Samsung QLED Q70D / Q74D / Q77D vs SONY BRAVIA 3

The brightness of the Samsung Q70D is fairly average, yet it delivers a noticeable HDR effect. With brightness exceeding 400 nits, the distinction between SDR and HDR materials becomes evident. As observed in the discussion about contrast and black levels, the TV's performance varies across different scenes. In a scene featuring a bright sun against a darker foreground, the measured luminance is lower. However, in a scene with a large, bright light source dominating the frame, the TV achieves its peak brightness, reaching nearly 500 nits—a commendable result for its price range and display class.

Despite these strengths, the relatively low coverage of the wide DCI-P3 color gamut occasionally results in less vivid color reproduction. Even so, the TV offers rich colors and precise shade reproduction, enhancing the movie-watching experience. Furthermore, the Q70D excels in motion blur elimination during dynamic scenes, making it a solid choice for enjoying sports broadcasts and gaming.

Bravia 3 does not hide the fact that it belongs to the group of televisions that are rather modest in terms of brightness. Our measurements showed around 370 nits, which is a value balancing on the borderline where one can still speak of any HDR effect. For some, this is an acceptable level; for others, it is rather typical for SDR materials, where spectacular highlights or vivid contrasts are not expected. The impression is that this is not a television for those focused on the highest image quality in demanding film content. However, this does not mean that we won't find any advantages here. Compared to its predecessor, the X75WL, Bravia 3 has gained an additional PFS filter, functioning similarly to solutions known from QLED technology. Thanks to this, the DCI-P3 color gamut has been significantly expanded and reaches over 91 percent, which in practice provides more saturated colors and a more pleasant image texture. As a result, even everyday content looks a bit livelier, and movies and series can surprise with their colorful presentations, despite the limitations in brightness itself.

The best factory mode on the Samsung Q70D is "Filmmaker," and it is the one we used when conducting various tests. Before the calibration process, it had several flaws that effectively prevented the conveyance of the director's intentions. In both SDR and HDR materials, the white balance was dominated by red and green colors. As a result, there was a characteristic yellow tint on the image, causing whites to appear yellowed and creating issues with skin tones, which were noticeably too warm. The reduced gamma in the standard color gamut materials caused a significant drop in the already low contrast. This resulted in an emphasis on details in the blacks but also in blown-out images in brighter scenes. The EOTF curve, in this case, turned out to be much better and only lightened those scenes with relatively low luminance. This was clearly visible in the section where we measured the maximum brightness of the television in HDR materials. At that time, the frame from the movie "Billy Lynn" was unnaturally bright and lacking depth.

We primarily tested the Sony Bravia 3 in movie mode, which immediately proved to be the best choice among the factory settings. The picture is not perfect, but compared to the eco mode that the TV suggests right out of the box, the difference is significant and for the better. In movie mode, one can notice a certain problem—the image seems too warm, which results from a lack of blue in the white balance. Despite this, in SDR content, the final effect can still be considered quite decent and satisfying for everyday viewing. Much more serious errors occur in HDR materials. The Color Checker analysis showed significant deviations, and poor brightness management combined with limited color gamut coverage further exposes the shortcomings of the image in this mode. All of this makes HDR on the Bravia 3 look unconvincing and can spoil the impression left by the quite decent SDR content settings. Fortunately, this is not a situation without a solution. Various errors can be somewhat mitigated, and some can even be completely corrected through professional calibration. Therefore, we decided to check how the TV would perform after such adjustments.

Fortunately, Samsung provides a wide range of calibration tools in all its televisions, where we can find 2-point and 20-point grayscale adjustments as well as advanced CMS. Thanks to this, we were able to significantly improve the quality of SDR and HDR materials. The vast majority of errors have been corrected, and the image that the Samsung Q70D now generates is definitely closer to the reference. Higher deltaE errors in the high dynamic range materials are primarily due to the display's insufficient luminance.

The calibration allowed us to extract significantly more from ChooseTV 3 than we could have expected at the beginning. First and foremost, we managed to address the shortage of blue color, which previously caused a noticeable warming of the image. After a slight adjustment in white balance, most of the errors in Color Checker measurements for SDR content practically disappeared. The shades of white gained a natural quality, and brightness management in gamma stabilized to a level that is nearly perfect, not exceeding the threshold of human eye perception. Therefore, it can be confidently said that in SDR content, after a few tweaks in settings, ChooseTV 3 performs really excellently. HDR content, however, fares much worse, although it is still definitely better than before calibration. The white balance has been corrected, but the limitations of the IPS panel are insurmountable. The lack of local dimming means that even the smallest elements can be overexposed, which immediately stands out. Color-wise, the effect has also improved, although it is far from ideal—many errors still exceed the threshold of four or even five delta E units, meaning they remain visible to the human eye. It was already clear before that ChooseTV 3 is not a television designed to amaze with HDR quality. Nonetheless, it is gratifying that in SDR content, after calibration, the image can look really great, and in this category, the television pleasantly surprised us.

