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Samsung Q8FN is the second top model of Samsung’s 2018 4K HDR QLED TV while LG OLED C8 is the mid-end model of LG’s 2018 4K HDR OLED TV. In the market, both of them equally come in 3 screen sizes, for OLED C8, there 55 inch (OLED55C8PUA), 65 Inch (OLED65C8PUA), and 77 inch (OLED77C8PUA), while for Q8FN, there 55 Inch (QN65Q8FN), 65 Inch (QN65Q8FN), and 75 inch (QN75Q8FN). With the same screen (OLED55C8PUA vs QN55Q8FN, OLED65C8PUA vs QN65Q8FN), OLED C8 is priced hundreds dollar more expensive than Q8FN, while for their largest screen size, OLED77C8PUA is priced almost doubled than the price of QN75Q8FN. But of course, since both of them are recently released, they still have full price and could still change at any time and usually will drops as time goes by. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages between them and which is a better choice between them?
Short Review of Samsung Q8FN
As we have mentioned, Samsung Q8FN is the second top model of Samsung’s 2018 4K HDR QLED TV lineup, one level under Q9FN. It brings some improvements and some additional technologies and features to get the better performance. One of the major improvements that brought, it now comes with Full Array Local Dimming called Q Contrast elite where we do not meet in the previous models. Unlike in previous model where their local dimming doesn’t well-work, now its local dimming is very effective to boost the contrast and brightens small window area, allow it can produced HDR picture with black level and peak brightness like the creator intended. Meanwhile, like last year model, one of the excellences offered by Samsung’s 2018 QLED TV including OLED C8FN is Samsung’s Quantum dot panel. With this technology, this makes all models of Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV lineup has excellent wide color gamut that certainly makes their color reproduction is excellent, even can be said the best in 2017.
Like all models of Samsung TVs, OLED C8FN also comes with VA panel. In addition to Full Array Local Dimming, there are also the number of technologies that support its panel such as Ultra Black Elite, Contrast Enhancer, Q Color, Supreme UHD Dimming, and others. All of the technologies will optimize the panel performance so able to produce excellent picture quality with excellent black level, color reproduction, brightness, and other aspects of picture quality. Meanwhile, powered by Q Engine and a technology named “”Q HDR Elite”, in addition to HDR 10 and HLG, Samsung Q8FN now also already support HDR 10+, and advanced HDR 10 format that already uses dynamic metadata. This format is similar to Dolby Vision that also uses dynamic metadata but of course, has different standardizations. For this case, Samsung prefer to develop HDR 10+ than pay a royalty-fee for Dolby Vision. That’s why there are no Samsung TVs which support Dolby Vision including OLED C8FN.
Like last year model, Samsung Q8FN still relies on Motion Rate 240 technology based on native 120 Hz refresh rata panel as its main technology in handling motion blur. While for connecting with other devices, it is equipped with 4 HDMI ports as its major connectivity. But unlike top model of Samsung TVs in last year, it now comes with 2 USB ports only. Meanwhile, for allowing you to enjoy HDR experience with impressive sound quality, Q8FN is equipped with 4.1 channel speaker system with built-in woofer and 40 watts of total sound output. And that is not less powerful, in addition to Tizen 2018 as its smart TV platform that powered by a quad core, its platform now comes Samsung’s Bixby Voice Assistant that allows you to do a lot more with its voice command and Samsung’s SmartThing as its Smart Home Assistant app like Amazon Alexa on Sony TV or LG AI ThinQ on LG TV.
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Q8FN <<
Short Review of LG OLED C8 (C8PUA)
As we have mentioned, LG OLED C8 is mid-range model of LG’s 2018 4K HDROLED TV lineup and also the successor of OLED C7. Like Q8FN, it also bring some improvements which make its performance is better than the predecessor. If on Samsung Q8FN, the major improvement is on their panel where no it comes with Full Array Local Dimming, while on OLED C8, the major improvement is on its brain where it now is a powered anew powerful processor named “Alpha 9 Intelligent Processor. Not just as the picture engine that can deliver better picture quality, this processor also acts as the main brain of all features offered by LG OLED C8 like WebOS as its smart TV platform and a new Smart Home app called “LG’s AI ThinQ”.
