Expert review of the LG NANO866
LG NANO866 from 2020 no longer available
Unfortunately, the LG NANO866 from 2020 is no longer available. That's why I'll discuss the review of the successor model from 2021.
LG 55NANO886PB (2021)
- The LG NANO866NA provides detailed and colorful images thanks to the a7 Gen4 processor,, 10-bit panel, and HDR support.
- Thanks to Dolby Vision IQ, the television automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen to the amount of daylight and artificial light in the room.
- The webOS smart platform is easy to control with the LG Magic Remote, which works with a pointer and voice recognition.
- The TV has ThinQ, so it works together with the smart devices in your house.
- Controlling the television with the magic remote takes some getting used to.
- The television doesn't have a swivel stand to point it to your viewing position.
First impression of the LG NANO866
When I took the LG 65NANO866NA out of the box, the slim design stood out to me right away. The screen is extremely thin and looks good if you mount it. I chose to attach it to the base, which was very easy to do. It's not the most study base I've ever seen, and the TV feels a bit wobbly on it. It's nothing to worry about, because you generally don't touch the TV. The base also doesn't pivot, which is a shame.
Colorful images thanks to the processor and Cinema HDR
The LG 65NANO866NA is mostly known for the NanoCell technology. This technology was developed by LG and does indeed display very colorful images. The good color contrasts look especially good when I turn on Cinema HDR function. The improved a7 Gen 3 processor uses artificial intelligence (AI), which recognizes the quality of the original image. It then converts it to display better colors and less noise.
Decent black levels with dark scenes
I was mostly curious about whether the NanoCell technology could display black levels as perfectly as OLED. The contrast of the NANO866NA is very acceptable. Dark scenes are visible enough, especially if you turn up the brightness of the TV. The black levels seem fine., but OLED wins from NanoCell if you want the deepest black levels. It's a detail, but it does count in my opinion.
Wide viewing angle and smooth images
Another advantage of the NanoCell screen is the viewing angle. I can sit in front of the TV at an angle without the images losing quality. That's very useful if you're watching a sports game with a group of friends. The 65NANO866NA is a 100Hz TV, which makes movies and sports games look very good. The ball moves on the screen without delays or blurry effects, for example.
Reasonable sound for standard use
This TV doesn't have an extra subwoofer or special sound experience, which makes the sound average for a TV. The speakers are beautifully hidden behind the screen, so the sound actually comes from the screen. That's not necessarily special, but they don't sound bad. When I watch part of a movie, I wasn't blown away by the sound effects. In terms of sound, I do recommend external speakers or a soundbar.
Easy-to-use smart platform
WebOS is the smart platform of the NANO866NA. This is the well-known LG platform. It's very clear and gives you access to apps like Netflix, YouTube, Uitzending Gemist, and RTL XL. The most frequently used apps appear like listed cards in the home menu. Via the LG TV Plus app, you can stream or cast images from your Android smartphone or tablet to the TV. LG makes it even more easier for Apple users. That's because the TV has AirPlay 2 support, which allows you to easily stream images and sound to the TV from your Apple iPhone, iPad, or iMac computer.
Artificial intelligence by LG: ThinQ
I briefly mentioned it in the beginning of the review, artificial intelligence. For LG products, this is called ThinQ. ThinQ ensures that you can control the TV with voice controls, which I find very useful. You can control the apps wirelessly with the remote by pointing at them, but that doesn't work as smoothly. You can also connect your TV to Google Assistant or Alexa to control all your LG smart home devices. I haven't been able to test this, but ThinQ does make your TV part of a smart home.
Conclusion
The 65-inch LGNANO866NA sets itself apart with its color quality. Thanks to the NanoCell screen and Cinema HDR, you notice that the colors pop on the screen. I'm satisfied about the contrast and brightness, which ensure that you can also see dark scenes in a movie or game clearly. The black levels are fine, but OLED televisions win in that category. With this television, you have an extensive and easy to control smart platform that gives you access to the most popular streaming services. The LG ThinQ technology may be an interesting addition if you have multiple smart home products in your house.
