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LG NANO90 2021  TV Review

Reviewed May 20, 2021 at 09:47am
Retest Jul 08, 2025 at 02:15pm
Tested using methodology v1.11 
LG NANO90 2021
7.2
Mixed Usage 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.4
TV Shows 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.4
Sports 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.8
Video Games 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

6.6
HDR Movies 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

7.9
HDR Gaming 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.4
PC Monitor 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

 0
 TV Settings

The LG NANO90 2021 is a good overall 4k TV. It's at the top of LG's mid-range NanoCell lineup and is a slight improvement over the LG NANO90 2020. It's a good choice if you want to use it in a well-lit room because it gets bright enough to fight glare and has impressive reflection handling. Gamers will appreciate features like its 120Hz panel, HDMI 2.1 inputs, and variable refresh rate (VRR) support. It also has a quick response time and low input lag for gaming. It has an IPS panel with fairly wide viewing angles, but it's not as good as most IPS panels because the image starts to look darker when viewing from an angle. It also has low native contrast, so blacks look gray, and the local dimming feature crushes any bright highlights, so it doesn't improve the picture quality.

Our Verdict

7.2
Mixed Usage 

The LG NANO90 2021 is good for most uses. It performs best for watching shows or sports because it has fairly wide viewing angles, impressive reflection handling, and good peak brightness. It's also good for gaming thanks to its HDMI 2.1 and VRR support, low input lag, and quick response time. Sadly, it's just okay for watching movies, both in SDR and HDR, because it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and the full-array local dimming feature fails to improve the picture quality.

Pros
  • Gets bright enough to fight glare in most rooms.
  • Impressive reflection handling.
  • Quick response time results in smooth motion.
  • 120Hz panel and VRR support.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Local dimming performs poorly.
  • Image looks darker at wide viewing angles.
7.4
TV Shows 

The LG NANO90 2021 is very good for watching TV shows. It has impressive reflection handling and gets bright enough to fight glare, so visibility won't be an issue in most rooms. It doesn't have any trouble upscaling 720p content, like from cable boxes. It has fairly wide viewing angles, but you may notice the image looks darker if you sit at an angle.

Pros
  • Gets bright enough to fight glare in most rooms.
  • Impressive reflection handling.
Cons
  • Image looks darker at wide viewing angles.
7.4
Sports 

The LG NANO90 2021 is very good for watching sports. Fast-moving content looks good thanks to its 120Hz panel and quick response time. It's a great choice for use in well-lit rooms because it gets bright enough to fight glare and has impressive reflection handling. It has fairly wide viewing angles if you want to watch the big game with a few friends, but it's not suggested if you're going to watch it from wide angles.

Pros
  • Gets bright enough to fight glare in most rooms.
  • Impressive reflection handling.
  • Quick response time results in smooth motion.
Cons
  • Image looks darker at wide viewing angles.
7.8
Video Games 

The LG NANO90 2021 is good for gaming. It has gaming features most people are looking for like a 120Hz panel, VRR support, and HDMI 2.1 inputs. It has a quick response time for smooth motion, and the input lag is low. Sadly, it's not a good choice for dark room gaming because it has a low contrast ratio and the local dimming feature performs poorly, so blacks look closer to gray.

Pros
  • Quick response time results in smooth motion.
  • 120Hz panel and VRR support.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Local dimming performs poorly.
6.6
HDR Movies 

The LG NANO90 2021 is okay for watching HDR movies. Its IPS panel has a low native contrast ratio, so blacks look gray, and the local dimming feature crushes highlights. There's also considerable blooming around bright highlights in dark scenes. The HDR brightness isn't anything special, so content doesn't pop how it should.

Pros
  • Decent HDR brightness.
  • Removes 24p judder from any source.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Local dimming performs poorly.
7.9
HDR Gaming 

The LG NANO90 2021 is good for HDR gaming. It has good gaming features like VRR support and a 120Hz refresh rate. It offers a responsive gaming experience due to its quick response time and low input lag. However, HDR content doesn't look good because it has a mediocre contrast ratio, poor local dimming, and low HDR brightness.

