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LG UF8500 TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Review updated Mar 01, 2017 at 06:31 am
LG UF8500 Picture
6.6
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.1
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.4
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.1
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.6
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.1
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
4.3
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.6
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the LG UH8500

The LG UF8500 4k UHD LED TV has worse picture quality than average, especially in a dark room. The color accuracy at an angle is good though, as are its smart features.

Our Verdict

6.6 Mixed Usage

The LG UF8500 LED TV is basically the same as the cheaper UF7700, but with 3D. Overall, the picture quality is not very good. At least it maintains its colors at an angle and has great smart features.

Pros
  • Great viewing angle
  • Great smart features.
Cons
  • High input lag
  • Poor and not uniform blacks
  • 6.6 Mixed Usage
  • 6.1 Movies
  • 7.4 TV Shows
  • 7.1 Sports
  • 6.6 Video Games
  • 6.1 HDR Movies
  • 4.3 HDR Gaming
  • 6.6 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Mar 01, 2017: Review published.
  2. Updated Oct 25, 2015: Our testers have started testing this product.
  3. Updated Apr 24, 2015: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Test Results

Design
8.5
Design
Style
Curved No

The LG UF8500 looks like a high-end TV. The borders are thin and the TV is slim. The stand is very wide, but the TV rocks back and forth when you push it.

Design
Stand

Dimensions of the stand of the 60": 45" x 12"

Design
Borders
Borders 0.51" (1.3 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 1.30" (3.3 cm)
Picture Quality
5.6
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
798 : 1

It has an IPS panel, so the blacks are poor.

3.0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Direct

Similar to the LG UF7700, the local dimming is a bit useless. The zones are really big.

5.9
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Peak 2% Window
258 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
258 cd/m²
6.2
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.256%
50% DSE
0.249%

The gray uniformity is bad. The corners and the edges are darker than the rest. There are also a lot of darker lines and spots everywhere.

6.5
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
LCD Type
IPS
Color Shift
24°
Brightness
36°
Black Level
75°

Due to its IPS panel, it maintains its color accuracy even when viewed at an angle.

Update 01/06/2017: We have changed the methodology of testing. Since this is an old TV which we don't have anymore, we extrapolated the results from 2016 TVs.

0
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
5.975%

Like every other LG IPS TV that we have reviewed, the black uniformity is bad. The corners are brighter than the rest. We tried fixing the issues by rubbing the screen with a soft cloth, but we couldn't make it better.

8.0
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
4.55
Color dE
2.7276
Gamma
2.12
9.7
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.27
Color dE
0.996
Gamma
2.2
8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

DVDs looks good on this TV once upscaled.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

720p content looks good without too much fuzziness or over sharpening.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

Blu-rays looks great without any issues.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

Native 4k content looks very sharp.

6.8
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
No
DCI P3 xy
75.95%
DCI P3 uv
81.47%
Rec 2020 xy
53.86%
Rec 2020 uv
59.63%
7.0
Picture Quality
Reflections
Reflection
1.9%
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss

Its semi-gloss finish reflects more light than average. At least the direct reflections only have a small rainbow around them.
The maximum luminosity, when increasing 'Backlight' to the max, is average-good.

10
Picture Quality
3D
3D
Yes
3D Type
Passive

The passive 3D is great, with no crosstalk at all (assuming you sit relatively in-axis).

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Motion
8.2
Motion
Motion Blur
Refresh Rate 120 Hz
Response Time
16 ms
Overshoot
0 ms

The response time is average-good. All transitions take about the same time, which results in a darker outline following and leading moving objects. The backlight isn't flicker-free; it uses a PWM, even at maximum brightness.

2.8
Motion
Image Flicker
PWM Dimming Frequency
120 Hz
BFI
No
BFI Frequency
120 Hz
BFI In Game Mode
No
8.6
Motion
24p Playback
Judder-free 24p
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60p
No
Judder-free 24p via 60i
Yes

It can play 24p movies judder-free, except when they are transmitted over 60p. 'TruMotion' is the soap opera effect feature.

10
Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes
Inputs
5.9
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
56.7 ms
1080p With Interpolation
116.5 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
63.1 ms
4k @ 60Hz + HDR
N/A
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR
N/A

The input lag varies a lot, but all modes are about the same, so you don't need to be under 'Game', as long as you turn off 'TruMotion'.

8.0
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes

It doesn't support 1080p @ 120 fps, but it does support chroma 4:4:4 if you label the input as PC. To get 4k @ 60hz @ 4:4:4, you will also need to turn on 'HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color'.

Inputs
Side Inputs
Inputs
Rear Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 3
USB 3
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 1 (shared)
Composite In 1 (shared)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
SD/SDHC 0
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
No
5.1 Passthrough ARC Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Vision
No
5.1 Passthrough ARC DTS
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth Yes
ARC Yes (HDMI 2)
USB 3 Yes (1)
HDCP 2.2 Yes
CEC Yes
MHL No
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Sound Quality
7.2
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Std. Dev. @ 70
4.66 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.8 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ Max
4.45 dB SPL
Max
85.2 dB SPL
Low-end Cutoff
84 Hz

Good bass response for a TV, and the frequency response is good, too. But the TV doesn't get loud at all.

3.7
Sound Quality
Total Harmonic Distortion
Distortion @ 70
0.05
Distortion @ 80
0.612
Distortion @ Max
1.144

Good distortion values at low volumes, but poor results when under heavier loads, even though the TV doesn't get loud.

Smart Features
9.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS WebOS

The LG UF8500 has the latest WebOS smart TV platform, which is great. The remote can also be used to control the on-screen pointer. You can see our full review of WebOS here.

0
Smart Features
Ads
Ad-free
No
Opt-out
No
Smart Features
Remote
Remote Smart
Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 75 W
Power Consumption (Max) 136 W
Firmware 03.04.02