Compare: LG 55 B4 vs Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)

LG OLED B4 is an exceptionally versatile device in the semi-premium category. For how else could one describe an OLED television that is so well-priced, and whose price, as history shows, will quickly fall? Ideal blacks and contrast are two things that inevitably mesmerise, and we are certain that anyone who has owned a device with this panel will not be able to return to LCD units. The brightness results of the television in HDR content may seem rather low; however, in this case, thanks to this particular 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 a full-frame shot filled with a large amount of white. However, we do not believe this to be a serious problem, as there are not many such instances anyway. The factory colour reproduction also deserves praise, which in our specimen is very decent, but one cannot help but remember how beneficial calibration has been for the image, allowing the director's intentions to be conveyed fully. LG B4 will be an excellent choice for all kinds of gamers, as well as sports enthusiasts. The former will certainly appreciate the rich support in the form of all the conveniences stemming from the HDMI 2.1 standard. Meanwhile, the latter will benefit from the advanced motion smoothing with multi-step adjustments. And lastly, one cannot overlook the convenience provided by the remote control with a built-in gyroscope, allowing it to function like a mouse. The WebOS system, which we will navigate, is extremely smooth and responsive. It offers a multitude of applications, which will be more than sufficient for the vast majority of users. The heart of the LG B4 television is the advanced Alpha processor, responsible for the smoothness of the image 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 stands out significantly above its competition at this price point, which cannot offer such high-quality images.

Sony Bravia 5 is a continuation of the iconic X90L model, and it's evident that the manufacturer aimed to take a step forward. A greater number of backlighting zones have been implemented, which makes the contrast seem better in many scenes, and the blacks appear deeper than its predecessor. The 120 Hz panel and MotionFlow system allow the smoothness of the image to be tailored to personal preferences – from a slight cinematic texture to crystal-smooth motion in sports and games. This is equipment that does not shy away from any content, as regardless of whether we are watching a match, an action film, or a concert, the image maintains clarity and character. However, the true strength of the Bravia 5 lies in the XR processor. It is this that makes older materials look better than they should – upscaling works like magic, smoothing out noise, improving gradation, and providing consistency even with lower-quality content. Thanks to this, in everyday use, the Bravia 5 can surprise, as instead of struggling with signal imperfections, it draws out the maximum. Additionally, there is excellent colour reproduction after calibration and dynamic tone mapping along with Dolby Vision mode, which allows one to enjoy details even in difficult, contrasted scenes. However, it cannot be hidden that in several moments, the Bravia 5 has disappointed us quite significantly. Despite the greater number of zones, brightness and contrast are not always better than in the X90L – sometimes they even perform worse. This raises a sense of wasted potential, as we were counting on a greater qualitative leap. After all, we are talking about a true MINI-LED television here. Nevertheless, the Bravia 5 remains an excellent television for those who want to enjoy primarily image quality. If you are looking for a model that can impress with motion smoothness, extracts details from difficult scenes, and works wonders with older materials, the Bravia 5 will surely meet those expectations. It's a television that sometimes struggles to keep up with the competition in certain aspects, but it still holds its own with what Sony does best – cinematic imagery.

LG B4 uses OLED panels produced by LG Displays. The use of this type of panel provides us with perfect contrast and black levels. With such conditions, the picture is incredibly vivid and one might even get the impression that it is three-dimensional. The series of the manufacturer with the letter "B" has always been an ideal solution for those seeking very good picture quality while not wanting to pay extra for features that are only available in higher series. Therefore, these models have become something of a dark horse in this price range, as their advantageous pricing primarily competes with Mini LED televisions. It is not difficult to say that these models have won these battles due to the absence of characteristic flaws associated with LCD receivers with multi-zone backlighting, such as blooming/halo effects or dimming of images containing fine bright details. And as we can see in the test scenes from the films "Oblivion" and "Sicario 2," the fidelity is at the highest level. Looking at the first one, we see a spectacular play of lights that, despite their brightness, are perfectly separated from one another. Even a more challenging scene with a helicopter poses no problem for LG B4, showcasing a wealth of details and a unique colour grading specific to this title.

