Compare: LG QNED87T6B vs Samsung The Frame LS03D

LG QNED87T is a television that definitely stands out. It is somewhat unconventional – it doesn’t forcefully compete with top OLED models, but it makes up for that with modern features and user-friendly operation. This is a device that works wonderfully for those who value convenience and versatility. The 120 Hz panel, VRR, and ALLM ensure that the television handles dynamic content well. 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 delays or blurring. When watching sports, fast actions are clear, without stuttering. On a daily basis, LG QNED87T is simply comfortable. WebOS operates intuitively, applications launch quickly, and the Magic Remote significantly simplifies control. Voice control saves time, especially when searching for films or series. Features such as USB recording and Bluetooth offer more options, increasing its versatility. The IPS panel is a significant advantage when it comes to viewing angles. Regardless of where we sit in the room, the picture looks good. It’s an excellent solution in larger spaces, where not everyone has a direct view of the screen. Older films or standard television from built-in tuners also look decent – the improvement in the quality of lower resolution materials works surprisingly well. However, there are certain things that may stand out. The contrast is simply tragic. In dark scenes, there are no details at all. In the evening, in a dimmed room, this is very noticeable. During the day, these imperfections are less felt, so LG QNED87T is better suited for well-lit places. LG QNED87T is a television that has its strengths. It handles dynamic materials well, is comfortable to use, and is perfect for bright rooms. It is not an ideal model for evening screenings in darkness, but in everyday use, it certainly stands out. It is a versatile device that is worth considering when choosing a new television.

Samsung The Frame LS03D (2024) is not an ordinary television that you can place in the corner and forget after two days. Here, it is immediately evident that the manufacturer has focused on something more than just playing films. First, the “Art” mode captures attention – with just a few clicks, we can turn The Frame into a digital gallery, displaying works that, in combination with the matte screen, truly resemble a real framed painting. And speaking of the frame, we have the option to customise its colour to perfectly match our interior. Additionally, the package includes a wall mount, allowing the television to hang almost “flush”, which further enhances the impression of engaging with an image rather than a typical screen. The matte screen provides excellent protection against reflections, which together with high brightness (650 cd/m²) works well in bright sunlight. Furthermore, we have a VA panel with quite decent contrast and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, so when watching sports or playing dynamic titles, everything appears smooth and pleasant to the eye. If we also add a gaming features package – VRR, ALLM and HGiG – it’s clear that Samsung has also considered console and PC enthusiasts. As a result, Samsung The Frame can be both a picturesque decoration for the living room and a reasonably effective gaming monitor. The mentioned One Connect is another useful gadget – it allows us to hide all the cables in one place, with a thin wire connecting the television to this magical box. If we like order, this solution is made for us. Another advantage is the Tizen system – easy to use, fast, and full of applications. We may not find absolutely everything in it (e.g. the Tidal app), but it still provides a wide range for exploring various streaming platforms. Of course, there’s no rose without thorns. The lack of local dimming is noticeable in dark scenes, where blacks become less pronounced. We also need to remember that there is only one HDMI 2.1 port here, so if we want to connect more devices at 4K and 120 Hz, we may feel limited. Additionally, the viewing angles are rather average, so it’s better for the most important viewer (that is us) to sit directly in front of the television. For fans of Dolby Vision, this will also not be an ideal choice, as The Frame LS03D only supports HDR10 and HDR10+. Furthermore, the sound – as with most slim televisions – is mediocre, so it’s worth considering a soundbar if we care about clearer bass and a bit deeper sound. Despite these weaker points, The Frame still makes a great impression. It is striking, stylish, and versatile – perfect for watching the latest hits as well as displaying reproductions of paintings on the wall. If we value an unusual appearance, high brightness, and at the same time want to play with low input lag, this model will be a perfect choice. And although it is not a leader in terms of value for money nor a technological “monster” in terms of picture quality, it has something that simply makes it likable. It is a device that stands out with its unique character and can blend into any interior, attracting attention both in television mode and as a digital art gallery.

