LG 32LM6200 LED TV Review

Introduction

With all of these features, we need to remember that the core product here is still a television and that good picture quality is paramount. Fortunately, LG has remembered this, as well, making the 32LM6200 into a solid all-round performer. Even extra features like 3D and internet connectivity are done extremely well on this model.

Design

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LG’s bold TV design will turn heads.

The design for many of LG’s newer TVs is quite bold. The ribbon-styled base featured on the LM6200 is the main focal point and it will definitely attract some looks. While it may not appeal to everyone or look good in an old-fashioned living room, it's hard to deny that this is one slick television.

The remote included, which LG refers to as the Magic Remote, is just as bold as the television. It is a motion-controlled device that functions similarly to Nintendo's Wiimote. Using this remote to change settings and access internet content, for example, is a breeze—the Magic Remote is amazingly intuitive.

The ports on the LM6200 are located on the left side if you're viewing it from the back. There are four HDMI inputs, three USB inputs, an Ethernet jack, a VGA port, an audio input, a component input, an antenna input, and an S/PDIF output. The LM6200 swivels at a 10° angle, which is always a plus for accessing ports.

{{photo_gallery "Design Landing Page Photo", "Front Tour Image", "Back Tour Image", "Sides Tour Image", "Connectivity Tour Image 1", "Connectivity Tour Image 2", "Connectivity Extra Photo", "Stand Photo", "Controls Photo", "Remote Control Photo"}}

Smart TV Features

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A decent web browser and excellent interface help set LG’s smart TV platform apart from the rest.

LG takes an interesting approach to its menu interface in that everything is treated like an app. There is no menu button on the remote; to access basic menu features, you must either press Home or My Apps, which will bring up a list of apps that includes Settings.

The aforementioned Home button on the remote will bring up LG’s smart TV interface, which resembles a smartphone operating system with neatly arranged icons for apps. To guide you through this internet TV land, LG has provided the Magic Remote—a motion-based controller. While a motion-controlled smart TV platform may seem like a recipe for disaster, LG somehow makes it all work.

There is an app store included that offers plenty of apps, although not many are useful. The browser that LG offers on its internet TVs is surprisingly robust. There are tabs, bookmarks, and easy access to sites previously visited. Typing in URLs with the Magic Remote is much easier than it is using a normal remote, while scrolling on a website is as simple as using the built-in scroll wheel.

{{photo_gallery "Software and Internet Landing Page Photo", "Internet Features 1 Photo", "Internet Features 2 Photo", "Internet Features 3 Photo", "Browser 1 Photo", "Browser 2 Photo", "Browser 3 Photo", "Apps 1 Photo", "Apps 2 Photo", "Apps 3 Photo", "Local Media Playback 1 Photo", "Local Media Playback 2 Photo", "Menu Main Photo", "Menu 2 Photo"}}

Picture Quality

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The LM6200 shows a decent picture, but there are some issues.

The picture quality on the LG 32LM6200 doesn't set it apart from the competition. Most disappointing is the average contrast. The LM6200 can crank out a bright picture, but it has trouble displaying dark blacks. As a result the LM6200 will lose some detail when displaying black and darker colors. Speaking of colors, this LG has the tendency to display blues that are too vibrant and can sometimes border on purple.

The LM6200 excels with a total viewing angle of 97°, which is above average for a plasma TV. Other areas, such as motion, were just average with some slight motion artifacting. There was a small amount of blurring and slight jagged lines when images moved across the screen, but nothing was bad enough to detract from the viewing experience.

3D

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Some of the best 3D on the market.

LG is gaining quite a reputation for having some of the best—if not the best—3D in the business. The LM6200 keeps this tradition alive with its crisp 3D visuals and lack of crosstalk. The icing on this 3D cake is that LG is inviting consumers to experience its outstanding 3D by packaging six pairs of surprisingly comfortable glasses with all LM6200 TVs.

LG is able to include these glasses with the LM6200 because the glasses utilize passive 3D technology, which means they don't cost an arm and a leg. Passive 3D involves the screen showing two images: one meant for the left eye and another meant for the right eye. The glasses are polarized so that each image is shown only to its respective eye. The result? A 3D image, at least according to your brain.

Conclusion

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A solid mid-range TV packed to the brim with features.

LG has done a fantastic job creating a mid-range TV that is feature-heavy and a solid performer. There is a robust smart TV platform, industry-leading 3D, and an acceptable picture. The design of this TV will catch the eye of many consumers: it is bold and futuristic, and those adjectives also apply to the motion-controlled remote. While this may be seen as a living room fashion faux pas ten years from now, it seems edgy enough to work in the present.

Not everything is perfect on the LM6200: the screen does not get nearly dark enough, which can affect details in darker images. Colors were passable, but not as accurate as on some other LGs.

Is there a reason to upgrade to the LM6700 or LM9600 series? The answer depends on what you are looking for in a TV. Both of those higher-end models feature a much thinner bezel than the LM6200 and produced better colors. The LM9600 features a higher refresh rate of 480Hz, which means it will have additional motion processing features. The backlighting is also better in the LM9600, which features full-array LED backlights, as opposed to the edge-lit LED backlights on the LM6200.

If you don’t mind the thicker bezel and you want to experience the world of internet TVs and headache-free 3D, definitely check out the LG LM6200 series.

Science Introduction

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The LG 32LM6200 impressed us with its great viewing angle and excellent 3D performance, but was held back by average contrast ratio and color performance.

Contrast

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The black level is just too bright on the LM6200.

The 32LM6200 had an average contrast ratio compared to similar LED TVs. The black level of 0.22 cd/m² is too bright, although its peak white level of 278.14 cd/m² is exceptional. In this area, the LM6200 manages to perform slightly better than its sibling, the LM6700. More on how we test contrast.

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Color

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Blues are off and look too vibrant.

The colors produced on the LM6200 are not the most accurate. Greens look pretty good and match up nicely with the industry standard color gamut. Reds are slightly undersaturated, meaning they will appear duller at peak levels. Blues are the worst offender in terms of color accuracy: they are oversaturated and can look purple at peak levels. More on how we test color performance.

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Viewing Angle

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The LM6200 has a plasma-quality viewing angle.

The 32LM6200’s total viewing angle of 97° easily bested other similar LED TVs, including the LG LM6700, also a strong performer in this regard. LED TVs don't usually have viewing angles this wide, setting the LM6200 apart from the competition. More on how we test viewing angle.

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Other Tests

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