Bravia 5 is the entry-level television from the Mini-LED series in Sony's portfolio for 2025, so naturally we start with the most important question – how does it handle black levels and contrast? After all, the term “Mini-LED” almost sounds like a magic spell these days. In theory, this means thousands of tiny LEDs arranged in zones that are meant to work in harmony, dimming and brightening the image so that the viewer sees more depth than in a classic LCD. In practice, we've counted about 200 local dimming zones in the 65-inch Bravia 5. Is that a lot? Certainly more than its predecessor, the already legendary X90L model, but when looking at Chinese manufacturers who manage to pack in hundreds, sometimes even thousands of zones – it seems rather modest.

One might expect that the combination of a greater number of zones with the refined dimming algorithms that Sony has accustomed us to over the years would translate to a significant quality leap over the X90L. Meanwhile – and here comes a slight disappointment – tests showed that the results are surprisingly similar to last year's model. Don't take this the wrong way: the contrast for an LCD television with local dimming is truly solid. In most scenes, bright elements are separated from dark ones with surgical precision, and the effect can be stunning. But when more demanding shots appear on the screen – those that relentlessly test the capabilities of the backlighting – it's clear that the equipment has its limitations.

Therefore, one could say that in terms of black levels and contrast, the Bravia 5 doesn't so much disappoint as rather fails to meet the expectations raised by the initial announcements. We were hoping for at least a slightly better result than its predecessor, and we got “only” good contrast. And it is this “only” that is the key word here – because good contrast in Sony's rendition still signifies a level that most competitors could be proud of.

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

Looking at similar results in terms of blackness and contrast, we expected equally stable performance as last year's model when it came to HDR content. Unfortunately – and this needs to be said outright – there has been a regression here that is hard to overlook. The paradox is that the peak brightness of the Bravia 5 is impressive: in our synthetic tests, the television achieved around 1000 nits in HDR. Sounds great, right? The problem is that this power does not always translate effectively to all film scenes. When small, point-like elements appear on the screen, something that had usually been polished with surgical precision in Sony's case is this time noticeably lacking. The algorithms attempt to maintain deep black around small objects, but the side effect is that details can be dimmed to such an extent that they become barely visible. Just consider the example of the film Sicario 2 – in some scenes there, small light sources practically disappeared, as if someone had covered them with dark film.

Of course, not everything looks so dramatic. In simpler, brighter scenes, where the image is filled with more light, the Bravia 5 shows that it can shine: literally and figuratively. Then the television achieves values in the range of 600–800 nits, which we saw both in synthetic tests and during film screenings. The impression is really positive; the brightness adds dynamism, and the colours appear vibrant and fresh. However, there remains a certain dissonance. We feel a slight confusion because evidently something has gone in a direction it shouldn’t have. Technological progress – more zones, greater backlighting power – has not been supported by the well-crafted image management that we usually associate with Sony. Fortunately, there are elements that have not been worsened and are, in fact, at a very high level. We are talking about colour reproduction. Thanks to the application of the PFS filter, the colour palette coverage is excellent – around 97% DCI-P3 and 75% BT.2020. These are values that allow for truly broad colour reproduction, giving films a sense of naturalness and cinematic quality.

The best factory mode prepared by the manufacturer is "Filmmaker," which is exactly what we used throughout the entire testing procedure. We must admit that the unit we received out of the box had quite good colour reproduction. The biggest problem in both SDR and HDR content turned out to be white balance. In the former, a strong red hue was evident, causing the displayed image to have a pronounced yellow tint, particularly noticeable on skin tones and whites. In higher quality materials, this colour was also accentuated, but due to a lack of blue, there were also signs of green visible. Apart from these issues, we also encountered problems with grayscale and the colours themselves.

