Before LG set about re-imagining and rebranding its smartphones, the mouthful that is the LG V60 ThinQ 5G, with a “UW” appended in some cases, landed in the US before all hell broke loose around the world. To some extent, it is the last of its kind, closing a chapter in LG’s history. It sadly wasn’t that celebrated, thanks to numerous reasons, but now owners of the last “V” phone have another reason to celebrate as it is the first LG phone in the US to get the much-awaited Android 11 update.
To be clear, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G is first only in the US. The overall title of first to Android 11 belongs to the LG Velvet but that update was confined to South Korea only. The company became largely silent after that, however, so it’s definitely a pleasant surprise to hear more action on that front.
In the US, the V60 ThinQ 5G was made available from carriers, especially from Verizon where it took advantage of its Ultra-Wide Band mmWave 5G, hence the “UW” in its name. The Android 11 update has so far been spotted for T-Mobile and Verizon, though AT&T probably won’t be that far behind.
T-Mobile is pretty slim on the details other than the fact that it also includes the February 2021 security patches. Verizon has more to share, listing a few of the key changes brought by Android 11 itself, like official chat bubbles support and a redesigned Quick Settings panel. Unfortunately, it also only has the January 2021 patches.
In addition to its historical significance, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G could be considered to be the last “high-end” LG flagship, as far as specs are concerned, that is. Most of its traits, however, have been carried over to the LG Velvet, like the Dual Screen accessory, while the LG Wing and upcoming LG Rollable take LG’s smartphones in a different direction.
LG OLED TV owners have consistently proved themselves to be the AV world’s most discerning and demanding AV fans, while LG for its part has consistently proved itself capable of being the most reactive (in terms of addressing complaints) TV brand in town. This symbiotic relationship has now struck again, with owners of the latest X series of LG OLED TVs spotting another niggle with their mostly beloved TVs’ pictures that has LG has again quickly promised to get sorted.
The issue I’m talking about is one I haven’t covered before in any of my previous coverage of LG’s OLED sets (though it’s speculated that it’s connected with an old 8-series chrominance overshoot problem), and concerns a phenomenon that’s come to be described by those affected by it as Luminance Overshoot.
What happens is that parts of very dark images containing subtle shadow detailing can seem to ‘pulse’ at times, as the TV seems unable to settle on a stable brightness level for such near-black image content. Since such issues are always easier to simply show than describe, here are a few good video examples of the phenomenon occurring in a post by AVSforum user That Guy Logan.
Owners of 2020 LG OLED TVs such as the OLED48CX picture here have been reporting a so-called ... [+]luminance overshoot issue with their TVs.
Photo: LG
As ever with issues like this - especially when they’re relatively subtle, and so aren’t instantly picked up on by every LG X series OLED user - trying to pin down how widespread the overshoot problem is, in terms both of the range of screens and types of content affects, isn’t easy. The combined efforts of various forum members, though, suggest that it affects most if not all X Series OLEDs, but that the aggressiveness of the problem possibly varies from panel to panel.
It can also occur no matter what picture mode or input you’re using, and cannot easily be calibrated away without completely messing the picture up. For instance, some sufferers report that they have to turn their OLED TV’s brightness setting to more than 60 before the overshoot issue disappears - at which point the pictures will look completely off in terms of both black levels and color.
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Perhaps surprisingly the luminance overshoot seems equally as likely to occur with SDR content as HDR, and is seemingly particularly problematic with gaming sources. The problem pre-existed (and hasn’t been fixed by) recent update 03.21.16, and seems to be triggered whenever a white subpixel ignites above RGB 10 10 10 levels of luminance.
I forwarded descriptions and videos of the problem to LG at the start of February, and having looked into the issue, LG has now come back with the following short but informative response: "We are aiming to have an update to improve the situation for 2020 TVs within a few months”.
Some may be disappointed to see LG using the word ‘improve’ in its statement rather than, say, ’solve’ - and by the fact that unlike some recent LG fixes, this one appears likely to take a fairly long time to achieve. But surely it’s better to hear that LG thinks it can do something about the problem, even if takes a while, than for complaints about the problem to simply fall on deaf ears?
Naturally I’ll provide another update on my Forbes channel when I hear that the update is ready to roll out.
Dear LG make 2 lg v70.
One, v70+ with all the bells & winces. Like SD888 having 3 great camera. One of those will be periscope lense & 140/90 hz UHD display 6000mh batteries. With a 800/ 850$ price tag.
&
And another on V70 with SD-870, 2 big sensos & optimize prosessing. 60hrz,1080 OLD, 5000mah, priced around 550$
- & retaing the quad dec audio + manual video
- make a lighter UI kind of like oxygen os but not a copy. Make unique beautiful Lg like UI 💙. ** so it can be easily to updated for 3/4 year.
- creating a good marketing strategy & listen to the tech reviewers & consumer.this will change the entire LG Mobile divisions Business.
Lg is an great company for it innovation & hardware quality. But now we are leaving in an era where software dominates a lot.
Looking forward to see the LG's marching come back ❤️❤️
37421218
Anonymous, 27 Feb 2021bootleg S10 but yeah looks better with rounded ends more ironic considering both companies ar... moreIt was the V40 that started the horizontal camera design in the first place, followed by both the Galaxy S10 and the V50 5G that was launched at the same duration.
