Samsung QLED Q80D vs LG NANO81A / NANO80A

Direct comparison

Q80D

Available screen sizes: 50”55”65”75”85”

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”75”86”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Tizen

Model year: 2024

Complete the survey to find out the result

Panel type: LCD IPS

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: WebOS

Model year: 2025

Complete the survey to find out the result

Overall rating

7.2

5.7

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    6.8

    5.1

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    6.7

    5.1

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    6.6

    5.4

  • Gaming on console

    8.7

    6.7

  • TV as a computer monitor

    7.6

    6.0

  • Watching in bright light

    6.0

    4.0

  • Utility functions

    8.0

    6.6

  • Apps

    9.3

    9.1

  • Sound quality

    6.6

    6.2

Advantages

  • Great choice for gamers - lots of features, low input lag, 120Hz

  • High brightness of the panel - good performance during the day

  • Good black levels and contrast - VA panel with local dimming

  • Excellent tonal transitions

  • Advanced smart system "Tizen"

  • Pleasant sound from the built-in speakers

  • Wide viewing angles (IPS matrix)

  • Very low input lag (approx. 10-12 ms)

  • Fluid webOS 2025 system

  • Intuitive Magic remote with pointer

  • Better colour gamut coverage thanks to NanoCell filter

  • Excellent as a PC monitor (sharp fonts, Chroma 4:4:4)

  • Decent features for gamers (VRR, ALLM, HGiG)

  • Extensive calibration options and natural colours after adjustments

  • Good image processing and efficient upscaling of older content

  • Noticeable low-end blend in sound

Disadvantages

No like
  • Average viewing angles

  • No recording function

  • No DTS (may hinder connection to home cinema)

  • Poor black level and low contrast

  • Low brightness (approximately 250 nits – weak for very bright rooms)

  • Matrix refresh rate of only 60 Hz

  • USB player without support for HEIC files and very large images (over 20 Mpix)

Our verdict

Samsung Q80D is a very versatile television. It is certainly a device that can easily adapt to the needs of both gamers and those looking for equipment for everyday viewing. When it comes to the former – that is, gamers – the support for HDMI 2.1, 120 Hz refresh rate, and low input lag make playing on a console or PC pure pleasure. Additionally, the Game Bar feature allows quick changes to settings without the hassle of leaving the game – a small thing, but it makes a difference. It's also worth mentioning the fantastic feature of an efficiently working motion smoother that operates well in games. We get the impression that playing on such a television adds us a few FPS, which translates to an advantage in the game. During everyday use, the Q80D also performs very well. The Tizen system offers access to popular applications like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+, so nothing is lacking here. The high brightness of the screen ensures that the television performs excellently even in well-lit rooms. A nice and interesting addition is the solar remote, which not only does not require battery replacement but also allows you to control other devices (e.g., set-top boxes, consoles, soundbars). When it comes to picture quality, the Q80D has a lot to offer. Although it lacks Dolby Vision support, after calibration, the colours look great, and the contrast and black level thanks to FALD (full-array local dimming) have made a huge impression on us, especially considering the television segment. With a VA panel enhanced with quantum dots (QLED), the colours on the Q80D can look truly splendid. Watching movies or series in the evening is a real pleasure – particularly if we care about good detail. However, there are little things that might be bothersome. The lack of a recording feature is certainly a limitation, although it may not be a problem for everyone. Another obvious issue will be its viewing angles. These are typical results for this type of panel, so one must reckon that at the expense of great blacks, the Q80D simply performs average when viewed from the side. Nevertheless, Samsung Q80D is an excellent television that works well in any situation. It offers outstanding picture quality, many useful features, and solid build quality for its price range. A few minor shortcomings do not take away from its charm, as overall it is a model that will comfortably meet the expectations of most users – both those who game on a console and those who simply enjoy evening screenings with good image quality.

