For years now, those with modestly sized living rooms have lacked the space to comfortably accomodate the best TVs. It took until 2020 for the first 48in OLED TV to hit shops, and even these are too big for many living spaces. This year, however, 42in OLED TVs are finally available, including the LG OLED42C2. To cut a long story short, it’s the best 42in TV we’ve ever seen. Read our LG OLED42C2 Review.
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Unfortunately, you have to splash out for quality and £ is more than you’ll pay for a 42in TV that doesn’t have OLED. However, it’s still cheaper than rivals from Sony and Panasonic, which have been quick to follow LG’s lead but haven’t managed to bring their prices below £.
“Audio quality aside, this is the best 42in TV we’ve ever seen and is cheaper than rivals”
The picture quality is superb, though it’s not quite as bright as LG’s larger TVs, because the closer-packed pixels can’t be lit to the same extent in smaller screens. However, the contrast is fantastic on this screen, with an intoxicating mix of inky blacks and pure whites, and no loss of detail.
The ‘smart’ element of this TV is impressive, with LG’s webOS22 software packed with apps, including all the popular services you’re most likely to use: BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. Whichever streaming service you use, it’s available in full 4K resolution, with Dolby Vision and/or Dolby Atmos picture enhancement, wherever they’re available.
Sound quality is the only disappointment. Exceptions exist but, broadly speaking, the smaller the TV set, the weaker the audio is likely to be, particularly when it comes to volume and bass. Unfortunately, this model isn’t one of those exceptions – it doesn’t go terribly loud even with the volume pushed to the max, and there’s little in the way of punchy lower frequencies.
This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, however, as you can buy sound-enhancing equipment, such as the Hisense HS214 Soundbar.
SPECIFICATIONS
4K 3840×2160-pixel resolution • 42in OLED screen • Supports HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ • 20W speakers • 4x HDMI ports • 577x932x170mm (HxWxD) • 9.3kg • One-year warranty
VERDICT
It may not sound amazing, but this is otherwise the best 42in TV we’ve seen, with a superb OLED screen
10/10
ALTERNATIVE
Xiaomi F2
Sacrifice the OLED technology and you could get a slightly larger screen for a lot less money, and with Amazon Fire TV built in
