LG INFINIA 55LE8500 Review

When it comes to finding an LED TV that has a sleek look and delivers on picture quality, LG has been in the competition for quite some time. Even though the LG INFINIA 55LE8500 isn’t the latest and greatest model LG has released, it's still in the running thanks to its stacked feature set, great picture quality and high performance without the high price tag. Unlike the LG 55LX9500, which offers the new 3D technology, the 8500 is only available in the standard 2D. While this may seem like a major drawback, it really isn't; 3D technology is still in the works and has many issues that still need to be worked out. We would suggest holding off on 3D technology for the time and waiting until it gets perfected before purchasing a 3D-capable LED TV.

Features:

The LG INFINIA 55LE8500 really does shine in a variety of areas, the first being the ultra thin 1.4-inch thick display, which makes it perfect for hanging on a wall or simply for putting it in an entertainment center. It also features a one-sheet glass design which gives the TV a look of being one large piece, even though the glass is separate. This means the 55LE8500 LED TV looks good from any angle. As with any good electronic product these days, the 8500 series comes with all of your internet apps and widgets; these include YouTube, Netflix, Vudu, Picasa and a host of other things to keep you up to speed with anything and everything.

One thing that LG really does well is allow you to change a variety of display settings so you can get the perfect picture no matter where you place your LED TV. The LG INFINIA 55LE8500 shows how this can be done with a handful of options for just about any setting. The only real major flaw with this LED TV is that it doesn't have the ability to stream audio, which means you will have to use YouTube or some other widget for this feature. It also lacks the ability to view 3D video which at the moment is not a huge ordeal, but in the very near future could bring this TV down quite a bit.

Display:

The display on this LED TV is both one of its strongest points and one of its weakest. It compares to the amazing display found on the Vizio XVT553SV when it comes to local dimming and amazing black and white light filtering, but falls flat in well-lit areas. If you plan on putting this LED in a living room or other well-lit area you may want to rethink your decision. LG designed this LED TV with a glass front that reflects a lot of glare, which is always annoying when you watch TV during the day or while the lights are on. There is also the issue of constantly having to clean the screen every time someone touches it.

Overall the display on this LED TV is perfect for those planning on putting it in a theater room or somewhere with few windows or not much lighting. The LG INFINIA 55LE8500 also does quite well when viewed from the side.

Connections:

The LG INFINIA 55LE8500 has four HDMI inputs, two component video inputs, a PC input and of course an Ethernet port for connecting your TV to the internet. We would like to have seen built in Wi-Fi for those who don’t want to run wires all over the house just to get internet on their TV. Other than the lack of Wi-Fi this LED TV has all of the basic connections anyone would need to get things up and running smoothly.

Help and Support:

LG has been in the business of creating quality electronics for some time now and have always been there when needed. You can contact them in just about any way you can think of, the easiest and quickest way would be through their live chat option. You can also contact them via email or over the phone with any questions about your INFINIA LED TV. As with most TVs these days, they offer a one-year warranty and have a very good staff working on keeping you happy.

Summary:

The LG INFINIA 55LE8500 LED TV has a lot of bells and whistles to keep your viewing experience exciting. The picture quality is one of the best we have seen but falls flat if the TV is located in a room with a lot of lighting. You are going to pay quite a bit less than the LX9500 series but will lose out on the up and coming 3D technology and some additional display features. However, if you want to save some money and aren’t into the 3D movement we would recommend the LG INFINIA 55LE8500 for the reduced price.