I tested LG's entry-level QNED80 TV and was not prepared for it to be this good (2024)

I tested LG's entry-level QNED80 TV and was not prepared for it to be this good (1)

ZDNET's key takeaways

  • Starting at $599, the QNED series of TVs from LG packs some very impressive visuals in an affordable package.
  • I was particularly impressed with the spatial audio, which mimics a full surround system without the need for a soundbar or subwoofer.
  • If you're looking for a relatively affordable TV that handles everything from gaming to movies and will adapt to nearly any environment, this is the model I'd recommend.

If you're not familiar with a QNED TV, it stands for Quantum Nano-Emitting Diode, and is essentially LG's term for QLED, a set that uses quantum dots to display a better picture than comparable sets. And even though the QNED80 is the entry-level in LG's series of QLED sets, I've been very impressed by its performance for the money - after testing it over the past month.

Also: I saw Samsung and LG's new transparent TVs at CES, and there's a clear winner

The QNED 80 Series is available in 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 86-inch versions, so most preferences for screen size are covered. As for the pricing, that starts at $599 for the smallest 50-inch model and maxes out at $1,799 for the largest option. For this review, I tried out the 55-inch.

View at Best Buy

Out of the box, I noticed the TV had a simple, clean design. The bezel around the edge is a standard size, nothing ultra thin like the ones you'd see on the CES show floor but slim enough to not be a bother. The legs, if you choose to not mount it on a wall, blend in well overall, and it's thin enough that if you choose to wall mount, it'll sit relatively flush. Nothing immediately jumps out design-wise, but the QNED80 model certainly doesn't look cheap either.

Turning to the back of the set, the usual input standards are present; two USB and four HDMI (a mix of 2.0 and 2.1). A small downside here is that one of the HDMI 2.1 ports is the ARC port, meaning that's where your sound bar will need to go if you have one. So if you have two devices you want to utilize HDMI 2.1, say an Xbox Series X and a PS5, plus a sound bar, you'll only be able to have one console plugged in at a time unless you forgo the HDMI 2.1 features on one of them.

Once the set was up and running, I was introduced to LG's "Magic Remote," which utilizes a moving pointer that you control by waving the remote along with voice controls or traditional buttons. I found myself not liking the motion control at first because I couldn't line up my movements with the pointer on the screen, but I quickly discovered that was the entire point.

Also: LG's newest OLED TVs will use AI to look and sound better than ever

You don't even have to point the remote directly at the screen -- it can be pointed at the floor as your arm sits on the couch, at the ceiling, or even in the complete opposite direction. Once I got accustomed to that, I found myself liking it and missed it when I went back to my regular TV.

The QNED model I tested runs on the a7 Gen5 AI Processor, which follows the trend in televisions of late and uses AI to boost both picture and sound quality. LG's own WebOS is the operating system, and while I haven't had too much experience with it, I found the interface fairly easy and quick to use. My favorite apps were easy to access, as were the TV settings, which everyone always spends too much time on.

My living room has a lot of natural light spilling in from the side, plus an overhead ceiling fan that throws a harsh glare on my normal TV set, so much so that it can get distracting at times. While the QNED80 isn't the brightest TV I've seen, when I fired up my first piece of content, I was struck by how much better it handled these conditions, minimizing the glare and displaying a pretty solid picture from nearly any angle.

Also: LG's new CineBeam Qube is a 4K projector that's unlike anything I've ever seen

Overall, I found 4K and HDR content more impressive than a lot of TVs I've seen. It wasn't the highest of high-end quality, of course, but this isn't necessarily designed to compete with the $2,000 and up premium televisions. Even without tinkering with the settings, colors popped when they should and blacks took on an inky darkness that even fans of the Game of Thrones finale could appreciate.

LG says the QNED80 TV does have a local dimming option, which claims to increase contrast by making certain LED zones brighter or softer than those surrounding it. I appreciate the option to turn it on or off, as I noticed a little blooming in certain dark scenes, or backlight bleeding into other things on screen and creating a soft halo of light. This only happened in especially dark scenes, while also watching in the dark, so I'd usually leave the feature turned on unless I wanted to immerse myself in a movie.

I tested LG's entry-level QNED80 TV and was not prepared for it to be this good (4)

On the sound front, the LG QNED80 TV takes advantage of Dolby Atmos, combined with AI to produce 3D spatial sound or audio that's 2-channel but mimics 5.1.2 surround sound. Simply on volume, this set impressed me right away.

On my everyday TV, I need a sound bar to make sure I can hear above the noise of my two kids and dog, and I keep closed captioning on to make sure I don't miss any dialogue. That wasn't necessary here, as the dialogue on TV shows came through loud and clear. Audio did begin to get muddy at a high volume, but that was a much higher volume than I'd ever use.

Also: First look at the new LG soundbars being unveiled at CES 2024

When I pulled up content that used Dolby Atmos, I was surprised by how well the TV pulled off the immersion. LG claims that the QNED can adjust the sound for the specific layout of the room it's in, and I truly did get a surround sound feeling when it was in full effect -- an experience I wasn't expecting with no sound bar or extra speakers in sight.

ZDNET's buying advice

In the end, the LG QNED80 is a television that punches way above its weight. It's not the absolute best set for watching movies or the very best for gaming, but if you're looking for a TV that's flexible enough to take you from playing the latest game to watching movies to binging your favorite show and doing all of those things very well -- with no extra speakers and accessories necessary -- it would be hard to find a better option than this.

