LG OLED B5 vs LG QNED93A / QNED90A

LG B5 is a moderately bright OLED TV. Regardless of the scene – it can generate about 500 nits of peak brightness. And interestingly, it does this even in full-screen shots flooded with white, where most OLEDs usually struggle. So, is this screen suitable for HDR films? Yes – absolutely, because such brightness really allows you to feel the magic of HDR effects. However, it’s worth noting that compared to last year's B4 model, the new B5 is darker – by about 100 nits. It may seem like a small amount, but at such average peak values, it makes a significant difference. Fortunately, the TV makes up for it with another strength – excellent coverage of the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 colour gamuts. This means HDR films look truly vibrant, lively, and impressive even in more demanding scenes.

Although the number of local dimming zones in the LG QNED93A hasn’t directly translated to noticeably better contrast, it’s hard to deny this model one thing – it’s brighter than its predecessor. In synthetic tests, we recorded values around 1400-1500 nits, and more importantly, these results are reflected in real film scenes. In full-screen sequences flooded with whites or bright lights, the screen was able to maintain high luminance, providing a truly decent amazing HDR effect. Unfortunately, where the TV could show true class, that is in scenes requiring precision, all the magic dissipates. The dimming algorithms we mentioned earlier operate aggressively enough that small, bright objects – like distant lights, stars, or the moon – can almost completely disappear. Just look at the test scenes from the film Pan or Sicario 2 (screens 2 and 4) to see how subtle details are dimmed to the limits of their visibility. It’s a pity because a greater number of zones could theoretically translate to significantly better performance. Fortunately, there are also strong points. The QNED93A performs well in terms of colour gamut coverage, achieving around 96% of the DCI-P3 standard. As a result, colours in films look rich and full, and the image doesn’t lose intensity even in more demanding scenes. So, it can be said that the HDR in this model is solid, although the underdeveloped local dimming algorithms hinder its full potential.

B5 was tested in Filmmaker mode and… we’d love to see more TVs like this right out of the box. Seriously. The white balance is very well set – there’s practically nothing to nitpick. Well, if you really want to, you might notice a slight deficiency in blue, which can make the overall picture have a slightly yellowish tint. But that’s just our editorial nitpicking. Most of you probably won’t even notice. We also have minimal reservations about brightness management in HDR format. The EOTF curve – which is responsible for how the TV distributes brightness across the scene – sits just below ideal. In practice, it may happen that the darkest parts of the image appear too dark and simply… disappear. But these are details that only come out in measurements. Generally: we are impressed. But we also know that LG TVs respond very well to professional calibration. You can extract nearly reference-quality picture from them, so – although it’s already very good out of the factory – we took the liberty to go a step further and fine-tune everything to the max.

In film mode (more specifically Filmmaker), the colour reproduction in the QNED93A was relatively accurate, although there were some reservations. In SDR content, the white balance leaned towards warmer tones, resulting in a slight yellowing across the entire screen. Gamma, on the other hand, led to a slight lightening of the image, making it look a bit less natural, especially in scenes that required precise shading (this is evident in the comparison photo). This isn't a problem that immediately stands out to every viewer, but more discerning individuals may feel that the image deviates from the intended aesthetic of the filmmakers. In HDR materials, the situation looked a bit different. The white balance here was quite good, ensuring that whites did not take on pink or unwanted green hues. However, the brightness management turned out to be an issue. An analysis of the EOTF curve revealed that at certain moments, the television could be distinctly too dark where it shouldn't be, losing some details and lowering the realism of scenes. This detracted from the HDR effects, which were theoretically meant to be the most impressive. For this reason, we decided to conduct a calibration.

We have to admit that we didn't have much work with the LG B5. It's one of those TVs that look good right from the start, but after calibration… they can really impress. The white balance was nearly perfect – down to a level of errors invisible to the human eye, unless you're a professional colourist with a magnifying glass at the screen. We also managed to control the TV's tendency to slightly dim the darkest details, especially in HDR scenes. After proper tuning, everything looks cohesive: blacks remain deep but don't swallow information. Highlights maintain a natural sparkle, and colours are true to the director's vision. This is truly one of those models that show you don't have to spend a fortune to have an almost reference-quality image. If you can opt for professional calibration – it's definitely worth it for the B5.

After professional calibration, the Filmmaker mode in the QNED93A has improved primarily where it matters most in everyday use. We managed to straighten the white balance and eliminate the yellowish tint in SDR content, which is what we watch most often – television, streaming services, or standard quality movies. As a result, the colours look natural and pleasant, making the overall viewing experience significantly more comfortable. In HDR mode, we also made corrections, but here the biggest issue turned out to be the EOTF curve. Although LG provides some leeway in the settings, the television still controls brightness on its own terms. It's clear that the local dimming algorithms are not fully refined and can ruin the viewing experience by dimming parts of the picture at inappropriate moments. Nevertheless, it’s worth opting for calibration of this model, especially the mode intended for everyday viewing.

