LG 47LH90 LCD HDTV Review

The LG 47LH90 occupies an awkward spot on the spectrum of LCD HDTVs that doesn't have the performance of a mid-range model, but doesn't have the price tag of an entry-level. It boasts two major features, 240Hz mode and localized dimming, but neither had much of an effect on the viewing experience. The set is currently priced at $2100, which unfortunately places it a bit out of its class. If you can find the set at a discount, it will make a decent, 47-inch TV for a mainstream audience. Those who care about picture quality, however, might find the 47LH90's flaws to be too numerous.

Performance (Read the full lab performance at TelevisionInfo.com)
Testing was a mixed bag with the 47LH90. It seems to rely on its localized dimming feature for a deep black level, because when it was turned off the TV had very bright blacks. The problem with the localized dimming feature is it really diminished details in dark areas, making the images seem very flat. The TV is bright, however, which helps it salvage the contrast ratio somewhat. The TV also had a great greyscale curve, meaning greys will progress to white and black smoothly.

Our color tests yielded some good scores. The TV's color temperature runs a bit cool, but remains more or less consistent throughout. The TV also had above average results on our color representation test. This means the TV has good differentiation between adjacent shades of red, green, or blue.

The TV had an average performance on our motion and artifacting tests. If the 240Hz mode isn't turned on, the picture will be quite blurry. Setting the 240Hz mode to "low" helped reduce blur significantly; setting it to "high" offered a barely-perceptible gain over the "low" setting, and caused a lot of artifacting issues.

Like most LCD HDTVs, the viewing angle on the 47LH90 isn't great. You'll lose 50% of the TV's maximum contrast if you're further than 24° away from center. We even noticed issues when sitting dead center, as the corners of the TV appeared to be lighter on an all-black screen, and darker on an all-white one.

Comparisons (Read the full comparisons at TelevisionInfo.com)
We paired the LG 47LH90 up against the Vizio SV470XVT, the Sony KDL-46VE5, and the Samsung UN46B7100. In general, these TVs compared favorably to the LG. The Vizio was the only TV with a lower contrast ratio, and the Sony was the only TV that had inferior results on our color tests. The LG fell into the middle of the spectrum on our motion tests.

Conclusion (Read the full lab performance at TelevisionInfo.com)
The LG 47LH90 isn't a bad 47-inch option. The problem is we're not entirely sure who it would appeal to. If you're looking for a cheap 47-inch, a feature-packed TV, or high performance, the 47LH90 isn't for you. The Vizio SV470XVT offers slightly better quality for the size, and is nearly half the price. The Samsung UN46B7100 has better quality and some great online features for a similar price. If you can find the 47LH90 on sale, consider it an option, but they're simply better choices out there. 

For a more in-depth review, visit the LG 47LH90 Review at our partner TelevisionInfo.com