In many respects, today’s OLED panels have become synonymous with the Korean tech giant LG.

That’s no mistake, however, as LG has proven over the years that it has the ability to create some of the best HDTV panels on the planet.

But what if you’re one of those budget-conscious individuals who want to stick with this reputable brand but can’t commit to the hefty price tags of those highly regarded OLED offerings?

Well, fortunately, it appears that LG hasn’t forgotten about consumers like you. If you’re in the market for a non-OLED LG HDTV, make sure to take a long hard look at the UN7300 Series, currently retailing for only $450.

Yes, that price point is a fraction of what you would normally pay for one of LG’s OLED panels. So, you might be asking, what are you missing out on? Quite a bit, actually—they include fantastic picture quality, accurate colors, wide-angle viewing, deepest blacks and inimitable uniformity and contrast ratios.

But that doesn’t mean that the UN7300 should be thrown out with next week’s trash. Keep in mind that this is a $450 budget HDTV, and at that price, it really is a great value no matter how you look at it. This modern-looking set won’t necessarily wow you—but know that you’ll be getting a solid panel that should be more than enough for your everyday TV-watching and family movie nights.

It boasts an exceptionally bright display via its direct backlighting, so you won’t have any problem putting it in a brightly lit or sun-drenched room. Not to be outdone, this TV supports multiple 4K HDR formats like Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG. If you happen to be a gamer, these features, along with the Auto Low Latency Mode, will surely boost your overall gameplay experience. Keep in mind, though, that there is no local dimming.

Much like Samsung’s Tizen smart TV operating system, UN7300’s webOS is surely still a work in progress, though it has made considerable improvements in recent years. Yes, it has a pleasant, stripped-down user interface, which hasn’t changed much since it launched, but it really lacks what’s needed for today’s data-intensive streaming TV world.

Not surprisingly, the webOS comes with today’s essentials like Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, which are installed by default. The overall range of offerings, however, is a bit lackluster—perhaps that is why many consumers still prefer Roku or Android TV. On a more positive note, the UN7300 works with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice control.

As for LG’s Magic Remote, it is quite useful for everyday actions, but what it conspicuously lacks is that it doesn't have in-depth control of the TV’s settings. Better integration with the TV’s hardware would definitely be appreciated by many, as this type of disconnect isn’t usually found on Samsung’s HDTV offerings.

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.

Image: LG.