As we know, the main strength of LG OLED TVs including OLED C8 is on its OLED panel performance. With self-lighting pixel than can switch on/off/dim individually without affected by condition of other pixels surrounding that certainly makes it doesn’t need a backlight, this allows its panel doesn’t emit any light at all when showing totally black, result in perfect black and infinite native contrast ratio. Additionally, with 4 sub-pixels (RGBW), where it adds white sub-pixel to standard RGB pixels and maximized by True Color Accuracy Pro technology, this makes LG OLED C8 can produce wide color gamut and excellent color reproduction, a bit better than the predecessor OLED C7. Even not just that, with Ultra Luminance Pro technology behind it, this allows OLED C8 can produce bright peak brightness, brighter than predecessor OLED C7. The other excellence that offered by OLED panel as the panel technology of LG OLED C8, it has extremely low pixel response time that makes it can does a great job when handling motion blur. And since it doesn’t use backlight, this allows OLED C8 has excellent side viewing angle coverage, makes the picture displayed on its screen looks remain well from any angle, even when viewed from extremely side angle. Meanwhile, coming with HDR technology, OLED C8 already supports most of HDR formats including HDR 10, Dolby Vision, HLG, and Advanced HDR by Technicolor.
For connecting with other devices, LG OLED C8 is also equipped with 4 HDMI ports. There are also 3 USB ports and other inputs/outputs, allow you to connect most of your other devices on OLED C8 at once. Meanwhile, for allows you to enjoy HDR experience with impressive sound performance, it is equipped with 2.2 channel speaker system with 40 watts of total sound output. The excellence, it already supports Dolby Atmos, allow you to enjoy HDR experience with Dolby Atmos sound quality without adding external sound system or sound bar. And as its smart TV platform, LG OLED C8 is featuring WebOS 4.0 that comes with LG Artificial Intelligence ThinQ, allows you to control some other ThinQ compatible device through voice command s of its remote. Even not just ThinQ’ compatible devices, it also supports Amazon Alexa or Google Home Assistant Compatible Devices.
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the OLED C8 <<
LG OLED C8 vs Samsung Q8FN Key Specs
| Specs and Features | Samsung Q8FN | LG OLED C8 (C8PUA) |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K (2160 x 3840) | 4K (2160 x 3840) |
| Size Available | 55 Inch (QN55Q8FN), 65 Inch (QN65Q8FN), and 75 inch (QN75Q8FN) | 55 Inch (OLED55C8PUA), 65 Inch (OLED65C8PUA), 77 Inch (OLED77C8PUA) |
| Screen Type | Flat | Flat |
| Panel Type | LED (VA Panel) | OLED |
| Backlight | Direct LED | No backlight (Self-Lighting Pixel) |
| Dimming | Full Array Local Dimming (Q Contrast Elite) | Pixel Dimming |
| Picture Engine | Q Engine | Alpha 9 Intelligent processor |
| HDR Engine | Q 4K HDR Elite | Active HDR with Dolby Vision |
| HDR Format | HDR 10, HLG, HDR 10+ | HDR 10, Dolby Vision, HLG, Advanced HDR |
| Ultra HD Premium Certification | Yes | Yes |
| Color Technology | Samsung Advanced Quantum Dot Technology driven by Q Color | 4 Sub pixels technology (RGBW) maximized by True Color Accuracy Pro |
| Other Advanced Features | Supreme UHD Dimming, Ultra Black Elite, Contrast Enhancer, etc | HDR Effects, Perfect Black Panel, Ultra Luminance Pro, Cinematic Color, etc |
| 4K Up-scaling | UHD Up-scaling | Tru 4K Up-Scaler |
| 3D Technology | No | No |
| Motion Clarity | Motion Rate 240 | Information not provided |
| Native Refresh rate Panel | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Platform | Tizen OS 2018 | WebOS 4.0 |