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

Although the manufacturer offers a dimming control option, the effects remain relatively weak. Test patterns show that the contrast is truly miserable, and in the test scene from the film "Sicario 2," it is clearly visible how the television struggles with uneven backlighting, illuminating a large portion of the screen from below. This demonstrates 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.

Samsung The Frame uses a VA panel, which in itself provides quite high contrast. In our tests, the results oscillated around 4000–5000:1, which will be more than enough for most users. However, the lack of local dimming is noticeable, especially on more demanding test slides. In dark scenes, it can be observed that black has a subtle hint of navy blue. During the day or in a well-lit room, this will not be an issue, but during an evening viewing, more discerning viewers may feel a slight deficiency.

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 scenes. Support for basic HDR formats, such as HDR10 and HLG, ensures appropriate 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 – 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 high as 96.4%. This ensures that the colours displayed by the QNED87T6B model are more vibrant and natural, enhancing the quality of 4K content with a wide colour palette.

Samsung The Frame LS03D performs really well with brightness. Results of 700 nits make bright elements on the screen look striking and detailed, whether they illuminate the entire screen or appear as small points of light against a dark background. In more demanding scenes, like the fourth sequence from the film Sicario 2, the black levels are average, but we have already discussed this in the section on contrast. As for brightness – the television definitely excels here. An additional advantage is the quantum dot coating, which is QLED technology. Thanks to this, the colour palette coverage has been improved, although The Frame does not stand out in this regard compared to the competition.

The colour reproduction in the LG QNED, even in Filmmaker Mode, which is the best factory setting, is not without flaws. The main issue is the white balance – we noticed that the level of blue on the graph tends to decrease. This results in a shift towards yellow tones, making the image appear warmer 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 cinematic scenes seem less realistic, and details are represented in incorrect colours, which negatively impacts the overall picture quality.

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

Samsung offers several picture modes on its televisions, but undoubtedly the Filmmaker Mode is the one that should provide the most natural representation of content. Unfortunately, as is often the case with mass production, the differences between units can be considerable, and our tested model was not free from a few issues.

In the case of SDR content, the white balance leaned heavily towards red, with a slight boost in blue. This effect was particularly noticeable in comparison images – for example, in a photograph of a boy whose face was unnaturally flushed. The gamma, or brightness characteristic, also did not perform perfectly – the image was slightly brightened, which detracted from its depth.

In 4K HDR content, the white balance was again dominated by red, this time in combination with green. Meanwhile, blue clearly lost intensity, which was easy to notice on the Color Checker palette, where colours began to "drift" in the wrong direction. The EOTF curve, responsible for brightness in HDR content, showed that the television has a tendency to excessively brighten the image, especially in the darkest elements of scenes.

Overall, while it did not look terrible, it definitely required adjustment. Fortunately, Samsung offers extensive calibration options, which provides the chance for a significant improvement in image quality. Therefore, we proceeded with professional calibration to extract the full potential from this television.

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 the precise adjustment of the gamma, details in shadows and bright areas of the image are accurately reproduced. The television performs excellently in everyday use, offering vivid, well-balanced images and solid colour quality in HD quality. The greatest beneficiary here is also the contrast. The gamma chart has been freed from very large errors, so here the television has gained a second face.

As for the white balance in 4K HDR, it has also been significantly improved. However, certain errors still appear at the end of the chart. This could be due to the overly aggressive operation of the television's local dimming, which affects the accurate reproduction of colour in certain scenes. It is difficult to speak here of an improvement in brightness represented by the EOTF curve. Due to its construction limitations, the television has certain disadvantages and we are not able to overcome them. The Color Checker test confirms the issue with colour saturation – despite the television offering a wide colour palette, it is not able to fully convey what the director intended.

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

After professional calibration, the Filmmaker Mode shows its full potential. The white balance in HD content is exemplary – errors at the level of 0.5 indicate almost perfect colour reproduction accuracy. The image now looks natural, and the colours are precisely as they should be. In 4K HDR content, the effect is not quite as perfect, but it still maintains a really high level. The colours are vibrant, well-saturated, and the overall picture quality can be impressive.

So where does the problem arise, given our praise for colour reproduction? Unfortunately, the entire experience is marred by brightness characteristics. The gamma in HD content looks decent, but in 4K HDR it's not as good. The EOTF curve shows that the television excessively brightens certain parts of the image, which is a result of construction limitations. The lack of local dimming means that the television cannot accurately control the differences between the brightest and darkest areas of the screen. This is a barrier that simply cannot be overcome in this model.

Nonetheless, after calibration, Samsung The Frame LS03D offers excellent colour reproduction, particularly in HD content, and the overall appearance is considerably better than before the settings were corrected.

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

This is one of the best televisions we have had the opportunity to test in terms of the smoothness of tonal transitions. Any potential imperfections are so minor that you really have to strain your eyes to notice them. They are subtle enough that we only deducted a symbolic fraction of points in this category. Without a doubt, this is one of the greatest advantages of this model. It is possible that such a good effect is partly due to the matte screen coating, which gently masks any irregularities in the colour gradation. The smoothness of tonal transitions in Samsung The Frame LS03D is at a level that will satisfy even exceptionally demanding users. Kudos to LS03D!

When it comes to lower quality materials, the gradation looks really good. A feature called "Smooth Gradation" effectively smooths out the most problematic areas of the image without 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 and makes watching lower resolution materials more enjoyable and smoother.

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

It’s time to check how Samsung The Frame LS03D performs with older, lower-quality materials. We already know that the fluidity of tonal transitions is at a very high level here, so we were curious to see how the television would handle smoothing them out.

The noise reduction feature in the "Standard" setting does its job well – tonal transitions are noticeably smoothed out, and at the same time, the image does not lose too much detail. However, it is worth noting that this effect also smooths out film grain, so its use will be a matter of individual preference.

When it comes to image scaling, the television also performed really well. The test chart turned out solid – the model was reproduced correctly, with clear details. The branches in the background, though slightly frayed in places, generally appear natural and do not stand out as imperfections.

The television provides decent smoothness when watching films, thanks to the "Tru Motion" feature that allows for adjustment of the motion smoothing level on a scale from 0 to 10. De-Judder adjusts motion smoothness, while De-Blur regulates motion sharpness. The user has the option to choose between a traditional, cinematic effect with slight judder (lower settings) and a smoother, theatrical image. Although the latter slightly deviates 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 certainly not disappoint them. And with the use of an IPS panel, the response time is generally better than that of VA panels available at a similar price. This guarantees smoother gameplay and dynamic experiences when watching sports events.

Firstly, it is worth noting that the model we tested in the size of 55 inches, like the 65, 75 and 85-inch versions, is equipped with a 120 Hz panel. Unfortunately, the 43 and 50-inch variants of this series only offer 60 Hz panels, which is worth keeping in mind when making a purchase. As for improving motion fluidity, the television offers a feature called “Picture Clarity”. This is a classic motion smoother that gives users the ability to adjust it using two sliders:

Motion blur reduction – this controls the sharpening of the image in dynamic scenes. The higher the value, the less blur during quick camera movements or moving objects. However, overly aggressive settings may cause the image to become unnatural, appearing like a “soap opera”.

Judder reduction – this slider influences the smoothness of frame playback, particularly in materials with a lower frame rate, such as films (24 fps). Higher settings can smooth motion but may also lead to excessive “plasticity” of the image.

Both sliders operate on a scale from 0 to 10, allowing for precise adjustment of the effect to one’s own preferences. It is worth experimenting with the settings to find the perfect balance between fluidity and a natural appearance of the image. We recommend setting them as shown in the picture.