Pros
  • Quick response time results in smooth motion.
  • 120Hz panel and VRR support.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Local dimming performs poorly.
8.4
PC Monitor 

The LG NANO90 2021 is excellent to use as a PC monitor. It has fairly wide viewing angles, so the image remains somewhat accurate at the edges if you sit up close. It has low input lag, and it displays proper chroma 4:4:4, which is important for reading clear text when using it as a monitor. Visibility won't be an issue in most well-lit rooms because it has impressive reflection handling and good peak brightness.

Pros
  • Gets bright enough to fight glare in most rooms.
  • Impressive reflection handling.
  • Quick response time results in smooth motion.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Image looks darker at wide viewing angles.
  • 7.2
    Mixed Usage
  • 7.4
    TV Shows
  • 7.4
    Sports
  • 7.8
    Video Games
  • 6.6
    HDR Movies
  • 7.9
    HDR Gaming
  • 8.4
    PC Monitor
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jul 08, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
    2.  Updated Apr 17, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
    3.  Updated Feb 11, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
    4.  Updated Nov 20, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.

    Check Price

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    We tested the 55 inch LG NANO90 2021 (55NANO90), and for the most part, we expect our results to be valid for the 65 inch (65NANO90), 75 inch (75NANO90), and 86 inch (86NANO90) variants as well. Keep in mind that the LG NANO90 2020 uses similar model codes, but the one way to differentiate between the two is that the 2020 model ends in UNA while the 2021 model has UPA. In Europe, it's sold as the LG NANO91 and has a center-mounted stand instead, but we expect it to perform the same.

    Size North America Europe
    55" 55NANO90UPA 55NANO916PA
    65" 65NANO90UPA 65NANO916PA

    75"

    75NANO90UPA 75NANO916PA
    86" 86NANO90UPA 86NANO91PA

    If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their LG NANO90 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, like gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.

    The unit we tested was manufactured in April 2021 and you can see the label here.

    Popular TV Comparisons

    The LG NANO90 2021 is a good overall 4k TV. It has gaming features most people will appreciate, like HDMI 2.1 and VRR support. However, it's not a good choice for dark room gaming, and there are better options available with improved contrast, like the Sony X90J. Even if you need wide viewing angles, something like the Samsung Q80/Q80A QLED has better local dimming with a similar panel type.

    Also see our recommendations for the best LG TVs, the best 4k TVs, and the best TVs for watching movies.

    LG C1 OLED

    The LG C1 OLED is much better than the LG NANO90 2021. The C1 has a near-infinite contrast ratio for perfect blacks, and there's no blooming around bright objects. The C1 also has wider viewing angles, which is great if you have a large seating area, and it has better gaming performance thanks to its nearly instantaneous response time.

    Samsung Q70A

    The Samsung Q70A and the LG NANO90 2021 are both good TVs that use different panel types. The Samsung has a VA panel with a much better contrast ratio, and even though it doesn't have local dimming like the LG, it's still a better choice for use in dark rooms. The LG doesn't get as bright as the Samsung, but it has much better reflection handling. The LG has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, so it's a better choice for wide seating arrangements. They're both very good for gaming as they each have a 120Hz panel and VRR support, but the LG is G-SYNC compatible, which the Samsung isn't.

    LG NANO99 8k 2021

    The LG NANO90 2021 and the LG NANO99 8k 2021 are both good TVs. They have many of the same features and performance, but the big difference is that the NANO99 2021 has an 8k resolution, while the NANO90 2021 is a 4k TV. Local dimming looks better on the NANO99 2021, but it's still mediocre, and each TV has an IPS panel with a low contrast ratio. The NANO99 2021 also has much better out-of-the-box accuracy, but this may vary between units. The one advantage the NANO90 2021 has is that there's VRR support to reduce screen tearing, which the NANO99 2021 doesn't have.

    Sony X90J

    The Sony X90J is much better than the LG NANO90 2021 for most people. The Sony has much better contrast and a better local dimming feature, so it looks much better in a dark room, and dark scenes look better overall. The Sony is also significantly more accurate out of the box. On the other hand, the LG has better reflection handling and a wider viewing angle, so if you have a wide seating arrangement with a lot of windows, it's slightly better.

