Price: $321.67
(as of Aug 08, 2026 03:48:29 UTC – Details)
LG UN73 Series 43” (43UN7300PUF) Review: The Budget-Friendly Gateway to 4K Smart Living
In an era where television technology advances at a breakneck pace, finding a balance between cutting-edge features and accessible pricing remains a primary challenge for consumers. The LG UN73 Series, specifically the 43-inch model 43UN7300PUF (2020), positions itself squarely in this sweet spot. It promises the visual fidelity of “Real 4K,” the convenience of a mature smart platform, and modern connectivity standards without demanding a flagship-level investment. After a thorough examination of its specifications, design philosophy, and feature set, it becomes clear that this model is engineered not just as a display, but as a central hub for the modern connected living room.
Design and Physical Presence: Minimalism Meets Practicality
The physical footprint of the 43UN7300PUF is dictated by its 43-inch screen diagonal, a size that remains the “Goldilocks” standard for bedrooms, dorm rooms, apartments, and secondary living spaces. It is large enough to deliver an immersive cinematic experience, yet compact enough to fit on standard media consoles or desks without overwhelming the room.
Aesthetically, LG continues its tradition of understated elegance. The bezels are slim on three sides, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio and ensuring the viewer’s focus remains on the content rather than the hardware. The chassis utilizes a textured plastic finish that resists fingerprints well—a practical consideration for a device often touched during cleaning or cable management.
The included stand consists of two wide-set feet positioned near the outer edges of the panel. This design choice has distinct implications for placement. Unlike a central pedestal stand, the wide feet require a surface width of at least 38.3 inches (the total width of the unit with stand). The stand adds roughly 1.6 inches to the depth (7.4 inches total) and raises the screen height to 24.1 inches. The unit weighs a manageable 17.9 pounds with the stand attached, making it a single-person lift for most adults, though two people are always recommended for panel safety.
For those preferring a flush, gallery-like aesthetic, the UN73 is VESA mount compatible (200x200mm pattern, though the manual should be consulted for exact screw depth). Removing the stand reduces the weight to 17.6 pounds and slims the profile dramatically to just 3.3 inches deep, allowing the TV to hug the wall closely. Cable management is assisted by clips on the stand neck, a small but appreciated detail that helps tame the inevitable tangle of HDMI and power cords.
The Heart of the Matter: Real 4K and the Quad Core Processor
At the core of the UN73’s value proposition is the panel itself: a 43-inch IPS (In-Plane Switching) display with a native resolution of 3840 x 2160. LG’s marketing emphasizes “Real 4K,” a distinction that highlights the use of RGB stripe sub-pixel structures. Unlike some budget panels that utilize RGBW (adding a white sub-pixel) which can effectively reduce color resolution, a true RGB 4K panel delivers four distinct sub-pixels for every pixel, ensuring that fine text, intricate textures in gaming, and subtle color gradations in nature documentaries are rendered with full 8.3 million pixel precision.
The IPS technology choice is deliberate and defines the viewing experience. The primary advantage of IPS over VA (Vertical Alignment) panels—common in this price tier—is superior viewing angle consistency. On the UN73, colors and contrast remain stable even when viewed from significant off-angles (up to roughly 60-70 degrees). This makes it an excellent choice for wide seating arrangements where not everyone sits directly in the “sweet spot.” The trade-off, inherent to IPS technology, is a native contrast ratio that typically hovers around 1000:1 to 1200:1. In a pitch-black room, blacks may appear more like dark charcoal gray, and “IPS glow” (a slight whitish haze in dark corners) may be visible. However, in typical living room lighting conditions—where most TVs in this class live—the IPS panel’s brightness uniformity and color accuracy often provide a more pleasing, natural image than the crushed blacks and color shifting of budget VA panels.
Driving this panel is the Quad Core Processor 4K. In 2020, this was LG’s entry-level 4K chipset, but “entry-level” in LG’s lineup still implies significant computational heft. This processor handles the heavy lifting of upscaling non-4K content (1080p cable boxes, 720p streaming, DVDs) to the native 4K resolution. It employs a multi-step noise reduction and sharpness enhancement algorithm designed to clean up compression artifacts—macroblocking, mosquito noise, and banding—without introducing the “soap opera effect” or ringing artifacts common in inferior upscalers. The result is a surprisingly clean image from lower-resolution sources, making the most of a cable subscription or older media library.
