LG NU70B / NU700B Review: An Affordable 4K TV With Clear Tradeoffs
The 2026 LG NU70B, sold under NU700B model numbers, is a budget direct-lit 4K TV built around webOS 26 and the α7 AI Processor 4K Gen9. It offers useful gaming basics such as VRR, ALLM, HGiG and Game Optimizer, but its native 60 Hz panel, two HDMI inputs and modest dark-room performance limit its appeal to enthusiasts. Tech Steve found colorful 4K playback, smooth 60 fps motion and acceptable 1080p upscaling, while noting glare, uneven screen uniformity, gray-looking blacks, dark HDR presentation and weak 480p upscaling on the reviewed 55-inch model.
out of 10
Video summary
Tech Steve evaluates the 55-inch LG NU70B as a roughly $350 budget television. He walks through the included feet, standard remote, rear connections, webOS picture modes and Personalized Picture Wizard before assessing movies, test patterns, motion and upscaling. Colors looked lively and movie content sometimes produced decent contrast, but dark test scenes revealed a gray backlight haze rather than inky blacks. The reviewed screen also showed glare and visible uniformity variations. Sixty-frame-per-second motion appeared smooth, while 24 fps content benefited from motion adjustments. Upscaling improved progressively from blurry 480p to acceptable 720p, sharper 1080p and clean native 4K. HDR FILMMAKER MODE looked too dark for a bright room, making the TV better suited to casual viewing than demanding home theater use.
Tech Steve Takeaway
Buy the NU70B if you want an inexpensive, easy-to-use 4K TV for streaming, everyday television or basic 60 Hz console gaming. Movie enthusiasts, bright-room viewers and gamers seeking 4K at 120 Hz should move up to a higher-performance model.
Picture quality
The direct-lit 4K LCD can produce colorful, clean-looking images with good-quality 1080p or 4K sources. Tech Steve found that contrast varied with the content: movies could look respectable, but test material exposed gray-looking blacks and visible backlight haze. The reviewed 55-inch unit also showed screen-uniformity variation, and its reflective screen made room lighting more noticeable. Low-resolution sources are a weak point—480p looked very blurry, 720p retained some edge fringing, and 1080p was considerably sharper.
HDR performance
HDR10 and HLG are supported, with LG's HDR10 Pro dynamic tone mapping processing HDR10 content frame by frame. On the reviewed 55-inch TV, Tech Steve found HDR FILMMAKER MODE too dark outside a very dark room. Other picture modes increased brightness and color, but shoppers should not expect the impact of a high-brightness premium HDR television. Tech Steve also reported that the reviewed TV does not support Dolby Vision.
Gaming performance
The NU70B covers basic console gaming with native-resolution VRR up to 60 Hz, ALLM, HGiG, Game Optimizer and Game Dashboard. Its physical panel is limited to 60 Hz at 3840 x 2160, so it cannot provide native 4K/120 Hz gameplay. Bluetooth Ultra Low Latency mode supports one compatible controller at a time. The two-HDMI layout may also be restrictive when connecting multiple consoles and an eARC sound system.
Motion handling
Tech Steve found 60 fps playback smooth enough for sports and other fast-moving content. Twenty-four-frame-per-second movie material showed blur and choppiness in the test pattern, although minor motion-setting adjustments improved the presentation. The panel remains a native 60 Hz design.
Sound quality
The TV uses two down-firing speakers in a 2.0-channel configuration. AI Sound Pro processes the built-in system to emulate a virtual 9.1.2 sound field, while Clear Voice Pro provides dialogue processing and automatic volume leveling. HDMI eARC is available for an external sound system, and WOW Orchestra can synchronize the TV speakers with a compatible LG soundbar.
Smart TV experience
webOS 26 supplies streaming apps, LG Channels, Google Cast, Apple AirPlay 2 and tailored recommendations. The Personalized Picture Wizard lets viewers choose preferred sharpness, tone and color temperature, then creates a custom profile that can remain active with HDR content. The included remote has a full number pad and app shortcuts but lacks the AI Magic Remote's pointer and voice features; that remote is optional.
Calibration notes
FILMMAKER MODE provides a warmer, more natural presentation and reduces added processing, but Tech Steve found it dark in HDR on the reviewed 55-inch set. Cinema-oriented modes also shift the image warmer. The Personalized Picture Wizard is useful for casual setup, while the ISF bright-room and dark-room modes offer better starting points for more controlled viewing environments. Motion settings may need adjustment for smoother 24 fps playback.
