Compare: LG 55 B4 vs LG QNED87T6B

LG OLED B4 is an exceptionally versatile device in the semi-premium category. For how else can you describe an OLED television that is so well-priced, and whose price, as history shows, will quickly drop? Perfect blacks and contrast are two things that inevitably hypnotise, and we are sure that anyone who has ever owned a device with this panel will not be able to return to LCD units. The brightness results of the TV in HDR content may seem quite low, however, in this case, due to such a 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 full-frame content filled with a lot of white. However, we do not consider this a serious issue, as there are not many such instances. The factory colour reproduction also deserves praise, which in our unit is quite decent, but one cannot help but recall the beneficial effect calibration had on the image, allowing the director's intentions to be conveyed in full. LG B4 will be an excellent choice for all sorts of gamers, as well as sports fans. The former will certainly appreciate the rich support in the form of all the conveniences arising from the HDMI 2.1 standard. Meanwhile, the latter will enjoy the advanced motion smoother with multi-level adjustment. And finally, it is impossible not to mention the convenience resulting from the remote control with a built-in gyroscope, which allows it to function like a mouse. The WebOS system, which we will navigate, is incredibly smooth and responsive. It offers a multitude of applications that will be more than sufficient for the vast majority of users. The heart of the LG B4 TV is the advanced Alpha processor, which is responsible for image smoothness 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 clearly stands out from the competition at its price point, which cannot offer such high-quality image in this price range.

LG QNED87T is a television that definitely stands out. It's a bit unconventional – it doesn't try to forcefully compete with top OLED models, but it makes up for it with modern features and user-friendly operation. It's equipment that works great for those who value comfort and versatility. The 120 Hz panel, VRR, and ALLM make the television perform well with dynamic content. Games run smoothly, the picture is sharp, and the responses are quick. If we spend time on a console, we will appreciate the lack of lag or blurring. When watching sports, quick actions are clear, without stutters. On a daily basis, LG QNED87T is simply comfortable. WebOS operates intuitively, apps launch quickly, and the Magic Remote control significantly eases operation. Voice control saves time, especially when searching for movies or series. Features like USB recording or Bluetooth provide more options, enhancing its versatility. The IPS panel is a big advantage regarding viewing angles. No matter where we sit in the room, the picture looks good. It's a great solution in larger spaces where not everyone has a direct view of the screen. Older films or standard television from built-in tuners also present quite well – the improvement in the quality of lower resolution materials works surprisingly well. However, there are certain things that can be eye-catching. The contrast is simply terrible. In dark scenes, there are no details at all. In the evening, in a darkened room, this is very noticeable. During the day, these imperfections are less felt, so LG QNED87T performs better in well-lit places. LG QNED87T is a television that has its strengths. It handles dynamic materials well, is easy to use, and is excellent for bright rooms. It's not the ideal model for evening viewings in darkness, but in everyday use, it definitely stands out. It's a universal device worth considering when choosing a new television.

LG B4 uses OLED panels produced by LG Displays. The use of this type of panel gives us perfect contrast and black levels. Thanks to these conditions, the image is incredibly three-dimensional, almost as if it were three-dimensional. The manufacturer's series with the letter "B" has always been the ideal solution for those seeking very good image quality while not wanting to pay extra for features that are only available in higher series. Therefore, these models have been somewhat of a dark horse in this price range, as their competitive pricing primarily allowed them to compete with Mini LED televisions. It’s not hard to say that these models have won these battles due to the absence of characteristic flaws found in LCD receivers with multi-zone backlighting, such as blooming/halo effects or dimming of images with fine bright details. And as we can see in the test scenes from the films "Oblivion" and "Sicario 2," the image quality stands at the highest level. Looking at the first one, we see a spectacular play of lights that, despite their brightness, are perfectly separated from each other. Even the more difficult scene with the helicopter poses no problem for LG B4, showcasing a wealth of detail and the specific colour grading characteristic of this title.

In the category of black levels and contrast, the television LG QNED87T6B faces some challenges. Equipped with an IPS panel, it doesn't match the VA panel models in terms of performance in this area. Additionally, edge-lit dimming affects its poor results in this category. It's worth mentioning that the exception is the 50-inch variant, which has a VA panel and is not subject to this test.

Despite the manufacturer offering a dimming control option, the effects remain relatively weak. Test patterns show that the contrast is really poor, and in the test clip from the film "Sicario 2," it's clear to see how the television struggles with the backlighting, illuminating a large portion of the screen from below. This indicates that in more demanding scenes, the television has difficulties maintaining an appropriate level of contrast and black levels, which negatively impacts the overall visual experience.

