LG QNED87T6B vs Sharp GR8

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.

Sharp GR8 in its promotional materials boasts of "very high brightness" at a level of 500 nits. Unfortunately, our tests showed that the reality is somewhat different – the average luminance value we managed to achieve was around 360 nits. This is rather an average result, especially in the context of the manufacturer's claims. Such brightness does not allow for a full enjoyment of HDR effects. The image is a bit more defined than in standard SDR, but it is difficult to speak of true richness and depth in bright elements here. However, praise is due for the DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage at a level of 95%. This is a result of the application of an additional PFS layer, known from QLED technology. As a result, the colours are vivid and have a pleasant, natural tone, which somewhat compensates for the deficiencies in brightness.

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.

At the outset, it is worth noting that colour reproduction tests are always conducted in the best factory picture mode. In the case of Sharp GR8, this is the “Film” mode. As for white balance, which affects how we perceive colours on the screen, in SDR mode, there is an immediate noticeable dominance of blue. This results in an unnatural cooling of the image – blue elements take on a purple hue, and skin tones acquire a pinkish glow, as we can see in the comparative photo from the film STAR WARS. During the Color Checker test, it was clear that the colour samples deviated from the reference values, confirming considerable errors in colour reproduction. The gamma was also not ideal – it caused excessive brightness throughout the entire image, resulting in a lack of depth and appropriate tonal transitions in the scene.

In 4K HDR mode, the situation looks significantly better. The dominance of blue is much less noticeable, although there are minor issues with the combination of red and blue. This causes some shades to appear somewhat unnatural. The EOTF curve, responsible for the brightness of the image in 4K HDR content, revealed another problem – the television tends to excessively dim the image across the entire surface of the screen.

In summary, the “Film” mode in Sharp GR8 would require a few adjustments to fully utilise the potential of this television. Fortunately, we took care of that and proceeded with calibration.

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.

Sharp GR8 is one of those televisions that truly gains a second life after proper calibration. Both in HD and 4K content, the white balance performs very well, especially when considering the price segment of this model. The image becomes much more aligned with what the director intended to show – colours look natural, and skin tones acquire the appropriate depth and warmth. The brightness characteristics also make a very positive impression. Both gamma and the EOTF curve display really solid values. While minor imperfections can be noticed, they are subtle enough that they are difficult to detect during everyday viewing. In summary, calibration allows the Sharp GR8 to showcase its best features, offering an image that is not only pleasant to the eye but also faithfully reflects the creators' intentions.

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.

Sharp GR8 has been equipped with the "10-bit colour reproduction" feature, which theoretically should improve the smoothness of tonal transitions. In practice… well, the effect is surprising, but not in a particularly positive way. Even at the highest settings, it is difficult to notice any impact on the actual tonal transitions. Instead, the feature surprisingly smooths out what it shouldn't – walls, shirts, or other flat surfaces look almost like they have been freshly ironed. In the test, we had to note that there is simply no actual impact on tonal transitions.

As for image scaling, here Sharp GR8 performs significantly better. The television can give the image a plastic, smooth characteristic, meaning even lower resolution content looks quite good. Of course, with more demanding details, such as thin tree branches in the background, one can notice slight jaggedness, but it is not something that would significantly affect viewing comfort.

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.

This is where Sharp GR8 has the chance to stand out from the competition in its price segment. The television is equipped with a 144 Hz refresh rate panel, which is an impressive achievement, especially if we plan to use it for dynamic content such as action films, sports broadcasts, or video games. Additionally, the manufacturer has ensured the presence of motion smoothing technology, commonly referred to as a “smoothness enhancer.” The user has three levels of adjustment at their disposal, allowing them to tailor the effect to their own preferences – from subtle smoothing to a more aggressive intervention in the smoothness of the image. This is a nice addition, particularly for those who mainly watch films and care about smooth, cinematic sequences without irritating stutters or frame drops.

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.

If the television has a 144 Hz panel and two full HDMI 2.1 ports, it is clear that it has been designed with gamers in mind. The Sharp GR8 offers exactly that – high refresh rates and the appropriate connections that will allow you to get the most out of modern consoles and PCs. It also features ALLM, which automatically switches the television to low latency mode, and VRR, which ensures the image does not stutter even during more demanding moments. In practice, everything works as it should, and it is hard to find fault with anything. However, there are some shortcomings. It lacks support for HGiG, which is a feature that better adjusts HDR for games, as well as Game Bar, which makes it easier to quickly adjust settings without leaving the game. Despite these drawbacks, the Sharp GR8 is truly a solid option for gamers.