The processor also manages Active HDR. The UN73 supports HDR10 and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) formats. While it lacks the peak brightness (typically 300-350 nits on this series) and local dimming zones required for a “premium” HDR experience (like Dolby Vision, which is absent here), the tone mapping handled by the Quad Core processor does a commendable job of preserving highlight detail and expanding the color gamut (likely covering ~90% of DCI-P3) within the panel’s physical limitations. HDR content looks noticeably more vibrant and dynamic than SDR, even if it doesn’t sear the retinas like a high-end OLED or Mini-LED.
Audio Intelligence: AI Sound and Bluetooth Surround Ready
Flat-panel physics dictate that internal speakers are a compromise, but LG has invested heavily in psychoacoustic processing to mitigate this. The UN73 features a 2.0 channel speaker system (20W total output: 10W per channel) driven by AI Sound. This isn’t just a volume booster; the processor analyzes the audio signal in real-time—identifying dialogue, sound effects, music, and ambient noise—and applies dynamic range compression, frequency equalization, and virtual spatial processing accordingly.
The most tangible benefit is Clear Voice, a subset of AI Sound that lifts dialogue frequencies forward in the mix. For viewers tired of rewinding scenes because whisper-quiet dialogue was drowned out by a swelling orchestral score or explosion effects, this feature is a quality-of-life game changer. While bass response is limited by the laws of physics (small drivers in thin bezels cannot move significant air), the processing creates a wider perceived soundstage than the physical speaker placement suggests.
A standout feature for the price point is Bluetooth Surround Ready. This allows the TV to pair with compatible LG Bluetooth speakers (such as the PK, XBOOM, or PL series) to create a wireless 4.0 or 5.1 channel setup. Crucially, this uses the TV’s Bluetooth transmitter, meaning no separate transmitter dongle or Wi-Fi network configuration is required. It transforms the UN73 from a stereo device into a legitimate surround sound system for a fraction of the cost of a traditional AV receiver and wired speaker runs. Additionally, standard Bluetooth audio output allows for private listening via wireless headphones—a vital feature for late-night viewing.
The Smart Experience: webOS 5.0 and the Magic Remote
If the panel is the body, webOS is the soul of the UN73. Widely regarded as one of the most polished, user-friendly smart TV interfaces on the market, the version shipping on the 2020 UN73 (webOS 5.0) is snappy, responsive, and logically organized. The hallmark “Launcher Bar” appears at the bottom of the screen with a press of the Home button, overlaying the current content rather than kicking you to a separate home screen. This allows for quick app switching or input changing without losing sight of the live sports game or movie playing in the background.
The app ecosystem is comprehensive. All major streaming giants—Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Hulu, HBO Max (now Max), Peacock, Paramount+—are present and accounted for, typically with dedicated hotkeys on the remote. The LG Content Store offers hundreds of additional niche apps, games, and utilities. Because this is a 2020 model, the app versions are current as of that lifecycle, though LG has a decent track record of maintaining app updates for several years post-launch.
The Magic Remote (MR20) is the primary interface device, and it lives up to its name. It eschews the traditional rubber-button grid for a minimalist, ergonomic wand design featuring a clickable scroll wheel (doubling as an “OK” button), a dedicated voice button, and a gesture-controlled on-screen pointer. The pointer functionality—waving the remote like a Wii controller to move a cursor—makes typing search queries, navigating web browsers, and selecting specific thumbnail images exponentially faster than directional pads. The scroll wheel provides tactile, precise navigation through long lists of movies or settings menus.
Voice control is dual-pronged. LG ThinQ AI handles TV-specific commands (“Switch to HDMI 2,” “Turn up volume,” “Search for action movies,” “What’s the weather?”). Critically, the UN73 features Alexa Built-in. This integrates Amazon’s voice assistant directly into the TV’s microphone array (located in the remote) and speakers. Users can control smart home devices (lights, thermostats, cameras), check calendars, order Amazon goods, or play music via Amazon Music/Spotify through the TV, even with the screen off (in a low-power standby mode). For households already invested in the Alexa ecosystem, this eliminates the need for a separate Echo Dot in the room.
Apple ecosystem integration is robust via Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. AirPlay 2 allows effortless mirroring or streaming of video, photos, and audio from iPhone, iPad, or Mac directly to the TV without an Apple TV box. It supports multi-room audio, so the UN73 can act as an AirPlay speaker group member alongside HomePods. HomeKit integration allows the TV to appear in the Apple Home app, enabling Siri control (“Hey Siri, turn on the Living Room TV”) and inclusion in automation scenes (“Movie Time” scene dims lights, closes blinds, turns on TV).
