- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- TV appearance
- Where to buy
- Contrast and black detail
- HDR effect quality
- Factory color reproduction
- Color reproduction after calibration
- Smoothness of tonal transitions
- Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
- Blur and motion smoothness
- Console compatibility and gaming features
- Input lag
- Compatibility with PC
- Viewing angles
- Daytime performance
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Panel details
LG NANO81A / NANO80A Review
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Panel type: LCD IPS Refresh rate: 60Hz Brand: LG Resolution: 3840x2160 System: WebOS Model year: 2025
LG NANO81A is currently one of the cheapest options in LG's offering for 2025. It can be considered a direct successor to popular budget models, but with a significant "ace up its sleeve." Unlike the most basic UHD series, this model is equipped with a proprietary NanoCell filter. What is this all about? Theoretically, these microscopic particles applied to the panel are supposed to filter out "polluted" wavelengths of light, which should result in cleaner and more saturated colours than in the cheapest LCD TVs. It's a sort of bridge between a regular screen and more expensive QLED models. The question, however, is: does this magic filter actually do the job, or is it just clever marketing designed to encourage us to pay a few extra hundred bucks compared to the basic series? We decided to check this out by putting this model under the microscope and using our measurement equipment.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Our verdict
5.7
Overall rating
LG NANO81A is essentially a continuation of the NanoCell series, which has hardly changed over the past few years. Aside from a new operating system, a refreshed remote, and a few marketing add-ons, we are dealing with practically the same construction that we have known for years. Thanks to the nano-particle filter, the television can display better, cleaner colours than standard budget televisions, and the IPS panel ensures really decent viewing angles. Unfortunately, for these advantages, we pay the price of very poor blacks and low contrast, which is immediately noticeable during night screenings. Although webOS is still one of the best systems on the market, the biggest problem with the NANO81A is its price, which we simply do not understand. In 2025, this model has huge competition not only from brands like TCL and Hisense but... from LG itself. The model we tested earlier, QNED80A, is equipped with local dimming technology, has a brighter panel, and offers a wider colour palette. Interestingly, at the time of writing this review, the technically superior QNED80A is often much cheaper than the NANO81A. In this situation, the existence of the NanoCell model loses its meaning – unless your priority is solely wide viewing angles, but in our opinion, the price you have to pay for them (at the expense of terrible blacks and a higher cost) is simply too high.
Advantages
Wide viewing angles (IPS panel)
Very low input lag (around 10-12 ms)
Smooth webOS 2025 system
Intuitive Magic remote with pointer
Better colour gamut coverage thanks to NanoCell filter
Excellent as a PC monitor (sharp fonts, Chroma 4:4:4)
Decent features for gamers (VRR, ALLM, HGiG)
Extensive calibration options and natural colours after adjustments
Good image processing and efficient scaling of older content
Noticeable low-frequency boost in sound
Disadvantages
Poor black level and low contrast
Low brightness (around 250 nits – weak for very bright rooms)
Only 60 Hz refresh rate
USB player does not support HEIC files and very large images (over 20 Mpix)
Movies and series in UHD quality5.1
Classic TV, YouTube5.1
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)5.4
Gaming on console6.7
TV as a computer monitor6.0
Watching in bright light4.0
Utility functions6.6
Apps9.1
Sound quality6.2
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LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Competing TVs in this price range
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1 Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Average
Stand type: Central
Bezel color: Graphite
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
The NanoCell series is positioned in LG's hierarchy as a mid-range television with an LCD panel – ranked above budget UHD models but below the advanced QNEDs or OLEDs. This is immediately evident in the design of the NANO81A model. If we look closely at the bezels, they closely resemble those from the higher-end QNED80 series – we have a trendy, "borderless" design with a distinctive black trim around the panel. It looks modern, although the bezels themselves are not the thinnest. When purchasing, it's worth paying attention to the stand, as this is where the main difference between the models lies:
LG NANO81A (our test unit) – has a single, central leg.
