All year, we've been talking up the new HDTVs for 2013. We're calling them as we see them! Now, it's time to dissect everything that LG Electronics has released and what the company has left for the year.
So far, LG has released a slew of TVs for 2013. By the time you start packing up Christmas decorations, the company will have launched a total of 15 different LED lines, three plasma models, and two Ultra HD (4K!) TV options and one of the first OLED TVs in the United States. Also, that lengthy lineup doesn't even count the various screen sizes.
Each of the 2013 models promises a better overall experience compared to earlier LG sets, thanks to an improved central processing unit (CPU) and graphic processing unit (GPU), which LG says is about 300 percent faster than previous models.
Of course, the company is packing plenty of other new features into their HDTV lineup, starting with the Smart Control platform. First up is an enhanced version of the Home Dashboard interface. The 2013 models include a little something called "My Interest Cards." As you can imagine, this is where the viewer collects everything that they consider to be the most interesting, whether it's apps, content, or something else. That way, you can instantly access your favorite sources for news, weather or other services right from the TV's main menu.
LG has also redesigned the Magic Remote to help users find content a lot easier. It still has the point, wheel, gesture and voice recognition features. However, the new model adds in Voice Mate, a new version of the company's voice control technology. This option allows for easier searches across the LG Smart TV platform, as well as across websites and external devices.
Another new perk is SmartShare, which allows users to mirror or transfer content from compatible devices to LG Smart TVs using WiDi and Miracast. Newer LG TVs also have Near Field Communication (NFC) so you can easily pair up the TV with smartphones and other NFC-capable devices by simply touching the two together.
Other features on select models include support for LG Cloud, Cinema 3D technology (passive glasses 3D), and the On Now recommendation feature. Intrigued yet? Let's take a peek at which sets are getting the new features, as well as the other options that LG is offering this year.
Ultra HD TVs
LG was one of the first companies to announce an 84-inch 4K TV, which also goes by the name of the 84LM9600 (MSRP: $19,999.99). This 84-incher does have that Ultra HD 3840-by-2160 pixel image, as well as LG's Cinema 3D feature. Now, because it's passive, using a polarizing filter on the screen, this means that the 3D image resolution sliced in half -- one half for each eye. But because this set has four times the resolution of HD, you still end up with better than 1080p resolution to each eye. LG is even throwing in six pairs of lightweight 3D glasses for testing right out of the box and those 3D glasses from RealD 3D cinemas will work just fine with this set as well.
Other features include the 2.2 speaker system built right into the bezel, Edge LED+ backlighting, a dual-core processor, Smart TV features, and built-in WiFi. Designed to be the cornerstone of a great AV setup, this massive set also includes four HDMI inputs, three USB ports, and LG's Magic Remote with Voice.
Of course, not everyone has the space for such a big set, so LG has released two smaller 4K TVs, the 55-inch 55LA9700 ($6999.99) and 65-inch 65LA9700 ($8999.99). For some reason, these do not fall under the LM9600 Series. However, they do have the same resolution, the WiFi and the Smart TV features. It even has the same 3D, although both sets drop the pairs of included glasses to four. Other features include Nano Full LED backlighting, advanced In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels, 4.1 audio via a sliding soundbar, Dual Play split-screen gaming, and the Tru-Ultra HD Engine.
Where to Buy:
OLED TV
Ultra HD wasn't the only new category for LG this year. The company also released its first OLED TV, also known as the LG EA9800 ($14,999.99). The hook on this 55-incher is that it can pack an image that's better than plasma, inside a screen that's thinner that an LED -- about 0.17 inches thin, if you're looking to measure. It also has LG's own WRGB four-color pixel system, the Smart TV platform, Cinema 3D features, built-in WiFi, and THX certification. It's also NFC-capable, even though the actual streaming is done via WiFi. Also something worth noting is that LG is packing this model up with the Magic Remote with Voice.
Where to Buy:
LA8600 Series
LG has unleashed an insane amount of LED TVs, starting with the LA8600 Series. This is one of five lines to include Cinema Screen, a new ultra-narrow design that allows that new TV to look good both on and off the bezel. Other features include a full 1080p picture, a 240Hz refresh rate, Cinema 3D, 2.1 sound, and LED Plus with local dimming. This model also has built-in WiFi and Smart TV features, as well as the Magic Remote with Voice. There's even a little pop-up camera for making and taking Skype calls right though the TV. The 55-inch 55LA8600 ($2699.99) and 60-inch 60LA8600 ($3299.99) include Smart Share via MHL and NFC, four HDMI inputs, and three USB ports. It's also important to note that both sets come with four pairs of 3D glasses.
