The S90C offers brighter, more vibrant colors, while the C3 provides a more refined, cinematic picture.

Stepping into the world of high-end OLED TVs can feel overwhelming. You’re looking for that perfect, immersive experience for movie nights and gaming sessions, but the technical jargon is a maze. I found myself in this exact spot, staring at two of the best options on the market. The LG C3 vs Samsung S90c debate is a heavyweight championship bout, and both contenders are incredible. I’ve had both of these TVs in my living room, put them through their paces with everything from blockbuster films to fast-paced games, and I’m here to share what I found.

Is LG C3 Good? 

A resounding yes. The LG C3 is a masterclass in refinement. It doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, but it perfects a formula that has made LG’s C-series a fan favorite for years. It’s the kind of TV that just gets everything right, from its incredible picture processing to its user-friendly interface. It’s the dependable, high-quality choice for those who want a premium, cinematic experience without any fuss. For me, this was most evident during a late-night viewing of a dark, atmospheric sci-fi film. The C3’s ability to render perfect blacks meant that the spaceship interiors felt genuinely deep and vast, while the subtle details in the shadows were never lost.

My family also loved the Magic Remote. My kids, who usually struggle with complex remotes, found the point-and-click functionality intuitive and fun. It made navigating through streaming apps feel less like a chore and more like part of the entertainment. The C3 is simply a joy to live with every day, consistently delivering a stunning picture that makes everything you watch feel special. It solidifies its place as a top contender in the LG C3 vs Samsung S90c matchup by focusing on a polished, premium experience.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• OLED Evo Panel: Delivers perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and improved brightness over previous non-Evo models.
• α9 AI Processor Gen6: LG’s top-tier processor excels at upscaling content and optimizing the picture and sound in real-time.
• webOS 23 Smart TV: A clean, fast, and easy-to-navigate interface with customizable user profiles.
• Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos: Full support for the leading HDR and immersive audio formats, crucial for movie lovers.
• Ultimate Gaming Features: Equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and a 0.1ms response time for an elite gaming experience.

What I Like

• The picture processing is simply phenomenal; everything looks sharp and natural.
• The Magic Remote makes navigating menus feel intuitive and modern.
• Full support for Dolby Vision is a huge plus for streaming services like Netflix.
• Viewing angles are perfect, so every seat on the couch gets a great view.
• The Game Optimizer menu provides quick and easy access to all gaming-related settings.

What Could Be Better

• Peak brightness, while good, doesn’t quite match the punchiness of its QD-OLED rival.
• The central stand is functional but might not be wide enough for some soundbars to sit underneath.

My Recommendation

The LG C3 is the ideal choice for movie enthusiasts and all-around users who prioritize picture accuracy and a smooth, user-friendly experience. Its support for Dolby Vision makes it a cinephile’s dream, and it’s one of the best gaming TVs you can buy.

Is Samsung S90c Good?

Absolutely. The Samsung S90C is a stunner, bringing the raw power of QD-OLED technology to a more accessible price point. It’s for the viewer who craves vibrant, dazzling color and eye-popping brightness. This TV doesn’t just show you an image; it assaults your senses in the best way possible. If the C3 is a refined cinematic tool, the S90C is a visual powerhouse designed to impress. I’ll never forget the first time I put on a 4K nature documentary. The sheer intensity of the colors—the blues of the ocean and the greens of the rainforest—was unlike anything I had seen on a TV before.

This TV truly shines in a brighter room. My living room gets a lot of afternoon sun, a traditional weakness for OLEDs, but the S90C’s high peak brightness cut through the glare effortlessly. Gaming on it was also a revelation. The colors in fantasy RPGs felt more alive, and the added brightness made details in competitive shooters easier to spot. The LG C3 vs Samsung S90c battle gets intense here, as the S90C makes a compelling case with its raw, vibrant power.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• QD-OLED Panel: Combines the perfect blacks of OLED with Quantum Dots for significantly higher brightness and a wider color gamut.
• Neural Quantum Processor 4K: Samsung’s powerful AI-based processor does a fantastic job of upscaling and enhancing picture quality.
• Tizen OS with Gaming Hub: A comprehensive smart platform that centralizes streaming apps and cloud gaming services.
• Quantum HDR OLED: Delivers incredibly bright and vibrant HDR highlights.
• Ultra-Thin LaserSlim Design: An exceptionally thin and sleek profile that looks stunning mounted on a wall.

What I Like

• The brightness and color volume are simply breathtaking.
• It performs exceptionally well in moderately-lit to bright rooms.
• The Gaming Hub is a fantastic feature for cloud gaming subscribers.
• The design is incredibly thin and modern.
• Fast response times and low input lag make for a buttery-smooth gaming experience.

What Could Be Better

• The lack of Dolby Vision support is a notable omission for fans of certain streaming services.
• The Tizen smart interface can feel a bit cluttered with ads compared to LG’s webOS.
• Out-of-the-box color accuracy isn’t quite as precise as the LG C3.

