Compare: LG 55 B4 vs Samsung QLED Q80D

LG OLED B4 is an exceptionally versatile device in the semi-premium category. For how else could one describe an OLED television that is so well-priced, and whose price, as history shows, will quickly fall? Ideal blacks and contrast are two things that inevitably mesmerise, and we are certain that anyone who has owned a device with this panel will not be able to return to LCD units. The brightness results of the television in HDR content may seem rather low; however, in this case, thanks to this particular panel, they will appear optically much higher. It is worth noting their stability and uniformity in practically every scene. In this case, a minor downside is the brightness of a full-frame shot filled with a large amount of white. However, we do not believe this to be a serious problem, as there are not many such instances anyway. The factory colour reproduction also deserves praise, which in our specimen is very decent, but one cannot help but remember how beneficial calibration has been for the image, allowing the director's intentions to be conveyed fully. LG B4 will be an excellent choice for all kinds of gamers, as well as sports enthusiasts. The former will certainly appreciate the rich support in the form of all the conveniences stemming from the HDMI 2.1 standard. Meanwhile, the latter will benefit from the advanced motion smoothing with multi-step adjustments. And lastly, one cannot overlook the convenience provided by the remote control with a built-in gyroscope, allowing it to function like a mouse. The WebOS system, which we will navigate, is extremely smooth and responsive. It offers a multitude of applications, which will be more than sufficient for the vast majority of users. The heart of the LG B4 television is the advanced Alpha processor, responsible for the smoothness of the image and advanced signal analysis. In summary: who is the LG OLED B4 for? It is the perfect device for those expecting the highest possible image quality within a given budget, but not only that. The LG B4 stands out significantly above its competition at this price point, which cannot offer such high-quality images.

Samsung Q80D is a very versatile television. It is certainly a device that can easily adapt to the needs of both gamers and those looking for equipment for everyday viewing. When it comes to the former – that is, gamers – the support for HDMI 2.1, 120 Hz refresh rate, and low input lag make playing on a console or PC pure pleasure. Additionally, the Game Bar feature allows quick changes to settings without the hassle of leaving the game – a small thing, but it makes a difference. It's also worth mentioning the fantastic feature of an efficiently working motion smoother that operates well in games. We get the impression that playing on such a television adds us a few FPS, which translates to an advantage in the game. During everyday use, the Q80D also performs very well. The Tizen system offers access to popular applications like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+, so nothing is lacking here. The high brightness of the screen ensures that the television performs excellently even in well-lit rooms. A nice and interesting addition is the solar remote, which not only does not require battery replacement but also allows you to control other devices (e.g., set-top boxes, consoles, soundbars). When it comes to picture quality, the Q80D has a lot to offer. Although it lacks Dolby Vision support, after calibration, the colours look great, and the contrast and black level thanks to FALD (full-array local dimming) have made a huge impression on us, especially considering the television segment. With a VA panel enhanced with quantum dots (QLED), the colours on the Q80D can look truly splendid. Watching movies or series in the evening is a real pleasure – particularly if we care about good detail. However, there are little things that might be bothersome. The lack of a recording feature is certainly a limitation, although it may not be a problem for everyone. Another obvious issue will be its viewing angles. These are typical results for this type of panel, so one must reckon that at the expense of great blacks, the Q80D simply performs average when viewed from the side. Nevertheless, Samsung Q80D is an excellent television that works well in any situation. It offers outstanding picture quality, many useful features, and solid build quality for its price range. A few minor shortcomings do not take away from its charm, as overall it is a model that will comfortably meet the expectations of most users – both those who game on a console and those who simply enjoy evening screenings with good image quality.