37421218
Note7 owner, 5 hours agoMy T-mobile V60 has Android 11 update. Are there people who wait for new Android versions for ... moreMaybe. Just look at Google - any Pixel owners out there will get the latest OS version update right after the day it was officially launched.
N1443407
My T-mobile V60 has Android 11 update. Are there people who wait for new Android versions for bragging rights?
M342
When will the v40 get 11?
?
Anonymous
sUS
Wake Up LG Mobile, 19 hours agoI forgave LG after my G4 Bootloop and bought the global V20 ( only had 1 update to Android 8.0... moreXiaomi and others make up for timely support by being the data siphon of China.
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Anonymous
nYE
I like LG a lot, they make fine phones.
But the software support... I refrain myself from commenting on that, but "bad" would be very kind way to call it.
Sometimes it feels like LG hired 1 person to do all these android updates for all their phones worldwide...
A
Amro
Nqv
When will LG V50 get android 11?
W
Wake Up LG Mobile
uNe
I forgave LG after my G4 Bootloop and bought the global V20 ( only had 1 update to Android 8.0 while Koreans had Android 9.0) and again I persevered and bought the G8x as I love my Quad Dac & Dual Screen.
However, I am not holding my breath for Android 11 for my LG G8x which I imported as I cannot get the Compatible V60 5g bands to work in Aust. and have to settle for LTE on the G8x.
Congrats LG; to being crowned undisputedly by many as the worst in Software updates for major manufacturer, Xiaomi, and Oneplus are miles ahead, even when comparing with 2nd tier Chinese no name manufacturer LG record for update is just shameful. So many people I know just refuse buying another LG mobile because of the poor updates and lets not forget the Boot-loops which they took no responsibility; unlike the Samsung took action with their Samsung Note7.
On top of that LG had a really mess-up marketing team; where they just don't market their phone at all globally to people who actually wanted to buy one and like the hardware (me and peers) with the V60 & cannot buy them; unless you are in Nothern America notably you are out of luck.
Another example; when they release a Dual Screen Velvet model and expects people to buy them, became another flop as you cannot buy the Dual Screen Accessory, they only the phone in Aust; makes no sense at all?
Add on top of that; rather than concentrating on releasing globally and support for updates of their product they go spend gazillions on 1st generation while innovative products; it is of little use to them financially e.g Wing (flop) and Rollables (guarantee another flop, to be fair as any first generation tends to be & need time and lots of money to refine, which LG Mobile cannot afford....just look at Samsung Fold 1st Gen or Motorola Flip).
Poor Marketing, Poor product support and spending like crazy to chase innovative 1st Gen product is not a strategy for sales and profit for a struggling manufacturer; so wake-up LG, start off by updating your software that you promised will be different in 2020 and beyond... yet same old thing happens again.
RIP LG; I guess this is Goodbye from me and my last LG :(
T2812
Anonymous, 27 Feb 2021no bro s10 copied lg v40 but without fingerprint reader so lg is first then both lg v50 and s1... moreOh, I see.
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Anonymous
JbK
Too bad so few could even buy a V60. Shame on LG
?
Anonymous
XNp
Tech nerd 333, 27 Feb 2021Reminiscent of the galaxy s10, right?no bro s10 copied lg v40 but without fingerprint reader so lg is first then both lg v50 and s10 came with same back but v50 also came with fingerprint sensor back and s10 with in display fingerprint and samsung fans and paid reviewers said lg v 60 copied s10
T2812
Anonymous, 27 Feb 2021The back looks elegant.Reminiscent of the galaxy s10, right?
?
Anonymous
TLP
Anonymous, 27 Feb 2021The back looks elegant.bootleg S10 but yeah looks better with rounded ends
more ironic considering both companies are korean lol
S
Sunny
XRT
Same question here, what about G8x Thinq
?
Anonymous
Dk%
What about g8x thinq
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Finally! Cannot wait to see the Android 11 update on the V50. I saw a YouTube video of someone showing the updated Desktop Mode, now called the Screen+, and it is a real improvement over the previous Desktop Mode version.
As for the Android 11 OS update itself, I don't mind waiting for it. I see a lot of popular phones, particularly Xiaomi's, still not yet receiving Android 11 at the moment. So what's with that negativity, I wonder.
Smart TVs have changed the way we build our home theaters. They give us access to all of our favorite streaming platforms without any extra hardware. It’s great to have the ability to launch binge-worthy shows at the touch of a button, but what happens when it doesn’t work right? Here’s what to do if Netflix is not working on your LG TV.
Netflix comes pre-loaded on all of LG’s smart TVs, which makes it incredibly easy to access. All you have to do to get started is log into your account. If you later find that you can’t get back to your favorite episodes of Dark or the Great British Baking Show, here’s how to fix the problem.
Check your network connection and check on Netflix
The first step to fixing most problems is making sure that you’re actually connected to the internet. If your LG TV isn’t connected, then it would make sense that Netflix isn’t working.
First, test that your internet is working on another device like a phone or a laptop. If it works on another device, then try to reset the connection on your television. You can also reset your modem and your router if you aren’t able to get your TV connected. This should give them enough time to fully shut down, then plug them back in.
