muted, compared to the bigger sizes. The size of the 42-inch LG C2 puts more emphasis on cramming detail into a small screen, rather than letting the pixels breathe on a larger canvas, where the undulations of light and color could offer more impact. However, it's a very slight difference and is mostly only noticeable when they're placed side by side – the average watcher wouldn't pick up on the difference. It's worth noting, too, that 42 inches is pretty much the smallest a 4K TV can get away with if you're going to actually notice all those pixels. At a close enough distance, though, you will be able to appreciate the wonders of the LG C2 even at this size. You're getting LG's top-of-the-line image processing here, though, and it means that everything on the screen looks astoundingly sharp and clear, and motion is handled really well. 42-inch LG C2 audio One notable difference between the 42-inch C2 and larger models is the sound. You're getting by on just 20W output, rather than 40W, which feels limiting for such a premium display. It's still a 2.2 channel system, though, meaning the balance of high and low frequencies is on par with other C2 models, and in practice you may not notice the absence. Dolby Atmos is supported too – great for using it with a soundbar, but if you're using the built-in speakers, we recommend enabling LG's AI-based audio mode, rather than the Dolby Atmos mode. We've spoken at length on the middling audio of LG OLEDs before, and we ultimately recommend a dedicated soundbar to properly complete your home cinema setup if your budget allows. If not, just make sure you sidestep LG's AI-enhanced audio and picture settings at setup (Cinema mode is generally better on both counts) and focus on this TV's biggest strength: the display. 42-inch LG C2 gaming The LG C2 is the best small TV on the planet for games. (Image credit: LG) The 42-inch size really makes this C2 model ideal as a gaming monitor: enough to fit a lot of information in your eyeline, but large enough to feel very impactful at the same time, without having to be sat up close at a desk. And like all the other LG C2 models, it's a gaming powerhouse. With four HDMI 2.1 ports, all with 4K 120Hz, VRR and G-Sync/FreeSync support, plus ALLM for auto-switching to a great low-latency mode, you cannot currently do better for a small TV that doubles as a top-tier gaming display. Barely any of the best 40-inch TVs have any kind of HDMI 2.1 support, let alone total support on four inputs. And LG's Game Optimizer feature is also a winner, letting you quickly check settings and choose what features you want enabled. 42-inch LG C2 conclusion The 42-inch LG C2 brings almost everything that we love about LG OLEDs to a smaller size that's ideal for movie or gaming enthusiasts with more limited space. There are downsides compared to the bigger models: the lower brightness, the weaker sound, and the fact that it's weaker value for money when you look at size compared to price. For the latter reason, we'd encourage anyone who can fit one to upgrade to the 48-inch model. It's a small price difference, and is much more cinematic at that size – it's a good investment. But if what you need is a more compact TV with totally future-proofed features and the best image quality possible… this is it.Today's best LG OLED42C2 dealsReduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,399.99 (opens in new tab)$1,146.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,399.99 (opens in new tab)$1,146.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$1,399.99 (opens in new tab)$1,149.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Henry St LegerHenry is a freelance technology journalist. Before going freelance, he spent more than three years at TechRadar reporting on TVs, projectors and smart speakers as the website's Home Cinema Editor – and has been interviewed live on both BBC World News and Channel News Asia, discussing the future of transport and 4K resolution televisions respectively. As a graduate of English Literature and persistent theatre enthusiast, he'll usually be found forcing Shakespeare puns into his technology articles, which he thinks is what the Bard would have wanted. Bylines also include Edge, T3, and Little White Lies. TechRadar Newsletter Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. 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