The LG UR78 86″ 4K Ultra HD Smart TV is a seriously big-screen option aimed at turning your living room into a cinema. With an 86-inch LED panel, 4K resolution and LG’s webOS smart platform, it’s built for film nights, sport and streaming.
LG is a well-established name in TVs, and this 2023 model leans on the brand’s a5 AI Processor 4K Gen6 for sharp upscaling and AI-enhanced sound. It’s not a top-end OLED, but it offers an impressive sense of scale for the money.
An average user rating of 4.7 out of 5 from hundreds of reviews suggests most owners are very pleased with their purchase, especially if they’ve got the space to let that 86-inch screen really shine.
This LG UR78 is ideal if you want a true home-cinema experience without moving to a projector. The 86-inch screen fills your field of view from a typical sofa distance, making films, sport and nature documentaries feel far more immersive than on smaller sets.
It suits families and shared houses who stream a lot of content. With built-in Freeview Play and all the major apps like Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video accessible through webOS, you can cover everyone’s tastes without extra boxes.
In pricing terms, an 86-inch 4K TV like this tends to sit in the mid to upper range of mainstream living-room tellies, but still well below premium OLEDs of a similar size. That makes it a good fit if you’re happy to pay a bit more for sheer scale rather than chasing the last word in picture tech.
It’s less suitable for very small lounges or flats where seating is close to the wall, and gamers chasing bleeding-edge specs (like 120Hz HDMI 2.1 and variable refresh rate) should look at more gaming-focused models.
The standout strength is the sheer size of the screen. At 86 inches with 4K Ultra HD resolution, you get a crisp, detailed picture that makes films and sport look far more cinematic than on a typical 55- or 65-inch TV.
LG’s a5 AI Processor 4K Gen6 and upscaling help standard HD broadcasts and streaming look cleaner and sharper, so everyday Freeview channels still hold up well on such a large panel.
Filmmaker Mode is great for movie fans, toning down artificial processing and motion smoothing so you see something closer to the director’s original intent. HDR10 Pro and HLG support also help pull a bit more punch and detail from compatible content.
The smart side is strong: webOS gives you Freeview Play plus a full set of UK catch-up and streaming apps, while Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support make it easy to cast and integrate with Apple devices.
Sound is better than you might expect from a slim TV, thanks to AI Sound with virtual 5.1 up-mix and Clear Voice Pro to lift dialogue. eARC on HDMI means you can easily add a soundbar later and let the TV pass through higher-quality audio.
The energy rating is F, and with an 86-inch panel the annual energy consumption figure is relatively high, so it’s not the most economical choice to run compared with smaller or more efficient sets.
The panel uses standard LED backlighting without local dimming, so contrast and black levels won’t match LG’s own OLED models or more advanced LED TVs with full array dimming. Dark-room movie watching will still look good, but not reference-level.
Gamers may find the connectivity a bit basic: there are three HDMI 2.0 ports rather than HDMI 2.1, with no AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync. You still get Auto Low Latency Mode, but not the full suite of next-gen gaming features.
The built-in 20W, two-speaker audio is fine for day-to-day TV, yet a screen this large deserves a soundbar or AV system to really match the picture scale. The included remote is a standard one too, not LG’s more intuitive Magic Remote with pointer control.
Finally, the TV is physically huge, with a wide-legged stand (around 153 cm). You’ll need a very sturdy, wide TV unit or a suitable 600×400 VESA wall mount and solid wall to support it.
Living with the LG UR78 86″ is all about adjusting to that enormous screen. Once you’ve set it up, it turns films, boxsets and big sporting events into proper event viewing. Sit a sensible distance back and 4K content looks impressively detailed and engaging.
The webOS interface is well laid out and straightforward to navigate, even if you’re not especially tech-savvy. Freeview Play brings together live TV and catch-up, and the LG Content Store makes it easy to add more apps without wading through complicated menus.
With the legs-style stand, the set feels stable but demands a large, deep TV bench. Many buyers will prefer to wall mount, which is supported via the 600×400 VESA mount. The slim 6 cm depth helps it look smart on the wall, though you’ll still need to route cables carefully; built-in cable management helps keep things tidy.
