Philips has announced its new range of OLED TVs, and one of the headline sets is the OLED810. Pitched as a mid-range offering, it's a direct rival to LG's all dominating C-series but it packs Ambilight tech for a more immersive (and spectacular) experience.
Wondering how it stacks up against the latest in LG's C-series, the C5? You've come to the right place. While we've yet to review Philips' model, we have thoroughly put its rival through its paces in our LG C5 review, and can also call our experience with each model's predecessors, plus a deep dive into the specs and features, to offer some early comparative analysis.
Both are set to go on sale later this year. Read on to find out which you should start saving for.
Philips OLED810 vs LG C5: price
Neither Philips nor LG has announced pricing yet, so we'll have to go on previous models' prices to get an idea of what to expect.
The 65-inch LG C4 launched at £2700 / $2699 / AU$4299, while the same-size Philips OLED809 cost £2099 (it's not sold in the US or Australia). The Philips is cheaper at other sizes too: the 55-incher is £1599, the largest 77-inch option goes for £3499, and both the 42- and 48-incher launched at £1399. You can see how much cheaper these prices are than the C4 in the table below.
Obviously these are last year's models, so the 2025 prices won't be exactly the same. And these have come down since launch, so if you can wait a while, you should find the C5 and OLED810 significantly discounted even a short time after launch. But we would expect the 2025 launch prices to be broadly in line with last year's.
Philips OLED810 vs LG C5: design
In terms of design, the LG C5 doesn't do much new. In fact, it looks almost identical to the C4, regardless of which angle you inspect it from. It's still a very slim TV, with the main electronics bulge making up a relatively small part of the rear.
The main new addition is a new Magic Remote, which is slimmer and longer than the previous version yet still retains most of the main buttons and the pointer functionality. Unfortunately, this new Magic Remote isn't coming to the UK, so Blighty-based C5 buyers will be stuck with the old version.
We haven't been up close with the OLED810 at the time of writing, but we do know it has an "ultra-thin, black metal bezel" along with a metal 'pill' swivel stand in a satin chrome finish. This should make accessing the sockets at the back of the TV pretty simple. The 77-inch model has metal 'soap bar' arch feet in satin chrome instead. Which is fair enough – we wouldn't fancy swivelling a TV of that size.
Philips OLED810 vs LG C5: features
By building on the C4's feature set with some notable improvements, we found the C5 to be a mid-ranger to be reckoned with – though we've held back our star rating until a final retail price is available.
It'll come as no surprise to hear that much of the C5's feature set is the same as its predecessor's. It again boasts a standard WOLED screen (although it is brighter than the C4's), with no heatsink or MLA technology (which LG has dropped altogether for 2025). The Brightness Booster feature is, however, lacking from the 42- and 48-inch models, and we don't have concrete figures of exactly how much brighter this model is compared to last year's.
It's equipped for 4K content at refresh rates of up to 144Hz, which will only be of use to hardcore gamers with a suitably hench PC. Those of a PS5 and Xbox Series X bent can use one of the four HDMI 2.1 ports to access 4K/120Hz gaming with VRR and ALLM. You can also play Xbox games without a console using Game Pass.
LG's Alpha 9 AI Processor Gen8 lets you switch profiles using voice recognition, with each user's personalised settings loading straight away. And an AI chatbot can help troubleshoot issues with your TV (because who keeps the manual, eh?).
As is standard for LG TVs, the C5 supports HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG, but not Samsung's HDR10+ format. Dolby Atmos is also supported via the HDMI eARC connection when paired with a capable soundbar or home cinema receiver.
The jewel in Philips' crown is Ambilight tech, which no other TV maker offers. The OLED810's three-sided Ambilight will match the colours on the screen, spilling light onto the wall behind and making the picture more immersive. It's a divisive technology, but one of which we are fans.
The OLED810 comes in all the same sizes as the C5 bar 83 inches – Philips' step-down OLED maxes out at 77 inches. Its new "higher output OLED_EX panel" promises a peak brightness of 1500 nits at the 55- to 77-inch models.
We can expect plenty of AI skills courtesy of the 9th Gen P5 AI processing. Adaptive Intelligence (which classifies content into different categories using AI) can now learn from additional data such as trained in-frame analyses, META data, source info, full frame analysis and environment sensing to optimise the final picture to match the content more seamlessly.
Colour reproduction is also optimised more accurately using the new AI Adaptive Gamut Enhancer feature. This extends colours to make them more vibrant but without affecting skin tones. It can also be set to different tastes, such as natural, balanced and vibrant.