    Show more 

    Video

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    All
    Design
    Style
    CurvedNo

    From the front, this TV looks similar to the LG NANO90 2020. It has thin bezels and similar feet to the 2020 model, but they're slightly redesigned. The back has a new look, similar to the higher-end LG NANO99 8k 2020, but it doesn't look as sleek.

    Accelerated Longevity Test
    Uniformity Pictures
    50-gray-28
    Month 28
    50% Gray
    See details on graph tool
    Stand

    The metal feet are less deep than those on the LG NANO90 2020, and they support the TV well.

    Footprint of the 55" TV: 43.3" x 10.1".

    Back
    Wall MountVESA 300x300

    The back panel is made of smooth metal and has a somewhat premium look. There's cable management through the feet and hooks on the TV, which helps keep your setup clean.

    Borders
    Borders0.39" (1.0 cm)
    Thickness
    Max Thickness1.85" (4.7 cm)
    7.5
    Build Quality

    The LG NANO90 has good build quality. It's well-made throughout and feels solid. The back panel flexes in the middle and near the inputs, but it won't be a problem for most people. The TV doesn't wobble at all, which is nice.

    Picture Quality
    7.0
    Contrast
    Contrast
    16,196 : 1
    Native Contrast
    1,536 : 1

    The LG NANO90 2021 has decent contrast overall. The native contrast is very low, but thankfully the local dimming feature is extremely effective at boosting contrast. Dark scenes look great overall, even when bright highlights are noticeable on-screen. There are a few downsides to this, though, as this TV shows significant blooming around bright highlights.

    4.0
    Blooming

    Unfortunately, there's significant blooming around bright highlights on this TV. It's especially distracting in dark scenes, as subtitles bleed out into the surrounding dark areas, and any bright areas in the scene are spread out over a wide area due to the relatively large size of each zone.

    6.0
    Lighting Zone Transitions
    Local Dimming
    Yes
    Backlight
    Full-Array
    Dimming Zones Count Of Tested TV
    32

    Unfortunately, zone transitions are distracting. As bright lights move across the screen, you can see the zones turning on and off. The algorithms can't keep up with fast-moving content, so the leading edge is darker than it should be, as it doesn't turn the backlight on quickly enough, and there's a trailing halo behind bright objects.

    6.5
    Contrast And Dark Details In Game Mode

    The local dimming performs the same in the 'Game Optimizer' Picture Mode as outside of it. The color temperature is cooler in the 'Game' mode, so colors look a bit more vibrant, but the overall image looks the same.

    6.5
    HDR Brightness
    Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
    305 cd/m²
    Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
    287 cd/m²
    Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
    133 cd/m²
    Peak 2% Window
    555 cd/m²
    Peak 10% Window
    1,040 cd/m²
    Peak 25% Window
    841 cd/m²
    Peak 50% Window
    518 cd/m²
    Peak 100% Window
    468 cd/m²
    Sustained 2% Window
    295 cd/m²
    Sustained 10% Window
    412 cd/m²
    Sustained 25% Window
    444 cd/m²
    Sustained 50% Window
    462 cd/m²
    Sustained 100% Window
    468 cd/m²
    Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
    0.028

    The HDR brightness is okay. It gets brighter than in SDR, and it's an improvement from the LG NANO90 2020, but it's still not enough to make highlights pop. It gets brightest when small-to-medium-sized highlights stay on the screen for a short period, but they quickly lose their brightness the longer they stay on the screen. Once again, small highlights are dimmer because of frame dimming. The EOTF doesn't follow the target perfectly, as most bright scenes are over-brightened.

    We tested it in the 'Cinema' HDR Picture Mode with Panel Brightness and Contrast at their max, LED Local Dimming set to 'Medium', and Color Temperature on 'Warm 50' with all other image processing disabled.

    We couldn't achieve a brighter EOTF plot, but if you want the highest luminosity possible at the cost of image accuracy, then use the 'Vivid' Picture Mode with LED Local Dimming on 'Medium' and everything else at their default settings. We measured 1309 cd/m² using these settings in the 10% window.