Once you’ve reset your Wi-Fi connection, it may help to check on Netflix’s status. The platform has an official support site that should let you know if it is having problems.
If Netflix itself gives you the green light, and your Wi-Fi is working just fine, then you may need to move onto our later steps.
Update your LG TV’s firmware if Netflix is not working
It’s entirely possible that your TV and the Netflix app are running on different versions. The two update separately on LG TVs, so you may find that your app has updated automatically while the TV hasn’t.
Both should automatically update, but it doesn’t always work that way. Luckily, LG made a quick video that shows you how to update your TV:
The video is a few years old at this point, but most of the information should still hold true. Follow the steps in the video and try restarting your TV.
Delete and reinstall Netflix
Believe it or not, files and caches can become corrupt on your LG TV, and this could be what keeps Netflix from working. It’s not as scary as it sounds, however, and you should be able to fix it by uninstalling the app and reinstalling it all over again. Here’s what to do:
Uninstall Netflix
Press the Home/Start button on your remote to open the launch bar.
Find Netflix on the launch bar and hover over it until an arrow appears.
Click on the arrow, then select the “X” symbol.
Confirm that you want to remove the app by pressing OK.
Reinstall Netflix
Click on the Home/Start button to open the launch bar.
Find the LG Content Store on the launch bar and click on it.
Cycle through the arrows on your remote to reach the App tab and click on it.
Find Netflix and click Install.
Set your location correctly if Netflix is not working on your LG TV
Netflix offers different content libraries in different locations due to strict agreements, and it doesn’t take kindly to rule breakers. You may have to set yourself back to your home market in order to fix the service.
For example, if you have your location set to Australia while you’re actually in the United States, Netflix may lock you out. Instead of giving you access to either country’s library, Netflix will keep you out altogether until you fix your situation.
If that happens, here’s what to do:
Press the Home/Start button and open the launch bar
You may have tried this before anything else on the list, but it’s always worth another shot. If you’ve already tried unplugging your TV for a soft reset, then it’s time for the full factory special. Unfortunately, this means a bit more effort because you’ll have to log back into all of your other streaming services too.
If you’ve hit this point, here’s what to do:
Click on the Home/Start button to open the launch bar.
Open the Settings cog at the top right.
Click on General, then select Reset to Initial Settings.
Enter your TV password if you set one.
Follow the remaining setup steps.
These are all of the most common ways to fix Netflix if it’s not working on your LG smart TV. None of them should take you too terribly long, and one of them is bound to get you back on track! If not, it may be time to check out our top TV deals.
Price: $3,499 Model number: OLED65GXPUA Screen size: 65 inches Resolution: 3840 x 2160 HDR: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, and HLG Refresh rate: 120 Hz Ports: 4 HDMI 2.1; 3 USB Audio: 60 watts (20-watt woofer) Smart TV software: webOS 5 Size: 56.9 x 32.7 x 0.9 inches (w/o stand) Weight: 63.9 pounds (w/o stand)
Does G stand for gorgeous? The first thing you’ll notice about the LG GX OLED TV (starting at $2,499, $3,499 as tested) is how this high-end set was made for wall mounting. It’s incredibly thin, radiating an elegance reserved for only the best TVs money can buy.
So yes, the LG GX OLED TV costs a pretty penny, maxing out at $6,000 for the 77-inch screen. But for the splurge you get all the marquee features of the top-selling LG CX OLED TV in a sleeker, 20-millimeter wide build with improved viewing angles.
While we wish this Gallery Series model provided more obvious performance upgrades for the price, this LG GX OLED TV review explains why the clever AI processing, familiar smart TV interface and distinctive flush-mount design make it worthwhile for anyone hoping to elevate their home theater experience.
LG GX OLED TV price and configurations
The LG GX is the top shelf set of the company's line of OLED TVs. The popular CX series is more affordable, but doesn’t don the same super-slim chassis of GX models.
The premium look of Gallery Series OLED comes at a premium price — it’s the most expensive set we’ve tested this year. The Sony Bravia A8H OLED TV is the only unit that came close, priced at $2799 for the 65-inch model at launch. Our 65-inch configuration of the LG GX costs $3499, while the smaller version model costs $2499 and larger 77-inch size costs a whopping $5999.
Luckily, since these sets are being replaced by the newer LG OLED evo lineup, you can find the GX models on sale with the best cheap TV deals. And if our ‘What size TV should you buy?’ guide suggests you’ll need a TV larger than 77 inches, check out our list of the best 85-inch TVs right now.
But no matter which LG GX OLED TV size you choose, you should expect to see similar performance compared to our 65-inch test model. All three sizes offer the same collection of features, from an impressive port array to LG’s α9 Gen 3 AI Processor 4K.
LG GX OLED TV review: Design
Unlike sets that are designed to either rest on a stand or be hung on the wall with a generic VESA mounting bracket, the LG GX OLED TV is made specifically for hanging with the company’s included, proprietary bracket — it doesn’t even come with a stand in the box. We had to request a pair of the L-shaped feet for testing, but they’re rather wide set and not as sturdy as I’d like, so I’d definitely wall mount the GX in more permanent scenarios.