The function responsible for improving gradation is named "Noise Reduction" in the menu. As we have confirmed, it is worth activating as it has a positive effect on tonal transitions. More importantly, it does not negatively affect film grain or fine details, which sometimes the competition "offers" us.

Image scaling in Samsung Q70D should be rated as average. The manufacturer aims not to artificially sharpen the image but to leave it naturally softened.

Bravia 3 brings something more to the Sony television family than just a common name. It stands out primarily for its ability to improve the quality of weaker materials thanks to the applied processor. Of course, we won't find the advanced XR chip known from more expensive models here, but it must be acknowledged that the image at a lower resolution looked surprisingly good. Scaling worked effectively, and most parts of the screen were free from the typical excessive jagged edges found in budget constructions.

The feature that enhances the fluidity of tonal transitions is also worth noting. In the high setting, it works really well, effectively masking the imperfections of gradation without significant loss of detail. It does happen that the algorithm overly smooths elements that should remain sharp – for example, faces – however, in overall terms, the effect is beneficial. The best results were achieved precisely at the highest setting, and this option could be recommended to those watching lower-quality content.

The Samsung Q70D is the first model in the manufacturer's range to feature a 120Hz panel, resulting in more advanced motion smoothing capabilities compared to lower-category models. Within the menu, three functions are dedicated to improving motion fluidity: "Motion Blur Reduction," "Judder Reduction," and "Clear Motion (LED)." The third option will be discussed separately. The first function enhances sharpness during motion, while the second adjusts the degree of smoothing. The smoothness feature on the Samsung Q70D performs well, with each setting delivering a noticeable effect. This allows viewers to customise the level of fluidity, making it suitable for those who dislike the typical stuttering of films or enjoy watching sports. The accompanying picture illustrates a configuration with mild smoothing, avoiding the soap opera effect.

The panel employed in the Samsung Q70D offers a commendable response time for its class. While it won't deliver razor-sharp motion clarity, it is a strong choice for sports enthusiasts at this price point.

The fluidity of motion has never been a strong point of TVs equipped with 60 Hz panels, and the Bravia 3 is no exception. Nevertheless, Sony has added something that might appeal to those who are more sensitive to the way images are displayed. We are talking about the proprietary Motion Flow motion smoother, which offers users a lot of adjustment options. Thanks to it, one can make the image smoother, even theatrical, or stick to a more cinematic style with the characteristic stuttering that many simply associate with the film atmosphere. These features work with content at lower frame rates, such as movies and series recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second, which are the materials we encounter on a daily basis. It is precisely in this area that the motion smoother proves to be one of the most important features in everyday use of the television, and here the Bravia 3 performs really well.

The tested television, Samsung Q70D, has four HDMI 2.1 ports, all offering a bandwidth of 40 Gbps. Despite this, no negative effects were noticed during testing. More importantly, the TV supports all features associated with the HDMI 2.1 standard. This will certainly please gamers, as it ensures optimal gaming performance using a console or a PC. While HDR Dolby Vision is absent, the correct implementation of HGIG mode and the absence of any calibration checkerboard issues are noteworthy. Additionally, Samsung stands out by allowing gaming with the smoothness enhancer activated without significant performance degradation. This means that 30 fps titles are perceived similarly to those running at a native 60 frames per second.

Samsung was one of the first manufacturers to introduce the Game Bar, which has been consistently improved. It provides all necessary gameplay information and allows users to adjust "on the fly."

In summary, the Samsung Q70D performs excellently with both consoles and computers. All functions worked seamlessly, and there were no issues. The ability to activate the smoothness enhancer without a noticeable increase in input lag is a game-changing feature.

Bravia 3 is not a device for e-sports enthusiasts or fans of late-night marathons with a controller in hand. The lack of 120 Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 ports wraps up the topic before it can even develop. This is a TV for casual gamers who, after work, want to fire up FIFA or racing games, not for someone who measures every frame in a spreadsheet. Nevertheless, Sony has added a few nice extras so it’s not too barren. ALLM works as it should, automatically switching the TV to game mode (low latency). We even find a simple Game Bar here that is clear. However, the biggest curiosity is the PlayStation Portal app. With it, you can launch games from PS5 wirelessly and immediately see them on the TV screen. It sounds great, but it only takes a few minutes to feel significant delays. In our opinion, it’s more of a showcase of capabilities than something usable on a daily basis. If someone really wants to play, it’s better to connect the console with an HDMI cable right away and forget about wireless problems.