Review: LG Ultra HD 4K TV – 65”

When you read the words “LG” and “TV” in the same sentence, OLED inevitably springs to mind. The exotic OLED technology has given us TVs with superb contrast and thin form factor at increasingly attractive prices. So it’s easy to forget that LG also offers a wide range of LCD screens! Among these we find the UM7510, which is a simple and inexpensive series available in 55” and 65”.

The LG screen has a tasteful design and is definitely among the most attractive TVs in the test, purely on appearance. It has a slim frame with a brushed steel look on the underside which raises the overall impression slightly. The back is curved and smooth but also reveals a substantially thicker TV than LG’s slender, sleek OLED screens.

Two small V-shaped feet keep the TV upright. They stand very widely apart, ensuring the TV requires some table space. On the other hand, you can easily fit a soundbar directly below.

The switches are facing backwards and no attempt has been made to conceal the cables.

User-friendliness and features

The UM7510 uses LG’s own operating system (WebOS). Included in the purchase is the familiar Magic Remote controller, which makes it easy to navigate through the various menu options. There’s also a built-in microphone that can be used for voice control via LG’s own ThinQ Smart system (currently in English only).

WebOS is characterised by a manageable menu bar that provides quick access to various types of content and streaming services. The range of apps is a bit flimsier than Samsung and Android manufacturers offer: The popular HBO app is new, while a popular service like Amazon Prime is notable by its absence. Otherwise, it’s worth mentioning that the LG UM7510 (unlike the OLED and Super UHD screens from LG) lacks support for the Dolby Vision HDR format.

Image Quality

The LG UM7510 is equipped with an IPS (In Plane Switching) 4K LCD panel, which typically stands out with its wider viewing angle but also slightly duller contrast and black levels than the VA type. The image is razor-sharp and detailed, with clearly convincing colour reproduction. The LG screen excels in preserving colours strongly and clearly when viewing the image from the side. The screen surface is relatively matte and therefore not appreciably troubled by reflections.

Its fine colour reproduction and sharpness make the LG screen great for regular daytime TV viewing. But as we dim the lighting and transition to “Cinema Mode”, some flaws appear. Because the LG UM7510 has quite limited maximum brightness nor is the black level particularly convincing. It has visible difficulty in rendering the darkest details, as well as the most intense colour nuances. As a result, overall contrast is somewhat tame and sets definite limits on how intense the HDR experience can be.

Sound quality

The LG screen doesn’t boast a particularly expensive audio system and must make do with ordinary downward-facing stereo speakers. Sound reproduction is relatively thin and muted and cannot play particularly loudly. The audio works fine for news and current affairs but for movies and binge-watching a series we would definitely invest in a soundbar. The LG UM7510 has plenty of room for the soundbar right underneath between the widely spaced feet.

Conclusion

The LG screen serves up consistently good image quality and stands out with wide viewing angles. This is a good all-round TV with quick and comfortable operation and earns extra points for low lag when gaming. However, it’s not the best screen for modern HDR video. UM7510, therefore, is slightly overshadowed by the competition in this test, not to mention by LG’s own OLED screens.