Sony X930E vs Samsung Q7F Review (XBR55X930E vs QN55Q7F, XBR65X930E vs QN65Q7F)

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Sony X930E and Samsung Q7F are parts of High-End 4K HDR TV in 2017. Both of them equally offer amazing picture quality and great HDR performance. In the market, there are 3 screen sizes available for Q7F including 55 Inch (QN55Q7F), 65 Inch (QN65Q7F, and 75 inch (QN75Q7F), while for X930E, there are only screen sizes options available including 55 Inch (XBR55X930E) and j65 Inch (XBR65X930E). Since the screen sizes available on both are 55 Inch and 65 Inch only, this comparison certainly is as true to these sizes (XBR55X930E vs QN55Q7F, XBR65X930E vs QN65X7F). When I was writing this comparison, with the same screen size, Samsung Q7F is sold about hundreds dollar more expensive than Sony X930E. But of course, their prices are not fixed and could still change at any time. With the different price that is not too significant, which is a better choice between them?

Short Review of Samsung Q7F (QN55Q7F, QN65Q7F, QN75Q7F)

Samsung Q7F is the lowest model of Samsung’s QLED TV lineup. As a part of Samsung QLED TV, the advanced quantum dot technology becomes the main technology of Q7F, results in life-like picture quality with very accurate color. Focus on HDR, Q7F is powered by 4K HDR Elite Engine and already supports HDR 10 and HLG formats. Nevertheless, unlike most of high end HDR TVs, this TV doesn’t support Dolby Vision.

For delivering stunning picture quality, Samsung Q7F is powered by the number of Samsung’s advanced technologies. On its panel, it uses VA panel technology with Edge-Lit backlight and Local Dimming Technology (Precision Black Pro).  For delivering deep black level, high contrast ratio, and good black uniformity, there are Q 4k Elite Black, Supreme UHD Dimming, and Contrast Enhanced behind it. Otherwise, for deliver bright peak luminance and reducing reflections when set in a bright room, Q7F is powered by Peak Illuminator Pro and Ultra Clear Panel technology. And as we have mentioned, for delivering wide color gamut, Samsung Q7F is powered by quantum dot panel driven Q 4K color Drive Elite technology. Combination of all of these technologies results in stunning picture quality with deep black level, bright peak brightness, and saturated color on the screen of Q7F. But unfortunately, due its used VA panel, poor side viewing angle certainly becomes its drawback and makes its viewing angle coverage is limited.

In addition to stunning picture quality and great HDR performance, with Motion rate 240 based 120 Hz refresh rate panel behind it, Samsung Q7F also a great TV when used for watching fast moving images due its great ability in handling motion blur. It also has great ability to up-scale lower resolution content to near 4K resolution. Additionally, it is also a good TV when used for watching 24p movies due its great ability in removing the judder from any source of 24p movies. Additionally, although not the best, the input lag of Q7F is also low enough to play any kind of games, even fast paced games responsively. And for offering attractive and responsive smart TV experience, Samsung Q7F features Tizen OS as its platform and powered by a quad core processor.

>> Please click here to see the price of Q7F on Amazon.com <<

Short review of Sony X930E (XBR55X930E, XBR65X930E)

Along with X940E, Sony X930E is the top model of Sony’s 2017 X Series. As a high model of Sony’s 2017 TV lineup, stunning picture quality certainly also becomes the major advantage of X930E series. There are a lot of Sony’s most advanced technologies behind it that makes the picture displayed on their screen looks absolutely amazing. Still focus on HDR, SonyX930E also has great HDR performance and the HDR formats supported is more than Q7F, those are HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Vision.

For delivering stunning picture quality, X930E is powered by 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme as its picture engine. There the number of Sony’s advanced technology embedded on this engine including Dynamic Contrast Enhancer, Precision Color Mapping, Dual Data Base Processing, Super Bit mapping 4K HDR, And Object-Based HDR Remastering Technology. On its panel, it also uses VA Panel with Edge Lit backlight and local dimming technology (Slim backlight Drive).  Combine to X-Tended Dynamic Range 10X technology, this makes the picture displayed looks amazing with very deep black level and bright highlight.  Meanwhile, for delivering wide color gamut, X930E is powered by TriLuminos display. Combine to the number technologies that which embedded on its picture engine, this certainly makes the color of the picture displayed on its screen looks very accurate, results in life-like picture quality. Even not only that, with Super bit Mapping 4K HDR technology behind it, Sony X930E can produce nearly perfect color gradient, make it is including TVS with the best color gradient. But even so, like Q7F, since it has VA Panel, poor side viewing angle certainly also becomes the major drawback of Sony X930E.