LG NANO80A – this is a twin model, but equipped with two widely spaced legs.
Before choosing, be sure to measure your furniture!
In terms of dimensions, the device itself is unfortunately quite thick. If you plan to mount it on the wall, you need to be aware that it will noticeably protrude from it. On the other hand, the back of the casing is designed so that mounting fairly close to the wall is possible, as long as you don’t mind the "box" profile. The overall construction is done quite carefully and solidly, although you can feel under your fingers that this is not yet the premium level that LG reserves for its most expensive series.
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LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Contrast and black detail
1.5/10
Local dimming function: No
Result
800:1
Result
850:1
Result
900:1
Result
900:1
Result
750:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
The NanoCell series, including the model NANO81 we tested, is based on an IPS panel. For anyone who's somewhat familiar with screens, this means one thing: huge problems with blacks and contrast. Our measurements here are merciless. A result of 800:1 is, to put it bluntly, a tragic outcome. In practice, this means that what should appear as deep black on the screen looks like a dark grey blob at night. Watching dark films or series in a completely dark room will simply be torture – the image loses all its depth and appears flat. If you do decide to go for this model, we have one key piece of advice for you: don’t watch it in total darkness. To salvage the situation somewhat, it's best to leave a gentle light on in the room, and the ideal solution would be to install LED strips behind the television. Such wall lighting will trick your eye (this is known as simultaneous contrast) and make that grey on the screen seem a bit darker. Nevertheless, the beginning of the test regarding cinematic experiences is looking grim.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - HDR effect quality
3.6/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 87.6%, Bt.2020: 65.3%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
228 nit
Result
193 nit
Result
250 nit
Result
168 nit
Result
252 nit
If you're hoping that HDR on the NANO81A will bring tears to your eyes, I have to disappoint you. This TV is just too dark to show what this format is really about. With a brightness of only 250 nits, HDR really only exists on paper here. In practice, during viewing, it's very hard to tell whether we're watching material in high dynamic range or regular SDR – it simply lacks that “punch” of light in the bright parts of the image. But, to balance out the criticism, we do have one light at the end of the tunnel – and quite a distinct one at that. It's about colour gamut coverage. Here, the NanoCell filter shows that it's not just marketing nonsense. Our measurements indicated that the coverage of the DCI-P3 space is around 88%. That's a really solid result, placing this model significantly above typical budget models based on regular white LEDs without any filters. Of course, it still lags a bit behind QLED TVs or advanced panels with PFS filters, but for this price range, the colours are surprisingly saturated and vibrant. It’s just a shame that this low brightness doesn't allow them to fully “spread their wings” with the Nano filter.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Fortunately, despite such low brightness, the NANO81A has one feature that makes watching movies in HDR format truly enjoyable. It's about the well-optimised dynamic tone mapping function. Thanks to this feature, LG's software extracts more from the panel than the numbers would suggest. With this technology, the TV very "intelligently" manages details in the brightest parts of the image. In scenes from movies like Billy Lynn or Mr, the high effects in the form of fireworks or sunrises are not blended into a shapeless white blob. This is a huge plus, as in such a cheap and dark TV it's easy to have "blowouts," yet here LG handles this surprisingly well. Of course, there are no miracles – there are still slight shortcomings in colour saturation (especially with reds), and we’ve already mentioned the greyish black in relation to contrast. Despite these hardware limitations, the picture is digitally "organised" well enough that a viewing in HDR format can be enjoyable here. For a budget device that struggles a bit in terms of hardware, the software does a really great job.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
Unfortunately, the specifications of the NANO81A do not include support for Dolby Vision or HDR10+. This is quite a shame because with such dark televisions, dynamic metadata can work wonders. They allow for precise control of brightness frame by frame, which in theory would squeeze even more goodness out of this panel. However, in the case of this particular model, we don't consider this a disqualifying flaw. Why? Because, as I mentioned earlier, LG has done its homework on the software. Their proprietary dynamic tone mapping feature handles the standard HDR10 format so efficiently that the picture still looks correct and detailed. Of course, it would be even better with Dolby Vision, but thanks to how the software manages the standard signal, the lack of these formats isn't as painful as it is with the competition.