Where to Buy:
GA7900 Series
Next in the lengthy list of new LED TVs is the GA7900 Series. This line includes the 47-inch 47GA7900 ($1899.99) and 55-inch 55GA7900 ($2399.99), each of which has a full 1080p image, Edge LED+ backlighting, Cinema 3D and the Cinema Screen feature. Each set comes with built-in WiFi and Smart TV options, but also adds in Google TV for easy access to Chrome, as well as the Google Play Store. That's sort of a lot to get through with a tiny remote, so LG is adding a QWERTY keyboard and voice search to its Magic Remote for this one. Other features include the L9 dual processor, access to LG Cloud, Mircast for mirroring content from your favorite portable, NFC and MHL support, and 2.1 audio. Like the models above, these each have four HDMI inputs and three USB ports. Each one also comes with four pairs of 3D glasses.
Where to Buy:
LA7400 Series
This lineup also has the Cinema Screen option with Cinema 3D features. The 47-, 55- and 60-inch models all have a full 1080p picture, the 240Hz refresh rate and 2.1 sound. Each member of this trio also has a dual core processor, built-in Wi-Fi and Smart TV features, as well as LG's Motion Remote with Voice. Each one comes with four pairs of 3D glasses, three HDMI inputs and three USB ports. It should also be noted that the 47-inch 47LA7400 ($1799.99) and 55-inch 55LA7400 ($2299.99) have Edge LED+ backlighting, but the 60-inch 60LA7400 ($2899.99) includes Direct LED with dimming.
Where to Buy:
LA6900 Series
This is another member of the Cinema Screen lineup, with Cinema 3D features. The 47-inch 47LA6900 ($1399.99), 50-inch 50LA6900 ($1699.99) and 55-inch 55LA6900 ($1999.99) all include a full 1080p image, Edge LED+ backlighting, and the Dual Play split-screen gaming option. Each one also has built-in WiFi and a dual core processor, which make tapping into LG's Smart TV features easy and smooth. Other features include MHL, NFC and DLNA support, as well as three HDMI inputs and three USB ports. It should also be noted that each one of these sets comes with four pairs of 3D glasses.
Where to Buy:
LA6500 Series
The last of the Cinema Screen models doesn't actually have any Cinema 3D features. However, this line's lone 27-incher (Price TBA) does have a full 1080p HD image, a 60Hz refresh rate, a dual core processor, and LG's Motion Remote with Voice.
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GA6400 Series
This line offers a whopping five screen sizes, which includes the 42-inch 42GA6400 ($1049.99), the 47-inch 47GA6400 ($1299.99), the 50-inch 50GA6400 ($1599.99), the 55-inch 55GA6400 ($1899.99), and the 60-inch 60GA6400 ($2299.99). Each one includes a full 1080p image, the 240Hz refresh rate, and Cinema 3D features. However, the real hook here is that this is another one of LG's Google TV options, which delivers on-screen access to Google Chrome and all of the many apps available via Google Play. Because it has those perks, it also has the Magic Remote QWERTY, as well as Voice Search commands. Other features include Edge LED backlighting, the Dual Play split-screen feature, built-in WiFi and LG's Smart TV platform, a dual core processor, four HDMI inputs and three USB ports. All five models in this line also come packing four pairs of 3D glasses.
Where to Buy:
LA6200 Series
This line isn't part of the Cinema Screen line, but it still has a pretty sweet, slick bezel. It also includes a 1080p image, Cinema 3D features, a dual core processor, built-in WiFi and LG's Smart TV platform. It even works with the Motion Remote, but that's sold separately. It may be worth the added expense to use the voice and gesture recognition perks. Other features include WiDi, NFC and MHL support, as well as 3D Sound Zooming, three HDMI inputs and three USB ports. LG is also including four pairs of 3D glasses with each set in this line, which includes the 42-inch 42LA6200 ($999.99), the 47-inch 47LA6200 ($1199.99), the 50-inch 50LA6200 ($1399.99), the 55-inch 55LA6200 ($1599.99), and the 60-inch 60LA6200 ($2099.99).
Where to Buy:
LN6100 Series
At last peek, LG was only planning one 60-incher in this line. Also known as the 60LN6150, this model has a full 1080p HD image, a 120Hz refresh rate and a dual core processor. This one is also compatible with the Magic Remote, as well as the voice and gesture commands. That said, you're going to have to snag that remote as a separate purchase.
