LG 55LW650T Pro Reviews

This LG is unusual in that it uses passive 3D technology, rather than the more usual active-shutter type favoured by its rivals. While active 3D has its advantages, the glasses used are costly and relatively heavy. Passive 3D technology uses a polarised image which is sent to each eye via inexpensive, lightweight glasses. The downside is that the resolution seen by each eye has to be halved. Spin Despicable Me in 3D and you do notice a slight drop in detail and sharpness when compared with an active system. Images don’t display quite the same brilliance and depth. On the plus side, there’s no sign of crosstalk (ghosting on the image) and your eyes don’t feel as strained as they can when watching an active system. And, the low cost of the glasses means you get seven pairs included with the TV! How’s that for value?

While the 55LW650T doesn’t manage to convince us that passive 3D is actually better than active 3D, its 3D images are nonetheless more relaxing to watch and more than acceptable for the sort of casual, occasional use that’s likely to be the basis on which many people watch 3D sources. It’s also impossible to deny the attractiveness of the set’s price relative to active 3D sets, especially with multiple glasses taken into account. All of which makes it even sadder that a potentially very appealing 3D option is so badly let down by some fundamental backlight problems.