| Processor | Quad Core | – |
| Features | Samsung’s Bixby Voice Assistant, SmartThing, Full Browser, Samsung Apps Store, VoD Service, Cloud Games, etc | LG’s AI Think, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Web Browser, VoD Service, Cloud Games, LG’s Apps store, etc |
| Remote | Samsung Smart Controller | LG Magic Remote |
| HDMI | 4 | 4 |
| USB | 2 | 3 |
| Ethernet | 1 | 1 |
| RF (Terrestrial Cable) | 1 | 1 |
| Composite In (AV) | 0 | 1 |
| Component In | 0 | 0 |
| Wi-Fi Built In | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Channel | 4.1 Channel | 2.2 Channel |
| Total Audio Output | 60 Watts | 40W (Woofer: 20W) |
| Price | See today’s price | See today’s price |
LG OLED C8 vs Samsung Q8FN Performance
Picture Quality
Picture quality is one of the excellences offered by both Samsung Q8FN and LG OLED C8. As we know, one of the main strength of OLED TV is its infinite contrast and perfect black level. Since its black level is perfect, this certainly makes dark scene displayed on its screen looks great, even when set in a dark room. Additionally, its perfect black level also easily reveals details images in dark scenes of HDR images, makes shadow details of HDR images looks excellently like the intended. Additionally, when showing a black small object in bright background, it will look really deep without being affected by the brightness of its surrounding area. Essentially, what associated with black can be shown excellently on the screen of OLED C8. On the other hand, although not as perfect as OLED C8, Samsung Q8FN also can produce deep black level. With more than 5000:1 of native contrast ratio, it can reach black level darker than 0.02 nits. Even when its local dimming is activated, its contrast ratio is increased up to more than 7000:1. For an LED TV, what reached by Samsung Q8FN certainly is superb. The result, details in dark scene can be revealed excellently, makes shadow details of HDR images also looks excellently like the intended, even when it is set in dark room where the impact of high native contrast ratio is very sensitive. Overall, although not as excellent as OLED C8, the performance of Q8FN in a dark room or when showing something to do with the black is also excellent. This certainly makes both as a great TV when used for watching movies which has a lot of dark scene like Thriller or Horror movies.
While LG OLED C8 is superior in contrast and black level, In terms of peak brightness, Samsung Q8FN is superior, no matter it is playing SDR or HDR contents. When inputted by SDR signal, the excepting at window with all area are bright where it has peak brightness a bit brighter than 200 nits, OLED C8 can reach more than 350 nits of peak brightness that means it is quite bright to dampen the glare of ambient light, makes picture produced like remain good when set in a bright room. Meanwhile, when inputted by HDR signal, its peak brightness is significantly increased up close to 1000 nits. The result a highlight of HDR images can be shown brighter that means it is great. But a bit unfortunate, because its peak brightness is limited by ABL feature (Auto Brightness Limiter), the larger bright object, even when showing a scene with all area is bright, its peak brightness drops to below 200 nits. But even so, overall, for OLED TV, peak brightness of OLED C8 is great and better than the predecessor OLED C7. It might not be able to hit the target 1000 nits where HDR images are mastered, but at least it can show highlight of HDR images specially HDR 10 images like the intended. As we know, to show HDR 10 image like the intended, UHD Alliance has set 550 nits as the minimum peak brightness that should be reached by OLED TV.