Where to Buy:
LN5700 Series
LG is giving this series a total of six models, which includes the 32-inch 32LN5700 ($549.99), the 39-inch 39LN5700 ($699.99), the 42-inch 42LN5700 ($899.99), the 47-inch 47LN5700 ($1099.99), the 50-inch 50LN5700 ($1299.99), and the 55-inch 55LN5700 ($1599.99). None of those have 3D, but all have a 1080p image, TruMotion 120Hz technology, Picture Wizard II, built-in WiFi and Smart TV options. This is another line that makes the Magic Remote an option. However, it does come with access to LG Cloud and Miracast, WiDi and NFC support, and Direct LED backlighting. Each model also has three HDMI inputs and three USB ports, so you can add in plenty of other components, such as a Blu-ray player, a media streamer, an AV receiver, and more.
Where to Buy:
LN5600 Series
This line's lone 27-incher (Price TBA) has a 1080p image, a 60Hz refresh rate and a dual core processor. That processor makes accessing LG's Smart TV platform very smooth. Also worth noting is that the smaller screen size is compatible with LG's Motion Remote. However, that's an option that's sold separately.
Where to Buy:
LN5400 Series
This is where LG drops its Smart TV features. However, the 42-inch 42LN5400 ($699.99), the 47-inch 47LN5400 ($899.99), the 50-inch 50LN5400 ($1099.99), the 55-inch 55LN5400 ($1399.99), and the 60-inch 60LN5400 ($1799.99) would all serve as a very nice centerpiece for your AV system. Each model includes a full 1080p HD image, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Direct LED backlighting. If you're itching for additional bells and whistles, all five sets include Smart Share via MHL, as well as two HDMI inputs and one USB port.
Where to Buy:
LN5300 Series
Available as the 32-inch 32LN5300 ($449.99), the 39-inch 39LN5300 ($479.99) and the 42-inch 42LN5300 ($599.99), this line features full 1080p images and a 60Hz refresh rate for each set. All three models also come with Direct LED backlighting, Smart Share via MHL, two HDMI inputs, and one USB port.
Where to Buy:
LN540B Series
The remainder of LG's LED TVs for 2013 come packing a 720p image. This line's 32-incher (Price TBA) isn't available yet, but when it does start shipping it will include that high-def image and a 60Hz refresh rate.
Where to Buy:
LN4510 Series
This line includes the 24-inch 24LN4510 ($269.99) and the 29-inch 29LN4510 ($329.99), each with a 720p image. That translates into 1366-by-768 resolution. Both models also have a 60Hz refresh rate, the TripleXD engine, the Picture Wizard feature, and self calibration with on-screen reference points. Both sets also have MHL connectivity, one HDMI input and one USB port.
Where to Buy:
LN4500 Series
The last of this year's LG LEDs falls under the LN4500 Series. This line includes four 720p HDTVs, including the 22-inch 22LN4500 ($249.99), the 24-inch 24LN4510 ($269.99), the 26-inch 26LN4500 ($299.99), and the 29-inch 29LN4510 ($329.99). Other features on each include a 60Hz refresh rate, Direct LED backlighting, and Smart Share via MHL. It's also very easy to pair one of these smaller sets with a Blu-ray player or media streamer, since each one comes packing one HDMI input and one USB port.
Where to Buy:
PH6700 Series
Despite their obvious love for LEDs, LG isn't ditching plasma this year. The company has released a total of three lines, with the PH6700 Series at the top. With just one model, calling this a "series" probably sounds like a bit of a stretch. However, the 60-inch 60PH6700 ($1,599.99) does include a full 1080p image and active 3D features, so you can have that 1080p going to each eye. Other perks include built-in WiFi and Smart TV features, a dual-core processor, the Magic Remote with Voice, three HDMI inputs and three USB ports. This model is also the only LG plasma for 2013 to include PenTouch features, so users can write directly on the screen. Just know that this 60-incher doesn't come with the PenTouch accessory or any 3D glasses, for that matter.
Where to Buy:
PN6500 Series
This line features big screens, such as the 50-inch 50PN6500 ($829.99) and the 60-inch 60PN6500 ($1299.99). Besides the full 1080p image, however, there are very few bells or whistles. There are no Smart TV features, which means there's no WiFi, either. Also, this model does not have any type of 3D options. What each ISFccc-ready HDTV does include is the 600Hz refresh rate, Clear Voice II, and self-calibration with on-screen reference points. If you're looking to stream a little something from the web, it's easy enough to hook up a media streamer to one of these sets. Each one has two HDMI inputs and one USB port.
Where to Buy:
PN4500 Series
The last of LG's 2013 plasmas (and TVs in general) can be found in the PN4500 Series. Available as the 42-inch 42PN4500 ($449.99) and the 50-inch 50PN4500 ($719.99), this line features identical to the PN6500 Series. The one obvious difference here is that these two sets don't have a full 1080p image. Instead, each set has a 1024-by-768 resolution, better known as 720p.
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