Sony Bravia 5 was of course tested in the best possible mode, which is the Cinema mode. Right out of the box, it provides the most natural colours, definitely better than anything offered by the "eco" or "dynamic" modes, which are more suited for a showroom display than for a living room. However, the Cinema mode alone does not mean we can always expect cinematic picture quality. With SDR content, we had virtually no major complaints – the slightly warmed white balance gave the scenes a somewhat golden tone, but it was nothing that was visually jarring. However, the problem arose with HDR material. Here, the colour reproduction simply looked poor. The white balance was heavily skewed – with an excess of blue and a clear lack of red. At times, it resembled the store's "super vibrant image" mode, where everything is overexposed and artificially boosted.

This situation also made brightness management seem overly aggressive. The EOTF graph clearly showed that the television had problems with overexposing many scenes right out of the box. And while we know what Sony televisions are usually capable of, it was difficult to remain indifferent here – thus we quickly decided to go for calibration.

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

After calibration, the situation changed dramatically. We managed to adjust the white balance so that entire scenes began to look more natural, and the image gained cohesion and elegance. In HDR, we finally got rid of that unwanted clipping effect that had previously marred some shots. Suddenly, it turned out that the Bravia 5 can extract significantly more from films than the “out of the box” impression suggested. Indeed, if we look at the graphs and compare them with the patterns, we can see that the beginning of the EOTF curve slightly deviates from the reference line. However, this is not so much a calibration error as it is a natural limitation of Mini-LED technology, which cannot be bypassed. Sony, instead of clinging to perfect black, prefers to prioritise the visibility of details – and in practice, it's hard to disagree with that. We would rather see the texture of the material on the screen than a pitch-black blob where all nuances are lost.

The calibration itself was truly beneficial. After about an hour spent on the settings, we felt that the image resembled that from the best cinema halls – of course on a home scale, but with the same sense of quality and refinement. And in such moments, we remember why we like Sony televisions: because when we fine-tune them, they can reward us with an image that captivates for long hours.

The fluidity of tonal transitions, often overlooked in various tests on competing portals, is an equally important aspect of image quality assessment. It is particularly important when watching material that features a wealth of colours and many intricate effects, where textures blend. This often leads to the so-called banding of colours, which is a lack of smooth gradation. The tested television handles tonal transition smoothing quite well. However, it is worth noting that it has its weaker moments, such as a bright coloured sky in the film "Kingsman" or "The Martian". Nevertheless, these are not aspects that detract from the viewing pleasure. Therefore, we positively assess the quality of tonal transitions in LG B4.

tonal transitions are nothing more than the way in which a television handles the blending of colours and shades – from light to dark, from saturated to pastel. If the device struggles with this, characteristic "steps" can be seen instead of smooth transitions, and the image loses its naturalness. It is during these moments that instead of getting absorbed in the film, we start glancing at the screen thinking, "hey, something's not right here." Fortunately, in the Sony Bravia 5, such situations are practically nonexistent. This is a huge advantage, as nothing distracts our attention from the plot or sporting emotions. The television performs best in bright scenes, where colour transitions are smooth, and the blending of colours is almost invisible. The effect is so good that sometimes one might feel as if the image has been painted in one brushstroke. Of course, there were a few minor hiccups. In darker scenes, certain imperfections can be noticed – slight stepping or minimal gradation issues. For this, the Bravia 5 received a few negative points from us. Nevertheless, in the vast majority of situations, the television performs excellently and comes through this test with flying colours.

In this paragraph, we will take another look at the function for smoothing tonal transitions, but we will also check how the television handles lower quality material. As we have managed to verify, the setting responsible for smooth gradation works quite efficiently, although it has its weaker moments. Just as the function works correctly in SDR content, it becomes rather useless in HDR content. Even at the lowest of the options, it blurs essential details, which is why we advise against using it.