LG QNED offers a range of features that make it an excellent choice for gamers looking for a high-performance television. The television is equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing for connection to the latest consoles, such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and taking full advantage of features including Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). With the Game Bar feature, gamers can quickly and easily manage all their game settings without having to navigate through complicated menus. It is possible to adjust parameters such as VRR, ALLM, Multi View, and monitor frame rates. The television 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 television's refresh rate with the graphics card. The 120Hz panel ensures incredible motion smoothness and image clarity. Combined with the Black Frame Insertion (BFI) feature, available at 60Hz and 120Hz, gamers can enjoy an even clearer and smoother picture. LG QNED87 is a television that will meet the expectations of even the most demanding gamers, offering modern technologies and features that significantly enhance comfort and satisfaction in gaming.

The Frame LS03D in the 2024 version has been equipped with four HDMI ports, but only one of them supports the 2.1 standard with a bandwidth of 40 Gb/s. This is important information if we plan to connect more than one device that requires a 4K@120 Hz signal – for example, two consoles or a console and a gaming PC.

In terms of features for gamers, The Frame truly has a lot to boast about. Here we find ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and HGiG. It is worth highlighting that HGiG has been very well implemented here, which is particularly important as the television does not support Dolby Vision in games (which is only available on Xbox consoles). In this case, HGiG turns out to be a better standard for gaming.

Samsung has also not forgotten about features that enhance gaming comfort. Game Bar is an advanced panel for gamers that allows for quick adjustment of screen settings without the need to dig through the television's menu. We can even change the aspect ratio from 16:9 to a panoramic 21:9, which may be a significant advantage for some gamers.

However, Samsung's biggest ace up its sleeve is the Game Motion Plus feature. This is a special smoothness enhancer dedicated to games that adds additional frames of animation without significantly affecting input lag. The effect is truly noticeable – the image appears much smoother, which fans of dynamic titles will particularly appreciate.

In summary – Samsung The Frame LS03D is a television that offers a solid set of features for gamers. While the limitation to one HDMI 2.1 port may be a downside, the rest of the solutions makes gaming on this television a truly enjoyable experience.

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

In terms of latency, The Frame LS03D is truly impressive. 13 ms for 60 Hz content and 8 ms for 120 Hz are results that will satisfy even the most demanding gamers. Such low values mean that responses to controller movements are almost instantaneous. In dynamic games, such as shooters or racing games, every fraction of a second matters – this is where Samsung LS03D excels.

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

Using a computer on The Frame is truly a pleasant experience. The fonts are clear and well-rendered thanks to support for chroma 4:4:4. There is no blurring or fuzziness, which often occurs in cheaper televisions. Of course, if someone looks very closely at small text, they may notice minimal imperfections, but that's really a minor detail that doesn't interfere with everyday tasks. It is also suitable for PC gaming. The 120 Hz panel, support for G-Sync, and really low input lag ensure that games run smoothly and without delays.

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

The viewing angles of the Samsung The Frame LS03D are average, which is typical for a VA panel. Here lies a bit of a problem – this television is supposed to serve as a display for images and works of art, which are not always viewed head-on. When viewed at an angle, colours begin to lose their intensity, and blacks turn into shades of grey. This is not at a level that completely ruins the experience, but if the television is to be placed where it will often be viewed from the side, the effect may be noticeable. It's a shame, as better viewing angles would be a significant advantage for a television of this purpose.

During the day, the LG QNED television performs acceptably. It has a satin finish panel that doesn't suppress reflections very well, which can be noticeable in bright rooms. Nevertheless, thanks to quite good brightness of 430 nits, the picture remains visible and readable. Although reflections can be somewhat distracting, the television's brightness allows for comfortable use during the day.

Samsung The Frame is equipped with a matte panel that excels at suppressing direct light reflections. This means that even in a brightly lit room, the image remains clear, and reflections do not interfere with viewing. Of course, as is often the case with matte finishes, there is a trade-off – colours lose some intensity, and black may appear more washed out during the day. Fortunately, the television compensates for this with a brightness level of 650 cd/m². This ensures that the image is bright, clear, and well visible even in a heavily sunlit room.

