LG NANO82T6B vs TCL C6KS / C69KS / Q6CS

The brightness of the LG NANO82T is rather average, especially compared to other TVs in a similar price range. With a peak brightness of approximately 280 nits, it falls short of many competitors offering levels exceeding 400-500 nits. This limitation impacts the viewing experience, particularly for HDR content. Bright areas of the image may lack definition, and the HDR effect fails to deliver the dramatic impact expected from higher-end displays, making the overall image less striking in well-lit scenes.

And how does the issue of HDR look? Here the C6KS performs quite well and – as is becoming a recurring theme in this review – identically to the C6K model. The maximum brightness generated by this television is around 600 nits. In bright scenes, this translates to a really solid, cinematic effect, and generally, the video materials look good here. However, one must remember the specifics of the dimming algorithm in this model. When very small, bright points (e.g., stars) appear against a dark background, the television can dim them quite significantly. The goal is simple: to eliminate blooming and maintain the best possible black levels. It’s a reasonable compromise. Most viewers will definitely appreciate deep, “true black” more than additional micro-details that could cause grayness on the screen. Such is the nature of local dimming technology in this price range, and one must be aware of it. It’s also worth noting that the TCL C69KS (C6KS) has an additional PFS coating, which is marketed under the tagline of QLED technology. Thanks to this, the colors are saturated and vibrant – our measurements showed that the coverage of a wide color gamut reaches 92% here.

The colour reproduction in the LG NANO82T in Filmmaker mode, while the best factory setting available, does have flaws. The primary issue lies in white balance, where measurements reveal a drop in the level of blue. This shifts towards yellow hues, making the image warmer than intended. Such deviations prevent natural colour reproduction, especially in scenes with white or neutral backgrounds. For instance, in Star Wars, where numerous elements should appear white, the colours deviate noticeably. The Color Checker test corroborates this, showing some shades "escaping" into others, further highlighting the lack of accurate colour rendering.

In terms of contrast, the gamma graph analysis showed a drop to 2.1, falling short of the optimal 2.4. This leads to darker parts of the image appearing brighter, reducing depth and dynamism. Additionally, the EOTF curve, which governs brightness reproduction, shows a slight spike at the start. This can result in an excessive brightness boost in the brightest areas, causing a loss of detail in very bright scenes.

Unlike the more expensive C6K model, the tested C6KS does not have an option labeled Filmmaker Mode in the menu. Is this a reason to cry? Absolutely not. Our tests have shown that in practice, in terms of color reproduction, the absence of this specific label makes virtually no difference. The best available Film/Cinema mode here offers nearly identical picture characteristics to the aforementioned Filmmaker mode in the more expensive model. So we get a very similar image, just under a different name. So if you were wondering whether paying extra for the C6K gives you better colors – the answer is: no, in both cases the base is the same and requires slight adjustments.

After calibration, the colour reproduction in SDR content on the LG NANO82T is impressive. The white balance has been effectively corrected, resulting in natural, balanced tones across various scenes. Gamma adjustments ensure more precise rendering of details in shadows and bright areas, enhancing the viewing experience. These improvements allow the television to perform well in everyday use, delivering solid colour accuracy and well-balanced images in SDR mode.

Unfortunately, the situation with HDR content is less satisfactory. The TV lacks support for a wide colour gamut, limiting the depth and richness that HDR can achieve. The EOTF curve deviates from the ideal, leading to overemphasis on details in brighter areas. This causes noticeable colour reproduction errors, as confirmed by Colour Checker tests. Additionally, the panel's low brightness further hampers HDR image quality, diminishing dynamic range effects and causing colours to appear washed out.

Overall, the TV significantly improves after calibration, particularly in SDR mode. The enhancements to white balance and gamma elevate image quality, offering more natural and cohesive colour reproduction. Compared to its pre-calibration state, the difference is evident, and the television now performs noticeably better in standard dynamic range scenarios.

Thanks to the white balance adjustment, the tendency of the C69KS to distort colors has been effectively reduced, leading to a very good final effect. After calibration, we won't see excessive warmth in SDR scenes or overly cool tones in HDR. However, it's worth noting the brightness characteristic. In SDR content, there are hardly any objections – the image looks very good, especially in older films, television programs, or materials from YouTube. It is much more difficult to evaluate the performance of the television in HDR. Analysis of the EOTF curve suggests correct behavior, but its practical variant shows certain limitations. The C69KS can overly brighten the smallest elements of the frame, while at other times it can dim the entire scene. Calibration has therefore brought clear benefits in terms of color reproduction, but certain limitations arising from the operation of local dimming and the way it is controlled by the C69KS cannot be avoided, as we also saw in the C6K test.