Static HDR10
Factory color reproduction
5.3/10
For every film fan, the natural choice in LG televisions is the Filmmaker Mode. It is designed to show the image as the director intended – without unnecessary "enhancements". Unfortunately, in the case of our test unit NANO81A, the factory settings left a bit to be desired. The main issue turned out to be the white balance. Measurements revealed a distinct deficiency of blue, which in practice meant that many scenes had a slightly yellowish, even "yellowed" tint. The white wasn’t perfectly clean, which took away the freshness of the image. Additionally, the brightness management wasn't perfect either – the factory-set gamma was too low. The image often appeared oversaturated, as if it had been pulled too much from the shadows, which detracted from its naturalness and depth. Fortunately, LG, even in this relatively low price range, does not block access to advanced settings. The calibration options for this model are extensive, which is a significant plus for those who enjoy "fiddling" in the menu. We decided to approach the matter our way and see how much we could squeeze out of this panel with professional calibration.
Color reproduction after calibration
7.5/10
After calibration, the NANO81A is a completely different television. What LG offers in terms of image enhancement tools, even in such an affordable model, deserves major credit. We were able to completely eliminate that annoying yellowing of whites and make the colours natural, vibrant, and simply "real". In SDR content (i.e., regular television, YouTube, or older films), the picture now looks miles better – it’s clean, well-balanced, and no longer strains the eyes with strange hues. It’s clear that this panel has significant potential, which is simply wasted out of the box due to poor presets. However, we have one serious reservation that calibration cannot fully overcome – it's about brightness management in HDR mode. The LG algorithm in this model is very conservative. The TV deliberately dims the HDR image to avoid clipping the already weak blacks of the IPS panel. The developers faced a choice: either provide more light and accept that black would become light grey, or dial down the brightness to maintain any contrast. They chose the latter. Despite this, after our adjustments, watching anything on the NANO81 is considerably better.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Smoothness of tonal transitions
9.3/10
The fluidity of tonal transitions is an element where the NANO81A really shines. LG proves here that it can refine image processing algorithms even in its cheaper models. During testing, we practically did not notice any banding phenomenon, that annoying "stepping" visible where one colour should smoothly transition into another. Everything looks incredibly natural and smooth. This is clearly evident in bright scenes from the film Kingsman, where the backgrounds remain clean and free from digital artefacts. However, what makes an even greater impression is how the television handles extremely difficult, dark, and foggy shots in The Revenant. Where many budget panels falter and produce ugly blotches instead of a smooth mist, the NANO81A holds its ground, offering very velvety transitions. The only downside is the fact that with darker shades, you may notice the weaker black levels of this television rather than any issues with colour blending.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
It often happens that cheap 4K panels ruthlessly expose all the "dirty laundry" and imperfections in lower resolution materials. However, with the LG NANO81A, the situation is completely different. It's a really solid performer when it comes to handling content that's far from ideal. The built-in processor does a great job with upscaling. Even older recordings look quite decent on this screen – the image is coherent, cleaned of digital noise, and simply pleasant to the eye. A big plus is the gradation reduction feature, which you can find in the settings. It is exceptionally effective in combating colour banding, which is a godsend when watching low bitrate materials, such as from some streaming services or older files from the web. However, it is worth maintaining a certain vigilance. Since we are dealing with a less powerful chip than in LG's top models, too aggressive a setting for this option can sometimes result in minor artifacts or slight blurring of details. Despite this risk, I definitely encourage experimentation with this feature – in many cases, it can save the viewing experience and make low-quality material fully watchable.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Blur and motion smoothness
4.6/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 60Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: No
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
In terms of motion fluidity, the NANO81A unfortunately has a bit of a hurdle. The television is based on a panel with a refresh rate of 60Hz. If you're looking for perfect sharpness in dynamic football matches or fast-paced action games, you might feel somewhat dissatisfied. With such a low native refresh rate, fast objects on the screen will always be a bit blurry.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
