- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- TV appearance
- Where to buy
- Contrast and black detail
- HDR effect quality
- Factory color reproduction
- Color reproduction after calibration
- Smoothness of tonal transitions
- Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
- Blur and motion smoothness
- Console compatibility and gaming features
- Input lag
- Compatibility with PC
- Viewing angles
- TV efficiency during daytime
- Details about the matrix
- TV features
- Playing files from USB
- Apps
- Sound
Complete the survey to find out the result
Panel technology: LCD VA Brand: SHARP Resolution: 3840x2160 Operating system: Google TV Model year: 2024
Our verdict
6.4
Overall rating
The Sharp FQ8 television offers numerous features that set it apart in its price range. It operates on the Google TV platform, granting access to a wide array of applications and intuitive navigation. A 120 Hz refresh rate panel ensures smooth image rendering, while low input lag makes it an appealing option for gamers. The high native contrast delivers deep, vivid blacks, and the television achieves a respectable brightness of 450 nits, allowing for comfortable HDR content viewing. Additionally, advanced formats like Dolby Vision are supported, and the inclusion of quantum dots (Quantum Dot/QLED) enhances the wide colour gamut coverage.
However, the Sharp FQ8 has its shortcomings. The lack of dynamic tone mapping control in HDR mode may disappoint more demanding users, and despite featuring Dolby Vision IQ, its performance is underwhelming. The panel's average response time can impact the clarity of fast-moving scenes, and limited viewing angles significantly reduce image quality when viewed from the side.
Despite these drawbacks, the Sharp FQ8 stands out as a solid choice, offering a good balance of quality, image fluidity, and an enjoyable audio system, all at a competitive price. While not flawless, it should meet the needs of most users seeking an affordable television with a 120 Hz panel.
Advantages
High native contrast
Smooth tonal transitions
120 Hz matrix
Advanced features for gamers
Low input lag
Harman/Kardon branded audio
Disadvantages
Poor viewing angles
Dolby Vision IQ does not work properly
Average response time of the panel
Poor font readability when connected to a PC
Movies and series in UHD quality6.4
Classic TV, YouTube6.2
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)6.2
Gaming on console7.4
TV as a computer monitor3.0
Watching in bright light5.4
Utility functions6.5
Apps10.0
Sound quality6.0
Complete the survey to find out what fits your preferences
Competing TVs in this price range
TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Other inputs: RCA (Chinch) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Contrast and black detail
6.2/10
Funkcja lokalnego wygaszania: No
Contrast between the black background and the bright spotlight illuminating Jack. Scene from the movie Oblivion (Universal Pictures).
Result
5,200:1
Contrast between the glare on the chameleon's skin and the black near the edge of the screen below. Scene from the Spears&Munsil test disc.
Result
7,200:1
Contrast between the reflection on the helmet and the black on the black film strip. Scene from the movie Arrival (Paramount Pictures).
Result
7,700:1
Contrast between the actress's face and the black film strip at the top edge of the TV. Scene from the movie Gravity (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Result
8,100:1
Contrast between the colorful balloon and the black slice between the falling objects. Scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc (2008).
Result
4,800:1
The Sharp FQ8, with its VA panel, delivers an exceptionally high native contrast ratio, achieving an impressive 8100:1 in tests using film test patterns. This result significantly surpasses most competitors in its price range and is a rare achievement. The high contrast provides excellent depth to images, especially in scenes with pronounced differences between light and dark elements. This makes it particularly strong in contrast performance and black-level quality, which are critical factors in overall image evaluation.
The television features direct backlighting (Direct LED), which helps maintain consistent brightness levels. However, it lacks local dimming support, a common limitation in this price category. While this does slightly impact the depth and clarity of blacks in darker scenes, the high native contrast ensures the Sharp FQ8 still delivers a strong viewing experience.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
HDR effect quality
5.3/10
Supported formats: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 93.6%, Bt.2020: 74.6%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
The measured point is the setting sun against a bright sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).
