Of the TVs I’ve tested in 2025, LG’s OLED TV range has been among the strongest. The LG C5 continued the trend set by its predecessors as one of the most ‘complete’ TVs in terms of features, picture quality, and overall performance for the best price.
There’s also the flagship LG G5, which, despite facing strong competition from rivals in the Samsung S95F, Sony Bravia 8 II, and Panasonic Z95B, had a very strong showing in two showdowns. It came joint first in a four-way blind OLED showdown conducted with casual viewers and fared well in my own four-way OLED showdown, where I used my testing criteria.
Both the LG C5 and LG G5 are among the best TVs of 2025, especially in the OLED category. And with Black Friday on the horizon, they’re both primed for great deals. In fact, we’ve already seen the LG C5 hit a record-low price during Prime Day and even during some early Black Friday deals.
But, these aren’t the TVs from LG’s OLED lineup I’d recommend you keep an eye on during Black Friday. I’d be looking at the most budget option in the range: the LG B5, one of the best OLED TVs of 2025.
Features and OLED performance for less
You’d think you’d be missing out on a lot when you opt for a more budget OLED, but this is where the B5 truly shines. It carries a seriously impressive range of features and delivers picture quality that won’t disappoint.
During my testing with the LG B5, I was impressed with its picture quality. It delivered vibrant, punchy colors in animated movies such as Elemental and in real-world movies such as Wicked. Whatever colors it displayed looked authentic and striking despite its middling brightness levels. It also displayed excellent color depth throughout these movies, making colors pop on screen.
Of course, I expected strong contrast and rich blacks from an OLED like the B5, but again, it was effective for an OLED at this level. The Batman can be a real test for many TVs due to its low brightness, but the B5 managed to display it with real accuracy, striking a nice balance between light tones and dark tones in the opening investigation scene, while also showing refined shadow detail.
The LG B5 also excels as a gaming monitor, and it’s easily one of the best gaming TVs I’ve tested in this price range this year. It carries a full suite of features, including 4K 120Hz, VRR (with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync both supported) HGiG, ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. LG’s Game Optimizer is a useful tool where gaming settings can be adjusted, including a boost feature that drops input lag to an ultra-low 9.1ms.
But how did all these features translate into actual gaming performance? Incredibly well. Playing Battlefield V, the B5 expertly handled chaotic gunfights and fast-paced movement thanks to its low input lag. The B5’s OLED picture quality was also perfect for completing the gaming experience, delivering sharp, refined visuals with plenty of detail throughout.
While picture quality and gaming are the B5’s real strengths, it also has LG’s webOS smart TV platform, which I believe is the best on the market. While its AI features aren’t to my taste, they will be a useful tool for some users. Plus, its quick menus, layout, and overall responsiveness are second-to-none.
The best deal?
It’s not just its performance where the B5 nails it, but also its price. While the B5’s step-up sibling, the LG C5, will be the one to grab the headlines during Black Friday, the B5 will almost certainly get some discounts, making it an even better value.
At the time of writing this, several months on from the launch of LG’s OLED TV lineup, the LG B5 costs $999 / £999 / AU$2,495, while the LG C5 55-inch costs $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$3,295 on average. This means you’re already saving hundreds on the B5, and Black Friday is sure to yield some cheaper deals.
I even tested the LG B5 and LG C5 side by side, and while the C5 did come out on top, the B5 is an excellent TV in its own right, and I think it has the potential to drop to a seriously low price during Black Friday. I’m also expecting seriously low prices on the smaller 48-inch B5, which is perfect for gaming.
I’m not saying you should avoid the C5 if a good deal comes up, as it is one of 2025’s best TVs. But, if you want an OLED TV but want to save some money doing so, the B5 is my pick.
The best TVs for all budgets
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james.davidson@futurenet.com (James Davidson)
