Compare LG 55 B4 vs Sony X85L

The LG OLED B4 is an exceptionally versatile television within the semi-premium category. Given its impressive features and competitive pricing—set to drop further as history suggests—it offers outstanding value. The hypnotic combination of perfect black levels and high contrast will captivate anyone familiar with OLED technology, making a return to LCD screens almost unthinkable. While its peak brightness in HDR content might seem modest on paper, the visual experience is enhanced by the panel’s inherent strengths, making the brightness appear far more impactful. It’s also worth highlighting the stability and uniformity of brightness across most scenes. The slight drawback is the reduced brightness in full-frame white scenes, though these are relatively rare and thus not a major concern.

Factory colour reproduction is commendable, offering a good baseline that benefits significantly from calibration, fully realising the director’s vision. The LG B4 is particularly well-suited for gamers and sports enthusiasts alike. Gamers will appreciate the comprehensive HDMI 2.1 support and associated features, while sports fans will enjoy the advanced motion smoothing with its extensive adjustment options. The remote control, equipped with a gyroscope, allows for intuitive navigation akin to using a mouse, making the experience even more seamless.

The WebOS system is another highlight, offering a smooth, responsive interface with a vast array of applications, meeting the needs of most users. At the core of the LG B4 is its advanced Alpha processor, responsible for enhancing image smoothness and conducting detailed signal analysis. The processor’s ability to optimise the darkest and brightest areas of the image significantly improves the viewing and gaming experience. Furthermore, it effectively reduces noise and elevates the overall content quality, especially when viewing 4K material, placing the LG B4 ahead of many competitors in its price bracket.

The growing popularity of OLED technology is well-reflected in the LG B4, which excels in handling dynamic action scenes, offering seamless transitions without blurring. This makes it particularly appealing to discerning users prioritising high image quality and cutting-edge technology. All essential applications are present, ensuring a comprehensive user experience.

In summary, who is the LG OLED B4 for? It’s the perfect choice for those seeking top-tier image quality within a set budget, yet it offers more than just value for money. The LG B4 stands out distinctly in its price range, offering superior image quality that many competitors cannot match.

Sony X85L is a model from 2023 that will continue to be offered in 2024 by the Japanese manufacturer. Its biggest advantage is the Google TV system. It currently provides the greatest access to applications, so we don't have to fear that any of our favorite apps will be missing. The intuitive interface and voice control feature via Google Assistant make daily use of the television convenient and modern. In terms of picture quality, Sony X85L performs well. Thanks to local dimming (albeit with a very average number of zones), black looks really decent. Additionally, its quite high brightness allows for comfortable TV viewing during the day, even in well-lit rooms. Moreover, the television offers the ability to record programs from built-in tuners, which is a great convenience for those wanting to control what and when they watch. In terms of motion fluidity, the X85L also does not disappoint. The 120 Hz panel and Motionflow system provide smooth display of dynamic scenes, pleasing both movie buffs and sports fans. The TV is also equipped with a range of features for gamers, including VRR, Game Bar, and G-Sync support, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. Of course, the television is not without its drawbacks. The lack of HGiG support and high input lag in Dolby Vision mode can be disappointing for more demanding gamers. Additionally, the compromise between font readability and image fluidity when connected to a PC may not appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, Sony X85L is decent equipment, particularly worth noting if it can be purchased on promotion.

The LG B4 employs OLED panels produced by LG Displays, offering perfect contrast and true black levels. This results in an image so vivid and dynamic that it can appear almost three-dimensional. The "B" series has consistently been an ideal choice for those seeking excellent image quality without the premium price tag associated with higher-tier models. Thanks to competitive pricing, the B series often rivals Mini LED televisions, frequently emerging victorious. Unlike LCD TVs with local dimming, the LG B4 avoids common issues like blooming, halo effects, or dimming of fine bright details.

This superiority is particularly evident in challenging test scenes, such as those from Oblivion and Sicario 2. The LG B4 handles these with impressive finesse, delivering a high level of visual depth. In Oblivion, the bright lights are distinctly separated, maintaining clarity and precision without blending into each other. Similarly, in The Sicario 2, scenes featuring heli highlight the B4's ability to render intricate details and preserve the film’s unique colour grading, even in darker, more demanding moments. This exceptional performance in both contrast and detail demonstrates the LG B4’s capability to bring cinematic experiences to life.