(Image credit: LG)
If you’re familiar with LG's Wallpaper TV, the LG GX embodies many of the same design sensibilities, but the 20-millimeter build accommodates everything the TV requires, including sound. You could use one of the best soundbars with the GX, too, of course.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
While most OLED TVs feature an ultra thin display with a protruding component box, the GX sports a uniform thickness with a recessed mount and input panels for concealing cables without disrupting the flush mounting.
(Image credit: LG)
Still, LG recommends professional installation with a recessed AV box for the full Gallery Series effect.
LG GX OLED TV review: Ports
The LG gallery series, along with the rest of the 2020 lineup, has 4 HDMI 2.1 ports for all HDMI inputs, offering support for improved bandwidth and an expanded feature set. This includes frame rates of up to 120Hz with 4K video, uncompressed audio formats via enhanced audio return channel (eARC) and variable frame rate for gaming. The set has 3 HDMI ports, too.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
(Image credit: LG)
There's an optical digital audio output and a 3.5-mm port for wired headphones, while cordcutters will be happy to know there's an RF coaxial plug for an antenna. The Gallery Series OLED TVs also come with built-in ATSC 3.0 tuners, the first TVs we've seen offer support for the new broadcasting technology. In the cities where it has rolled out, ATSC 3.0 provides 4K picture over-the-air and a return channel that allows for interactivity and targeted advertising.
LG GX OLED TV review: Performance
The LG GX OLED TV is outfitted with LG's α9 Gen 3 AI Processor 4K, like the LG CX and LG BX OLED TV. The latest version of LG's processor, this chip promises a range of improvements over previous iterations, with refinements to picture enhancement, such as artifact removal, object and subject-based sharpness, and upscaling for lower resolution (non-4K) content.
(Image credit: LG)
The LG GX also supports two newer picture modes: Filmmaker Mode and Dolby Vision IQ. Filmmaker Mode is a growing picture preset that delivers the picture as the movie maker intended. Dolby Vision IQ is basically the Dolby Vision we know and love, but adjusts the brightness and dynamic range with respect to ambient light in the room.
For anecdotal testing, I watched Greyhound on Apple TV Plus in standard Dolby Vision. Across the vast darkness of the Atlantic, fiery distress rockets flared toward the sky signaling torpedo attacks among the ally supply fleet, showing off the set’s ability to provide crisp contrast in low-light scenes. Then, as another torpedo sailed towards Tom Hank’s ship, the GX similarly flexed its motion handling. The deadly missile soared with razor-sharp suspense just beneath the ocean’s wake, only releasing my breath when it ricocheted off Greyhound’s hull.
When the bridge switched to red lighting to preserve the crew’s night vision, the warm hues flooded Hank’s face without sacrificing the exhausted expression of a man who’s fended off U-Boats for 40 hours straight. I will say the Sony Bravia A8H OLED does better at handling subtle differences in blacks, though — at times I couldn’t see the shape of the captain’s inky uniform lapel as clearly as I’d like.
Switching over to a 4K disc of Planet Earth, I started to appreciate the Gallery Series wide-viewing angles. In shots of sunlit, snowy mountains, it’s normal for the powder to look blue and shadowy when I watch from off-center. But the GX maintained the brightness and color, even past a 45-degree angle. The clear skies in these scenes didn’t produce any unsightly banding, either.
LG GX OLED TV review: Test results
Our exclusive Tom’s Guide TV testing results backed up what I saw in hours of watching, for the most part. The results are also practically equivalent to the LG CX OLED TV’s, which is good and bad. It’s encouraging to see LG’s processor offer consistency across the brand’s lineup, but I wonder if the set should provide performance upgrades for the higher price.
Like the LG CX, color accuracy is a highlight of the GX. It earned a Delta-E score of 1.73. Any result of 2.0 or lower is good with the lower scores being better. It’s a slight improvement over the CX (1.95) and much better than the Vizio OLED TV (4.32) and Samsung Q80T QLED TV (3.91). Only the Sony Bravia A8H OLED (1.54) offered superior accuracy among last year’s sets.
(Image credit: LG)
But the GX has an edge over the A8H when it comes to delivering color. In fact, it provides one of the widest color gamuts we’ve ever seen, producing 134.42 percent of the Rec 709 color space, exceeding the basic color standard by a significant margin. The Sony Bravia A8H OLED only produced 108.94 percent and the Samsung Q80T QLED only 99.93 percent. Surprisingly, the affordable Vizio OLED TV came the closest to matching LG with a score of 130.06 percent.
When it comes to lag, the LG GX is among the best-in-class. It can ditch all of its video processing for an auto low latency mode during gaming. In our tests, it measured a lag time of just 14.9 milliseconds. That's an improvement over results we have seen from other top sets, including the Samsung's Q80T QLED (26.9 milliseconds) and the Sony A8H OLED (18 milliseconds). For the price and practically, the LG CX (13.1 milliseconds) is a better option for gamers, but the LG GX is similarly one of the best gaming TVs you can buy, especially if you want the luxurious design.
LG GX OLED TV review: Audio
One of the few non-aesthetic upgrades you get with the LG GX OLED TV compared to the LG CX OLED TV is boosted sound performance. Since the speakers can be distributed throughout the chassis, the LG GX has stronger 60-watt speakers versus the CX’s 40-watt array.
