LG OLED G7 vs Sony A1E Review (OLED65G7P vs XBR65A1E, OLED77G7P vs XBR77A1E)

Tweet

LG OLED G7 is the second top model and also the signature series of LG’s 2017 4K HDR OLED TV lineup, while Sony A1E is the first and the only model of Sony’s 2017 4K HDR OLED TV. Although each of them are produced by different manufacturer, both they use the same OLED panel, that is OLED panel by LG. This means, for A1E, Sony still bought the OLED panel from LG. However, that is bought by Sony from LG is only its OLED panel while the technology that support it, Sony use its own technologies. This means, since their panel is made by the same manufacturer, there is no real competition between them on their panel performance. Nevertheless, at least we can see the comparison between them in the features, technologies, and design which offered by each of them.

Which unique from them, both of these OLED TVs equally have a unique and luxury design, OLED G7 with “Picture on Glass” design while Sony A1e with “One Slate” Design. In the market, OLED G7 comes with screen size option only, 65 Inch (OLED65G7P) and 77 Inch (OLED77G7P), while A1E comes with 3 screen sizes option, 55 inch (XBR55A1E0), 65 Inch (XBR65A1E), and 77 Inch (XBR77A1E). Since the sizes which available on both are 65 inch and 77 inch, this comparison is also as true to these sizes, 65 Inch (XBR65A1E vs OLED65G7P) and 77 Inch (XBR77A1E vs OLED77G7P). Which one is cheaper between them, this is depending on the screen size. For 65 inch, OLED65G7P is priced more than a thousand dollar more expensive than XBR65A1E. Otherwise, for 77 inch, XBR77A1E is priced thousands dollar more expensive. So, what are the advantages that offered by each and which one is a better choice?

Short Review of Sony A1E (XBR55A1E, XBR65A1E, XBR77A1E)

Design

Sony A1E is the first big screen OLED TV that released by Sony. But as we have mentioned above, Sony doesn’t use its own OLED panel for A1E, but it is still bought from LG. Coming with a design named “One Slate” that offer a luxurious in your room, Sony A1E is not just focused on picture quality, but also design. From the front, the TV is like a photo frame on your table. Except the picture, there is nothing you can see. There is no speaker, a stand, even Sony logo that you can see from the front. Meanwhile, at the edges of the screen, there is only a border with about 1 cm of thinness that goes around the screen.  As the pedestal when it is seat on the table, the panel leans back on an integrated thin box that acts as the stand at the rear of the panel. This means the top of the panel is slightly tilted backwards. The stand is foldable. This means when the TV is mounted on the wall, the stand can be folded.  Meanwhile, in this box, most of electronics and inputs/outputs are putted in. Additionally, the stand is also equipped with removable cover for hiding the cable attachment.

Features and Technologies

As we have mentioned, although Sony uses LG’s OLED panel for A1E, but for supporting its performance, Sony uses its own technology. As its picture engine, Sony A1E is powered by the latest Sony’s HDR engine named 4K HDR X1 Extreme where there are the number of Sony’s advanced technologies embedded.  Meanwhile, for allowing you to enjoy HDR contents in some format options, it already supports most of popular HDR formats including HDR 10, HLG, and also Dolby Vision. For producing superb rendition of colors, Sony still uses its proprietary color technology “TriLuminos Display” and maximized by the number of technologies like Precision Color Mapping, Super Bit 4K HDR, and more. This doesn’t only make Sony A1E has excellent wide color gamut for HDR images, but also very smooth color gradient. And for improving the picture clarity, there is 4K X-Reality Pro Engine that can up-convert non 4K content to nearly 4K resolution. Not even just that, with Object Based HDR Remaster and Dual Data Base processing, it also can improve the brightness and color range of the picture based on the object of the picture, allow you to enjoy any contents with the quality as close as possible to 4K HDR. Additionally, since Sony A1E use OLED panel that offer wide viewing angle coverage, no matter the angle you are watching from, the picture will looks remain excellent, as excellent as when viewed from the front and center.

