LG LQ630B 32LQ630BPUA 32"

The LG LQ630B has a 1366 x 768 display that ranks in the 6th percentile, one of the worst we've seen. The smart features are solid at the 68th percentile, and the a5 Gen 5 processor does its best. But at USD 161 to USD 207, you're paying for software while the screen lets you down.

Let's talk about that display first, because it's the elephant in the room. 1366 x 768 resolution on a 32-inch panel. That's a pixel density of about 49 PPI, which is lower than most budget phones from 2015. The Direct LED backlight helps with uniformity, but it can't add pixels that aren't there. Picture quality sits at the 36th percentile, which is below average. HDR10 and HLG support is there, but with a panel this dim and low-res, HDR is more of a checkbox than a feature. The 64th percentile HDR ranking is generous, honestly.

The a5 Gen 5 AI Processor is the one bright spot. It handles upscaling, which you'll need constantly since almost everything you stream will be 1080p or higher. The AI Sound feature creates a virtual 5.1 surround effect from the built-in speakers, though audio overall ranks at the 29th percentile. Don't expect much bass or clarity. Gaming is the weakest area at the 18th percentile, with a 60Hz panel and no VRR or ALLM. If you're plugging in a console, you'll get a playable experience, but this is not a gaming TV by any stretch.

Stacked against the competition, the LQ630B is in trouble. The Sony BRAVIA 5 K65XR50 and Samsung Neo QLED QN70F are in a completely different league, with 4K panels and real HDR performance. Even the Roku Plus Series 55R6C7, which is a budget-focused set, offers 4K resolution and better picture quality for not much more money. The TCL QM8K Series and Hisense U8 Series are also 4K with quantum dot and mini-LED tech respectively. The only thing the LG has going for it is the webOS platform, which is genuinely better than Roku's interface in some ways. But a good interface doesn't make up for a display that ranks in the 6th percentile. If you're choosing between this and literally any 1080p or 4K set in the same price range, pick the other one.

Pricing on this thing is all over the place. US listings range from USD 161 to USD 207, a spread of USD 46 across 3 listings. That's a big gap for a budget TV. At the low end, you're getting a smart TV with decent software for under USD 170, which is hard to argue with. At the high end, you're paying over USD 200 for a 768p panel, which is a terrible deal. If you're set on this model, hunt for the lower end of that range. But honestly, for USD 200 you can find 1080p sets from TCL or Hisense that will blow this display out of the water.

The LG LQ630B is a 32-inch smart TV that lands in a weird spot. It's got a 1366 x 768 panel, which puts it in the 6th percentile for display in our database. That's not a typo. Six. Out of a hundred. For a TV in 2024, that's rough. But the smart features are actually decent, sitting at the 68th percentile, and the HDR support is middle of the pack at 64th. So you're getting a smart TV with a screen that feels like it's from a decade ago.

The a5 Gen 5 AI processor is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. It's handling the webOS 22 interface, AI Sound, and Active HDR. But no processor can fix a 768p panel. At 32 inches, some people will argue you can't tell the difference between 720p and 1080p. Those people are wrong, but I understand why they say it. The real question is whether the smart features and LG's ecosystem make up for the display. For most people, probably not. But for a kitchen TV or a bedroom set where you're mostly streaming casual content, it might squeak by.

Skip this if you care about picture quality at all. The 1366 x 768 panel ranks at the 6th percentile for display, which means 94% of TVs in our database have better screens. Gamers should absolutely look elsewhere, with gaming performance at the 18th percentile and no VRR or ALLM. If you're planning to use this as a primary TV for movies or shows, the 36th percentile picture quality will disappoint. And if you're paying anywhere near the USD 207 end of the price range, you're getting fleeced. For that money, you can get a 1080p or even a budget 4K set with a much better panel.

The LG LQ630B is a smart TV with a dumb screen. The webOS 22 platform and a5 Gen 5 processor are genuinely good, ranking at the 68th percentile for smart features. But the 1366 x 768 display is a dealbreaker. At the 6th percentile for display, this is one of the worst panels we've seen in a modern TV. If you can find it at the USD 161 end of the price range and you only need a small set for casual streaming in a kitchen or bedroom, it's tolerable. But for anything else, spend your money on a 1080p set from a budget brand. You'll get a better picture and probably better audio too.