Hisense A6N vs LG UT8100 (IPS)

The quality of HDR effect on the A6N unfortunately does not impress. A peak brightness of 250 nits does not allow for spectacular effects, and HDR appears rather dull, resembling more of a standard SDR. This situation will not satisfy more demanding users who want to enjoy high-quality film materials. Additionally, the colour gamut coverage is also not very impressive – DCI-P3 at 82% is an average result that does not allow for full enjoyment of vibrant colours in HDR materials.

The LG UT8100 television unfortunately does not meet expectations in the HDR effect category. A peak brightness of only 300 nits on the luminance chart is well below the required value to fully enjoy HDR effects. In practice, the image resembles SDR quality more than true HDR, which is particularly evident in demanding high-contrast scenes. The coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette is only 82%, which further limits the ability to present vibrant and rich colours. Instead of impressive visual experiences, we receive a muted and washed-out image. For those looking for a television to fully utilise HDR content, the LG UT8100 model turns out to be quite disappointing.

In the category of colour reproduction, the model Hisense A6N in Filmmaker Mode leaves a lot to be desired. Although the name of the mode suggests that we should expect faithful reproduction of cinematic colours, the reality is different – the television has significant issues with image quality. Particularly noticeable is the problem with white balance, for both HD and 4K material, which is heavily skewed by the dominance of blue hues. This results in artificial, cold tones, which is clearly visible in the comparative image below. The Colour Checker test further confirms these errors, which are exacerbated by low colour gamut coverage.

The gamma brightness characteristic shows a serious problem with maintaining a level of 2.4 – the graph is significantly below the reference value, leading to excessive brightness of the image and washed-out blacks. The EOTF curve for 4K materials also indicates brightness issues – at the beginning, there is a notable spike, which results from the television's excessive brightness, negatively affecting image quality. Such an image characteristic does not allow for full enjoyment while watching films and requires manual adjustment.

The Filmmaker Mode on LG UT8100, while theoretically the best for watching movies, has significant issues. The biggest problem is the white balance – drops in blue cause a noticeable yellowing of the image, visible in both HD and 4K content. These issues are confirmed by measurement results in the Colour Checker test, which indicate significant deviations in colour reproduction.

In terms of brightness characteristics, both HD and 4K content exhibit a large tonal boost. The gamma curve in both cases remains well below the reference value of 2.4, which leads to excessive brightening of darker elements of the image. A similar problem is evident in the EOTF curve – in the case of 4K content, the TV struggles to manage brightness correctly, resulting in issues with screen brightness. This means the factory settings of this model require significant adjustment to achieve better picture quality.

Hisense A6N offers options and tools in its settings for adjusting many picture settings that we utilised. When it comes to white balance, we managed to eliminate excess blue – this effect is clearly visible in the comparison image below, where the boy in the picture almost "comes to life." A significant improvement can also be noticed in the gamma brightness characteristic – the television no longer has serious issues with excessively brightening the entire image. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for 4K materials, where the EOTF curve could not be fully corrected due to the exceptionally low brightness of this model. For HDR content, we use dynamic tone mapping, which allows for the recovery of many details despite the boosting of midtones in the image. For this television, this provides more benefits than drawbacks. The errors that are still visible in the test with the colour palette and Colour Checker for 4K content arise from low colour gamut coverage and are difficult to eliminate due to the television's characteristics. Nevertheless, the tonal quality of the image is significantly better, which is why we recommend calibrating the factory settings, which are far from ideal.

After calibrating the Filmmaker Mode, the gamma has been aligned to practically perfect, reference values, which has significantly improved the overall tonal characteristics in HD content. 4K HDR content also looks better, although some issues are still visible at the extreme ends of the graph, where the curve deviates from the ideal. The EOTF curve performs worse since the TV struggles to maintain the correct brightness values. As a result, the image in some scenes may be too bright or slightly dim, which stems from the device’s design. Nevertheless, the calibration brought significant improvement, particularly for HD content, where the tonal balance and colour reproduction are now at a much higher level.

Let's check how A6N handles low-quality materials. When it comes to smoothing tonal transitions, the lack of posterization reduction or smoothing of tonal transitions in low-quality materials, such as television or DVD, may be noticeable for more demanding viewers. As for digital processing, the model is presented correctly, and the branches lack characteristic jaggedness – the image is strongly plastic and soft, which may appeal to those who prefer this kind of image style.

The fluidity of tonal transitions is also correct, although the effect depends on the settings. The update improved the operation of the smooth gradation function, smoothing transitions better than before, but introduced minor issues with detail loss, e.g. on textures.

Image scaling on LG UT8100 performs very well. The image presents itself decently, with no major issues regarding edge aliasing. Details are preserved at a satisfactory level, making materials of lower resolution look really solid on this television. As a result, users can enjoy watching older content without any noticeable defects in quality.

The 60 Hz panel in the Hisense A6N will satisfy those who enjoy watching movies, as the TV offers an "ultra motion smoother," allowing us to adjust the smoothness of the image – either more choppy or more fluid and cinematic. When it comes to motion blur, it performs rather average – noticeable blur is present, especially on dark backgrounds, which is quite typical for this range of TVs.

LG UT8100, equipped with a 60 Hz panel, is particularly suited for those watching movies. The television offers the TruMotion system with a de-judder effect adjustment, which allows users to tailor the smoothness of the picture – from more choppy to exceptionally smooth, resembling a soap opera effect, depending on user preferences.

Hisense A6N is a television that is likely to appeal to occasional gamers, mainly due to its 60 Hz panel, which may not satisfy more demanding users. Nevertheless, it offers several conveniences that can enhance the gaming experience. The TV supports features such as ALLM (automatic low latency mode), VRR (variable refresh rate), and Dolby Vision, allowing for better picture quality and motion smoothness in games that support these technologies. Furthermore, the low input lag ensures quick reactions in games, which is crucial, especially in dynamic productions. With these features, although the TV is not the ideal choice for demanding gamers, it provides solid support for those who appreciate comfortable gaming without complicated settings. It's a perfect solution for individuals who want to enjoy gaming without high hardware requirements while still accessing modern technologies that enhance gameplay.

LG UT8100 offers basic features for gamers, such as ALLM and Game Bar, which makes it easier to access settings. The TV also supports HGiG, improving picture quality in HDR games. Unfortunately, the lack of support for Dolby Vision and VRR limits the device's capabilities, as does the 60 Hz panel, which excludes support for 120 Hz resolution. This model is more suited for less demanding gaming applications.