    6.4
    HDR Brightness In Game Mode
    Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
    304 cd/m²
    Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
    282 cd/m²
    Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
    131 cd/m²
    Peak 2% Window
    535 cd/m²
    Peak 10% Window
    1,052 cd/m²
    Peak 25% Window
    838 cd/m²
    Peak 50% Window
    514 cd/m²
    Peak 100% Window
    465 cd/m²
    Sustained 2% Window
    291 cd/m²
    Sustained 10% Window
    408 cd/m²
    Sustained 25% Window
    440 cd/m²
    Sustained 50% Window
    458 cd/m²
    Sustained 100% Window
    465 cd/m²
    Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
    0.028

    The HDR brightness in the 'Game Optimizer' mode is the same as outside of it. The minor differences in measurement are due to variance between testing runs, and you won't see any difference with your eyes.

    8.7
    PQ EOTF Tracking
    See details on graph tool
    600 Nit Tracking Delta
    0.0120
    1000 Nit Tracking Delta
    0.0072
    4000 Nit Tracking Delta
    0.0165

    On average, this TV tracks the PQ EOTF well, but there are a few noticeable issues. Near-blacks are raised a bit, and midtones are slightly crushed, especially in content mastered at 4,000 nits. The brightest highlights the TV can display are overblown, and there's a sharp cutoff at the max luminance, causing a loss of fine details.

    7.7
    SDR Brightness
    Real Scene Peak Brightness
    384 cd/m²
    Peak 2% Window
    281 cd/m²
    Peak 10% Window
    392 cd/m²
    Peak 25% Window
    427 cd/m²
    Peak 50% Window
    437 cd/m²
    Peak 100% Window
    441 cd/m²
    Sustained 2% Window
    280 cd/m²
    Sustained 10% Window
    392 cd/m²
    Sustained 25% Window
    426 cd/m²
    Sustained 50% Window
    436 cd/m²
    Sustained 100% Window
    440 cd/m²
    Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
    0.028

    The LG NANO90 has good SDR brightness, a nice improvement from the LG NANO90 2020, but it's not as bright as the LG QNED90. It gets bright enough with real content to fight glare in most rooms. Brightness varies just a bit between our different test windows, and small highlights are dimmer than the rest due to frame dimming.

    We tested SDR brightness after calibration in the 'Expert (Dark space, night)' Picture Mode with Color Temperature set to 'Warm 50', LED Local Dimming to 'Medium', and Panel Brightness to its max.

    If you want the brightest image possible and don't care about image accuracy, we reached 1047 cd/m² in the 10% window in the 'Vivid' Picture Mode.

    7.5
    Color Gamut
    Wide Color Gamut
    Yes
    DCI P3 xy
    81.74%
    DCI P3 uv
    89.78%
    Rec 2020 xy
    59.89%
    Rec 2020 uv
    68.31%

    The LG NANO90 has a good color gamut for HDR content. It has excellent coverage of the DCI P3 color space used in most HDR content. Due to the bad color accuracy, tone mapping is also off. This results in the image looking cooler than expected, but it still looks good overall.

    7.3
    Color Volume
    1,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
    62.0%
    10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
    28.4%
    White Luminance
    567 cd/m²
    Red Luminance
    87 cd/m²
    Green Luminance
    424 cd/m²
    Blue Luminance
    30 cd/m²
    Cyan Luminance
    461 cd/m²
    Magenta Luminance
    120 cd/m²
    Yellow Luminance
    524 cd/m²

    The color volume is just okay. It struggles to display dark colors because of its low contrast but does a better job with brighter colors.

    3.0
    Pre Calibration
    White Balance dE
    7.19
    Color dE
    6.29
    Gamma
    1.63
    Color Temperature
    7,319 K
    Picture Mode
    Expert (Dark Space)
    Color Temp Setting
    Warm 50
    Gamma Setting
    2.2

    The out-of-the-box accuracy is terrible. Although this can vary between units, we noticed similar behavior on the LG C1 OLED. We measured it with different equipment and kept getting the same results. White balance and colors are way off; yellow colors look more white than the actual color white. Gamma is awful, and all scenes are too bright, especially brighter scenes. Color temperature is also on the cool side, giving the image a blue tint. Also note that we disabled LED Local Dimming for the measurements.

