LG Electronics has released another batch of LCD TVs aimed squarely at those looking for something a bit more affordable. But just because the latest models are cheaper than the company's high-end OLEDs and NanoCell LCD TVs, that doesn’t mean buyers will miss out on all of LG's latest features.
All of the TVs in LG’s UM series come in 4K resolution, they’re available in sizes ranging from 43-inches to 86-inches, and what’s more they’re compatible with Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomeKit software, which is a new feature on LG’s premium models as well.
FlatPanels HD reports that most of the UM series TVs use IPS LCD panels with direct LED. The various models, including the UM75, UM74, UM73 and UM71 are pretty much the same specification-wise, with the main differences being the available sizes and their look and configuration. The UM74 for instance comes in black and sports a curved stand, while the UM73 is white and has a two-foot stand. The entire series runs LG’s WebOS platform, which offers access to apps such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime.
Prices range quite a bit, with the UM75 starting at £449 for the smallest 43-inch version, all the way up to £2,999 for the 86-inch version.
Perhaps the most attractive thing about LG’s UM series is that they’re some of the cheapest TVs around to offer support for AirPlay 2, which allows iOS device users to stream video, music and other content wirelessly to the TV.
They also come with HomeKit, which is Apple’s smart home platform that enables users to control the TV via voice commands. We should note that similarly-priced LCD TVs from Samsung also support AirPlay 2, but not HomeKit, which may be a factor for some consumers struggling to decide which brand is best. Of course, other TVs from Sony and Vizio also support both services.
Buyers will need to install the latest firmware update because AirPlay 2 and HomeKit are not supported out of the box – in fact, LG only just began rolling out that particular update, and it may not even be available for a few more weeks.
