LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV Review: The Affordable OLED Dream with a Crucial Catch

For years, we’ve been told that the ultimate home cinema experience belongs to a technology called OLED. It’s the holy grail of television: perfect, inky blacks that make colours pop with impossible vibrancy, a picture so deep it feels like you could step right into it. The problem? This level of quality has always come with an equally breathtaking price tag, placing it firmly in the “dream on” category for most of us. We’ve spent countless hours scrolling through product pages, comparing specs, and trying to justify spending thousands on a living room television. The search often ends in compromise, settling for a good-enough LED screen that, while perfectly fine, always leaves that nagging feeling that we’re missing out on what’s truly possible. This is the chasm the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV aims to bridge: the promise of elite, no-compromise visual fidelity at a price that feels refreshingly grounded in reality.

What to Consider Before Buying a 4K Smart TV

A 4K Smart TV is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for transforming your living space into a hub of entertainment, information, and connection. It solves the problem of disjointed media consumption by consolidating everything—from blockbuster films and prestige television on streaming services to live sports, next-generation video games, and even family photos—into one stunning, high-resolution display. The main benefit is immersion. A great TV doesn’t just show you a movie; it transports you into the world of the film. It doesn’t just let you play a game; it makes you feel the speed and intensity of every moment. It elevates everyday viewing from a passive activity to an engaging experience.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the desire to upgrade their home entertainment setup to a genuine cinematic level. This includes cinephiles who crave the true-to-the-creator’s-intent visuals of Dolby Vision and Filmmaker Mode, and serious gamers who need the fluid, responsive performance of a 120Hz panel. It’s for families wanting a large, vibrant centerpiece for movie nights. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who simply need a small, secondary screen for a kitchen or guest room, or for individuals on the tightest of budgets where even a value-oriented OLED is out of reach. For those users, smaller HD or standard 4K LED models from other brands might be a more practical alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A 65-inch screen is substantial. Before you even think about the picture quality, measure your space. The LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV measures 144.9 cm wide by 89.6 cm high with its stand. Ensure your media unit can support this footprint and weight (24.4 kg), and consider your viewing distance. For a 65-inch 4K TV, the optimal seating distance is typically between 4 and 6.5 feet to fully appreciate the detail without seeing individual pixels.
• Performance & Technology: This is where OLED shines. Unlike traditional LED TVs that use a backlight, each of the 8 million pixels in an OLED screen lights up independently. This allows for “Perfect Black” and infinite contrast, as pixels can turn completely off next to brightly lit ones. Key specs to look for are the 4K UHD resolution, a 120Hz native refresh rate for smooth motion, and support for HDR formats like Dolby Vision, which optimizes the picture scene-by-scene. The processor, in this case the α8 AI Processor, is the brain, handling upscaling of lower-resolution content and image enhancement.
• Connectivity & Smart Features: A smart TV is only as smart as its platform. This LG model runs on webOS, known for its user-friendly, pointer-based Magic Remote. Check for the number of HDMI ports (especially HDMI 2.1 for full 120Hz gaming), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, and the availability of all your essential streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Freeview Play. Voice assistant integration, such as the built-in Amazon Alexa, adds another layer of convenience.
• Audio & Sound: Manufacturers often focus on the picture, sometimes at the expense of sound. This model’s support for Dolby Atmos is a significant plus, as it aims to create a more three-dimensional and immersive soundscape from the TV’s internal speakers. While it won’t replace a dedicated soundbar or surround sound system, it represents a substantial step up from basic stereo audio.

Keeping these factors in mind, the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV stands out in several areas, particularly in bringing premium panel technology to a more accessible price point. You can explore its detailed specifications and current offers here.

While the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing an Impossibly Thin Marvel

The arrival of a 65-inch television is always an event, and the box for the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV is appropriately massive. This is a two-person job, no question. Once opened, the first thing that strikes you is the signature characteristic of OLED technology: the astonishing thinness of the panel itself. The top half of the screen is just a few millimetres thick, a sliver of glass and electronics that feels impossibly futuristic. The lower section houses the processors, speakers, and ports, giving it a more substantial base, but the overall impression is one of sleek, minimalist elegance.

Assembly is straightforward; the central stand attaches with a handful of screws, providing a stable and surprisingly compact footprint for such a large screen. Once in place, the TV looks stunning even when turned off—a clean, black monolith with razor-thin bezels that promise to melt away once the picture comes to life. Firing it up for the first time, we were guided through the webOS setup process. It’s a colourful and generally intuitive interface, made effortless by LG’s Magic Remote, which functions like a motion-controlled pointer. Our initial feeling was one of immense value; it has the look and feel of a flagship TV, immediately justifying its position as a gateway to high-end home cinema.