In addition to speaker hardware, the α9 Gen 3 AI Processor 4K provides advanced sound capabilities. AI Acoustic Tuning uses the remote control's microphone to calibrate the sound and tailor the audio to your particular room, while AI Sound Pro establishes optimal sound for the genre of whatever you’re watching. After performing the Acoustic Tuning calibration, I noticed a welcome difference in the sound profile, but AI Sound Pro was harder to recognize. Only when I toggled it on and off while watching a basketball game did I notice better clarity between the on-court action and play-by-play announcer’s voiceover.
The LG GX OLED also supports Dolby Atmos, which created an immersive soundscape for the war-ridden Atlantic ocean in Greyhound. During daring brushes with German U-boats, I felt enveloped in the command room’s chaos. Even with coordinates and orders being shouted from every corner of the room, individual voices sounded precise.
Although it notably lacked Dolby Atmos, I think the Samsung Q80T QLED TV’s Object Tracking Sound technology provides slightly superior exactness on a fuller range of content. While the GX’s sound is powerful compared to the larger TV category, consider investing in the matching LG GX soundbar to make the most of the Gallery Series TV experience.
LG GX OLED TV review: webOS and smart features
LG’s webOS smart TV software is arguably the best on the market, providing a compact, user-friendly interface that won’t interrupt what you’re currently watching. Although webOS doesn’t offer quite the same expanse of apps as Roku or Android TVs, you’ll still be able to watch every Star Wars movie on Disney Plus, all the best Netflix shows and more. You can keep up with your favorite streamers on Twitch and catch the big game on NFL Game Pass.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The webOS store even offers an Apple TV app, so you can watch your content you’ve purchased or workout with Apple Fitness Plus without needing a separate Apple TV 4K streaming box.
This set’s smart features aren’t limited to content. LG ThinQ’s smart home platform gets a dashboard on the GX that can be used to manage anything from your Blu-ray player and PS5 to your LG InstaView fridge and other best smart home devices. With this TV at the center of your smart home, you can dim your smart lights before watching a movie without having to grab your phone or get up from the couch. I paired my living room’s floor lamp, for example.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Better yet, the LG GX offers both Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, so you can use your TV to field queries as you would any of the best smart speakers. Most smart TVs are compatible with at least one of these AI butlers, but few let you beckon them just using the remote.
LG GX OLED TV review: Remote
There are things I like and things I dislike about LG’s Magic Remote. Once you get the hang of it, the wireless cursor is easily controlled using the scrolling/clickable wheel, but it reminds me of using a Nintendo Wii remote. I appreciate how the key controls are shaped to reflect their functions, but it doesn’t look as uniform as, say, the Roku TV remote. I like the addition of a mic status light for privacy purposes, but I wish the remote offered more backlight buttons.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
If you love a lot of buttons, you’ll have a field day with the GX’s remote. While some TV makers have swapped out physical controls with ones you can navigate on-screen, LG lets you manage almost everything with specific buttons. This version of the remote also offers dedicated launch buttons for Netflix and Prime Video, which is handy for those who use these streaming services often.
LG GX OLED TV review: Verdict
Let’s get this out of the way: Opting for the pricier LG GX over the cheaper LG CX won’t get you improved OLED picture quality. Instead, you’re paying a premium for a sleek flush-mount design. Though they’re certainly welcome, the other tweaks like stronger speakers and wider viewing angles feel like an afterthought.
If there ever was an Aphrodite of TVs, this set is it. So if you’re going to get the LG GX OLED TV, treat it like a goddess. Invest in professional installation and purchase the matching soundbar. Sounds fussy? Then this set probably isn’t for you, and that’s okay. The LG CX and Sony Bravia A8H offer similarly excellent OLED picture for a lower cost. You can also wait for the next-generation LG OLED evo Gallery Series, which is launching soon and promises a performance boost over what we experience in this LG GX OLED TV review.
There are companies who are very good at timely Android updates, there are companies who are quite bad at that, and then there's LG. The Korean firm has only sent out an update to Android 11 to the Velvet so far, but even for that model the new software only rolled out in South Korea.
Today marks the start of LG's second ever Android 11 rollout, this time for Verizon's V60 ThinQ 5G UW units. This is also the first LG device in the US to receive an Android 11 update, almost half a year after Google first released the finalized version of the OS.
Anyway, that aside, Verizon has released its update information. The Android 11 rollout comes alongside the January 2021 security patch level, which is not current but far better than what it used to be.
The new release is build V600VM20a, and Verizon outlines the addition of Bubbles for conversations, tweaks in the UI of the camera app, new quick settings icons, Focus Mode, Bedtime Mode, Nearby Share, and the moving of the volume panel from the top to the left.
As usual, the rollout is likely to be staged, so it may take a few days before all LG V60 ThinQ 5G UW units get an update notification. Hang tight, though, it's on the way now.
LG has a ton of exciting tech coming this year, from a new batch of OLEDs to a whole new type of TV it's calling QNED. But for a lot of folks, buying a TV from the previous year is a great way to get the latest tech upgrades without paying top dollar. So it wouldn’t be outrageous to think of buying one of the 2020 NANO90 LED TVs, especially if you find them on sale. Unfortunately, this series isn’t the best performer in its price range, and there’s some stiff competition this year. Testing revealed that the NANO90 suffers from overly-bright shadow tones—a problem that commonly affects LCD TVs that use IPS panels. So while the NANO90 has good viewing angles and better-than-average light effusion, it also doesn't look great in a traditional movie-watching environment—especially for what you’re paying.