LG QNED87 Television 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 televisions available on the market. One of its greatest assets is the remote control with an integrated gyroscope, known as the Magic Remote. Thanks to this, navigation is intuitive and fast, making the use of the television a pleasure. WebOS also supports a number of smart features that greatly simplify daily use of the television. Among them, we find AirPlay, which allows easy content streaming from Apple devices such as iPhone or iPad. Additionally, the television supports a wide range of streaming applications, such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and many others, providing access to favourite films and series in one place. When it comes to daily usage, LG QNED87 does not disappoint. The television offers a USB recording function, which is increasingly rare in today's models. This allows for recording favourite programmes and watching them at any time. Furthermore, the television has a PIP (Picture-in-Picture) function, although only for one tuner, enabling the viewing of two programmes simultaneously. Connecting additional devices via Bluetooth is simple and hassle-free. The television supports various Bluetooth devices, such as mice, keyboards, or headphones, increasing its versatility and allowing easy personalisation of the user experience. With all these features, the LG QNED87 television is a versatile and convenient device that meets the expectations of even the most demanding users.

Samsung The Frame LS03D is a television that stands out from other models and is difficult to describe in a traditional way. Of course, it includes all the standard Smart TV features thanks to the Tizen system. The system operates responsively, is comprehensive, and offers a wide selection of applications. The remote control supports voice commands in Polish, and additional devices can be connected via Bluetooth – just like in many other televisions. But that's not the essence of this model.

The greatest strength of Samsung The Frame is its design. The "Art" mode allows you to display thousands of high-resolution images, which, combined with a matte display, look truly exceptional. The effect is surprisingly realistic and hard to compare with any other television.

The bezels may not be the thinnest on the market, but you can customise them in terms of colour and style to perfectly blend with your interior. (Sold separately) And while the bezels themselves are not ultra-thin, the entire construction is sleek and elegant. The wall mount, which is included (its value is approximately £80), also deserves special attention. With it, the television can be mounted practically flat against the wall, with no gap, which further emphasises the "picture" effect.

And what about the cables? Samsung thought of that too. The Frame has been equipped with a One Connect module – an external box where all devices are connected. Only one nearly invisible cable runs to the television, which transmits both the signal and power. The box can be easily hidden in a cabinet or behind furniture, which means nothing disrupts the aesthetics of the interior.

Samsung The Frame LS03D is more than just an ordinary television – it is a thoughtfully designed decorative element that combines the modern functionality of Smart TV with exceptional design and practical solutions. Although it lacks typical features such as USB recording or PiP, it is not a model created with a classic approach to television in mind. LS03D the frame is a television that is easy to love for its innovation, originality, and how wonderfully it fits into any interior.

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, providing versatility and user convenience. The only criticism that could be made is the limited number of supported image 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 built-in media player in Samsung The Frame handles most popular video and audio formats without major issues. Video files, even those with subtitles that we have added, play smoothly and without interruptions. The same goes for audio files – here too, there are no significant surprises. The situation is somewhat worse when it comes to handling photo formats. The built-in player has certain limitations and does not support all possible types of graphic files. However, nowadays, most people use wireless photo transfer, so for many users, this will not be a major problem.

When it comes to sound, one could say it is moderately pleasant. There is a lack of pronounced bass, and the mid-tones seem somewhat unclean. This is not an ideal situation for audiophiles, but it is worth noting that the television has no trouble playing DTS files. This is a feature that is lacking in many other televisions, so the LG QNED87 deserves praise for this support.

The sound on the Samsung The Frame is… well, quite average. The slim design of the television, while looking impressive, doesn’t allow much space for decent speakers. As a result, the sound is flat and lacks dynamism – exactly like most televisions in this category. Samsung is clearly aware of this, as it offers a special series S of soundbars, specifically created for its "lifestyle" televisions, which includes the The Frame.

LG QNED87T6B vs Samsung The Frame LS03D

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