Compare: Philips OLED809/819 vs LG QNED87T6B

Philips OLED 809 is a quite versatile television that appeals to a wide range of viewers. Its greatest distinguishing feature among all the television models on the market is the multicolour Ambilight backlighting. This often allows for an even greater immersion and engagement in the world of film. What is most important in televisions, namely contrast, black levels, and colour reproduction, is at a high level, and this is something that will always impress in OLED televisions. The tested television, although it performed quite well in our test, has some shortcomings worth noting. These include the quality of tonal transitions and the abrupt operation of the dynamic tone mapping function. In some cases, these may slightly irritate sensitive eyes. However, Philips OLED 809 excels in other respects, particularly in two areas: gaming performance and motion smoothing. The former stands out particularly strongly, as each of the implemented functions operates without the slightest hesitation, allowing for an even more immersive gaming experience. As for motion fluidity, it is at a similarly high level as the gaming support. Thanks to two sliders, whose effects are noticeable at each position, every user can find the best degree of smoothing for themselves. It’s also worth mentioning the Google TV system, which operates very smoothly and during the tests there were no "stutters".

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.

Philips OLED 809, as the name suggests, uses an organic matrix. Like the vast majority of manufacturers, it comes from the LG Displays factory, which is not surprising, as other leading manufacturers like Sony and Panasonic also use them. The application of this type of panel allows for achieving an ideal result in the contrast and black testing procedure. Thanks to such results, the image is incredibly vivid and free of any blooming effect from bright text on a dark background, which is already an indispensable element of televisions with local dimming. This is made possible by the very construction of the panel, which is not made up of many layers of filters, but from conductive organic polymers, controlled by electrical impulses. Thus, if we want to achieve black, the pixel dims to a value of 0, rather than being obscured. The lights present in the test image are perfectly separated from each other, which is extremely difficult, and often impossible, for LCD televisions. One of the strongest advantages of Philips OLED 809 is its ability to render contrasts. The Philips OLED809 test showed that the television excels at separating bright elements, such as headlights, from dark backgrounds.

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.

Philips OLED 809 delivers a more than satisfying HDR effect. The television is capable of generating brightness exceeding 900 nits in almost every scene, and sometimes even over 1000. This result allows for a full experience of content with a wide tonal range. The only moment when Philips OLED 809 is unable to generate higher brightness is in a scene from the movie “The Meg,” which features a large amount of bright white across a significant portion of the screen. However, this cannot be regarded as a poor result, as it represents a considerable improvement over its predecessor. Generally speaking, such values for OLED panels produced by LG Display, which do not feature MLA technology, are very, very good. When combined with high coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, they allow for an exceptional HDR experience. The Philips OLED 809 test showed that this television supports popular HDR formats such as Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

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.

The best factory mode in which we conducted all our tests was "Filmmaker", which has become rather standard in televisions from this manufacturer. However, let's check what its characteristics were before we began the calibration process. The first aspect we will examine is white balance, as despite appearing unassuming, it determines whether the image will be free from any kind of tint. The graph clearly shows that both in SDR and HDR materials, there was a dominant presence of two colours: red and green, which resulted in a strong yellow tint that was ubiquitous across the entire image. This is perfectly visible on the "ColourChecker" palette, where all hues shifted towards their warmer counterparts. The second thing we will scrutinise is, in our opinion, the two most important graphs regarding image quality assessment: gamma and the EOTF curve. Both aim to maintain adequate brightness and contrast. The first one serves to describe the brightness level in SDR materials, while the second shows the rate of luminance increase. Analyzing the first one, we can observe that it was extremely lowered compared to the reference value marked by the orange line. This situation resulted primarily in a sharp increase in brightness and a significant reduction in contrast, almost reminiscent of that in OLED televisions. The EOTF curve exhibited greater "moderation" and only slightly brightened the entire image to 50% of the maximum 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.

