As LG has gone all in on OLED technology it comes as little surprise that it has a bevy of television options across different price points. As the primary maker of OLED panels, LG has the option of setting its own price points anywhere it wants for both budget and mid-range televisions.

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For the most part, the LG C2 is one of the best mid-range television options available today, and that’s especially true for gaming. Toward the budget end, the LG A2 is a great “entry-level” choice that also takes advantage of a lot of LG’s OLED strengths. 

Let’s dive into these two OLED TVs to see how they truly stack up.

LG A2 vs. LG C2: A Side-by-Side Comparison

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. There are four HDMI 2.1 inputs on the C2, which is important for higher refresh rates and providing up to 120 frames per second. The A2 has no HDMI 2.1 inputs. The OLED Evo panel on the C2 is LG’s most advanced OLED panel, whereas the A2 only utilizes standard OLED. The A2 uses the “older” Alpha 7 Gen 5 AI processor against the Gen 9 for the C2. They are both very good at upscaling non-4K content to fill the whole screen.

LG A2 vs. LG C2: What’s the Difference? 

Build

No matter whether a TV in the LG lineup is considered entry-level, mid-range, or premium, LG doesn’t make a television that indicates shoddy build quality.

The C2 is decidedly more premium with a slimmer bezel and, thanks to a composite carbon-fiber construction, it weighs significantly less than the A2 as well. However, the A2 might be considered entry-level for LG, it feels closer to many manufacturers’ higher-end models like TCL or Hisense. 

For 2022, LG has paired down the available sizes for the A2 to just 55 and 65-inch options. That’s a notable drop and cuts around two-thirds of the available screen sizes from 2021’s lineup. As far as the LG C2 is concerned, LG is all-in on providing customers with a multitude of screen sizes, ranging from 42 to 83 inches in size. 

With the A2, you can opt to pick up a “Gallery Stand” to make it feel more like a centerpiece of a home, all while hiding cables. On LG C2 models 48” and up, it comes equipped with the Gallery Pedestal so it can easily disappear in an entertainment center or you can opt for the Gallery Stand to place it in unusual spots in the house and still hide the cables. 

Panel & Screen

LG A2

One of the biggest differences between these two televisions is going to be the display. The good news is that even if the LG A2 is the most “budget” television in the LG lineup, it’s still utilizing an excellent OLED display. That still means it will have terrific black levels, outstanding color saturation, and great contrast.

You still get Dolby Vision and rich colors, thanks to the Alpha 7 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K that ensures the A2 will automatically adjust the picture for the best possible viewing experience. Dynamic tone mapping is also working hard on the A2 to provide lifelike colors in true detail and mirror how they would appear in the real world. 

Most important is that the A2 doesn’t make any sacrifices on the 4K front as this is very much a 4K television. Where it does cut a corner is with the 60Hz refresh rate. What this means is that for gaming, you won’t be able to play anything beyond 60 frames per second, nor will it be able to deliver as smooth of a sports or fast-paced action sequence as the LG C2.

It’s not by any means disappointing, but the C2 is, in a word, better.

LG C2

The LG C2 is home to the top spot on many “best of” lists for 2022 as one of the best OLED TVs, and for very good reason. The introduction of the OLED Evo panel in 2022 is noteworthy as it increases overall brightness over previous models and it’s just that good.

So good that LG claims it can achieve up to 20% more brightness than its standard OLED panel. The inclusion of the Alpha A9 Gen 5 processor also works overtime to deliver brighter colors that automatically adjust based on what you are watching. 

On top of everything else, the C2 punches well above its price point to deliver some of the deepest blacks around along with contrast that is truly crisp. Dynamic tone mapping pro takes HDR content on the C2 and improves the picture in a way that has wonderful detail. If you weren’t already seeing the benefits of the C2, dropping in Dolby Vision IQ helps seal the deal to help adjust programming to optimal levels based on the ambient lighting level in a room. 

Also separating it from the A2, the LG C2 also includes a 120Hz refresh rate that gives it a much bigger advantage for next-gen gaming plus sports and action movies. 

Sound

If the picture is the most important aspect of selecting a TV, sound might be the second most important. Thankfully, both the A2 and the C2 are especially good at this category, even as the C2 edges out its younger sibling. 

For its part, the LG A2 relies heavily on AI Sound Pro which, according to LG, “mixes 2-channel audio into virtual 5.1.2 channel sound,” which makes it especially immersive for its price point. It’s not good enough to ignore the need for a soundbar or a surround sound system, but it’s more than good enough for 98% of potential buyers. 