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

Bravia 5 carries within it the genes of Sony, which have remained untouched – and thank goodness for that, because we are talking about absolutely remarkable digital image processing. It is no coincidence that for years it has been believed that it is televisions of this brand that set the standard for how a screen should handle lower quality materials. If someone still watches classic television, old films or YouTube in lower resolutions, here they get equipment that can transform such content into an unexpectedly pleasant experience. On board, we find several tools worth activating. The first of these is "digital noise reduction". Set to a medium level, it works perfectly – smoothing tonal transitions, which usually cause the most trouble in low-quality materials, while not introducing any artificial artifacts. Importantly, it also does not remove the filmic character, meaning the natural grain that is intentionally present in many productions. Another advantage of the Bravia 5 is the upscaling capabilities of the XR processor. The image displayed after scaling is soft, yet at the same time sharp and clear. The contours of characters are clearly visible, while backgrounds retain their structure without excessive artificial sharpening. It’s hard to find a better television for watching lower quality materials – Bravia 5 only confirms why Sony is regarded as a benchmark in this field.

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

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 televisions, whose response times can be as high as several milliseconds. This is clearly evident in the pictures from the "UFO Test", showing no trail following the object.

Bravia 5 received a 120 Hz panel, which in itself sounds like an invitation to watch sports, fast matches, or spectacular action films. However, the real magic begins when MotionFlow – Sony's proprietary smoothness technology – comes into play. Thanks to it, we can adjust the character of the image to our own preferences. The "smoothness" slider allows you to transition from a cinematic feel with a slight "jitter" of the film frame to a nearly theatrical fluidity, where every ball in the match glides across the screen as if on a string. The higher the value, the smoother and more fluid it is; the lower it is, the more cinematic and natural it feels. In the options, we will also find an additional setting that Sony has called "clarity". This is nothing more than the BFI function (i.e., inserting black frames), which is meant to improve motion sharpness. It sounds great in theory, but in practice, one must use it with great caution. Why? Because all higher settings cause brightness drops of up to half, and in some cases, contour doubling also appears. Therefore, if we wish to use it, we recommend the lowest possible level – "1" out of the available ten. This way, we gain a bit better motion clarity without risking a loss of half the image brightness.

The LG B4 television is equipped with four fully-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports with a full bandwidth of 48Gbps. All features that are identical to this standard were activated without any issues, and throughout the entire testing process, they did not cause any problems. The combination of such extensive functionality and low input lag suggests that the tested television is truly made for gaming. This is not surprising, considering that the manufacturer has always placed great emphasis on this. Therefore, we can enjoy both the properly implemented HGIG mode and gaming in Dolby Vision with low latency. This pairing will certainly attract the attention of all passionate gamers for whom quality is paramount.

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

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

In the Bravia 5, there is a significant improvement compared to the X90L model from two years ago. The television offers literally everything its predecessor had, but this time the issues that could frustrate gamers have been fixed. The problems with setting variable refresh rate (VRR) have disappeared, and there are no longer any issues with configuring HDR content in HGiG mode. In short: we get hardware that simply works as it should, without any fuss. Therefore, the Bravia 5 has everything you could expect from a modern gaming television – and it can be reasonably advertised with the slogan “ready for PS5.” This is a statement we couldn't make about the X90L model. Well done, Sony!

It’s just a shame that this relatively high-priced model lacks a full set of four HDMI 2.1 ports. In everyday use, this won’t be a problem for most people, but if someone has a console, soundbar, and additional equipment hooked up via HDMI, at some point there will be a need to choose or juggle the cables.

Input lag for the LG B4 is at an incredibly low level in every scenario. Even the most dedicated gamers will certainly appreciate the very low input lag at demanding 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR, which is just 5 ms. It is also worth noting that the lag at these same settings, but with Dolby Vision HDR enabled, remains consistent, which is not as evident with the competition. Therefore, it deserves the highest rating and recommendation.

When it comes to input lag, the Bravia 5 deserves a round of applause. Results around 7 ms at 120 Hz content are nothing short of spectacular – it’s hard to imagine a player complaining about such responsiveness. Even at 60 Hz, where the lag increases to around 15 ms, we’re still talking about values that absolutely do not spoil the fun and are not noticeable in practice. Moreover, Sony has finally tamed the Dolby Vision mode. In the X90L, it was practically unplayable – delays rose to levels of even 150 ms. Meanwhile, in the Bravia 5, the input lag remains at the same low level as with other content. This is a huge improvement and further proof that this television can truly be called “gamer-friendly.”

