Compare: LG OLED C4 vs Sony Bravia 9 (XR90)

LG C4 is a television that will likely have no competition in its price range for many users. Thanks to the wide options for purchase, it will appeal to those looking for a TV strictly for movies and series, as well as for gaming. The advanced WebOS system and a remote that works like a mouse will certainly make everyday use much easier and ensure that we will likely stick with this brand for a much longer time. The OLED panel implemented by the manufacturer, resulting from over 10 years of history, shows that it has not yet said its last word. Brightness results in HDR material are very solid and can display an incredibly dynamic and deep image. Here, it’s worth mentioning the excellently implemented dynamic tone mapping feature, which makes HDR10 images look almost as good as Dolby Vision. And if we’re talking about fidelity to artistic vision, we can't forget about how calibratable LG TVs are, allowing for a great deal of freedom for the calibrator and classic calibration for home users, as well as 3D LUT for professionals. However, if we are looking for a gaming TV, then the LG C4, like most of the manufacturer’s OLED TVs, will be the ideal choice. With the implementation of HDMI 2.1 ports and the full use of their potential, we can enjoy extremely smooth gameplay with all the benefits, such as VRR, ALLM, FreeSync, or G-Sync. Of course, the panel, which has a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hz and an advanced smoothing technology, will also allow for very smooth and sharp images during broadcasts of various sporting events. It’s hard not to give a high rating to LG OLED C4, as it's difficult to find a TV in a similar price range with such advanced features among the competition.

Sony BRAVIA 9 is undoubtedly a top-tier product, and there’s no "but" about it, as this is a fact, not a thesis. It’s evident everywhere you look how much effort the manufacturer has put into perfecting the dimming algorithms, which undoubtedly perform their role to every possible degree. Thanks to this, we can enjoy an incredibly deep black and an amazingly vivid image. And since we’re talking about the picture and backlighting, one cannot help but mention the quality of HDR effects, which will brighten the room, enveloping us in over 2000 nits of peak brightness. Such a result certainly looks impressive on paper, but you have to trust us that it’s even better in person. The manufacturer, known for its meticulous approach to image quality, has once again endeavoured to ensure that its television faithfully reproduces what the film director intended to convey, and it has succeeded brilliantly. The Sony Bravia 9 also offers an excellent user experience thanks to the Google TV system. The interface is intuitive, and with a rich library of apps, we have access to countless contents that we can tailor to our own preferences. The integration with Google Assistant allows for quick and convenient searching of favourite movies, shows, or music, as well as controlling other smart devices in the home. It’s these kinds of solutions that make using the television not just a pleasure but also simplifies daily life. Unfortunately, not everything is perfect. The Sony Bravia 9 still has room for improvement, particularly regarding the HDMI port configuration. Sony BRAVIA 9 has only two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which is eARC, that is a port for a soundbar or home theatre system. For such an expensive piece of equipment, one might expect four full HDMI 2.1 ports, and the lack of Picture-in-Picture (PiP) functionality is also a drawback that can be annoying. Despite these shortcomings, it’s hard not to notice just how exceptional this equipment is. It’s the first LCD television that can truly compete with OLEDs. Infinite contrast, fantastic picture quality, zero compromises — Sony BRAVIA 9 is nearly perfect. Excellent picture, modern technologies, attention to detail make every viewing experience one you won’t forget.

LG OLED C4, as the name suggests, uses an organic panel of its own production. This series definitely belongs to one of the most recognisable on the market. Over 10 years of experience in building self-emissive panels has allowed for the refinement of each subsequent design, with the models from the 2024 range being the quintessence of this process. Of course, the use of this type of screen enables the achievement of flawless contrast and blacks, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the world created by the director. This is possible thanks to the OLED panel, characterised by the absence of conventional backlighting, which instead allows current to pass through organic pixels. This permits super-accurate image control, thereby eliminating issues such as dimming of delicate fine details or the halo/blooming effect. Looking at both of our test scenes, we can notice two things: perfect light separation and a plethora of details in the movie "Sicario 2".

