If you're in the hunt for a high-quality TV, LG could well be the ideal brand to choose. Famous for its Ultra-HD screens, easy to use Smart TV interfaces, exceptional audio features, and a wide range of different options, LG should offer a model that suits your needs.
However, finding the right LG model isn't always easy. The company manufactures hundreds of models, and designs vary considerably. This buyer's guide will set out your LG buying options and give you the best chance of finding an affordable TV which has everything you require.
LG started out as a small Korean plastics manufacturer in 1947. Before it shortened its name, the company was known as Lak-Hai (pronounced as ‘lucky’). A merger with electronics outfit Goldstar meant a change of name was in order – and the familiar LG brand was born.
Nowadays, LG tends to market itself as “Life's Good”. It’s active across a wide range of product areas, with mobile phones being a particularly big chunk of its current business. However, the company's TVs are probably its most prestigious creations, having carved out LG a reputation for mixing innovation and value.
The “NetCast” range pioneered internet-enabled TVs way back in 2007, while LG was also one of the first manufacturers to offer Organic LED or OLED TV in 2013. In 2011, LG was the first major electronics player to adopt “Smart” technology, while it developed its own WebOS system for these devices. Add in motion-sensing controllers, and even mosquito repellent TVs for the Indian market, and you've got a company which is currently setting the tone for an entire industry.
For starters, expect a high-quality product. LG belongs with Sony and Samsung to the big-three of the high-end TV bracket, so if you're quoted relatively high prices for some models, that reflects the build quality. But there are some aspects of LG TVs that go deeper, and make their TVs distinct from other premium brands:
WebOS – LG have adopted the WebOS operating system to power their Smart TVs. It has a clean interface and huge range of streaming services, comes with play-listing features that go beyond other brands, and generally turns a standard TV into a powerful web-enabled computer.
4K UHD – Relatively few TVs from competitors accommodate LG's 4K UHD standard. This goes beyond standard 4K, offering richer colours, higher refresh rates, and integration with Dolby audio.
Nano Cell – LG's Nano Cell technology isn't found in all of its sets, but you’ll see the difference if your set has it. Allowing clear viewing from the tightest of angles, Nano Cell makes it much easier to gather friends around a football match – everyone will be able to see what’s happening on screen.
Versatile controllers – The standard LG remote is great, but it's joined by the Magic Remote, which integrates full gesture control. You can also set up your smartphone or tablet as a substitute if that feels better.
Ultra Luminance – A core part of LG's OLED TVs, Ultra Luminance delivers stunning colours and contrasts, making the images on older TVs look drab and dull by comparison.
Multiple HDMI ports – Most LG televisions come equipped with 3-4 HDMI ports – more than you'll usually find on HD TVs. This gives you the flexibility to hook up PlayStation or Xbox consoles, Blu-Ray players, sound systems – whatever needs a line into the TV.
You can no longer buy just a TV. You’ll now find mysterious abbreviations and letters offering extra features that can hard to decipher. These can often leave you confused as to which TV is the right one for you. To help you, here's a breakdown of the various kinds of televisions that LG currently offers:
Budget LG televisions – Perfect for anyone who just wants to do basic viewing. They tend to be 1080p HD models and are almost all equipped with features like catch-up and Freeview. You’ll find a range of options in the £200-400 bracket here on the hotukdeals listings.
Standard LG 4K TVs – Moving up in the LG hierarchy, the company offers a popular range of 4K TVs – often at prices only slightly above 1080p alternatives. There's a mix of OLED and LED screens to choose from, and the vast majority feature Smart technology. So if you want ultra-high resolution visuals, you can often find something for under £500.
LG Smart TV models – You won't find many new TVs from the Korean company that aren't labelled as smart to some degree. But what does this mean? Generally, it means that LG televisions will be compatible with Amazon and Google voice assistants. Smart sets also come with WebOS interfaces, which let you browse the web, connect to video streaming services like Netflix or BBC iPlayer, and manage your recordings.
LG TV OLED models – If you see OLED in the product description, that means a couple of things. Firstly, the screen on the TV you are browsing uses Organic Light Emitting Diodes to create its images. This provides precise control over colour depth and brightness, as well as contrast. Generally speaking, LG's Organic LED TVs will deliver a more satisfying experience for attentive TV viewers than LED alternatives. However, the second aspect is price. Organic LED is always more expensive than standard LED tech, so you'll need to juggle cost and picture quality when buying.