    We also tried measuring the accuracy in the 'Filmmaker Mode' Picture Mode and got slightly better, but similar, results. However, we don't suggest using this because it disables some settings:

    • White Balance dE: 6.84
    • Color dE: 6.12
    • Color Temperature: 7332K
    • Gamma: 1.68

    9.2
    Post Calibration
    White Balance dE
    0.43
    Color dE
    1.67
    Gamma
    2.20
    Color Temperature
    6,762 K
    White Balance Calibration
    22 point
    Color Calibration
    Yes

    Accuracy after calibration is fantastic. Any remaining inaccuracies to the white balance and colors are nearly impossible to spot. Gamma follows the target almost perfectly, and the color temperature is closer to our 6500K target.

    See our recommended settings here.

    6.8
    Gray Uniformity
    50% Std. Dev.
    5.509%
    50% DSE
    0.210%
    5% Std. Dev.
    0.588%
    5% DSE
    0.087%

    The LG NANO90 has okay gray uniformity. The edges of the screen are visibly darker all around, and there's dirty screen effect in the center, which could get distracting during sports. However, uniformity is improved in near-dark scenes. Keep in mind that uniformity can vary between units.

    5.0
    Black Uniformity
    Std. Dev.
    2.836%
    Native Std. Dev.
    1.982%

    The black uniformity is disappointing. Without local dimming enabled, the entire screen looks blue due to the low native contrast of the panel. Even with local dimming enabled, the uniformity is worse because there's intense blooming around the center cross.

    6.9
    Viewing Angle
    Color Washout
    26°
    Color Shift
    52°
    Brightness Loss
    30°
    Black Level Raise
    70°
    Gamma Shift
    30°

    The LG NANO90 has okay viewing angles, but it's nothing special for an IPS panel. The image quickly starts to look darker as you move off-center, and it looks inaccurate at wide viewing angles. It'll be fine for watching stuff with a few people around, but probably not suggested for large viewing parties.

    8.4
    Reflections
    Screen Finish
    Semi-gloss
    Total Reflections
    3.1%
    Indirect Reflections
    0.9%
    Calculated Direct Reflections
    2.2%

    The LG NANO90 2021 has impressive reflection handling. It handles even intense light pretty well, and combined with its good peak brightness, glare won't be an issue in most settings. It looks like it has a different coating from the LG NANO90 2020 as light looks more purple when reflected off, similar to the LG C1 OLED.

    7.8
    HDR Native Gradient
    100% Black to 50% Gray
    8.0
    50% Gray to 100% White
    8.0
    100% Black to 50% Red
    6.0
    50% Red to 100% Red
    10
    100% Black to 50% Green
    8.0
    50% Green to 100% Green
    6.0
    100% Black to 50% Blue
    8.0
    50% Blue to 100% Blue
    8.0

    This TV has good gradient handling overall. There's more noticeable banding in dark shades of red and bright shades of green, but everything else looks great.

    8.4
    Low-Quality Content Smoothing
    Smoothing
    9.0
    Detail Preservation
    7.0

    This TV has impressive smoothing capabilities when watching low-quality content. It does a fantastic job smoothing out macro-blocking, but there is some loss of fine details that are unnecessarily smoothed out.

    4.0
    Upscaling: Sharpness Processing

    Unfortunately, this TV has poor sharpness processing, so low-resolution and low-bitrate content doesn't look good. Edges aren't very sharp, fine details are lost, and text is blurry.

    The optimal settings for a sharp 480p image with no over-sharpening are as follows:

    • Adjusted Sharpness: 24
    • Super Resolution: On

    Pixels
    Subpixel Layout
    BGR
    TypeLED
    Sub-Type
    IPS

    The LG NANO90 2021 uses a proper IPS panel but with a BGR sub-pixel layout. This doesn't affect the overall picture but may have an effect on the way text is displayed. Read about it here.

