Sony XBR65A1E vs LG OLED65C7P Review – Which is a better choice?

Sony XBR65A1E is part of the Sony A1E series, the first model of Sony OLED TV Lineup, while LG OLED65C7P is part of LG C7 Series, the 2017 Model of LG OLED TV C Series. Since both of them use OLED Panel, picture quality certainly become their main advantage due perfect black level and infinite contrast produced by them. Additionally, although both of them are made by different manufacturer, but basically they use similar OLED panel made by LG. The real difference between them certainly is on the technology that supports each of them and features that offered by each.  So, what features offered by each and which is a better choice between them?

Short Review of LG OLED65C7P

Come as a successor of OLED65C6P, LG OLED65C7P precisely is more similar to OLED65B6P where it comes with flat panel and there is no 3D technology behind it. Performance of some features that offered is also not much different to last year model. But as a newer model, there are some updates and upgrades on its hardware and software that makes its performance is better than last year model OLED65B6P.

Come with HDR technology, LG OLED65C7P doesn’t support HDR 10 and Dolby Vision only, but it also already supports Advanced HDR by Technicolor and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) by BBC and NHK. This course makes HDR formats supported by OLED65C7P is more complete. Additionally, now, it is already supported by “HDR Effect” technology that makes it has ability to up-convert SDR contents to near HDR quality. Meanwhile, talking about picture quality that produced, this certainly is undoubtedly. Extremely deep black level, infinite contrast, peak luminance, and wide color gamut that produced by OLED65C7P makes the picture displayed look absolutely amazing. On the other hand, it also has extremely wide viewing angle that allows you to get the best viewing, no matter the viewing angle you are watching from. The other great performance that offered is about the ability when handling motion blur. This makes it is very comfortable when used for watching fast moving images like sports program or fast movies. Additionally, LG OLED65C7P is also has low input lag, regardless the resolution of the source that also makes it very comfortable when used for playing any kind of games. And that is not less interesting is about its smart TV platform where with WebOS 3.5, it offers simple, attractive, and responsive smart TV platform.

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Short Review of Sony XBR65A1E

Although Sony XBR65A1E is the first OLED TV released by Sony, but it is not 100% made by Sony considering its panel still bought from LG. Nevertheless, with unique design called “One Slate” and innovative sound technology called “Acoustic Surface”, this becomes the special attraction offered by XBR65A1E. But unfortunately, like most of TVs that released in 2017, XBR65A1E is not equipped with 3D technology, so for 3D fans, this might be a bit disappointing.

Come with a panel that similar to OLED65C7P, Sony XBR65A1E is powered by the number of Sony’s most advanced technologies. As its picture engine, it is powered by advanced picture engine called 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme where there are the number of Sony’s most advanced technology embedded. For delivering wide color gamut, it is powered by TriLuminos Display technology where it becomes the mainstay technology of Sony for delivering wide color gamut in recent last years. Additionally, combination of 4K X-Reality Pro Engine, Object-Based Remaster Technology, and Dual Database Processing makes it has great ability to up-convert lower resolution content to near 4K quality, even 4K HDR. Meanwhile, come with HDR technology, XBR65X1E already support most of HDR formats including HDR 10, Dolby Vision, and HLG. Even it is certified by Ultra HD Premium certification that ensures its great performance when displaying HDR 10 video.

Like LG OLED65C7P, Sony XBR65A1E also has extremely wide viewing angle coverage that makes the picture displayed on its screen looks consistently amazing from any viewing angles.  Additionally, it also offers perfect performance in handling motion blur that makes the picture looks very smooth and clear with virtually no motion blur when used for watching fast moving images like sport program. And as its smart TV Platform, Sony XBR65A1E features Google Android TV 2017 that is not less attractive than WebOS.

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Sony XBR65A1E vs LG OLED65C7P key Specs

LG OLED65C7P vs Sony XBR65A1E – Side by Side

Design

The design of both of them actually is equally great. Overall, the design of LG OLED65C7P is similar to last year model OLED65B6P with some minor aesthetic improvements. The stand is also different to last year model, where it is finished with a brushed metallic. This will look stand out and elegant no matter the room you place it. Meanwhile, the design of Sony XBR65A1E carries the design called “One Slate”. From the front, it looks very minimalistic where all you see is only a single panel of glass with ultra thin frame. There is no stand, no bezel, even no speakers. The screen is supported by a leg that angles out from its rear and makes the top of the screen look tilted rearward about 5 degrees when put directly on the AV Rack or Table. But because the tilt is only 5 degrees, of course this not too noticeable. But unfortunately, with this design, Sony XBR65A1E need a larger table than most of TVs. The conclusion, although both of them have great design, Sony XBR65A1E looks more gorgeously than LG OLED65C7P when put on the table.

Winner: XBR65A1E

Picture Quality

Although both of them are powered by different technologies, but since both of them use similar OLED Panel, the quality of the picture displayed on each of their screen is also not far different. As we know, one of the major advantages of OLED TV is about black level and native contrast ratio produced where with self-lighting pixel, it can deliver close to 0 nits of black level and infinite contrast ratio. This is due each of pixel of OLED TV can switch on/off/dim individually without affected the condition of other pixel surrounding. This certainly is far darker than 0.0005 nits as the minimum recommendation that required for displaying HDR 10 videos fully. Since black level and contrast are most of important points of picture quality, this certainly makes the picture displayed on their screen looks very impressive, particularly when set in a moderately bright room or darker room. Blacks of images looks absolutely black makes shadow details looks very clearly with very accurate color, particularly when displaying HDR videos. Essentially, in term of black level and contrast, there is no issue on both.