If you just want to watch sports or play bright, cartoony games on it, the NANO90 has an array of great features and is a decent performer by other metrics. That said, if you want a TV that can deliver the filmic depth and high contrast of the movie theater experience, we recommend buying either the 2020 TCL 6-Series for about $300 less or the 2020 Vizio P-Series Quantum for about the same price. You could even snag a relatively huge jump in picture quality if you got the the 2020 Vizio P-Series Quantum X, which (in its 65-inch size) is only a couple hundred dollars more.
Editor's note:Due to COVID-19 complications, this review leans heavily on test results in lieu of hands-on time with the TV.
About the LG NANO90 NanoCell LED TV series
LG’s NANO90 NanoCell 4K LED TV series comes in four screen sizes:
55-inch (LG 55NANO90UNA), $1,049.99 MSRP
65-inch (LG 65NANO90UNA), $1,499.99 MSRP
75-inch (LG 75NANO90UNA), $2,499.99 MSRP
86-inch (LG 86NANO90UNA), $3,299.99 MSRP
The NANO90 series is one of the upper mid-range options from LG’s 2020 lineup of TVs, and generally you can expect the same level of performance regardless of which size you’re buying. However, it’s worth mentioning that this series utilizes full-array local dimming backlights, and depending on arrangement and utilization of the zones, you may notice differences in things like backlight uniformity depending on which size NANO S90 you buy.
Otherwise, every TV in this series shares this same set of core specs:
Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
Display type: IPS LCD panel with NanoCell absorptive layer
Local dimming: Full-array local dimming (approx. 32 zones)
HDR support: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Dolby Atmos: Yes
eARC support: Yes
Native refresh rate: 120 Hz
Smart platform: Yes (webOS)
Color: DCI-P3 color space/10-bit chroma resolution
Processor: a7 Gen 3 Processor 4K
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR): Yes
Auto Low-Latency Mode (ALLM): Yes
Other features: 10-bit dithering, FreeSync, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple AirPlay 2
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
LG's NANO90 NanoCell LED TV series is available in four screen sizes, starting at 55 inches.
Seeing as how the NANO90 is one of the top NanoCell TV series in LG’s 2020 TV lineup, all of these TVs are stuffed to the gills with features. Part of their higher-than-average price tag owes to the inclusion of things like eARC compatibility, Dolby Atmos, and 120 Hz refresh rates—something to consider if you don’t think you’ll take advantage of those features.
Performance Data
We assess TV performance via the use of scientific instrumentation in a controlled lab environment, gathering performance benchmarks with light and color meters just like a professional TV calibrator would. However, before the testing process can start, we give each TV we test roughly 24 hours of “warm up” time using a mild stress pattern in order to ensure that the data we’re gathering is as accurate as possible.
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While testing the LG 65NANO90UNA in SDR, we gathered contrast and color benchmarks while the TV was in the “ISF Expert (Bright Room)” picture mode. For HDR, we used the “HDR Cinema” picture mode.
To gather contrast data, we use a combination of the industry-standard ANSI checkerboard pattern and halation/loading patterns, and gather color data using the rec.709 and DCI-P3 color gamut reference points. Patterns are powered by QuantumData’s 780A signal generator, and we use CalMan Ultimate software to tabulate the data that’s gathered.
I’ll editorialize the LG 65NANO90UNA’s results below, but here are the most important numbers up front:
HDR Peak Brightness: 580.50 nits (40% white window)
SDR Color Gamut Coverage: 100% (rec.709)
HDR Color Gamut Coverage: 88.40% (DCI-P3)
Connectivity
Like most modern, higher-end televisions, this LG features a healthy selection of AV inputs and ports. You’ll find them nestled in a couple of cutouts on the back/side of the panel.
4 x HDMI (HDCP 2.2, eARC)
3 x USB 2.0 ports
RF (cable) input
AV (component/composite input), splitter required but not included
Ethernet (LAN) input
Optical (digital) audio output
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
The NANO90 TVs give you plenty of HDMI and USB inputs to work with, though if you want to use a component/composite (AV) device, you'll need a splitter cable.
As you can see, there are plenty of HDMI and USB ports available here, but it’s worth noting again that the breakout/splitter cable you’d need to hook up a pre-HDMI source device isn’t included, so if you’re hoping to hook up an older video game console or VCR, you’ll need to do the legwork for that one on your own.
What We Like
Great for sports and brighter rooms
The most notable thing about LG’s LED/LCD TV lineup is that they’re some of the only name-brand, high-end 4K LED TVs that use IPS style LCD panels. While most TVs these days use VA (vertical alignment) style LCD panels, the NANO90 models (like most of LG’s 2020 NanoCell lineup) are of the IPS (in-plane switching) variety. This has pros and cons.
Without getting too into the weeds about how IPS and VA work, generally TVs and computer monitors with IPS panels have one major advantage over the VA types: much wider viewing angles, both vertically and horizontally. They also tend to have an easier time producing accurate color saturation (a fact we corroborated during the testing process).