The Sony X85L TV is equipped with a VA panel, which in itself offers quite good contrast. Additionally, this model features local dimming technology – in the 55-inch version, it includes 24 zones. Although this number is not impressive, it naturally increases with the size of the TV. The contrast in the X85L is good, though not the best, especially in comparison to other TVs also equipped with advanced local dimming technology. Results at the level of 8000:1 are satisfactory, but they appear average against the competition. In some cases, such as the third scene from the movie Arrival, the contrast is promising and performs quite well. This is thanks to the very good dimming algorithm that Sony has been using in its TVs for years. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of local dimming zones, the TV suffers from noticeable blooming, which can be seen, for example, in scenes with the helicopter from the movie Sicario 2.

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.

The Sony X85L TV offers solid HDR performance with a brightness level of 750 nits, which is sufficient to enjoy vivid effects. In scenes of moderate difficulty, such as the first, third, or fifth test scenes, a brightness of around 600 nits allows one to fully experience the HDR effect. Unfortunately, in more demanding segments, such as the scene from the movie Sicario 2, the TV shows its limitations. Drops in brightness to 250 nits make the HDR effect lose its impressive quality and resemble regular SDR instead. Nevertheless, it is worth highlighting the very good coverage of the DCI-P3 color palette at 95%, which definitely deserves praise and positively affects the overall image quality.

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.

The Sony X85L television was tested in IMAX Enhanced mode, which, although associated with world-class cinema, does not guarantee an image that aligns with the director's vision. The main issue is the white balance – there is a noticeable strong dominance of blue color and significant lack of red. As a result, the image becomes unnaturally cool and appears artificial. The color reproduction errors were confirmed by the Colour Checker test, which showed significant discrepancies – colors were "scattered" like shots from a rifle, and only a few samples hit the target values. This clearly shows that the precision of color reproduction leaves much to be desired.

The brightness of the image is one of the positive features of the TV. The gamma for HD content is at an acceptable level, although there are minor errors, but generally, it is quite good. However, the brightness characteristics for 4K materials remain an issue, controlled by the EOTF curve. It is evident that very small, bright elements of the image are too dim, which is a result of the limited number of dimming zones due to the design of the television.

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.

Thanks to the use of calibration tools offered by Sony X85L, the image quality has been significantly improved. After calibration, the white balance for HD content is much more stable, making colors look more natural and the image gains authenticity. Although it is not perfect, these changes allow viewers to enjoy a more realistic representation of colors, eliminating the earlier cool tone. The gamma, which already performed decently, has been adjusted to an even better version. As a result, tonal transitions and brightness are more consistent, positively affecting the depth and detail of the image.

As for 4K content, despite efforts, the white balance still struggles with a deficiency of red, which can result in overly warm colors in some scenes. Synthetic tests showed that the EOTF curve in HDR is quite stable, with a slight boost in mid-bright scenes. However, in real film materials, the TV can still be too bright with fine, light details, which is a result of the limitations of large local dimming technology.

Nonetheless, calibration has brought significant benefits, particularly in color accuracy, improving overall image quality and providing a more natural and cohesive directorial vision.

The smoothness of tonal transitions, often overlooked in tests of competing platforms, is a crucial aspect of image quality, especially when watching content with a rich colour palette and complex effects, where textures overlap. This can sometimes result in colour banding or a lack of smooth gradation. The LG B4 performs quite well in terms of smoothing these tonal transitions. However, it has weaker moments, such as bright coloured skies in films like Kingsman and The Martian. Despite these minor issues, they do not significantly detract from the viewing experience. Therefore, we positively assess the quality of tonal transitions in the LG B4.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in the Sony X85L is at a good level – the color gradation is smooth, even in more demanding areas, which makes the perception of scenes positive and natural. The biggest problems occur in the shadow areas, where subtle color blends may be visible. Nevertheless, the television performs well enough that most viewers should not notice these minor imperfections.

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.

In terms of smoothing tonal transitions, the Sony X85L television does not offer any dedicated enhancement options, which is a downside. On the other hand, image scaling performs quite well – the television adds a bit of artificial sharpness, which can make details such as tree branches more pronounced, although sometimes with noticeable jaggedness. This type of effect may appeal to some viewers who prefer a more detailed image.

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 Sony X85L, equipped with a 120 Hz panel, will meet the expectations of a wide range of users – from sports and gaming fans to movie buffs. Movie enthusiasts will surely appreciate the presence of one of the best motion smoothing systems, Motionflow. This system offers adjustment via smoothness and clarity sliders – smoothness is responsible for motion fluidity, eliminating stutter, while clarity enhances the sharpness of fast scenes, reducing blur.