LG B4 uses OLED panels produced by LG Displays. The use of this type of panel provides us with perfect contrast and black levels. With such conditions, the picture is incredibly vivid and one might even get the impression that it is three-dimensional. The series of the manufacturer with the letter "B" has always been an ideal solution for those seeking very good picture quality while not wanting to pay extra for features that are only available in higher series. Therefore, these models have become something of a dark horse in this price range, as their advantageous pricing primarily competes with Mini LED televisions. It is not difficult to say that these models have won these battles due to the absence of characteristic flaws associated with LCD receivers with multi-zone backlighting, such as blooming/halo effects or dimming of images containing fine bright details. And as we can see in the test scenes from the films "Oblivion" and "Sicario 2," the fidelity is at the highest level. Looking at the first one, we see a spectacular play of lights that, despite their brightness, are perfectly separated from one another. Even a more challenging scene with a helicopter poses no problem for LG B4, showcasing a wealth of details and a unique colour grading specific to this title.

The Samsung Q80D television is equipped with a VA panel, which immediately affects the difference in contrast and black reproduction compared to IPS panels. VA panels offer significantly better contrast and deeper blacks, while IPS panels feature better viewing angles but worse contrast. In the case of the 55" model, the television has 100 local dimming zones, and it's worth noting that this number may vary depending on the screen size. Thanks to local dimming, blacks appear well, but it's important to mention that the algorithm of this technology combined with the limited number of zones can sometimes "go crazy". Bright objects may be dimmed to achieve better blacks. During a test scene from the film Oblivion, the lights blended into a single spot, regardless of the dimming settings, highlighting the limitations of this technology. In the film Sicario 2, large dimming zones were particularly noticeable, for example, with the small lights of a helicopter, indicating how large the areas controlled by a single dimming zone are. Despite these imperfections, local dimming technology still offers significantly better image quality than televisions without this feature or with edge lighting. With the ability to completely turn off individual zones, the television can provide a noticeable boost in brightness in selected areas, which can give the image a cinematic effect, especially in dark rooms.

The brightness results in HDR materials for LG B4 are very good. It is true that none of them exceed 1000 nits, although the stability of luminance is excellent and looks practically the same in every scenario. The only moment where the tested television performs worse is the last of the scenes, although this should not be surprising. Large frames filled with a lot of white have always been, and probably will continue to be, somewhat of a weakness for OLED televisions. However, the combination of perfect contrast, black levels, and brightness of LG B4 allows for a full experience of the HDR effect. Additionally, the incredibly high coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut deserves recognition, reaching 99%. This makes the colours look incredibly vivid and striking.

In the context of HDR, the Samsung Q80D television achieves very positive brightness results in the tested film scenes, where the frame is filled with light, reaching values from 600 to 900 nits, allowing the user to experience a great juiciness of the image. Such results allow the user to feel the difference between HDR and SDR quality. Unfortunately, problems arise in situations where small light effects occur against a dark background. In such cases (e.g. test pattern 4 from the film Sicario 2), a noticeable drop in brightness can be observed, caused by the large sizes of the dimming zones used here. This limitation, combined with the dimming algorithm, affects how the television handles small bright elements against a dark background. At that point, we may perceive an unwanted lack of brightness, and the HDR effect resembles that of SDR.

The best factory mode prepared by the manufacturer is "Filmmaker," which is exactly what we used throughout the entire testing procedure. We must admit that the unit we received out of the box had quite good colour reproduction. The biggest problem in both SDR and HDR content turned out to be white balance. In the former, a strong red hue was evident, causing the displayed image to have a pronounced yellow tint, particularly noticeable on skin tones and whites. In higher quality materials, this colour was also accentuated, but due to a lack of blue, there were also signs of green visible. Apart from these issues, we also encountered problems with grayscale and the colours themselves.

In "Filmmaker" mode, which is the best choice out of the box, the Samsung Q80D TV shows solid colour reproduction. For SDR content, a visible drop at the beginning of the gamma curve suggests that details in dark scenes may be less pronounced, impacting the overall viewing experience. Regarding white balance in SDR content, while it is generally accurate, significant drops in blue colour when screen coverage exceeds 70% can result in less natural hues in bright and dark scenes. Users may notice that some blue elements in the image may appear less intense, and the overall colour will have a warmer tint.