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
The NANO90 has an IPS LCD panel, which gives it better than average viewing angles.
While the NANO90 isn’t the brightest TV you can buy, it’s bright enough for the average living room, and its wide viewing angles make it a decent choice for group screenings in a big room that hasn’t been specially darkened for viewing.
Because all of the TVs in this series feature 120 Hz refresh rates (as opposed to the more common 60 Hz refresh rate), they’re also a good choice for more motion-intensive content like sports and video games. While the NANO90’s input lag results weren’t great in most of its picture modes, we measured a respectable 19 ms in “Game” mode.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Time in the lab revealed excellent color saturation and white balancing, though color during HDR could be better.
The NANO90 is also outfitted with two next-gen TV features that have been specially designed for gaming: variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM). While not all of the NANO90’s HDMI inputs are HDMI 2.1, the ones that are compatible are labeled as such (4K @ 120 Hz), and if you’ve got a next-gen console like a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X you’ll be able to take advantage of some of the better gaming-related features available on TVs right now.
The NANO90’s poor black levels—more on those below—mean that it might not be great for games with a more cinematic flair, but you can at least trust that it is decently colorful and “fast” enough for a wide range of content, like nature docs, sports programming, and FPS-style games.
Sleek, slim, and trim
As noted in the specs section, the NANO90 TVs utilize full-array local dimming (FALD) backlights. This lends them some amount of pedigree, as generally any FALD-equipped TV is going to perform better than its simpler Direct or Edge LED counterparts.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Despite having a full-array backlight, the NANO90 is still a slim, sleek television. The feet are wide-set, so measure your tabletop stand.
One disadvantage of FALD TVs is that they tend to be a lot thicker in profile, making them less ideal for aesthetic choices like mounting them on the wall. However, despite its backlight, the NANO90 TVs are still only a little under three inches thick in profile, and their trim bezels give them a clean, modern appearance. Likewise, the sturdy feet are matching in hue, but take note that (like many modern TVs) they’re set out far to the edges of the panel, so you’ll want to measure your TV stand if you’re not wall-mounting the NANO90.
The cutout for the AV ports on the back of the TV helps keep cables organized and your viewing space decluttered. As for the remote, you’re getting the standard LG Magic Remote here, so-called because it uses IR signals to cast a cursor onto the screen for interacting with the software. Remember the old Nintendo Wii-mote? It works like that.
webOS: love it or hate it
When LG’s proprietary TV smart platform, webOS, first debuted many moons ago, we were pretty enamored with it. Since then, we’ve shifted our stance to concede that a hyper-simple approach to streaming like a Roku TV or media streaming device is generally a better long-term solution for most folks.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
LG's webOS platform features big clickable buttons and a perimeter layout, making it easy to use with the included Magic Remote.
However, as a part of this TV series’ whole kit, webOS is still better than the average TV smart platform. It’s really all about the Magic Remote, which (as mentioned in the previous section) casts a cursor onto the screen.
The software UI is rendered exactly to be easy to use with an on-screen cursor, featuring big, clickable buttons and apps. In general, webOS is easy to use, whether you’re scrolling through TV picture modes or rearranging apps in the smart bar along the bottom of the screen.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
The included Magic Remote works much like the old Nintendo Wii-mote, casting a cursor onto the screen via infrared tech.
That said, some people find controlling the cursor to be a crapshoot, and it’s true that other infrared sources can even interfere with the cursor’s travel and accuracy on the screen. But for a lot of people—especially folks who wouldn’t consider themselves technophiles—webOS is a lot easier to navigate and interact with than some of the more cold, complex platforms out there.
While I would never suggest you buy this TV for webOS alone, it ultimately isn’t a detriment, which is the best we generally expect from a TV’s smart functionality.
As features go, you’re getting your money’s worth
Due to COVID complications, we haven’t been able to exhaustively test the extra features of many of the TVs we’ve reviewed in the last year, but a glance over the NANO90’s list of specs and features is promising nonetheless. While there are much more expensive TVs out there, the NANO90 sets aren’t cheap compared to some of their competition, and the list of compatibilities and functions are part of what you’re paying for.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
The NANO90 TVs are stuffed with next-gen features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos compatibility, and all of them have 120 Hz refresh rates.
I’m not just talking about things like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant compatibility (though you are getting that here). Despite not being an amazing HDR TV, you’re still getting compatibility with most HDR formats (HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG); you’re also getting Dolby Atmos functionality and eARC, two audio-related features that anyone with a vested interest in their audio setup will be glad to have.
Likewise, the already-mentioned 120 Hz refresh rate is a welcome spec regarding many use cases and content types, while the full-array local dimming backlight aids in avoiding the typical pain points associated with LED.
What We Don't Like
Almost unacceptable black levels
All people—from TV reviewers to the average TV watcher—prefer TV with high contrast, meaning a lot of differentiation between the screen’s darkest and brightest elements. This is the main reason OLED TVs are lauded so consistently. This isn’t a subjective preference: it’s literally the science of how your eyes work.
And that’s one area where the NANO90 fails pretty hard, though it owes this performance to the same IPS panel I was praising just a few paragraphs ago. In both SDR and HDR picture modes, we measured an average black level of around 0.1 nits, which is closer to gray than true black.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
The NANO90's IPS panel means its black levels are sometimes closer to dark gray than true black, which make it a dicey choice for dim/dark room viewing.