The game bar has been updated and now has an auto-detection ability for the most popular titles. Gamers can tweak custom settings under their dedicated profile so they can be loaded automatically the next time you play. The game bar also has an enhanced colour helper mode to select colours from a wider palette for more accurate results.
Lastly, you can share phone photos to the big screen more easily using the new Moments App.
Philips OLED810 vs LG C5: picture
Our comprehensive testing of the LG C5 reveals exceptional picture quality that builds upon the strengths of its five-star predecessor. In Filmmaker Mode (now compatible with Dolby Vision HDR), the C5 delivers a balanced, accurate image that requires minimal adjustment to impress. For HDR10 content, enabling Dynamic Tone Mapping (which is off by default) is recommended to experience the full benefit of the C5's brightness improvements.
The C5's colour reproduction is a particular highlight, too, offering rich, punchy hues that remain natural and authentic. Low-light colour volume is especially impressive – dimly lit scenes maintain colour depth and variation where competing sets might struggle. Skin tones appear lively and realistic with a natural warmth that avoids the cooler, sometimes washed-out appearance seen on some competitors.
The LG C5 also demonstrates excellent image solidity and three-dimensionality, with subjects standing out against backgrounds with precise yet natural-looking edges. The brightness enhancements are most noticeable in HDR content with higher nit mastering, where the C5 pushes the boundaries of traditional OLED technology. While not matching the luminance capabilities of QD-OLED or MLA panels, it represents a significant advancement.
Motion handling is another area where the C5 excels, managing fast-moving objects with remarkable stability and without introducing judder or stutter. The set strikes an ideal balance between natural motion and effective processing.
In dark scenes, the C5 maintains excellent shadow detail while preserving colour integrity. Black suits, for instance, show clear differentiation between similar dark tones, even in shadowy environments. Upscaling performance is similarly impressive, with 1080p content rendered with commendable detail and texture.
As for the as-of-yet unreviewed Philips, its AI improvements sound very interesting, and if they can help the OLED810 improve on the OLED809, it should be a delight to the eyeballs.
The OLED809 prioritised wow over authenticity, but if you were willing to spend a bit of time tinkering with the settings, it also delivered a very natural picture. As we said in our review: "during bright scenes the levels of detail, colour accuracy and range the OLED809 offers match if not beat the best OLEDs we’ve tested at this price." Come on, OLED810, don't let us down.
Philips OLED810 vs LG C5: sound
LG's TVs generally don't sound great. Neither do most TVs, but given their stunning picture quality, the disparity seems even worse on LG's sets.
With that in mind, the LG C5 features a 2.2-channel 40W speaker system with downward-firing drivers – identical to its predecessor's audio configuration. In our testing, the C5's sound quality was determined to be adequate but unexceptional. Dialogue comes through with sufficient clarity for everyday viewing, and there's a modest attempt at creating atmospheric effects, though height elements struggle to project beyond the TV's upper edge.
The most notable weakness is bass response, with the set lacking low-end impact during scenes that should deliver substantial weight and presence. Increasing volume can help somewhat but risks introducing distortion. The AI Sound mode proved disappointing, too, introducing harshness that counteracts improvements seen in the C4 model. In fact, What HiFi? Editor in Chief Alastair Stevenson has penned his thoughts on why the LG C5 is a great example of why he wants OLED TV makers to ditch built-in speakers altogether.
In short, as with most of our TV recommendations, you'll want one of the best soundbars to do the C5's excellent picture justice.
The Philips OLED810 features an integrated 70W 2.1 sound system (though this is reduced to 50W for the 42-inch model). A digital crossover controls the distribution to the two-way left and right speakers, plus a dedicated triple-ring, rear-facing bass driver – all supported by four passive radiators. It's a similar arrangement to its predecessor, which we described as "a capable performer".
We look forward to experiencing the OLED810's audio for ourselves, to see how it fares against LG's offering.
Philips OLED810 vs LG C5: early verdict
Based on our thorough testing of the LG C5 and specs of the Philips OLED810, both models appear to offer compelling packages for mid-range OLED buyers. The LG C5 delivers a rich, engaging picture with excellent contrast, natural yet vibrant colours, and improved brightness over its predecessor. Its comprehensive gaming features and intuitive AI enhancements also further strengthen its appeal.
The Philips OLED810 counters with potentially higher peak brightness, the unique Ambilight experience, and historically more competitive pricing. Its enhanced AI processing and more powerful audio system could provide additional value, particularly for those who don't plan to add a separate sound system.
Final judgment awaits full pricing details of both models and testing of the Philips OLED810. For now, the LG C5 has demonstrated that conventional WOLED technology still has room for meaningful improvement, setting a high bar for its competitor to match or exceed.
We'll update this once we've tested both TVs. Stay tuned!
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