LG NU700B Series 65NU700BPUA 65.1"

The LG NU700B is a budget 65-inch 4K TV with a great smart platform and impressive AI upscaling, but a weak Direct LED panel holds it back. Picture quality lands in the bottom third of our database, while smart features are well above average. Worth buying if you find it under $300 and don't care about deep blacks or fast gaming.

The α7 AI Processor 4K Gen9 does the heavy lifting here, and it's honestly the best part of this TV. 4K Super Upscaling makes older content look sharper than it has any right to, and Nano Detail Enhancer adds a nice crispness to textures. But the Direct LED backlight holds it back. HDR10 Pro tries to fake dynamic range, but without local dimming, bright scenes wash out and dark scenes turn gray. Gaming gets ALLM and a 60Hz panel, which is fine for casual play, but competitive gamers will feel the lack of 120Hz. The 2.0 channel audio is serviceable for dialogue, but you'll want a soundbar for anything with explosions.

Stacked against the TCL QM8K or Hisense U8, the NU700B gets absolutely smoked on picture quality. Those sets have mini-LED backlights and real HDR performance, while this LG is working with a basic Direct LED panel. The Samsung Neo QLED QN70F and Sony BRAVIA 5 are also in a different league for contrast and color. But here's the thing: all of those cost significantly more. The NU700B's real competition is the Roku Pro Series, and even that has a better panel. What LG brings to the table is a more polished smart experience and that AI upscaling, which genuinely helps with cable and streaming content.

Pricing is all over the place right now. We're seeing this set listed anywhere from $294 to $380 across US retailers, which is a wild $86 spread. At the low end, this is a steal for a 65-inch 4K TV with a solid smart platform. At the high end, you're creeping into territory where better panels with local dimming start to show up. Shop around and don't pay more than $320 for this one. If you can snag it under $300, it's a no-brainer for a bedroom or secondary room.

LG's NU700B is a budget 4K TV that leans hard on its AI processor and webOS smarts to punch above its price. The 65-inch panel is Direct LED, which means no local dimming, so don't expect deep blacks or eye-searing HDR. What you do get is a clean, simple smart TV experience with Filmmaker Mode and a surprisingly decent gaming feature set for the money.

This is a TV for people who want a big screen without a big headache. It's not going to win any picture quality awards, but it nails the basics: easy setup, solid upscaling, and a smart platform that doesn't make you want to throw the remote. Just keep your expectations in check when the lights go down.

Skip this if you're building a home theater or care about picture quality. The Direct LED panel can't do real HDR, and the 60Hz refresh rate will frustrate anyone who plays fast-paced games. If you need more than two HDMI ports, look elsewhere too. And if you're sensitive to audio quality, the built-in speakers are a letdown, so budget for a soundbar or buy a TV with better built-in sound.

This is a solid pick for a bedroom, kids' room, or anyone who wants a big 4K screen for casual streaming without spending real money. The webOS platform is genuinely pleasant to use, and the AI upscaling makes everyday content look better than expected. Just don't buy this expecting a home theater centerpiece. If you care about contrast, HDR pop, or fast gaming, save up for something with local dimming and a 120Hz panel.