Thinking of putting that Christmas bonus to good use? Why not buy yourself a brand-new 4K TV instead of wasting money getting family and friends presents? Just kidding! But it is nice to get yourself something, anything, every once in a while, even if it’s just during Christmas. If you’re looking into splurging on a new TV set, we recommend getting one from LG. The South Korean tech company releases a lot of TVs every year, probably more than any other manufacturer, ensuring a wide range of selections. For something worth less than $400, the UM7300 UHD TV is a solid option. Despite being LG’s most basic 4K TV model (and it shows), it’s still pretty good and most importantly won’t hurt your wallet. Or if you have the cash to burn, the C9 OLED TV, LG’s premium TV offering, is a lean mean entertainment machine that’s guaranteed to blow you away. Save up to $1,003 when you get them on Amazon and Walmart today.
55-inch LG UM7300 UHD TV 4K TV
– $397, was $699
The UM7300 UHD is LG’s most affordable 4K TV, but it still manages to shine thanks to its exceptionally bright display, wide viewing angles, and excellent smart TV features. This TV’s design is simple. It is made entirely of plastic with chunky black bezels surrounding the screen. Its stands are plain-looking but sturdy, and the black panel is nondescript as well. At 3.5 inches thick, this TV might not be well-suited for wall mounting as it’s going to stick out from the wall quite a bit.
Behind this TV you’ll find three HDMI ports, two USB ports, a coaxial connector for hooking up an antenna, and combination component and composite video inputs. There’s a LAN port for connecting to your home network via Ethernet, but the TV also has 802.11ac Wi-Fi built-in. If you have a soundbar (or are planning to buy one), we have great news: The second HDMI port also supports an audio return channel, (sometimes called HDMI ARC), letting you use a single HDMI connection for all of the audio.
This TV flaunts a widescreen display with 3,840 x 2,160 pixels or four times the resolution of Full HD, and it’s pretty good for most content. The IPS panel has wide viewing angles, so it’ll look good no matter where you’re sitting. And since this TV is illuminated by direct backlighting, you won’t have any problem putting it in a brightly-lit room. A couple of things we didn’t like though: Color accuracy wasn’t the best, and contrast was mediocre. Watching scenes with extreme contrast between light and dark, you’ll notice that although the lights are pretty bright, the darks aren’t the deepest. Still, we were pretty happy with the overall picture quality. Furthermore, this TV supports multiple 4K Active HDR formats such as Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG.
One area that LG doesn’t compromise on is the smart TV experience. LG’s WebOS is one of our favorite smart TV platforms since it’s easy to navigate and offers decent app selection. You’ve got access to every popular streaming service, including Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube TV. What’s more, voice control is possible via the integration of both Google Assistant and Alexa. You can also connect your Apple and Android devices on the big screen as it supports AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connections.
The 55-inch LG UM7300 UHD 4K TV maybe LG’s most basic 4K TV model, but it comes at a great price that’s hard to resist. Get yours on Amazon today for just $397, $302 off its normal retail price of $699. And if you order via the Amazon Rewards Visa Card and get approval, you’ll get an additional $60 off instantly, reducing the price even further to $337.
55-inch LG C9 OLED 4K TV
– $1,497, was $2,500
The LG C9 OLED TV is remarkably thin. We know that 4K TVs have gradually been losing their thickness over time, but this one still manages to surprise. It retains the slick and understated appearance of its predecessor, the C8, with a sloped stand that fires sound at the listener. The bezel is gone, and the screen is surrounded by a dark metallic trim. Both the stand and the TV’s back have a gorgeous brushed metal finish that looks exceptionally luxurious. Attaching the TV to the stand is relatively easy, but you might want to invite some friends over so they can properly ogle at this beauty.
At the back of the TV, there are two sets of ports, one facing left and one facing backward. All the basic ones are present: Three USB ports, an RF connector and tuner for an antenna, RCA jacks for older hardware, and an optical output. The real stars are the four HDMI 2.1 ports, all capable of supporting 4K resolution at up to 120 frames per second and Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), optimized for soundbars and surround-sound systems.
This TV’s display is absolutely breathtaking. It is extraordinarily bright, the colors are pitch-perfectly accurate, and the picture runs extremely smooth. Underneath the screen, LG’s Alpha Gen 2 processor and WebOS run things efficiently. It seamlessly presents its smart TV interface and can even improve image quality no matter the source. Thankfully, this TV doesn’t bombard you with a cacophony of ads. The WebOS ribbon that recommends content runs stealthily at the bottom, taking up little of the screen space even when pulled up. There’s also a dashboard for managing connected home devices, which may include Alexa and Google Assistant. Search content online through voice commands or ask the TV to show you your security camera’s video feed on-screen.
The 55-inch LG C9 OLED TV can make you cry tears of joy because of its stunning picture quality and unparalleled viewer experience. It’s one of the best TVs money can buy, earning a terrific 4.5 out of 5 stars rating in our review earlier this year. Right now, this TV is available on Walmart for a massive $1,003 off. Instead of its usual price of $2,500, get this fantastic 4K smart TV for $1,497.
For a comprehensive and smart way to shop for your next TV, click here for our TV buying guide. Stressing about the holidays? Here are some last-minute gift ideas that remove the worry of delivery. Don’t forget to visit our curated deals page for more awesome 4K TV deals.