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

LG QNED87T6B delivers truly decent visual experiences when it comes to HDR. During our tests on test patterns, the television achieved brightness close to 500 nits, which is a satisfactory result and allows for good visibility of details in high dynamic range scenes. Support for basic HDR formats such as HDR10 and HLG ensures proper image quality. Unfortunately, the television does not support more advanced standards such as Dolby Vision or HDR10+, which are particularly important at this screen brightness. The lack of support for dynamic metadata means that in certain scenes, the television may struggle to fully reproduce details, especially in very bright areas – this is precisely when dynamic metadata could significantly improve image quality. Nevertheless, it is worth noting the excellent coverage of the wide DCI-P3 colour gamut, reaching as much as 96.4%. As a result, the colours displayed by the QNED87T6B model are more vivid and natural, enhancing the quality of 4K content viewed with a wide colour palette.

The best factory mode prepared by the manufacturer is "Filmmaker," and we used it throughout the entire testing procedure. We must admit that the unit we received straight out of the box had quite decent colour reproduction. The biggest issue in both SDR and HDR content turned out to be white balance. In the former, there was a strong dominance of red, resulting in a noticeable yellow tint in the displayed image, particularly evident on skin tones and whites. In high-quality materials, this colour was also pronounced, but due to a lack of blue, there were also signs of green visible. Besides these shortcomings, we also encountered issues with greyscale and the colours themselves.

The colour accuracy in the LG QNED, even in Filmmaker Mode, which is the best factory setting, is not without its flaws. The main issue is white balance – we noticed that the level of blue on the graph tends to drop. This results in a shift in colours towards yellow, making the image have a warmer tone than it should. This deviation affects the naturalness of colour reproduction, especially in scenes with a white or neutral background. The Color Checker test confirmed that some colours are distorted and deviate from reality. Such distortion can make film scenes appear less realistic, and details are presented in incorrect colours, negatively impacting the overall image quality.

Regarding contrast, the gamma graph analysis showed significant drops, while the optimal value should be 2.4. This means that the television may display darker parts of the image brighter in some scenes, which reduces their depth and dynamics. Additionally, on the EOTF curve, which is responsible for brightness reproduction, an unnatural drop was noted at the beginning. This phenomenon can result in less accuracy in reproducing dark scenes, which in turn affects the overall image quality. The television may not convey full black depth, causing more demanding scenes to lose realism and detail. As a result, viewers may notice that details in the darker parts of the image become less distinct.

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

After calibration, the colours in SDR content look very good. The improved white balance translates to natural and harmonious shades in various scenes. Thanks to precise gamma tuning, details in shadows and bright areas of the image are accurately reproduced. The television performs excellently in everyday use, offering vibrant, well-balanced images and solid colour quality in HD. The biggest beneficiary here is also contrast. The gamma graph has been stripped of significant errors, giving the television a new dimension.

As for the white balance in 4K HDR, it has also been significantly improved. However, some errors still appear at the end of the graph. This may be due to the television's overly aggressive local dimming, which in some scenes affects the inaccurate reproduction of colours. It's difficult to talk about an improvement in brightness represented by the EOTF curve. The television, due to its construction limitations, has some drawbacks, and we can't overlook them. The Color Checker test confirms the issue with colour saturation – even though the television offers a wide colour palette, it fails to fully convey the director's intent.

Despite these shortcomings, the overall picture quality after calibration is significantly better than before. Adjustments in white balance and gamma tuning make the images more vivid and the colours closer to reality.

The smoothness of tonal transitions, often overlooked in various tests on competitive portals, is an equally important aspect of image quality assessment. It is particularly crucial when watching materials that feature a wealth of colours and many intricate effects, where textures blend together. This often leads to what's known as colour banding, or a lack of smooth gradation. The tested television handles tonal transition smoothing quite well. However, it's worth noting that it has its weaker moments, such as the bright colourful sky in the film "Kingsman" or "The Martian." These, however, are not issues that detract from the viewing pleasure. Therefore, we assess the quality of tonal transitions in LG B4 positively.

The gradation in LG QNED is quite good, despite minor issues on the colourful dark sky. These small drawbacks do not detract from the fact that the gradation is one of the positive aspects of this model. Overall, the television handles smooth colour transitions well.

In this paragraph, we will take another look at the tonal transition smoothing feature, but we will also check how the TV handles lower quality material. As we have managed to check, the setting responsible for smooth gradation works quite effectively, although it has its weaker moments. While the feature works well with SDR content, it becomes less useful with HDR content. Even at the lowest of options, it blurs essential details, so we advise against using it.

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

When it comes to lower quality materials, the gradation looks really good. The feature called "Smooth Gradation" effectively smooths out the most problematic parts of the image, while not negatively affecting the film grain. For the best effect, it’s worth setting it to a low level. This solution significantly improves the quality of the displayed content, making the viewing of lower resolution materials more enjoyable and smoother.

