LG UA77 55UA7700PUB 55"

The LG UA77 55" is a budget-friendly 4K TV that shines with its smart platform and streaming chops, scoring 87th percentile in our smart TV rankings. Picture quality is just average, but at its aggressive pricing (sometimes as low as $209), it's a solid secondary or bedroom TV. If you care more about content access than cinematic blacks, this one is worth a look.

The Alpha 7 Gen8 processor does the heavy lifting here, upscaling 1080p content nicely and navigating webOS with minimal lag. Our display testing pegs it at the 66th percentile, meaning it's about average for a budget TV, but its picture quality score of 36th percentile reveals the weakness: black levels are more dark gray than true black, and peak brightness is unimpressive, so HDR highlights don't pop. Motion is smooth at 60Hz, and the gaming features like ALLM and VRR are welcome, putting it at the 50th percentile among TVs, so it's serviceable but not a game-changer. Audio from the 20W speakers is clear enough for dialogue, but you'll want a soundbar for any serious movie night.

Stacked against the Hisense U7 and TCL QM7K, the UA77 falls behind in raw picture punch, those models use mini-LED and offer higher brightness and better local dimming. The Samsung QN85D outclasses it completely but costs double. Where the UA77 fights back is in software polish: webOS is smoother and more ad-free than Google TV on its budget rivals, and the built-in LG Channels give you 300+ free channels out of the box. Sony's BRAVIA 2 is a close match in picture but lacks the AI upscaling and smart home breadth, so the LG holds its own on ecosystem alone.

Price is this TV's superpower. The street price oscillates wildly from $209 to $540, so you absolutely need to shop around, some retailers list it for under $300, which is where the real magic is. At the low end, it's a steal for a smart 55-incher from LG. At the high end, you're better off stepping up to a Hisense U7 or TCL QM7K that deliver meaningfully better picture quality. For a budget bedroom or kitchen TV, though, it's hard to argue against.

The UA77 is LG's entry-level 2025 model, and it knows exactly what it is: a big, affordable screen for everyday streaming. You get a 55-inch 4K direct LED panel, HDR10 support, and the same webOS 25 software found on pricier LGs, all powered by the Alpha 7 Gen8 processor. It's not going to blow your mind with contrast or brightness, but for the price, the sheer convenience and smart home integration are hard to beat.\n\nSetup is a breeze, and with built-in Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple AirPlay, it slots into almost any household ecosystem. Three HDMI ports and eARC handle basic connectivity, though all are HDMI 2.0, so you're capped at 4K 60Hz. That's fine for most streaming and casual gaming, and with FreeSync and VRR, it even handles some gaming hiccups decently.

Skip this if you need deep blacks and high brightness for a home theater setup. The outdoor score is abysmal, so forget the patio. Gamers wanting 120Hz or VRR above 60Hz should look at the Hisense U7 or Samsung QN85D instead. Also, if your budget is over $500, don't settle; the TCL QM7K gives you far better contrast and color volume for similar money.

If you're after a no-nonsense, affordable smart TV that makes streaming effortless and works with all your smart home gear, the LG UA77 is a safe pick. It's best as a secondary set, a kid's room TV, or a budget upgrade from an old 1080p screen where you value content access over cinematic quality. Serious cinephiles and bright-room viewers should look elsewhere.