LG UR781

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”

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Panel technology: LCD VA Brand: LG Resolution: 3840x2160 Operating system: WebOS Model year: 2023

Our verdict

5.5

Overall rating

LG UR781 is currently the cheapest model from the Korean manufacturer. It features an excellent WebOS system, which is the main advantage of this television. It satisfies most users with access to various streaming platforms and capabilities. The TV offers adequate picture quality for its price, which will certainly meet the expectations of many basic users. Although its HDR capabilities are somewhat limited by the lack of Dolby Vision or HDR10+, it supports basic formats such as HDR10 and HLG. The television handles low-quality content quite well, thanks to the smooth transition smoothing feature, which provides smooth and clear transitions, particularly appreciated when watching films from low-quality sources (e.g., free-to-air television). When it comes to gaming, the television has a very low input lag, which is a fundamental criterion. If we are looking for a budget option, it is quite a nice choice for those willing to compromise on a 120Hz panel for the sake of price. Although the brightness of the television is lower than in competing models, and the colour gamut coverage is limited, the LG UR781 still offers impeccable HDR content appearance due to the presence of dynamic tone mapping. With proper calibration, the television can achieve better colour reproduction and optimal sharpness, significantly enhancing comfort and enjoyment while watching.

Advantages

  • WebOS with a large number of applications

  • Low input lag values

  • Works great with PC

  • High native contrast

  • Game Bar

Disadvantages

No like

  • Very low brightness

  • Poor viewing angles

  • The system can "lag"

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    5.3

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    5.7

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    4.2

  • Gaming on console

    6.2

  • TV as a computer monitor

    6.0

  • Watching in bright light

    3.9

  • Utility functions

    6.8

  • Apps

    9.7

  • Sound quality

    5.2

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TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1 Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps

Review LG UR781 Appearance of the TV Review LG UR781 Appearance of the TV Review LG UR781 Appearance of the TV Review LG UR781 Appearance of the TV Review LG UR781 Appearance of the TV Review LG UR781 Appearance of the TV Review LG UR781 Appearance of the TV

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Contrast and black detail

5.5/10

Local dimming function: No

Review LG UR781 Contrast and black detail

Result

4,450:1

Review LG UR781 Contrast and black detail

Result

4,550:1

Review LG UR781 Contrast and black detail

Result

4,500:1

Review LG UR781 Contrast and black detail

Result

4,750:1

Review LG UR781 Contrast and black detail

Result

3,650:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

Review LG UR781 Visibility of details in the lights

LG UR781 is a TV with a VA panel that stands out for its good native contrast, significantly better than that of IPS or ADS screens. Thanks to this technology, bright elements on a dark background look natural and there is no issue with distortion. Unfortunately, the lack of local dimming means that in darker rooms, the blacks are not ideal – they take on a bluish hue, which can be noticeable during nighttime viewing.

Despite this, the LG UR781 offers sufficiently good quality in dark scenes, especially for movie fans. The blacks are deeper than those of IPS panels, allowing for a more cinematic experience. The VA panel also provides stronger contrast, making the image look sharper and details in darker shots more visible. It's a solid choice for those who appreciate better picture quality in evening conditions.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

HDR effect quality

3/10

Supported formats: HDR10, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 83.0%, Bt.2020: 61.0%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review LG UR781 Brightness measurement

Result

209 nit

Review LG UR781 Brightness measurement

Result

185 nit

Review LG UR781 Brightness measurement

Result

241 nit

Review LG UR781 Brightness measurement

Result

147 nit

Review LG UR781 Brightness measurement

Result

234 nit

In HDR mode, LG UR781 unfortunately does not impress with its brightness. In tests on five screens, the television achieved only around 200 nits, which is quite a low value for HDR standards. This brightness is comparable to levels typical for SDR, which means that HDR effects are not sufficiently vivid, and the picture may look less impressive, especially in dynamic, bright scenes. In HDR mode, it has certain limitations in colour reproduction. This means that colours may not be as intense and rich as in televisions that handle a wider colour gamut better. In practice, this can make the image less vibrant and dynamic, and HDR effects may not be as spectacular as one might expect. Additionally, UR781 LG has some issues with accurate colour representation in HDR mode, which makes content look less lively.

