4K QNED

Product Information

We’ve just talked about viewing angles, so we should look at the reflections of these TVs too. OLEDs generally speaking have a glossy screen, that although it’s tinted it’s still very reflective. This means that if you’re viewing this TV in a well lit room or near windows, you’ll see everything in it. I have lights behind the TV and a window to the side, so straight on isn’t an issue. But once you move around you can see the windows and any lights I have on near the sofa. The QNED99 has a 60W 4.2 down firing speaking setup which supports Dolby Atmos. Whereas the C1 has a 40W 2.2 down firing speaker setup, also supporting Dolby Atmos. The C1 does change to front firing with the stand installed too. Like the 65-inch version, the 42-inch C3 is very similar to the TV it replaces. That is, of course, disappointing, and we’d love to see some extra development in the small OLED TV segment which, as we’ve mentioned, is somewhat restricted in terms of brightness compared with larger models. The operating temperature shows the safe temperature range (from minimum to maximum), within which the display will function flawlessly. Outside this range it might operate improperly and/or fail entirely.

The picture really delivers, with the MLA tech producing noticeably brighter colours (though to get its full impact, you'll need the Vivid mode, which is too garish for us). Overall, the image is more vibrant and alive than most OLEDs, even if the sound is a bit underwhelming compared to its predecessor (as ever, we recommend adding a soundbar). The TV on the left is the QNED which is an 8K LCD TV. It’s actually part of LG’s new Mini-LED range. Each Mini-LED forms part of a zone which controls the pixels you see, turning them on and off as required. It’s a combination of LG’s NanoCell and Quantum Dot technology.That pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, coupled with the panel’s refresh rate of 120Hz and support for VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), AMD’s FreeSync Premium and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), make the Nano91 an excellent choice for gamers. It’s also free from the potential screen burn that can affect OLED TVs, and features LG’s “Game Optimiser” mode that can be activated to automatically adjust settings based on the genre of game you’re playing. Looking at the OLED first, the picture looks very similar throughout as I move to the side, same quality, contrast and colours. Other than any reflections, you don’t lose any clarity in the picture. This is great if you have seating off centre to the TV. Comparing these two though, the C1 OLED can go as low as 5.2ms whereas the QNED99 is at around 6.2ms. That’s rapid. That’s faster than most monitors that aren’t gaming focused. The most widely used panels are those with 6, 8, and 10 bits for each of the RGB components of the pixel. They provide 18-, 24-, and 30-bit color, respectively. So the ultimate question is, which is better? Which would I recommend buying now I’ve compared the two side by side, and tested out as much content as possible on them?

We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test. Information about the maximum horizontal viewing angle, within which the image on the screen is of acceptable quality. If you’re not using a soundbar you might be interested in knowing what the speakers are like on these. There are various panel technologies. Each has its own specific features - viewing angles, color reproduction, response time, brightness/contrast, production cost, etc. The image quality depends directly on the type of the display panel used. Fortunately both have a very low input lag so gaming is not an issue at all. Generally speaking OLEDs are decent anyway, and any LCD TV with a game mode will do a great job too.When it comes to the design and overall look of these TVs, they are different. While the OLED has an extremely thin frame at the top with a bulkier bottom, the QNED has an overall thinner profile from top to bottom. That picture quality is thanks to LG’s proprietary NanoCell technology, which sees an additional layer of “nano” particles added to the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) of the Nano91’s panel. These tiny particles absorb duller, unwanted light wavelengths to help enhance the vividness with which primary colours are displayed on the screen. Approximate diagonal size of the display. If the manufacturer does not provide such information, the diagonal is calculated from the width and height of the screen. We confirmed that the LG QNED90 is now fully compatible with the Xbox Series S|X, including Dolby Vision gaming at up to 4k @ 120Hz. Additionally, the chip’s AI Brightness Control takes ambient lighting into account and alters screen brightness and tone mapping accordingly to ensure the perfect picture whatever the conditions.

It looks nigh-on identical to the G2 it replaces, but that's no bad thing. Apart from the fact it doesn't come with a stand, only a wall mount. If you want to stand it up, you'll have to pay extra. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Bath and Reading, where our team of expert reviewers do all of our testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency.A few other similarities between these two TVs, if you were looking at the 2021 LG QNEDs and C1 OLEDs. They both have the same remote control, or magic remote. Same buttons and magic wand features. The TV’s AI smarts do a phenomenal job in 4K upscaling and color management to display a beautiful, true-to-life picture in movies and streaming. Unlike the C1 OLED, I hardly experienced the soap opera effect when watching content. HDR performance is great thanks again to those Mini-LEDs and the improved contrast and brighter highlights for a peak 1000 nits and an impressive 6000:1 contrast ratio. If you decide that the built-in speakers don’t quite cut it, the Nano91 houses an eARC HDMI port via which into which you can connect one of our favourite soundbars. The eARC port is one of four HDMI inputs on the Nano91, two of which are 2.1 certified. Information about the maximum vertical viewing angle, within which the image on the screen is of acceptable quality.

Both of these will make great gaming TVs, which if you follow me already, know that I game on my TVs with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Everything I’ve played on these two, whether it’s been Call of Duty, Spider-Man or Kena has had no issues. Now when I did the QNED videos a few weeks ago I talked about how good the picture quality was. As it’s a great TV. But from my testing over the last week or so, whether that’s splitting the signal or streaming to both screens, the OLED has looked better in almost every single test. If you absolutely must have an LG OLED and 8K, then the Z2 is the TV for you. But while the Z2 is an exceptional performer, most buyers will be best served by a (significantly cheaper) G3. Updated to Test Bench 1.7 with an updated HDR Brightness test that better reflects real world usage. We've also split the console compatibility boxes into separate PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility tests. You can see our full changelog here.Remember that the OLED’s pixels are self-lit, while the QNED’s pixels are grouped together in zones using Mini-LEDs. In these dark areas, you can see that the OLED is perfect at showing shadows and contrast, whereas the QNED struggles to show the same level of control. This might not be a huge issue for most, and when I was only using the QNED I didn’t really notice this, as it’s amazing at controlling the zones using full array local dimming. It’s only by comparing them can you really see it. LG boasts an extensive OLED range but NanoCell models such as the LG Nano91 offer a more wallet-friendly entry point into the company’s TV lineup. The Nano91’s panel can’t achieve the searing brightness or exceptional contrast of its OLED stablemates but is still able to deliver impressive picture quality and a host of smart features.