Result
384 nit
The measured point is the moon against a dark, starry sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).
Result
399 nit
The measured point is the flashlight on the rifle, which shines directly at the camera. Scene from the movie Gemini Man (Paramount Pictures).
Result
465 nit
The measured point is the tail light of a helicopter flying at night. This is a very small light point, the essence of the HDR effect. Scene from the movie Sicario 2: Soldado (Lionsgate).
Result
461 nit
The measured point is the sun visible directly between the clouds. The scene is very bright and should blind the viewer as in nature. Scene from the movie The Meg (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Result
463 nit
The Sharp FQ8 achieves a maximum brightness of over 450 nits, which is commendable for its price range. While this level might not be groundbreaking, it places the television among the better-performing models in its class. At this brightness, the image appears vivid and detailed, and the HDR metadata functions effectively, offering a more immersive viewing experience compared to dimmer devices.
The television supports the advanced Dolby Vision HDR format, enhancing the depth and richness of the content. It also includes Dolby Vision IQ, which adjusts the image's brightness and colours based on ambient lighting. However, the implementation of this feature on the Sharp FQ8 is suboptimal, introducing artificial brightening and noticeable distortions. For this reason, it is advisable to disable Dolby Vision IQ for the most accurate picture quality.
With quantum dot technology, the television achieves a colour gamut coverage of approximately 94%, resulting in vibrant and realistic colours. This combination of features ensures the Sharp FQ8 delivers an engaging and detailed visual experience, even with some limitations.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
In challenging test scenarios, the Sharp FQ8 reveals some limitations. For instance, in the film Pan, where brightness levels can reach up to 2800 nits, the television struggles to manage high-intensity highlights, causing them to merge into indistinct blobs. This issue is likely due to the lack of local dimming and shortcomings in dynamic tone mapping, resulting in a noticeable loss of detail in the brightest areas, such as emphasised sunlight.
A similar issue arises in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, where fireworks lose clarity and blend into a single bright mass, detracting from the impact of these dynamic moments. However, the Sharp FQ8 compensates in terms of colour reproduction, thanks to its wide colour gamut. In Billy Lynn, the main actor’s skin tones are rendered naturally, showcasing the television's ability to handle everyday scenes with satisfactory colour accuracy and detail.
While it may falter under extreme conditions, the Sharp FQ8 still delivers commendable performance in typical viewing situations.
HDR luminance chart:
The Sharp FQ8 demonstrates noticeable differences in image quality depending on the metadata format used. In scenes using HDR10, such as the horse sequence, bright areas are heavily blended, leading to a lack of detail on elements like the white board. When switching to dynamic metadata with Dolby Vision, the television improves detail visibility in bright areas, though the results remain underwhelming. This is likely due to limited control over dynamic tone mapping, which causes some loss of detail.
The television also features Dolby Vision IQ, an advanced version of Dolby Vision designed to adjust brightness according to room lighting conditions. However, this functionality performs poorly in low-light settings, introducing inaccuracies that detract from the viewing experience. For dark environments, it is advisable to disable Dolby Vision IQ and rely on standard settings for more consistent and enjoyable image quality.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
4.2/10
The Sharp FQ8 was evaluated for colour reproduction in its movie mode, which provides the best default settings for achieving realistic visuals. While it performs adequately, certain issues impact the overall image quality. Tests on HD content revealed significant white balance problems, with a marked dominance of red. This is evident in the colour graph, where the red line noticeably rises above the others, and in practical tests, such as a movie scene featuring a child, where the image appears overly warm and unnaturally red. Similar issues persist with 4K HDR content, where an excessive red tint detracts from the accuracy of colour reproduction, an important consideration for viewers prioritising faithful visuals.
