LG QNED93A / QNED90A vs Blaupunkt UGC5500S

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.

We won’t beat around the bush here – if you’re looking for a TV strictly for cinematic HDR experiences, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Unfortunately, the Blaupunkt UGC5500S is not a machine built for such challenges. This is primarily due to its very low brightness, which we measured during our tests. A result of around 250 nits on movie screens speaks for itself. It’s simply too little to even consider any real HDR effect. To be honest, everything displayed in this format can confidently be seen as a somewhat “enhanced” SDR mode. We expected this, as practically every device in this price range falls short in this area, but we feel it’s our duty to warn you. Manufacturers love to brag about HDR compatibility on the boxes, but in reality, this format simply doesn’t exist here – it lacks the “fuel” in the form of brightness.

The situation is further complicated for Blaupunkt, as we’re dealing with a panel that has very basic coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, reaching only about 80%. You won’t find any advanced coatings to expand these capabilities (like quantum dots), which means scenes that are supposed to burst with richly saturated colours appear simply underwhelming on this screen. Therefore, we have a particular piece of advice for you: don’t force HDR mode on this model. If you have the option in the streaming app settings – just turn it off. By sticking to the classic SDR mode, you’ll be sure that the TV won’t try to “enhance” something that it can’t handle hardware-wise.

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 also took a close look at how Blaupunkt handles colours in movie mode, and here the matter is, to put it simply, twofold. We must once again clearly separate what we see in the standard SDR format from what happens when HDR is switched on, as they are two completely different worlds. Let's start with the better side of the coin. If you're planning to watch traditional TV, YouTube, or older films on this television, you can count on really well-tuned colours. In our test sample, the white balance in movie mode performed exceptionally well, which honestly surprised us. Of course, to avoid being too rosy, we noticed some drawbacks. Looking at the gamma charts, we observed that the processor struggles with properly dimming the image in its brightest areas. Additionally, there is quite a strong, at times overly aggressive, red saturation, which resulted in visible errors in reproducing certain shades. Despite this, overall, the image in SDR is simply solid and watchable without a grimace on your face. Unfortunately, the magic fades when we re-enter the world of HDR. Here, Blaupunkt behaves as if we suddenly switched it to store mode, and in its worst rendition. The excess blue in the white balance is so significant that it’s glaring, ruining any realism in the scene. Furthermore, the television interprets brightness very loosely, which, upon analysing the EOTF curve, clearly showed that for most of the time, colours simply appear washed out and lacking depth. This is also perfectly evident in the colour errors that become apparent in this mode. Once again, we are left with the same conclusion: Blaupunkt in SDR mode looks significantly better and more natural than in HDR, which seems to be forcefully added without proper refinement.

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.

It may sound like a joke – pulling out professional measuring equipment for a TV that costs around a thousand złoty / 250 dollars, but we wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t check it. The question is: does such cheap gear give us any leeway in terms of calibration? To your surprise, the answer is: yes, absolutely. In the Blaupunkt UGC5500S menu, we found surprisingly many options that allowed us to effectively work on the picture. These aren't just empty sliders; these are concrete tools that enabled us to make use of our measurement sensors and software. In SDR mode, the effects were visible to the naked eye. We successfully eliminated the problem we mentioned earlier – that excessive, almost artificial saturation of reds. We also fixed the issue with the incorrect dimming of the brightest parts of the image. After calibration, the picture in standard format became significantly more balanced and simply correct. When it comes to HDR, the situation was more complicated again. While we managed to “tame” that aggressive blue tint in the white balance, it was clear that we were fighting a bit of a losing battle. Even after changing the settings, the TV still tried to interfere with the picture in its own way, as if the electronics knew better than we did how the scene should look. To top it off, there's the hardware barrier that no slider can overcome – colours in HDR still remain undersaturated. This simply results from the quality of the panel itself; it physically cannot produce the most vivid colours. To summarise this point: if any of you ask whether it’s possible to calibrate a TV for “a grand”, we respond with complete conviction: it is possible.

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.

If you're hoping that the processor in this model will magically "fix" the poor quality signal from your cable TV or old movies from YouTube, we must disappoint you. The capabilities of this television end at absolutely basic upscaling, which is simply stretching the image to a higher resolution. It does this correctly in that the image is not blurry, but there is no mention of any intelligent sharpening or adding details. Worse still, Blaupunkt is completely devoid of any functions to reduce unwanted tonal transitions. If the material being viewed shows what is known as banding (ugly "steps" instead of a smooth transition of colours, e.g., in the sky), this television will display them in all their glory. Additionally, the television has a tendency to slightly crop the edges of the image. Instead of displaying 100% of what the source sends, Blaupunkt slightly zooms in on the frame, causing us to lose details that are at the very edges of the screen. In summary: in the category of digital "enhancement" of the image, Blaupunkt simply performs poorly. We receive a raw, unprocessed signal, with all its flaws.

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.

When it comes to motion fluidity, Blaupunkt has nothing to defend itself with. A 60 Hz panel at this price is standard, so none of us expected a perfectly sharp image in fast action scenes or during a match. However, the biggest drawback of this model is that you won’t find any digital motion smoothers in the menu. The manufacturer hasn’t given us any room for manoeuvre – nothing can be smoothed out or the image adjusted to our personal preferences. The picture is always "raw" and we receive it exactly as it is transmitted by the source. For fans of cinematic "jumping" images, this might be good, but the rest simply has to get used to the lack of any motion enhancement.

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.

When it comes to gaming on the Blaupunkt, we weren’t expecting miracles and indeed – the list of features isn’t very long. However, there are two interesting points worth mentioning, as they might be significant for some of you at this price. The first advantage is that the TV quite smoothly detects the connected console. Thanks to the ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) feature, the device knows when you start gaming and automatically switches to low latency mode. This is convenient because you don’t have to fiddle with settings every time to ensure input lag doesn’t spoil the fun. The second point is a real curiosity that surprised us. Despite it being a 60 Hz panel, the Blaupunkt can display a 120 Hz image at Full HD resolution. Sure, we lose 4K details, but for those playing more dynamic, online shooters where smoothness is more important than resolution, this is a really nice and unexpected addition in such an affordable device. Other than these two points, you won’t find anything more here. There are no advanced smoothness enhancement systems for gamers or extensive gaming menu bars. It’s a simple screen for occasional gaming.