Comparison of Samsung and Sony 2024 K LED LCD TVs

Introduction

• Presented by Vince, a TV reviewer
• Focus on comparing picture quality of two models:
  • Sony XH 95 (Bravia X950H in USA)
  • Samsung Q8 ATT
• Both TVs priced at £1600 in the UK and have a screen size of 55 inches.

Calibration Standards

• Calibrated to industry standards for:
  • SDR: D65 white point, 2.4 gamma, Rec 709 colors
  • HDR: D65 white point, ST 2084 PQ OTF, DCI P3 color space in Rec 2020
• Caution: Video representation may not fully reflect actual picture quality.

Local Dimming Zones

• Sony XH 95: 48 independently dimmable zones (6x8 grid)
• Samsung Q8 ATT: 50 zones (5x10 arrangement)
• Observation:
  • Samsung exhibited less blooming due to its local dimming algorithm prioritizing artifact minimization.

Real-world Content Comparison

• Samsung:
  • Better at suppressing blooming but might crush shadow details.
  • Bright elements may appear darker.
• Sony:
  • More faithful to creator's intent but more apparent blooming artifacts.

Color Accuracy

• Both TVs have similar color accuracy, with Samsung closing the gap:
  • Improved algorithms and calibration methods.
• Sony maintained better color accuracy in dark scenes due to better lookup tables.

Screen Uniformity

• Variability in uniformity across units.
• Both models exhibited minimal bending or dirty screen effect.
• Sony slightly more uniform but with darkening in corners.

Motion Handling

• Samsung:
  • Improved 24p motion handling with native pull-down feature.
• Sony:
  • Superior motion handling with zonal backlight blinking (X Motion Clarity).
  • Less prone to stuttering and frame drops.

Upscaling Performance

• Both brands excel in upscaling.
• Sony:
  • Cleans up standard definition better but can over-process 1080p content.
• Samsung:
  • More forgiving across various resolutions.

HDR Performance

• Sony XH 95:
  • Peak brightness of 1200 nits (10% window).
• Samsung Q8 ATT:
  • Climbs to 900 nits.
• Conclusion on HDR:
  • Sony offers more impactful highlights but might clip details above 2000 nits.
  • Samsung can sometimes render specular highlights brighter.

Features Comparison

• Sony XH 95:
  • Supports Dolby Vision.
  • Manual calibration necessary.
• Samsung Q8 ATT:
  • Auto low latency mode, variable refresh rate support on HDMI 2.1.

Anti-Glare Performance

• Samsung:
  • Has a hazy appearance under direct light.
• Sony:
  • Maintains better black appearance but may reflect rainbow effects in certain angles.

Viewing Angles

• Sony XH 95 has better contrast and saturation off-axis.
• Higher-end Samsung models offer improved viewing angles but at higher prices.

Conclusion

• Each TV has its own strengths and weaknesses:
  • Choice depends on individual feature preferences.
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