Like other OLED TVs which available in the market, Sony A1E also has excellent motion handling, allows you to enjoy any fast paced content smoothly with almost no motion blur. Additionally, it also a good TV when used for watching 24p movies due its ability to remove judder without adding “soap opera effect”. A bit unfortunate is about its input lag that is a bit too high, particularly at 1080p, makes it is not as responsive as LG’s OLED TV when used for playing fast paced full HD games.  The other interesting thing that offered is about its Smart TV platform where with Google Android TV as its platform with Google Play Store as its apps store, it provides tons of interesting and useful downloadable apps, games, and contents, a lot of more than apps store from other platform. The unique technology that offered by Sony A1E is about how it generate sound. Unlike other TVs, it doesn’t have traditional speaker and as a instead, the use a Sony Appropriately technology named “Acoustic Surface” where to generate sound, it utilize its own screen that vibrated by a actuator.

>> Please click here to see the price of A1E on Amazon <<

Short Review of LG OLED G7 (OLED65G7P, OLED77G7P)

Design

Like Sony A1E, design is also one of the major factors that makes LG OLED G7 is priced far more expensive than the models below it like B7, C7 or E7. Its main panel is seat on only a sheet of glass, make it has ultra thin of glass or equal to seven of your credit card on your wallet. From the front, almost all of the screen area is picture with only a thin black border with transparent edge. As the pedestal, the panel is supported by a thin plastic at the rear of the panel that integrated built-in sound bar that also acts as the stand. Additionally, with radiator-style grill design, the sound bar makes its appearance looks nicer and more luxury. Meanwhile, to allow this TV can be mounted on the wall, the sound bar can be folded. Additionally, in this sound bar, all electronics and inputs/outputs of LG OLED G7 are placed. This is different to OLED E7 that equally comes with “picture on glass design, where all of their electronics and inputs/outputs are located in the plastic box that integrated with third of bottom of main glass at the back.

Features and Technology

Although LG OLED G7 is priced more expensive than the models below like E7, C7, or even B7, but the technologies and technologies featured by OLED G7 is not many different to them. Using OLED panel that offers infinite contrast and perfect black level, this makes OLED G7 has excellent performance when used in dark environment. Additionally, for delivering wide color gamut for accurate color, it uses 4 sub-pixels RGBW that supported by Tru Color Accuracy technology, result in colorful HDR images on its screen. On other hand, to maximize its peak brightness, there is Ultra Luminance technology behind it, makes the picture displayed on its screen looks remain good when used in a bright environment. Meanwhile, coming with HDR technology, OLED G7 is powered by Active HDR engine that already supports most of HDR formats available including HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. If Sony A1E has 4K X-Reality Pro, Object-Based HDR Remaster, and Dual Data Base Processing for improving the clarity of the picture, OLED G7 also has great 4K Up-scaling engine named “Tru 4K Up-Scaler” and a feature named “HDR effect” that can improve the brightness and color range of the picture, allow you to enjoy any content with the quality nearly 4K HDR. Since it uses similar panel to A1E, it also has excellent wide viewing angle coverage, makes the picture displayed on their screen looks remains excellent, no matter the angle of you are watching from.

Like Sony A1E, performance of LG OLED G7 when handling motion blur of fast paced contents is also excellent.  As well as when playing 24p movies, it also has a ability to remove the judder, no matter the frame rate of the movies. This certainly makes it is as a great TV when used for watching fast movies or sports. On other hand, although not as low as its brother SJ9500 or SJ8500, the input lags of OLED G7 is also quite low for any games, makes it is very comfortable for any games, even for fast paced games that requires fast reflexes. And as its smart TV platform, OLED G7 features WebOS 3.5 that offer to enjoy responsive, simple, and attractive smart TV experience with a lot of smart features and apps provided. Meanwhile, for allowing you to enjoy HDR entertainment with impressive sound performance, this TV already support Dolby Atmos and is equipped with 4.2 channel speaker system with 60 watts of total sound output for 65 inch (OLED65G7P) and 80 watts of total sound put for 77 inch (OLED77G7P).

>> Please click here to see the price of OLED G7 on Amazon <<

LG OLED G7 vs Sony A1E Key Specs

Sony A1E vs LG OLED G7 Performance

Picture quality

Since both LG OLED G7 and Sony A1E use the OLED panel that is produced by the same manufacturer, this certainly also makes them equally has infinite native contrast ratio and perfect black level. As we know, unlike LCD panel where to emit the color, each of pixels of LCD panel requires light passing through them, in this case the light source is its backlight. Meanwhile, on OLED panel, each of its pixels can emit its own light and switch on/off/dim individually. When showing totally black, all of the pixels are switched off, makes there is no light that emitted from the screen. This certainly makes blacks produced looks really black, even when set in a dark environment.  The result, dark scenes of images displayed on their screen looks really excellent, even when used in a dark room where the impact of depth of black level produced by a TV is very noticeable. On other hand, when showing shadow details of HDR images where makes clearer details in dark scene is one of the main focus of HDR technology itself, both Sony A1E and LG OLED G7 also can do a perfect job. This means, with their infinite contrast and perfect black level, shadow details of HDR images can be shown perfectly on their screen like the intended. Additionally, since they have perfect black level, both of them also can show darker colors fairly accurate. Essentially, when displaying an image that has to do with the pitch-darkness, OLED TVs including both OLED G7 and A1E are the best.