LG NANO81A is essentially a continuation of the NanoCell series, which has hardly changed at all over the past few years. Apart from the new operating system, refreshed remote control, and a few marketing additions, we are dealing with practically the same design we have known for years. Thanks to the nanostructure filter, the television can display better, cleaner colours than standard budget televisions, and the IPS panel guarantees really decent viewing angles. Unfortunately, for these advantages, we pay for very poor blacks and low contrast, which is immediately noticeable during night screenings. Although webOS is still one of the best systems on the market, the biggest problem with the NANO81A is its price, which we simply do not understand. In 2025, this model faces enormous competition not just from brands like TCL or Hisense, but... from LG itself. The model we previously tested, QNED80A, is equipped with local dimming technology, has a brighter panel, and offers a wider colour gamut. Interestingly, at the time of writing this review, the technically superior QNED80A is often much cheaper than the NANO81A. In this situation, the existence of the NanoCell model makes no sense – unless your priority is solely wide viewing angles, but in our opinion, the price you have to pay for that (at the cost of tragic blacks and higher expenditure) is simply too high.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
Other inputs
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Good
Average
Stand type
Central
Central
Bezel color
Graphite
Graphite
Stand
Fixed
Fixed
Flat design
Yes
No
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

6.7/10

1.5/10

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 100 (10 x 10)

Local dimming function: No

Contrast:

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Contrast and black detail

Result

37,350:1

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Contrast and black detail

Result

8,850:1

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Contrast and black detail

Result

20,350:1

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Contrast and black detail

Result

4,300:1

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Contrast and black detail

Result

3,800:1

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

800:1

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

850:1

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

900:1

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

900:1

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Contrast and black detail

Result

750:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

Check the visibility of bright lights on a dark background. Mini-LEDs often struggle with this. The photo does not compare black levels – that’s what the video below is for.

The video accurately shows differences in contrast and black levels between TVs, as well as potential issues: halo around bright objects or Mini-LED zone operation visible as brightness jumps.

The Samsung Q80D television is equipped with a VA panel, which immediately affects the difference in contrast and black reproduction compared to IPS panels. VA panels offer significantly better contrast and deeper blacks, while IPS panels feature better viewing angles but worse contrast. In the case of the 55" model, the television has 100 local dimming zones, and it's worth noting that this number may vary depending on the screen size. Thanks to local dimming, blacks appear well, but it's important to mention that the algorithm of this technology combined with the limited number of zones can sometimes "go crazy". Bright objects may be dimmed to achieve better blacks. During a test scene from the film Oblivion, the lights blended into a single spot, regardless of the dimming settings, highlighting the limitations of this technology. In the film Sicario 2, large dimming zones were particularly noticeable, for example, with the small lights of a helicopter, indicating how large the areas controlled by a single dimming zone are. Despite these imperfections, local dimming technology still offers significantly better image quality than televisions without this feature or with edge lighting. With the ability to completely turn off individual zones, the television can provide a noticeable boost in brightness in selected areas, which can give the image a cinematic effect, especially in dark rooms.

The NanoCell series, including the model NANO81 we tested, is based on an IPS panel. For anyone who is somewhat familiar with screen technology, this means one thing: significant problems with black levels and contrast. Our measurements are merciless in this regard. A result of 800:1 is, to put it bluntly, a tragic outcome. In practice, this means that what should appear on the screen as deep black looks like a dark grey patch at night. Watching dark films or series in a completely dark room will be downright torturous – the image will lose all its depth and appear flat. If you do decide on this model, we have one key piece of advice for you: do not watch it in complete darkness. To salvage the situation somewhat, it is best to leave a gentle light on in the room, and the ideal solution would be to install LED strips behind the television. Such backlighting will trick your eye (this is known as simultaneous contrast) and make that grey on the screen seem a little darker. Nevertheless, the start of the test for cinematic experiences looks bleak.