LG Super UHD TV models – You'll also find a high-end collection of TVs labelled as “Super UHD”. This means that they aren't just run-of-the-mill 4K TVs. Instead, they feature “Quantum displays” that are capable of more than one billion colours, as well as Dolby Vision, which matches up high-quality visuals to remarkable audio performance. You'll pay more for these models, to be sure, but for serious movie and TV fans, it's worth it.
LG offer TV models in all kinds of sizes, ranging from modest 32-inch screens to impressive 65-inch models and some are even larger! It can be difficult to decide which size of TV you should buy. It’s a question you shouldn’t take lightly – buying a too-small or too-big TV can ruin any of the high-end features featured on the TV. Read about the various sized TVs and which one is right for you below:
Small TVs (32 in. or less) – These are the perfect TVs if you’re looking to put a TV in your kitchen or bedroom. Small TV’s have an ideal viewing distance of around 6 ft., so take this into account if the distance between your bedroom wall and the bed is far greater than this (a mid-range TV might be better).
Mid-range TVs (32-42 in.) – A 42” HD TV is nowadays the bog standard for any sitting room or den. These kinds of TVs are best viewed from a distance of around 8 ft. away, making them perfect to be placed in front of a bank of couches.
Large TVs (42-55 in.) - A large TV is a must for anybody who wants to enjoy 4K content from their sitting room (something which more and more consumers want as 4K content become more common). They’re also ideal if you’ll be sitting far away from the TV or want to mount it on to a wall.
Extra-large TVs (More than 55 in.) – LG currently offer TVs that are a whopping 86-inches across. There’s another thing that’s often extra-large about these kinds of TVs – their price tag (though you’ll find good deals on these kinds of TVs). Make sure you have somewhere to put this thing as well – they’ll look out of place in most normal sitting rooms
Let's look at OLED in a bit more detail, as choosing between it and LED is going to be one of the biggest questions when it comes to price.
LED screens use light emitting diodes to generate different colours. When these diodes shine light through an array of liquid crystal diodes (LCDs), the LCDs are activated at certain frequencies, creating subtle shifts in colour. By focusing light with precision, LED screens manage to produce extremely sharp images while avoiding some of the smudgy quality of older LCD-only screens.
Organic LED builds on this technology and improves it in key areas. In these TVs, there's no need for a separate LED array. Instead, “organic” LEDs use a thin film of diodes which can be activated at will via an electric current. So these systems are often classed as “self-illuminating” and can do away with bulky extra diodes. The way Organic LEDs work means they can generate much deeper blacks than LED or LCD models, which in turn heightens the contrast in TV images. If you've never seen this in action, try to watch display models in a local electronics store. The difference can be profound.
But do you really need Organic LED? Well, it all depends on your budget and your sensitivity to imperfections. If you're coming from an older model of TV, and haven't used LED models before, then Organic LED won't have that “wow factor”, so a cheaper LG product may do just as well. But if you're frustrated with the picture quality on offer with LED models, only Organic LED will do.
One of LG's strong points is the way they have thought about creating a user-friendly experience. This doesn't just apply to the addition of extra HDMI ports and the clean design of WebOS (though both matter a lot). The company has also created various controller options which help to make their TVs a joy to use.
The LG TV Remote – The standard remote offered by LG is a no-frills affair but does almost everything TV owners will need, and for a price that's usually below £20. The brand has opted to use a “One for All” approach to remotes, so the standard model will work with any LG visual entertainment products.
The Magic Remote – Users of LG's Smart TVs can take things further – much further – with the Magic Remote. Able to synch up to LG soundbars, speakers, stereos, and TVs, the Magic Remote is optimised to detect your gestures, not just button presses (although you can do that, too). It also incorporates voice control, giving a whole new repertoire of options for TV owners.
Tablets and Mobiles – Finally, LG gives users the option to set up tablets or smartphones to control Smart models. The TV Plus Remote App can be installed on Android or iOS phones, and lets you take control of Smart devices. So if you lose your remote or just want to double up for convenience, you can easily do so.
