LG UQ9000 Review: A Budget 4K TV With One Key Upgrade

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The LG UQ9000 is a 2022 budget 4K TV that sat one step above the UQ8000 and one step below the NanoCell 75, and in 2026 it’s worth buying only at a steep discount. It’s a slim, simple smart TV with LG’s excellent Magic Remote, three High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports, and the easy webOS interface. Today it shows up mostly as clearance, open-box, and used stock. This LG UQ9000 review covers what the TV does well, where it falls short, how it differs from its siblings, and which current LG models make more sense if you’re shopping now.

Quick verdict: The UQ9000 is a solid TV for streaming, sports, and casual gaming in a moderately lit room, with wide viewing angles and accurate color for the price. It’s dim, has weak contrast, and tops out at 60 hertz (Hz), though, and LG has discontinued it. Buy one only at a steep discount, and compare it with LG’s 2026 Nano NU70 first. Check the LG UQ9000 price on Amazon.

Key takeaways

  • What it is: LG’s top 2022 budget 4K TV, with a 60Hz panel, wide viewing angles, three HDMI ports, webOS 22, and the Magic Remote.
  • Who it’s for: Viewers who mostly stream shows and sports in a bright or moderately lit room and need three HDMI inputs.
  • Price: LG has discontinued it, so buy one only at a steep clearance, open-box, or used discount. For comparison, LG listed the newer 75-inch Nano NU70 at $449.99 on sale in late 2026. Prices change often.
  • Main weaknesses: Weak contrast with no local dimming, dim high dynamic range (HDR) with no Dolby Vision, and no variable refresh rate or HDMI 2.1.
  • Successor: The 2023 UR9000 replaced it directly, and LG’s current entry series is the 2026 Nano NU70 with webOS 26 and an α7 processor.

LG UQ9000 at a glance

SpecLG UQ9000
Release2022 (discontinued; replaced by the UR9000 in 2023)
US sizes43, 50, 55, 65, 70, and 75 inches (an 86-inch 120Hz version sold outside the US)
PanelLiquid crystal display (LCD) with an In-Plane Switching (IPS)-type panel and light-emitting diode (LED) backlight; no local dimming
Refresh rate60Hz native on all US sizes (“TruMotion 120” is motion processing, not a 120Hz panel)
Processorα5 Gen 5 artificial intelligence (AI) Processor 4K
High dynamic range (HDR)HDR10 and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) with HDR Dynamic Tone Mapping; no Dolby Vision
GamingAuto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGiG) mode, and Game Optimizer; no variable refresh rate (VRR) or HDMI 2.1
InputsThree HDMI ports (enhanced Audio Return Channel, or eARC, on HDMI 2), two Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 ports, Ethernet, optical audio out, and an antenna input
Audio20-watt, 2.0-channel speakers with AI Sound Pro
Smart platformwebOS 22 with ThinQ AI, Google Assistant and Alexa built in, Apple AirPlay 2, and HomeKit
RemoteLG Magic Remote with pointer, scroll wheel, and voice button
Wall mount300 x 300 Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) pattern on the 65-inch model

Specs come from LG’s 65UQ9000PUD product page and TVReviews.net’s UQ9000 spec summary, with lab comparisons from RTINGS’ UQ9000 review.

LG UQ9000 vs. UQ8000 and other siblings

LG’s 2022 budget lineup is easy to mix up, so here’s how the UQ9000 fits in. Compared with the LG UQ8000, the UQ9000 adds a third HDMI port and a second USB port, which matters if you connect a soundbar, a game console, and a streaming box. Picture quality is nearly the same. RTINGS even rates the cheaper UQ8000 slightly better overall, citing better accuracy and motion handling, and calls the two TVs very similar otherwise.

The 2021 LG UP7000 is another near twin. RTINGS calls the UP7000 and UQ9000 extremely similar, with the older set handling motion a bit better. One step up, the LG NanoCell 75 adds LG’s NanoCell color filter for slightly richer color, but it still lacks local dimming and stays at 60Hz.

