Samsung Neo QLED QN85D / QNX1D vs LG QNED93A / QNED90A

The HDR performance of the Samsung QN85D is a mixed bag. While it excels in synthetic luminance tests, reaching up to 1000 nits, and delivers impressive results in scenes with full-screen brightness – like in The Meg or the opening of Life of Pi – the limitations become apparent when smaller bright elements are introduced. In these cases, the brightness level noticeably dips, weakening the HDR effect and reducing its impact. When brightness hovers around 200-300 nits, the immersive “wow factor” of HDR tends to diminish, and visuals lose some of their intended brilliance.

That said, the QN85D still manages to deliver decent colour quality, covering 95% of the DCI-P3 colour space, which, while respectable, doesn’t set it apart from its top competitors. Colours appear accurate and vibrant, but the HDR experience could be more compelling if the brightness was consistently well-balanced across various content types.

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.

The Samsung QN85D, when tested in Filmmaker Mode, falls short of expectations for film accuracy due to several notable issues in colour and brightness reproduction. In HD content, the white balance is skewed by an excess of red and blue, causing a pinkish tint across the image. This effect, confirmed by Colour Checker tests, impacts the realism of skin tones and other details, becoming particularly distracting in complex scenes.

For 4K HDR content, while the white balance intially appears accurate, there is a pronounced shift towards blue tones at the upper end of the spectrum. This deviation results in colours that lack natural appeal, subtly detracting from the viewing experience. The gamma, although close to the standard reference, slightly dips below the ideal 2.4 level, reducing shadow depth. Moreover, the EOTF curve for 4K content is noticeably elevated above the reference line, leading to excessive brightness in certain image areas. This undermines the cinematic look Filmmaker Mode aims to deliver, creating a visual experience that feels over-bright rather than authentically nuanced.

In summary, while Filmmaker Mode on the QN85D initially presents a cinematic effect, the inaccuracies in colour balance and brightness are too significant to achieve the true-to-source quality that the mode promises.

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.

After professional calibration of the Samsung QN85D’s Filmmaker Mode, there's a noticeable enhancement in HD/SDR content quality. The calibration eliminates major issues with white balance, and adjustments to the brightness characteristics result in a more natural and lifelike picture. Regular HD content, like television broadcasts and YouTube videos, now benefits from well-balanced colours, free from the distracting hues that previously impacted image quality.

However, challenges remain with 4K HDR content. Despite calibration, improvements in white balance for HDR are minor, and more cosmetic than transformative. The EOTF curve initially aligns with reference standards in test conditions, but the television struggles to maintain consistent brightness during film scenes. As a result, dark elements appear overly boosted in mixed scenes, creating excessive contrast. In fully dark scenes, the image often becomes too dim, obscuring finer details and diminishing the overall viewing experience. This inconsistency in brightness affects the depth and accuracy of HDR performance, especially in more challenging scenes.

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.

When assessing the fluidity of tonal transitions in low-resolution materials on the Samsung QN85D, it's important to consider the noise reduction feature, which significantly improves problematic tonal transitions. However, this feature also has its drawbacks – it removes film grain, a crucial element in many productions that adds authenticity, and it can also soften the image. While this may appeal to those who prefer a smoother image, film enthusiasts who favour the authentic look of films may want to use this feature sparingly.

In terms of image scaling, the television performs very well. The model's figure is presented correctly, without noticeable distortions, and the branches in the background do not suffer from excessive artificial sharpness, a common issue when scaling lower-resolution content. The high capabilities of the image processor are evident, as it effectively handles lower-quality materials, ensuring a high-quality final 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.

The Samsung QN85D’s display boasts a 120 Hz refresh rate, which should satisfy both gamers and sports enthusiasts, providing a smooth and dynamic viewing experience. There are options for further improving fluidity, including a blur and judder reduction feature that allows precise adjustment of motion smoothness on a 10-point scale. Blur reduction enhances the sharpness of fast-moving objects, making action scenes clearer, while judder reduction smooths motion to eliminate the "stuttering" effect. Ghosting is generally well-controlled, although minor drawbacks may be noticeable in more demanding scenes, particularly when an object moves against a dark background. Additionally, the television features a BFI (Black Frame Insertion) option at a 60 Hz frequency, which can significantly enhance motion smoothness, although it comes with the potential downside of flicker, which may be bothersome for some viewers.

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.

The Samsung QN85D is an excellent choice for gamers, offering a wide range of features that elevate gameplay quality and make it even more immersive. With a 120 Hz refresh rate, the image remains incredibly smooth, crucial during fast-paced action scenes in games. The TV also boasts low input lag, making player responses to commands almost instantaneous, enhancing control over characters and events on screen. Additionally, the Samsung QN85D supports VRR (variable refresh rate) and ALLM (auto low latency mode) technologies, optimising image fluidity and reducing lag by automatically adjusting the TV to meet gamers' needs.

The Xbox app, which enables cloud gaming without requiring a console, is another significant advantage, offering a seamless gaming experience without the need for additional hardware – a feature that sets Samsung TVs apart. The Auto Motion Plus Game feature is another notable addition. This motion smoother simulates a higher frame rate, making 30 fps games appear smoother, akin to 45 fps, while games at 60 Hz are upgraded to a 90 Hz experience. Most importantly, this feature does not introduce significant lag, ensuring the comfort of gameplay remains intact. It allows gamers to enjoy a smoother image without compromising responsiveness.

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.