While both of them have similar performance in dark, their peak luminance is different. For this case, peak luminance of LG OLED G7 is brighter than Sony A1E, no matter they are playing SDR or HDR. When inputted by SDR images, OLED G7 can show a bit brighter picture than Sony A1E. This certainly make OLED G7 have a bit better performance in maintaining its good picture quality when set in a bright room. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean performance of Sony A1E is poor when set in a dark room. Although performance of A1E in a bright room is not as good as what offered by LG OLED G7, but it is not far behind. On the other hand, when inputted by HDR images, LG OLED G7 also can reach brighter peak brightness than Sony A1E. This certainly makes highlight of HDR images displayed on the screen of OLED G7 looks a bit brighter than A1E. But even so, what offered by Sony A1E is also not far behind, even still can be said good. With more than 600 nits of peak brightness, Sony A1E still can show highlight of HDR images specially HDR 10 like what recommended by UHD alliance and this certainly is also true to LG OLED G7 that has peak brightness brighter than A1E. As we know, to show highlight of HDR 10 images like the intended, an OLED TV must have at least 550 nits of peak brightness. Nevertheless, compared to premium LED TV like Samsung Q9F or Sony X970E that has peak brightness about 15000 nits, their performance is still far behind. Additionally, since HDR images are usually mastered in 1000-4000 nits of brightness range, since their peak brightness are still below 1000 nits, this certainly makes both of them are not able to show highlight of HDR images at the brightness range where HDR images are usually mastered.

Meanwhile, in term of color reproduction, their performance is similar. Both of them are able to cover up to 97% of DCI P3 color space, only bit less than Samsung QLED TVs  which can cover almost perfect of DCI P3 color space. This certain makes when displaying HDR images, particularly HDR images that mastered in DCI P3 like HDR 10 images, color of the picture displayed on their screen look very accurate. Meanwhile, when displaying HDR images which mastered in Rec.2020 like Dolby Vision Images, their color coverage is also fairly good. A bit imperfection is when they are shown green where it is not shown as saturated as other primary colors Red and Blues. But even so, overall, color of Dolby Vision images can be shown fairly accurate on their screen. Additionally, overall, both LG OLED G7 and Sony A1 also equally have similar color volume. Due they have perfect black level, both of them can show their wide color gamut in extremely dark colors perfectly.  But at nearly their peak brightness, their wide color gamut a bit narrow. Nevertheless, overall, both of them can show their wide color brightness at their entire brightness range fairly well. In term of color gradient, both of them already support 10 bit depth of colors that means they can deliver more than 1.07 billion shades of colors, far above 8 bit TV that only can deliver about 16 million shades of colors. The result, although Sony A1E can deliver a bit smoother color gradient due it is powered by Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR, but on the other hand, the color gradient of LG OLED G7 is also excellent. A bit imperfection of OLED G7 is when it is displaying darker shades of colors or gray scale, while A1E can do better. Nevertheless, overall, their color gradient is excellent and their a bit imperfection should not be a serious problem that must be considered.

Additionally, since both Sony A1E and LG OLED G7 use similar OLED panel, this makes both of them equally have excellent side viewing angle coverage. This becomes the major advantages of both as parts of OLED TV than premium LED TV like Samsung Q9F or Sony X930E. If on LED TV, you can enjoy amazing picture quality displayed on their screen only from the front and center while when viewed from the side, the quality of their picture will look degraded. Meanwhile, on the screen of LG OLED G7 and Sony A1E, the picture will look more consistent and remain well from the side, as good as when viewed from the front and center. For you who often watch TV from the side, both of them might be a great TV for you.

Although both of them use similar panel, that is OLED panel from LG, but LG OLED G7 can deliver a bit better picture quality, particularly when used in a bright room due it has brighter peak brightness than Sony A1E. On other hand, Sony A1E is a bit superior on color gradient. Nevertheless, overall, the picture displayed on their screen is really amazing and not far different. There are not many TVs can math their picture quality. The only major drawback of them, they equally have bad images retention. You probably will find some images retentions after use them over long time like playing games or others. Nevertheless, each of them has a feature on their picture setting to cure the images retention easily.

