LG UA77 Review: A Practical Budget 4K TV With Strong Color
The 2025 LG UA77 is a straightforward 4K budget TV available from 43 to 86 inches. It combines a direct-lit 60 Hz display with webOS 25, HDR10/HLG support, three HDMI inputs and basic console features such as ALLM, HGiG and VRR up to 60 Hz. Tech Steve liked the vivid color of the reviewed 55-inch model, but noticed elevated-looking blacks and visible backlight haze during dark, letterboxed content. It is best suited to everyday television, streaming and casual 60 fps gaming in a bedroom, children's room or other secondary space.
Video summary
Tech Steve unboxed and set up the 55-inch LG UA77, demonstrated its standard remote, connections, webOS interface, Xbox compatibility and picture performance. The television was light enough for him to handle, although aligning and installing the plastic feet took several attempts. Setup took about five minutes. He found webOS somewhat slow to respond and noted that the included remote lacks the microphone and pointer functions available with the optional Magic Remote. During viewing, he was impressed by the color reproduction but saw backlight haze and weaker-looking blacks in dark scenes and letterbox bars. His conclusion was that the UA77 is an okay budget television for a secondary room, especially for shoppers who prioritize colorful everyday viewing over deep movie-night black levels.
Tech Steve Takeaway
Buy the LG UA77 if you want an affordable, colorful 4K smart TV for everyday streaming, television and gaming up to 60 Hz. Its weaker dark-scene presentation makes it a better fit for a bedroom, children's room or casual living space than a dedicated home theater.
Picture quality
The reviewed 55-inch UA77 produced colorful, punchy images that made general content and games look appealing. Its main weakness was dark-scene performance: Tech Steve observed visible backlight haze and gray-looking letterbox bars instead of deep blacks. LG does not specify the LCD panel subtype across every size, so shoppers should not assume that all six sizes have identical contrast or viewing-angle characteristics.
HDR performance
The UA77 accepts HDR10 and HLG and uses Dynamic Tone Mapping to fit HDR content within the display's capabilities. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are not listed as supported formats. LG does not publish peak HDR brightness for the series, so this should be approached as an entry-level HDR television rather than a model selected for high-impact highlights.
Gaming performance
Gaming support includes 4K at up to 60 Hz, VRR up to 60 Hz, ALLM, HGiG, Game Optimizer and Game Dashboard. Tech Steve connected an Xbox and found the colors attractive during gameplay. The physical panel is limited to 60 Hz at native 4K resolution, making the UA77 appropriate for casual console gaming but not for shoppers seeking 4K/120 Hz performance.
Motion handling
Every UA77 size uses a native 60 Hz panel with a maximum verified native-resolution refresh rate of 60 Hz. This is adequate for television, movies and conventional 30 or 60 fps gaming, but it cannot display 120 fps console games at 4K.
Sound quality
The built-in system consists of two down-firing speakers with 20 watts of total output. webOS provides EQ and AI Sound options, along with configurations that can combine the TV speakers with certain wired, optical or Bluetooth audio devices. Alpha 7 AI Sound Pro creates a virtual surround presentation but does not add physical channels. A soundbar remains the more suitable choice for stronger bass and a wider cinematic presentation.
Smart TV experience
webOS 25 includes streaming applications, LG Channels, AirPlay 2, Google Cast and LG ThinQ integration. Tech Steve completed initial setup in about five minutes but found the interface somewhat slow and noted advertising on the home screen. The included standard remote provides a number pad, source controls and app shortcuts. Voice input, pointer navigation and AI Acoustic Tuning require the separately sold MR25GA Magic Remote. LG's Re:New program promises platform updates and feature refreshes for up to five years under its applicable terms.
Calibration notes
Filmmaker Mode is available for viewers who want a presentation closer to the content's original intent. The television also includes advanced picture controls, automatic Filmmaker Mode selection, reduced-blue-light settings and a Personalized Picture and Sound Wizard. Screen zoom can hide gray letterbox bars, but doing so crops part of the original image and is not recommended when preserving the full frame is important.
What we like
- Vivid color reproduction made general content and Xbox gameplay look appealing on the reviewed 55-inch model.
- Six sizes from 43 to 86 inches cover compact bedrooms through large living spaces.
- Alpha 7 AI Processor 4K Gen8 handles upscaling, tone mapping and picture processing across every size.