The UQ9000’s direct successor, the 2023 UR9000, changed little. According to RTINGS, the UR9000 gets a bit brighter and has slightly better contrast and response time, while the UQ9000 has slightly better processing and color accuracy.

Design and connectivity

The UQ9000 has thin bezels, a slim profile, and a dark gray finish that looks more expensive than it is. The feet sit near the edges, so the larger sizes need a wide stand or TV console. Wall mounting is easy with the standard VESA pattern; a VESA-compatible wall mount works for the 65-inch model, and our guide to the best wall mounts for 65-inch TVs covers good options.

Connectivity is where the UQ9000 beats its cheaper sibling. You get three HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB ports, Ethernet, optical audio out, built-in Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for headphones or speakers. HDMI 2 supports eARC, so a soundbar can pass lossless audio from connected devices and respond to the TV remote. Some ports face the side and some face the back, so the rear-facing jacks are harder to reach once the TV hangs on a wall.

Picture quality

For a budget TV, the UQ9000 handles everyday content well. The α5 Gen 5 processor upscales 720p and 1080p cable and streaming content cleanly, and RTINGS found the UQ9000 more accurate than its successor for color and brightness reproduction. The IPS-type panel keeps color and brightness consistent from wide angles, which helps in a family room with seating spread across the space.

Contrast is the weak spot. IPS-type panels produce grayish blacks, and the UQ9000 has no local dimming to deepen them. Dark movie scenes look washed out in a dim room. HDR is basic: the TV accepts HDR10 and HLG, but it lacks Dolby Vision, a wide color gamut, and the brightness to make highlights pop. It looks best in a room with moderate light, where its limited brightness and grayish blacks matter less.

Motion handling is average. The 60Hz panel and fairly slow pixel response leave some blur behind fast-moving objects in sports and action movies. If smooth motion matters to you, our explainer on 60Hz vs. 120Hz TVs shows what a faster panel adds.

Smart features and remote

The UQ9000 runs webOS 22, which supports multiple user profiles with their own recommendations, hundreds of free LG Channels, and every major streaming app, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, YouTube TV, and Apple TV. Google Assistant and Alexa are built in, and Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support make it easy to cast from an iPhone. The home screen does show sponsored content, which some owners find cluttered.

The Magic Remote is a highlight. You point it at the screen like a mouse, scroll with the wheel, and press a button to talk to a voice assistant. It isn’t backlit, though, which makes it harder to use in a dark room. Keep in mind that a 2022 TV won’t get major new features. If its apps start to feel slow, an inexpensive streaming stick is an easy fix.

Gaming performance

The UQ9000 suits casual gamers. Game Optimizer gathers picture and latency settings in one menu, ALLM switches the TV to its low-lag game mode automatically when a console turns on, and input lag in game mode is low. Cloud gaming works too: webOS supports apps like Nvidia GeForce Now. Google Stadia, which LG promoted at launch, shut down in January 2023.

Serious console gamers should look elsewhere. Without HDMI 2.1, VRR, or a 120Hz panel, a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X tops out at 4K and 60 frames per second (fps), and you may see screen tearing in some games. Our guide to the best gaming TVs for PlayStation 5 and Xbox covers better options.

Sound

The 20-watt, 2.0-channel speakers get reasonably loud and keep dialogue clear for news and sitcoms, but they lack bass for movies and sports. AI Sound Pro adjusts the sound to what you’re watching. A budget soundbar for your LG TV on the eARC port is the best upgrade you can make.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Three HDMI ports and two USB ports, one more of each than the UQ8000
  • Wide viewing angles from the IPS-type panel
  • Accurate color and clean upscaling for the price
  • Magic Remote with pointer and voice control
  • Low input lag with ALLM and Game Optimizer
  • Often cheap on clearance or open-box

Cons

  • Weak contrast and no local dimming
  • Dim HDR with no Dolby Vision
  • 60Hz panel with no VRR or HDMI 2.1
  • Average motion handling
  • Discontinued, with aging webOS 22 software
  • Home screen ads and a remote without a backlight

LG UQ9000 vs. current budget 4K TVs

Because the UQ9000 is discontinued, the real question is whether a newer budget TV costs much more. LG’s current entry series, the 2026 Nano NU70, runs webOS 26 with a newer α7 processor; LG listed the 75-inch at $449.99 on sale (from $599.99) in late 2026. Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries LG’s current models alongside strong rivals from Samsung, TCL, and Hisense. Prices change often, so check current listings.

