- 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
Available screen sizes:
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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 offerings in LG's range 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 intended to filter out "polluted" wavelengths of light, which should result in cleaner and more saturated colours than those found in the cheapest LCD televisions. It's a kind of bridge between a standard screen and the more expensive QLED models. The question, however, is whether this magic filter actually does its job or if it's just clever marketing designed to encourage us to pay a few hundred more compared to the basic series. We decided to check this by putting this model under the microscope along with our measuring equipment.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Our verdict
5.7
Overall rating
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.
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
Disadvantages
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)
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 a mid-range line of LCD televisions from LG – positioned above budget UHD models but below advanced QNEDs or OLEDs. This is immediately evident in the design of the NANO81A model. If we examine the bezels, they closely resemble those from the higher QNED80 series – we have a trendy, “bezelless” design with a distinctive black border around the screen. 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 one central leg.
LG NANO80A – this is a twin model, but equipped with two widely spaced legs.
Before making a choice, 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 must reckon with the fact that it will stick out noticeably from it. On the other hand, the back of the casing is designed so that mounting fairly close to the wall is possible, provided that the “box” profile does not bother you. The overall construction is quite careful and solid, 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 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.
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 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.
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 HDR movies 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 alone would suggest. With this technology, the television manages the details in the brightest parts of the image very "intelligently." In scenes from films like Billy Lynn or The Man, high effects such as fireworks or sunrises were not blended into a single, shapeless white blob. This is a huge plus, as in such a cheap and dark television, it's easy to have "blowouts," but here LG handles this surprisingly well. Of course, there are no miracles – there are still slight deficiencies in colour saturation (especially in reds), and we have already noted that the black is grey when discussing contrast. Despite these hardware limitations, the image is digitally "organised" well enough that viewing in HDR can be enjoyable here. For a budget device that technically falls short, the software does a really good job.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
Unfortunately, the NANO81A specifications do not include support for Dolby Vision or HDR10+ formats. This is quite a shame, as with such dark televisions, dynamic metadata can perform wonders. They allow for precise control of brightness frame by frame, which in theory would extract even more goodness from this panel. However, in the case of this specific model, we do not consider this a disqualifying flaw. Why? Because, as I mentioned earlier, LG has done its homework in software. Their proprietary dynamic tone mapping function handles the standard HDR10 format so efficiently that the image 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 absence of these formats is not 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. 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.
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 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.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Smoothness of tonal transitions
9.3/10
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.
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 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.
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
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.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
A certain lifeline is the TruMotion system. It allows for artificial frame interpolation, which realistically smooths the image, especially in films and series. In the menu, you will 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, a maximum of 5. This is the "golden mean" – the image becomes noticeably smoother and more stable, while simultaneously avoiding the so-called soap opera effect, which makes cinematic productions look unnatural and cheap. Although the software cannot physically replace a faster panel, thanks to these settings, the viewing experience becomes 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 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.
LG NANO81A / NANO80A - Input lag
10/10
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.
| 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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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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