LG OLED C4 vs Sony Bravia 8 MK2

The HDR performance of the LG OLED C4 is impressive, firmly placing it in the higher tier. Most films exceed 700 nits, delivering a highly realistic image. While none surpass the 1,000-nit mark, the combination of these results with the TV’s infinite contrast and perfect blacks significantly enhances the visual experience. The final scene, with a full-screen flash of sunlight, is slightly less bright than the others but still maintains a solid level of brightness. Another highlight is the excellent DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, which ensures incredibly vibrant colours. The HDR technology in the LG OLED C4 delivers exceptional colour and detail reproduction. The dynamic tone mapping feature optimises brightness levels, ensuring ideal light reproduction in every scene, even in the most demanding high-dynamic films.

Thanks to the new QD-OLED panel, the Sony Bravia 8 II can achieve astronomically high brightness levels of around 2000 nits, translating to nearly reference quality in films and series recorded in HDR format. In test materials such as Life of Pi and Sicario 2, the effect is simply stunning – details in bright parts of the image remain perfectly visible, while night scenes captivate with depth and contrast. However, it's not perfect. Compared to the fiercest competitors, the Bravia 8 II shows a noticeable drop in brightness during full-screen, very bright scenes. When comparing peak luminance to 100% white brightness in HDR mode, the Bravia 8 II is even two or three times dimmer than the LG G5 or Samsung S95F models. This was particularly evident in a scene from the movie The Meg – the screen became noticeably darker than in competing televisions. Despite this drawback, the results of the Bravia 8 II still place it among the very top of the market. It deserves praise for its absolutely top-notch color gamut coverage – DCI-P3 at nearly 100%, and BT.2020 close to 90%. These parameters allow for fully extracting the potential of HDR content and providing a cinematic experience in the comfort of your home.

The best factory mode on the tested television was "Filmmaker," which served as the basis for all evaluations. In terms of colour reproduction, this mode performed reasonably well; however, certain flaws significantly detracted from the overall viewing experience. The most fundamental issue was the white balance, which exhibited a noticeable dominance of red, skewing the image characteristics. This resulted in a pronounced yellow tint to whites and a general shift of all colours towards warmer tones.

The gamma, an equally crucial—if not more important—aspect, was notably lowered, leading to a marked reduction in contrast. Additionally, the television frequently lost detail at the start of the gamma curve. These issues were most apparent in SDR content.

When examining HDR materials, the same yellowing effect in the white balance was observed, as seen with SDR content. However, the EOTF curve, which replaces the gamma curve for HDR, was near perfect and left little room for criticism.

Right out of the box, the Bravia 8 II performs really well. In the best IMAX® Enhanced mode, the television can reproduce colors in a pleasing and natural way, although “good” here does not mean “best in class.” The white balance definitely needs adjustment – skin tones tend to lean into slightly pink/cool hues, both in SDR and HDR materials. We also noticed that the EOTF curve characteristics show a tendency to brighten the darkest parts of the image. This is probably due to the manufacturer's desire to highlight as many details as possible, even in deep shadows. Is this a good approach? It's hard to say definitively, but we know one thing – it's not an ideal solution.

As mentioned, LG televisions come with advanced tools to facilitate an accurate calibration process. By utilising these tools, we meticulously adjusted the image to align with the director’s original vision. Without overstating, the results were outstanding. Both SDR and HDR content now achieve a level of visual fidelity that reflects how films are intended to be seen.

Examining the colour accuracy on the "ColourChecker" palette reveals impressive results, with almost all colour errors falling below a delta of "1," aside from two minor exceptions. Post-calibration, the LG OLED C4 demonstrated a marked improvement in colour reproduction, particularly in SDR and HDR modes. Testing the TV after calibration highlighted its capacity for delivering exceptionally accurate colours, underlining the high calibre of this model. The LG C41LA offers a stunningly precise colour palette, sure to satisfy even the most discerning viewers.

After calibration, the excessive cooling of the image caused by the strong boost of blue color was eliminated. Reds became deeper, and skin tones took on a natural, healthy appearance. Actors who previously seemed "cold" now appear much livelier and more convincing on screen. However, one thing has not changed – the analysis of the EOTF curve still shows that the Bravia 8 II tends to lighten the darkest parts of the image. It's hard to say whether this is a deliberate choice by the manufacturer or a result of the panel design and software. In practice, this means that scenes the creators wanted to leave in deep darkness can reveal more details than intended. Nevertheless, the viewing experience after calibration is clearly better – warm, natural colors and realistic skin tones make watching on the Bravia 8 II simply more pleasant to the eye.