Compare similar budget 4K TVs on Amazon

TVDisplay typeSmart platformBest forShop
LG UQ9000 (2022)IPS-type LCD, 60HzwebOS 22Bargain hunters who need three HDMI portsCheck price
LG Nano NU70 (2026)LCD, α7 processorwebOS 26LG fans who want the newest softwareCheck price
LG UA77 (2025)LCD, 60Hz with basic VRRwebOS 25A cheaper current LG modelCheck price
Samsung U8000F (2025)Vertical alignment (VA) LCD, 60HzTizenDeeper blacks in dark roomsCheck price
TCL Q65 (2025)Quantum dot LED (QLED), 60HzGoogle TVDolby Vision and richer colorCheck price
Hisense QD6 (2025)QLED, 60HzFire TVAlexa householdsCheck price
TCL QM6K (2025)QLED with Mini LED local dimming, 144HzGoogle TVGaming and HDR for a bit moreCheck price
  • LG Nano NU70: The closest modern replacement, with newer software and a faster processor for similar money. See the LG NU70 on Amazon.
  • Samsung U8000F: A VA panel gives it much deeper blacks than the UQ9000, which helps for movie nights. See the Samsung U8000F on Amazon.
  • TCL QM6K: If you can stretch your budget, Mini LED local dimming and a 144Hz panel make it far better for HDR movies and games. See the TCL QM6K on Amazon.

For more ideas, see our picks for the best 55-inch TVs under $500, our TCL vs. Hisense comparison, and our Samsung CU7000 review.

Who should buy the LG UQ9000?

Buy a UQ9000 if you find one for much less than a current budget TV, you mostly stream shows and sports in a bright or moderately lit room, and you need three HDMI inputs. It also makes a good bedroom or guest room TV. If you’re buying used, confirm that the Magic Remote and stand are included and check the screen for dead pixels and uneven backlighting.

Skip it if you watch a lot of movies in the dark, own a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, or want the latest smart features. A newer LG NU70, Samsung U8000F, or TCL QM6K gives you more for similar money. Our roundup of the best smart TVs for the money covers more options.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between the LG UQ9000 and UQ8000?

The main difference between the LG UQ9000 and UQ8000 is ports: the UQ9000 has three HDMI ports and two USB ports, while the UQ8000 has two HDMI ports and one USB port. Picture quality is very similar, and RTINGS rates the UQ8000 slightly better for accuracy and motion.

Is the LG UQ9000 a 120Hz TV?

No, the LG UQ9000 isn’t a 120Hz TV. All US sizes use a 60Hz panel. LG’s “TruMotion 120” label refers to motion processing, not the native refresh rate.

Does the LG UQ9000 support Dolby Vision?

No, the LG UQ9000 doesn’t support Dolby Vision. It supports HDR10 and HLG only.

Is the LG UQ9000 good for gaming?

The LG UQ9000 is fine for casual gaming at 60fps thanks to low input lag and ALLM. It lacks VRR and 120Hz support, so it isn’t ideal for a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.

Final verdict

The LG UQ9000 was a sensible 2022 budget TV, with a great remote, easy software, wide viewing angles, and one more HDMI port than the UQ8000. Today, its weak contrast, dim HDR, 60Hz panel, and aging software make it worth buying only at a clearance or used price. If a 2026 LG NU70 or a Samsung U8000F costs only a little more, choose the newer TV. Check the current LG UQ9000 price on Amazon.

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