What about people who want to turn their living room into a home cinema? Would LG be the right brand to go for? Quite possibly. LG isn't just a TV brand. It also manufactures speakers and connectors, and you can link them all together to create amazing results. Here are some home cinema products that can commonly be found at the LG hotukdeals listings:
LG Sound Bar – Most importantly, film fans will want to expand the audio capabilities of their TV. Even with the most advanced sets, TVs don't have the “oomph” required to approach cinema surround sound. But by adding a sound bar to the picture, home users can achieve some really impressive results. Some LG sets feature integrated sound bars. But if not, buyers will find standalone sound bars to get the job done. Models come with Dolby and without, as well as options with Chromecast built-in – a neat option for YouTube regulars. Most are wireless, so you can place them strategically to get the fullest sounds. Finally, they come with expert approval. LG has teamed up with audio company Meridian to make sure that their woofers and tweeters are on point – guaranteeing a cinema-style experience.
Wall mounts for TV and speakers – If you go down the multi-speaker route, placing the speakers correctly is vital. For the best experience, speakers need to be raised and placed behind the viewer – which often means attaching them to the wall. A good wall mount keeps your hardware securely at the right height, while DIY-mounts can often end up with your expensive speaker or TV crashing to the floor.
Smart speakers– LG's ThinkQ speakers incorporate Google Assistant and have also been designed with Meridian's help. Models like the Xboom speakers deliver impressive volume and depth for small smart speakers, especially in conjunction with soundbars. You can also use voice activation to control your movie streams, so making a quick popcorn or toilet break is just a matter of using a quick voice command.
As we noted earlier, LG is far from the only high-end TV brand around. As you'll see when you browse the hotukdeals Smart TV listings, a couple of other names constantly appear, and Samsung is probably the most prominent of all. So is a Samsung TV a better option than LG?
There are more similarities than differences between the two brands. Both Samsung and LG offer high-quality 4K or Ultra HD TVs. Both accommodate features like High Dynamic Range, offer OLED TVs and have user-friendly Smart interfaces, give you the option of voice commands, and feature Freeview. No matter which one you choose, you’ll be getting a decent TV.
But there are some key differences. For starters, while Samsung does make Organic LED TVs, they also offer something called QLED technology. Although QLED is only a slightly more advanced version of OLED, it does deliver crisper colours and deeper contrasts. However, QLED TVs come at a high price, so this is only really a factor for serious TV fans. But if you do have the budget and are fussed about image quality above all else, Samsung is the brand to choose.
Samsung have also come up with some ideas about user experience which might sway buyers. For instance, its TVs tend to come with a “One Connect” box which acts as a single connector for digital boxes, games consoles, laptops, and speakers. It's a simple solution, which makes life easier when you have a mess of cables hanging around.
LG has its own strengths, of course. Dolby Vision tends to best Samsung's OLED screens in terms of generating flawless blacks and shadows and the ability of LG screens to match up with Dolby Atmos-equipped speakers is just as impressive. In fact, audio is an area where LG excels. When the soundbar is built-in, LG sets roar ahead of the competition.
So as a general rule, Samsung is slightly better where visuals are concerned, and LG is the king when it comes to audio. But both brands tend to compete at the mid to high end of the market, so you’ll be happy overall no matter which one you choose.
Buying a new TV can be an expensive experience. Some of the larger LG sets can go for as much as £3,000, it's essential to find ways to keep your spend as low as possible. Thankfully, there are several ways to do so.
Firstly, timing your purchase can make a huge difference. You may have noticed that TVs tend to be discounted as major events approach, such as the World Cup. If that's the case, hang on for the best deals and snap up a set via the hotukdeals listings. If not, Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November sees plenty of LG deals, and Amazon Prime day in mid-summer could be worth a look.
Take some time to work out whether you need an Ultra-HD 4K screen, or something a little more modest. Do you need a super-expensive 85-inch model, or will a 50-inch model do the job just fine for your sitting room? Audio fans will save by going for bundle deals for speakers and sound bars, so be sure to check the listings to see if any of these are available. Patient and smart shopping can often be the best way to make savings, so don’t underestimate the power of using some common sense when it comes time to buy.
Finally, use the hotukdeals LG listings to find the best possible deals. Our listings feature current deals from the UK's biggest TV retailers, including Currys, Argos, Richer Sounds, AO.com, eBay, Amazon, and Selfridges. So whenever you need to upgrade your TV, our listings should be the place to find the best possible prices.
LG offers a wide range of TVs, from standard 1080p models to 8K Ultra-HD, as well as TVs with Smart technology to put you in total control. Whatever model you need, check out the LG hotukdeals listings for unbeatable prices on even the most high-end models.
