X

The LG LM7600 series' beauty isn't skin-deep [pictures]

If you've been holding out for an LED TV with picture quality that mostly lives up to its stunning design and cutting-edge features, the LM7600 series deserves a look.

David Katzmaier
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
David Katzmaier
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_15.jpg
1 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Overview

This late in the year it's rare for jaded TV reviewers like me to be surprised one way or the other by the picture quality of a TV, but the LG 47LM7600 threw me for a loop. I was expecting the same kind of lackluster picture I experienced with the LM6700 series, which seems nearly identical on paper, but the 7600's image was clearly better. It even outperformed the company's significantly more expensive flagship model, the LM9600. Don't ask me why, because I don't know.

Improved picture quality vaults the LM7600 into the small club of highly recommendable LED TVs this year. It packs in an excellent feature set, including a motion-control remote, extensive Smart doodads, and enough 3D glasses to outfit a large family. It also has one of the most handsome designs I've ever seen in a television. Yes, the LM7600 costs more than many of its competitors, particularly the excellent Vizio M3D0KD, the very good Sharp LC-LE640U, and a few of the best plasmas, but it might be worth the dough to people seeking a cutting-edge LED TV with all the fixins' and a good picture.

Read the full review of the LG LM7600 series.

LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_18.jpg
2 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Corner detail

We've lauded the designs of higher-end LED TVs this year and the LM7600 is another beautiful example.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_17.jpg
3 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Corner detail

The vanishingly thin bezel around the screen makes the TV seem nearly all picture, and the few areas that are visible, such as the black frame touched with silver edging, exude elegance.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_16.jpg
4 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Stand detail

The sweeping U-shaped stand is my favorite stand design of the year.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_20.jpg
5 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Motion remote

The winning design also extends to LG's unique motion-sensitive remote -- the only clicker on the market that's actually fun to use. LG doesn't include a normal remote with the LM7600; the little wand replaces a standard multibutton remote's cursor with Nintendo Wii-like motion control. You wave it at the TV and an onscreen cursor follows your movements precisely, allowing quicker selection of menu items and easier navigation in general. Responses were swift and the motion control was effortless.
2_LG_LM6700_35118096_(1).jpg
6 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Remote detail

The remote also has a scroll wheel that's a good idea executed poorly. It won't work on the settings menus, and scrolling during live TV while watching an external device caused an annoying message asking whether I wanted to change to the TV/antenna input. People who actually use the antenna might miss having numeric keys on the remote, but I didn't.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_13SD.jpg
7 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Side view

A thin LED TV, the LM7600 is suspended above the stand and seems to hover there.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_19.jpg
8 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Cord management

Hooks on the stand help hide the wires.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_14.jpg
9 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Inputs

The jack pack is standard, with four HDMI and three USB ports. You'll have to choose between a single component or composite video source, available via included breakout cables, and VGA-style PC input (no breakout required) also makes the cut.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_22.jpg
10 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Breakout cables

This thin TV needs adapters to connect fatter cables.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_21.jpg
11 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Included 3D glasses

LG's passive 3D system means the company can afford to include more pairs of 3D glasses than its active-3D competitors, so the LM7600 comes with six, count 'em, six pairs. On the off chance that you need more, most cheap polarized 3D glasses should work.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_10.jpg
12 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

3D settings

2D-to-3D conversion, not found on Vizio's passive 3D models, is included.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_07.jpg
13 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Main Smart TV menu

The company's 2012 interface makes compelling use of motion control with multiple "cards" on the home screen: a live TV window and an ad below, a non-customizable Premium card of the best Smart TV apps, a card for 3D World, and another for LG Smart World. There's also a My Apps bar along the bottom of the screen where you can place shortcuts to menus, functions, and certain apps in any order.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_11.jpg
14 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Menu edit mode

You can also create customizable cards with shortcuts to various menu items (but not individual apps).
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_09.jpg
15 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

App store

LG's content selection is solid aside from two missing staples: Amazon Instant for video and Pandora for audio. The major apps I'd characterize as worthwhile are mostly grouped in the Premium section (don't worry, they're free) and include new entrant Rhapsody.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_12.jpg
16 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

3D world

The 3D World section has a few trailers, clips and full programs.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_06.jpg
17 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Built-in Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is built in.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_01.jpg
18 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Picture settings menu

LG offers its usual scads of picture adjustments, with two Expert modes in addition to numerous other adjustable presets.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_03.jpg
19 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Grayscale controls

The 20-point grayscale adjustment is overkill in my opinion (I prefer 10 points) and didn't work well in testing.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_04.jpg
20 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Color management system

The CMS works well, however.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_05.jpg
21 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Local dimming and dejudder

The LM7600 offers three strangths of dimming and four dejudder modes, including one that's user-adjustable.
LG_LM7600_series_35117974_35118094_15.jpg
22 of 22 Sarah Tew/CNET

Picture quality

It's not every day that we encounter a television that has better picture quality than the more expensive version, but the LM7600 produced better image quality than the flagship LM9600 we reviewed earlier this year. Unfortunately we don't have the 9600 on hand anymore for a direct comparison, but judging from our comparisons with other TVs we do still have, and our measurements, the LM7600 is definitely superior.

This TV's relatively deep black levels are its main strength (twice as dark as the LM9600's). Its main weakness is imperfect screen uniformity, including some of the most noticeable hot spots I can remember seeing. I was also hampered by imperfect picture controls, so color accuracy suffered. Overall the LM7600 is not quite the match of the Vizio M550KD or especially the Sony HX850, but it keeps up with the Sharp LC-LE640U and outperforms most of the other LED TVs we've tested this year, earning 7 out of 10 in this category.

Read the full review of the LG LM7600 series.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos