LG NANO81A / NANO80A vs IFFALCON U85X

Direct comparison

U85X1

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”75”86”

Available screen sizes: 65”

Panel type: LCD IPS

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: WebOS

Model year: 2025

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Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2026

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Overall rating

5.7

6.9

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    5.1

    6.2

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    5.1

    6.3

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    5.4

    6.1

  • Gaming on console

    6.7

    8.4

  • TV as a computer monitor

    6.0

    8.6

  • Watching in bright light

    4.0

    5.6

  • Utility functions

    6.6

    7.6

  • Apps

    9.1

    9.6

  • Sound quality

    6.2

    6.9

Advantages

  • Wide viewing angles (IPS matrix)

  • Very low input lag (approx. 10-12 ms)

  • Fluid 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 upscaling of older content

  • Noticeable low-end blend in sound

  • Good contrast and black: VA panel with MINI-LED local dimming zones

  • High HDR brightness: solid 650 nits

  • Decent colours: thanks to the PFS filter (according to the manufacturer QLED)

  • Revolutionary for gamers: full HDMI 2.1, 144Hz, very low input lag, and VRR/ALLM features

  • Great as a monitor: 240Hz mode, support for G-SYNC/FreeSync

  • Powerful sound – dedicated subwoofer provides a noticeably deep bass

  • Versatile Smart TV – advanced Google TV system with full AirPlay support

Disadvantages

No like
  • Poor black level and low contrast

  • Low brightness (approximately 250 nits – weak for very bright rooms)

  • Matrix refresh rate of only 60 Hz

  • USB player without support for HEIC files and very large images (over 20 Mpix)

  • Visible trailing

  • Backlight management could be better

  • Poor viewing angles – typical VA panel colour degradation when viewed from the side

  • Software issues – inaccurate menu translations and occasional drops in system fluidity

Our verdict

LG NANO81A is essentially a continuation of the NanoCell series, which has hardly changed at all over the past few years. Apart from the new operating system, refreshed remote control, and a few marketing additions, we are dealing with practically the same design we have known for years. Thanks to the nanostructure filter, the television can display better, cleaner colours than standard budget televisions, and the IPS panel guarantees really decent viewing angles. Unfortunately, for these advantages, we pay for 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 faces enormous competition not just from brands like TCL or Hisense, but... from LG itself. The model we previously tested, QNED80A, is equipped with local dimming technology, has a brighter panel, and offers a wider colour gamut. 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 makes no sense – unless your priority is solely wide viewing angles, but in our opinion, the price you have to pay for that (at the cost of tragic blacks and higher expenditure) is simply too high.

iFFALCON U85X is a device that draws heavily from the technological solutions of its parent brand, TCL. It's hard not to get the impression that, in terms of pure technical specifications, we are dealing with almost a faithful copy of the successful C6K (C69K/Q6C) series, although in terms of design, the designers opted for references to the more budget-friendly P line. This specific combination makes the television do exactly what we expect from a solid Mini-LED, but at an even lower price. It provides very good contrast and a vivid HDR effect, which is directly due to the impressive number of local dimming zones. It is worth noting that, like the models from the C series, iFFALCON U85X turns out to be exceptionally tailored to the needs of gamers. Here we find almost every function necessary for comfortable gameplay, from full support for HDMI 2.1 ports, through ALLM and VRR technologies for console owners, to remarkable compatibility with PCs. As a monitor, the device performs excellently not only due to its support for refresh rates up to 240Hz but also because of the very sharp and readable font, which is not always a given in the world of televisions. Of course, this is not an ideal model, as it shares the same set of advantages and disadvantages as its TCL counterpart – mainly referring to issues like noticeable ghosting or aggressive brightness management in HDR. However, it creates an exceptionally interesting mix that makes us seriously question the sense of the existence of the iFFALCON brand as a separate entity, since the same product could successfully debut with the full TCL logo on the casing. Nonetheless, we have no major objections to the device itself; it is truly a model worth considering, provided you manage to buy it, as it is currently very difficult to obtain.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
Other inputs
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Average
Average
Stand type
Central
Legs
Bezel color
Graphite
Graphite
Stand
Fixed
Fixed
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

1.5/10

7.3/10

Local dimming function: No

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 224 (14 x 16)

Contrast:

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

800:1

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

850:1

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

900:1

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

900:1

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

750:1

Review IFFALCON U85X Contrast and black detail

Result

113,850:1

Review IFFALCON U85X Contrast and black detail

Result

24,800:1

Review IFFALCON U85X Contrast and black detail

Result

10,950:1

Review IFFALCON U85X Contrast and black detail

Result

7,000:1

Review IFFALCON U85X Contrast and black detail

Result

6,050:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

Check the visibility of bright lights on a dark background. Mini-LEDs often struggle with this. The photo does not compare black levels – that’s what the video below is for.

The NanoCell series, including the model NANO81 we tested, is based on an IPS panel. For anyone who is somewhat familiar with screen technology, this means one thing: significant problems with black levels and contrast. Our measurements are merciless in this regard. A result of 800:1 is, to put it bluntly, a tragic outcome. In practice, this means that what should appear on the screen as deep black looks like a dark grey patch at night. Watching dark films or series in a completely dark room will be downright torturous – the image will lose all its depth and appear flat. If you do decide on this model, we have one key piece of advice for you: do not watch it in complete darkness. To salvage the situation somewhat, it is best to leave a gentle light on in the room, and the ideal solution would be to install LED strips behind the television. Such backlighting will trick your eye (this is known as simultaneous contrast) and make that grey on the screen seem a little darker. Nevertheless, the start of the test for cinematic experiences looks bleak.

In terms of blacks and contrast, the 65-inch iFFALCON U85X turns out to be almost an exact copy of the solutions known from the TCL C6K and C69K models, offering the same number of 224 local dimming zones in a 14x16 arrangement. Thanks to the use of a VA panel and such a solid number of zones, the device is capable of generating an image with impressive depth, where our measurements in real film scenes indicated a contrast exceeding 100,000:1. Of course, with this class of equipment, local dimming does not always achieve perfect precision, so in more challenging scenes with bright details against a dark background, we must reckon with the occurrence of the halo effect, which is a subtle glow around objects. Nevertheless, the overall quality of blacks is at a very high level and will certainly satisfy most users seeking cinematic experiences. The image certainly appears to have greater depth than in solutions without any local dimming technology.

HDR effect quality

3.6/10

4.7/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 87.6%, Bt.2020: 65.3%
DCI P3: 93.7%, Bt.2020: 72.5%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

228 nit

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

193 nit

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

250 nit

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

168 nit

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

252 nit

Review IFFALCON U85X Brightness measurement

Result

627 nit

Review IFFALCON U85X Brightness measurement

Result

165 nit

Review IFFALCON U85X Brightness measurement

Result

390 nit

Review IFFALCON U85X Brightness measurement

Result

124 nit

Review IFFALCON U85X Brightness measurement

Result

528 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

The photos show two HDR10 movies. 'Pan' is one of the brightest productions ever made, while 'Billy Lynn' (soldier) has brightness typical of streaming (Netflix, Prime, HBO MAX). Notice the intensity of effects and detail in whites.

Static HDR10

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

HDR luminance chart:

IFFALCON U85X

LG NANO81A / NANO80A

If you are counting on HDR in the NANO81A to bring tears to your eyes, I must disappoint you. This television is simply too dark to truly show what this format is all about. With a brightness of only 250 nits, HDR exists here mainly on paper. In practice, during viewing, it is very difficult to distinguish whether we are watching high dynamic range content or regular SDR – it simply lacks that ‘punch’ of light in the bright parts of the image. However, to give credit where it’s due, we do have a glimmer of hope here – and quite a clear one at that. It concerns the colour gamut coverage. Here, the NanoCell filter shows that it is not just marketing nonsense. Our measurements indicated that the coverage of the DCI-P3 space is around 88%. This is a really solid result that places this model significantly higher than typical budget options based on standard white LEDs without any filters. Of course, it still falls short of the level of quantum dot (QLED) TVs or advanced panels with PFS filters, but for this price point, the colours are surprisingly saturated and vibrant. It's just a shame that this low brightness prevents them from fully ‘spreading their wings’ with the Nano filter.

iFFALCON U85 handles HDR in a rather twofold manner – on one hand, it can surprise with solid peak brightness of around 650 nits, which places it well above average in this price segment. This is especially evident in bright, full-screen scenes. Examples from films such as Life of Pi or the final test sequences from The Meg prove that the television can maintain the power and essence of HDR effect when the entire panel needs to "ignite," delivering truly satisfying experiences. However, problems arise in high-contrast scenes, where smaller, bright details appear on the screen; the dimming algorithms prioritize black depth to such an extent that they can stifle the brightness of small light points to just 100 nits, which drastically reduces image dynamics and deprives us of the true "bite" we expect from HDR standards. On a brighter note, however, the colours remain impressive, as the use of the PFS phosphor filter (marketed as QLED by the manufacturer) showcases them very well, achieving nearly 94% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette, allowing for a vibrant and rich image in most content.

Factory color reproduction

5.3/10

4.8/10

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

For every film fan, the natural choice in LG televisions is the Filmmaker Mode. Its aim is to display images as the director intended – without unnecessary "enhancements". Unfortunately, in the case of our test unit NANO81A, the factory settings left something to be desired. The main issue turned out to be the white balance. Measurements showed a distinct deficiency of blue colour, which in practice meant that many scenes had a slightly yellowish, even "yellowed" tint. The white was not perfectly pure, which detracted from the freshness of the image. Additionally, brightness management was also not ideal – the factory-set gamma was too low. The picture often appeared oversaturated, as if overly lifted from the shadows, which caused it to lose naturalness and depth. Fortunately, LG, even in this relatively low price category, does not block access to advanced settings. The calibration possibilities of this model are enormous, which is a big plus for those who enjoy "digging" in the menu. We decided to approach the topic in our own way and see how much we could squeeze out of this panel with professional calibration.

We tested the factory colours on the iFFALCON U85X model in 'Film' mode, which is definitely the most reliable among all available settings, although it is still far from perfect. The main issue that stands out in both SDR and HDR content is the incorrect white balance – an excess of blue and red components gives the image a slight purple tint, which disrupts the naturalness of the film scenes. An even greater challenge is the way the television manages its brightness. Analyzing the gamma chart for the SDR signal, we noticed significant instability: instead of adhering to the standard value of 2.4, the device oscillates around 2.2, only to suddenly make an unnatural jump towards 3.0. In practice, this leads to confusing effects – large, bright areas on the screen appear too dark, while smaller elements are unnecessarily brightened. A similar characteristic can be found in the EOTF curve, which makes the image unpredictable and loses its cinematic authenticity.

Color reproduction after calibration

7.5/10

7.5/10

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

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 a big plus. We managed to completely eliminate that annoying yellowing of whites and make the colours natural, vibrant, and simply "true". In SDR content (that is, regular television, YouTube, or older films), the picture now looks worlds better – it is clear, well-balanced, and no longer strains the eyes with strange hues. It is clear that this panel has significant potential, which is simply wasted by poor presets out of the box. However, we do have one serious reservation that calibration cannot fully overcome – it concerns brightness management in HDR mode. LG's algorithm in this model is constructed very conservatively. The television intentionally dims the HDR picture to avoid overexposing the already weak blacks of the IPS panel. The programmers faced a choice: either to provide more light and accept that the blacks would become light grey or to reduce the brightness to maintain any contrast. They chose the latter. Nevertheless, after our adjustments, watching anything on the NANO81 is significantly better.

After professional calibration of the movie mode, we must admit that the result is more than satisfactory – the iFFALCON U85X undergoes a true transformation. Colour errors in SDR content have dropped to a level below 2, which makes them virtually imperceptible to the human eye. We have managed to set the white balance almost perfectly, and brightness management (gamma) has become nearly exemplary. As a result, with standard quality materials, the television simply looks perfect and it is difficult to fault it.

In the case of HDR signal, the situation has also significantly improved, although here the nature of the device becomes a bit more evident. Colour errors have been reduced to around 3, which is an outstanding result in this price range. However, it is worth taking a look at the EOTF graph (available on the right side of the screen in the filters: 4K HDR, gamma / EOTF) to notice what is not immediately visible regarding the brightness management by the U85. Although the reference line looks decent, in real film scenes, the television still interprets the signal “in its own way” due to very aggressive local dimming algorithms. Does this disqualify this model for watching HDR content? Absolutely not. It's simply a typical affliction of almost every Mini-LED, which must reconcile high brightness with the attempt to maintain deep blacks. One simply needs to be aware of these technical limitations, which are unavoidable in this segment.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

9.3/10

7/10

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

The fluidity of tonal transitions is an element in which the NANO81A truly shines. LG proves here that it can refine image processing algorithms even in its cheaper models. During testing, we practically noted no occurrences of banding, that is, the annoying "steps" visible where one colour should transition smoothly into another. Everything appears incredibly natural and smooth. This is particularly evident in the bright scenes from the film Kingsman, where the backgrounds remain clean and free from digital artefacts. However, what is even more impressive is how the television handles the extremely difficult, dark, and misty shots in The Revenant. Where many budget panels falter and serve up ugly patches instead of smooth mist, the NANO81A holds its ground, offering very velvety transitions. The only downside is the fact that with darker shades, you will notice more of the weak blacks of this television rather than any issues with colour blending.

In terms of fluidity of tonal transitions, the iFFALCON U85X performs quite decently. In most scenes, the gradients are almost imperceptible, so the annoying "banding" of colours should not be noticeable during daily viewing, for example, on choose.tv. However, it must be honestly admitted that in very dark shots, the image is not always perfectly smooth, and certain imperfections in the transitions between shades can be observed. Nevertheless, this result is more than satisfactory and does not spoil the overall perception of the picture.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7/10

5/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
OK
Smooth transition function
OK
OK

Smooth transition function

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video.

Image scaling SD (576i)

The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

It often happens that cheap 4K panels mercilessly bring to light all the "dirt" and imperfections of lower-resolution content. However, with the LG NANO81A, the situation is quite different. This is truly a solid performer when it comes to handling content that is 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 significant advantage is the gradation reduction feature that you will find in the settings. It is extraordinarily effective in combating colour banding, which is a lifesaver when watching materials with a low bitrate, for instance, from some streaming services or older files from the web. However, it is worth maintaining a certain level of caution. Since we are dealing with a less powerful chip than in LG's top models, setting this option too aggressively may sometimes result in minor artefacts or slight blurring of details. Despite this risk, I definitely encourage experimenting with this feature - in many cases, it can save the viewing experience and make low-quality material fully watchable.

When it comes to upscaling the image to 4K resolution, the iFFALCON U85X performs well. The device efficiently enhances low-quality signals, making even older materials look clean and clear on the 4K panel. At extremely low resolutions, such as 480p, one can notice slightly jagged edges (especially on fine lines), but let's be honest – this is a scenario that you will encounter only when watching very old recordings, so in everyday use, it is not a real problem.

Much worse is the digital processing aimed at smoothing tonal transitions. Although in the menu we find the “Gradual Smoothing” function, its effectiveness is at least questionable. In practice, it does not effectively eliminate banding (colour banding), and worse, it can cause more harm than good. This filter can be too aggressive in areas where it shouldn’t, artificially smoothing details that should not be altered, such as the natural texture of the face or fine details of skin texture. Instead of improving quality, this function can give the image an unnatural, “plastic” appearance, so it is best to use it with great caution or, preferably, leave it switched off.

Blur and motion smoothness

4.6/10

6.8/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
60Hz
144Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
No
OK
BFI function 60Hz
No
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz
No
Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI
-%
25%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Blur ():

Blur (4K@144Hz):

When it comes to motion fluidity, the NANO81A unfortunately has a hard time. The television is based on a panel with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. If you are looking for perfect sharpness in dynamic football matches or fast action games, you may feel a bit disappointed. With such a low native refresh rate, fast objects on the screen will always be a little blurred.

In contrast to budget constructions, which in dynamic sports scenes can resemble a slideshow, the iFFALCON U85X is a heavyweight contender equipped with a panel that has a native refresh rate of 144Hz. However, it is worth noting that in the world of films, series, or sports, we will primarily operate at 120Hz due to the specifics of how image enhancement systems function. Such a fast panel is excellent news for gamers and sports fans as it opens the door to advanced motion settings that simply do not exist in cheaper 60Hz models.

We manage everything from the menu “Motion Clarity”, where instead of using pre-set, often overly aggressive modes, we definitely recommend our own configuration based on two sliders. The most important of these, motion blur reduction, is responsible for fluidity in films – here, it’s best to aim for a value of around 4, which will maintain a natural, cinematic character of motion without falling into the artificial “soap opera effect.” Meanwhile, the first slider, motion blur reduction, is the key to success in sports broadcasts. In this case, it’s worth going all out and setting it to maximum, ensuring that the image during fast actions on the field remains sharp, while troublesome trailing is eliminated.

Console compatibility and gaming features

6/10

9.8/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    48 - 60Hz
    48 - 240Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    No
    Yes
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    Yes
    Yes
  • 1080p@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • 1440p@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • 4K@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • Game bar
    Yes
    Yes

NANO81A is unfortunately not hardware designed for e-sports. The lack of support for a 120 Hz signal is a fact that users planning to purchase this model simply have to come to terms with. Nevertheless, LG's engineers have made an effort to maximise the potential of this 60 Hz panel, offering a set of features that genuinely enhance the gaming experience. Firstly, the television supports VRR technology (within the range of 48-60 Hz) and ALLM. As a result, 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, which allows for quick viewing of parameters without leaving the game. A very significant advantage is the support for the HGiG format. This solution is crucial for owners of modern consoles because it enables 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.

iFFALCON U85X is an outstanding piece of equipment for gamers that has just about everything one can expect from a modern screen for consoles or PCs. We find here two full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gbps, which opens the door to key technologies such as VRR and ALLM, ensuring smooth gameplay without tearing the image and with minimal latency. The television handles high refresh rates in various resolutions without any problems, and a real curiosity is the mode that allows for achieving up to 240Hz when dropping down to Full HD quality. The whole thing is managed by the Game Bar (which is a faithful copy from TCL), allowing for instant switching of picture modes, customising the interface appearance, or even adding a virtual crosshair in the middle of the screen.

Input lag

10/10

9.8/10

SDR

1080p60
13 ms
17 ms
1080p120
9 ms
2160p60
12 ms
17 ms
2160p120
9 ms

HDR

2160p60
12 ms
17 ms
2160p120
9 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
17 ms
2160p120 DV
9 ms

In terms of response speed, the LG NANO81A performs exceptionally well. The input lag we measured is around 12 ms. This result is at 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 imperceptible. The television excels in fast-paced titles, where every millisecond counts, and in this regard, it does not lag behind significantly more expensive models.

The completed gaming arsenal is complemented by the outstanding latency results we measured in our tests. With a standard 60Hz signal, the input lag is just 17 ms, which is a completely safe value for comfortable gameplay, while switching to 120Hz reduces the latency to an impressive 9 ms. A nice fact is that these excellent parameters do not deteriorate even in Dolby Vision mode. In many televisions, activating this format is still associated with additional processor overhead and increased lag, but here the engineers at TCL (or iFFALCON) have done a great job.

Compatibility with PC

6/10

8.6/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Very Good
Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Good
Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
12ms
9ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
BGR
Max refresh rate
60Hz
144Hz
G-Sync
No
Yes

The photo shows the legibility of small fonts. Ideally, lines should be the same thickness on both light and dark text, with minimal pixel gaps.

Nano81A is truly a solid monitor for working with text. Thanks to the IPS panel and proper Chroma 4:4:4 implementation, fonts are very clear and sharp – practically everyone will be satisfied with how this screen performs as a monitor. We noticed just one minor detail that we picked up with our laboratory meticulousness: the vertical lines of dark text are slightly darker than the horizontal ones. However, this phenomenon is so minimal that we did not decide to deduct points for it. The scores only went down when it came to features typical for PC gamers – the lack of G-Sync support and high refresh rates above 60 Hz will be a significant downside for those looking for a screen for dynamic computer games.

iFFALCON U85X is also an excellent candidate for a powerful computer monitor, offering a work culture that is hard to find in typical televisions. The readability of fonts is nearly exemplary – although due to the nature of the VA panel, it is not as crystal clear as in IPS panels, the difference becomes practically imperceptible to the human eye when viewed from a distance of over one metre. The device natively supports a resolution of 4K at 144Hz refresh rate, but the real ace up its sleeve is the 240Hz mode (available at lower resolutions), which makes this behemoth an excellent tool for dynamic e-sports titles, where refresh rate takes precedence over pixel count. What is almost most important for PC users is that such high performance is fully supported by frame synchronization technologies, such as NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, effectively eliminating screen tearing and ensuring perfect fluidity regardless of the graphics card used.