Like Samsung Q7F, Sony X930E also does a great job when handling motion blur, result in smooth and clear picture quality with almost no motion blur when it is displaying fast moving images like sports program. But even so, its performance when playing 24p movies is not so good. It can remove the judder only when playing 24p videos like Blu Ray movies, while when playing 24p videos via 60i/60p signals, it cannot remove the judder completely. Meanwhile, the input lag is low at 4K resolution only while at 1080p source, the input lag is still too high. For playing fast paced games, it is only comfortable for 4K games, while when used for playing 1080p games, its performance might be disappointing. And as its smart TV platform, X930E features Google Android Nougat.

>> Please click here to  see the price of X930E on Amazon.com <<

Sony X930E vs Samsung Q7F Key Specs

Samsung Q7F vs Sony X930E Performance

Picture Quality

Overall, both of Samsung Q7F and Sony X930E have very good picture quality. Both of them have good black uniformity and excellent native contrast ratio that makes dark scene looks excellent, particularly when set in a dark room. Additionally, black level reached by then is also quite dark to reveal the shadow details of HDR images so looks excellently. As we know, to display dark scene of HDR 10 videos like what intended, a TV must has 0.05 nits or darker of black level while what reached by them is far deeper.  Meanwhile, compare between them, since local dimming of Sony X930E works more effectively than Samsung Q7F, this certainly makes X930E has higher native contrast ratio than Q7F, particularly when local dimming is turned on. The result, dark scenes look a bit better on the screen of X930E than Q7F.

While Sony X930E has a bit higher native contrast ratio than Q7F, it also has far brighter peak luminance.  The impact certainly is on bright scenes produced by them, particularly when set in a dark room. When set in a dark room or moderately lit room with ambient light, peak brightness of Q7F might still bright enough to shows bright scenes still looks excellently. But when set in an extremely bright room, its peak brightness is not as good as X930E to fight the glare. Additionally, peak brightness of Q7F is also not quite bright to shows the highlight of HDR images at 1000-4000 nits like what intended. As we know, the minimum recommendation of peak brightness for displaying HDR 10 videos fully like what intended is 1000 nits. Meanwhile, peak brightness reached by Sony X930E is really outstanding. With about 1500 nits of peak brightness, it is including TVs with brightest peak brightness. This is not only very effective to fight the glare in bright room, but also bright enough to shows highlight of HDR images at 1000 – 4000 nits like what intended, so looks excellently.

While about brightness range, Sony X930E is superior but the superiority of X930E is not for color reproduction.  Samsung QLED TV including Q7F is a TV with outstanding wide color gamut even including TVs with the best color gamut. Samsung Q7F doesn’t only already support wide color gamut, but it even can cover nearly perfectly DCI P3 color space of HDR images. Even color gamut delivered by Q7F is still better than OLED TV. This makes almost all colors in DCI P3 can be shown very saturated, results in more life-like picture quality with high color accuracy. On the other hand, although not as wide as Q7F, Sony X930E also already support wide color gamut that means most of colors in DCI P3 can be shown quite saturated. This certainly also makes HDR images produced still looks natural with accurate color. While color gamut of Q7F is better, Sony X930E offers a bit better color gradient. X930E can show nearly perfect color gradient, while on the screen of Q7F, some imperfections might still be noticeable in darker shades of colors. Overall, when processing 10 bit colors of HDR images, both of them can produce smooth color gradient without any major color banding.

Meanwhile, for anticipating the many of lower resolutions contents which available in the market, both of Samsung Q7F and Sony X930E are equipped with great performance UHD Up-scaling engine. The result is really equally great. No matter the sources, whether it is DVDs movies with 480p resolution, the final images in 4K that produced looks sharply and clearly. And of course, the higher resolution of the source like Cable TV movies with 720p resolution or Blu Ray movies with 1080p resolution, the final images in 4K that resulted looks sharper and clearer with small details preserved better.  Not only that, both of them also have the ability to improve the brightness range of the picture, so allowing you to enjoy them with the quality close to 4K HDR.

Since both of them use VA Panel, poor side viewing angle certainly become that major drawback of Samsung Q7F and Sony X930E. Started at 20 degrees off center and front, black look tend to grey while color look shifted. This certainly makes the quality of the picture displayed doesn’t look as good as when it is viewed from center and in front of the screen. Nevertheless, as long as you don’t often watch TV from side viewing angle, this certainly is not a major issue for you.

Winner: X930E is superior in contrast and brightness, Q7F is superior in color reproduction

Motion handling and 24p Playback

Essentially, both of Samsung Q7F and Sony X930E is a great TV for watching fast moving image like sport program or other due it has great motion handling. The picture produced look very smooth and clear with almost no motion blur noticeable. Nevertheless compare between them, Samsung Q7F has lower pixel response time than Sony X930E. Although it is not as low as OLED TV, the pixel response time of Samsung Q7F is including the lowest for LED TV. The result, on the screen of Q7F, there is only a very short trail following fast moving object, while on the screen of X930E, a trail looks a bit longer.  Meanwhile, when playing 24p movies, Samsung Q7F also offers better performance than Sony X930E, particularly when playing 24p movies via 60i or 60p signals. When playing 24p videos like Blu Ray Movies, both of them might equally offer smooth and clear picture quality with judder-free, but when playing 24p videos via 60p signals like movies from streaming device or via 60i signal like movies from satellite TV, only Q7F that offers judder-free, while X930E cannot remove judder completely. Nevertheless, since most of people don’t sensitive to judder, this should not be a problem for them.