Let us revisit the function responsible for smooth gradation and consider its role in improving lower-quality materials. The default smoothing of tonal transitions, while decent, can be further enhanced. The feature includes a slider for adjusting its strength, and we recommend selecting the first option. This setting strikes a balance, offering excellent results without compromising important details through unnecessary blurring.

The image scaling on the LG C4 is commendable, though not entirely without flaws. By default, the image appears slightly sharper, though not to an intrusive degree. While jagged edges on elements like trees are occasionally visible, this issue is relatively minor compared to similar offerings from other manufacturers.

Upscaling and digital image processing are a true showcase of the capabilities of Bravia 8 II. Sony has long been regarded as a master in this field, and here it only confirms its reputation. The proprietary XR processor can extract nearly maximum quality from lower resolution materials—whether it's television or an old DVD movie, the image looks sharper, with more details and better depth. Sure, if we feed it exceptionally low-quality material (like our archival photo with the Model), it won't work miracles, but in everyday viewing, it's hard to find anything to complain about.

The soft gradation feature also performs excellently. In the "Medium" setting, it effectively smooths tonal transitions, eliminating banding on colored and gray gradients, while simultaneously preserving film grain and fine image details. It is this balance between delicacy and effectiveness that keeps Sony TVs among the best on the market in this category.

The LG G4 supports a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hz, achievable only when connected to a high-performance PC. Otherwise, the television operates at a maximum of 120 Hz, the recommended setting for viewing sports or content with fast-paced motion. For those prioritising smooth image quality, LG has included a versatile motion smoothing feature called "TrueMotion." This function is split into two adjustable sliders: De-Blur, which sharpens moving images, and De-Judder, which reduces jitter. Both sliders offer a range of settings from 0 to 10, enabling users to fine-tune the motion smoothness to their preference.

The LG OLED C4 boasts an impressive average response time of less than 1 millisecond, as confirmed by our measurements. This results in exceptional image clarity, far surpassing LCD televisions, which often have response times of several milliseconds. This clarity is evident in tests like the "UFO Test," where no trailing blur is visible behind moving objects.

Motion smoothness is practically a closed topic in the case of Bravia 8 II. The OLED with 120 Hz refresh rate naturally provides a very clean, clear image in dynamic scenes, so there is little to complain about. However, particular praise is due to one of the best motion smoothing systems on the market. They allow for precise adjustment of film smoothness according to one's preferences – from gentle smoothing to an almost "theatrical" effect – without the risk of artificial jumps, tearing of the image, or annoying artifacts. This is one of those features that will be appreciated both during movie screenings and while watching sports.

The LG C4, like nearly all OLED televisions from the manufacturer, excels in its compatibility with consoles and PCs. With the inclusion of four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 48 Gbps, the TV incorporates a range of features to enhance the gaming experience. Notably, it offers simultaneous support for FreeSync and G-Sync, making it an ideal choice for gamers using AMD or Nvidia graphics cards. For those seeking the best possible gaming quality, the integration of HDR Dolby Vision and HGIG mode is particularly impressive. HDR Dolby Vision operates with remarkably low input lag across all settings, ensuring smooth and responsive gameplay.

A standout feature in LG's televisions is the GameBar, which allows users to adjust settings in real-time without leaving the game. This includes options for customising the image for viewers with visual impairments, a thoughtful addition. Additionally, enabling VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) does not result in a loss of contrast—a benefit of the OLED panel's self-emissive technology, eliminating the need for conventional backlighting. While some slight flickering of grey tones may occur, this is a characteristic of VRR technology across all manufacturers.

In summary: The LG C4, like the brand's other OLED models equipped with high-refresh-rate panels and HDMI 2.1, provides a seamless and immersive gaming experience. For gamers demanding top-tier performance, this TV is an outstanding choice.

Sony really learned its lesson from previous years and in the Bravia 8 II prepared a package of features for gamers that is difficult to describe as anything other than "almost perfect." We have everything expected in equipment of this class – VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision Gaming mode, HGiG, and even a convenient Game Bar that allows you to quickly preview parameters and change settings without leaving the game. Additionally, it's worth noting how smoothly and flawlessly these features work – no delays, no strange stutters. You simply turn on the game and everything looks as it should. Unfortunately, there are a few "buts." The manufacturer still gives us only two full-bandwidth HDMI ports, so if someone has a console, a PC, and another device like a Soundbar connected via eARC, it starts a game of cable swapping. It's also surprising that there is no support for 1440p resolution at 120 Hz – particularly important for Xbox gamers. Overall, however – this is one of those TVs that can comfortably be placed in the center of a gaming lounge, allowing you to enjoy gameplay without significant compromises.