Hisense S7NQ CanvasTV vs LG QNED93A / QNED90A

When it comes to the brightness of the television and how it handles bright elements while watching movies, it is just average—similar to contrast. The average brightness level of the Hisense S7NQ is around 500 nits. This is a value that allows you to feel the beginnings of true HDR, but it is definitely too little to speak of outstanding effects. However, the television deserves praise for color gamut coverage—movies look very colorful and vibrant. With the use of PFS LED (QLED) coating, the device can cover over 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and over 72% of the wider BT.2020 gamut. For a television in this class, these are truly very good results.

Although the number of local dimming zones in the LG QNED93A did not directly translate to a noticeably better contrast, one cannot deny that this model is brighter than its predecessor. In synthetic tests, we recorded values around 1400-1500 nits, and more importantly, these results are reflected in real movie scenes. In full-screen sequences flooded with white or bright lights, the screen was able to maintain high luminance, which produced a truly decent incredible HDR effect. Unfortunately, where the television could show its true class, namely in scenes that require precision, all the magic evaporates. The dimming algorithms we mentioned earlier are aggressive enough that small bright objects—such as distant lights, stars, or the moon—can almost completely disappear. Just look at the test scenes from the movie Pan or Sicario 2 (screens 2 and 4) to see how subtle details are dimmed to the brink of visibility. It's a shame, because a greater number of zones could theoretically lead to significantly better results. Fortunately, there are also stronger points. The QNED93A performs well in terms of color gamut coverage, achieving around 96% of the DCI-P3 standard. As a result, colors in movies look vivid and full, and the picture does not lose intensity even in more demanding scenes. So it can be said that the HDR in this model is solid, although the unfinished local dimming algorithms hinder its full potential.

Let's now check how the Hisense S7NQ CanvasTV performs in color reproduction in the best factory mode, which is Filmmaker. Right from the start, it is evident that it is definitely better than in dynamic or standard mode, but there are still a few things to nitpick. In terms of image quality from the HD signal, the colors are slightly inaccurate – there is a dominance of cooler shades of blue and a lack of red. Because of this, the image appears somewhat too cool.

A similar effect occurs with 4K content, but it is more noticeable there. The excessive exposure of blue tones and the lack of red make the image seem distinctly cold. However, the biggest issue with this television is not the colors themselves but rather the way brightness is managed. The tested unit slightly boosted the brightness compared to the reference value. The result is indeed better visibility of details, but at the cost of significantly brightened black – which makes the entire image seem more "flat."

A similar phenomenon was noticed in the 4K signal – the slightly inflated curve at the beginning of the EOTF graph shows that the television has a tendency to excessively expose certain scenes. Fortunately, this effect can be improved with professional calibration, which we will discuss in the next point.

In movie mode (specifically Filmmaker), color reproduction on the QNED93A was relatively accurate, although it wasn't without critiques. In SDR content, white balance leaned towards warmer tones, resulting in a slight yellowing across the entire screen. Gamma, on the other hand, led to a slight brightening of the image, making it look a bit less natural, especially in scenes requiring precise shading (this is evident in the comparison picture). This isn't a problem that immediately stands out to every viewer, but more discerning individuals may feel that the picture deviates from the aesthetic intended by the filmmakers. In HDR materials, the situation looked somewhat different. The white balance presented itself quite well here, ensuring that whites didn't lean towards pink or unwanted shades of green. However, brightness management proved to be an issue. Analysis of the EOTF curve revealed that at certain moments the television can be noticeably too dark where it shouldn't be, losing some detail and reducing the realism of scenes. This detracted from the experience of HDR effects, which were theoretically supposed to be the most impressive. For this reason, we decided to carry out calibration.

The results we achieved after calibrating the Hisense S7NQ are really very good. Thanks to the calibration, we were able to eliminate the excessive exposure of blue tones and the lack of red in the HD signal. A similar, although slightly weaker effect was also achieved with 4K HDR content. Brightness management in HD material has also improved – the television no longer has problems with overall image brightness issues.

However, there are things that cannot be overlooked. The characteristic of the EOTF curve has practically not changed, and the lack of local dimming means that the smallest elements on the screen will always be slightly overexposed. One simply has to accept this when choosing a television with a similar type of backlighting. Nonetheless, the final result is very good and should fully satisfy the vast majority of users.

After professional calibration, the Filmmaker mode on the QNED93A gained the most where it matters most in everyday use. It was possible to adjust the white balance and eliminate the yellowish tint in SDR content, which we watch most often – television, streaming services, or standard quality films. This makes colors look natural and pleasant, and the overall experience is much more comfortable. In HDR mode, we also made adjustments, but the biggest problem here turned out to be the EOTF curve. Although LG provides some leeway in the settings, the television still manages brightness on its own terms. It is evident that the local dimming algorithms are not entirely refined and can spoil the viewing experience by dimming parts of the image at inappropriate moments. Nonetheless, it is worth opting for calibration of this model, especially the mode intended for daily viewing.