    Motion
    8.1
    Response Time
    80% Response Time
    3.9 ms
    100% Response Time
    13.2 ms

    The LG NANO90 2021 has a great response time. You may still notice some blur trail behind fast-moving objects, but motion still looks good overall. There's some minor overshoot in most transitions, but it's nothing to worry about.

    9.9
    Flicker-Free
    Flicker-Free
    No
    PWM Dimming Frequency
    960 Hz

    This TV uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to dim its backlight. The flickering starts when the Panel Brightness is set to anything below its max, but the frequency is so high that you won't notice it. However, it flickers at 120Hz in the 'Game Optimizer' Picture Mode.

    Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
    Optional BFI
    Yes
    Min Flicker For 60 fps
    60 Hz
    60Hz For 60 fps
    Yes
    120Hz For 120 fps
    Yes
    Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
    60 Hz

    The LG NANO90 has a Black Frame Insertion feature to try to improve the appearance of motion. It works for both 60fps and 120fps content, but it can create some image duplication. Keep in mind that the BFI score is based on the frequency at which the TV can flicker and not the actual performance.

    See here for the settings that control the BFI feature.

    Motion Interpolation
    Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
    Yes
    Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
    Yes

    There's a motion interpolation feature for lower frame rate content, known as the 'Soap Opera Effect'. It can interpolate 60fps up to 120fps, and it can interpolate 30fps up to 60fps, but it can't do it up to 120fps, which explains the blurriness of the top photo. With real content, the motion interpolation feature doesn't look that good. There are a few artifacts and motion blur with anything that's moving. It even stops interpolating altogether during busy scenes.

    See here for the settings that control the motion interpolation feature.

    7.4
    Stutter
    Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
    28.5 ms
    Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
    3.5 ms

    Despite the quick response time, lower frame rate content doesn't stutter that much. If it bothers you, you can try enabling the motion interpolation feature.

    10
    24p Judder
    Judder-Free 24p
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via 60p
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via 60i
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
    Yes

    The LG NANO90 2021 can remove 24p judder from any source. For it to work, simply enable Cinema Screen.

    9.4
    Variable Refresh Rate
    Native Refresh Rate
    120 Hz
    Variable Refresh Rate
    Yes
    HDMI Forum VRR
    Yes
    FreeSync
    Yes
    G-SYNC Compatible
    Yes
    4k VRR Maximum
    120 Hz
    4k VRR Minimum
    < 20 Hz
    1080p VRR Maximum
    120 Hz
    1080p VRR Minimum
    < 20 Hz
    1440p VRR Maximum
    120 Hz
    1440p VRR Minimum
    < 20 Hz
    VRR + Local DimmingNo

    The LG NANO90 has native FreeSync and HDMI Forum VRR support to reduce screen tearing. On our unit, we set the AMD FreeSync Premium to 'High' to get the full refresh rate range with FreeSync because setting it to 'Wide' limits it to 60Hz. Although it's not officially certified to be G-SYNC compatible, we found it works with our RTX 3080 graphics card, but it doesn't work with any 1000 Series card. Enabling the VRR setting also disabled the LED Local Dimming, TruMotion, Noise Reduction, and Smooth Gradation settings.

    Inputs
    9.6
    Input Lag
    1080p @ 60Hz
    11.6 ms
    1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
    129.9 ms
    1080p @ 120Hz
    5.1 ms
    1080p @ 144Hz
    N/A
    1440p @ 60Hz
    11.6 ms
    1440p @ 120Hz
    5.0 ms
    1440p @ 144Hz
    N/A
    4k @ 60Hz
    11.5 ms
    4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
    11.4 ms
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    11.5 ms
    4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
    109.1 ms
    4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
    103.8 ms
    4k @ 120Hz
    5.2 ms
    4k @ 144Hz
    N/A
    8k @ 60Hz
    N/A

    The LG NANO90 2021 has incredibly low input lag as long as it's in the 'Game Optimizer' Picture Mode. LG introduced a new Prevent Input Delay setting to their 2021 TVs, and setting it to 'Boost' reduces the input lag by about 3ms for 60Hz content compared to the LG NANO90 2020. However, it doesn't affect anything with 120Hz content. Sadly, enabling the motion interpolation feature in 'Game' mode greatly increases the input lag, so it's not suggested for gaming.

