Sony vs LG OLED: BRAVIA 8 II against the LG C5

LG has been the reference OLED brand for a decade. Sony is the choice of many film fans for its processing. In 2025–26 their mid-range OLEDs use different panels, so the comparison is more than badge against badge.

Side by side

Where each one wins

Sony: QD-OLED color brightness for vivid HDR, film-focused processing, and NEXTGEN TV over an antenna. Best in a dim room. See QD-OLED vs OLED for the panel trade-off in a lit room.

LG: inputs for every console and PC, 144 Hz VRR, G-Sync and FreeSync on the sheet, and the bigger 77- and 83-inch sizes. Best for gamers and larger rooms.

Picture: panel and processing

Panel. The biggest difference is the panel underneath. LG’s WOLED adds a white sub-pixel for brightness and keeps a polarizer, which absorbs room light, so blacks stay inky with lamps on. Sony’s QD-OLED converts blue light with quantum dots and has no white sub-pixel, so bright reds, greens and yellows stay saturated at high brightness. Without a polarizer, though, its blacks can look dark gray under room light. In a dark room, both are superb. The full trade-off is in QD-OLED vs OLED.

Processing. Sony’s reputation rests on its processor: how it upscales HD and streaming sources, handles gradients without banding, and renders motion. LG’s processing is also strong. These are things only side-by-side lab testing can rank, so check current reviews for the exact models. Both offer a Filmmaker Mode or equivalent that turns off processing for the creator’s intended picture.

Gaming

For one PS5, the Sony’s extras are a nice touch. For a PS5, an Xbox and a soundbar, or a gaming PC, LG’s four fast inputs and 144 Hz are the stronger setup: with the Sony, the soundbar’s eARC port uses one of only two fast inputs. See HDMI 2.1 TVs.

Antenna, sound and smart TV

• Antenna: Sony’s ATSC 3.0 tuner receives NEXTGEN TV broadcasts (4K and HDR in some markets); LG’s C5 is ATSC 1.0 only. See ATSC 3.0 TVs.
• Sound: both pair with their own soundbars to use the TV’s speakers alongside the bar (Sony Acoustic Center Sync, LG WOW Orchestra). See the soundbar guide for LG TVs.
• Smart TV: Sony uses Google TV (Chromecast built in); LG uses webOS (AirPlay, Magic Remote). See smart TV platforms.

Sizes and fit

LG offers the C5 in more sizes, including 77 and 83 inches, sizes the BRAVIA 8 II isn’t offered in. At 65 inches, the two are within an inch of each other in width:

Our take

If your TV is mainly for films and series and you have one fast device, the BRAVIA 8 II. If you game on several devices, want 77 inches or more, or watch with the lights on, the C5.