Deal
Up to 25% off select HP laptops
Get up to 25% off select HP laptops plus more deals. Strictly whilst stocks last. Limited stock available. Exclusions, T&CS apply
LG OLED C9 TV tried-and-tested review
The new LG OLED C9 is a TV with all the bells and whistles. And is somehow an improvement on the already fantastic C8 predecessor.
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
The 2019 LG C9 OLED cements itself as the last word in OLED TVs, building on the success of last year's C8 with all the right improvements. For the rather steep $6,399 price tag, you'd expect some seriously cool new features. I got the chance to test the OLED C9 65" television for an evening and can attest that it is a marked improvement, even over last year's excellent models. Plus it's got lots of new functions to be excited about.
Full disclosure: LG set up the C9 OLED in a hotel room for me to test overnight at their expense.
What's different?
If you stood the C9 side by side with its 2018 C8 predecessor, you wouldn't notice a huge difference in design. Which is not a bad thing – I own the C8 and the design is sleek, sophisticated and fits beautifully into any room. It's a piece of tech that adds to your space rather than taking away. All LG really did with the new C series is to reduce the depth of its stand, which is a welcome change for those who want to place their soundbar in front of their TV. It still sports an insanely thin design and can be wall mounted with the purchase of LG's bracket.
The real changes are inside the TV.
LG C9 new features
What's new and exciting
Loads of new features have been packed into this television. It supports HDMI 2.1, which offers faster throughput (and therefore better quality pictures) for external devices. It's got Apple's AirPlay 2 standard which allows for better streaming of content from your Apple devices, while also adding multi-room support. Last year's Dolby Atmos (for more immersive sound) and Dolby Vision (for deeper, richer blacks) are back, and work nicely with the new processor update in this year's LG OLED. More on that below.
It also includes both leaders in voice control built-in: Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. And it comes packed with the latest version of LG's truly excellent webOS software, which builds on the experience for the Australian market to make life a bit easier when surfing all that content.
LG's latest version of webOS includes features like enhanced shades in your menus so you can access an app (such as Stan) without actually opening it, and Gracenote support to give you a better understanding of what's what in your TV guide app. LG also wants its new TVs to act like the centre of your smart home thanks to both Alexa and Google Assistant integration.
But the real bells and whistles of this television come in the form of the new Alpha 9 Gen 2 processor. It's at the heart of the LG C9 and makes the smart TV smarter than ever. This new processor features what LG dubs AI Picture and AI Sound.
The AI Picture mode, despite having a buzzwordy name, enhances the viewing experience over the previous C8 OLEDs from last year. It compares the picture input to a machine learning algorithm designed to subtly tweak the image and thus optimises the viewing experience. It upscales lower resolution content better than its predecessor. If you're someone like me who lives on a diet of crime and action movies from the 90s, AI picture will become your best friend. The Mummy has never looked so good thanks to some upscaling magic.
Additionally, we tested three Ultra-HD movies during our time with the LG C9: Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse, Casino Royale and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The colours were rich and vivid while webbing through Spidey's interdimensional tale, the blacks were deep and rich during Jurassic World, and the old favourite of Casino Royale – which I've used as a benchmark to test this TV (because I've seen this movie on just about every screen known to man) – played smoothly and beautifully across the scenes. I want to note that I wasn't able to test free-to-air content with the C9 I had, as it wasn't connected to an antenna source.
AI Picture also learns about the environment you're watching in thanks to an ambient light sensor, which allows the TV to react to the conditions in the room and display an optimal image. AI Sound on the other hand improves the stereo mixing to trick you into thinking you're hearing 5.1 surround sound, rather than a virtual copy.
The new processor also allows for more frames per second in the image, making the experience look smoother, and intelligently improves the picture upscaling over the previous model, meaning that even standard definition content sings on this immense 4K panel.
LG also gave us one of its new soundbars to test. The soundbar (catchily named SL10YG/SL8YG) now comes with Google Assistant built-in, as well as a new design that teams with the AI Sound feature to upmix 2.1 channels of sound into a virtual surround experience. While we would have liked more time to test the sound, the audio experience was rich and full. AI Sound does a particularly fine job of keeping everything to a cohesive volume. So often with my Sonos soundbar I'm having to turn the dialogue scenes up and the louder action scenes down, but AI Sound did a great job levelling it all out.