Connectivity: The Physical Gateway
The rear I/O panel (side-mounted for easier access when wall-mounted) offers a standard but sufficient complement of ports for a 43-inch entry-mid model:
- 3x HDMI 2.0 Ports: All support 4K @ 60Hz, HDCP 2.2, and HDR. One port (HDMI 2) supports ARC (Audio Return Channel). This is essential for sending audio “upstream” from the TV’s internal apps (Netflix, etc.) to an external soundbar or AV receiver via a single cable. Note: This is standard ARC, not eARC (Enhanced ARC), meaning it cannot pass lossless high-bitrate audio formats like Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Atmos bitstream—only compressed Dolby Digital/DTS or PCM stereo. For this TV’s tier and target soundbar market, standard ARC is perfectly adequate.
- 2x USB 2.0 Ports: Used for playback of media files (photos, music, video) from thumb drives or hard drives. The TV supports a wide range of codecs (HEVC/H.265, VP9, AAC, FLAC, MKV, MP4 containers). It can also power low-draw streaming sticks (like a Fire Stick or Roku), though a dedicated wall wart is safer for stability.
- 1x Ethernet (LAN): 10/100 Mbps. While Wi-Fi (802.11ac dual-band) is built-in and generally stable, a wired connection eliminates latency variance and bandwidth contention for high-bitrate 4K streaming or local network file serving (via DLNA/Plex client apps).
- 1x Optical Digital Audio Out (TOSLINK): The legacy alternative to HDMI ARC for connecting older soundbars or receivers.
- 1x Composite Input (AV): The yellow/red/white legacy input. A surprising but welcome inclusion for connecting retro gaming consoles (NES, SNES, PS2, Wii) or older camcorders/VCRs without an external upscaler box.
- RF In (Antenna/Cable): For OTA (Over-The-Air) ATSC tuning or unencrypted QAM cable.
Gaming Considerations
While not marketed as a gaming monitor, the UN73 handles casual console gaming competently. The HDMI 2.0 ports support 4K/60Hz, matching the output of the PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One X, and base PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series S/X titles running at 60fps. Input lag in Game Mode typically measures in the low-to-mid 50ms range (approx. 50-60ms at 4K/60). This is perfectly playable for RPGs, strategy games, platformers, and single-player action titles. However, competitive FPS or fighting game enthusiasts will want a display with sub-20ms lag and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate / FreeSync / G-Sync Compatible), which the UN73 lacks. The “Game Optimizer” dashboard (accessible via the Magic Remote) provides quick toggles for genre-specific picture modes (FPS, RPG, RTS) and a crosshair overlay feature.
Energy Efficiency and Environmental Notes
The UN73 carries Energy Star certification. Typical power consumption for a 43-inch 4K LED LCD of this vintage is roughly 55-65 Watts during typical SDR viewing, rising to 80-90 Watts in vivid/HDR modes. Annual running costs are negligible for most households (estimated $10-$15/year depending on local rates). The TV features an automatic brightness limiter (ABL) and an “Energy Saving” mode with steps (Off, Minimum, Medium, Maximum, Screen Off) that aggressively clamp peak brightness to save power.
Final Verdict: The Pragmatist’s Choice
The LG 43UN7300PUF does not pretend to be a reference-grade display. It lacks local dimming, its peak brightness caps the HDR impact, its contrast ratio is limited by IPS physics, and its gaming feature set stops at 4K/60Hz without VRR. However, judging it against those omissions misses the point entirely.
This television is a masterclass in feature density per dollar. It delivers a genuine RGB 4K IPS panel with excellent viewing angles, a best-in-class smart OS (webOS) that remains fluid years later, a truly innovative Magic Remote, and a voice control suite that bridges the Alexa and Apple ecosystems seamlessly. The inclusion of Bluetooth Surround Ready future-proofs the audio path for wireless expansion, while the physical connectivity (3 HDMI, USB, Optical, Composite, Ethernet) covers legacy and modern needs without requiring a separate hub.
For the apartment dweller seeking a main TV, the homeowner outfitting a guest room or home office, or the family needing a reliable bedroom display that “just works” with every streaming service and smart home platform, the LG UN73 Series 43″ represents a remarkably complete package. It respects the viewer’s intelligence by offering deep picture customization (including Expert Calibration controls for ISF-certified calibrators) while defaulting to a vibrant, pleasing image out of the box. In the crowded 2020 mid-range battlefield, the UN73 distinguished itself not by doing one thing perfectly, but by doing everything modern TV is expected to do—competently, elegantly, and affordably.