HDR effect quality

5.8/10

3.6/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 93.0%, Bt.2020: 73.0%
DCI P3: 87.6%, Bt.2020: 65.3%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Brightness measurement

Result

927 nit

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Brightness measurement

Result

423 nit

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Brightness measurement

Result

612 nit

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Brightness measurement

Result

242 nit

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Brightness measurement

Result

856 nit

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

228 nit

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

193 nit

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

250 nit

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

168 nit

Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  Brightness measurement

Result

252 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

The photos show two HDR10 movies. 'Pan' is one of the brightest productions ever made, while 'Billy Lynn' (soldier) has brightness typical of streaming (Netflix, Prime, HBO MAX). Notice the intensity of effects and detail in whites.

Static HDR10

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

HDR luminance chart:

LG NANO81A / NANO80A

Samsung QLED Q80D

In the context of HDR, the Samsung Q80D television achieves very positive brightness results in the tested film scenes, where the frame is filled with light, reaching values from 600 to 900 nits, allowing the user to experience a great juiciness of the image. Such results allow the user to feel the difference between HDR and SDR quality. Unfortunately, problems arise in situations where small light effects occur against a dark background. In such cases (e.g. test pattern 4 from the film Sicario 2), a noticeable drop in brightness can be observed, caused by the large sizes of the dimming zones used here. This limitation, combined with the dimming algorithm, affects how the television handles small bright elements against a dark background. At that point, we may perceive an unwanted lack of brightness, and the HDR effect resembles that of SDR.

If you are counting on HDR in the NANO81A to bring tears to your eyes, I must disappoint you. This television is simply too dark to truly show what this format is all about. With a brightness of only 250 nits, HDR exists here mainly on paper. In practice, during viewing, it is very difficult to distinguish whether we are watching high dynamic range content or regular SDR – it simply lacks that ‘punch’ of light in the bright parts of the image. However, to give credit where it’s due, we do have a glimmer of hope here – and quite a clear one at that. It concerns the colour gamut coverage. Here, the NanoCell filter shows that it is not just marketing nonsense. Our measurements indicated that the coverage of the DCI-P3 space is around 88%. This is a really solid result that places this model significantly higher than typical budget options based on standard white LEDs without any filters. Of course, it still falls short of the level of quantum dot (QLED) TVs or advanced panels with PFS filters, but for this price point, the colours are surprisingly saturated and vibrant. It's just a shame that this low brightness prevents them from fully ‘spreading their wings’ with the Nano filter.

Factory color reproduction

6.8/10

5.3/10

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

In "Filmmaker" mode, which is the best choice out of the box, the Samsung Q80D TV shows solid colour reproduction. For SDR content, a visible drop at the beginning of the gamma curve suggests that details in dark scenes may be less pronounced, impacting the overall viewing experience. Regarding white balance in SDR content, while it is generally accurate, significant drops in blue colour when screen coverage exceeds 70% can result in less natural hues in bright and dark scenes. Users may notice that some blue elements in the image may appear less intense, and the overall colour will have a warmer tint.

In contrast, for HDR content, the EOTF curve being above the reference line for most of the time indicates that the TV may struggle with accurately reproducing brightness and details in the brighter areas of the image, which may be disadvantageous for the viewer. It is also worth noting the substantial drop at the beginning of this graph, indicating that the TV has difficulties reproducing brightness in the darker areas of the image, as seen in the contrast and black tests, where several scenes were unable to showcase the full capabilities of the TV's brightness. In terms of its white balance, the initially good results on the graph are promising, but the sharp drop in red colour, which significantly falls down, combined with a large increase in blue colour, may lead to inaccuracies in reproducing certain skin tones and other key colours. This phenomenon may be noticeable to viewers in scenes where colour details are crucial.

For every film fan, the natural choice in LG televisions is the Filmmaker Mode. Its aim is to display images as the director intended – without unnecessary "enhancements". Unfortunately, in the case of our test unit NANO81A, the factory settings left something to be desired. The main issue turned out to be the white balance. Measurements showed a distinct deficiency of blue colour, which in practice meant that many scenes had a slightly yellowish, even "yellowed" tint. The white was not perfectly pure, which detracted from the freshness of the image. Additionally, brightness management was also not ideal – the factory-set gamma was too low. The picture often appeared oversaturated, as if overly lifted from the shadows, which caused it to lose naturalness and depth. Fortunately, LG, even in this relatively low price category, does not block access to advanced settings. The calibration possibilities of this model are enormous, which is a big plus for those who enjoy "digging" in the menu. We decided to approach the topic in our own way and see how much we could squeeze out of this panel with professional calibration.