LG B4 combined with a PC performs excellently, thanks to a very low latency of just 13.5 ms, which is practically an instant response between the mouse, the eye, and the screen. An extremely important factor when working on a screen is primarily the readability of the text, which in the case of the tested television is very good. However, it is worth noting that to achieve sharp fonts, one must enable the passthrough option in the settings.

The RWBG pixel layout has no significant impact on the display of fonts or letters, which provides a considerable advantage over Samsung's QD-OLED matrices. Users of both Windows and macOS equipped computers are sure to be pleased with the performance on the screen of the tested television.

In this category, the Bravia 5 deserves a commendable rating. The ideal readability of fonts thanks to the 4:4:4 chroma support makes working with a computer on this television a pure pleasure. Whether we are opening Excel, browsing documents, or just surfing the web – the text is sharp, clear, and devoid of that characteristic "haze" that can effectively detract from the enjoyment of use on many televisions. The letters look as they should: distinct, sharp, and readable even up close.

We also have good news for PC gamers. The Bravia 5 has no issues handling 120 Hz, working with both Nvidia and AMD graphics cards, supporting G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro technologies. The result is that the image is not only smooth but also free of tearing or micro-stuttering that can ruin the experience even in the best-optimised games. One can confidently connect a powerful computer and enjoy gaming on a large screen – without compromises, without frustration, and with complete comfort. The only thing we could criticise is the lack of additional modes for gamers with higher refresh rates.

The undisputed advantage of OLED panels is their performance in the context of group viewing, that is, from various angles. LG B4 maintains very good contrast, colour saturation, and fidelity. Although this is not the result of organic televisions supported by MLA technology, one cannot say that anyone who purchased the device was dissatisfied 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 LG's WRGB panels, without the aforementioned micro-lens technology, and unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about it.

Bravia 5 uses a classic VA panel, which means one thing – the viewing angles are not its strong point. For owners of smaller sizes, this will not be an issue, as sitting directly in front, the picture looks superb. However, with larger sizes, especially at 85 inches, the situation becomes less comfortable. It is enough to sit slightly off-centre on the sofa to notice minor imperfections: the picture begins to lose saturation, the contrast weakens, and black takes on unwanted greys. It is a pity that Sony did not choose to implement additional coatings, which in the case of VA panels can bring their performance closer to that of IPS panels. Such solutions exist, and some competitors make use of them. However, they are missing here, so one must consider that Bravia 5 best shows its advantages when viewed head-on.

The maximum brightness of the television in SDR materials is 370 nits. For an OLED television, this is a very good result and allows for quite comfortable viewing during the day. It is worth paying attention to two things. The first is the rather mediocre handling of reflections caused by the satin finish of the panel, which means that direct light hitting the television will be quite obtrusive. The second issue is the brightness of the screen when filled 100% with white, oscillating around 260 nits, which is an excellent result, as until recently, OLED televisions in this price range could "boast" a brightness twice as low. Thanks to this, the conditions for watching, for example, winter sports will be very good.

Bravia 5 is a piece of equipment that really performs well in challenging lighting conditions. The high brightness ensures that even in the middle of the day, with the curtains wide open and sunlight streaming through the windows, the picture remains clear and sharp. There is no impression that we are watching a 'washed-out' screen. The satin coating of the panel also plays a significant role, effectively suppressing light reflections. Indeed, some reflections do appear, but they are not strong enough to interfere with viewing. These are more like subtle glows that can be noticed when we consciously look for them, rather than a real everyday problem. As a result, the Bravia 5 is suitable not only for the evening in a dimly lit room but also in bright living rooms, where other televisions might falter. Therefore, it can be said that this is a 'universally light' model – it is suitable for both evening screenings and watching news or sports in full sunlight.

LG B4 uses the well-known proprietary system WebOS. The system offers practically all the most important applications, and those that are lacking can be counted on one hand, such as CDA or KODI.