In contrast, for HDR content, the EOTF curve being above the reference line for most of the time indicates that the TV may struggle with accurately reproducing brightness and details in the brighter areas of the image, which may be disadvantageous for the viewer. It is also worth noting the substantial drop at the beginning of this graph, indicating that the TV has difficulties reproducing brightness in the darker areas of the image, as seen in the contrast and black tests, where several scenes were unable to showcase the full capabilities of the TV's brightness. In terms of its white balance, the initially good results on the graph are promising, but the sharp drop in red colour, which significantly falls down, combined with a large increase in blue colour, may lead to inaccuracies in reproducing certain skin tones and other key colours. This phenomenon may be noticeable to viewers in scenes where colour details are crucial.

LG B4 has been providing very advanced calibration tools in its televisions for years. We can even say that as the only manufacturer on the market, it allows for such deep intervention in image adjustment. It is thanks to these tools that we were able to calibrate the device so well. Evidence of this is the extremely low deltaE errors, which can be said to be at a reference level. Both SDR and HDR materials now look exactly as intended by the film director. It is no coincidence that televisions of this brand are most often used as preview screens for various graphic or post-production studios.

The film mode after calibration looks significantly better than the one you can see when taken out of the box. Samsung offers an advanced range of calibration tools in its televisions. Among them are 2- and 20-point greyscale adjustment and CMS (Colour Management System). Both in HDR and SDR mode, the white balance has improved significantly, although there are minor errors at the end of the graph in the case of HDR content. The contrast has also been greatly improved, and the gamma curve responsible for SDR shows better results. However, when it comes to HDR, the EOTF curve in the television seems to be at an ideal level at first glance. Yet, when we delve deeper and enable the EOTF graph while watching films, we may notice that all the lines of the curve are above the reference line. One could even say that the television is "cheating" when playing film materials. Such a situation, where the EOTF curve is above the reference line, makes the screen – although it may seem brighter, which some users may find attractive – lose detail in the darker parts of the image. In practice, this means that in scenes with a lot of shadows or dark elements, the television is unable to accurately render the details that should be visible.

The fluidity of tonal transitions, often overlooked in various tests on competing portals, is an equally important aspect of image quality assessment. It is particularly important when watching material that features a wealth of colours and many intricate effects, where textures blend. This often leads to the so-called banding of colours, which is a lack of smooth gradation. The tested television handles tonal transition smoothing quite well. However, it is worth noting that it has its weaker moments, such as a bright coloured sky in the film "Kingsman" or "The Martian". Nevertheless, these are not aspects that detract from the viewing pleasure. Therefore, we positively assess the quality of tonal transitions in LG B4.

The tonal gradation in the Samsung Q80D television is at an excellent level and can be considered one of its stronger points. Even in the most demanding scenes from the films we tested, it performs exceptionally well. Any potential issues with smoothing transitions in colours are minimal and subtle. The average viewer will most likely not notice them, which translates to an overall positive visual experience in everyday use.

In this paragraph, we will take another look at the function for smoothing tonal transitions, but we will also check how the television handles lower quality material. As we have managed to verify, the setting responsible for smooth gradation works quite efficiently, although it has its weaker moments. Just as the function works correctly in SDR content, it becomes rather useless in HDR content. Even at the lowest of the options, it blurs essential details, which is why we advise against using it.

The image scaling on LG B4 is rated rather moderately positively. Although there is no edge doubling, the image itself is naturally "soft." We can change this by adjusting the sharpness slider.

Samsung Q80D performs very well with low-quality materials. The noise reduction works on the principle of gentle grading, making it very effective in smoothing out unwanted image disturbances. Unfortunately, this same effectiveness also causes elements that should not be smoothed, such as film grain, to become blurred. For those who value a pliable, smoothed image more, this can be seen as a significant advantage, especially for lower-quality content.

When it comes to image scaling, Samsung Q80D stands out positively in this aspect, significantly enhancing viewing comfort. The television handles the conversion of lower-resolution materials well, improving their quality and detail. For example, in the attached image with the model, there are no visible artifacts or excessive fraying of branches, which attests to the advanced image processing technology.