Similarly, the Sony Bravia 9 utilises a high-contrast VA panel, supported by a backlight made up of Mini LED diodes. The total number of zones for the 75" size we tested was 1920. Combining such a number with advanced, and one might boldly say — the best zone dimming algorithms delivers excellent results in contrast and black levels. Practically every scene can display an incredibly deep and immersive image. Of course, the last two won't give us blacks akin to OLED televisions, however, it's fair to say that the results are not weak, as a significant portion of competing TVs will not provide such a faithful representation of the director's vision. Looking below at two test scenes from the Sony Bravia 9 from the film Oblivion and Sicario 2, we can observe very mature behaviour of the backlight algorithms, which ensure that blacks are maintained without sacrificing the original image. Of course, the blooming effect still occurs here due to the operation of the TV's zones (it can be observed on the small lights on the helicopter), but it is definitely one of the best LCD TVs we have had the opportunity to test in terms of black levels and contrast.

The results of HDR materials are definitely among the better ones. Practically every film significantly exceeds the 700 nits barrier, which allows for a very realistic image. Of course, none of them surpasses the magical thousand, however, the combination of such results along with unlimited contrast and black effectively boosts the visual outcome. The last of the scenes, featuring a fullscreen sun burst, is indeed less bright than the others, although it still represents a respectable level. It's also worth mentioning the excellent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette, which will enable the achievement of exceptionally vivid colours.

The brightness measurement results on the Sony Bravia 9 are phenomenal. Each scene achieves well over 1500 nits, and while watching movies, the TV can sometimes shine even brighter. It goes without saying that such brightness allows for unprecedented experiences and engagement with video material at the highest possible quality. With a high coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, the image is full of colours and, combined with such high luminance, it practically breathes. Thanks to the high peak brightness, viewers can enjoy the full spectrum of colours even in the most difficult scenes, such as those based on dynamic lighting changes. The Bravia 9 supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 formats, which further enhances the viewing experience.

The best factory mode implemented in the tested television was "Filmmaker". That was the one we used during all tests. This mode, in terms of colour reproduction, turned out to be quite decent, although other flaws effectively detracted from the enjoyment of the viewing experience. Starting with the most basic one, which is white balance, it was easy to notice that this was marked by a dominance of red, which completely altered the characteristics of the picture. We could see a strong yellowing of the whites and a shift of all colours to warmer tones. The gamma, which is a graph as equally important, if not more so, was quite severely reduced, resulting in a significant drop in contrast, except for the start of the graph, where the television insidiously lost details. That’s all regarding SDR materials. Looking closely at films with a wide dynamic range, we can observe exactly the same phenomenon of white balance yellowing as in films with a standard colour palette. The EOTF curve, which replaces the gamma chart for us, is practically perfect and cannot be faulted.

The best factory mode on Sony televisions has remained "IMAX Enhanced" for years. This is what we used throughout the entire testing procedure. Despite being the closest to the reference compared to other predefined options, it has a number of aspects that can be improved to make viewing even more enjoyable. When we look at the gamma in SDR materials, we notice quite a significant boost that is related to over-contrasting the image. It is worth noting that the very beginning of the graph has an even greater spike compared to the reference, which leads to the merging of details in the blacks, creating a uniform blob. The EOTF curve in HDR content looked quite accurate and only showed slight deviations from the reference. However, a common characteristic for both was: a greenish tint in the white balance, issues with greys, and general colour misalignment. The most noticeable issue was related to the uneven distribution of colours in the white balance. Due to the excess of the aforementioned colour, the image was covered with an unpleasant greenish tint.

As we mentioned earlier, LG televisions are equipped with advanced tools for carrying out the calibration process. We used them to model the picture in line with what the director envisioned. And without modesty, we must admit that we achieved this phenomenally. Both SDR and HDR materials present a level that clearly indicates this is how a film should look. It's worth taking a look at the colour errors on the "ColorChecker" palette, where practically none of them exceed "1", except for two samples.

