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LG’s flagship LW980T TV range generated quite a buzz on the recent IFA trade event. Featuring the company’s Nano Full LED backlighting technology, the 47- and 55-inch LW980T screens are expected to ship as early as next month, for a currently undisclosed price. We chase away the crowds to take the largest model, the 1080p 55LW980T LCD TV, for a test drive. These are our first impressions.
Design
With a 16.5mm-thick bezel and wafer-thin, 27.5mm-deep chassis, the 55LW980T is bound to get a nod of approval from discerning fashionistas. But, while we appreciate its charming design, that isn’t the rationale the LW980T has got us all hot under the collar. Rather, we’re stoked by LG’s most advanced panel technology yet, and a brand new display technology dubbed ‘Dual Play’.
Nano Full LED
Even a cursory glance will inform you that the 55LW980T’s pictures pop. Much of this fizz can also be attributed to the set’s Nano Full LED backlight. LG first previewed Nano Full LEDs in its aborted LEX line during IFA 2010, but quickly took them back to the strategy planning stage for extra refinement. The unique Nano screens were designed to work with active-shutter glasses, but now they’ll work with the cheaper and lighter passive 3D specs. (TAKE A LOOK AT our 3D FAQ to determine the adaptation between active and passive 3D.)Unlike edge-lit LED screens, the Nano Full LED array is coupled to a screen-wide diffuser that delivers extremely smooth illumination. We didn’t spot any obvious light pooling during our session with the set. Contrast is high too, way to judicious local dimming.
3D image quality
The 55LW980T’s 3D images are dynamic and punchy, but they do betray a slight lack of resolution, as a result of set’s passive 3D technology. This characteristic doesn’t diminish the appeal of the technology in our eyes, however. Passive 3D is bright and snug to watch, provided you view it bang on.
This TV’s in a position to producing some cracking 3D images, but you will need to sit down still to get essentially the most out of them.
At its best, the system can deliver images which maintain colour fidelity and brightness, while avoiding double images across the edges of objects — an issue that each one too often plagues 3D sets. That said, we did spot some distortion and double imaging after we viewed the image from a vertical angle. Best to take a seat still then.
Dual Play
While 3D continues to divide opinion, it’s now starting to bring ancillary benefits. Indeed, we suspect naysayers could revise their opinion that nothing good comes from wearing 3D glasses after they get to peer Dual Play engaged on the 55LW980T.Dual Play uses polarised glasses to make sure two viewers see different full-screen images at the TV simultaneously. This funky feature requires dedicated eyeware which should be either left/left polarised or right/right polarised. The resulting image seen through each set of glasses is 2D, nevertheless it works spectacularly well for multiplayer games.
The Dual Play feature will let two gamers view two separate full-screen images on the same time.
We spun our wheels on a two-player road racer, and will confirm each pair of glasses gave a distinctly different picture. Colour and brightness aren’t adversely affected, although we did occasionally see ghosts of moving objects breaking through from the opposing polarised frame. We predict the feature will prove monstrously popular among gamers.
Internet features
The 55LW980T doesn’t skimp on traditional niceties. It incorporates built-in Wi-Fi and ships with the LG’s slightly barmy Magic handheld remote control. This largely button-free wand comes into its own when controlling certain downloadable apps, but it is not much cop so far as regular TV is worried. Thankfully, a regular zapper may be supplied.LG’s Smart TV Internet portal is asking increasingly enticing. The service now offers greater than 175 different applications, including a healthy dollop of streaming Internet and pay-per-view TV. Users can benefit from BBC iPlayer, ITN News and YouTube, plus pay-per-view content from Acetrax, BoxOffice365, Blinkbox, Cartoon Network and Woomi. Social media is roofed by the standard Facebook and Twitter clients.Significantly, LG used IFA to announce a co-development care for Philips and Sharp to be able to allow future apps to be developed on a standard platform, compatible with portals from all three companies. This might dramatically increase the collection of applications heading to LG’s Smart TV hub next year.
Conclusion
The LG 55LW980T is a very hot prospect. Its image quality looks set to be outstanding and the introduction of twin Play will engage mainstream users in some way that 3D has up to now didn’t do. Colour us excited.Edited by Charles KloetÂ
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