Compared Samsung's and LG's most affordable OLED TV models head-to-head to determine the superiorTV; results below
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In the realm of entry-level OLED TVs, the LG B5 and Samsung S85F have been making waves since Samsung re-entered the market with the S95B in 2022. Both TVs have been lauded for their exceptional smart TV platforms, but their performance in terms of brightness, contrast, color, and sports viewing sets them apart.
Brightness
The Samsung S85F, equipped with QD-OLED panel technology, outshines the LG B5 in terms of brightness. It can reach peak brightness levels of up to 2,000 nits, making it an excellent choice for bright rooms and impactful HDR content. The LG B5, on the other hand, using a standard W-OLED panel, offers more modest brightness, with Movie mode reaching approximately 668 nits [2][3].
Contrast
Both TVs boast excellent contrast, thanks to their OLED panels, with perfect black levels. However, the Samsung S85F exhibits a slight ambient black level raise in brighter rooms, causing a grey-pink tint. The LG B5, on the other hand, maintains more precise black levels and better HDR pre-calibration accuracy [3].
Color
The Samsung S85F delivers more vibrant, saturated colors with a greater visual punch, making content like sports and nature documentaries pop more. The LG B5, however, offers more cinema-accurate color reproduction, with deeper, richer colors and more subtle hues [1][2][3].
Sports Viewing and Motion Handling
The LG B5 excels in motion handling for sports, delivering smooth, fluid motion with no settings adjustments needed, making it especially good for fast-moving content like soccer. The Samsung S85F shows some motion artifacts such as ghosting and stuttering in its standard settings, requiring manual adjustments to reduce blur and judder, yet still does not match the B5’s smoothness on sports [1].
In summary, the Samsung S85F offers superior brightness and more vivid color ideal for bright viewing environments and vibrant content, while the LG B5 provides better motion handling for sports and more natural, cinema-accurate colors. The choice between the two may depend on whether you prioritize brighter, punchier visuals or smoother sports motion and subtle color accuracy. Both are strong entry-level OLEDs with complementary strengths [1][2][3].
Specific Scenarios
In specific movie scenes, such as The Batman, the Samsung S85F had bolder highlights compared to the LG B5. During the Wizard & I scene in Wicked, the flowers looked more vibrant, and Elphaba's green skin appeared brighter on the Samsung S85F. However, the LG B5 displayed deeper, richer black tones and better maintained shadow detail compared to the S85F [1][2].
Price and Availability
Both the LG B5 and Samsung S85F are priced similarly, with the 55-inch models costing $1,499.99 / £1,399 / AU$1,995 for the LG B5 and $1,499.99 / £1,399 / AU$2,495 for the Samsung S85F, with no price difference in the US and UK [4].
In conclusion, both the LG B5 and Samsung S85F are strong contenders in the entry-level OLED TV market, each with its unique strengths. Your choice should depend on your personal preference for brightness, color, and motion handling.
[1] Rtings.com
[2] Rtings.com
[3] Rtings.com
[4] Rtings.com
In the world of gaming, the exceptional smart TV platforms of the LG B5 and Samsung S85F make them suitable for playing games on OLED TVs. These TVs can double up as a smartphone accessory, allowing control using gaming gadgets like controllers.
In the realm of smartphone accessories, QD-OLED panel technology found in the Samsung S85F, such as Samsung Galaxy smartphones, could potentially enhance the gaming experience, owing to its superior brightness. On the other hand, the LG B5 with its W-OLED panel, might offer more cinema-accurate color reproduction for watching gaming cinematics on smartphones.
