LG 55 B4 vs Samsung Q6F (IPS)

The HDR brightness performance of the LG B4 is impressive, even though it doesn't surpass 1000 nits. Its luminance stability is consistently strong across various scenarios, delivering a reliable viewing experience. The only instance where the TV shows slight weakness is in scenes with large areas of bright white, which has long been a challenge for OLED technology. However, perfect contrast, deep blacks, and excellent brightness ensure a fully immersive HDR experience. Furthermore, the TV’s remarkable 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut enhances its colour vibrancy, making images appear rich and visually striking. This level of colour accuracy and brightness balance firmly places the LG B4 among the top choices for HDR content.

Unfortunately, the Samsung Q6F is a very dark model. Its peak brightness in HDR does not exceed 250 nits, which is definitely too low to even speak of any "high dynamic range" effect, or HDR. In practice, it's better to stick to content in SDR format, which simply looks more predictable on this TV. Another problem is the global dimming technique – in scenes with a lot of black, the TV drastically dims the entire panel to artificially improve the black levels. This causes the image to become even darker, and brightness can drop below 100 nits. The only consolation is the QLED technology, but even here it's average. The applied quantum dot layer is not top-notch, as the coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut does not exceed 90%. As a result, colors in HDR content may just seem under-saturated.

The best factory preset offered by LG B4 is the "Filmmaker" mode, which we used throughout our testing. Straight out of the box, the TV delivered fairly accurate colour reproduction. However, the most significant issue in both SDR and HDR content was the white balance. In SDR, there was a noticeable red dominance, giving the image a distinct yellow tint, particularly evident in skin tones and whites. In HDR, this red hue persisted, but the lack of blue also introduced a greenish tint in certain scenes. Additionally, we observed some inconsistencies in grayscale and colour accuracy. Despite these shortcomings, the overall picture quality was still solid for most viewing scenarios.

We tested the television in Filmmaker mode, which showed us two completely different faces of this model. Looking at SDR content, we were honestly shocked at how good this TV looks straight out of the box. It was really hard to nitpick anything here. Despite a slight “haze” in the white balance or somewhat brightened details in the blacks (which directly results from the IPS panel's design), color errors hovered around the “2” level. This is surprisingly good, even outstanding, considering the price of this device.

On the other hand, what the Q6F displayed in terms of colors after switching to HDR mode was a very unpleasant surprise. The errors in color reproduction and palette were so huge that our charts literally ran out of scale. Of course, since Samsung even in such an inexpensive model offers very advanced calibration possibilities, we decided to approach the subject professionally and check what could be done about it during calibration.

LG B4 has long been known for offering advanced calibration tools, and it remains one of the few manufacturers that allows such in-depth image adjustments. Thanks to these tools, we calibrated the device to an exceptional standard. The result was incredibly low deltaE errors, considered at a reference level. Both SDR and HDR content now display exactly as the filmmaker intended. This level of precision is one of the reasons LG TVs are frequently used as preview monitors in graphic design and post-production studios.

After our calibration, the colors in SDR mode looked even better – the result is quite surprising, as color errors at level "1" are something usually seen in devices costing several thousand dollars. In this regard, the Q6F is really a great screen for everyday television, less demanding series, or movies. Unfortunately, our interference in HDR mode did not bring about a noticeable improvement. The television, due to its poor black levels and low coverage of a wide color gamut, still has significant problems with proper color saturation, especially red. This is an example of a device where HDR mainly exists as a label on the box – for everyday use, we definitely recommend watching content in SDR format.

In this section, we will revisit the smooth transition function while also examining how the TV handles lower-quality content. As we’ve found, the setting responsible for smooth gradation is generally effective, though it does have its drawbacks. While the function works well in SDR content, it becomes less useful in HDR content. Even at the lowest setting, it can blur important details, so we advise against using it in such cases.

The image scaling on the LG B4 is assessed moderately positively. While there is no noticeable edge doubling, the image tends to be somewhat "soft." This can be adjusted by tweaking the sharpness slider to improve the clarity.

The Q6F handles upscaling lower resolution content to native 4K very well. The scaling is surprisingly good here, even for such a budget TV from the QLED series. The only downside is when we watch very low-resolution material, like 576p (typical for old DVD players) – then the image may be slightly cropped. This is because the TV does not allow for the Overscan feature to be turned off, which is a common issue with Samsung devices.

The situation is completely different when it comes to digital processing, which is the attempt to smooth the image from unwanted artifacts. Here, the TV completely fails. Although we find a function in the menu called "Noise Reduction", it yields no visible results regardless of the slider setting. The only thing it seems to do is introduce unwanted errors into the image. Despite its presence in the system, we definitely do not recommend using it.

The maximum refresh rate on the LG B4 is 120 Hz, the bare minimum for those requiring high image fluidity. The manufacturer has equipped the TV with a multi-stage motion smoother called "TruMotion." This feature is split into two sliders: one controls the sharpness of moving images (De-Blur) and the other adjusts judder (De-Judder). Both sliders can be set between 0 and 10, with each level affecting the smoothness, so users can easily find their preferred setting.

The LG OLED B4 panel boasts an impressive average response time of 0.1 ms (based on our measurements), delivering an exceptionally clear image that surpasses the capabilities of LCD TVs, which often have response times of several milliseconds. This is particularly noticeable in the "UFO Test" images, where no trailing blur is visible behind moving objects.

The 60 Hz panel in the Samsung Q6F is the standard in this price range, which makes it a rather average model for dynamic sports or gaming. However, in the case of movies, the TV performs quite well thanks to the smoothing feature. The "Motion Smoothing" option allows you to adjust the fluidity of motion to your own preferences – from maintaining a cinematic feel to full fluidity.

The LG B4 has four full HDMI 2.1 ports, each providing 48Gbps bandwidth. This ensures smooth activation of all relevant features without issues, making the television highly suitable for gaming. With its low input lag and extensive functionality, including well-implemented HGIG mode and Dolby Vision gaming with low latency, the B4 is a strong contender for gamers who demand high quality.

A standout feature is GameBar, which allows for on-the-fly adjustments without interrupting gameplay, as well as image adaptations for those with visual impairments. Another key point is that when VRR technology is enabled, the television maintains its contrast, thanks to the OLED panel's structure, though slight flickering in grey shades is to be expected.

In conclusion, the LG B4 is an ideal choice for gamers, seamlessly combining high performance with excellent gaming features. Its 120Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 ports make it a standout option for those seeking top-tier gaming experiences.

We won’t beat around the bush – the Q6F is not a television designed with gamers in mind. While it does have features like ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR frame synchronization for consoles, the list of benefits pretty much ends there. Besides these basics, the TV offers nothing more that might satisfy those who spend a lot of time in front of a console. It’s a real shame that such a useful tool as Game Bar is missing here, which in Samsung’s higher models allows for quick control of game parameters. In terms of gaming, this is an absolutely basic model and is only suitable for "casual" gamers.