***Updated 11/26/14: I still love this TV! The only thing I wish this set had was 4K but aside from that, TV is perfect. Still about as close to 4K as you're going to get without forking over the additional $1,000. But with the recent drops in prices I'd be on the lookout because I've seen some pretty cheap TVs as of late. Do your research and read the reviews before you decide to buy!
***Updated 6/29/14: It's been almost three months since I have purchased this TV and still no issues, aside from one that was just recently brought to my attention -- the backlight uniformity issue. Let me take a step back. I'm not even sure it could even be considered an "issue" and I will tell you why. It wasn't until I read one of the other reviews on here (which by the way, is extremely over exaggerated) that I noticed the backlight differences with this specific set (which BY THE WAY is ONLY noticeable in certain frames, like the end credits of a movie for instance or a scene with a bright white background). In the months I have owned this TV, I have easily watched over 50 different movies, TV shows, sports games, etc. using my HD cable box, my Xbox One, and the integrated applications built into the TV (like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, etc.). With that being said, I think I've exposed this TV to just about every type of viewing experience possible, including those with extreme low-light and those with extremely bright backgrounds. NOT ONCE HAS THE BACKLIGHT UNIFORMITY BEEN AN ISSUE. Read that previous sentence again.
Now if you're reading this right now, you've probably already read my entire review and my previous update. If you paid any attention, you would have noticed that I said I owned "three previous LG televisions" prior to getting this one. Biased much? Maybe. But I also stated that "I have yet to encounter an issue with the quality and construction of these TVs" and I still stand by that statement. I don't see the backlight uniformity difference with this TV being an issue, I see it as a personal preference that some will like, and some clearly won't. Like I said, the only time I really ever notice it is the end credits of a movie. Other than that, it does not in any way interfere or take away from my viewing experience. As a matter of fact, I think it produces a better overall picture for this TV, which is STILL absolutely stunning. But to give this TV a 2-star rating purely based off of something that you personally don't like just isn't fair to the TV and it isn't fair to others interested in buying it.
With that being said, I am not by any means saying that this TV is perfect, because it is not. I just really, really like it. The interface is responsive and simple to operate, the picture is just about as close to 4K as you're gonna get with a 1080p set, the speakers sound great, the TV itself is just gorgeous...I mean I could go on. I just have yet to find anything on this model to gripe about. And trust me, I would be the first to complain if I noticed something wrong with this TV. I am as OCD as it gets when it comes to things I own and invest money in. I'm a decently tech-savvy kinda guy so quality is very important to me with products like these. Like many of you, I do A LOT of research before making purchases on Amazon and this purchase was no different. This is the most expensive purchase I have made to date on Amazon so I didn't take it lightly when I decided to buy it. LG's reputation has improved significantly over the past couple years and they're certainly gaining some ground with Samsung when it comes to TVs and other electronic products, so that played a big part in me ultimately deciding to get this TV. That, included with my previous experiences, I felt it was the right choice to invest in another LG product and I can tell you, I have not been disappointed.
Still undecided? I suggest taking a look at the TV in stores yourself. Only then will you know for sure if this is what you want.
LG will be updating their webOS software for the 2015 LG models so you may want to wait until then, or wait until 4K TV prices go down. Either way, best of luck in finding what's right for you.
**Updated 5/1/14: After having this TV for a little over three weeks, it is still working flawlessly. I ran into an issue with the picture, but that was because I altered the settings and it has since been fixed. I still have yet to find optimal picture settings for this particular TV because there's so many possible ways to adjust the picture. Still though, right out of the box, it has amazing quality and stunning detail. It's a bit surprising to see other people running into issues, because I have yet to...knock on wood! This is definitely one of my best purchases to date and I will continue to provide more input in the future!
From what I can see, I am the third person to review this TV. Before I get into the specifics, I just want it to be known that I normally don't write reviews for anything, but seeing as how I am one of the first people to buy this model, I felt as though feedback would only be fair to potential buyers. I am not an expert when it comes to electronics and high-tech products, but I wouldn't consider myself an amateur either, as I follow the tech world and do a lot of research into electronic devices before buying deciding to buy them. Part of that research includes reading reviews and a lot of times, a good or bad review can be the difference in purchasing a product. I am sure that's the case with many Amazon customers.