Color reproduction after calibration

8.1/10

7.5/10

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The film mode after calibration looks significantly better than the one you can see when taken out of the box. Samsung offers an advanced range of calibration tools in its televisions. Among them are 2- and 20-point greyscale adjustment and CMS (Colour Management System). Both in HDR and SDR mode, the white balance has improved significantly, although there are minor errors at the end of the graph in the case of HDR content. The contrast has also been greatly improved, and the gamma curve responsible for SDR shows better results. However, when it comes to HDR, the EOTF curve in the television seems to be at an ideal level at first glance. Yet, when we delve deeper and enable the EOTF graph while watching films, we may notice that all the lines of the curve are above the reference line. One could even say that the television is "cheating" when playing film materials. Such a situation, where the EOTF curve is above the reference line, makes the screen – although it may seem brighter, which some users may find attractive – lose detail in the darker parts of the image. In practice, this means that in scenes with a lot of shadows or dark elements, the television is unable to accurately render the details that should be visible.

After calibration, the NANO81A is a completely different television. What LG offers in terms of image enhancement tools even in such an affordable model deserves a big plus. We managed to completely eliminate that annoying yellowing of whites and make the colours natural, vibrant, and simply "true". In SDR content (that is, regular television, YouTube, or older films), the picture now looks worlds better – it is clear, well-balanced, and no longer strains the eyes with strange hues. It is clear that this panel has significant potential, which is simply wasted by poor presets out of the box. However, we do have one serious reservation that calibration cannot fully overcome – it concerns brightness management in HDR mode. LG's algorithm in this model is constructed very conservatively. The television intentionally dims the HDR picture to avoid overexposing the already weak blacks of the IPS panel. The programmers faced a choice: either to provide more light and accept that the blacks would become light grey or to reduce the brightness to maintain any contrast. They chose the latter. Nevertheless, after our adjustments, watching anything on the NANO81 is significantly better.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.8/10

9.3/10

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

The tonal gradation in the Samsung Q80D television is at an excellent level and can be considered one of its stronger points. Even in the most demanding scenes from the films we tested, it performs exceptionally well. Any potential issues with smoothing transitions in colours are minimal and subtle. The average viewer will most likely not notice them, which translates to an overall positive visual experience in everyday use.

The fluidity of tonal transitions is an element in which the NANO81A truly shines. LG proves here that it can refine image processing algorithms even in its cheaper models. During testing, we practically noted no occurrences of banding, that is, the annoying "steps" visible where one colour should transition smoothly into another. Everything appears incredibly natural and smooth. This is particularly evident in the bright scenes from the film Kingsman, where the backgrounds remain clean and free from digital artefacts. However, what is even more impressive is how the television handles the extremely difficult, dark, and misty shots in The Revenant. Where many budget panels falter and serve up ugly patches instead of smooth mist, the NANO81A holds its ground, offering very velvety transitions. The only downside is the fact that with darker shades, you will notice more of the weak blacks of this television rather than any issues with colour blending.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7/10

7/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
OK
Smooth transition function
OK
OK

Smooth transition function

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video.

Image scaling SD (576i)

The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

Samsung Q80D performs very well with low-quality materials. The noise reduction works on the principle of gentle grading, making it very effective in smoothing out unwanted image disturbances. Unfortunately, this same effectiveness also causes elements that should not be smoothed, such as film grain, to become blurred. For those who value a pliable, smoothed image more, this can be seen as a significant advantage, especially for lower-quality content.