- VRR up to 60 Hz, ALLM, HGiG and Game Optimizer provide useful features for casual console gaming.
- webOS 25 includes AirPlay 2, Google Cast, major streaming applications and a stated multi-year update program.
- Three HDMI inputs, eARC, optical audio, Ethernet and two USB ports cover common budget-TV installations.
- Filmmaker Mode provides a convenient starting point for movie viewing.
What to consider
- Dark scenes and letterbox bars showed visible backlight haze and gray-looking blacks on the reviewed 55-inch television, reducing movie-night contrast.
- The native 60 Hz panel cannot display 4K games at 120 fps, making it unsuitable for shoppers prioritizing high-frame-rate gaming.
- Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are not listed, limiting compatibility with those premium HDR formats.
- Only three HDMI inputs may be restrictive for households connecting multiple consoles, a soundbar and other source devices.
- The included standard remote lacks voice input and pointer navigation; those functions require the optional Magic Remote.
- webOS showed some delayed responses during Tech Steve's walkthrough and places advertising on the home screen.
- The plastic feet were difficult to align during installation, and their wide spacing requires a broad TV console.
- The attached power cord is less convenient to replace or route than a detachable cable.
- The two-channel, 20-watt speaker system is designed for basic listening rather than powerful home-theater sound.
Tech Steve verdict
The LG UA77 is a capable entry-level television that delivers appealing color, a broad selection of screen sizes and a useful smart platform. Its Alpha 7 Gen8 processor, AirPlay, Google Cast, eARC and basic VRR support make it more versatile than a bare-bones display. The tradeoffs are a 60 Hz ceiling, only three HDMI inputs, no listed Dolby Vision or HDR10+ support, modest 20-watt audio and dark scenes that can look gray on the reviewed 55-inch model. Buy it for everyday streaming, broadcast television or casual gaming in a secondary room. Home-theater shoppers and competitive gamers should instead prioritize a TV with stronger contrast, documented HDR brightness and 4K/120 Hz support.
Size-by-size buying guide
Only verified size-specific measurements are displayed. Recommended distance uses a 30°-40° field-of-view range for mixed TV and cinematic viewing.
| Size / model | Panel / finish | Refresh | Dimming zones | Peak HDR | VESA | Feet width | Viewing distance | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43"43UA7700PUBMSRP $249.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit LCD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 200 x 300 | 34.5 in | 4.9-6.7 ft | Check price ↗ |
| 50"50UA7700PUBMSRP $329.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit LCD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 200 x 300 | 38.1 in | 5.7-7.8 ft | Check price ↗ |
| 55"55UA7700PUBMSRP $379.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit LCD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 200 x 300 | 43.5 in | 6.3-8.6 ft | Check price ↗ |
| 65"65UA7700PUBMSRP $479.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit LCD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 200 x 300 | 53.5 in | 7.4-10.1 ft | Check price ↗ |
| 75"75UA7700PUAMSRP $679.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit LCD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 300 x 300 | 60.9 in | 8.6-11.7 ft | Check price ↗ |
| 86"86UA7700PUAMSRP $1,099.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit LCD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 400 x 400 | 65.4 in | 9.8-13.4 ft | Check price ↗ |
Exclusive technology
Alpha 7 AI Processor 4K Gen8
LG's picture and sound processor handles image enhancement, upscaling, tone mapping and virtual surround processing.
4K Super Upscaling
Processes lower-resolution sources for presentation on the television's 4K panel; final quality depends on the source.
Dynamic Tone Mapping
Adjusts HDR tone mapping to fit content within the television's available brightness and contrast range.
webOS Re:New Program
LG promises operating-system updates and feature refreshes for up to five years, subject to its update terms.
Game Optimizer and Game Dashboard
Collects relevant gaming settings and status information in a dedicated on-screen interface.
Alpha 7 AI Sound Pro
Processes the two-channel speaker output into a virtual 9.1.2-channel presentation; it does not add physical speakers.
WOW Orchestra
Allows compatible LG audio products and the television speakers to operate together as a coordinated sound system.
HDR10 Pro
LG's branding for its HDR10 picture processing; the verified input formats are HDR10 and HLG.
Personalized Picture and Sound Wizard
Guides the viewer through preference choices to create customized picture and sound settings.
Specifications
Audio
Connectivity
Design & Installation
Gaming
Picture
Size Details
Smart Features
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