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Review LG UR781 Scene from movie PAN

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

Review LG UR781 Scene from movie Billy Lynn

After calibration, the LG UR781 television performs well in displaying demanding scenes in movies. In the high luminance test, like the scene from the film "The Man," the TV handled it quite well. Although the picture is somewhat dim and lacks contrast, the tonal quality of the scene was preserved very well. The scene from "Billy Lynn" also posed no problems and was displayed well on this television. Dynamic mapping is present here, allowing the TV to reproduce such high brightness effects as the mastered scenes from the films we used in the test. For the best picture quality, it is definitely recommended to enable this feature.

HDR luminance chart:

The LG UR781 TV supports HDR10 and HLG formats, but it does not offer support for more advanced formats such as Dolby Vision or HDR10+, which could provide better picture quality and more precise brightness management. However, the scene with the horses displays quite a lot of detail in the background thanks to the use of dynamic tone mapping. As a result, HDR content with high effects looks really good despite the lack of support for dynamic metadata.

Static HDR10

Review LG UR781 Static HDR 10

Factory color reproduction

3.9/10

Colour reproduction in LG UR781 in Filmmaker Mode, which although it is the best mode available from factory settings, is not without its flaws. First and foremost, the issue is with white balance, where the graph shows dips in the blue colour level. This phenomenon results in a shift towards yellow hues, making the image warmer than it should be. Such deviation means that the colours on the screen are not reproduced naturally, which may be particularly noticeable in scenes with white or neutral backgrounds. This can be confirmed by the Color Checker Test, which showed that some colours "escape" into other shades, indicating that the LG UR781 TV does not display colours accurately. This distortion can affect visual experiences, making film scenes seem less realistic and details may be displayed in incorrect colours, negatively impacting overall picture quality.

In terms of contrast, analysis of the gamma graph revealed drops to a level of 2.0, while the optimal value should be 2.4. This means that the TV may display darker parts of the image brighter in some scenes, reducing their depth and dynamism. Additionally, on the EOTF curve, which is responsible for brightness reproduction, an unnatural spike was noticed at the beginning. This phenomenon may result in excessive brightness boosting in the brightest parts of the image, leading to a loss of details in very bright scenes.

Factory Mode

After calibration

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Color reproduction after calibration

6/10

After calibration, colour reproduction in SDR content is quite good. The white balance has been effectively improved, resulting in natural, balanced hues across different scenes. The gamma has also been adjusted, providing a more precise representation of details in the shadows and bright areas of the image. As a result, the LG UR781 TV performs well in everyday use, offering solid colour quality and clear, well-balanced images in SDR mode.

However, the situation is less favourable for HDR content. The LG UR781 TV does not support a wide colour gamut, which limits the depth and richness of colours that HDR can provide. The EOTF curve deviates from the ideal, leading to excessive highlighting of details in the bright areas of the image. Unfortunately, this approach results in significant colour reproduction errors, as confirmed by tests on the Colour Checker. Additionally, the low brightness level of the panel further negatively impacts HDR image quality, causing the effects of dynamic range to not be fully realised and colours to appear washed out.

Despite some shortcomings in HDR mode, the TV has significantly improved after calibration, especially in SDR content. The enhancement of white balance and gamma has notably increased image quality, providing a more natural and cohesive colour reproduction. Compared to its pre-calibration state, the difference is clear, and the LG UR781 TV now offers better performance in everyday use, particularly in standard dynamic range.

Review LG UR781 Color reproduction before calibration
Review LG UR781 Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.6/10

TV LG UR781 handles tonal transitions exceptionally well, delivering very high picture quality in all scenes. Issues with gradation only arise in darker colours; however, they are subtle and not glaringly obvious. People with particularly sensitive eyes may notice these imperfections, but overall, the television provides very smooth tonal transitions.

Review LG UR781 Smoothness of tonal transitions Review LG UR781 Smoothness of tonal transitions Review LG UR781 Smoothness of tonal transitions Review LG UR781 Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review LG UR781 Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review LG UR781 Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review LG UR781 Smoothness of tonal transitions
Review LG UR781 Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

6.8/10

OK Smooth transition function

Review LG UR781 Smooth transition function

OK Image without overscan on the SD signal

Review LG UR781 Image without overscan on the SD signal

Let's now address the function of smoothing tonal transitions and its impact on overall picture quality. As illustrated by the photo on the left, this function performs exceptionally mediocre; we chose the "low" level, which does not enhance quality but also does not blur the film grain. There is a possibility to increase the strength of this function, which could soften this gradation, but one must consider that the image will be too softened in certain scenes.