It is equally important how the television handles tonal transitions on a poorer signal – for example, in older movies, television, or on YouTube. Unfortunately, despite the presence of the "Smooth and Gradient Picture" feature, which was supposedly intended to improve this aspect, its performance is truly lacking. It is barely noticeable that it has any real impact on the visibility of color transitions.

Image scaling also performs poorly. Yes, one can observe that the television tries to "stretch" the quality, but the final effect is far from ideal. The image often appears slightly jagged, which is especially noticeable in the case of tree branches in the background. Additionally, the Hisense S7NQ has a clear tendency to crop the image at lower resolutions, which can cause us to miss captions in the news or finer details of the image.

LG QNED93A proves to be a very solid television for everyday use. Its image processor handles scaling excellently, ensuring that even older movies or terrestrial television gain sharpness and detail. During the screening of "The Godfather," it's clearly visible how upscaling pulls extra details from the image – the characters' faces and the texture of the clothing appear much clearer than in the original material.

The digital image processing also deserves praise. The television is equipped with a function for reducing unwanted color banding and screen irregularities. It works best in the "Medium" setting – subtly smoothing tonal transitions without over-interfering with the image. This way, the natural film grain is preserved, and the screen doesn't appear unnaturally smoothed. Perhaps in some scenes, you can still notice slight color banding, but in practice, the effect is more favorable than with a stronger intervention from the algorithm.

When it comes to motion fluidity, the television performs really well. Although the S7NQ was mainly designed for displaying static elements – such as images – the manufacturer has utilized a panel with a refresh rate of 144 Hz. As a result, sports or games look really good on it.

For materials that are not recorded at a high frame rate, the manufacturer provided two features that allow you to adjust the picture to your own preferences. "Motion blur reduction" and "motion smoothing" operate on a 10-level scale, allowing you to choose between a more cinematic image – with characteristic frame jumps – and a smooth effect reminiscent of a "soap opera." How to set this up? That's a personal matter – we leave the decision to you.

LG QNED93A is equipped with a 144 Hz panel. This is primarily a nod to gamers, but the fact that higher refresh rates are increasingly making their way into televisions can be seen as a positive development. In everyday viewing, 120 Hz remains key, and in this regard, the QNED93A performs well. The manufacturer also provides the option to adjust the image through the TruMotion system – the De-Judder and De-Blur sliders allow you to choose between a cinematic motion character with visible frames and a fully smoothed theatrical motion.

Even though the S7NQ is an "image" type TV, you can actually play games on it. Really. It has almost everything (except for HGiG mode) that a modern gaming TV needs. The 144 Hz panel and two full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports allow for seamless connection of two consoles, such as PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S.

The TV supports automatic game mode (ALLM) and frame synchronization (VRR) without any stuttering or issues. It also handles high frame rates at lower resolutions without a hitch. We must commend Hisense for the very attractive Game Bar – it displays all available picture options, and additionally, we have the ability to zoom in on the mini-map or enable a crosshair (because sometimes someone might actually want to "aim" 😉).

The only missing element – as we mentioned earlier – is the lack of a proper implementation of HGiG mode. It is responsible for automatically setting the picture in games as the creators intended. It's a shame because that’s the only thing separating the Hisense S7NQ from being a full-fledged gaming "monster."

LG QNED93A is a television that has undoubtedly been designed with gamers in mind. Right from the start, we get a complete package – all four HDMI ports operate at standard 2.1, so whether we connect a console, PC, or receiver, we can be sure of full compatibility. This is important because many manufacturers still limit themselves to two ports, and here nothing prevents all equipment from having maximum capabilities. There’s also an automatic game mode (ALLM), which switches the television to the appropriate settings when the console starts up, as well as variable refresh rate (VRR). This ensures that the image does not stutter or tear, even when the frame rate drops – whether in dynamic shooters or during races.

The 144 Hz panel gives an additional advantage in computer games. While 120 Hz is sufficient for consoles, in the case of PCs, the QNED93A allows for even more – every movement, every glance to the side is refreshed faster, which makes a difference especially in e-sports. The manufacturer also considered HDR in games – the television supports the HGiG mode, which provides guidelines to ensure that the lighting effects are exactly as intended by the game developers. For dessert, we get Game Bar – a special informational strip invoked on the screen that shows parameters in real-time. You can check the frame rate, active VRR functions, or input lag levels. This solution is useful not only for settings enthusiasts, but for anyone who wants to quickly verify what mode the television is operating in and whether everything is working as it should.