The colour reproduction after the calibration process should be regarded as excellent. Regardless of the signal, whether it's SDR or HDR, we can expect an image incredibly close to what the film director saw. Practically every image flaw has been modelled and maximally improved. This was made possible by the advanced tools used for the calibration process, which Sony has provided in its televisions for years, including 2- and 20-point grey scale adjustment and a very elaborate CMS.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in LG televisions has always been a rather sensitive issue, as the manufacturer, despite impeccable performance in other areas, has almost always struggled to get this right. The evaluation results for the fluidity of tonal transitions in the tested television were quite good, with issues mainly visible in darker scenes, such as the last two scenes. Interestingly, this is a significantly better result than the highest model from the manufacturer, namely the LG G4.

The default quality of gentle gradation, i.e. without the enhancement feature activated, is fairly average, considering the price range and class of the device. The issue isn't noticeable with very bright backgrounds, but it's quite prominent on dark ones. This is perfectly illustrated by the last two test scenes, where tonal transitions are apparent and may cause discomfort to image purists.

Once again, we will take a look at the feature responsible for gentle gradation, but we will also address the one that aims to enhance the quality of lower-quality materials. The default smoothing of tonal transitions, as we could see, was not the worst, but it can be improved further. The function has a slider that allows us to adjust its intensity. We recommend using the former, as it produces very good results and does not blur important details.

Image scaling on LG C4 is quite good, however, it cannot be said to be without flaws. The image is slightly sharper by default, although not in a very noticeable way. While jagged edges of trees can be seen, it is not a major issue when compared to other manufacturers.

Let's take another look at the quality of tonal transitions, but this time we will analyse the quality of image scaling, which will be crucial when watching lower quality materials. We'll start with the function responsible for the quality of tonal transitions. While they are quite average by default, after activating the option, even at the smallest degree, we can confidently say that these are some of the better ones we've seen. You can confidently enable this function, as it does not cause any negative phenomena, such as grain blur.

Sony has been boasting for several years that its "XR" processor is unmatched when it comes to image scaling. And it's not hard for us to believe that, because the image is indeed incredibly sharp, yet very natural.

The maximum refresh rate we can set on the LG G4 is 144 Hz. Naturally, this is only possible when connecting the TV to a very powerful PC. Otherwise, we will operate at a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz, which is recommended if we primarily want to watch sports or content with a lot of motion dynamics. For those who require high fluidity of the image, the manufacturer has implemented a multi-level motion smoother called "TrueMotion". It has been divided into two separate sliders that adjust the sharpness of moving images (De-Blur) and judder (De-Judder). Both sliders can be set in the range of 0 to 10, with each degree affecting the level of smoothing, allowing everyone to find their sweet spot.

The panel of the LG OLED C4 features an average response time of less than 1 ms (which directly results from our measurements), enabling the achievement of an extremely clear image, unattainable for LCD TVs, which can have response times of up to several milliseconds. This is clearly evident in the images from the "UFO Test," which show no trailing blur behind the object.

The maximum refresh rate of the Sony Bravia 9 is 120 Hz. This is the essential minimum for watching primarily sports or content that has a lot of movement dynamics while maintaining a sharp and smooth image. For demanding users, the manufacturer has implemented a very advanced smoothing system, which is divided into three segments: Smoothness (Film), Smoothness (Camera), and Clarity. The first two correspond to: blur degree and smoothing degree, respectively. The third option will be described in more detail below. Additionally, we can adjust all settings to various levels, each of which will have an effect, ensuring that we can find our very own sweet spot. In the photo, we present a setting with slight smoothing, without the soap opera effect.

We can now say that LG C4, like practically every OLED television from the manufacturer, is exceptionally good in terms of cooperation with consoles and PCs. Thanks to the implementation of four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps, the manufacturer has embedded all the features that enhance gaming comfort, including simultaneous support for FreeSync and G-Sync technologies. With such a tandem, players with graphics cards from AMD or nVidia can safely choose C4. However, what should please gamers demanding the highest possible quality the most is the simultaneous implementation of HDR Dolby Vision and HGIG mode. The former is particularly important as it operates with extremely low input lag in all settings.

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 allows for image adjustments for people with visual impairments, which is an incredibly nice touch. Another important piece of information is that when VRR technology is enabled, we won’t experience a drop in contrast. This is, of course, due to the design of the panel and the absence of conventional backlighting. It is, however, normal for shades of grey to flicker slightly, although this is a characteristic feature of this function regardless of the manufacturer and television.