What could be better
My only complaint – other than the slightly eye-watering price of $6,399 – is the trade-off you make between the saturation of the image and the smoothness of the image. If you love a colourful, saturated image, you're going to live in the Vivid preset picture setting. Unfortunately, even with the AI Picture mode on and the new Smooth Gradation feature turned on High, the panel still produced a jagged image. That's definitely enough for you to notice during fast-moving scenes. The image smoothness is still leaps and bounds ahead of the C8 – much to this C8 owner's chagrin – but it's still there. We encourage that if it's something that concerns you, opt for an at-home installation option where a specialist can tune the set to your room.
I can't speak to the simplicity or complexity of the set-up myself. The C9 that I played with came pre-installed and pre-set. But if it's anything like the C8, webOS makes it frightfully easy.
The verdict
LG's new OLED models come at a particularly interesting time. Never before has there been a choice between a consumer-ready 8K TV, available at the same time as a 4K counterpart. Within a matter of months, both LG and Samsung (with its QLED range) will have 8K TVs available for purchase. Admittedly, you'll be paying almost double the price* for a TV that doesn't have any content available in its native resolution as yet, but it's a comparison shop worth doing if you're a true high-roller.
(*I note that LG hasn't released the prices for its 8K TVs at the time of publication, but Samsung's 8K QLED model will run you in the neighbourhood of $9,999, compared to the $6,399 of the LG C9 65" I tested.)
LG OLED is still the last word in deep colour, inky rich blacks and eye-popping resolution on even its entry-level OLEDs. Nothing beats OLED for saturation and depth of blacks, so comparison shopping this one with a Samsung counterpart will be tough. Samsung's QLED models have developed in leaps and bounds alongside LG, but in the battle of the South Korean TV companies, LG still has the edge thanks to OLED.
The price for all this fancy tech is admittedly high – even by my standards, and I'm not someone who's afraid of shelling out more for good quality. It's worth pointing out that there's still nothing wrong with LG's C8 55" and 65" OLED TVs from 2018. You'll be able to pick those up for a comparative song over the next couple of months as retailers look to clear their inventory for the new C9 models.
What you miss out on with the older generation is the fantastic new processor with its AI smarts, a team of voice assistants from Alexa and Google and a few webOS bells and whistles, such as being able to access your apps from the ribbon without having to open them. LG did tell me that this software update won't be coming to the older models. I asked hoping that an update might be coming to my TV, but no such luck. If I want the new and improved features, I'll have to buy the new one.
More stories
Tech deals
Deal
34% off USB C docking station triple display
Discounts applied at checkout. Valid for a limited time only. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to $140 off Norton 360 Antivirus, Secure VPN and more
Valid for a limited time only. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 85% off EOFY sale
Enjoy up to 85% off tech, appliances, furniture, and more at Kogan. Hurry while it lasts. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 25% off top picks
Shop your favourites for less with up to 25% off selected products. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Deal
23% off Apple AirPods with Charging Case
Enjoy 23% off Apple AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case at Kogan. Limited offer only. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 90% off clearance sale
Take up to 90% off playstation, Xbox, Nintendo & PC games at OzGameShop. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 90% off selected games
Enjoy 90% off selected games on Green Man Gaming. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Code
echo dot (3rd Gen) + Fire TV stick lite for just $89
Enjoy Alexa in more places when you purchase an echo dot (3rd Gen) and all-new Fire TV stick lite for just $89. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 20% off Dell computers and Lenovo Chromebooks
Including Dell Inspiron, XPS, Lenovo IdeaPad and more from The Good Guys. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Deal
10% off LG 55" C1 4K UHD Self Lit OLED Smart TV
Experience truly spectacular picture quality and a host of design possibilities, with self-lit pixels at The Good Guys. T&Cs apply.
Deal
FREE 30 days of website builder
Enjoy FREE 30 days of Vistaprint's most popular website builder. T&Cs apply.
Deal
22% off Apple AirPods Pro
Enjoy 22% off Apple AirPods Pro with Wireless Charging Case at Kogan. Limited offer only. T&Cs apply.
Code
Up to $50 off site-wide
Get $10 off when you spend $60, $20 off when you spend $100 or $50 off when you spend $200 at Vistaprint. T&Cs apply.
