TechTvsSony A90K vs LG C2: which small OLED TV is best?Sony’s A90K and LG’s C2 OLED TVs share a lot of similar DNA, but in reality significant differences remainWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechTvsSony A90K vs LG C2: which small OLED TV is best?Sony’s A90K and LG’s C2 OLED TVs share a lot of similar DNA, but in reality significant differences remainWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Sony’s A90K and LG’s C2 OLED TVs share a lot of similar DNA, but in reality significant differences remain
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Sony’s OLED range has got rather complicated. In terms of big-screen new models, there’sSony’s A95K ‘Quantum Dot’ OLEDmodels (alsoknown as QD-OLED). TheA90J rangecontinues from 2021, meanwhile, representing the brand’s cheaper, non QD-OLED big-screen offering.
Higher brightness is also true of LG’s C2 range, which bring the high brightness panels first introduced on the brand’sflagship 2021 G1 seriesdown to the brand’s mid-range series for the first time (note: but it’s classic OLED, not QD-OLED).
So with the Sony A90K starting to arrive in shops and the LG C2 already widely available, join us as we delve deeper into the differences between these two small-screen OLED options to help you figure out which might suit you best.
Sony A90K vs LG C2: Price and models
The Sony A90K is available in two screen sizes: 42- and 48-inches. These sets are officially priced at £1,799 and £1,899 respectively in the UK.
The LG C2 series is available in no less than six different screen sizes: 42-, 48-, 55-, 65-, 77- and 83-inches. These models are available at the time of writing for £1,299, £1,399, £1,699, £2,499, £3,699 and £5,299. These prices can be slightly reduced if you sign up to become an LG ‘member’, but otherwise are consistent across all retailers.
You don’t need to be an accountant to figure out that the 42 and 48-inch LG C2s are significantly cheaper than the A90K options. So clearly we’ll be looking hard in this article for reasons why Sony might argue that its TVs are worth the extra.
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Below is a real-time pricing widget comparing the 48-inch models so you can see like-for-like sizes compared:
Today’s best LG OLED48C2 and Sony XR-48A90K dealsLG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all pricesSony XR-48A90K$1,298ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best LG OLED48C2 and Sony XR-48A90K dealsLG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all pricesSony XR-48A90K$1,298ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best LG OLED48C2 and Sony XR-48A90K dealsLG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all pricesSony XR-48A90K$1,298ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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LG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all pricesSony XR-48A90K$1,298ViewSee all prices
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Sony A90K vs LG C2: Picture Quality
(Image credit: LG)
(Image credit: LG)
The Sony A90K and LG C2 OLED series are both built around new high-brightness panels.
At the time of writing, though, there’s some confusion about this when it comes to LG’s 42- and 48-inch models. For starters, LG has admitted that due to supply issues many of its 42-inch C2 TVs currently aren’t using the latest higher-brightness panels. Full production of these in 42-inch size is expected to begin ‘after the second quarter’ in 2022.
LG also says, though, that it doesn’t promote its 42- and 48-inch C2 models as being able to deliver anywhere near as much of a brightness jump over theirC1 predecessorsas the bigger models due to their much higher pixel density.
This pixel density argument muddies the waters here, since while Sony clearly talks about the A90K sporting high-luminance panels, it doesn’t join LG in talking down the potential of these panels to make much difference due to supposed high-pixel density issues.
(Image credit: Sony)
(Image credit: Sony)
The processing driving the two panels is very different: the A90K gets Sony’s Cognitive XR processor, while the C2 gets LG’s latest Alpha 9 Gen 5 processor.
Sony has introduced refinements of its own to the Cognitive XR engine, though, and Sony’s Triluminos Pro is also on hand to enhance both the range and subtlety of its colour handling.
The A90K does, to be fair, support a couple of exclusive-to-Sony features when connected to aPS5, in the shape of automatic HDR Tone Mapping, where the console detects which Sony TV it is attached to and automatically selects the best HDR settings, and an Auto Genre picture adjustment mode. But LG adds, finally, a handy Gaming Optimiser interface that provides gamers with a mixture of game-related picture information and adjustments in a simple, easy-to-navigate special menu – including picture presets that do a great job of adjusting playback to suit different types of games.
Sony A90K vs LG C2: Sound quality
There’s clear water between the A90K and C2 when it comes to audio, chiefly because of major differences in the way the two ranges actually produce their sound.
The LG C2’s sound also manages to keep escalating nicely during action scenes compared with the C1’s earlier equivalent, which tended to start fading when the going got particularly tough.
Despite the improvements, though, the C2’s sound still can’t compete with the A90K’s so-called Acoustic Surface Audio+ system. This cunningly sees a pair of sizeable actuators turning the screen itself into a forward-facing audio system, with a separate centrally-mounted subwoofer on hand to add more bass to proceedings.
Sony A90K vs LG C2: Design and Features
(Image credit: LG)
(Image credit: LG)
The A90K is a much more ‘statement’ product in design terms than the LG C2. The Sony’s ‘One Slate’ design presents a seriously premium-looking flush finish to the screen and bezel, backed up with a metal frame. The sleek, beautifully built desktop stand, meanwhile, can either support the screen sat right down on top of it, for a gorgeously minimalistic, elegant look, or lift the screen up a few centimetres to accommodate a small subwoofer or raise the screen to a more comfortable height for gaming setups.
While the whole of the C2 range features the same ultra-thin screen bezels, the stands used vary according to screen size. The 42-inch model gets two feet, the 48-inch sits on a wide silver pedestal, while the 55-to-77-inch models get a narrow pedestal stand, and the 83-inch goes back to a wider pedestal stand similar to the one provided with the 48-inch.
All the C2 designs look reasonably elegant and premium, but for us the Sony A90K has a clear aesthetic edge over its rival. Especially when the screen is set to its lowest mounting position.
(Image credit: Sony)
(Image credit: Sony)
The A90K offers YouView, while the LG C2 offers FreeView Play, both of which provide ways to access all the main UK terrestrial broadcaster catch-up apps.
Sony A90K vs LG C2: Verdict
Both of these TV ranges are excellent in different ways, and both offer specific features that will endear them to different buyers.
If you’re after a TV that can offer slightly better video processing and delivers audio impressive enough that you may not need to consider adding an external soundbar, the Sony A90K is the OLED TV for you.
The LG C2, however, offers superior support for cutting-edge gaming, and easily the best picture quality LG has ever delivered from its mid-range OLED range. Which is saying something, given that LG’s C series have long been renowned as impressive performers.
Today’s best LG OLED48C2 and Sony XR-48A90K dealsLG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all pricesSony XR-48A90K$1,298ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best LG OLED48C2 and Sony XR-48A90K dealsLG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all pricesSony XR-48A90K$1,298ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best LG OLED48C2 and Sony XR-48A90K dealsLG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all pricesSony XR-48A90K$1,298ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best LG OLED48C2 and Sony XR-48A90K deals
LG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all pricesSony XR-48A90K$1,298ViewSee all prices
LG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all prices
LG OLED48C2$1,499.99$914.95ViewSee all prices
LG OLED48C2
LG OLED48C2
$1,499.99$914.95View
$1,499.99$914.95
$914.95
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Sony XR-48A90K$1,298ViewSee all prices
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Sony XR-48A90K
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$1,298
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