Sound quality is decent for everyday viewing. AI Sound and virtual 5.1 up-mix help give a broader sense of space, and Clear Voice Pro means you don’t have to crank the volume just to hear dialogue. For film nights, pairing it with a soundbar via HDMI eARC makes a noticeable improvement.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity are built in, so pairing headphones or streaming from your phone is simple. Features like sleep timer, auto power-off and an ambient light sensor make day-to-day use more convenient and a little more energy-aware.
In picture terms, the LG UR78 relies on a 4K LED panel driven by the a5 AI Processor 4K Gen6. That combination handles upscaling well, so HD broadcasts and older streaming content don’t fall apart when stretched to 86 inches. Native 4K films and series look sharp and detailed, especially in brighter scenes.
HDR support covers HDR10 Pro and HLG, widely used by streaming services and broadcasters. While the lack of Dolby Vision and local dimming limits how far HDR can go, you still see an uplift in highlight detail and colour richness compared with standard dynamic range.
Cinema lovers will appreciate Filmmaker Mode, which dials back aggressive processing and motion smoothing for a more natural, filmic look. A broad set of picture modes, including dedicated game and sports profiles, makes it easy to find a setting that suits what you’re watching without deep menu diving.
For gaming, Auto Low Latency Mode helps cut input lag when your console is detected, giving a more responsive feel than a generic picture mode. However, with HDMI 2.0 rather than 2.1 and no VRR or FreeSync, it’s better suited to casual play and last-gen consoles than to enthusiasts chasing 4K/120Hz performance.
On the smart side, webOS remains one of the more polished TV platforms. You get BBC iPlayer, ITVX (via the ITV Player listing), All 4, My5, Freeview Play and major video apps including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Music services such as Spotify, BBC Sounds, TIDAL and others are also available, turning the TV into a capable hub for both video and audio. Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit add handy integration for iPhone and iPad users.
AI Sound with virtual 5.1 up-mix, 20W of power and two speakers give a respectable audio performance. It won’t replace a dedicated home cinema system, but dialogue enhancement via Clear Voice Pro and the sense of width from the processing make it perfectly usable out of the box. eARC, optical audio out and Bluetooth mean you have flexible options for upgrading the sound.
For an 86-inch 4K smart TV from a big-name brand, this LG UR78 offers strong value. You’re paying mainly for sheer size rather than premium panel tech, but that’s a trade-off many buyers are happy with when they want a truly cinematic picture at home.
It doesn’t have high-end features like local dimming, Dolby Vision or HDMI 2.1, yet it covers the everyday essentials very well: a sharp 4K picture, a mature smart platform, wide app support and sensible extras like Filmmaker Mode and Auto Low Latency Mode. For most households, that’s exactly what’s needed.
The running costs will be higher than smaller or more efficient TVs due to its F energy rating and large screen, so that’s worth factoring into your budget if you watch many hours a day. However, a 4.7/5 owner rating from a large number of reviews suggests most buyers feel they’ve had their money’s worth.
Overall, if you prioritise maximum screen size and a solid smart experience over cutting-edge display technology, this model lands in a very fair sweet spot.
The LG UR78 86″ 4K Ultra HD Smart TV is all about big-screen immersion. It delivers a huge, sharp 4K image, a capable smart platform and surprisingly decent AI-enhanced sound in a package that makes film nights and live sport feel special.
It’s not trying to be a reference-grade home cinema screen. The LED panel, lack of local dimming and absence of Dolby Vision and HDMI 2.1 mean videophiles and serious gamers may want to look higher up LG’s range. The energy rating and physical footprint also mean it’s best suited to larger rooms and households that understand the size and running-cost implications.
If you’ve got the space for an 86-inch TV and want a reliable, easy-to-use set from a trusted brand without straying into premium OLED pricing, this LG is a very compelling choice. It’s a crowd-pleasing big screen that does the basics well and makes everyday watching feel that bit more cinematic.
