The LG C5 42-inch OLED just hit its lowest-ever price of £727 at AO.com, and the path to that deal is deliberately hidden. What Hi-Fi’s 2025 Award winner for best 42-inch TV now costs nearly £400 less than its original £1,400 sticker, but it requires an upfront membership commitment most shoppers don’t know about.
Key Takeaways
- LG C5 42-inch OLED reaches £727 at AO.com—the lowest price ever recorded for this model.
- AO.com membership (£40) is required; TV costs £687 with free delivery included.
- Alternative UK prices: £740 at Hughes, £759 at Amazon and Richer Sounds.
- Award-winning picture quality and gaming specs rival the previous C4 with a balanced, bright display.
- Membership cost bundled into the final price makes the effective saving nearly £400 from launch MSRP.
How to Get the LG C5 42-inch OLED at £727
The deal requires two steps: first, sign up for AO.com membership at £40. Then purchase the TV for £687 and receive free delivery. The membership covers the full cost difference, bringing the effective price to £727 total. This is not a promotional code or temporary discount—it is a permanent pricing structure at AO.com for this model. Other UK retailers price the same TV higher: Hughes at £740, Amazon at £759, and Richer Sounds at £759.
The membership requirement explains why this price appears so aggressively low compared to competitors. AO.com uses membership as a bundling mechanism rather than a traditional discount code. If you already hold an AO.com membership, the TV itself costs just £687, making the actual product price even sharper. For new members, factor the £40 membership fee into your decision—it is a one-time cost but not instantly recoverable if you do not plan to shop at AO.com again.
LG C5 42-inch OLED vs. the C4 and Competing Sizes
The LG C5 42-inch OLED is not a revolutionary upgrade over its C4 predecessor. What Hi-Fi notes the improvement is modest—you gain balanced picture quality, excellent smart features, and flawless gaming specs, but the core display technology carries forward from the previous generation. Where the C5 distinguishes itself is in its bright picture output and five-star app support, making it a strong all-rounder rather than a niche gaming or streaming TV.
Size matters for OLED buyers. The 42-inch C5 appeals to desk setups, bedrooms, and smaller living rooms where a 55-inch feels excessive. If you need more screen real estate, the 48-inch C5 reaches £849 at Richer Sounds using the code ‘LG15PERCENT’ (15% off, originally £1,399), while the 55-inch can drop roughly £150 with Amazon secret vouchers. These larger variants occupy different price brackets and use cases—the 42-inch remains the entry point to the C5 OLED family.
Why the Timing Matters for This Deal
Post-Black Friday and Cyber Monday, premium OLED TVs rarely return to their lowest prices until the next major sales event. The £727 price for the LG C5 42-inch OLED captures a window where inventory is clearing and retailers are competing aggressively. LG’s newer C6 model will eventually displace the C5 in retail priority, making this one of the last opportunities to grab an Award-winning 2025 model at this discount level.
The US market saw similar timing dynamics. The 42-inch C5 dropped to $799 on Amazon during Cyber Monday—its lowest-ever US price—versus $1,099.99 at Best Buy. That $300 gap mirrors the UK pricing spread, suggesting AO.com’s £727 is genuinely competitive globally. Discounts like these are often hidden until you add the product to your cart, so many shoppers miss them entirely.
Should You Buy the LG C5 42-inch OLED Now?
If you want a compact OLED TV with award-winning picture quality and zero gaming compromises, the LG C5 42-inch at £727 is the entry point. The membership requirement is a minor friction point—you pay £40 upfront, but you own it immediately and can use the membership for future purchases. Compared to the C4, the upgrade is incremental; if you already own a C4, waiting for the C6 to mature in pricing makes more sense. For new OLED buyers in the 42-inch space, this is the lowest-ever price for a proven, award-winning model.
Is the LG C5 42-inch OLED worth the upgrade from older TVs?
Yes, if your current TV is more than five years old. The C5’s bright OLED picture, smart TV features, and gaming specs represent a generational leap from standard LED or older OLED models. The five-star ratings for picture quality and app support are not marketing—they reflect real usability gains for streaming, gaming, and everyday viewing.
Can you use the LG C5 42-inch OLED for PC gaming?
Absolutely. The LG C5 42-inch OLED has flawless gaming specs, including low input lag, fast response times, and HDMI 2.1 support. It works equally well as a desk monitor for competitive gaming or a living room display for console play.
Are there other UK retailers offering the LG C5 42-inch OLED at lower prices?
No. AO.com’s £727 price (including membership) is the lowest-ever recorded price for the LG C5 42-inch OLED in the UK. Hughes at £740 and Amazon/Richer Sounds at £759 are the next closest options without membership requirements.
The LG C5 42-inch OLED at £727 is a genuine low-water mark for a recent Award winner, but the membership gate means you must commit to AO.com’s ecosystem to claim it. For shoppers who value simplicity, Hughes or Amazon at £759 may feel more straightforward—you lose £32 but skip the membership friction. Either way, this TV is not getting cheaper anytime soon.
Where to Buy
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: What Hi-Fi?