Featured reviews

  • I bought Samsung's $649 Galaxy Watch Ultra: What I learned after weeks of testing
  • I replaced my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with the Z Fold 6 for a week - and can't go back
  • One of the best e-readers I've tested is not a ReMarkable or a Kindle
  • I've tried many smart locks, but this is the one I keep on my door
I tested LG's entry-level QNED80 TV and was not prepared for it to be this good (2024)

FAQs

What does entry level TV mean? ›

Entry-level TVs typically have a screen size no smaller than 32 inches, but some models may be as small as 24 inches. TVs with a screen size smaller than 32 inches may be referred to as mini TVs.

Are QNED TVs any good? ›

QNED TVs are great for those who want a 4K smart TV, without having to pay the hefty price for an OLED or QLED model. QNED TVs are considerably more affordable! QNED TVs also provide much greater brightness than QLED TVs.

What are the most common problems with a LG TV? ›

Some key issues with LG TVs include the following.
  • Banding. My Daily Alerts reports that one of the LG TV problems includes banding, which is sometimes called false contouring or posterization. ...
  • Color. ...
  • Sound. ...
  • HDMI. ...
  • Streaming.
May 15, 2023

What is the refresh rate of the LG QNED80? ›

The AI-powered LG QNED80 has a native refresh rate of 120Hz. ^Chris. Helpful?

What is the difference between QLED and QNED? ›

QLED stands for Quantum Light-Emitting Diode, while QNED is short for Quantum Nano-Emitting Diode. QNED TVs use Mini LED technology in conjunction with NanoCell tech to improve colour accuracy at different viewing angles.

What does level entry mean? ›

The meaning of “entry-level” varies by industry, but typically refers to one of two things: either a role that requires no experience or related education, or an entry point to a career that requires minimum education and experience in order to qualify.

What year is LG QNED80? ›

65 inch Class LG QNED 4K Smart TV 2023 - 65QNED80URA.

What are the benefits of QNED TV? ›

A small light makes a big difference

Thanks to this, LG QNED can display higher peak brightness, deeper blacks, and greater precision and detail than your average LCD TV.

Do QNED TVs burn in? ›

QNED TVs don't burn in. Thanks to the way the technology works, it's seemingly impossible for this to happen. LG, along with many other LED brands, have been testing all the technologies that make up QNED over thousands of hours, and so far, no burn-in image retention has been noted.

What are the disadvantages of LG TV? ›

Aside from their high-end OLED models, most LG TVs won't have great blacks, meaning their picture quality is limited. Uniformity issues. LG LED TVs often have issues with gray uniformity, like dirty screen effect (DSE), that can get distracting during sports. Poor value.

What is the life expectancy of a LG TV? ›

On average, most TVs tend to last around 7 to 10 years of frequent usage. Even at its maximum brightness, a TV can easily last for up to 100,000 total hours of use. TVs are built to last. Major manufacturers like Samsung, LG, and Philips, amongst countless others, pride themselves on the quality of their TVs.

Who makes LG TVs and are they any good? ›

LG is one of the top-performing TV brands in the world, so it should come as no surprise that the best LG TVs you'll find on the market today are some of the most technically-advanced displays that have ever been made. It's not just one of the best TV makers, but it's also one of the most prolific.

Is QNED better than OLED? ›

OLED Is Better Than QNED

Another reason is because QNED incorporates NanoCell technology, which improves the color accuracy at different viewing angles. Despite QNED being one of LG's newest technology for TVs, OLED TVs remain the best in the industry.

Is the LG QNED80 Edge lit? ›

Edge-lit local dimming causes distracting blooming. Not bright enough to fight intense glare.

Is LG QNED 80 a mini LED TV? ›

LG QNED80 Series 65-Inch Class QNED Mini LED Smart TV 4K Processor Smart Flat Screen TV for Gaming with Magic Remote AI-Powered 65QNED80URA, 2023 with Alexa Built-in,Black. Ask to play music and games, check the weather, control your smart home, and more with this smart TV.

What are the levels of TV? ›

TV resolution.
ResolutionLines of resolutionPixels
High definition (HD)720p921,600
Full HD1080p2.1 million
4K UHD2160p8 million
8K UHD4320p33 million

What are the levels of TV rating? ›

Under this revised system, television programming would continue to fall into one of the six ratings categories (TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14 or TV-MA), but content descriptors would be added to the ratings where appropriate, based on the type(s) of objectionable content included in the individual program or episode ...

What is the best level for TV? ›

You should make sure that the middle of your TV is mounted at eye level. If you want to mount your TV higher on a wall, for example in the kitchen, bedroom or above a fireplace, then choose a tilting TV mount. This will allow you to tilt the TV to the perfect viewing angle.

What is the best level to watch TV? ›

According to Fredrik, your TV should be mounted so that the center of the screen is around eye-height. “When you look at the TV, you should be looking straight at the center. Forgetting this is a common mistake and many people often place the TV too high up on the wall.”

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Manual Maggio

Last Updated:

Views: 6083

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Manual Maggio

Birthday: 1998-01-20

Address: 359 Kelvin Stream, Lake Eldonview, MT 33517-1242

Phone: +577037762465

Job: Product Hospitality Supervisor

Hobby: Gardening, Web surfing, Video gaming, Amateur radio, Flag Football, Reading, Table tennis

Introduction: My name is Manual Maggio, I am a thankful, tender, adventurous, delightful, fantastic, proud, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.