On the other hand, regarding image scaling, the television does not perform outstandingly, which may be particularly noticeable with lower resolution content. The LG UR781 television applies a slight, artificial sharpening boost, making the image appear sharper; however, this mainly results from the application of artificial contours. For some users, this may be an advantage, as they prefer more vivid, pronounced details. However, this is a subjective matter—such an effect may not appeal to everyone, especially if they desire a more natural appearance of the image.

Blur and motion smoothness

2.2/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 60Hz

Film motion smoothing option: Yes

Blur reduction option: No

BFI function 60Hz: No

BFI function 120Hz: No

Brightness drop with BFI: 0%

Review LG UR781 Blur and motion smoothness

The LG UR781 TV offers quite decent smoothness for movies, thanks to the "True Motion" option, which allows users to adjust the motion smoothing level on a scale from 0 to 10. Users can choose whether they want to maintain a more traditional, cinematic effect with a slight stutter (lower settings) or prefer a smoother image with a theatrical quality, which, although slightly deviating from the cinematic standard, may appeal to many.

In dynamic sports content and gaming, the LG UR781 TV performs worse. The TV has a 60Hz panel, which limits its interpolation capabilities to these values; therefore, smoothness can be improved in films, but motion blur cannot be reduced. Additionally, the lack of support for 120 Hz and BFI (Black Frame Insertion) technology means that fast-moving objects become blurred, and the panel's response time is too slow, negatively affecting clarity in fast scenes. As a result, the TV may not meet the expectations of gamers and sports fans who are counting on a smooth, clear image without motion blur.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Review LG UR781 Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate)
Review LG UR781 Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate)
Review LG UR781 Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate)

Console compatibility and gaming features

4.7/10

  • Yes ALLM: Yes
  • No VRR: No
  • No VRR range: No
  • No Dolby Vision Game Mode: No
  • Yes Correct implementation of HGIG: Yes
  • No 1080p@120Hz: No
  • No 1440p@120Hz: No
  • No 4K@120Hz: No
  • Yes Game bar: Yes
Review LG UR781 Console compatibility and gaming features
Review LG UR781 Console compatibility and gaming features

When playing on a console, the LG UR781 TV offers several significant features that can affect the gaming experience, but it also has some limitations. On the plus side, it includes ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), which automatically optimises the picture settings by switching the LG UR781 TV to low latency mode, which is beneficial for gamers. The TV also supports correct implementation of HGiG, meaning HDR games look as intended by the creators.

Unfortunately, it lacks support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which can result in worse gameplay smoothness, especially in more dynamic games. It also does not support Dolby Vision mode for gaming, which limits HDR picture quality in games using this format. The TV has a 60Hz panel, so it does not support higher frequencies at other resolutions, such as 1080p@120Hz, 1440p@120Hz, or 4K@120Hz, which is a significant downside for gamers expecting smoother gameplay at higher resolutions. There is also no support for G-Sync technology, which limits image synchronisation in games.

On the positive side, the presence of a Game Bar feature allows for quick access to settings for gamers and makes it easier to adjust picture parameters during gameplay.

Review LG UR781 Console compatibility and gaming features
Review LG UR781 Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

10/10

Measuring input lag on the LG UR781 television turns out very well, regardless of the signal or resolution. Gamers will surely appreciate the manufacturer's efforts, as gameplay in 4K at 60 Hz with HDR enabled achieves only 13 ms of lag. This is an exceptionally low score that provides smooth and responsive experiences, even in fast-paced online games where every millisecond counts.

SDR HDR Dolby Vision
1080p60: 13 ms 2160p60: 13 ms
2160p60: 13 ms

Compatibility with PC

6/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Very Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good

Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 13ms

Max refresh rate: 60Hz

G-Sync: No

Review LG UR781 Compatibility with PC

Displaying text in 4K resolution at 60 Hz is exceptionally sharp, with excellent colour reproduction, meaning that even fine details like grey letters are clearly visible, despite the use of a BGR pixel layout. An input lag of 14 ms ensures quick responses, making the television ideal for work. Unfortunately, the employed 60 Hz panel and lack of G-Sync do not meet the needs of gamers using a computer, resulting in a lower rating for gaming. Nonetheless, the television performs well in office tasks and media viewing, which compensates for its use at work.

Viewing angles

3.5/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 70%

A characteristic feature of VA panels is the noticeable drop in image quality at angles. In the case of this model, when viewed at a 45-degree angle, brightness decreases by as much as 70%, which significantly affects the depth of black and overall image quality. The LG UR781 televisions with VA panels do have better contrast when viewed head-on, but their viewing angles are limited compared to other technologies, such as IPS.