Philips, like most leading manufacturers, has been providing advanced tools for calibration processes for years. Here we will find both 2- and 20-point grey scale adjustments, as well as an advanced CMS (Colour Management System). As you can observe, this has brought about extremely beneficial results and profoundly changed the perceived image. Practically every one of the elements mentioned above has undergone a transformation and has been brought back to its natural state. This is particularly evident on the "ColourChecker" palette, where the measured samples are harmoniously in place. It must be said that the white balance has turned out exceptionally well, allowing us to enjoy a clean image free from any tint in both SDR and HDR materials. The biggest issue of OLED809, namely gamma, has been properly modelled and only shows minor errors here and there, which will not affect the overall picture. The EOTF curve, on the other hand, has been rid of that subtle brightening and now presents itself as reference-level.

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.

Equally important as colours, blackness and contrast in the context of the image quality assessment process is its purity. This category can also include the quality of tonal transitions. How many of you have experienced the effect of "banding" of colours on your older receivers? It is extremely bothersome and often effectively hinders immersion in the series or film being watched. Philips OLED 809 unfortunately has one of those qualities that are better left unspoken. However, out of editorial duty, we should take a look at them and evaluate, which will be quite simple given their lack of complexity. As you can see, practically every scene demonstrated a lack of fluidity between colours. And just as in the film "Kingsman" this is still acceptable, in other productions it is really impossible to leave them with a clean conscience, especially when looking at "The Green Knight." There, the dense fog has practically been converted into horizontal stripes and vaguely defined geometric shapes. There are televisions that can manage tonal transitions perfectly, but Philips OLED 809 unfortunately does not belong to this group. During the tests, we could observe the colour banding effect, particularly in demanding scenes, which negatively impacts the reception of the film. Philips OLED 809 test indicates that even options for removing posterization do not help sufficiently, which can be considered a serious flaw.

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.

Philips OLED 809 did not perform particularly well in the test of tonal transition fluidity. Moving on to the part of the test where we assess the behaviour of the television's algorithms, we will once again check the function responsible for removing posterization. Indeed, such a function exists in the menu and has several available options. As you can see in the picture on the left, although its presence has been confirmed by us, it is not useful. Only at the highest setting does it effectively remove stuttering; however, it blurs the entire image in the process. Therefore, it is completely useless.

It happens more than once or twice that you and we watch lower quality materials. In this case, the quality of the image upscaling algorithms can have a beneficial effect. We must admit that those implemented in OLED 809 work quite efficiently and improve image quality without visible artifacts. You can only notice slight edge fringing; however, it is unlikely to be visible during normal viewing.

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.

The maximum refresh rate we can set on the tested television is 144 Hz. This value can be achieved by connecting it to a really powerful PC. In the case of consoles or television, everything remains the same. For those who require high smoothness of motion or dislike the characteristic stuttering of films recorded at 24 fps, the manufacturer has prepared a fairly extensive motion smoothing system. In the dedicated tab, we will find a slider for “Smoothness” that is responsible for eliminating stutter, and “Motion Blur Reduction,” which helps increase the sharpness of dynamic elements. The function works very well and granularly, meaning that each setting has a real impact on the perception of motion. We also mention that it works at a refresh rate of 120 Hz, as it operates on multiples of film or television materials. With such an extensive set of options, every user will find their golden mean. In the picture, we present our choice, which is slight smoothing without the soap opera effect.

Motion is influenced not only by settings on the television but also by the response time of the panel itself. OLED televisions feature the best response time on the market, which in the case of 809 is about 0.1 ms. There are no IPS/ADS or especially VA panels that come close to the results of organic panels.

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.

The Philips OLED 809 television supports all technologies included in the HDMI 2.1 standard, and during our testing, each one activated without any problems. Therefore, we must state that this television is perfectly suited for all gamers, whether they are using a console or a computer. It is worth mentioning that the manufacturer has opted to implement the HGIG mode, which provides a great alternative to Dolby Vision, which unfortunately in the OLED809 is unplayable due to very high input lag.

A nod to gamers is also the inclusion of a dedicated GameBar, which allows for monitoring current gameplay parameters and quick changes to settings. We will also find a function to enable a crosshair, which will be very useful when shooting with a sniper rifle, but from the so-called hip. Additionally, we can also find a shadow enhancement function for better visibility in shadows and a colour filter for gamers with visual impairments.