In terms of digital processing, the image is displayed without cropping, known as overscan. Although slight fraying of the branches can be noticed against the model's background, everything looks very good. Users should be satisfied with the image quality when watching low-quality materials like standard television. The TV handles this task exceptionally well, providing a satisfying visual experience, even with lower quality content.

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

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 TVs, which have response times of even several milliseconds. This can be clearly seen in images from the "UFO Test", showing no trace of blur trailing behind the object.

The television provides decent smoothness when watching movies, thanks to the “Tru Motion” feature, which allows adjustment of motion smoothing from 0 to 10. De-Judder regulates motion smoothness, while De-Blur adjusts motion sharpness. Users have the option to choose between a traditional cinematic effect with subtle juddering motion (lower settings) and a smoother, theatrical image. Although the latter deviates slightly from the cinematic standard, it may be appealing to many viewers.

As for gamers and sports fans, the LG QNED87 television with a 120Hz panel will surely not disappoint. And with the use of an IPS panel, the response time is typically better than that of VA panels available at a similar price. This ensures smoother gameplay and dynamic experiences when watching sports events.

The LG B4 television is equipped with four full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports with a full bandwidth of 48Gbps. All functions corresponding to this standard activated without any issues, and throughout the entire testing procedure, they caused no problems. The combination of such extensive functionality and low input lags leads us to say that the tested television is truly designed for gaming. This is not surprising, considering that the manufacturer has always placed great emphasis on this. Therefore, we can enjoy both a properly implemented HGIG mode and gameplay in Dolby Vision with low latency. Such a tandem will surely attract the attention of all passionate gamers for whom quality is the most important.

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

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

LG QNED offers a range of features that make it an excellent choice for gamers looking for a high-performance television. The TV is equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing connection to the latest consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, utilising full functionality including Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). Thanks to the Game Bar feature, gamers can quickly and easily manage all game settings without needing to navigate complex menus. Parameters such as VRR, ALLM, Multi View, and frame rate monitoring can be adjusted. The TV also supports G-Sync and FreeSync technologies, which is particularly important for owners of Nvidia and AMD graphics cards. G-Sync and FreeSync synchronise the TV's refresh rate with the graphics card. The 120Hz panel guarantees incredible motion smoothness and image clarity. Combined with the Black Frame Insertion (BFI) feature, which is available at 60Hz and 120Hz, gamers can enjoy an even sharper and smoother picture. LG QNED87 is a television that meets the expectations of even the most demanding gamers, offering modern technologies and features that significantly enhance comfort and satisfaction during gaming.

Delay times for LG B4 are incredibly low in every scenario. Even the most passionate gamers will certainly appreciate the very low input lag of just 5 ms at demanding settings of 4K 120 Hz with HDR. It's also worth noting that the latency at the same settings, but with Dolby Vision HDR enabled, remains unchanged, which is not as obvious with the competition. Therefore, it deserves the highest rating and recommendation.

The LG QNED stands out with an extremely low input lag, which is crucial for smooth and responsive gaming. For a refresh rate of 120Hz, the input lag values do not exceed 6 ms, while at 60Hz, the input lag is a maximum of 15 ms. These are truly impressive results that ensure a player's reactions are almost instantaneously reflected on the screen.

LG B4 paired with a PC performs excellently due to its very low latency of just 13.5 ms, which is virtually instant response between the mouse, the eye, and the screen. A crucial aspect of working on a display is readability, which in the case of the tested television is very good. However, it's worth noting that to achieve sharp fonts, you need to enable the passthrough option in the settings.

The RWBG pixel layout does not significantly affect the display of fonts or letters, which is a notable advantage over Samsung's QD-OLED matrices. Users of both Windows and macOS equipped computers will certainly be pleased with the performance on the tested television screen.

The LG QNED television works perfectly with a computer, offering very good font readability. This makes working and browsing content exceptionally comfortable. The high refresh rate of 120Hz provides a smooth and vivid image. It combines a large workspace with performance, making it a genuine pleasure to use. However, for more demanding users, it may be disappointing that the TV has issues displaying fonts on a dark background. Instead of white letters, they take on a greenish hue.

The undeniable advantage of OLED panels is their efficiency in group viewing, meaning from different angles. LG B4 maintains very good contrast, colour saturation, and fidelity. While it may not match organic TVs supported by MLA technology, it cannot be said that anyone who purchases the device has been dissatisfied with the results. However, it should be noted that at sharp angles, a slight greenish tint can be observed. This is a characteristic feature of WRGB panels from LG, without the aforementioned micro-lens technology, and unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about it.