When it comes to image scaling, Samsung Q80D stands out positively in this aspect, significantly enhancing viewing comfort. The television handles the conversion of lower-resolution materials well, improving their quality and detail. For example, in the attached image with the model, there are no visible artifacts or excessive fraying of branches, which attests to the advanced image processing technology.

It often happens that cheap 4K panels mercilessly bring to light all the "dirt" and imperfections of lower-resolution content. However, with the LG NANO81A, the situation is quite different. This is truly a solid performer when it comes to handling content that is far from ideal. The built-in processor does a great job with upscaling. Even older recordings look quite decent on this screen – the image is coherent, cleaned of digital noise, and simply pleasant to the eye. A significant advantage is the gradation reduction feature that you will find in the settings. It is extraordinarily effective in combating colour banding, which is a lifesaver when watching materials with a low bitrate, for instance, from some streaming services or older files from the web. However, it is worth maintaining a certain level of caution. Since we are dealing with a less powerful chip than in LG's top models, setting this option too aggressively may sometimes result in minor artefacts or slight blurring of details. Despite this risk, I definitely encourage experimenting with this feature - in many cases, it can save the viewing experience and make low-quality material fully watchable.

Blur and motion smoothness

7.3/10

4.6/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
120Hz
60Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
OK
No
BFI function 60Hz
Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
No
BFI function 120Hz
No
No
Brightness drop with BFI
69%
-%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Image flickers in this mode

The Samsung Q80D television stands out very positively in terms of motion fluidity and motion blur reduction, primarily due to the applied 120Hz panel and above-average response time of the panel. Users have two options for adjusting fluidity: "Motion Smoothing," which allows for adjustment of smoothness on a 10-point scale, and "Blur Reduction," particularly effective at higher refresh rates, improving the sharpness of rapidly moving objects. In the UFO test, no motion blur is visible behind the moving object, and the image is not cloned forward, indicating a lack of overshoot effect.

When it comes to motion fluidity, the NANO81A unfortunately has a hard time. The television is based on a panel with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. If you are looking for perfect sharpness in dynamic football matches or fast action games, you may feel a bit disappointed. With such a low native refresh rate, fast objects on the screen will always be a little blurred.

Console compatibility and gaming features

9.5/10

6/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    48 - 120Hz
    48 - 60Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    No
    No
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    Yes
    Yes
  • 1080p@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • 1440p@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • 4K@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • Game bar
    Yes
    Yes

The Samsung Q80D television is a true gem for gamers. It is equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, which is a rarity, especially in this price range. This allows users to enjoy features such as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and 120Hz in 4K resolution. These features ensure smoothness and responsiveness of the image, which is a key aspect during dynamic gameplay. The television also supports HGIG (HDR Gaming Interest Group), enabling optimal display of HDR content in games. Additionally, it is equipped with a Game Bar that allows quick access to gaming settings. Users of Nvidia graphics cards will also be pleased thanks to the implementation of G-Sync. This feature eliminates stuttering and screen tearing. The only downside is the lack of support for Dolby Vision mode, which may be disappointing for users looking for this HDR format. It is also worth mentioning that since 2022, thanks to a partnership with Microsoft, Samsung televisions offer the Xbox Game Pass application, allowing for cloud gaming. This is an additional advantage for gamers who want to access a wide library of games without the need for a console.

NANO81A is unfortunately not hardware designed for e-sports. The lack of support for a 120 Hz signal is a fact that users planning to purchase this model simply have to come to terms with. Nevertheless, LG's engineers have made an effort to maximise the potential of this 60 Hz panel, offering a set of features that genuinely enhance the gaming experience. Firstly, the television supports VRR technology (within the range of 48-60 Hz) and ALLM. As a result, the image remains stable and does not "tear", and the device automatically switches to low-latency mode as soon as it detects a signal from a console. Managing these settings is extremely simple thanks to a dedicated system overlay, which allows for quick viewing of parameters without leaving the game. A very significant advantage is the support for the HGiG format. This solution is crucial for owners of modern consoles because it enables the television to correctly "understand" the intentions of game developers regarding HDR tone mapping. In practice, this helps avoid the effect of "blown-out" bright spots, such as clouds or light sources, which is unfortunately a common issue in budget LCD televisions.