    9.6
    Supported Resolutions
    Resolution4k
    480p @ 59.94Hz (Widescreen)
    Yes
    720p @ 59.94Hz
    Yes
    1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    1080p @ 120Hz
    Yes
    1080p @ 144Hz
    No
    1440p @ 60Hz
    Yes (forced resolution required)
    1440p @ 120Hz
    Yes
    1440p @ 144Hz
    No
    4k @ 60Hz
    Yes
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    4k @ 120Hz
    Yes
    4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    4k @ 144Hz
    No
    8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
    No
    8k @ 60Hz
    No

    Update 11/24/2021: We double-checked to make sure that this TV could display 4k @ 120Hz signals properly. Unlike TVs from other brands, including the Sony X90J and the Hisense U8G, LG doesn't use the MediaTek chipset and has no issues displaying 4k @ 120Hz.

    The LG NANO90 TV displays any common signal up to 4k @ 120Hz. It displays proper chroma 4:4:4 on any supported resolution, which is important for reading fine text when using it as a PC monitor. For it to work, set the icon for the input you're using to 'PC' in the Home Dashboard. For full-bandwidth signals, set HDMI Deep Color to '4k'.

    PS5 Compatibility
    Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
    Yes
    4k @ 120Hz
    Yes
    1440p @ 120Hz
    Yes
    1080p @ 120Hz
    Yes
    HDR
    Yes
    VRR
    Yes

    The LG NANO90 2021 doesn't have any issues displaying content from either the PS5 or Xbox Series X. It has Auto Low Latency Mode that automatically switches the TV into 'Game' mode when a game from a compatible device is launched. For it to work, simply enable Game Optimizer in the General Settings page.

    Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
    Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
    Yes
    4k @ 120Hz
    Yes
    1440p @ 120Hz
    Yes
    1080p @ 120Hz
    Yes
    HDR
    Yes
    VRR
    Yes
    Inputs Specifications
    HDR10
    Yes
    HDR10+
    No
    Dolby Vision
    Yes
    HLG
    Yes
    HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
    Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
    HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
    Yes (HDMI 3,4)
    CECYes
    HDCP 2.2Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
    ATSC Tuner
    1.0
    USB 3.0
    No
    Variable Analog Audio OutNo
    Wi-Fi SupportYes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

    Since HDMI 3 is also the ARC input, you may only be left with one HDMI 2.1 input (HDMI 4) if you need to connect a receiver.

    Input Photos

    All HDMI inputs are side-facing, making them easier to access if you wall-mount the TV.

    Total Inputs
    HDMI4
    USB3
    Digital Optical Audio Out1
    Analog Audio Out 3.5mm0
    Analog Audio Out RCA0
    Component In0
    Composite In0
    Tuner (Cable/Ant)1
    Ethernet1
    DisplayPort0
    IR In0
    Audio Passthrough
    ARC/eARC Port
    eARC
    eARC: Dolby Atmos Over Dolby Digital Plus
    Yes
    eARC: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    eARC: LPCM 7.1 Over Dolby MAT
    Yes
    eARC: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
    Yes
    eARC: DTS:X Over DTS-HD MA
    No
    eARC: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
    No
    eARC: LPCM Channels (Bitstream)
    7.1
    ARC: Dolby Digital 5.1
    Yes
    ARC: DTS 5.1
    No
    Optical: Dolby Digital 5.1
    Yes
    Optical: DTS 5.1
    No

    The LG NANO90 supports eARC, allowing you to pass high-quality, uncompressed audio to a compatible receiver over an HDMI connection. It supports Dolby Digital audio formats, but not DTS. For it to work, set the HDMI Input Audio to 'Bitstream' for the input you're using, Digital Sound Output to 'Auto', and enable HDMI e-ARC Support.