Deal
25% off Apple AirPods Pro
Enjoy 25% off Apple AirPods Pro at Amazon. Limited offer only. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 65% off sale
Find amazing offers and deals on personalised gifts, including designer school labels, value kits, beer labels, weekly planners, T-shirts and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 80% off clearance
Enjoy up to 80% off clearance at ozgameshop.com. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Over 30% off everything: Outlet Store
Find thousands of discounted items including beauty, books, clothing, electronics and more at Amazon. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 70% off or more Kindle books
Enjoy up to 70% off or more on popular categories in Kindle books including Romance, Literary Fiction, Fantasy and more at Amazon. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 60% off: End of Season Sale
Enjoy up to 60% off sale items with new styles added from Lacoste, P.E Nation, Nine West, and more at THE ICONIC. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Code
exclusive
10% off new website plan
Enjoy 10% off the new website plan with the use of the code. Exclusions, T&Cs apply.
Deal
Try it for FREE
Try Google Workspace FREE for 14 days. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 70% off: Clearance sale
Save up to 70% on top-selling products from Huawei, Xiaomi, Netac and more at Cafago. T&Cs apply.
Code
50% off lifetime discount + 1 month FREE on all billing plans
Valid for both new and current TorGuard users. T&Cs apply.
Deal
81% off 2 year plan
Unblock content and stream from anywhere with 81% off at VyprVPN. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 74% off sale
Get up to 74% off earphones, cameras, mobiles and more at Geekbuying. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 20% off sale
Save up to 20% on a range of products including SmartFold, SmartFrame projection screens and more. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 50% off bikes, clothing, components and more
Save up to 50% on selected items from 2XU, Assos, Shimano and more at Ribble Cycles. While stocks last. T&Cs apply.
Deal
US$9 off your first 6 books + US$1.50 off each additional book
Save big on comics, graphic novels, business, fiction, romance and more at Better World Books. Includes thousands of new titles. T&Cs apply.
Deal
50% off Hitman 3
Take 50% off Hitman 3. T&Cs apply
Deal
50% off back to school promotion
Get 50% off back to school promotion. T&Cs apply
Deal
Get $100 off New Moto g100
Get $100 off New Moto g100. T&Cs apply
Deal
81% off Castlevania Anniversary collection
Get 81% off Castlevania Anniversary collection. T&Cs apply
Code
20% off Dell store-wide
Save 20% on laptop, desktop, gaming and more from Dell at eBay. Limited time only. Maximum discount $1000. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Get FREE shipping
Deal
Up to 50% off select Garmin smartwatches
Hurry, valid for a limited time only at Amazon. T&Cs apply.
Deal
27% off Garmin Lily stylish fitness smartwatch
Get this at Amazon for less. Valid for a limited time only. T&Cs apply.
Deal
$30 off Moto G fast
Get $30 off Moto G fast. T&Cs apply
Deal
$20 off Moto G power
Take $20 off Moto G power. T&Cs apply
Deal
Up to 70% off PC games
Get up to 70% off PC games. T&Cs apply
More guides on Finder
-
HDMI 2.1 explained: TV and gaming with PS5 and Xbox Series X
Here's everything you need to know about HDMI 2.1
-
Best 55-inch TVs in Australia
These are the best 55-inch TVs you can buy right now in Australia.
-
Australia’s top Black Friday 2020 tech deals
Get up to $4,018 off selected Samsung TVs, up to 40% off selected Dell laptops and up to $150 off AirPods.
-
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite review
Amazon's Fire Stick Lite adds a range of streaming services to your TV for a very low price, including Apple TV, but it's a frustrating platform to use.
-
Best media players in Australia
Looking for a media player for your TV or pocket? We've discovered the best options on the market based on hundreds of customer reviews.
-
Best smart TVs in Australia
Choose the right TV to meet your streaming, free to air and picture quality needs with our round-up of the best smart TVs for any budget.
-
Best projectors in Australia
Here are the 7 best projectors you can buy right now for all your home theatre and gaming needs.
-
LG CordZero A9 Ultimate Handstick Vacuum review
The LG CordZero A9 Ultimate is a highly versatile stick vacuum that can tackle most surfaces. But it's slightly underpowered for the asking price.
-
PlayStation 5 Guide: Best games, accessories, specs, price, features and news
Sony's next-generation PlayStation console is coming to Australia; here are all the details.
-
Binge vs Netflix: Which streaming TV service is best for you?
Foxtel's new Binge streaming TV app goes head-to-head with Netflix in a crowded market. We compare the features, price, content and experience.
Ask an Expert