Winner: OLED G7

Motion Handling and 24p Playback

When used to watch fast paced contents, both of them also equally have excellent performance. Since both of them use similar panel, this makes both equally have extremely low pixel response time, far lower than the lowest pixel response time can be reach by LED TV. This makes both LG OLED G7 and Sony A1E equally do a nearly perfect job when handling motion blur. The result, when they are used to watch fast movies or sports program, the picture displayed on their screen looks very smooth with almost no motion blur noticeable. In certain scene, following fast moving objects, there might still be a trail visible, but it is extremely short and faint where most of people might not notice. Additionally, when playing 24p playback, performance of both Sony A1E and LG OLED G7 is also perfect. No matter the frame rate of the movies, whether it is 24p videos like Blu-Ray movies, 24p videos via 60i signal like movies from Satellite TV, or even 24p videos via 60p signals like movies from streaming devices, all of them will be shown clearly and smoothly with no judder. Nevertheless, to remove the judder without adding “soap opera effect”, you need make some certain setting on their picture setting. On OLED G7, for removing the judder of 24p movies via 60i/60p signal, you need to turn on the “real Cinema”, set “TruMotion” to “User” and both sliders to “0”. Meanwhile, for A1E, “Motion Flow” must be set to ”True Cinema” and “CineMotion must be set to “High”. Additionally, since both Sony A1E and LG OLED G7 equally have native 120 Hz refresh rate panel, this certainly makes both of them can interpolate both lower frame rate contents 30 fps and 60 fps fairly well.

Winner: Draw

Inputs/Outputs

As their major connectivity, both LG OLED G7 and Sony A1E are equally equipped with 4 HDMI ports. All of HDMI ports of OLED G7 already support HDCP 2.2 and HDMI2.0 full bandwidth, while for A1E, all of their HDMI ports also support HDCP 2.2, while which support HDMI 2.0 full bandwidth are only HDMI 2 and 3. Both of them also already support ARC (Audio Return Channel) where for OLED G7, that support ARC is HDMI 2, while for A1E, that supports ARC is HDMI 3. Additionally, both of them also equally equipped with 3 USB ports, 2 ports USB 2.0 and 1 port of USB 3.0. For OLED G7, the USB 3.0 is USB 1 while for A1E, the USB 3.0 is on USB 3. In addition to HDMI and USB ports, they are also equally equipped with 1 Composite In (AV In), 1 RF In (Antenna), 1 Ethernet, and 1 Digital Audio Out (Optical). Additionally, both of them are also equally not equipped with Component In. As the additional connectivity of Sony A1E, there are IR (Infra Red) and 1 Analog Audio Out (Mini jack). Meanwhile, discussing about their input lags, LG OLED G7 have better input lags than Sony A1E. For OLED G7, in PC and Game Mode, it has fairly low input lags at 1080p and 4K source, make it is fairly responsive for any games, even for fast paced games. Meanwhile, for A1E, although not as low as OLED G7, its input lags at 4K signal in “PC Mode” and “Game Mode” are still quite low to play any games so feel responsively. But at 1080p signal, its input lag is a bit higher and it is only pleasant when used to play casual games, while when used for fast paced games, it might a bit disappointing.

Winner: OLED G7

Smart TV

As their smart TV platform, Sony A1E featuring Google Android TV Nougat, while LG OLED G7 featuring WebOS 3.5. Both these smart TV platforms equally offer attractive and responsive smart TV experience, but in term of navigation, WebOS is simpler and easier than Google Android TV. On WebOS, the “Home Screen” layout is not far different to previous version. At the bottom of screen, there is still a “Strip Bar” contains customizable “tiles” as the quick access of Setting, Inputs and Apps. For most used apps or menus, you can bring them up to the front, while for rarely used apps, you can relegate them to back. This allows you to make a picture setting, selecting input, or launch you favorite apps easier and faster without leaving the “Home Screen”. Meanwhile, on Google Android TV, navigation might a bit confusing, particularly for first time user. Although on the remote, there are some quick lists of common setting that allows you to navigate without entering the main menu, but navigating on WebOS is still easier. Discussing about their apps, both of them equally equipped a lot of smart features and attractive apps as their preinstalled apps. There are VoD Service like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video, and more, Live TV, Screen Mirroring, Games, Web Browser, and many more. Both of them also equally have apps store that allows you to directly download tons of apps, games, and contents from your TV. But for case, since Google Play Store as the apps store of Sony A1E is supported by a lot of more developers, this makes apps, contents, and  games provided by Google Play Store are also more complete than what provided by LG Apps Store. But on the other hand, what provided by LG apps store is more focused on what the users want.