A certain lifeline is the TruMotion system. It allows for artificially generating frames, which realistically smooths the image, especially in movies and series. In the menu, you'll find the De-Judder slider, and here we have a specific tip for you: it's best to set it to a value of 3 or 4, with a maximum of 5. It's like the "golden mean" – the image becomes noticeably smoother and more stable, while still managing to avoid the so-called soap opera effect, which makes cinematic productions look unnatural and cheap. Although the software cannot physically replace a faster panel, these settings make the viewing experience significantly more comfortable for the eye.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Console compatibility and gaming features
6/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 60Hz
Dolby Vision Game Mode:
No - Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
No
- 1440p@120Hz:
No
- 4K@120Hz:
No
- Game bar:
Yes
NANO81A is unfortunately not a device designed with esports in mind. The lack of 120 Hz signal support is a fact that users planning to purchase this model simply have to accept. Nevertheless, LG’s engineers have worked hard to squeeze the maximum potential from this 60 Hz panel, offering a set of features that genuinely improve gaming comfort. First and foremost, the television supports VRR technology (in the range of 48–60 Hz) and ALLM. This ensures that the image remains stable and does not "tear," and the device automatically switches to low latency mode as soon as it detects a signal from a console. Managing these settings is extremely simple thanks to a dedicated system overlay that allows for a quick preview of parameters without leaving the game. A very significant advantage is support for the HGiG format. This solution is crucial for owners of modern consoles, as it allows the television to correctly "understand" the intentions of game developers regarding HDR tone mapping. In practice, this helps avoid the effect of "blown-out" bright spots, such as clouds or light sources, which is unfortunately a common issue in budget LCD televisions.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Input lag
10/10
When it comes to response speed, the LG NANO81A performs exceptionally well. The input lag we measured is around 12 ms. This is a very low level, which for a gamer means one thing – the delay between moving the stick on the controller and the reaction on the screen is practically unnoticeable. The television excels in dynamic titles where every millisecond counts, and in this respect, it does not fall short of significantly more expensive models.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 13 ms | 2160p60: 12 ms | |
| 2160p60: 12 ms |
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Compatibility with PC
6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 12ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 60Hz
G-Sync: No
Nano81A is a really solid monitor for text work. Thanks to the IPS panel and proper implementation of Chroma 4:4:4, the fonts are very clear and sharp – practically everyone will be satisfied with how this screen performs as a monitor. We only noticed one small detail that we picked up during our laboratory scrutiny: the vertical lines of dark text are slightly darker than the horizontal ones. However, this is such a minimal phenomenon that we did not decide to deduct points for it. The scores only went down with features typically for PC gamers – there was a lack of G-Sync support and high refresh rates above 60 Hz, which will be a significant downside for those looking for a screen for dynamic gaming on the computer.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Viewing angles
6.1/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 66%
This is the moment when the LG NANO81A can finally "breathe" and make up for the points lost in the black and contrast categories. Due to the use of an IPS panel, the viewing angles here are simply very good. It is in this section that the tested model gains the most and clearly shows its advantage over competing televisions equipped with VA panels. In practice, this means that the image does not lose quality even when viewed at a large angle. This makes the NANO81A a great choice for people who have a wide furniture layout in their living room or often watch matches and movies with a larger group.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Daytime performance
4/10
Panel finish: Satin
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Good
NANO81A is a relatively dark television, so it works best in rooms where you have control over the lighting. With a brightness of around 250 nits, it's hard to recommend it with a clear conscience for very bright, heavily sunlit lounges – in such conditions, the picture will simply lack punch. Nonetheless, LG deserves a small plus for the screen finish. The satin matrix used here quite effectively suppresses reflections. As a result, even if there is a bit of light in the room, you won't see reflections of every detail from your surroundings on the screen. So, if you can slightly close the blinds, a daytime viewing experience will definitely be possible, but this model simply wasn’t designed to "fight" full sunlight.
