LG 64.5" Review

The LG 65UQA NanoCell is a big, easy-to-use TV that prioritizes smart features over picture prowess. Its webOS platform is top-tier, but the 60Hz panel and mediocre contrast hold it back for gaming and home theater use. At around $675 for 65 inches, it's a fair deal for casual viewers who want a simple, large-screen experience. Just plan to add a soundbar.

So you're looking at a 65-inch 4K TV for around $675, and it's an LG NanoCell. That puts it in a pretty interesting spot. It's not the bargain basement model, but it's also not trying to be a flagship. This is LG's mid-range play, aiming to give you a solid smart TV experience with some of their nicer software features, without the premium price tag of an OLED.

Who is this for? Honestly, it's for the casual viewer. If your main activities are streaming Netflix, watching sports, and maybe some light gaming, this TV covers the basics. The webOS 22 platform is genuinely good, making it easy to hop between apps. It's also a decent fit for a bright living room, as NanoCell panels tend to handle reflections a bit better than some other types.

What makes it interesting is the package. For this price, you're getting LG's reliable smart TV system, a processor that upscales content decently, and a gaming dashboard that, while limited by the 60Hz panel, at least gives you some control. It's trying to be a competent all-rounder for everyday use, not a specialist.

Let's talk about the numbers. Our database puts its picture quality in the 43rd percentile. That translates to 'perfectly fine.' Colors are accurate enough out of the box, and the a5 Gen5 AI processor does a solid job cleaning up lower-resolution content from cable or older streaming shows. HDR performance lands in the 58th percentile, which is middle of the pack. You'll see some extra pop in HDR10 content, but don't expect the eye-searing brightness or deep blacks of a high-end Mini-LED or OLED. It's an improvement over SDR, but a subtle one.

The real-world implication is simple: this TV looks good with most of what you throw at it. A new 4K nature documentary will look sharp and colorful. An old sitcom will look... like an old sitcom, but a little less noisy. Where it stumbles is in contrast. Because it's not an OLED or a high-zone local dimming set, dark scenes in movies can look a bit gray and flat. That's the trade-off for the price.

At around $675 for a 65-inch screen, the value proposition is straightforward: you're paying for size and smart features first, picture quality second. You get a lot of screen real estate and a great smart platform for the money. Compared to other 65-inch TVs in this bracket, you're often choosing between a better picture with a clunkier interface (like some Roku or Google TV models) or a better interface with a so-so picture. This LG leans into the latter.

The catch is that you can find similarly priced Mini-LED TVs from brands like Hisense or TCL that will objectively beat this TV on contrast and HDR brightness. But they might not match webOS's polish. So the value isn't in having the best specs, it's in getting a balanced, easy-to-use experience on a big screen without breaking the bank.

This TV has some stiff competition. The Hisense U6 Series Mini-LED, often around the same price, offers better contrast and higher peak brightness thanks to its Mini-LED backlight. For pure picture quality in a dark room, the Hisense is the stronger choice. However, its smart TV software isn't as refined or snappy as webOS.

Then there's the elephant in the room: last year's LG OLEDs. If you can find a 65-inch LG C2 or C3 on clearance or sale, even for a few hundred dollars more, the jump in picture quality is night and day. Perfect blacks, incredible contrast, and 120Hz gaming support make it a vastly better TV for movies and gaming. But, it costs more and is more susceptible to glare in bright rooms. The Roku Pro Series is another competitor with excellent brightness and a fantastic built-in streaming platform, but it often commands a higher price for those features.

Home theater enthusiasts should steer clear. If you love watching movies in a dark room, the mediocre contrast and hazy black levels of this TV will be a constant disappointment. You'll miss the depth and detail in shadows that a TV with better local dimming or an OLED provides. For you, saving up for an OLED or a Mini-LED TV with more dimming zones is a much better investment.

Similarly, competitive or serious gamers should skip this. The 60Hz refresh rate is a hard ceiling that feels outdated. If you play fast-paced shooters, racing games, or anything where smooth motion matters, you'll immediately notice the difference compared to a 120Hz or 144Hz display. Look for a TV or monitor that specifically lists HDMI 2.1, 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM in its specs.

Buy the LG 65UQA if your priority is a no-fuss, large-screen TV for everyday streaming and casual viewing in a typical living room. You want the best smart TV interface available, you don't want to fiddle with settings, and you value wide viewing angles for family movie nights. It's a reliable workhorse.

You should skip it and look at the competitors if you're a movie buff who watches in a dark room (where poor contrast will show), a serious gamer who needs 120Hz and VRR, or a pure spec hunter who wants the brightest HDR highlights for the money. In those cases, the compromises this TV makes in panel performance are too significant. Spend a bit more for an OLED or a higher-end Mini-LED model, or save some money and get a brighter picture with a different brand's Mini-LED set.