TV efficiency during daytime

3.9/10

Review LG UR781 TV efficiency during daytime
Review LG UR781 TV efficiency during daytime

Matrix coating: Satin

Reflection suppression: Good

Black levels during daytime: Good

Thanks to its satin finish, it handles glare well during daytime viewing, making reflections less bothersome. However, due to its low brightness in SDR mode, which is only 231 nits, it may struggle to display images clearly in brighter rooms, especially on sunny days. Watching in such conditions may result in poorer visibility and reduced image clarity.

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

LG UR781: 231 cd/m2

Details about the matrix

Software version during testing: 03.31.60

Subpixel Structure:

Review LG UR781 TV details about the matrix

Panel uniformity:

Review LG UR781 TV details about the matrix

Backlight Type: White LED

TV features

6.8/10

  • System operacyjny: WebOS

  • TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

  • Yes Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): Yes
  • Yes Recording programming: Yes
  • No Picture in Picture (PiP): No
  • Yes Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
  • Yes AirPlay: Yes
  • No Voice search in native language: No
  • Yes Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
  • Yes Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV: Yes
  • Yes Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker: Yes
  • Yes Audio only mode: Yes
  • Yes RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): Infrared
  • No Backlit remote control: No
  • Yes Teletext: Yes
Review LG UR781 TV features
Review LG UR781 TV features
Review LG UR781 TV features Review LG UR781 TV features

WebOS in LG UR781 televisions is a modern, intuitive system that provides easy access to popular streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube, among others. It features a simple interface and supports functions such as Screen Mirroring, AirPlay, and Bluetooth. The system supports the connection of external devices like keyboards and headphones, offering rich personalisation options and advanced multimedia features. Unfortunately, the base model of the LG does not come with a Magic remote (on-screen cursor), which is a shame! It's also worth noting that in the case of this model, WebOS was not particularly responsive and can be a bit annoying.

Playing files from USB

8.2/10

Review LG UR781 Playing files from USB
Maximum photo resolution:Supported photo formats:
Yes 4 Mpix
Yes JPEG
Yes 6 Mpix
No HEIC
Yes 8 Mpix
Yes PNG
Yes 10 Mpix
No GIF
Yes 12 Mpix
No WebP
Yes 16 Mpix
No TIFF
No 20 Mpix
No BMP
No 24 Mpix
No SVG
No 28 Mpix
Yes 32 Mpix

Television LG UR781 will play most files and video codecs, and when subtitles are added to the film, you can even change the colour or size of the font. The biggest downside is the lack of support for less popular photo formats.

Apps

9.7/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Viaplay
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
MAX
No
Kodi

Sound

5.2/10

5.2/10

Subjective sound quality

Yes Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

No Dolby True HD 7.1

Yes Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)

No Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD

No DTS:X in DTS-HD MA

No DTS-HD Master Audio

Although the TV offers a certain hint of bass, the overall sound quality is average. The television does not support most advanced surround sound codecs, which limits its capabilities in fully reproducing audio effects. The only support for surround sound is the ability to stream audio to an external device, such as a soundbar, using Dolby Digital Plus.

  • Resolution 4K UHD (3840 x 2160): Provides four times the resolution of Full HD, offering a sharp and clear image with rich detail.

  • α5 AI 4K Gen6 Processor: An advanced processor using artificial intelligence to optimise image and sound quality, adapting them to the displayed content.

  • HDR10 Pro and HLG: Support for High Dynamic Range technologies like HDR10 Pro and HLG provides better contrast and more accurate colour reproduction, resulting in a more realistic image.

  • FILMMAKER MODE™: Allows you to watch films as intended by the creators, turning off additional image processing and maintaining the original aspect ratio, colours, and frame rate.

  • Game Optimizer: Provides quick access to settings optimised for different game genres, ensuring a better gaming experience.

  • webOS 23 Operating System: An intuitive and fast Smart TV system enabling access to popular streaming apps and personalisation of the interface.

  • Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity: Ensures wireless connection to the internet and other devices, enhancing the functionality of the television.

  • HDMI 2.1 Ports: Three HDMI ports supporting eARC and ALLM, allowing connection of modern devices with fast data transfer and advanced feature support.

  • 20W Sound: A 2.0 speaker system with AI Sound technology, offering clear and immersive sound tailored to the content being played.

This limitation is particularly noticeable during TV tests and viewing films in bright daylight, where colours lose their intensity. For users looking for more advanced HDR effects, LG UR781 may prove insufficient, despite the presence of dynamic tone mapping.