LG LQ520S 24LQ520S-PU 24"

The LG LQ520S is a 24-inch smart TV with webOS that works best as a secondary screen for kitchens, RVs, or dorms. The 1366 x 768 resolution and 250-nit panel put it near the bottom of our picture quality rankings, but the smart platform and compact size are the real selling points. Pricing ranges from USD 40 to USD 170, so shop around, Amazon has the best bundle deal right now. Buy it for convenience, not for picture quality.

The numbers here tell a pretty clear story. That 250-nit brightness rating is fine for indoor use in a room without direct sunlight, but it's not going to fight off glare from a window. The 1000:1 contrast ratio is standard for budget LED panels, which means blacks look more like dark gray when you're in a dim room. Cinema Mode tries to help by adjusting contrast and sharpness for darker environments, but there's only so much you can do with a panel this basic.

The 60Hz refresh rate is what you'd expect at this price point, and Game Mode exists, but this isn't a gaming display by any stretch. HDMI 2.0 means you can plug in a console or laptop and get a usable picture, but the 1366 x 768 resolution caps your detail. Text on a desktop looks soft compared to even a cheap 1080p monitor. The 10W 2.0 channel speakers with Dolby Audio are serviceable for dialogue, but multiple owners have noted the sound is thin, especially in a kitchen with background noise.

The TCL Q6-Series 65Q651G is a completely different beast, a 65-inch 4K set that will absolutely crush this LG in picture quality. But it's also huge and costs more. If you have the space and budget, the TCL is the obvious choice for a living room. The Samsung Q7F QN43Q7FAAFXZA brings QLED tech and better brightness, but again, it's a 43-inch panel. These aren't really direct competitors in the traditional sense.

The more realistic comparisons are the Sony W830K KD32W830K and the Insignia F50 Series NS-43F501NA26. The Sony is a 32-inch option that gives you more screen real estate and likely better picture processing, but you're paying for the Sony name. The Insignia is a budget brand that competes on price, but the smart platform isn't as polished as webOS. The Hisense QD6 Series 43QD6QF is another step up in size and resolution, but it's also a bigger commitment in terms of space.

Pricing on this thing is all over the place. Our database shows listings ranging from USD 40 to USD 170 across five US listings. That's a massive spread for what is essentially the same product. If you're paying USD 40, this is a steal for a smart TV with webOS. If you're paying USD 170, you're getting into territory where a 32-inch 1080p set starts to make more sense. Amazon currently has the best deal with a bundle that includes a protection pack, and free delivery on eligible purchases.

The value proposition really depends on what you need. As a dumb monitor, this is overpriced at the high end. As a smart TV with built-in streaming, it's competitive at the low end. The sweet spot is finding it under USD 100. At that price, the webOS integration and compact size make it a reasonable buy for secondary spaces.

The LG LQ520S is one of those products that makes you scratch your head at first. It's a 24-inch TV that's also a monitor, running webOS, with a 1366 x 768 panel. In a world where 4K is the default answer, this thing is proudly HD. And honestly, for a very specific set of people, that's fine. This is a kitchen counter TV, an RV companion, a dorm room screen, or a secondary display for someone who wants smart features without a separate streaming box.

What makes it interesting is the webOS integration. You're getting LG's full smart TV platform in a size that most manufacturers treat as an afterthought. The 4.6-star rating across 1,148 reviews tells us that the people who buy this generally know what they're getting into. They're not expecting a home theater centerpiece. They want something small, smart, and simple.

But let's be real about the specs. A 250-nit panel with a 1000:1 contrast ratio puts this near the bottom of our picture quality rankings, 2nd percentile to be exact. The display itself sits at the 6th percentile. If you're buying this for movie nights, you're going to be disappointed. If you're buying it to watch the news while you cook breakfast, it'll do the job.

If you're looking for a primary living room TV, skip this. The 24-inch size and 768p resolution will feel cramped and soft from across the room. You'd be much better served by the TCL Q6-Series or the Samsung Q7F, both of which offer 4K resolution and dramatically better picture quality. The price difference is worth it for a main viewing space.

Gamers should also look elsewhere. The 60Hz refresh rate and lack of HDR support mean you're leaving a lot on the table. Even a budget 1080p monitor with a higher refresh rate will give you a better experience. And if you're sensitive to audio quality, the 10W speakers will frustrate you. Budget for a soundbar or external speakers if you go this route.

If you need a small smart TV for a kitchen, RV, dorm room, or workshop, and you can find this LG for under USD 100, it's a solid buy. The webOS platform is genuinely good, the viewing angles are better than most budget panels, and the 4.6-star rating suggests most owners are happy with their purchase. The wide viewing angle claim holds up, which matters when you're moving around a kitchen or watching from different positions in an RV.

But if picture quality matters to you at all, look elsewhere. The 2nd percentile picture quality ranking isn't a fluke. This is a utility screen, not a display for enjoying content. If you're planning to use it as a primary monitor for work, the 1366 x 768 resolution will drive you crazy with soft text. For that use case, a dedicated 1080p monitor in the same price range is the better call.