LG NanoCell 90 Series 65-inch 4K TV review - Business Insider - Business Insider

High dynamic range (HDR) performance still lags behind a few cheaper models from other brands, but the TV's viewing angles and smart capabilities are among the best you can find for $1,199.99.

That being said, Filmmaker Mode is not available when watching Dolby Vision videos on streaming services or Ultra HD Blu-ray.

For the most accurate Dolby Vision image, I recommend using the Cinema setting with local dimming set to High. .

Long story short, IPS panels are known for superior viewing angles, allowing images to look good even if you're sitting off to the side, while VA panels are known for better contrast and black levels.

In practice, the IPS screen's viewing angles don't disappoint.

Off-axis colors and contrast tend to fade and distort a lot on LCD TVs from other brands, but the LG NanoCell 90 maintains its picture performance very well, even if you're sitting off to the side?

Local dimming does become more noticeable when off-center but, in general, viewing angles are a key benefit of this model.  .

This is in part because the NanoCell 90 includes full-array local dimming.

That being said, the NanoCell 90 doesn't use as many dimming zones as most TVs in this price range.

There are other factors that contribute to local dimming performance but, overall, the more zones the better. .

In fact, standard dynamic range (SDR) content essentially looks flawless with no major dimming artifacts.

This is pretty much par for the course when it comes to flagship 4K sets, however, and the real test comes down to how good high dynamic range (HDR) content looks. .

When judging the TV's HDR performance as a whole, however, there are some issues worth pointing out. .

First and foremost, the NanoCell 90 can't get as bright as some other 4K HDR TVs in the $800 to $1,200 range.

It is a bit disappointing to see such average peak brightness numbers on a 65-inch LCD in this price range, but the TV's image quality does still benefit from its support for HDR.

It's also worth noting that I encountered some odd discrepancies when viewing Dolby Vision content through different sources.

When watching various Dolby Vision titles using the Cinema setting through the TV's built-in apps, like Netflix, the picture appears unusually dim, often lacking the punch in highlights that one would expect from HDR content.

When watching the same Dolby Vision titles using a Fire TV Stick 4K or Xbox One X connected to one of the TV's HDMI ports, however, highlights look brighter and more intense.

After looking into the matter, LG explains, "The image quality processing of Dolby Vision content is the same on either internal app or HDMI input and has been verified during the Dolby Certification process.

All things considered, I ultimately prefer to watch Dolby Vision content using my Fire TV Stick 4K since it seems to take better advantage of the TV's brightness capabilities and  match the TV's HDR10 performance better.

The NanoCell 90 makes use of LG's webOS smart TV platform, offering a fast and responsive system with a nice assortment of apps and lifestyle features.

LG's new NanoCell 90 TV offers solid overall performance, especially when it comes to smart features and viewing angles

At $1,199.99, the 65-inch NanoCell 90 is a decent buy for customers who want an LCD TV with wide viewing angles and comprehensive digital assistant support for their living room

There are several worthy 65-inch alternatives to the NanoCell 90 in the $800 to $1,200 price range

On the downside, those competing models have worse viewing angles, are typically prone to more uniformity issues, and feature fewer built-in digital assistant options

Cons: Noticeable blooming in dark scenes when watching HDR content, peak brightness isn't as high as competing TVs, inconsistencies with Dolby Vision playback (possibly an external source or DV issue rather than the TV itself)