WebOS also boasts a highly appreciated ability to perform operations using a cursor that appears when the remote control is moved. The convenience of such a feature is invaluable when entering queries or passwords for portals. WebOS, like most systems, also supports functions such as screen mirroring, AirPlay, voice search in Polish, and the capability to connect headphones via Bluetooth. On a more practical note, WebOS allows us to use both headphones and the television speaker simultaneously, which will certainly be a great help for those with hearing impairments. Among the more interesting features, particularly appreciated by sports fans, is the option to enable an alert for upcoming matches, ensuring that we never miss a broadcast. The home panel also deserves praise for 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, despite being less known and having certain limitations compared to Android TV, offers stable and fast operation and supports most functions that users may need. It is a solid solution for those looking for a simple and effective operating system in a television.

GoogleTV and SmartTV Features

Sony Bravia 5 operates on Google TV, and it must be acknowledged that this is one of the best-optimised systems from this brand. The interface runs smoothly, there are no irritating bugs or strange translations, and navigating through the menu doesn't feel like walking through a minefield. Admittedly, there are moments when it experiences a slight hiccup – as if the system has its "weaker moments" – but these are rare enough not to spoil the overall impression. We have full support for AirPlay, voice search with the help of Google AI assistant, and the ability to download practically any app that comes to mind. The only drawback in the tests turned out to be the screen mirroring function, which theoretically should work with laptops and phones, yet in practice proved to be nearly useless – on Windows and Android, stable image transmission could not be achieved.

Usability Features

From the perspective of classic features, Bravia 5 performs solidly and practically. A significant advantage is the presence of two remote controls – one is a sleek, modern smart remote, and the other, while operating via infrared, has a classic numerical keypad. This allows us to always choose which remote fits the situation better. The EPG, or electronic programme guide, is clear and allows you to programme recordings onto a USB drive – a solution that seems simple but is incredibly useful. Additionally, the television supports various device connections: from an amplifier or soundbar via HDMI eARC to headphones and other wireless accessories via Bluetooth. This is a setup that makes the television not just a screen but a well-thought-out home entertainment hub.

The default file player in LG B4 definitely handles most images well, although the absence of a few equally popular formats is surprising. We can successfully play videos recorded in virtually all the most popular formats, including Dolby Vision. The only codec that LG B4 will not play is H.266 VVC, although this is currently rather unused. However, it is worth noting the supported image formats, of which there are only two: JPEG and PNG. Users of Apple devices 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 will also mention the lack of support for TXT subtitles.

Bravia 5 handles multimedia playback from USB quite efficiently. In practice, almost everything works – films, music, photos – although of course we encountered some minor issues. Some subtitles can cause problems, as can exotic photo formats, which were not always recognised correctly. However, this is standard in the world of televisions, and it's hard to take serious offence at it. A significant advantage is the fact that thanks to Android, we are not solely reliant on the system player. It's enough to install an external application, such as VLC, and all limitations disappear. This is the strength of this system – the manufacturer does not confine us to their ecosystem but allows freedom of choice.

The audio system built into the LG OLED B4 can be considered quite good. We can say that it performs well for its price range. The bass is quite noticeable, but does not overpower the other frequencies. It can be said that the sound is fairly 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.

Bravia 5 positively surprises in terms of audio. The sound is pleasant, with a slightly noticeable bass thanks to the proprietary Bass Reflex speakers. Overall, it plays loudly, clearly, and definitely above average for a television – 40 W of power in a 2.2 configuration is an impressive result in this class. The placement of the speakers on the sides of the casing also plays a significant role, making the sound spread throughout the room and providing a sense of space. However, one should not be overly optimistic. It is still not on the level of even the simplest soundbar. Bravia 5 performs excellently in everyday use, but for those who enjoy strong sound and a cinematic effect, additional audio equipment will be essential – as is the case with nine out of ten televisions available today on the market.

LG 55 B4 vs Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)

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

Classic features:

Smart features:

GoogleTV and SmartTV Features

Usability Features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound

Acoustic Measurements