Our Verdict
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.
- Great viewing angle
- Great smart features.
- High input lag
- Poor and not uniform blacks
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We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests are done with specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
Test Results
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.
Similar to the LG UF7700, the local dimming is a bit useless. The zones are really big.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The passive 3D is great, with no crosstalk at all (assuming you sit relatively in-axis).
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.
It can play 24p movies judder-free, except when they are transmitted over 60p. 'TruMotion' is the soap opera effect feature.
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'.
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'.
Good bass response for a TV, and the frequency response is good, too. But the TV doesn't get loud at all.
Good distortion values at low volumes, but poor results when under heavier loads, even though the TV doesn't get loud.
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.