The maximum refresh rate that we can set on the LG B4 is 120 Hz. This is the absolute minimum for those requiring high image fluidity. The manufacturer has implemented a multi-step motion smoother called "TruMotion". It has been divided into two separate sliders adjusting the sharpness of moving images (De-Blur) and jitter (De-Judder). Both sliders can be set in the range from 0 to 10, with each degree affecting the level of fluidity, so everyone can find their golden mean.

The LG OLED B4 panel features an average response time of 0.1 ms (which directly results from our measurements), allowing for an incredibly clear image, unattainable for LCD televisions, whose response times can be as high as several milliseconds. This is clearly evident in the pictures from the "UFO Test", showing no trail following the object.

The Samsung Q80D television stands out very positively in terms of motion fluidity and motion blur reduction, primarily due to the applied 120Hz panel and above-average response time of the panel. Users have two options for adjusting fluidity: "Motion Smoothing," which allows for adjustment of smoothness on a 10-point scale, and "Blur Reduction," particularly effective at higher refresh rates, improving the sharpness of rapidly moving objects. In the UFO test, no motion blur is visible behind the moving object, and the image is not cloned forward, indicating a lack of overshoot effect.

The LG B4 television is equipped with four fully-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports with a full bandwidth of 48Gbps. All features that are identical to this standard were activated without any issues, and throughout the entire testing process, they did not cause any problems. The combination of such extensive functionality and low input lag suggests that the tested television is truly made for gaming. This is not surprising, considering that the manufacturer has always placed great emphasis on this. Therefore, we can enjoy both the properly implemented HGIG mode and gaming in Dolby Vision with low latency. This pairing will certainly attract the attention of all passionate gamers for whom quality is paramount.

An additional standard in televisions from this Korean manufacturer is the implementation of GameBar, allowing for quick adjustment of settings "on the fly," without the need to exit the game. It also enables image adjustments for individuals with visual impairments, which is a very nice touch. Another important piece of information is that when VRR technology is enabled, we will not experience a drop in contrast. This is thanks to the construction of the panel and the lack of conventional backlighting. However, it is normal for shades of grey to flicker slightly; nevertheless, this is a characteristic feature of this function regardless of the manufacturer or television.

In summary: the LG B4, like all of the manufacturer’s OLEDs equipped with 120Hz panels and HDMI 2.1 ports, creates a harmonious whole with the console. In practice, this is a comprehensive television, and if we expect the highest possible efficiency in gaming, B4 will be the ideal choice.

The Samsung Q80D television is a true gem for gamers. It is equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, which is a rarity, especially in this price range. This allows users to enjoy features such as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and 120Hz in 4K resolution. These features ensure smoothness and responsiveness of the image, which is a key aspect during dynamic gameplay. The television also supports HGIG (HDR Gaming Interest Group), enabling optimal display of HDR content in games. Additionally, it is equipped with a Game Bar that allows quick access to gaming settings. Users of Nvidia graphics cards will also be pleased thanks to the implementation of G-Sync. This feature eliminates stuttering and screen tearing. The only downside is the lack of support for Dolby Vision mode, which may be disappointing for users looking for this HDR format. It is also worth mentioning that since 2022, thanks to a partnership with Microsoft, Samsung televisions offer the Xbox Game Pass application, allowing for cloud gaming. This is an additional advantage for gamers who want to access a wide library of games without the need for a console.

Input lag for the LG B4 is at an incredibly low level in every scenario. Even the most dedicated gamers will certainly appreciate the very low input lag at demanding 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR, which is just 5 ms. It is also worth noting that the lag at these same settings, but with Dolby Vision HDR enabled, remains consistent, which is not as evident with the competition. Therefore, it deserves the highest rating and recommendation.

There isn't much to say here, the input lag at this level is simply remarkable. It's hard to achieve a better result that will satisfy gamers! The television performed excellently at every tested resolution and refresh rate, both in SDR and HDR.