    Sound Quality
    7.3
    Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    Low-Frequency Extension
    71.27 Hz
    Std. Dev. @ 70
    3.81 dB
    Std. Dev. @ 80
    3.83 dB
    Std. Dev. @ Max
    5.30 dB
    Max
    93.4 dB SPL
    Dynamic Range Compression
    5.06 dB

    The LG NANO90 2021 has a decent frequency response. It has a well-balanced sound profile that makes dialogue sound good. In our testing, any frequency above 11KHz sounded awful, but most content won't reach this high pitch anyways. There's a decent amount of bass with a bit of thump, but it's still not as good as a dedicated subwoofer.

    5.5
    Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted THD @ 80
    0.658
    Weighted THD @ Max
    2.144
    IMD @ 80
    4.32%
    IMD @ Max
    46.38%

    The distortion performance is disappointing. There isn't too much distortion at moderate listening levels, but it gets more noticeable when playing content at its max volume. However, this depends on the content, and not everyone may hear it.

    Smart Features
    8.5
    Interface
    Smart OSwebOS
    Version6.0
    Ease of Use
    Easy
    Smoothness
    Average
    Time Taken to Select YouTube
    2 s
    Time Taken to Change Backlight
    7 s
    Advanced Options
    Many

    LG redesigned the webOS in 2021, and you get a full home page with all your apps instead of the banner that was at the bottom on previous versions. It's easy-to-use, and the menu navigation feels fairly smooth. We didn't notice any bugs during testing.

    0.0
    Ad-Free
    Ads
    Yes
    Opt-out
    No
    Suggested Content in Home
    Yes
    Opt-out of Suggested Content
    No

    Like most modern TVs, there are ads on the home page. They even have a dedicated 'ads page' where you can shop for all of their advertised products.

    8.0
    Apps and Features
    App Selection
    Great
    App Smoothness
    Average
    Cast Capable
    Yes
    USB Drive Playback
    Yes
    USB Drive HDR Playback
    Yes
    HDR in Netflix
    Yes
    HDR in YouTube
    Yes

    LG's app store has a wide selection, and the apps run smoothly.

    9.0
    Remote
    Size
    Large
    Voice Control
    Many Features
    CEC Menu Control
    Yes
    Other Smart Features
    Yes
    Remote AppLG TV Plus

    LG's popular Magic Remote has been redesigned in 2021. Instead of the curved shape we've become used to in the past years, it's now flat with more quick-access buttons to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and the app store. It has the same functions as past Magic Remotes as you can use it with its traditional buttons or use the motion-controlled pointer, like a Wii remote. Through the built-in microphone, you have access to both Google Assistant and Alexa, and you can ask it to change inputs and search for content, but you can't ask it to change settings.

    TV Controls

    There's a single button underneath the middle of the TV to turn it On/Off, change inputs, adjust the volume, or switch channels.

    In The Box

    • Remote
    • 2x AA batteries
    • User guides
    • Cable tie
    • Not shown: Clips and feet covers for cable management

    Misc
    Power Consumption93 W
    Power Consumption (Max)198 W
    Firmware03.10.33

    Comments

    1. Product

    LG NANO90 2021: Main Discussion

    Let us know why you want us to review the product here, or encourage others to vote for this product.

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    1. Update: We added a reference to the SoundPeats PearlClip Pro in the Comfort box.

      Show More Updates
    2. 2
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      1
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      Hello Metsuki, Here is the frequency response with ANC On/Off that we measured. David.

      Thank you!

    3. 2
      1
      0
      1
      0

      Could you compare the frequency response in ANC off vs On?

      Hello Metsuki,

      Here is the frequency response with ANC On/Off that we measured.

      David.

    4. Update: We added a reference to the SoundPeats PearlClip Pro in the Comfort box.

      Show More Updates
    5. 2
      1
      0
      1
      0

      Hello Metsuki, Here is the frequency response with ANC On/Off that we measured. David.

      Thank you!

    6. 2
      1
      0
      1
      0

      Could you compare the frequency response in ANC off vs On?

      Hello Metsuki,

      Here is the frequency response with ANC On/Off that we measured.

      David.