In summary: LG C4, just like all the manufacturer's OLEDs equipped with high-refresh-rate panels and HDMI 2.1 connections, creates a harmonious whole with consoles. In practice, it is a complete television, and if we expect the highest possible efficiency in gaming, C4 will be an ideal choice.

The Sony Bravia 9 television is equipped with four HDMI ports. However, somewhat incomprehensibly for this class of device, only two of them operate in the 2.1 standard. Nevertheless, it shouldn't be taken away that almost all features work excellently and do not cause any negative feelings upon being activated. Games operating in either HDR10 or Dolby Vision have a very short input lag, allowing for a very comfortable session with the title. A consolation remains in the good implementation of the HGIG mode, which after proper tuning does not deviate significantly from Dolby Vision.

A year ago, Sony added to its televisions what has been standard for some manufacturers for years. This is, of course, the GameBar, allowing for quick adjustment of settings without the need to exit the game. The implementation of this feature was successful and works very smoothly. We have been provided with conveniences such as: crosshair grid, black level correction, and the ability to reduce the screen to the proportions of gaming monitors.

Sony Bravia 9 will certainly find its group of fans, most likely among PlayStation enthusiasts. Here, we must admit that this will be the most sensible choice, as in practice both the console and the television have exactly the same capabilities. However, looking more broadly, aside from issues with Dolby Vision in games, one cannot deny that the Bravia 9 is a very good television in the context of gaming.

The latency time of LG C4 is remarkably low in every scenario. Even the most avid gamers will surely appreciate the very low input lag at demanding 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR, which is only 5 ms. It's also worth noting that the lag at these same settings, but with Dolby Vision HDR enabled, remains unchanged, which is not so obvious with the competition. Therefore, it deserves the highest rating and recommendation.

Input lag for Bravia 9 is low in every scenario. Even the most dedicated gamers will certainly appreciate the very low input lag of 10 ms at demanding 4K 120 Hz with HDR settings.

LG C4 combined with a PC works wonderfully, thanks to its very low latency of just 13.5 ms, which is practically instantaneous feedback between the mouse, eye, and screen. An extremely important aspect when working on a screen is the readability of text, which in the case of the tested TV is very good. However, it is 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 significant advantage over Samsung's QD-OLED panels. Users of both Windows-based PCs and macOS will surely be pleased with their experience on the tested TV screen.

Sony Bravia 9 coupled with a PC performs excellently, thanks to its very low latency of just 9 ms, providing immediate response between the mouse, eye, and screen. An extremely important aspect while working on the screen is the readability of text, which in the case of the tested television is very good. However, it is essential to remember to switch the television to "Game" mode, as this provides the best text readability, while in other scenarios, the font may become unreadable.

The subpixel arrangement is BGR, which does not negatively impact using the television as a monitor. However, since operating systems are not adjusted for such a subpixel format, this may result in slightly less sharp contours. This is practically negligible, and only a handful of people may notice it.

The undisputed advantage of OLED panels is their efficiency in the context of group viewing, meaning from various angles. LG C4 maintains very good contrast, colour saturation, and fidelity. Although this isn't a result of organic TVs supported by MLA technology, it's fair to say that anyone who purchased the device was satisfied 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 WRGB panels from LG, without the aforementioned micro-lens technology, and unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done about it.

Thanks to the use of an angular coating, colour degradation and contrast loss at an angle are not as drastic as in the vast majority of VA matrix televisions. Only after a significant shift off-axis does greater image destabilisation become apparent; however, the overall experience can be rated very positively.

The maximum brightness of the television in SDR materials is 367 nits. For an OLED television, this is a very good result and allows for quite comfortable viewing during the day. It's worth noting two things. Thanks to the glossy coating of the panel, the light reflections are well held in place and do not spill over the rest of the panel. The second issue is the brightness of the screen when fully filled with white, oscillating around 220 nits, which is a remarkable result, as until recently, OLED televisions in this category could only boast brightness half as much. As a result, the conditions for watching, for example, winter sports will be very good.