Viewing angles

6.1/10

3.1/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
66%
68%

This is the moment when the LG NANO81A can finally "breathe" and make up for the points lost in the categories of black levels and contrast. Thanks 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 from a sharp angle. This makes the NANO81A a great option for those who have a wide furniture arrangement in their living room or often watch matches and films with larger groups.

When it comes to viewing angles, the iFFALCON U85X does not surprise us – it is simply poor, which is a typical characteristic of VA panels. We must treat this as a natural and conscious compromise: by choosing a panel with high contrast and deep blacks, we almost always sacrifice wide angles (only in top series do manufacturers use special coatings to improve this feature). You cannot cheat physics in this price segment, because while sitting directly in front of the television the picture looks fantastic, a slight lean to the side is enough for the colours to start losing their saturation. If you are planning evening screenings with a larger group, it is worth ensuring that everyone sits as close as possible to the central axis of the screen.

Daytime performance

4/10

5.6/10

Panel finish
Satin
Satin
Reflection suppression
Decent
Decent
Black levels during daytime
Good
Good

Panel brightness

IFFALCON U85X: 419 cd/m2

LG NANO81A / NANO80A : 247 cd/m2

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 is difficult to recommend it wholeheartedly for very bright, strongly sunlit living rooms – in such conditions, the picture will simply lack punch. Nevertheless, LG deserves a small plus for the screen finish. The satin panel used here does a decent job of suppressing reflections. Thanks to this, even if there is a bit of light in the room, you won’t see every detail of your surroundings reflected on the screen. So if you can slightly close the blinds, a daytime viewing is certainly possible, but this model simply wasn’t designed to "fight" full sunlight.

In a bright room, the iFFALCON U85X performs moderately well, thanks to the satin coating of the panel. It quite effectively dampens direct light reflections, thereby avoiding the annoying mirror effect, although under stronger lighting one can see characteristic warm "spills" of light around reflecting objects. While it doesn't reach the level of top panels with the most advanced filters, the lack of high gloss makes daytime use significantly less troublesome. In terms of pure brightness output in the SDR standard, that is for television, the TV achieves an average brightness of around 420 nits. This isn't an outstanding result that would allow it to combat direct sunlight hitting the screen, but it's perfectly sufficient for comfortable viewing of content in a moderately sunlit living room.

Panel details

Backlight Type
White LED
Mini-LED PFS LED
Software version during testing
33.21.62
V8-0012T01-LF1V543.002503
Image processor
MT5896 2,5GB RAM

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A TV Panel details
Review IFFALCON U85X TV Panel details

LG NANO81A / NANO80A

IFFALCON U85X

TV features

6.6/10

7.6/10

  • HDMI inputs
    3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
    2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    No
  • Recording programming
    No
    No
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    No
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    Yes
    Yes

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    Yes
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    Yes
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes
Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  TV features
Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  TV features
Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  TV features
Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  TV features
Review IFFALCON U85X TV features
Review IFFALCON U85X TV features
Review IFFALCON U85X TV features
Review IFFALCON U85X TV features

Smart Features: WebOS

One of the biggest advantages of the NANO81A model is its "brain", which is the operating system. LG has implemented a full-fledged WebOS version for 2025 here, which in terms of fluidity and user experience is on par with the more expensive models of this brand. Applications launch smoothly, and navigating through the menu is pure pleasure – there are no annoying stutters, which often occur with budget competitors. All of this is thanks to the unique remote with a pointer function (cursor), which has undergone a visual makeover 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 also has a downside. The physical numeric keypad has completely disappeared from the casing. For younger users, accustomed to streaming and selecting tiles, this will be no problem at all. However, older household members, attached to entering channel numbers by heart, will have to change their long-standing habits.

Everyday Use

In terms of functions that we would call "classic", the NANO81A sticks to a tried-and-true standard. It is not a multimedia powerhouse that will surprise you with exotic additions, but in everyday television tasks, it performs flawlessly. The handling of traditional terrestrial or cable television, including even the old faithful Teletext, is correct and intuitive. Wireless communication also deserves praise. The Bluetooth module works very reliably, allowing for quick and stable connection of a game controller or wireless headphones and speakers. It is simply a television that "works" – it is stable, predictable, and does not cause unnecessary complications during daily use.