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.

Sony X85L offers quite a solid set of features for gamers, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. First and foremost, the TV has a 120 Hz panel, translating to smooth and dynamic image display, ideal for both fast-paced action games and more demanding sports titles. It is equipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s, allowing for the full utilization of next-gen console capabilities. Additionally, the Sony X85L supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology, which helps reduce stuttering and artifacts during gameplay, providing a fluid experience. The TV also supports G-Sync, which is particularly beneficial for gamers using NVIDIA graphics cards, allowing for screen refresh rate synchronization with GPU performance, eliminating the tearing effect. It is worth mentioning the Game Bar feature, which facilitates quick access to essential gaming-related settings such as VRR, brightness levels, and display modes, making it convenient and useful during gameplay.

However, there are certain limitations. The TV does not support HGiG, which may be a downside for some gamers, as HGiG optimizes HDR effect rendering in games, providing a more authentic visual experience. Additionally, while Dolby Vision mode is available, it is not practical for gaming due to very high input lag.

The LG B4 boasts incredibly low latency across all scenarios. Even the most dedicated gamers will appreciate the exceptionally low input lag, which remains at just 5 ms, even during demanding 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR. Notably, latencies are unchanged when Dolby Vision HDR is enabled, a feature that is not always guaranteed by competitors. This consistent performance deserves the highest praise and a strong recommendation.

In general, the input lag on the Sony X85L is very good, which is crucial for smooth gameplay and quick reactions in games. In standard modes, especially when using HDMI 2.1 and playing in 4K resolution at 120 Hz, the input lag is minimal.

Unfortunately, the Dolby Vision mode is an exception to this rule. In this case, the input lag reaches as much as 95 ms. Such a high level of latency makes the Dolby Vision mode practically unplayable, as reactions to commands are noticeably delayed.

The LG B4 performs excellently when paired with a PC, thanks to its incredibly low latency of just 13.5 ms, providing near-instantaneous response between the mouse, eye, and screen. Text readability is very good on this television, with sharp fonts achievable by enabling the passthrough option in the settings. The RWBG pixel arrangement has no significant impact on font or letter display, offering a clear advantage over Samsung’s QD-OLED panels. Users of both Windows and macOS-equipped computers will appreciate the solid performance of the LG B4 screen.

The cooperation of the Sony X85L television with a PC is a bit of a balance between image quality and user comfort. If we want to use the television for work, where clear text is important, we need to set the refresh rate to 60 Hz. In this mode, text looks good and does not strain the eyes, which is crucial if we plan to spend a long time in front of the screen.

On the other hand, if the television is to be used for gaming, where we can take full advantage of its capabilities at 120 Hz, we must take into account that the readability of fonts decreases significantly. The image becomes less sharp and the text harder to read, which can be frustrating. In short – the Sony X85L will work well for occasional connection to a computer, but if we need it daily for work and gaming, this compromise may not be to everyone's liking.

One of the undeniable advantages of OLED panels, including the LG B4, is their excellent performance during group viewing, maintaining good contrast, colour saturation, and fidelity from different angles. While it doesn’t benefit from MLA technology like other OLED models, the overall performance remains impressive, and owners are unlikely to be dissatisfied. However, it’s worth noting that at sharp angles, a slight greenish tint can be observed. This is a characteristic of WRGB panels from LG that lack micro-lens technology, and unfortunately, this issue cannot be mitigated.

The viewing angles on the Sony X85L, as is typical with VA panels, are not the best. The image looks great when viewed straight on, but just shifting to the side reveals that colors lose their intensity and contrast noticeably weakens. This can be a problem if the TV is intended for watching with a larger group, where viewers are seated at different angles. For those who usually watch solo or from one central spot, this won't be a big downside, but when viewing from the side, the picture quality unfortunately decreases.

The maximum brightness of the LG B4 in SDR content reaches 370 nits, which is a commendable result for an OLED television, providing comfortable viewing even in well-lit environments. However, there are two important considerations. First, the television's ability to manage reflections is somewhat average, primarily due to the satin finish of the panel. This means that direct light hitting the screen may cause noticeable reflections. Secondly, the screen's brightness when displaying 100% white fill is around 260 nits. This is a noteworthy improvement, as OLED televisions in this price range previously achieved only half that brightness. This enhancement makes the LG B4 well-suited for watching high-brightness content, such as winter sports.