When watching during the day, we can count on an incredibly high brightness of 1600 nits, which allows for very comfortable viewing even when harsh angled light hits the TV. Even reflections that spill across the screen do not detract from the enjoyment of watching on a sunny day. For this reason, the Sony Bravia receives nearly the highest rating from us in this regard.

LG uses the well-known proprietary WebOS system that has been around for many years. The system offers virtually all the major apps, and the few that are missing can be counted on one hand, such as CDA or KODI. It's also worth noting that the modern web browser and the remote with a built-in mouse allow for convenient access to streaming services in this way, if there isn't a built-in app.

WebOS also features a highly praised ability to perform operations using a cursor that appears when the remote is moved. The convenience of this function is invaluable when entering queries or passwords for portals. WebOS, like most systems, also supports features such as screen mirroring, AirPlay, voice searching in Polish, and the ability to connect headphones via Bluetooth. On a more practical note, WebOS allows simultaneous use of headphones and the television speaker, which will certainly be a significant help for those with hearing impairments. One of the more interesting features, particularly appreciated by sports fans, is the ability to turn on an alert for an upcoming match, ensuring that we never miss a broadcast. The home panel also deserves praise, allowing for control of all smart devices connected to the home network. For example, the end of a wash cycle will be signalled by a notification in the top right corner.

In summary, the WebOS system, although less known and with certain limitations compared to Android TV, offers stable and quick performance and supports most functions that users may need. It is a solid solution for those looking for a simple and effective operating system in their television.

Bravia 9 runs on the Google TV system, which is a significant advantage compared to TVs equipped with proprietary systems from manufacturers, where installing applications from a USB drive can be difficult, and often downright impossible. With Google TV, we have the ability to install virtually any application, both from the official store and directly from online repositories via an APK file.

This system also offers many conveniences in terms of control. We can connect a keyboard with a touchpad, which significantly makes entering queries much easier. Additionally, thanks to integration with Google, we can use voice control features via the remote, which works very well, although there are occasional minor issues with understanding functions and options. It's worth noting that Google TV receives regular updates that enhance functionality and introduce new options. We can also confirm that, according to reports from users of older models, the software has its off days and sometimes has a “bad day.”

In summary: Google TV is currently one of the most popular systems on the market. Thanks to its efficient CPU, it operates very smoothly, doesn’t freeze and has no issues with lagging for a significant portion of usage. It is definitely the best option for those who want to fully utilise the potential of their TV and value system openness.

The default file player on LG C4 handles all photo resolutions exceptionally well. It successfully plays videos recorded in practically all the most popular formats, including Dolby Vision. The only codec that the C4 won't play is H.266 VVC, although this is currently rather uncommon. It's a pity that subtitles in .txt format are not supported. Attention should be paid to the supported photo formats, of which there are only three: JPEG, PNG, and, importantly for Apple phone users - HEIC. However, the tested television cannot be faulted for a lack of variety in audio files, which can be played without a compatibility warning.

The built-in player in Sony Bravia 9 is quite good. While it’s not without its flaws, it must be said that it plays a significant portion of files without a hitch. However, among the missing features, the lack of support for subtitles in .sub, .txt formats or selectively working image formats can be bothersome, with only JPEG and HEIC available. This isn’t really a problem considering the ease of installing applications like VLC or KODI.

The audio system implemented in LG C4 is very well tuned, allowing us to experience strong bass as well as balanced mid and high tones. We can confidently say that in its price range, it's one of the better sounding televisions. However, we believe that those deciding to purchase the C4 will already have a dedicated audio set. The presence of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos codecs will also be significant.

We must admit that the sound coming from the Sony Bravia 9 left us quite astonished. Of course, we knew it was a top-of-the-line product, but we didn’t expect such sound quality. You can easily hear each instrument individually, and the bass adds the right depth to the whole experience. With a clear conscience, we can say that this is the best sounding television we have had the chance to test. Of course, we realise that people opting for such a television already have their own home theatre setup. And here there won't be any major obstacle, as the Bravia 9 supports DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos.

LG OLED C4 vs Sony Bravia 9 (XR90)

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