LG B4 combined with a PC performs excellently, thanks to a very low latency of just 13.5 ms, which is practically an instant response between the mouse, the eye, and the screen. An extremely important factor when working on a screen is primarily the readability of the text, which in the case of the tested television is very good. However, it is worth noting that to achieve sharp fonts, one must enable the passthrough option in the settings.

The RWBG pixel layout has no significant impact on the display of fonts or letters, which provides a considerable advantage over Samsung's QD-OLED matrices. Users of both Windows and macOS equipped computers are sure to be pleased with the performance on the screen of the tested television.

Samsung Q80D works well as a computer monitor. Thanks to support for 4:4:4 chroma (which only functions in "Game" mode), text on the screen is clear and legible, which is very important for those who want to work on such a television with text documents or spreadsheets. One of the biggest advantages of this model is its exceptionally low input lag in "PC" mode, which is just 9 ms. This is a reference-level result that ensures smoothness and responsiveness, which is crucial for both gamers and those involved in video editing. The only issue we can point out is that there is a certain problem with displaying fonts on dark backgrounds. When we zoom in on the tested font image, we notice that the horizontal lines are darker compared to the vertical ones. This means that the sub-pixels in the television do not fully illuminate in this case. This could be due to an oversight by the manufacturer regarding the optimisation of the algorithm responsible for displaying thin lines, which affects the quality of details in displaying text on dark backgrounds. Nevertheless, Samsung Q80D is a very good choice as a PC monitor.

The undisputed advantage of OLED panels is their performance in the context of group viewing, that is, from various angles. LG B4 maintains very good contrast, colour saturation, and fidelity. Although this is not the result of organic televisions supported by MLA technology, one cannot say that anyone who purchased the device was dissatisfied with the results obtained. However, it should be noted that at sharp angles, a slight greenish tint can be observed. This is a characteristic feature of LG's WRGB panels, without the aforementioned micro-lens technology, and unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about it.

Samsung Q80D, equipped with a VA panel, unfortunately does not perform well in terms of viewing angles. When we watch the screen at a 45-degree angle, there is a noticeable loss of brightness. The image becomes less sharp, which can be problematic if we plan to watch television from different spots in the room. However, the VA panel has its advantages. When looking directly at the screen, black levels are deep and well-saturated. Furthermore, even at an angle, dark colours maintain their depth, which is a rarity for this type of panel.

The maximum brightness of the television in SDR materials is 370 nits. For an OLED television, this is a very good result and allows for quite comfortable viewing during the day. It is worth paying attention to two things. The first is the rather mediocre handling of reflections caused by the satin finish of the panel, which means that direct light hitting the television will be quite obtrusive. The second issue is the brightness of the screen when filled 100% with white, oscillating around 260 nits, which is an excellent result, as until recently, OLED televisions in this price range could "boast" a brightness twice as low. Thanks to this, the conditions for watching, for example, winter sports will be very good.

The Samsung Q80D television stands out with very good brightness, averaging 550 nits, which is an impressive result, especially since it maintains this brightness across the entire screen surface. This makes the image clear and well-visible even in bright rooms, which is a big plus when watching television during the day. However, despite the satin coating of the panel, the television struggles somewhat with reducing reflections. In bright lighting conditions, unwanted glares can appear, which may disrupt viewing comfort. This is particularly noticeable when there are light sources in the room directly falling on the screen.

LG B4 uses the well-known proprietary system WebOS. The system offers practically all the most important applications, and those that are lacking can be counted on one hand, such as CDA or KODI.

WebOS also boasts a highly appreciated ability to perform operations using a cursor that appears when the remote control is moved. The convenience of such a feature is invaluable when entering queries or passwords for portals. WebOS, like most systems, also supports functions such as screen mirroring, AirPlay, voice search in Polish, and the capability to connect headphones via Bluetooth. On a more practical note, WebOS allows us to use both headphones and the television speaker simultaneously, which will certainly be a great help for those with hearing impairments. Among the more interesting features, particularly appreciated by sports fans, is the option to enable an alert for upcoming matches, ensuring that we never miss a broadcast. The home panel also deserves praise for allowing control of all smart devices connected to the home network. For example, the end of a washing cycle will be signalled by a notification in the top right corner.