Input lag

9.8/10

10/10

SDR

1080p60
18 ms
13 ms
1080p120
9 ms
2160p60
18 ms
12 ms
2160p120
9 ms

HDR

2160p60
16 ms
12 ms
2160p120
8 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
2160p120 DV

There isn't much to say here, the input lag at this level is simply remarkable. It's hard to achieve a better result that will satisfy gamers! The television performed excellently at every tested resolution and refresh rate, both in SDR and HDR.

In terms of response speed, the LG NANO81A performs exceptionally well. The input lag we measured is around 12 ms. This result is at a very low level, which for a gamer means one thing – the delay between moving the stick on the controller and the reaction on the screen is practically imperceptible. The television excels in fast-paced titles, where every millisecond counts, and in this regard, it does not lag behind significantly more expensive models.

Compatibility with PC

7.6/10

6/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Very Good
Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Average
Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
9ms
12ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
BGR
Max refresh rate
120Hz
60Hz
G-Sync
Yes
No

The photo shows the legibility of small fonts. Ideally, lines should be the same thickness on both light and dark text, with minimal pixel gaps.

Samsung Q80D works well as a computer monitor. Thanks to support for 4:4:4 chroma (which only functions in "Game" mode), text on the screen is clear and legible, which is very important for those who want to work on such a television with text documents or spreadsheets. One of the biggest advantages of this model is its exceptionally low input lag in "PC" mode, which is just 9 ms. This is a reference-level result that ensures smoothness and responsiveness, which is crucial for both gamers and those involved in video editing. The only issue we can point out is that there is a certain problem with displaying fonts on dark backgrounds. When we zoom in on the tested font image, we notice that the horizontal lines are darker compared to the vertical ones. This means that the sub-pixels in the television do not fully illuminate in this case. This could be due to an oversight by the manufacturer regarding the optimisation of the algorithm responsible for displaying thin lines, which affects the quality of details in displaying text on dark backgrounds. Nevertheless, Samsung Q80D is a very good choice as a PC monitor.

Nano81A is truly a solid monitor for working with text. Thanks to the IPS panel and proper Chroma 4:4:4 implementation, fonts are very clear and sharp – practically everyone will be satisfied with how this screen performs as a monitor. We noticed just one minor detail that we picked up with our laboratory meticulousness: the vertical lines of dark text are slightly darker than the horizontal ones. However, this phenomenon is so minimal that we did not decide to deduct points for it. The scores only went down when it came to features typical for PC gamers – the lack of G-Sync support and high refresh rates above 60 Hz will be a significant downside for those looking for a screen for dynamic computer games.

Viewing angles

3/10

6.1/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
82%
66%

Samsung Q80D, equipped with a VA panel, unfortunately does not perform well in terms of viewing angles. When we watch the screen at a 45-degree angle, there is a noticeable loss of brightness. The image becomes less sharp, which can be problematic if we plan to watch television from different spots in the room. However, the VA panel has its advantages. When looking directly at the screen, black levels are deep and well-saturated. Furthermore, even at an angle, dark colours maintain their depth, which is a rarity for this type of panel.

This is the moment when the LG NANO81A can finally "breathe" and make up for the points lost in the categories of black levels and contrast. Thanks to the use of an IPS panel, the viewing angles here are simply very good. It is in this section that the tested model gains the most and clearly shows its advantage over competing televisions equipped with VA panels. In practice, this means that the image does not lose quality, even when viewed from a sharp angle. This makes the NANO81A a great option for those who have a wide furniture arrangement in their living room or often watch matches and films with larger groups.