What we like
- Colorful, clean presentation with good-quality 1080p and 4K sources
- VRR up to 60 Hz, ALLM, HGiG and Game Optimizer support basic console gaming
- webOS 26 includes Google Cast, AirPlay 2 and LG Channels
- Personalized Picture Wizard makes setup approachable for casual viewers
- eARC and WOW Orchestra provide useful sound-system options
- Six sizes cover bedrooms through large-screen living rooms
What to consider
- The native 60 Hz panel cannot display 4K/120 Hz gaming or native 120 Hz video
- Only two HDMI inputs limit setups with multiple consoles, players and sound equipment
- The reviewed 55-inch unit showed glare, gray-looking blacks and visible screen-uniformity variation
- HDR FILMMAKER MODE appeared too dark for rooms with substantial ambient light
- 480p upscaling was blurry, while 720p retained some visible edge fringing
- The included standard remote lacks the optional AI Magic Remote's pointer and voice features
- The ATSC 1.0 tuner does not provide NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 reception
Tech Steve verdict
The LG NU70B delivers webOS 26, lively color, clean 4K playback, useful casting features and practical 60 Hz gaming tools at entry-level prices. Its compromises include a native 60 Hz ceiling, only two HDMI ports, a basic included remote and an ATSC 1.0 tuner. On the reviewed 55-inch model, glare, screen-uniformity variation, gray blacks, dark HDR and poor 480p upscaling further separated it from higher-end TVs. It is a sensible choice for a bedroom, secondary room or casual living-room setup using good-quality streaming sources. Home-theater fans, bright-room viewers and competitive gamers should spend more for stronger HDR brightness, more advanced backlighting and native 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"43NU700BPUCMSRP $249.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit 4K LCD, LG Nano 4K UHD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 200 x 200 | 32.5 in | 4.9-6.7 ft | — |
| 50"50NU700BPUAMSRP $329.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit 4K LCD, LG Nano 4K UHD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 300 x 200 | 35.5 in | 5.7-7.8 ft | — |
| 55"55NU700BPUAMSRP $349.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit 4K LCD, LG Nano 4K UHD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 300 x 200 | 38.9 in | 6.3-8.6 ft | — |
| 65"65NU700BPUAMSRP $449.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit 4K LCD, LG Nano 4K UHD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 300 x 200 | 46.7 in | 7.4-10.1 ft | — |
| 75"75NU700BPUAMSRP $599.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit 4K LCD, LG Nano 4K UHD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 300 x 300 | 51.1 in | 8.6-11.7 ft | — |
| 85"85NU700BPUAMSRP $849.99 | Direct-lit LED-backlit 4K LCD, LG Nano 4K UHD | 60 Hz native | — | — | 400 x 400 | 61.6 in | 9.7-13.2 ft | — |
Exclusive technology
Nano Detail Enhancer
Analyzes picture detail and adjusts texture, edge definition, contrast and depth.
4K Super Upscaling
Uses the α7 processor to improve lower-resolution sources toward 4K presentation; results depend on source quality.
HDR10 Pro
LG Dynamic Tone Mapping applied frame by frame to HDR10 content. LG explicitly states that HDR10 Pro is processing rather than a separate HDR format.
AI Sound Pro
Analyzes audio and processes the built-in 2.0-channel system to emulate a virtual 9.1.2-channel sound field.
Game Optimizer and Game Dashboard
Provides one-screen access to gaming-related picture, latency and refresh settings.
Bluetooth Ultra Low Latency controller support
Supports compatible BT ULL game controllers for reduced wireless controller latency; LG specifies that only one controller can be connected in ULL mode.
WOW Orchestra
Allows a compatible LG soundbar and the TV speakers to operate together as a synchronized sound system.
LG Shield
LG's webOS security framework covering protected storage, cryptography, software integrity, authentication, transmission, threat response and secure updates.
LG Gallery+
Displays artwork, photography and ambient visuals, with additional subscription-based personalization and generative features.
webOS Re:New Program
Provides supported webOS upgrades over a multi-year period, with schedules and features varying by model and region.
Specifications
Audio
Connectivity
Design & Installation
Gaming
Picture
Size Details
Smart Features
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