On other hand, the performance of Samsung Q8FN is more excellent. When inputted by SDR signal, its peak brightness is far better than OLED C8, even when showing a window with all area is bright, its peak brightness is still above 500 nits. The smaller of window size, its peak brightness will be increased. The result, picture quality can be maintained better than OLED C8, particularly when set in an extremely bright room with a lot of light or sunlight through the windows. Meanwhile, when inputted by HDR signals, peak brightness of Samsung Q8FN even is greater. Its local dimming is very effective to brighten the small /moderate windows size up to above 1200 nits. This certainly makes a bright small object like a dramatic highlight of HDR images can be shown excellently. On the other hand, when showing a scene with most or all areas are bright, its peak brightness might also significantly drops, but unlike on OLED C8 where its peak brightness drop to below 200 nits, the peak brightness of Q8FN can be maintained above 500 nits. Overall, peak brightness of Samsung Q8FN is great, it even can hit the target 1000 nits where HDR image is mastered, makes bright scene or highlight of HDR images can be shown like the creator intended. But a bit unfortunate, when showing a small bright object in dark scene, a blooming or unwanted adjacent light around the bright object will be more visible than on the screen of OLED C8. But even so, it is still less visible than most of LED TVs which available in the market.
In term color reproduction, essentially, both of them equally have excellent color reproduction. But for this case, with quantum dot technology behind it, Samsung Q8FN can deliver wider color gamut than LG OLED C8. The color gamut delivered by Samsung Q8FN can nearly perfect cover DCI P3 of color space. This means almost all colors of HDR image mastered in DCI P3 like HDR 10 images can be shown fairly accurate. Even for certain colors like deep greens where most TVs struggle to show it, Q8FN is able to show these colors far more accurate. Additionally, its Rec.2020 coverage is also fairly good and including the best. On the other hand, although not as great as Q8FN, color gamut coverage of LG OLED C7 in DCI P3 and Rec.2020 is also excellent, nearly similar to the predecessor OLED C7, even only a bit worse than Q8FN. The result color of HDR images mastered in DCI P3 like HDR10 image or Rec.2020 like Dolby Vision Images also can be shown fairly accurate. Additionally, Samsung Q8FN also has far better color volume than LG OLED C8. When showing extremely dark colors, OLED C8 might be able to show them better. But except extremely dark colors, Q8FN can show its wide color gamut at entire brightness range better than OLED C8, particularly for overly bright colors.
While in term of color gamut and volume, Samsung Q8FN is superior, but in term of color gradient, LG OLED C8 is superior. Although overall, color gamut produced by Q8FN is fairly good, but in darker colors, some banding might be still visible. On the other hand, for OLED C8, some little color banding also still be visible in certain colors, but it is far better than Q8FN. Nevertheless, overall, color gradient of images displayed on their screen looks very smooth and some banding that may appear is not to bothersome your convenience in enjoying HDR movies.
Winner: OLED C8 Wins in Contrast and Black level, Q8FN Win in Color and Peak Brightness
Side Viewing Angle
One of the major excellences of LG OLED C8 as an OLED TV than Samsung Q8FN as a LED TV is about their side viewing angle coverage. On the screen of Q8FN, started less than 20 degrees off center and front, color will shift and black will look washed. And from the wider angles, the color shift and black level degradation will look more striking. This certainly makes the picture displayed on its screen will look worse when viewed from an angle. Meanwhile, on the screen of OLED C8, although at less than 30 degrees off center and front, the color also looks shift, but at wider angle, the color shift is not as significant as that happens on Q8FN. The excellence, OLED C8 can maintain black level and brightness at wider angle, even at extremely wider angle. The result, when viewed from the side, the picture displayed on the screen of OLED C8 will look far better than on the screen of Samsung Q8FN.
Winner: OLED C8
Motion Handling and 24p Playback
Both Samsung Q8FN and LG OLED C8 equally can do excellent job when handling motion blur, but for this case, performance OLED C8 is nearly perfect. For LED TV, the pixel response time of Q8FN might be already excellent, low enough to make motion blur is almost no visible. Following fast moving object, there is only a very short ghosting trail where not many people can notice that. Meanwhile, performance of OLED C8 is greater. Its pixel response time is far lower, even 200 times faster than pixel response time of Q8FN. The result, when playing fast moving images like sports or fast movies, there is no blur visible following fast moving object.