In summary, the WebOS system, despite being less known and having certain limitations compared to Android TV, offers stable and fast operation and supports most functions that users may need. It is a solid solution for those looking for a simple and effective operating system in a television.

The Samsung Q80D television offers a range of features that significantly enhance user comfort. The Tizen system is an advanced platform that provides users with an intuitive and smooth experience. Thanks to its user-friendly interface, navigation through apps and settings is quick and easy. Tizen supports a rich set of applications, including popular streaming services, allowing access to a wide variety of entertainment content without the need for additional devices, with the novelty for 2024 being support for the Polish language. It is also worth mentioning the solar remote, which is not only eco-friendly but also convenient for everyday use. The solar cell remote can easily control other devices such as home cinemas, decoders (e.g. Canal+), or game consoles, which poses quite a challenge for other manufacturers. Returning to the console, Samsung Q80D offers several features that may appeal to gamers. Above all, the television supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology, which allows for smoother game displays, eliminating issues like tearing and stuttering. Additionally, due to its low input lag, gaming reactions are quick and precise. The Samsung Q80D is also equipped with a Game Bar function, which allows quick access to key gaming settings without the need to exit the game. From this level, we can check and adjust parameters such as VRR, input lag, frames per second (FPS), as well as screen ratios or sound settings. This enables gamers to continuously optimise their experiences by adjusting settings to the current gameplay needs. The television supports AirPlay, allowing for easy content streaming from Apple devices, and enables connection to various Bluetooth devices, such as mice or headphones, increasing its versatility. The only downside that can be considered is the lack of support for USB recording and the fact that the Q80D unfortunately does not support the DTS audio format. This means that if we have content encoded in this format, the device will not be able to correctly playback the audio track. This could pose a problem for those using Blu-ray discs or multimedia files that often use DTS to provide high-quality surround sound. To achieve full audio experiences, it may be necessary to use an external player or soundbar that supports this format.

The default file player in LG B4 definitely handles most images well, although the absence of a few equally popular formats is surprising. We can successfully play videos recorded in virtually all the most popular formats, including Dolby Vision. The only codec that LG B4 will not play is H.266 VVC, although this is currently rather unused. However, it is worth noting the supported image formats, of which there are only two: JPEG and PNG. Users of Apple devices may feel disappointed by the lack of support for the HEIC format, which is the default format when taking photos. The remedy for this is to use the built-in AirPlay feature. We will also mention the lack of support for TXT subtitles.

The built-in player in the Samsung Q80D television is definitely one of its strong points. It handles almost all video and audio files we used in our tests exceptionally well. The only exceptions are the Dolby Vision format, which is not surprising, and less popular codecs. Additionally, it is worth noting the support for Polish characters and the ability to customise font colours. On the downside, the television performs somewhat worse with photo formats, as it only supports JPEG from the popular options, lacking support for formats like PNG or Apple HEIC.

The audio system built into the LG OLED B4 can be considered quite good. We can say that it performs well for its price range. The bass is quite noticeable, but does not overpower the other frequencies. It can be said that the sound is fairly well balanced. We believe that those opting for this class of display are, or will be, in possession of an appropriate audio system. Therefore, the presence of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos codecs is not insignificant.

The Samsung Q80D television is equipped with a decent audio system boasting 40W power in a 2.2 configuration, providing quite good sound experiences. This system supports all popular Dolby codecs, allowing for the use of advanced audio formats while watching films or playing games. However, it is worth noting one drawback: the television does not support DTS functionality. Nonetheless, this lack can be circumvented by connecting an external audio system, which can significantly enhance sound quality and provide a more immersive audio experience. Additionally, Samsung offers a wide portfolio of soundbars that can be integrated with the television, as well as the Q-Symphony system, which allows for the synchronisation of sound between the television and the soundbar.

LG 55 B4 vs Samsung QLED Q80D

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

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