LG SM8600PUA HDR 4K UHD Smart Nano Cell IPS LED TV Review

The LG SM8600PUA boasts a unique combination of features: 4K resolution, HDR support, Nano Cell technology, and an IPS panel. This translates to a TV promising sharp visuals, vibrant colors, and wide viewing angles. But does it deliver on these promises? This review dives deep into the SM8600PUA’s strengths and weaknesses, helping you decide if it’s the perfect fit for your entertainment needs.

Product Details

Today’s LG SM8600PUA HDR 4K UHD Smart Nano Cell IPS LED TV Deals

Picture Quality

The SM8600PUA offers a compelling picture quality for its price range. Here’s a breakdown of its key aspects:

• 4K Resolution and Sharpness: Witness the difference 4K makes. The SM8600PUA features a stunning 3840 x 2160 resolution, delivering crisp and detailed visuals, especially noticeable in high-resolution content. From nature documentaries to action-packed movies, every frame comes alive with sharp detail.
• HDR Support: The TV supports HDR10 and HLG HDR formats, expanding the contrast range and color gamut. This translates to brighter highlights, deeper blacks, and a wider range of colors for a more immersive viewing experience, particularly when watching HDR content.
• Nano Cell Technology: LG’s Nano Cell technology takes center stage. It utilizes nanoparticles to absorb unwanted wavelengths of light, aiming to enhance color purity and reduce color bleeding. This can result in a more vibrant and realistic picture compared to traditional LED TVs.

Compared To Other TVs

The SM8600PUA holds its own against similarly priced competitors in terms of picture quality. The 4K resolution delivers sharp visuals, HDR support adds vibrancy, and Nano Cell technology offers a slight edge in color reproduction. However, some competing TVs might offer superior contrast thanks to VA panels or more advanced HDR processing. Additionally, OLED TVs boast superior contrast with perfect blacks, but they often come at a steeper price point.

Brightness and Contrast

Brightness levels on the SM8600PUA are good, making it suitable for most lighting conditions. Contrast is decent thanks to the IPS panel, but some viewers might find blacks appearing slightly less deep compared to VA panels used in some competing TVs. This is a trade-off inherent to IPS technology, which prioritizes wide viewing angles over absolute black levels.

Design

The SM8600PUA embraces a sleek and modern design. The bezels are slim and stylish, creating a near bezel-less look that keeps the focus on the picture. The included stand is sturdy and offers a slight tilt functionality for optimal viewing angles. The back panel is made of plastic, which feels functional but not necessarily premium. Overall, the design prioritizes clean lines and functionality, seamlessly blending into modern living spaces.

Viewing Angles

One of the strengths of the SM8600PUA is its wide viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel technology used. This is a significant advantage for households where viewers often watch from off-center positions. Colors and picture quality remain fairly consistent even when viewed from extreme angles, making it a good choice for larger living rooms or shared viewing experiences.

Sound Quality

The sound quality of the SM8600PUA is average. The built-in speakers lack depth and power, resulting in a somewhat thin and underwhelming audio experience. Dialogue can sound clear at moderate volumes, but bass is lacking, and action scenes might sound flat.

For an immersive movie or gaming experience, consider pairing the SM8600PUA with a soundbar or a home theater system. This will significantly enhance the overall audio quality and unlock the full potential of your entertainment. LG offers a variety of soundbar options that integrate seamlessly with the SM8600PUA, creating a unified and powerful audio solution.

Smart Features

The LG SM8600PUA runs on LG’s webOS smart platform, known for its user-friendly interface and its focus on content discovery. Here’s a breakdown of its key features:

• Easy to Use Interface: WebOS is praised for its intuitive interface with horizontal rows of icons representing streaming services, apps, and input options. This makes navigating the platform and finding content a breeze.
• Content Discovery Features: LG ThinQ integrates various content recommendation features to help you discover new movies, shows, and apps based on your viewing habits. This can be a helpful tool for finding something to watch, especially with the vast array of content available on streaming platforms.
• Magic Remote Control: The included Magic Remote goes beyond traditional remote controls. It incorporates motion control functionality, allowing you to point and click your way through menus and navigate the TV with ease. While some users might prefer a traditional remote, the Magic Remote offers a unique and intuitive way to interact with the TV.