Winner: Samsung Q7F

Inputs/Outputs

Samsung One Connect Box

As their main inputs/outputs, both of Sony X930E and Samsung Q7F are equipped with 4 HDMI ports and 3 USB Ports. Additionally, there are also RF In, Ethernet In, and Digital Audio Out (Optical) behind them. The difference between them is about Component In, Composite In, and Analog In where Q7F is not equipped with these inputs/outputs.  Meanwhile, Sony X930E is equipped with 2 Composite In (AV In), 1 Component In, and 1 Analog Audio Out. The other difference is about where these inputs/outputs ports are located. On X930E, all of these ports are located on the rear and side of the panel, while on Q7F, almost all of its inputs/outputs ports are located on separated box called “One Connect Box”. The benefit, if there is an update firmware of these inputs/outputs, you just need replace the box without replacing the TV. Meanwhile, talking about their input lag, both of them have similar low input lag at 4K resolution under “game Mode or PC mode”. This certainly makes both of them are equally comfortable when used for playing any kind of 4K games, even for fast paced games. Nevertheless, at 1080p resolution, the input lag of Samsung Q7F is lower than X930E. The input lag of Q7F is still low and similar to at 4K source that makes it is still very comfortable for any kind of 1080p games, while the input lag of X930E at 1080p source is a bit too high. For casual 1080p games, it might be still comfortable but for playing fast paced 1080p games, it might be a bit disappointing.

Winner: Samsung Q7F

Smart TV

Both of Sony X930E and Samsung Q7F equally feature attractive and responsive smart TV platform. Q7F comes with Tizen OS and supported by a quad core processor while X930E comes with Google Android Nougat. In term of responsiveness and attractiveness, they might be similar, but in term of ease in navigating, Tizen OS is similar. With narrow bar at the bottom of the screen contains quick access of most popular apps, this allows you to launch your favorite apps easily without leaving the home screen, while  navigating in Google Android TV is a bit confusing, particularly for a newbie. Meanwhile, talking about apps provided, both of them equally provide tons of attractive and useful apps. There are VoD apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Videos, and more, Web browser, Screen mirroring apps, Cloud Games apps and many more. In addition to preinstalled apps, there are also tons of downloadable apps, games and contents where you can download directly from these TVs. Tizen OS comes with Samsung Apps Store, while Android TV comes with Google Play Store. Talking about apps provided by these apps store, Google Play Store might provided more complete apps than Tizen OS due it is supported by tons of developer. But on the other hand, it precisely makes it is less focus on what people want.

As the controller, Samsung Q7F uses Samsung Smart Remote while SONY X930E comes with Sony Voice Remote. Both of them are equally equipped with built-in microphone for voice command or voice search. Additionally, both of them also can be functioned as a universal remote to control other devices connected on their TV via HDMI ports, though in this case, Sony remote still need additional equipment called IR Blaster where it is including in its buying package. Meanwhile, in term of appearance, Samsung remote is far simple and has minimalistic button while Sony remote is bigger and has a lot of button.

>> Please click here to check the latest price of Q7F on Amazon <<

>> Please click here to check the latest price of X930E on Amazon <<

Summary

Conclusion

As we have discussed above, both of Samsung Q7F and Sony X930E have stunning picture quality and great HDR performance. Both of them are able to show dark scenes and bright scene excellently in a room with any light condition. Compare between them, X930E has better peak luminance and higher contrast ratio, result in better dark and bright scenes and greater HDR performance is greater, while Q7F has better wide color gamut, result in more life-like picture quality. X930E even is including the brightest TVs in 2017, while Q7F is including TVs with widest color gamut. Meanwhile, talking about other features that offered, as we have discussed a lot above, overall, Samsung Q7F offers a bit better performance than X930E.  Nevertheless, performance offered by X930E is not far behind Q7F.

Which is a better choice between them? As we have mentioned above, although their price is not fixed and could still change at any time, when I was writing this comparison, with the same screen size, Samsung Q7F is sold hundreds dollar more expensive than Sony X930E. The excepting of picture quality, overall, it offers a bit better performance than X930E. Now the decision comes back to you according to your preferences. If you are searching a LED TV with strong contrast and bright peak luminance, Sony X930E might be a better option for you, while if you are searching a TV with outstanding color reproduction, Samsung Q7F certainly is a better choice for you.

>> Please click here to buy Samsung Q7F on Amazon <<

>> Please click here to buy Sony X930E on Amazon <<