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Comparison of LG vs Sony: LG G1 OLED TV vs Sony A90J OLED TV

Comparison of LG vs Sony: This article will review two OLED TVs LG G1 OLED TV vs Sony A90J OLED TV (photo shoot-out) to find best for you.
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Comparison of LG vs Sony: LG G1 OLED TV vs Sony A90J OLED TV: Before diving into the photos of this comparison with the magnifying glass, remember the following:

Good to know in advance before Comparison of LG vs Sony

 

  1. The photos give a very good impression of the mutual performance, but are not a 100% faithful representation.
  2. The devices have been used as they come out of the box. They are not pre-calibrated. At the start of each part, we indicate the settings that we have used / adjusted.
  3. Because of the previous point, the Sony photos will generally appear a bit cooler (slightly bluer). That is in line with the result that we saw in the measurements. The LG is a bit more yellow than desired. The differences are small, but they are clear in some photos.
  4. All photos were taken with both devices in the picture side by side. So they are not two separate photos that we pasted next to each other. In post-processing we did nothing, except put a black frame around the devices and trim.
  5. Left: LG OLED65G1
  6. Right: Sony XR-65A90J

Do you want to read the individual reviews of both TVs before you start with the comparison? Then read our Sony A90J series review and LG G1 series review.

SDR comparison

Still a very important part, as it covers the majority of the footage you watch at home.

The Sony is set to the User image mode, with gamma to min. The LG is set to Filmmaker image mode. In that state, both devices are calibrated to 200 nits white on a 10% window. For example, they are both equally bright, and they both use a gamma of about 2.4.

In this setup, the differences are very small. The Sony gives a little more black detail and extracts a little more fine detail from the images.

Sony A90J vs LG G1 oled TV, shoot-out

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Sony A90J vs LG G1 oled TV, shoot-out

HDR comparison

We do the first HDR comparison in reference image modes. We set the source material so that the MaxCLL is 4000 nits, so we oblige both devices to perform a solid tone mapping step.

The Sony is set to the User image mode. The LG is set to Cinema image mode. We leave all other settings untouched.

In this setup, the differences become clearer. Where it is striking, we have commented on the images. In general, the Sony removes more black detail from the image, but that ensures that the contrast sometimes seems a bit less intense.

Sony A90J vs LG G1 oled TV, shoot-out

The Sony gives slightly better white detail. The horse coat is quite intense in color on the LG.

Sony A90J vs LG G1 oled TV, shoot-out

The Sony provides better black detail, perhaps even a little too bright. He does better isolate the sun from the evening glow.

The image with the most striking difference. The color temperature of the LG is much more correct here, and the blue deviation makes the image on the Sony too bright. Note that the Sony gets significantly better black detail from the forest on the left.

The Sony colors on the rocks are a bit too pale.

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Here, too, the red is a bit too pale on the Sony.

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

The green glow to the left of the image is a camera artfact. In reality this is hardly visible.

HDR Vivid comparison

To give the processing of both devices a good workout, we have reviewed the above footage, but with both devices in the HDR Vivid mode. In that set-up, the differences become slightly larger, but the influence of strong processing becomes particularly visible. Colors are very intense, often too strong, and contrast is emphasized. We mainly give these images to give you an idea of ​​the difference with the Cinema / User HDR mode. Since these images are not a faithful representation of the original, in this case it is more about your own preference.

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison: Sony A90J vs LG G1

Comparison of LG vs Sony – Conclusion

If this photo shoot taught us one thing, it is that high-end models – especially if they use the same image technology (in this case OLED) – are very close to each other in terms of performance and image. Still, there are still small differences here and there, which are often idiosyncratic for the brand (just think of the somewhat cool calibration of the Sony).

Sony XR-65A90J Conclusion from our review

The XR-65A90J is a worthy Sony top model. Nice design, impressive image, nice sound and excellent ease of use. Are there any areas where it could be improved? Yes, we would have liked to see more than two HDMI 2.1 connections, especially since anyone who uses a soundbar already has to give one of them. The fact that Dolby Vision and 4K120 via HDMI are mutually exclusive choices is irrelevant for the time being, but could force Xbox Series X gamers to make a difficult choice in the future. Finally, we’re not too happy with the new Google TV, but that could potentially improve as Google provides regular updates.

Looking for a fantastic image? Then the Sony XR-65A90J has a lot to offer you. The new OLED panel comes with improved brightness, putting the Sony at the top of the ranking in that respect. The new Cognitive processor XR guarantees excellent image processing without being obtrusive, even in Vivid Image mode, the processor does not go out of style. The Sony scores top results for black detail, and creates beautiful images in HDR with rich colors and intense light accents. The Acoustic Surface guarantees fine audio. The handy remote control (with lighting) and the quickly accessible setting menus also make it very nice to quickly tweak the image. The fact that you also get a new movie streaming service, Bravia Core, is icing on the cake.

The Sony A90J series gets a FWD Excellent logo from us, for its best in class performance. But all that goodies come at a very heavy price, and that costs him half a point. Especially if we look at its direct competitor, the LG G1, which was introduced at a significantly lower price.

Pros

  • Excellent, subtle image processing
  • Top black value and maximum black detail
  • Higher peak brightness than previous models
  • Very good motion sharpness
  • Excellent sound
  • Good remote, handy menus
Negatives

  • Only two HDMI 2.1 connections
  • Mandatory choice between Dolby Vision and 4K120 via HDMI
  • price

LG OLED65G1RLA (G1 Series) Conclusion from our review

The G1 is equipped with a new OLED evo panel. In addition to its Gallery design, that should be the reason for its higher price compared to the C1. Unfortunately, the G1 cannot live up to those high expectations. In practice, we see little difference with the 2020 GX series. Color range and peak brightness are hardly better. Only on a completely white screen do we see the expected 20% extra brightness. In addition, we are only moderately satisfied with the new WebOS 6.0. For the time being, a lot of space is wasted, and you can’t personalize enough things to prevent that. That may change in the future, at least we hope so. If that is not changed until next year, in a new version of WebOS, there is always a risk that this year’s devices will not get certain features.

Fortunately, the OLED65G1RLA can place a lot of positives against those negatives. The image quality is excellent. We notice slight improvements in image processing and LG has made a lot of progress especially in Trumotion. Motion interpolation delivers very nice results, so you can achieve very nice cinema style images, or very smooth images according to your personal taste. Intense, rich colors, ample shadow detail, perfect contrast, and a few smart features such as AI Brightness create beautiful images, in SDR and HDR. Excellent sound quality with Dolby Atmos support ensures excellent musical support for your films. Gamers get almost all the features that are on their wish list. All that beauty is contained in a handsome, slim design that you hang on the wall,

The price? The G1 is remarkably low priced. The GX was just 800 euros more expensive when it was introduced. Even now, the official target price of the GX is still 300 euros higher. But of course we see a different picture online. The GX is currently being sold at a considerable discount. Those who have the design in mind can therefore make an excellent bargain with last year’s model.

Pros

  • Smart wall mounting design
  • Very good image processing
  • Improved motion interpolation
  • Top black display with a lot of shadow detail
  • Excellent HDR images
  • HDMI2.1 with the largest feature set
  • Great sound, including Dolby Atmos
Negatives

  • OLED evo panel not as bright as expected
  • WebOS 6.0 interface is hardly customizable personal