The performance of the Sony X85L TV during the day is quite decent. Its satin screen coating handles light reflection moderately well, meaning that in bright rooms, there may be reflections, but they are not bothersome enough to significantly interfere. The brightness in SDR mode at 570 nits is sufficient for comfortable TV watching during the day, even with natural light coming through the windows. This ensures that colors remain vivid and the image is clearly visible, making the TV effective for everyday use.

The LG B4 uses the well-established WebOS system, a staple in LG's smart TVs for many years. This system offers a wide range of essential applications, with only a few notable omissions, such as CDA and KODI. One of WebOS's standout features is its cursor functionality, which activates when the remote control is moved, making it especially convenient for entering search queries or passwords on websites.

In addition, WebOS supports various features such as screen mirroring, AirPlay, voice search in Polish, and Bluetooth headphone connectivity. An added bonus is the ability to use the television’s speakers and headphones simultaneously, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with hearing impairments. For sports enthusiasts, the system also includes alerts for upcoming matches, ensuring you never miss a broadcast.

The home panel in WebOS is another strength, offering seamless control of all smart devices connected to the home network. For example, users receive notifications when a laundry cycle is completed, enhancing the overall convenience of the system.

In conclusion, while WebOS may have some limitations compared to Android TV, it provides stable and fast performance, supporting most key functions users expect. It's a reliable and straightforward operating system for those looking for an easy-to-use interface for their television.

The Sony X85L operates on the Google TV system, which is a significant advantage for many users. The television offers wide access to applications, and using streaming platforms is smooth and user-friendly. The interface is intuitive and easy to master, allowing for quick switching between apps and searching for favorite content. Google TV allows for personalization of the home screen, enabling each user to customize it according to their preferences. Google Assistant further enhances the experience by offering voice control and quick adjustments of settings or movie searches without the need for a remote.

In terms of user functionality, the Sony X85L offers many useful options. The television has the capability to record programs, which is a significant convenience for those who want to watch their favorite content at any time. AirPlay support allows for seamless streaming of content from Apple devices, which iPhone and iPad owners will appreciate. Additionally, thanks to built-in Bluetooth, various devices such as headphones or keyboards can be connected. However, one drawback is the lack of a PiP (picture-in-picture) function, which may disappoint users who prefer multitasking on the screen.

The design of the Sony X85L television, while it may not be the thinnest, is solid and elegant. The metal base with adjustable legs is one of its strong points, allowing for height and width adjustments of the television to fit different furniture and spaces. This practical solution enhances the interior and adds a modern character to it.

The default file player in the LG B4 performs well with most photo and video formats, supporting a wide range of popular codecs, including Dolby Vision. However, there are a few limitations that may disappoint some users. For example, the TV only supports two photo formats: JPEG and PNG, which could be a downside for those accustomed to the HEIC format used by Apple devices. Unfortunately, there is no native support for HEIC files, but the built-in AirPlay feature can serve as a workaround for Apple users. Additionally, while the TV can handle most video formats, it does not support the H.266 VVC codec, which is currently not widely used.

Another limitation is the lack of support for TXT subtitles, which may be an issue for users who rely on these for certain content. Despite these minor drawbacks, the LG B4 offers a solid file playback experience overall.

Sony X85L has no problem playing most popular file formats from USB, which is a big plus for those who often reach for external content. However, it is worth mentioning a small downside – the built-in player does not allow changing the font color in subtitles, which can be bothersome for some. Fortunately, thanks to the advanced Google TV system, users have a wide range of options. It is easy to install alternative media players that offer more customization options.

The audio system in the LG OLED B4 is quite decent and performs well within its price range. The bass is noticeable but does not overwhelm the other frequencies, resulting in a balanced sound overall. While the built-in speakers are adequate for casual viewing, it is likely that most users opting for a high-quality OLED display will already have an external audio system to enhance their experience. However, the inclusion of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Atmos codecs adds value, offering more advanced audio support for those who connect external sound systems. This makes the B4 a solid choice for users prioritising image and sound quality.

The sound on the Sony X85L is good – it is clear across the entire scale, allowing you to enjoy both dialogues and music. The bass, although light, is perceptible and adds some depth to the overall sound. However, it should be emphasized that this is a subjective assessment – some will be satisfied with such a sound profile, while others may need additional audio equipment to fully feel the stronger tones and more spacious sound.

LG 55 B4 vs Sony X85L

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