As their controller, LG OLED G7 comes with LG Magic Remote while Sony A1E comes with Sony Smart Remote. Both of these remote equally have a lot of buttons with two dedicated buttons. The differences, on LG’s remote, the dedicated buttons is for Netflix and Amazon Videos, while on Sony’s remotes, the dedicated buttons are for Netflix and Google Play Store. Additionally, they are also equally equipped with built-in microphone for voice commands. Both of these remote also equally has a universal ability that means both of them can be used to control some functions of other devices connected on each of their TV. This allows you to control some of your devices with a single remote. Meanwhile, the advantage of LG Remote, it has a feature named “point and click”, that has a function like a mouse on your laptop. At the center of the remote, there is a clickable scroll wheel that allows you to scroll up or down the highlighted item and select it by clicking the scroll wheel. There is also a standard navigation pad for navigating the menu. The excellent feature that offered, you can move the pointer on the screen by moving the remote, allows you to select the menu directly that certainly will save your time.

Winner: OLED G7

Sound Performance

One of the major factors that makes LG OLEG G7 is priced hundreds even thousands dollar more expensive than the lower series is about its sound performance. With about 4.2 channel built-in sound bar and total 60 watts of total sound output for 65 inch and 80 watts of total sound output for 77 Inch, sound performance of LG OLED G7 is very impressive. The high end frequency separation is very noticeable, create excellent stereo effect. The middle range is also fairly well, make voice is heard clean. Additionally, it is also equipped a pair of sub woofer, makes low end frequency or bass is heard steady and impressive. Sound performance of LG OLED G7 is even including the best among TVs with built-in sub-woofer. Meanwhile, although not as impressive as LG OLED G7, especially on low end frequency, sound performance of Sony A1E also can be said impressive and still above average. High and mid-end frequency is generated by its own screen that vibrated by actuator, result in a good stereo effect. Meanwhile, the low end frequency is generated by built-in subwoofer, makes bass produced by A1E is also heard fairly impressive.

Winner: OLED G7

>> Please click here to check the latest price of Sony A1E on Amazon <<

>> Please click here to check the latest price of LG OLED G7 on Amazon <<

Summary

Conclusion

As we have discussed a lot above, although LG OLED G7 offer a bit better picture quality than Sony A1E, particularly at their peak brightness, but their difference is not too far. On other hand, the superiority of Sony A1E on color gradient also doesn’t have a significant impact on the picture quality produced by them. Overall, both of them equally have excellent picture quality. The excepting of their image retentions, almost all factors of picture quality offered by them are strong, whether it is about their contrast, black level, renditions of colors, viewing angle, motion handling, or 24p playback. Meanwhile, although their peak brightness is still below 1000 nits, but their peak brightness is fairly bright for an OLED TV and still above 550 nits as the minimum recommendation set by UHD alliance to show highlight of HDR image like the intended. A bit advantage offered by LG OLED G7 is about their input lags, especially at 1080p signals where its input lags if far lower than A1E, makes it is more comfortable and responsive when used to play full HD games, particularly for fast paced games. In term of Smart TV, OLED G7 with WebOS is more simple in navigation, while Sony A1E is superior on its “Google Play Store” that provide a lot of more apps and contents.  The other advantage offered by OLED G7 is about their sound performance, particularly at low-end frequency or bass. Nevertheless, although almost at all aspect, LG OLED G7 is superior to Sony A1E, but its superiority is not too significant.

So, which is a better choice between them? As mentioned above, for 65 inch, OLED65G7P is priced more than a thousand dollar more expensive than XBR65A1E, while for 77 Inch, XBR77A1E is sold thousands dollar more expensive than OLED77G7P.  While their difference in performance is not too significant, their design should be also you make as the main consideration in choosing between them. Now, the decision comes back to you according to your preferences. Whatever your choice, what offered by them is comparable with a huge money that you will spend.

>> Please click here to buy Sony A1E on Amazon <<

>> Please click here to buy LG OLED G7 on Amazon <<