Deep Dive: Performance, Picture, and Potential Pitfalls

A spec sheet can only tell you so much. To truly understand a television, you have to live with it. We put the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV through its paces over several weeks, testing everything from 4K Blu-rays and streaming content to intense, next-generation gaming sessions. Our findings reveal a television that is, for the most part, a spectacular performer that punches well above its weight class, but with one specific flaw that certain users must be aware of.

The OLED Difference: A Visual Masterpiece

Let’s be clear: the picture quality on this television is its main event, and it is absolutely breathtaking. This was immediately evident when we fired up a 4K stream of a visually dense sci-fi film. In scenes set in the blackness of space, the stars weren’t just bright spots on a dark grey background; they were pinpricks of brilliant light against a canvas of true, absolute black. This is the “infinite contrast” that OLED promises, and it’s not a marketing gimmick. Because each pixel creates its own light, it can also turn completely off. The result is a level of depth, detail, and realism that even the best LED TVs struggle to match. Colours, too, are incredibly rich and accurate, thanks to the panel’s ability to display 100% colour volume. From the lush greens of a nature documentary to the vibrant neons of a cyberpunk city, everything looks vivid and true to life. We found ourselves echoing the sentiment of one user who described the picture as “almost 3d”—the depth is that convincing.

Much of this is managed by the α8 AI Processor. We found its AI Super Upscaling to be highly effective, taking 1080p content from older shows and sharpening it for the 4K screen with impressive clarity and minimal artefacts. For cinephiles, the inclusion of Filmmaker Mode is a godsend. With a single click, it disables post-processing features like motion smoothing, presenting the film exactly as the director intended. Paired with Dolby Vision, which dynamically adjusts HDR metadata on a frame-by-frame basis, the result is a cinematic experience that is genuinely transportive and, until recently, unheard of at this price point.

Next-Gen Gaming: Fluidity, Speed, and a Critical Caveat

With its native 120Hz refresh rate and support for features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV is, on paper, a gamer’s dream. We hooked up our consoles and dove into a series of fast-paced games. The immediate benefit of 120Hz was obvious: motion is incredibly smooth, input lag feels nonexistent, and the entire experience is far more responsive and fluid than on a standard 60Hz screen. For competitive shooters or racing games, this is a tangible advantage that makes gameplay feel more connected and immediate.

However, our extended testing uncovered a significant issue that corroborates a detailed report from one user. While the TV performed flawlessly out of the box, a mandatory software update introduced a critical bug. When running a game that utilizes 120Hz, VRR, and Dolby Vision simultaneously—a key feature set for high-end gaming on the latest consoles—we observed intermittent screen flickering. It’s a distracting and frustrating problem that undermines an otherwise stellar gaming experience. We confirmed that disabling one of these features resolves the issue, but users shouldn’t have to compromise on the TV’s advertised capabilities. This appears to be a firmware problem introduced in versions after 03.10.37. It’s a crucial flaw for serious gamers who plan to use all the advanced features. For those users, our advice is to either avoid this model or, as one user wisely suggested, avoid performing software updates until LG provides a confirmed fix.

Sound and Cinema: The Dolby Atmos Experience

TV audio is often an afterthought, but LG has made a commendable effort here. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos support is more than just a logo on the box. During our testing with Atmos-enabled content, we noticed a distinct widening of the soundstage. While the internal speakers can’t replicate the overhead effects of a true multi-speaker setup, they do an excellent job of creating a more immersive, room-filling sound. Dialogue remained clear and centered, while ambient effects in movies and games felt more spread out, creating a greater sense of space. One user review captured this perfectly, noting “the sounds amazing.” For an integrated audio solution, it’s impressive. We found it more than adequate for casual viewing and movie nights. That said, to truly match the epic scale of the 65-inch OLED picture, we would still recommend pairing the TV with at least a good-quality soundbar to get deeper bass and more impactful audio.

The webOS Platform: Smart, Speedy, but with Setup Stumbles

LG’s webOS has long been one of the best smart TV platforms, and it remains a highlight on the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV. The interface is clean, navigation is swift, and the Magic Remote’s point-and-click functionality is intuitive and fast. Accessing apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Freeview Play is a breeze, and the content recommendation engine does a decent job of surfacing things you might want to watch. The built-in Alexa voice control worked reliably, allowing for hands-free channel changes, volume adjustments, and content searches.