Here are some additional aspects to consider regarding LG ThinQ on the SM8600PUA:

• App Selection: WebOS offers a vast selection of popular streaming services and apps, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, and many more. You’ll likely find all the major players and a good selection of niche apps to suit your interests.
• Voice Control Support: The Magic Remote supports voice control through LG ThinQ AI and Google Assistant. This allows you to control playback, search for content, and even control smart home devices with your voice.
• Smart Home Integration: LG ThinQ allows you to connect and control compatible smart home devices directly from the TV. This can be a convenient way to control lights, thermostats, and other compatible gadgets. However, the compatibility might be limited compared to dedicated smart home hubs.

Motion

The SM8600PUA features a standard 60Hz refresh rate panel. While it delivers a decent viewing experience for most content like movies and TV shows, fast-paced scenes like sports or action movies might exhibit some motion blur. This can be a concern for gamers or viewers particularly sensitive to motion blur.

LG incorporates some motion processing features to try and reduce blur, but these might introduce the “soap opera effect” where motion appears unnaturally smooth, which some viewers find undesirable. Consider a TV with a higher refresh rate (120Hz or higher) for smoother motion handling in fast-moving content.

Gaming Features

The SM8600PUA caters to casual gamers with some features to enhance the experience. Game Mode pre-calibrates the picture settings for faster response times and a more responsive gaming experience. Additionally, ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) might be included on some models, helping reduce input lag for a faster response time between your controller actions and what appears on the screen. However, the SM8600PUA lacks some features that might be important for serious gamers:

• Higher Refresh Rates: As mentioned earlier, the 60Hz refresh rate might not be ideal for gamers seeking the smoothest possible motion.
• VRR (Variable Refresh Rate): This technology eliminates screen tearing, a visual glitch that can occur during fast-paced gameplay. The SM8600PUA doesn’t support VRR.
• Advanced Gaming Modes: Some TVs offer dedicated game modes optimized for different game genres (FPS, RPG, etc.) for the best possible gaming experience. The SM8600PUA lacks such dedicated modes.

Durability and Build Quality

The SM8600PUA appears decently built with a plastic back panel and a sturdy stand. LG TVs generally have an average reputation for reliability, but longevity ultimately depends on usage and care. As with any TV, proper handling and avoiding extreme temperatures or environments will contribute to a longer lifespan.

Viewing Angles and Screen Uniformity

As mentioned earlier, the SM8600PUA excels in viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel. Colors and picture quality remain consistent even when viewed from off-center positions. However, IPS panels can sometimes exhibit minor variations in brightness or color across the screen, especially in dark scenes. This is a common occurrence and its severity can vary between individual units. If uniformity is a major concern, researching user reviews and professional calibrations can help you determine if this is a widespread issue with the SM8600PUA.

Inputs

The SM8600PUA comes equipped with a good selection of inputs, including:

• Multiple HDMI ports (with some featuring HDMI 2.0 capabilities) for connecting streaming devices, game consoles, and cable boxes. HDMI 2.0 supports features like 4K resolution at 60Hz and HDR.
• USB ports for connecting external storage drives or media players.
• An optical audio output for connecting external sound systems.
• An Ethernet port for a wired internet connection.

The number of HDMI ports and other inputs might vary slightly depending on the specific screen size model you choose. Overall, the SM8600PUA offers a good selection of connections for most users.

Overall Value

The LG SM8600PUA offers a compelling proposition for viewers seeking a balance between picture quality, wide viewing angles, and a user-friendly smart platform. The 4K resolution delivers sharp visuals, HDR support and Nano Cell technology add vibrancy, and the IPS panel offers excellent viewing angles for shared viewing experiences. The sleek design complements most living rooms.

However, there are some trade-offs. The motion handling might not be ideal for fast-paced content or gamers, the sound quality is average, and advanced gaming features are absent. Additionally, contrast is decent but not exceptional compared to some competing TVs.

Conclusion

The LG SM8600PUA is a good choice for viewers who prioritize wide viewing angles, a user-friendly smart platform, and a vibrant picture. However, if you prioritize absolute top-tier motion handling, the best possible gaming experience, superior sound quality, or deeper blacks, you might want to explore other TV options, potentially TVs with VA panels or OLED technology.