For SDR contrast, the gamma graph displayed an unusual anomaly at the start, highlighting reproduction issues. The remainder of the gamma curve lies below the reference line, indicating suboptimal brightness and contrast levels for standard content. In 4K HDR, the EOTF curve also deviates significantly, suggesting inconsistencies in brightness reproduction. These fluctuations can result in less enjoyable viewing experiences for HDR content, particularly in scenes requiring precise light and dark balance.
Color reproduction after calibration
7.8/10
After calibration, the Sharp FQ8 shows notable improvements in its performance for SDR content. The white balance has been significantly refined, with all lines approaching the reference line. While the lines are not perfectly straight, the results are impressive for a TV in this price range. This adjustment enhances the naturalness and accuracy of colours, contributing to a more enjoyable visual experience. However, the gamma chart still displays the peculiar jump at the start, though the remaining line now aligns much closer to the expected outcome.
For HDR content, the white balance also sees meaningful improvements compared to the pre-calibration state, although it doesn’t perform as well as in SDR mode. This refinement results in more consistent and visually appealing colours, despite some remaining imperfections. On the downside, the EOTF chart reveals limited progress in contrast due to the lack of control over dynamic tone mapping settings, which hampers uniform brightness representation in HDR.
Despite these limitations, the calibration significantly elevates the Sharp FQ8, particularly in SDR mode. The improved white balance and colour reproduction deliver a more natural and pleasant viewing experience. While HDR content still leaves room for improvement, the TV achieves a respectable level of performance, solidifying its position as a strong contender in its price range.
Smoothness of tonal transitions
8.8/10
The Sharp FQ8 excels in the fluidity of tonal transitions, offering smooth and harmonious shifts between colours in all tested movie scenes. This contributes positively to the overall image quality, enhancing the viewing experience. The only slight criticism is the visible gradation towards black, especially noticeable in scenes like a colourful sunset against the mountains. However, these minor imperfections do not detract from the generally impressive and pleasant visual performance.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
6.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
The Sharp FQ8 performs adequately with its 10-bit colour reproduction feature, providing smooth transitions between grey shades in the light bulb photo. For optimal results, setting it to medium is recommended, as it avoids issues like grain smoothing or blurring key elements. The "low" setting also yields good results without introducing unwanted visual artefacts.
In terms of upscaling, the Sharp FQ8 TV handles video without overscan, making full use of the screen. The jagged edges of branches are noticeable, but the edges of trousers appear without any clear jaggedness, contributing positively to the overall image quality. Additionally, the TV's AI Super Resolution feature enhances clarity by artificially sharpening jagged elements, further improving the viewing experience.
Blur and motion smoothness
7.2/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
The Sharp FQ8 features a 120 Hz panel, able to support playback at 144 Hz when connected to a PC, which should theoretically provide smooth motion rendering. The TV includes features designed to enhance film fluidity and reduce motion blur, crucial for more dynamic content. However, in the absence of Black Frame Insertion (BFI) technology, the panel's average response time leads to less-than-ideal results. This results in slight motion blur, which may be particularly noticeable when watching sports or during intense gaming sessions.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Console compatibility and gaming features
7.1/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 144Hz
Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Tak (wysoki input lag) 
Correct implementation of HGIG:
No - 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
No
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
No
The Sharp FQ8 offers several features that cater to gamers, enhancing the overall gaming experience. Firstly, the television is equipped with HDMI 2.1, which brings several advantages. ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) automatically switches the TV to a low-latency mode when a gaming device is detected. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) helps reduce screen stuttering by adjusting the screen’s refresh rate to match the number of frames generated by the console or PC, providing smoother gameplay, especially in dynamic games. Additionally, the TV supports G-Sync, which synchronises the image with the graphics card, preventing stuttering and screen tearing.
Despite these advantages, the FQ8 has some limitations. The lack of support for HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group) means the TV does not optimise the dynamic range for HDR games. Furthermore, while Dolby Vision mode can improve picture quality in supported games, it suffers from very high input lag.