By default, all OLED TVs including OLED C8PPUA have no backlight flicker. This certainly makes motion looks smoother, but on the other hand, it will result in some persistence blur. For this case, LG OLED C8 has a new Black Frame Insertion feature called “Motion Pro” to create flickers. This is especially required to make motion look clearer when it is playing 60 fps contents like sports or video games or play movies with interpolation. And for this case, BFI Mode of OLED C8 does a good job to make motion looks clearer. On the other hand, to dim the backlight, Samsung Q8FN uses PWM system with 480 Hz of frequency that certainly will result in flicker. But since it uses high frequency, the flickers resulted should not be noticeable. Additionally, Q8FN also has a BFI mode called “LED Clear Motion” and in making motion looks clearer, it works better than OLED C8. But since the major factor that has a big impact on the performance of a TV in minimizing motion blur is pixel response time, overall, OLED C8 has better performance than Samsung Q8FN in reducing motion blur.
Meanwhile, when playing 24p movies, their performance is similar. The excepting of 24p contents via 60i signals like movies satellite TV, all movies with any frame rate can be shown clearly without judder. No matter it is native 24p contents like DVD or Blu-Ray’s movies, 24p movies via apps like Netflix, YouTube, and others, or even 24p videos via 60p signal like movies from streaming devices like Apple TV, Fire TV and others, you can view them on their screen clearly and smoothly with judder-free. But of course, to remove judder without adding soap opera effect, you must make a certain setting on their picture setting. On OLED C8, you must turn on “Real Cinema”, set “TrueMotion” to “User”, and set both “De-Blur” and “De-Judder” to “0”. While On Q8FN, you must set “Auto Motion Plus” to “Custom” and also set both “Judder Reduction” and “Blur Reduction” to “0”. Meanwhile, their inability to remove judder when playing 24p movies via 60i signal is unusual. But usually, there will a firmware update that will fix this issue. On the other hand, since most people don’t sensitive to judder, this should not be a problem for you.
Winner: OLED C8
Connectivity
As their major connectivity, both LG OLED C8 and Samsung Q8FN are equally equipped with 4 HDMI ports where all of their HDMI ports already support HDCP 2.2 and HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth. Additionally, both of them also equally have 1 port of HDMI that already support ARC, on C8 is HDMI 2 while on Q8FN is HDMI 4. Meanwhile, OLED C8 has 3 USB 2.0 ports while Q8FN is only equipped with 2 USB 2.0 ports.IN addition to HDMI and USB ports, both of them are also equally equipped with 1 RF In, 1 Digital Audio Out (Optical), and 1 Ethernet, Built- in Wi-Fi, and Built-In Bluetooth. The difference between them C8PU has 1 AV In while Q8FN is not equipped with this input type.
Meanwhile, discussing about their input lags in “PC Mode” and “Game Mode”, overall, Samsung Q8FN and LG OLED C8 equally have excellent input lags at any source that is about 20 ms. Meanwhile, compare between them, the input lags of Q8FN might be a bit lower than OLED C8, but their difference is not significant, even is almost similar, except at 4K HDR @ 60 Hz inputs where the input lag of OLED C8 is a bit less than 30 ms. But even so, it is still lower than 30 ms that means it is still low enough to play any games so feels responsively. Combination between their input lags, excellent picture quality and good motion handling brought by them, this certainly makes them as great TV for games.
