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Audio Research-based review

LG SQM1

The Tiny Soundbar With One Sensible Job

The tiny LG SQM1 has one modest job—to make everyday television easier to hear without dominating the room or the budget.

Independent evidence checkedAbout 4 minutesReviewed 1 August 2026
Our verdictLG SQM1 has a clear audience, but it is not the automatic choice for every soundbar buyer
See why
LG SQM1 product imageImage: UKTechExpert illustration
67/100

Performance

94/100

Value for money

Start here

The 60-second verdict

The tiny LG SQM1 has one modest job—to make everyday television easier to hear without dominating the room or the budget. Day to day, the main benefit is a fuller, more spacious sound for films and television. You also get audio power: 40 W. The drawbacks are room shape and television placement affect the surround effect and marketing channel counts do not guarantee clear dialogue. On 17 August 2026, the matched UK price was £49.99 for the Standard retail package configuration.

Our verdictLG SQM1 has a clear audience, but it is not the automatic choice for every soundbar buyer

What it gets right

  • A fuller, more spacious sound for films and television
  • Audio power: 40 W
  • Adaptive / optimized audio
  • Optical

The compromises

  • Room shape and television placement affect the surround effect
  • Marketing channel counts do not guarantee clear dialogue
  • A separate subwoofer or rear kit may add cost and clutter
Is it right for you?

Buy it—or leave it?

Buy it if…
  • You specifically want number of speakers: 2
  • The Standard retail package version fits your needs
  • You have compared the drawbacks with similarly priced alternatives
Skip it if…
  • Room shape and television placement affect the surround effect
  • Marketing channel counts do not guarantee clear dialogue
  • A separate subwoofer or rear kit may add cost and clutter
The full review

What it is actually like

Open any section for the detail behind our verdict.

01Listening every day

LG SQM1 is easiest to understand through what it changes in normal use. You get a fuller, more spacious sound for films and television. You also get audio power: 40 W.

02Where it earns its price

Audio power: 40 W. Adaptive / optimized audio. Optical. That only matters if you will use it regularly.

03What may frustrate you

Room shape and television placement affect the surround effect. Marketing channel counts do not guarantee clear dialogue. A separate subwoofer or rear kit may add cost and clutter. If one of these affects how you will use it, a different model is the safer choice.

What should you pay?

Price and value

On 17 August 2026, the matched UK price was £49.99 for the Standard retail package configuration. Our LG SQM1 verdict uses the standard retail package at £49.99, keeping optional accessories and promotional bundles outside the comparison. Prices can move, so confirm the model, configuration and final basket total before buying.

Price last checked 17 August 2026

This price check is more than two weeks old. Use the retailer link for the latest price; this review is temporarily excluded from the buying finder until the price is refreshed.

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Living with it

Who will notice the difference?

1

Best fit

Choose it when number of speakers: 2 will be directly useful in your everyday life.

2

living with it

Audio power: 40 W is the second feature to weigh against the price, support and any extra accessories or subscriptions.

3

Wrong fit

Room shape and television placement affect the surround effect; spending more or less on a better-matched alternative can be the smarter decision.

Before you decide

What else should you consider?

£49.99 · LG SQM1 is compared on comfort, included speakers or accessories, battery claims and the kind of room or journey in which it will actually be used.

How we reached the score

Our review process

We checked the exact product against the independent and official sources listed below. Technical details inform the performance and value scores, but we explain what those findings mean in everyday use.

Read our editorial standards
Evidence

Sources used for this review