The C2 takes sound up a notch, literally. Powered by the same AI Sound Pro, the Alpha 9 Gen 5 AI processor kicks into gear and “mixes 2-channel audio into virtual 7.1.2 channel sound.” On top of that, the C2 also includes Dolby Atmos which enhances audio by creating a spatial sound that makes you feel like you are right in the center of any action taking place on the screen.

Once again, the LG C2 is an easy winner in this category. 

Smart TV

Perhaps the one place where both the A2 and the C2 are on equal ground is the smart TV operating system.

Running webOS 22, the A2 and the C2 are both able to utilize the upgrades over the previous webOS 6.0 software that includes enhanced profile personalization for every person in a home to help with content recommendation. Room-to-room home sharing is also a highlight for webOS 22 which makes it easy to mirror content between rooms as long as they are on the same WiFi network. 

There’s no real winner in this category except for buyers of either television because the feature set is pretty much on par. 

Inputs

When it comes to inputs, this is another decisive victory for the LG C2. Equipped with four HDMI 2.1 supports that all support 4K 120Hz video input, it’s clearly ahead of the LG A2, which only offers three HDMI inputs, none of which include support for the more premium 2.1 input.

The C2 also pulls ahead when it comes to available USB ports with three different ports available against the A2’s two inputs for USB. Both televisions offer support for eARC which is a must-have for hooking up any type of soundbar or surround sound system. 

Gaming

LG has long made some of the best gaming televisions on the market, and the C2 is no exception. Between its very fast response time and low input lag, it’s excellent right out of the box, and with HDMI 2.1, it can easily connect 4K at 120Hz with next-gen consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

The C2 also offers VRR (variable refresh rate) that significantly enhances gaming by dynamically adjusting its refresh rate while playing. What this means for C2 owners, in the long run, is that you will see continuously smooth motion even as frame rates rise and fall during gameplay. 

Likewise, on the C2, there is support for ALLM, which automatically switches the C2 over to its “game optimizer” mode when it detects gameplay. ALLM will work to reduce motion processing and keep latency low, and it works very well on the latest gen consoles. The C2 also includes support for G-Sync and FreeSync so there’s a host of gaming options you may not even find on more expensive televisions from the competition. 

None of this is to say the A2 is not a good gaming television — on the contrary — but it’s not as good as the C2. Most importantly, it lacks VRR and is limited only to a 60Hz refresh rate which means it will never take advantage of the full power of the latest Xbox and PlayStation consoles. However, its excellent blacks and strong contrast mixed with fantastically low input lag still make for a positive gaming experience overall. 

LG C2 vs. A2: Which One is Better?

At the end of the day, it’s an easy answer for which television is better overall, and that is the LG C2. Between its outstanding OLED Evo panel, heightened support for audio, additional inputs, extra gaming features, and wider options as far as size, it’s a pretty easy victory for LG’s best mid-range television. 

LG C2

LG A2

  • With LG’s 8 million self-lit OLED pixels, you’ll get a vivid viewing experience with infinite contrast, deep black, and over a billion colors that add depth and bring out the best in whatever you’re…Engineered especially for LG, the advanced α7 Gen5 AI Processor 4K algorithmically adapts and adjusts picture and sound quality for a lifelike viewing experience with depth and rich colorFind your favorite shows and movies fast with built-in access to Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV app, Disney+, HBO Max* and instant access to over 300+ free LG Channels** with everything from comedy to…Customize your viewing experience for you and your family with separate accounts and personalized recommendations. Quickly point, click, scroll or use your voice to find your favorite content faster…Mount it on the wall with a 300 x 200 VESA mount (sold separately). Magic Remote, remote control batteries (AA), power cable, and quick start guide are included. TV stand sold separately

  • Experience amazing, beautiful picture quality with infinite contrast, deep black, and over a billion colors, now even brighter*, thanks to LG’s 8 million self-lit OLED pixelsEngineered exclusively for LG, the α9 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K adapts to the content you’re watching, automatically adjusting the TV’s settings for improved picture and sound qualityEliminate unnecessary processing with movies and preserve the action the way film directors intend with Filmmaker Mode, and enhance every moment of your viewing experience with Dolby Vision IQ and…LG Game Optimizer mode with NVIDIA G-SYNC, FreeSync Premium, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) improve your gaming experience with fluid on-screen motion. Game Optimizer manages your game settings all…Mount it on the wall with a 300 x 200 VESA mount (sold separately). Magic Remote with Magic Tap, remote control batteries (AA), power cable, wall mount, and quick start guide are included. TV stand…