Winner: Q8FN
Smart TV
Both of these premium TVs are equally featuring attractive smart TV platform, LG OLED C8 comes with WebOS 4.0 while Samsung Q8FN comes with Tizen 2018. Both of the smart TV platforms are equally simple and easy to navigate. All of quick access of apps, setting and smart features are equally organized at the bottom across the screen, make you easy when search anything and launch them. But I term of performance, performance of Tizen OS is not as consistent as WebOS. On Tizen OS, animations sometime drop frames, while on WebOS, animations run far smoother. Meanwhile, both of them equally provide a lot of popular apps as their preinstalled apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Videos, Web browser, games, and many more. Additionally, both of these platforms also have an apps store which provided a lot of downloadable apps, games, and other. On Tizen, there is Samsung apps store, on WebOS, there is LG’s apps store. Nevertheless, apps and contents provided by LG apps store is not as many as what provided by Samsung’s apps store. Additionally, although both of them also equally provided attractive smart features like SmartThing, Samsung’s Bixby, and more on Tizen or LG’s AI ThinQ, Amazon Alexa, and others, but the smart features provided by Tizen OS is not as advanced as the new offering by LG. Overall, WebOS might be a bit superior to Tizen, but essentially, both of them equally offer simple and attractive smart TV experience.
Meanwhile, as their controller, Samsung Q8FN comes with Samsung smart Controller while LG OLED C8 comes with LG’s magic controller. The remote of Samsung is small and has only few buttons. This limits you to be able to access to the most common functions only while to access advanced options, you must navigate through the menu or use Samsung’s Bixby Voice Assistant. And for this case, its voice command works well for a lot of thing, but not as advanced as voice command of LG remote. Additionally, this remote also can act as a universal remote, allow you to control other HDMI CEC devices connected on Q8FN via HDMI ports. Meanwhile, on the LG’s remote, it is bigger and has a lot of buttons but the buttons only can be used to access basic functions, search menu, and quick access to the settings. The excellence, at the center of direction pad, there is a clickable “scroll wheel” that can be used for scrolling the highlighted menu or selecting the menu by clicking the scroll wheel. The other excellent feature offered, once you point the remote at the TV, you can move the pointer on the screen by moving the remote. Combined to its “scroll wheel”, this allows you to quick access to all menus or options. Meanwhile, with LG’s AI ThinQ, its voice navigation can do a lot of advanced voice command like search with in app and others. Additionally, its voice command also can be used to control other LG’s ThinQ compatible devices, even also Amazon Alexa or Google Home compatible devices like dishwasher, oven, and others. And like Samsung Remote, LG’s magic remote also can act as universal remote.
Winner: OLED C8
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Summary
| Performance | Samsung Q8FN | LG OLED C8 |
|---|---|---|
| Picture Quality | (4.1/5) | (4.4/5) |
| HDR | (4.3/5) | (4.5/5) |
| Motion Handling | (4.2/5) | (4.3/5) |
| Inputs | (4.6/5) | (4.5/5) |
| Sound Quality | (3.3/5) | (3.7/5) |
| Smart TV | (3.9/5) | (4.1/5) |
Conclusion
As we have discussed a lot above, overall, both Samsung Q8FN and LG OLED C8 equally offer excellent picture quality and great HDR performance. But each of them has advantage and disadvantage to each other. OLED C8 is superior on contrast, black level, color gradient, side viewing angle, and motion handling, while Q8FN is superior on color gamut, peak brightness, and image retention. Nevertheless, the excepting of the poor side viewing angle coverage of Q8FN, the inferiority of each to each other is still great for most TVs. Not just about picture quality, smart TV and other features offered by them are also equally excellent and the excellences of each to the others are not too far.
Which is a better choice between them? As we have mentioned above, with the same screen size, LG OLED C8 is sold hundreds dollar more expensive than Q8FN, even for their largest screen, OLED C8 (OLED77C8PUA) is sold almost doubled than the price of Q8FN (QN75Q8FN). Since each of them equally offer excellent performance and picture quality, now the decision comes back to you according to your need and preference refer to we have discussed a lot above. But need to be considered, Q8FN has poor side viewing angle, so it might be not too suitable for you who often watch TV or play games with your families where they watch TV from multiple angles. On the other hand, since OLED C8 has a risk of permanent burn in, use it to play contents with a static image over long time like play one type of games over long time is not highly recommended.
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung Q8FN <<
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the LG OLED C8 <<
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