When it comes to viewing angles, LG QNED87 performs really well. Thanks to its IPS panel, it offers wide viewing angles compared to VA panels. This means that the picture remains clear and does not lose quality even at an angle. While it may not achieve the perfect results of OLED TVs, which maintain colours and brightness regardless of the viewing angle, in terms of LCD QNED87 screens, it stands out positively. This makes it a great choice for larger rooms where viewers often watch at an angle.

The maximum brightness of the TV in SDR materials is 370 nits. For an OLED TV, this is a very good result, allowing for quite comfortable viewing during the day. There are two things worth noting. The first is the rather average handling of reflections caused by the satin finish of the panel, which means that direct light hitting the TV can be quite intrusive. The second issue is the screen brightness at 100% white fill, hovering around 260 nits, which is an outstanding result, as until recently, OLED TVs in this range could "boast" a brightness two times lower. This means that conditions for watching, for example, winter sports, will be very good.

During the day, the LG QNED television performs adequately. It has a satin finish that doesn’t suppress reflections the best, which can be noticeable in bright rooms. Nevertheless, with quite good brightness at 430 nits, the image remains visible and clear. Although reflections may be somewhat bothersome, the brightness of the television allows for comfortable use during the day.

LG B4 uses the well-known proprietary WebOS system that has been around for many years. The system itself offers virtually all the most important applications, and those that are missing can be counted on one hand, such as CDA or KODI.

WebOS also features a highly valued ability to perform operations using a cursor that appears when the remote is in motion. The convenience of such a function is invaluable when entering queries or passwords for portals. WebOS, like most systems, also supports features such as screen mirroring, AirPlay, voice search in Polish, and the ability to connect headphones via Bluetooth. More down-to-earth things, WebOS allows us to use headphones and the TV's speakers simultaneously, which will surely be a great assistance for people with hearing disabilities. Among the more interesting features that will primarily appeal to sports fans, there is the option to turn on an alert informing about an upcoming match, ensuring that we never miss a broadcast. The home panel also deserves praise, 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, although less known and having certain limitations compared to Android TV, offers stable and fast operation and supports most features that users might need. It is a solid solution for those looking for a simple and effective operating system in a television.

LG QNED87 TV offers a multitude of features that significantly enhance user comfort. Let's start with the WebOS system, which we believe has the most user-friendly interface among all TVs available on the market. One of its greatest advantages is the remote control with a built-in gyroscope, known as the Magic Remote. Thanks to this, navigation is intuitive and quick, making TV usage a pleasure. WebOS also supports a range of smart features that greatly simplify everyday use of the television. Among them is AirPlay, which allows easy content sharing from Apple devices such as iPhone or iPad. Additionally, the TV supports a wide range of streaming applications, such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and many others, providing access to favourite movies and series in one place. When it comes to everyday use, LG QNED87 does not disappoint. The TV offers a USB recording feature, which is becoming increasingly rare in modern models. This allows users to record their favourite programs and watch them at any time. Furthermore, the TV has a Picture-in-Picture (PIP) function, although only for one tuner, enabling the viewing of two programs simultaneously. Connecting additional devices via Bluetooth is simple and hassle-free. The TV supports various Bluetooth devices, such as mice, keyboards, and headphones, increasing its versatility and allowing easy personalisation of the user experience. With all these features, the LG QNED87 TV is a versatile and convenient device that meets the expectations of even the most demanding users.

The default file player in LG B4 definitely handles most photos quite well, although it's surprising that some equally popular ones are missing. We can successfully play videos recorded in practically all the most popular formats, including Dolby Vision. The only codec that LG B4 won’t play is H.266 VVC, although this is currently rather unused. However, it’s worth noting the supported photo formats, which are just two: JPEG and PNG. Apple phone users 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 should also mention the lack of TXT subtitle support.

The built-in media player in the LG QNED87 television should not disappoint anyone. It offers rich capabilities when it comes to playing video and audio files. It supports many popular formats, ensuring versatility and user convenience. The only drawback might be the limited number of supported photo formats. However, this mainly concerns those less popular formats, so most users should be satisfied with the player's functionality. For everyday use and typical multimedia formats, the player performs very well.

The audio system built into the LG OLED B4 can be considered quite decent. We can say that it holds up fairly well in its price range. The bass is quite noticeable, but it doesn't overpower the other frequencies. It can be said that the sound is reasonably 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.

When it comes to sound, it can be said that it's moderately pleasant. There's a lack of pronounced bass, and the mid tones seem a bit unclear. This isn't an ideal situation for audiophiles, but it's worth noting that the television plays DTS files without any issues. This is a feature that's missing in many other televisions, so the LG QNED87 deserves praise for this support.

LG 55 B4 vs LG QNED87T6B

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