LG B5 really surprised us positively in terms of handling lower quality content. Thanks to the enhancement and smoothing features, HD or even SD materials come to life. Importantly – when this option is turned on at the "low" or "medium" level, we don’t get the impression that the image is artificially softened or overly smoothed. Details remain in place, film grain doesn’t disappear, and the edges of objects don’t look washed out 😉. It’s a really useful tool – especially if you’re watching free-to-air TV, archival materials, or content from YouTube in lower resolutions. The picture is clear, consistent, and simply pleasant to the eye.

Upgrading as such works very well – even low-quality content is reproduced with surprising fidelity. Unfortunately, it’s not without a minor hiccup. Although the menu has an option to turn off overscan, the television still has issues correctly displaying very low-resolution images. It’s a minor detail, but when watching older materials – it can be annoying.

The LG QNED93A turns out to be a very solid television for everyday use. Its image processor performs excellently with upscaling, making even older films or free-to-air television sharper and more detailed. During the screening of 'The Godfather,' it’s clearly visible how upscaling brings out additional details from the image – the characters’ faces and the texture of their clothing look significantly clearer than in the original material.

The digital image processing also deserves praise. The television is equipped with a function that reduces unwanted colour banding and screen irregularities. It works best in the 'Medium' setting – subtly smoothing tonal transitions without overly interfering with the image. This way, the natural film grain is preserved, and the screen does not appear artificially smooth. Perhaps in some scenes, slight colour banding can still be noticed, but in practice, the effect is more advantageous than with a stronger intervention from the algorithm.

LG B5 is a TV with a 120 Hz OLED panel. It may not sound as impressive as the marketing terms "144 Hz" or "165 Hz" commonly found in gaming monitors, but honestly? The smoothness is still excellent. The picture is sharp, fluid, and simply enjoyable to watch – even when there’s a lot happening on screen. The organic panel does its job – the pixel response time is almost instantaneous, which means there’s no risk of ghosting or blurring that can ruin dynamic shots. Sports, fast-paced games – everything looks clear and distinct.

We also have the classic LG motion smoother, TruMotion. It allows you to smooth out movies shot at 24 frames – in other words, most of what you watch on Netflix or from Blu-ray discs. If you set lower values on the “De-Judder” slider, you’ll get a picture closer to the cinematic experience – with a slight judder, but without artificiality. Higher settings? Soap opera effect guaranteed. Fortunately, LG gives you the choice, and you can tune everything to your liking.

LG QNED93A has been equipped with a 144 Hz panel. This is primarily a nod to gamers, but the fact that higher refresh rates are increasingly appearing in televisions can be viewed positively. In everyday viewing, 120 Hz remains key, and in this regard, the QNED93A performs well. The manufacturer also provides the option to adjust the picture thanks to the TruMotion system – the De-Judder and De-Blur sliders allow you to choose between a cinematic motion feel with visible frames and full smoothing with theatrical motion.

There are already a few TVs on the market with the "for gamers" label that don't really understand what that means. The LG B5 is not one of them. Everything here is spot on – there are four HDMI 2.1 ports, 120 Hz, there’s VRR and ALLM, and there’s also a Game Bar that's actually useful, not just looking good in the brochure. You plug in a console – it works. You set it to 4K at 120 Hz – it works. You have an Xbox and want to play in Dolby Vision – it works too. And it's not just "theoretically supports," it actually turns on, looks good, and you don't have to fiddle with settings for half an hour. Plus, there’s the HGiG picture mode, which LG has implemented correctly – meaning HDR in games doesn't turn the screen into a strobe light, but shows exactly what it should. There are no surprises, no strange limitations, no "buts." And you know what? That's how it should be. Cheers to the LG B5!

LG QNED93A is a television that has undoubtedly been designed with gamers in mind. Right from the start, we get a complete package – all four HDMI ports operate in 2.1 standard, so whether we connect a console, a PC, or a receiver, we have full compatibility. This is important because many manufacturers still limit themselves to two ports, and here nothing stands in the way of having maximum capabilities for all the equipment. There’s also an automatic game mode (ALLM), which automatically switches the television to the appropriate settings when the console is turned on, as well as variable refresh rate (VRR). This means the image doesn’t stutter or glitch, even when the frame rate drops – whether in dynamic shooters or during races.

The 144 Hz panel gives an additional advantage in computer games. While 120 Hz is enough for consoles, the QNED93A allows PCs to push even more – every movement, every glance to the side is refreshed faster, which makes a difference especially in e-sports. The manufacturer also considered HDR in games – the television supports HGiG mode, which are guidelines intended to ensure that the lighting effects are exactly as the game developers intended. To top it off, we get Game Bar – a special information bar called up on the screen that shows parameters in real time. You can check the frame rate, active VRR functions, or input lag levels. This solution is useful not only for settings enthusiasts but for anyone who wants to quickly check what mode the television is operating in and whether everything is working as it should.