Smart Features

Similar to the products under the TCL brand, the iFFALCON U85X benefits from the Google TV system. This means access to an almost limitless library of applications, from the most popular VOD services to niche tools, as well as full integration with Google's voice assistants and Gemini. Users of the Apple ecosystem have also not been overlooked – the television works seamlessly with their devices thanks to the built-in AirPlay feature. The system itself runs quite smoothly, although it cannot be denied that it inherits some shortcomings known from TCL models. The interface can sometimes "hitch", requiring a moment's thought, and the Polish translations in the deeper corners of the menu can be quite odd and at times illogical.

Classic Features

In the area of traditional television functions, the iFFALCON U85X does not strive for any extravagance and offers the absolute minimum, which may be somewhat disappointing for more demanding users of traditional cable or satellite services. One will futilely search for the ability to record programmes to external USB memory or a picture-in-picture (PiP) mode that would allow tracking two sources simultaneously. From the more "modern" classics, we only get the option to wirelessly connect headphones via Bluetooth and teletext support. The remote control also does not pretend to be a modern gadget from the future; it is a classic design with a full numeric keypad, which makes it easy to quickly jump between channels, but visually it significantly lags behind minimalist trends.

Apps

9.1/10

9.6/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
No
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
OK
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
OK
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link

Playing files from USB

8.2/10

9.2/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
No
No
PNG
Yes
Yes
GIF
No
Yes
WebP
No
Yes
TIFF
No
No
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
Yes
12 Mpix
Yes
Yes
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
No
Yes
24 Mpix
No
Yes
28 Mpix
No
Yes
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

Many users still use their own USB drives to display movies or photos on a large screen. In this regard, the NANO81A performs quite decently – the built-in player supports a wide range of video and audio codecs, so most film libraries will work "straight out of the box". However, one must bear in mind the specifics of the WebOS system. Since it is a closed environment, we are limited to what the manufacturer has prepared for us. There is no possibility to install alternative players (like the popular VLC), so if the system player cannot handle something, not much can be done about it. During testing, we encountered a few specific limitations. Firstly, support for HEIC files is lacking. If you take photos with an iPhone and want to view them directly from a USB drive, the television simply won't see them – it's worth changing the file format to JPG on the phone immediately. We also noticed that the player has difficulties processing very large image files. Photos with a resolution of 20–28 Mpix may fail to load or cause system errors. Aside from these exceptions, everyday multimedia handling is smooth.

Playing files from a pendrive is no challenge for the iFFALCON U85X - the built-in player handles almost every audio and video format we thrown at it during testing without a hitch. The only drawback we could point out is the support for external subtitles; while popular formats like .sub and .srt work flawlessly, the television can be temperamental with .txt files. Fortunately, with the presence of the Google TV system, this problem can be quickly resolved by installing an external app like VLC. However, for most users, the factory tool will likely be more than sufficient to enjoy their own media library without any unnecessary hassle.

Sound

6.2/10

6.9/10

  • Maximum volume
    81dB
    83dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    No
    No
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    No
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    No
    Yes
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    No
    Yes

In terms of audio, the LG NANO81A pleasantly surprises compared to its higher-end sibling, the QNED80A model. Interestingly, NanoCell sounds a bit better, which is likely due to its slightly thicker casing. The greater volume allows for the extraction of any hints of low tones – the bass may not be powerful, but it is more clearly defined than in thinner constructions. However, one should not expect miracles. It is still a standard 2.0 speaker configuration with a total power of 20 W, so the overall sound characteristics remain similar to other models in this price range. The mid and high tones are adequate, making dialogues in films and news programmes clear. Although this slight improvement in the lower registers is pleasing, for true home cinema or listening to music, it is still worth considering purchasing at least a basic soundbar.

iFFALCON U85X proves that the absence of the Onkyo or Bang & Olufsen logo on the casing does not necessarily mean flat and tinny sound. The audio system in this model plays surprisingly well, largely thanks to the dedicated subwoofer located at the back of the device. Our acoustic measurements confirm that the low end starts to "come alive." It is this distinct "hump" on the graph that is responsible for the noticeable dose of bass, which adds the weight and depth often missing in televisions to films and music. The only point of contention may be the fact that such bass can muffle the high tones, which may seem somewhat recessed. Overall, it can produce sound levels up to 83 dBC, which is more than sufficient for amplifying a larger lounge.

Sound Quality Test

No sound test video

Acoustic Measurements

81dBC (Max)

75dBC

83dBC (Max)

75dBC