Input lag
9.1/10
The input lag on the Sharp FQ8 is generally impressive, with a performance below 16 ms at all tested resolutions, making it a solid choice for gaming with smooth and quick response times. However, when Dolby Vision mode is enabled and the refresh rate is set to 60 Hz, the input lag increases significantly. This can negatively impact responsiveness, particularly in fast-paced games where accuracy and reaction time are key.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 16 ms | 2160p60: 16 ms | 2160p60 DV: 128 ms |
| 1080p120: 8 ms | 2160p120: 8 ms | 2160p120 DV: 20 ms |
| 2160p60: 16 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 8 ms |
Compatibility with PC
3/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): No
Font clarity: Poor
Readability of dark text and shapes: Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 17ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
The Sharp FQ8 doesn't perform optimally when paired with a PC, despite its low input lag. The key issue is the lack of full support for chroma 4:4:4 at 4K and 120 Hz resolution, which leads to blurry text and a loss of detail in computer graphics. Furthermore, the use of a BGR subpixel arrangement, rather than the standard RGB, reduces font readability, making text appear blurry.
Viewing angles
2.1/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 84%
The Sharp FQ8 has limited viewing angles, typical of a VA panel. When viewed from a wider angle, the TV's brightness diminishes significantly, and colours quickly lose their vibrancy. This results in a washed-out image with less defined details, which could be a concern if you intend to watch with a larger group or from multiple positions in the room.
TV efficiency during daytime
5.4/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Average
Black levels during daytime: Good
The Sharp FQ8 performs well in daylight conditions, with the panel reaching a brightness of 440 nits. Combined with its satin screen coating, this ensures satisfactory visibility even in bright environments. Notably, the television handles the colour black without issues during the day, allowing darker scenes to remain readable and preserving depth despite the surrounding light.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Sharp FQ8: 440 cd/m2
Details about the matrix
Backlight Type: PFS LED
TV features
6.5/10
System operacyjny: Google TV
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV):
No
- Recording programming:
No
- Picture in Picture (PiP):
No
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast):
Yes
- AirPlay:
No
- Voice search in native language:
Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse:
Yes
- Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV:
Yes
- Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker:
No
- Audio only mode:
Yes
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen):
RF
- Backlit remote control:
No
- Teletext:
Yes
The Sharp FQ8 is equipped with the modern Google TV system, providing access to a variety of apps including Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and Disney+. It also supports voice control, making it easier to navigate and access content quickly. The television allows for the connection of multiple devices, such as keyboards, mice, Bluetooth headphones, and other accessories.
However, the TV does have some limitations. The absence of a TV programme recording feature and picture-in-picture (PiP) support could be a downside for those who rely on these options. Additionally, Apple device users may find the lack of AirPlay compatibility frustrating, as it complicates streaming content from an iPhone or iPad to the television.
Playing files from USB
9.4/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
Thanks to the Google TV system, the Sharp FQ8 offers excellent flexibility when playing files from USB. Users can install various apps for video and audio playback, such as VLC or MX Player, allowing the television to handle the most popular file formats. Whether it’s movies, music, or photos, the support for multiple formats ensures a comfortable and hassle-free multimedia experience from external drives.
Apps
10/10
Sound
6/10
6/10
Subjective sound quality
91dB
Maximum volume
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
The sound performance of the Sharp FQ8 is, of course, subjective, but there are a few notable aspects. The television features a Harman/Kardon-branded soundbar aimed directly at the user. While it isn’t a full-fledged soundbar or home theatre system, this speaker arrangement significantly improves the audio experience, providing clearer and more direct sound, which is particularly beneficial for everyday television viewing. It’s also worth mentioning that the television can achieve very high volumes, which will be helpful for individuals with hearing difficulties. The only criticism we encountered was related to sound processing by Dolby, which resulted in noticeable sound distortions and artificial clipping.