In summary, the OLED 809 is a very good and versatile device for gamers. Anyone who purchases this television for gaming does not need to worry about anything, as it is simply made for gaming. Especially since features such as VRR, ALLM, G-Sync, FreeSync, or HDR Dolby Vision gameplay will allow for an even greater immersion in their favourite title. Lastly, we will add that the only downside of the television in game mode is the artificial image sharpening, regardless of the settings, and it cannot be 'softened'.

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 results of input lag measurements in the Philips OLED 809 are at a high level, regardless of the signal or resolution. All gamers will certainly appreciate the manufacturer's efforts, which mean that a game running at 4K120Hz with HDR has only 5 ms of lag, which is practically unnoticeable even in online games. One should not forget the proper implementation of the gaming mode with Dolby Vision, which deserves praise for a similar reaction time of 13 ms. In this case, the Philips OLED 809 receives our highest rating.

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.

Just like in games, the tested television performs excellently, but in everyday work with text, it doesn't do so well. Although its latency is very low, the problem lies elsewhere. The television does not support chroma 4:4:4, which results in unpleasant font blurring, regardless of the provided refresh rate. While this is not usually a problem in games, it can be quite bothersome during text work due to poor readability. Additionally, the pixel arrangement in WOLED panels does not make things easier for it.

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.

A widely known advantage of OLED matrices is their performance when viewed even at sharp angles. We do not experience a drop in contrast or colour saturation. However, a characteristic feature of panels produced by LG Display, which are not used in top models, is a tint in shades of sea or cyan when viewed at large angles.

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.

For many years, the issue raised regarding OLED televisions has been their performance during the day. Many people still believe that these are not receivers intended for such use. They are probably right, except when it comes to screens from a few good years back. Technology advances, and currently there are no objections to recommending such a television for today. Admittedly, a glossy panel does not sound like something that would substantiate this claim; however, it is hard to stand against the images that you can see for yourselves. Another point we indicate to pay attention to is contrast during daytime use. This, unlike QD-OLED panels, and even OLEDs equipped with MLA technology, is higher. The reason for this situation is the lack of excited quantum dots and micro-lenses.

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.

Before we move on to the software that controls the television, it is impossible not to mention the manufacturer's biggest differentiator. We are, of course, talking about the multicoloured Ambilight backlighting, which placed on the back of the device displays colours adjusted to what is happening on the screen, often allowing for an even greater immersion experience. The Philips OLED 809 is powered by the Google TV system. This is an undeniable advantage compared to some other models from the manufacturer that use the proprietary TitanOS system, which is significantly more closed and limited in terms of available applications. With Google TV, we can install almost any application, both from the store and directly from online repositories via an APK file.

The Google TV system also offers many conveniences related to control. We can easily connect a keyboard with a touchpad, which significantly facilitates typing queries and navigation. Additionally, thanks to integration with Google, we can issue voice commands using the remote, which are quickly and accurately interpreted by the system.

In summary: Google TV is currently one of the most popular systems on the market. Thanks to the use of a powerful CPU, it operates very smoothly and stably, without freezing or experiencing lags during tests. It is definitely the best option for those who want to make the most of their television's capabilities and appreciate the openness and versatility of the system.

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.

The default media player in Philips OLED 809 is of a fairly high standard, although it is not without its flaws. It performs excellently in playing various types of video files, except for two less popular ones. The presence of all checkboxes confirming playback of different subtitle formats deserves a big plus. The television handles every resolution of images, making it an excellent screen for viewing family albums or studio photos. The rest, including supported photo and audio formats, is satisfactory, and those that the television cannot play are either uncommon or becoming obsolete. Anyway, this is not a problem, as we can download a program from the app store that will resolve these issues.

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.

At the outset of this paragraph, it should be noted that sound quality is always subjective. In our opinion, the audio system that the manufacturer has equipped the Philips OLED 809 with is of a fairly high standard. The bass is well-defined, but at the same time, it does not overshadow the mid and high tones. Looking at it from another angle, when opting for a television at this price point, we will likely already have a separate audio system. In this context, the tested television will certainly not disappoint, as it supports virtually every important standard, including Dolby Atmos and, more importantly, DTS-HD Master Audio.

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.

Philips OLED809/819 vs LG QNED87T6B

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