LG UT8100 (IPS) vs Sharp GP7

Unfortunately, the LG UT8100 television does not meet expectations in the HDR effect category. With a peak brightness of only 300 nits on the luminance chart, it is well below the required value to fully enjoy the HDR effects. In practice, the image resembles SDR quality more than true HDR, which is particularly evident in demanding high-contrast scenes. The coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette is only 82%, further limiting the ability to present vibrant and rich colours. Instead of impressive visual experiences, we receive a muted and lacklustre image. For those looking for a television to fully utilise HDR content, the LG UT8100 model proves to be quite disappointing.

In terms of HDR, Sharp GP7 can pleasantly surprise us. A maximum brightness of around 500 nits is the threshold at which the real benefits of high dynamic range become visible. During our tests, we achieved stable values between 430 and 500 nits, which translated to clearer differentiation of elements in both bright and slightly darker scenes. Additionally, the DCI-P3 colour space coverage was around 95%, allowing for vibrant, visually pleasing colours. Of course, this is not the highest league, but considering this price range – it’s a big plus.

The Filmmaker Mode in LG UT8100, although theoretically the best for watching films, has significant flaws. The biggest problem is the white balance – drops in blue colour cause a noticeable yellowing of the image, evident in both HD and 4K content. These errors are confirmed by the measurement results in the Colour Checker test, which indicate significant deviations in colour reproduction.

Regarding brightness characteristics, both HD and 4K content feature a substantial tonal boost. The gamma curve in both cases remains significantly below the reference value of 2.4, leading to excessive brightening of darker elements of the image. A similar issue is noticeable in the EOTF curve – for 4K content, the television struggles with properly managing brightness, which results in problems with screen brightness. This means that the factory settings of this model require significant adjustments to achieve better image quality.

Upon removing it from the box, in movie mode, GP7 does not perform poorly at all. In HD materials, we noticed slight disturbances in white balance – drops in red and blue, which made the image have a somewhat greenish hue. This is evident, for example, on the faces of characters, which become less three-dimensional. The gamma is somewhat brightened in places, resulting in less deep blacks. In 4K HDR content, a cooler, bluish tone additionally comes to the fore, making the colours appear less natural. On the other hand, looking from the perspective of "straight out of the box," these settings are not bad – only minor adjustments are needed, and with the help of specific tools, we will try to improve them.

After calibrating the Filmmaker Mode, the gamma has been aligned to practically ideal, reference values, which has significantly improved the overall tonal characteristics of HD content. 4K HDR content also looks better, although certain issues are still visible at the extreme ends of the graph, where the curve deviates from perfection. The EOTF curve performs worse, as the television has difficulty maintaining appropriate brightness values. As a result, the image in some scenes may be overly bright or slightly dimmed, which is due to the very design of the device. Nevertheless, the calibration has brought considerable improvement, especially for HD content, where tonal balance and colour reproduction are now at a much higher level.

Calibration really makes a difference in Sharp GP7. After making adjustments, we achieved a better white balance in HD content, and the colours began to appear much more natural, with minimal deviations and without a noticeable dominance of individual hues. In 4K HDR, the change is not as spectacular, but still noticeable. The gamma has been brought to a more neutral level, although there remains an issue with a slight boost in the brightest details on the screen. The lack of control over dynamic tone mapping limits our manoeuvrability, but nonetheless, it is a significant step forward compared to the factory settings.

The fluidity of tonal transitions is also correct, although the effect depends on the settings. The update has improved the performance of the smooth gradation function, smoothing transitions better than before, but it has introduced minor issues with detail loss, e.g. on textures.

The image scaling on LG UT8100 performs very well. The image looks decent, without significant issues with edge aliasing. Details are preserved at a satisfactory level, which makes lower resolution materials look truly solid on this television. This allows users to enjoy watching older content without noticeable flaws in quality.

The television is quite capable of scaling lower quality content. Our test patterns were well reproduced, and although there was minimal banding on fine, delicate shapes (for example, thin branches), it still looked satisfactory. Additionally, Sharp GP7 offers a "10-bit colour reproduction" feature to smooth tonal transitions in poor quality materials. It is useful, but at the cost of some details, so we recommend turning it on only when we are truly watching something subpar.

LG UT8100, equipped with a 60 Hz panel, is particularly suited for those watching films. The television offers the TruMotion system with de-judder effect adjustment, allowing you to customise the smoothness of the image – from more choppy to exceptionally smooth, resembling a soap opera effect, depending on the user's preferences.

With a 60 Hz panel and an average response time, it’s hard to expect miraculous smoothness. In dynamic tests, such as the one with the “little green man”, it’s evident that the picture can stutter and occasionally lose sharpness. For watching films and series, this is acceptable, especially as you can make use of a motion smoother with three levels of adjustment. However, if we are keen on ultra-smooth sports broadcasts or super-responsive gaming, we may feel unsatisfied.

LG UT8100 offers basic features for gamers, such as ALLM and Game Bar, which makes access to settings easier. The television also supports HGiG, which improves image quality in HDR games. Unfortunately, the lack of support for Dolby Vision and VRR limits the capabilities of the device, as does the 60 Hz panel, which excludes support for 120 Hz resolution. This model is more suitable for less demanding gaming applications.

Let's not kid ourselves – GP7 Sharp is not a television for the most demanding console gamers. Yes, it has ALLM which automatically switches the TV to low latency mode, but it lacks VRR or G-Sync. We also won't find any advanced menu to assist in selecting settings during gameplay. Dolby Vision in games? It's there, but with such a high input lag that it's hard to speak of comfort. If we play occasionally and are not aiming for the highest standards, it can be managed, but fans of technological innovations will be disappointed.