My Recommendation

The Samsung S90C is perfect for viewers who want the brightest, most colorful picture possible, especially in rooms that aren’t completely dark. It’s also an exceptional choice for gamers who will benefit from its raw performance and integrated Gaming Hub.

LG C3 vs Samsung S90c: Side-by-Side Test

Putting these two titans head-to-head was a fascinating experience. While both offer a spectacular OLED picture, my hands-on testing revealed key differences that will sway your decision in the LG C3 vs Samsung S90c showdown.

Picture Quality: Brightness and Color Smackdown

This is the core of the LG C3 vs Samsung S90c debate. I tested both with the same vibrant 4K HDR content, and the differences were immediately apparent.

Rating: LG C3 – 9/10 | Samsung S90C – 9.5/10

Summary: The Samsung S90C takes the win here with its QD-OLED panel, which delivers a noticeably brighter picture and more saturated, vibrant colors. The C3 is more refined and accurate, but the S90C has more “wow” factor.

Gaming Performance: Which is the Console King?

As a passionate gamer, this was a critical test. I hooked up my console and spent hours playing fast-paced shooters and graphically rich RPGs on both TVs.

Rating: LG C3 – 9.5/10 | Samsung S90C – 9.5/10

Summary: This is a dead heat. Both TVs are gaming perfection, offering identical core features. The choice comes down to the S90C’s more robust cloud gaming integration versus the C3’s official G-Sync compatibility.

Smart Platform: Navigating Your Content

A TV’s operating system is your daily driver. I evaluated the speed, layout, and remote control of both platforms to see which was more enjoyable to use.

Rating: LG C3 – 9/10 | Samsung S90C – 8.5/10

Summary: The LG C3 gets the edge thanks to its cleaner webOS interface and the brilliant Magic Remote. Samsung’s Tizen is fast but can feel more cluttered, pushing ads and suggested content more aggressively.

Sound Quality: Built-in Audio Experience

While a soundbar is always recommended, I tested the built-in speakers to see which TV provides a better out-of-the-box audio experience for casual viewing.

Rating: LG C3 – 8/10 | Samsung S90C – 8.5/10

Summary: The Samsung S90C has a slight advantage. Its Object Tracking Sound Lite feature does a better job of making sound feel like it’s coming from the action on screen, creating a more immersive experience.

Design and Build: Which Looks Better in Your Room?

A premium TV is also a piece of furniture. I looked at the aesthetics, build quality, and practicality of each design.

Rating: LG C3 – 8.5/10 | Samsung S90C – 9/10

Summary: While both are beautiful TVs, the Samsung S90C’s uniformly thin “LaserSlim” design gives it a more striking and futuristic look, especially when viewed from the side or mounted on a wall.

Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

After extensive testing, the final decision in the LG C3 vs Samsung S90c debate comes down to your viewing environment and personal preference. Neither TV is objectively “better”; they simply excel in different areas. Both are at the pinnacle of what modern televisions can achieve.

If you are a movie lover who often watches in a darkened room and values picture fidelity and support for Dolby Vision above all else, the LG C3 is your TV. Its world-class image processing and incredibly intuitive smart platform make it a polished, premium, and reliable choice. It delivers a picture that is accurate and true to the creator’s vision.

On the other hand, if your TV lives in a brighter room and you crave the most vibrant, punchy, and dazzling colors possible, the Samsung S90C is the one for you. Its QD-OLED technology gives it a clear advantage in brightness that helps it combat glare and makes HDR content pop in a way the C3 can’t quite match.

FAQs Of LG C3 vs Samsung S90c

What is the biggest difference between the LG C3 and Samsung S90c?

The primary difference is the panel technology. The LG C3 uses a WOLED (White OLED) panel, which is known for its perfect blacks and refined picture. The Samsung S90c uses a QD-OLED panel, which adds a Quantum Dot color filter to produce significantly higher peak brightness and a wider range of colors.

Does the Samsung S90c’s lack of Dolby Vision matter?

It depends on your viewing habits. Dolby Vision is a popular HDR format used by services like Netflix and Disney+. The LG C3 supports it, offering a dynamic, scene-by-scene optimized picture. The S90C supports HDR10+, a similar format. While the S90C’s HDR is still stunning, if you’re a cinephile who wants the best possible experience from those specific apps, the C3’s Dolby Vision support is a clear advantage.

Which TV is better for gaming, the LG C3 or Samsung S90c?

Both are phenomenal and arguably the two best gaming TVs on the market. They share nearly identical features: four HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K@120Hz support, VRR, and incredibly low input lag. You can’t go wrong with either. The choice truly comes down to whether you prefer the C3’s more balanced picture or the S90C’s brighter, more saturated image for your games.

Is the LG C3 bright enough for a well-lit room?

For most living rooms with some ambient light, the LG C3 is perfectly bright. Its OLED Evo panel is a significant improvement over older OLEDs. However, if your room has large windows with direct sunlight, the Samsung S90C’s superior peak brightness will do a noticeably better job of overcoming glare and maintaining a punchy image.

Everett Ashford