Panel brightness
Average luminance SDR
LG NANO81A / NANO80A : 247 cd/m2
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - TV features
6.6/10
System: WebOS
System performance: Good
- HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No
- Recording programming: No
- Picture in Picture (PiP): No
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
- Backlit remote control: No
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: Yes
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
- Voice search: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
Smart Features: WebOS
One of the greatest advantages of the NANO81A model is its “brain,” that is, the operating system. LG has implemented a full-fledged WebOS version for 2025, which in terms of fluidity and usability is on par with the more expensive models from this brand. Applications launch smoothly, and navigating the menu is a pure pleasure - there’s no sign of the annoying stutters often found in budget competitors. This is all thanks to the unique remote with a pointer (cursor) function, which has undergone a visual overhaul this year. The manufacturer has opted for minimalism - the new Magic remote is significantly smaller and more ergonomic than its predecessors. It fits perfectly in the hand, but this change has a downside as well. The physical number section has completely disappeared from the casing. For younger users, accustomed to streaming and selecting tiles, this will be no problem. However, older household members, who are used to entering channel numbers from memory, will have to change their long-standing habits.
Everyday Use
In terms of features that we would call “classic,” the NANO81A relies on tried-and-true standards. It is not a multimedia powerhouse that will surprise you with exotic additions, but in everyday television use, it performs flawlessly. The operation of traditional terrestrial or cable television, including even the old good Teletext, is correct and intuitive. Wireless communication also deserves praise. The Bluetooth module works very reliably, allowing for quick and stable connections to a game console controller or wireless headphones and speakers. It’s simply a television that “works” – it is stable, predictable, and does not cause unnecessary complications in daily use.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: No
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): No
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: No
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: No
- DTS-HD Master Audio: No
Senior accessibility
- Numeric keyboard on TV: No
- Font size adjustment: No
- Audio description: Yes
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Apps
9.1/10
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Playing files from USB
8.2/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
Many users still rely on their own USB drives to display movies or photos on a large screen. In this respect, the NANO81A performs quite decently – the built-in player supports a wide range of video and audio codecs, so most movie libraries will fire up "straight away". However, it's important to remember the specifics of the WebOS system. Since it is a closed environment, we are stuck with what the manufacturer has provided for us. There is no option to install alternative players (like the popular VLC), so if the system player can't handle something, there isn't much that can be done about it. During testing, we encountered a few specific limitations. Firstly, there is a lack of support for HEIC files. If you take photos with an iPhone and want to view them directly from a USB drive, the TV simply won't see them – it's worth changing the save format to JPG on the phone right away. We also noticed that the player struggles with processing very large graphic files. Photos with a resolution of around 20–28 Mpix may not load or may cause system errors. Aside from these exceptions, everyday multimedia handling is hassle-free.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Sound
6.2/10
81dB
Maximum volume
Supported codecs
(TV speakers)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
In terms of audio, the LG NANO81A is surprisingly good compared to its higher-end brother, the QNED80A model. Interestingly, the NanoCell performs slightly better, likely due to its somewhat thicker casing. The increased volume allows for the extraction of any low-frequency nuances – while the bass may not be powerful, it is more clearly defined than in thinner constructions. However, one shouldn’t expect miracles. It’s still a standard 2.0 speaker setup with a total power of 20 W, so the overall sound characteristic remains similar to other models in this price range. The mid and high tones are decent, making dialogues in films and news programs clear. While this slight improvement in the lower registers is appreciated, for true home theatre or listening to music, it’s still worth considering the addition of even a simple soundbar.
Sound Quality Test:
Acoustic Measurements
81dBC (Max)
75dBC
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Panel details
Software version during testing: 33.21.62
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: White LED
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Journalist, reviewer, and columnist for the "ChooseTV" portal
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