LG 55LA860W Review

Verdict

Pros

• Gorgeous looking TV
• Bright pictures look excellent
• Smart TV interface is excellent

Cons

• Panel's native contrast performance is below par
• Local dimming system is a bit crude
• Doesn't justify its price

What is the LG 55LA860W?

The LA860W series sits two steps from the top of LG’s current TV pile, underneath the LA960W series and the very exciting LG 55EM970V OLED TV. With this relatively high-end position in mind, it’s no surprise to find the 55-inch 55LA860W combining both a long feature list that includes a strong roster of Smart TV features, 3D and a spectacular, ultra slim design.

It’s available in a huge range of sizes, too, including 42-, 47-, 60- and a gigantic 70-inch version. But with so many great TVs coming out this year, has LG done enough to compete with them?

LG 55LA860W – Design & Connections

On design alone, it emphatically has. The LG 55LA860W’s design really is an eye-catcher. The screen’s bezel really is so
slim it’s barely there – well under 1cm across. In fact you hardly
notice it for most of the time – which proves quite handy during 3D
viewing, as it means the frame doesn’t break the 3D ‘illusion’.

The set’s open frame stand is grandstandingly stylish too, and it’s hard not to have a soft spot for the metallic finish to the bezel’s sides.

Scrutinising the 55LA860W’s connections uncovers another difference between it and the 55LA740V too, as today’s higher-end model has four HDMIs versus the three of the 55LA740V.

LG 55LA860W – Features

Elsewhere the 55LA860W and 55LA740V’s features are more or less the same.

That’s no bad thing as it means you get LG’s admirably content-rich online platform, impressively attractive and well-organised Smart Hub interface and picture calibration tools galore endorsed by the Imaging Science Foundation pro calibration group

Best of all, however, you get one of LG’s rather brilliant little Magic Remote controllers. The Magic Remote we got with the 55LA860W is a right flash harry compared with the one we got with the 55LA740V, mind you, sporting a more streamlined design and a glinting pseudo-metallic finish.

Though actually we found it fitted rather less comfortably in our hand than the ‘cheaper’ version, especially when trying to access the Smart button.

When it comes to the panel used inside the 55LA860W, it’s an edge LED full HD, passive 3D affair driven by a local dimming engine, where sections of the LED array can have their light outputs controlled individually to deliver an enhanced contrast performance.

The smart TV system, meanwhile, is among the better ones out there, though it can’t match Samsung’s for sheer depth of content. You can read our full LG Smart TV review for all the details on that.