Daytime performance

6/10

4/10

Panel finish
Satin
Satin
Reflection suppression
Average
Decent
Black levels during daytime
Good
Good

Panel brightness

LG NANO81A / NANO80A : 247 cd/m2

Samsung QLED Q80D: 550 cd/m2

The Samsung Q80D television stands out with very good brightness, averaging 550 nits, which is an impressive result, especially since it maintains this brightness across the entire screen surface. This makes the image clear and well-visible even in bright rooms, which is a big plus when watching television during the day. However, despite the satin coating of the panel, the television struggles somewhat with reducing reflections. In bright lighting conditions, unwanted glares can appear, which may disrupt viewing comfort. This is particularly noticeable when there are light sources in the room directly falling on the screen.

NANO81A is a relatively dark television, so it works best in rooms where you have control over the lighting. With a brightness of around 250 nits, it is difficult to recommend it wholeheartedly for very bright, strongly sunlit living rooms – in such conditions, the picture will simply lack punch. Nevertheless, LG deserves a small plus for the screen finish. The satin panel used here does a decent job of suppressing reflections. Thanks to this, even if there is a bit of light in the room, you won’t see every detail of your surroundings reflected on the screen. So if you can slightly close the blinds, a daytime viewing is certainly possible, but this model simply wasn’t designed to "fight" full sunlight.

Panel details

Backlight Type
QLED
White LED
Software version during testing
1106
33.21.62
Image processor

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review Samsung QLED Q80D TV Panel details
Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A TV Panel details

Samsung QLED Q80D

LG NANO81A / NANO80A

TV features

8/10

6.6/10

  • HDMI inputs
    0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
    3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    No
  • Recording programming
    No
    No
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    Yes
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    Yes
    Yes

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    Yes
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    Yes
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes
Review Samsung QLED Q80D TV features
Review Samsung QLED Q80D TV features
Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  TV features
Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  TV features
Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  TV features
Review LG NANO81A / NANO80A  TV features

The Samsung Q80D television offers a range of features that significantly enhance user comfort. The Tizen system is an advanced platform that provides users with an intuitive and smooth experience. Thanks to its user-friendly interface, navigation through apps and settings is quick and easy. Tizen supports a rich set of applications, including popular streaming services, allowing access to a wide variety of entertainment content without the need for additional devices, with the novelty for 2024 being support for the Polish language. It is also worth mentioning the solar remote, which is not only eco-friendly but also convenient for everyday use. The solar cell remote can easily control other devices such as home cinemas, decoders (e.g. Canal+), or game consoles, which poses quite a challenge for other manufacturers. Returning to the console, Samsung Q80D offers several features that may appeal to gamers. Above all, the television supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology, which allows for smoother game displays, eliminating issues like tearing and stuttering. Additionally, due to its low input lag, gaming reactions are quick and precise. The Samsung Q80D is also equipped with a Game Bar function, which allows quick access to key gaming settings without the need to exit the game. From this level, we can check and adjust parameters such as VRR, input lag, frames per second (FPS), as well as screen ratios or sound settings. This enables gamers to continuously optimise their experiences by adjusting settings to the current gameplay needs. The television supports AirPlay, allowing for easy content streaming from Apple devices, and enables connection to various Bluetooth devices, such as mice or headphones, increasing its versatility. The only downside that can be considered is the lack of support for USB recording and the fact that the Q80D unfortunately does not support the DTS audio format. This means that if we have content encoded in this format, the device will not be able to correctly playback the audio track. This could pose a problem for those using Blu-ray discs or multimedia files that often use DTS to provide high-quality surround sound. To achieve full audio experiences, it may be necessary to use an external player or soundbar that supports this format.

Smart Features: WebOS

One of the biggest advantages of the NANO81A model is its "brain", which is the operating system. LG has implemented a full-fledged WebOS version for 2025 here, which in terms of fluidity and user experience is on par with the more expensive models of this brand. Applications launch smoothly, and navigating through the menu is pure pleasure – there are no annoying stutters, which often occur with budget competitors. All of this is thanks to the unique remote with a pointer function (cursor), which has undergone a visual makeover this year. The manufacturer has opted for minimalism – the new Magic remote is significantly smaller and more ergonomic than its predecessors. It fits perfectly in the hand, but this change also has a downside. The physical numeric keypad has completely disappeared from the casing. For younger users, accustomed to streaming and selecting tiles, this will be no problem at all. However, older household members, attached to entering channel numbers by heart, will have to change their long-standing habits.