This doesn’t just make for a flat picture: it means that any time the TV’s liquid crystal is supposed to be closed up tightly and blocking the backlight, it is letting a lot of it bleed through and pollute the picture.
This is why, while the NANO90 is probably great for brighter content like nature docs, sports, and certain video games, it may really disappoint cinephiles and movie lovers. While lots of devices don’t need high contrast to display their expected content properly (whether that be apps on your smartphone or websites on your laptop), we expect big flat-screen TVs to be able to make movies and high-production content look good, and to be dark enough for a movie theater-like viewing environment.
In this regard, the NANO90 fails. I may be a bit old school in this conception of how a TV should function, but it’s a hard data point to ignore when LG is asking hundreds more for this TV than certain competitors whose TVs can operate equally well in bright and dark environments.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
While the NANO90 has a lot of great features and has some strong picture quality areas, its shallow contrast makes it difficult to recommend.
One caveat we would note is that the NANO90 TVs do have full-array local dimming panels, so the poor black levels we measured while using the ANSI checkerboard pattern are not what you’re always going to get.
Thanks to the local dimming, scenes with lower APLs (average picture levels)—meaning scenes where the average brightness of the entire screen is dimmer rather than brighter—will net you better black levels overall. The same is true of scenes wherein some majority quadrant of the screen is dark or black: these won’t have that charcoal/gray appearance. LG deserves kudos for fitting the NANO90 models with full-array local dimming backlights, but that’s also part of what makes them expensive. The addition does remedy the IPS-related poor black level to some degree, but testing has shown that it can only do so much, and your picture quality experience may vary from scene to scene more than is ideal.
Not a great pick for HDR content
There are some TVs in this price range (and even cheaper) that offer very high brightness, wide contrast, and highly saturated colors, making them viable if not excellent HDR TVs. The NANO90 is not one of these TVs, unfortunately.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
The NANO90's inconsistent and occasionally over-bright black levels make it a sub-par choice for viewers interested in great HDR viewing.
While its noted peak brightness of just under 600 nits is great, the actual contrast you’re getting is notably shallow because of its poor black levels. And because it’s a FALD TV with a lower dimming zone count, any attempt at high-luminance specular highlights means either risking backlight bleed or settling for HDR that’s unimpressive in terms of brightness.
But luminance aside, it also isn’t terribly colorful. While LG’s NanoCell tech helps to remove unwanted light/color bleed to some degree, it doesn’t seem to do much in order to boost color saturation (which is probably why the company finally started producing TVs with quantum dots in 2021). The NANO90 nails the basic “standard” color space, but with somewhat limited brightness, and without color-boosting technology like quantum dots in tow, it doesn’t get nearly as colorful as some of its competition.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Without any color-boosting tech (such as quantum dots), the NANO90 doesn't cover as much of the DCI-P3 color space (for HDR) as some of the competition.
However, that’s not to say you won’t enjoy HDR games on this TV, if that’s your aim. While it doesn’t get bright enough to make your jaw drop, the chromatic and electro-optical resolution enhancement provided by HDR still means that content will look better than it would in non-HDR (as long as everything is set up properly, at least). But if you’re really looking for a more efficacious HDR display, there are better options that cost the same or less than this TV series.
Should You Buy It?
No—it’s too expensive for the performance you’re getting
It’s hard to outright recommend a TV with an IPS panel, even when it does so many things well, because of how important black level and contrast are to things like movies, high-production TV content, and certain video games: these are often the “bread and butter” of TV performance, and the NANO90 falls short here.
It would be easy to forgive that shortcoming if someone just wanted a big screen with wide viewing angles and good color production, but LG is rightfully charging a good bit for the inclusion of premium compatibilities like Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, 120 Hz refresh rates, and HDMI 2.1 functionality. On paper, the NANO90 is a bit too feature-rich for a “sports den” type TV, but it also lacks the performance chops to be optimally functional in both dark and bright viewing environments.
The NANO90 lacks the performance chops for dark viewing environments.
When a TV has good black levels but is too dim, like many of the early OLEDs, it’s not too hard to buy light-blocking curtains or turn off some lamps around the room to accommodate it. But if a TV just doesn’t look good on movie night, there’s not much you can do about it.
If that didn’t already make the NANO90 a bit of a tough sell, it’s worth noting that for what you’re paying, there are brighter TVs with better color saturation and better black levels for the same or even less money. LG wants $1,200 for the 65-inch NANO90, but you can get the 65-inch TCL 6-Series (2020) for under $1,000, or the incredible 65-inch Vizio P-Series Quantum X (2020) for only a couple hundred more.
Lee has been Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products since 2012. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversees reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviews headphones, and has a background in music performance.
Julia is the Senior Scientist at Reviewed, which means that she oversees (and continually updates) the testing of products in Reviewed's core categories such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and more. She also determines the testing methods and standards for Reviewed's "The Best Right Now" articles.
We use standardized and scientific testing methods to scrutinize every product and provide you with objectively accurate results. If you’ve found different results in your own research, email us and we’ll compare notes. If it looks substantial, we’ll gladly re-test a product to try and reproduce these results. After all, peer reviews are a critical part of any scientific process.