I have had three previous LG televisions and I have yet to encounter an issue with the quality and construction of these TVs. I'd like to consider myself unbiased, but I can't put aside my previous experiences with LG. I wouldn't really consider them the best of the best when it comes to TVs, but they're definitely working their way up there and are proving to be a good choice compared to Samsung or Sharp, especially for all the features you're getting when you buy one of their high-end TV models.
55LB7200 REVIEW:
DESIGN QUALITY
The TV itself is very appealing, constructed of a brushed aluminum style along the bezels, and very thin from front to back. You have plenty of screen space as the bezel is very narrow on all sides. Short of that, I can't really say much in regards to the design. It is simple, yet very refined. Overall, this is a very good looking TV constructed of premium materials, just the way a TV of this caliber should be.
TV SETUP
Out of the box, setup was a breeze, Depending on your preference for mounting, you can used the provided legs for the stand or you can mount it on the wall, as you can with most modern TVs. If you're using a TV stand, take into consideration the width of this TV and the placement of the legs. In total, the legs are about 47" apart at their furthest point, which is in the front. This TV is also very heavy, weighing in at just over 40 pounds, so also take that into consideration should you decide to mount it. The power outlet is flat so that makes a difference as well.
Upon plugging in the TV and starting up, you'll be guided through a very user friendly and simple setup process with the included Magic Remote, including registering your set top cable and satellite devices, and setting up either a wired or wireless internet connection. In total, setup took me no more than 5 minutes.
PICTURE/SOUND QUALITY & 3D
The picture is very clear and crisp, which is one of the very first things you'll notice when setting up the TV. First thing I did after setting up was pop in a blu ray into my Xbox One and immerse myself into the experience of the TV. The vibrant colors, the clarity, and brightness are all absolutely superb. A few minor changes to the settings may be required as the TV has an auto-dimming feature which you'll immediately notice at the end credits of a movie. But overall, stunning picture quality. To take full advantage of the high definition, I definitely recommend a blu ray player and HD capability with your cable/satellite devices.
As for the sound, the built in speakers do seem a bit low at times. I haven't quite optimized the sound to my personal tastes but I'm sure some tweaking will get it right where I want it. I have yet to be disappointed with LG's sound quality and I'm confident this will be no different once I get it right. Overall, it sounds very good.
I haven't tried the 3D yet, so I can't comment on that.
SMART FEATURES
This is the FIRST Smart TV I have purchased and so far I am very pleased with the interface and the layout of different apps you can choose from. It appears that LG completely redesigned their Smart TV interface, judging by older LG models. I can't provide a comparison between the two (again, this is the first Smart TV I have owned) but this one is definitely very smooth and simple to use. You can even customize the arrangement of apps based on personal preference.
This TV boasts a powerful processor, so playing a movie on Netflix or browsing the web on the Web OS app, proves to be an easy task, with no lagging or freezing whatsoever. You can watch a movie, pause it, do a web search, and simply switch back to the movie without restarting the app. The Magic Remote makes operating the Smart features much easier. It is very light and fits comfortably in your hand.
The LG Store has yet to be introduced, but hopefully it will provide more features to take full advantage of what this TV has to offer.
OVERALL
So far, I am very happy with this TV. It is very simple to use and provides a great viewing experience. I am giving this TV a 5 Star rating as it has thus far proven to live up to its hype in regards to picture quality and the features it provides. It has operated flawlessly and I have yet to encounter an issue or something for me to gripe about. For someone who points out even the slightest of flaws, that is saying something.
As the title of this review states, this is a basic review. I hope it will provide some insight to potential buyers looking for a TV that packs a lot of features for a reasonable price. As time goes on, I will provide more details on my experience with this TV.
| Brand Name | LG |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 67.2 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 57.6 x 12.4 x 35.5 inches |
| Item model number | 65LB7100 |
| Batteries | 2 AA batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color Name | Black |
| Specification Met | Energy Star |
| Special Features | Flat |
| Item Weight | 67.2 Pounds |
| Standing screen display size | 65 Inches |