However, the experience isn’t flawless. We encountered a minor hiccup during the initial setup where the TV struggled to connect to LG’s servers to accept the user agreement. While our issue resolved after a few minutes, we noted a more severe complaint from one user who was left with a “£1000 paperweight” due to a persistent server outage, preventing them from signing in or installing any apps. While this is likely an infrequent server-side problem rather than a hardware fault, it’s a potential point of frustration that can completely derail the out-of-the-box experience. It serves as a reminder that as TVs become more reliant on network services, they also become vulnerable to these kinds of issues.

What Other Users Are Saying

The general sentiment surrounding the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV is overwhelmingly positive, largely driven by its incredible value. Many users, like one who called it an “absolute bargain,” are astounded to get a 65-inch OLED panel at such a low price point. First-time OLED owners are particularly impressed, with one review simply stating “WOW I’m absolutely delighted everything is beautiful on it.” The picture quality is a constant source of praise, with frequent mentions of its “beautiful,” almost 3D-like image.

However, the glowing feedback is tempered by the technical issues we also encountered. The most significant negative feedback comes from a power user who detailed the firmware-induced flickering with high-end gaming features, warning others to “skip this model” if that specific combination is important to them. Another user’s experience of being completely locked out of the TV due to server issues highlights a potential, albeit likely rare, setup catastrophe. This feedback is critical as it paints a complete picture: a visually stunning TV that offers incredible value, but with potential software-related pitfalls for specific use cases.

How Does the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV Compare to the Alternatives?

While the LG offers a premium OLED experience, its size and price point may not be for everyone. If you’re considering other options, here’s how it stacks up against some popular alternatives focused on different needs and budgets.

1. Amazon Fire TV 2-Series 40-inch 1080p Smart TV

This is a comparison of two completely different classes of television. The Amazon Fire TV is a compact, budget-friendly 1080p (Full HD) screen designed for secondary spaces like a bedroom, office, or kitchen. Its main strengths are its small footprint, low price, and the deeply integrated Fire TV operating system with Alexa voice control. It’s a perfect choice for someone who primarily wants a simple, effective portal to streaming services and doesn’t require the cinematic prowess of 4K or OLED. Compared to the LG, it offers significantly lower resolution, inferior contrast and colour, and none of the advanced gaming features. You’d choose the Fire TV for convenience and cost in a smaller room, not for a primary living room experience.

2. Hisense 58A6KTUK 58 Inch Smart TV

The Hisense 58A6KTUK is a much closer competitor. It’s a large 4K smart TV that offers excellent features for its price, including Dolby Vision. However, the crucial difference lies in the panel technology. The Hisense uses a traditional Direct LED screen, which cannot achieve the pixel-level light control of the LG’s OLED. This means you won’t get the same perfect blacks or infinite contrast, and you may notice some backlight blooming in dark scenes. That said, it’s a fantastic value proposition for a large-screen 4K experience and represents one of the best non-OLED budget options on the market. A buyer might prefer the Hisense if they want a big screen but their budget cannot stretch to the LG’s price, and they are willing to trade ultimate picture quality for cost savings.

3. RCA Roku TV 32″ Smart HD TV

Similar to the Fire TV, the RCA Roku TV serves a different purpose entirely. At 32 inches and with a 720p HD resolution, this is a quintessential small-room or budget television. Its standout feature is the Roku OS, which is beloved for its simplicity, speed, and incredibly comprehensive app support. It’s an ideal “plug and play” TV for a child’s room, a workshop, or for anyone who values ease of use above all else. It is not a competitor to the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV in terms of performance, size, or picture quality. It’s an alternative for someone with fundamentally different needs: a small, simple, and highly affordable smart TV where the Roku platform is the main draw.

Our Final Verdict: Is the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV Worth It?

After extensive testing, we can say that the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV is a game-changing product. It successfully delivers on the promise of a massive, beautiful OLED screen at a price that makes premium technology accessible to a much wider audience. For movies and television, the picture quality is nothing short of spectacular, providing a deeply immersive and cinematic experience that is the best in its price class, bar none. The smart features are robust, the design is sleek, and the audio is surprisingly capable.

However, it is not a flawless victory. The firmware issue affecting the combination of 120Hz, VRR, and Dolby Vision is a significant drawback for hardcore gamers who want to push their new consoles to the absolute limit. While this may be fixed in a future update, it’s a real problem right now. For this reason, our recommendation comes with a qualification. If you are a cinephile or a gamer who doesn’t rely on that specific trio of features, this television is an absolute triumph and one of the best deals in home entertainment today. For the elite gamer, it’s a more cautious recommendation—a fantastic panel let down by a frustrating software bug. For the vast majority of users, its visual brilliance and incredible value make it a resounding success.

If you’ve decided the LG OLED65B56LA 65-Inch OLED AI 4K Smart TV is the right fit for your living room, you can check its current price and availability here.