The LG NANO82T features a "Smooth Gradation" option for handling tonal transitions in low-quality materials. The "Low" setting improves the most problematic transitions, providing a noticeable and helpful enhancement. However, the "High" setting, while further smoothing tonal transitions, sacrifices some detail in the process. This can be a compromise that not all viewers will appreciate.

The image scaling on the LG NANO82T has some limitations, particularly when displaying lower-resolution content. The TV applies a subtle artificial sharpening, which makes the image appear sharper, but this effect is mainly due to artificial contours. Some users may find this beneficial, as it highlights details more prominently, but for others who prefer a more natural image, it may appear overly processed and artificial. This is a subjective preference that varies from viewer to viewer.

C69KS handles upscaling quite well. The tested 576p material looks surprisingly decent – a significant amount of detail is preserved, and the algorithm adds a subtle "rounding" effect to sharp edges, making the image appear more cohesive. However, the smoothing of tonal transitions is lacking. The television practically cannot improve them, leaving the image in a somewhat raw state. With older materials, this can be simply exhausting, as the lack of additional processing highlights all imperfections.

LG televisions, including the NANO82T, come with an interesting motion smoother called TruMotion providing users with control over the quality of films they watch. The TruMotion feature allows adjustment of the motion fluidity on a 10-point scale, offering a personalised visual experience.

However, when it comes to more dynamic content, such as games or action films, the performance falls short. With its 60Hz panel and relatively slow pixel response, motion fluidity is less than ideal. This results in noticeable trailing and less smooth playback during fast-paced scenes.

Overall, the LG NANO82T is a good option for those who primarily watch movies and prefer more subdued content. Viewers who prioritise fast, dynamic motion, may prefer an alternative model.

C69KS offers a simplified motion improvement panel in movies, allowing you to adjust the intensity of the effect using a slider. This makes it easy to match the smoothness to your own preferences. The possibility of using higher refresh rates is also a plus – even though the panel operates natively at 4K at 60 Hz, lowering the resolution to 1440p allows you to enable 120 and 144 Hz modes, both on consoles and PC. This sounds like great news, but in practice, the image at these settings suffers from significant motion blur. The effect is noticeable enough that the overall experience feels simply mediocre and loses its appeal in everyday use.

When playing on the console, the LG NANO82T offers several features that can enhance the gaming experience, though it also has some limitations. Notably, the ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) feature stands out, automatically adjusting picture settings to switch the television to low latency mode, which is especially beneficial for gamers requiring quick reactions. Another advantage is the support for HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group), ensuring HDR games are displayed as intended by the creators and providing vibrant and realistic visuals. These features contribute to a solid gaming experience, but there are some drawbacks, particularly in fast-paced scenes.

The LG NANO82T has limitations when it comes to advanced gaming features. It lacks support for variable refresh rate (VRR), which affects gameplay smoothness, especially in more dynamic games. The TV's 60Hz panel restricts the ability to use higher refresh rates, a significant downside for gamers seeking smoother gameplay at higher resolutions. Additionally, the absence of G-Sync technology limits image synchronisation, potentially leading to tearing and stuttering during gameplay.

These limitations mean that while the LG NANO82T offers a good gaming experience for casual gamers, it may not meet the expectations of more demanding players seeking advanced features and maximum image fluidity.

These shortcomings may mean that the LG NANO82T does not meet the expectations of the most demanding gamers looking for advanced features and the highest image fluidity.

If we overlook the smearing and lack of native 4K at 120 Hz, the C69KS impresses with how well it performs during gaming. We get everything you can expect from a gaming television: variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic switching to game mode (ALLM), Dolby Vision Gaming mode, and a reasonably functioning HGiG. The TV can also operate at 120 and even 144 Hz at lower resolutions, allowing for smoother gameplay on console or PC. Additionally, there is a clear Game Bar that lets you quickly glance at key settings during gaming. As a result — despite a few limitations — the C69KS can be a truly successful screen for gamers.