Everyday Use

In terms of functions that we would call "classic", the NANO81A sticks to a tried-and-true standard. It is not a multimedia powerhouse that will surprise you with exotic additions, but in everyday television tasks, it performs flawlessly. The handling of traditional terrestrial or cable television, including even the old faithful Teletext, is correct and intuitive. Wireless communication also deserves praise. The Bluetooth module works very reliably, allowing for quick and stable connection of a game controller or wireless headphones and speakers. It is simply a television that "works" – it is stable, predictable, and does not cause unnecessary complications during daily use.

Apps

9.3/10

9.1/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
OK
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
OK
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
OK
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
No
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
OK
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
OK
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link

Playing files from USB

9.1/10

8.2/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
No
No
PNG
No
Yes
GIF
No
No
WebP
No
No
TIFF
No
No
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
Yes
12 Mpix
Yes
Yes
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
No
24 Mpix
Yes
No
28 Mpix
Yes
No
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

The built-in player in the Samsung Q80D television is definitely one of its strong points. It handles almost all video and audio files we used in our tests exceptionally well. The only exceptions are the Dolby Vision format, which is not surprising, and less popular codecs. Additionally, it is worth noting the support for Polish characters and the ability to customise font colours. On the downside, the television performs somewhat worse with photo formats, as it only supports JPEG from the popular options, lacking support for formats like PNG or Apple HEIC.

Many users still use their own USB drives to display movies or photos on a large screen. In this regard, the NANO81A performs quite decently – the built-in player supports a wide range of video and audio codecs, so most film libraries will work "straight out of the box". However, one must bear in mind the specifics of the WebOS system. Since it is a closed environment, we are limited to what the manufacturer has prepared for us. There is no possibility to install alternative players (like the popular VLC), so if the system player cannot handle something, not much can be done about it. During testing, we encountered a few specific limitations. Firstly, support for HEIC files is lacking. If you take photos with an iPhone and want to view them directly from a USB drive, the television simply won't see them – it's worth changing the file format to JPG on the phone immediately. We also noticed that the player has difficulties processing very large image files. Photos with a resolution of 20–28 Mpix may fail to load or cause system errors. Aside from these exceptions, everyday multimedia handling is smooth.

Sound

6.6/10

6.2/10

  • Maximum volume
    -
    81dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    Yes
    No
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    No
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    Yes
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    No
    No
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    No
    No

The Samsung Q80D television is equipped with a decent audio system boasting 40W power in a 2.2 configuration, providing quite good sound experiences. This system supports all popular Dolby codecs, allowing for the use of advanced audio formats while watching films or playing games. However, it is worth noting one drawback: the television does not support DTS functionality. Nonetheless, this lack can be circumvented by connecting an external audio system, which can significantly enhance sound quality and provide a more immersive audio experience. Additionally, Samsung offers a wide portfolio of soundbars that can be integrated with the television, as well as the Q-Symphony system, which allows for the synchronisation of sound between the television and the soundbar.

In terms of audio, the LG NANO81A pleasantly surprises compared to its higher-end sibling, the QNED80A model. Interestingly, NanoCell sounds a bit better, which is likely due to its slightly thicker casing. The greater volume allows for the extraction of any hints of low tones – the bass may not be powerful, but it is more clearly defined than in thinner constructions. However, one should not expect miracles. It is still a standard 2.0 speaker configuration with a total power of 20 W, so the overall sound characteristics remain similar to other models in this price range. The mid and high tones are adequate, making dialogues in films and news programmes clear. Although this slight improvement in the lower registers is pleasing, for true home cinema or listening to music, it is still worth considering purchasing at least a basic soundbar.

Sound Quality Test

No sound test video

Acoustic Measurements

No acoustic data

81dBC (Max)

75dBC