Meanwhile, about peak brightness reached by them, despite not as bright as what offered by the brightest LED TV like Sony XBR65X930E or XBR65Z9D series, for OLED TV, peak brightness reached by them can be said bright. You need to know, both of them can reach about 700 nits of peak brightness where what reached by LG OLED65C7P is a bit brighter than what reached by XBR65A1E. But even so, their difference is not so significant. Ignoring the difference peak brightness reached by them, what reached by them are still brighter than 550 nits as the minimum recommendation for displaying HDR 10 videos fully set by UHD Alliance for OLED TV. This certainly is bright enough to make its HDR performance is great and bright scenes displayed excellently, particularly when they are set in a moderately bright room or darker room. Nevertheless, when set in extremely bright room, the amazing picture quality produced by them is reduced a bit due their peak brightness is not quite bright to fight the glare. Additionally, this also makes the accuracy of brighter color is a bit reduced. But even so, as long as you don’t use both of them in an extremely bright room, this should not be a big problem.

On the other hand, despite both of them are powered by different technology, but both of them already support wide color gamut. As we see on comparison table above, for this case, Sony XBR65A1E is powered by TriLuminos Display while LG OLED65C7P is powered by True Color Accuracy. The result, both of them can deliver about 95% of DCI P3 color space that means this is great. As we know, for displaying HDR 10 videos fully, A TV should deliver at least 90% of DCI P3 Color space. This certainly makes color of the picture displayed on each of their screen looks very saturated with decent color volume. Wide color gamut is showed properly for dark or moderately bright colors. But unfortunately, due its peak luminance is not too bright, extremely bright colors cannot be showed so properly. Additionally, still about color performance, both of Sony XBR65A1E and OLED65C7P also supports 10 bit depth of color that makes color gradient of the picture displayed on their screen looks very smooth. But compare between them, for this case, XBR65A1E offers a bit smoother color gradient than OLED65C7P, particularly on darker color. On darker shades of color and the dark part of the grayscale, some imperfections are still noticeable on the screen of OLED65C7P, while on the screen of XBR65A1E looks perfectly. But even so, overall, their color gradient is equally very good.

The other great performance that offered by Sony XBR65A1E and LG OLED65C7P is about their side viewing angle coverage. As we know, one of the major advantages of OELD panel than LED panel is about their extremely wide viewing angle coverage. No matter the side viewing angle you are watching from, even from extremely side viewing angle, the quality of the picture displayed will looks consistently. This even is far better than what offered by LED TV with IPS panel which indeed designed for improving the viewing angle coverage.

Meanwhile, for anticipating the scarcity of 4K contents that available in the market, both of Sony XBR65A1E and LG OLED65C7P is equipped with great performance UHD Up-scaling Engine. No matter the resolution of the video sources, even low resolution videos like DVD movies with SD or 480p resolution, this will displayed clearly and sharply close to 4K quality with small details still preserved well. Even not only that, with HDR effect technology behind OLED65C7P or Object-Based Remaster Technology and Dual Database Processing behind XBR65A1E, you can enjoy them close to 4K HDR quality. This certainly gives you a benefit considering not all videos which available in the market are mastered in HDR. Meanwhile, compare between them, performance of Sony XBR65A1E is a bit better than LG OLED65C7P.

Winner: Tie

Motion Handling and 24p Movies Playback

The other major advantage of OLED panel than LED panel is about its extremely low pixel response time.  As we know, the lower pixel response time, when displaying fast moving images, the motion blur will less noticeable. Since pixel response time of both is extremely low, this certainly makes the picture produced by then when displaying fast moving images like sports program or fast movies looks very smooth with virtually no motion blur. Following the fast moving objects, there is only an extremely short trail where most of people might don’t notice about it. Even there are no LED TVs that can match what offered by OLED TV including OLED65C7P and XBR65A1E in handling motion blur.

While both of them equally offer great performance when handling motion blur, when playing 24p movies, LG OLED65C7P offers better performance than Sony XBR65A1E, particularly when displaying 24p movies via 60i/60p signal. When displaying native 24p videos like Blu Ray Movies, both of them might equally offer smooth and clear picture quality with judder-free, but when displaying 24p videos via 60p/60i signals like movies from streaming media or satellite TV, OLED65C7P offers better performance. On the screen of OLED65C7P, the judder can be removed completely while on the screen of XBR65A1E, judder cannot be removed completely. But even so, considering older model of Sony TV offers judder-free at any source, there might be a bug on the software of XBR65A1E.  For sure, we wait a firmware update in future that might be able to fix this issue. On the other hand, since most of people might not notice about judder, this should be a major problem for XBR65A1E.

Winner: OLED65C7P

Inputs/Output

Both of Sony XBR65A1E and LG OLED65C7P is equipped with 4HDMI ports as their major connectivity where they are already support most of HDMI formats that required like HDCP 2.2, CEC, Audio Return Channel, and more. Additionally, both of them are also equally equipped with 3 USB Ports for connecting with other devices like storage devices, Handy Cam, Digital Camera, or others. In additions to HDMI and USB Ports, there are also 1 Composite IN (AV IN), Ethernet, 1 RF In (Terrestrial), Digital Audio Out (Optical). Both of them are not also equipped with Component IN, so if you want to connect other devices with Component In as their connectivity, you need an additional adapter. A bit difference between them is about Analog Audio Out (Mini Jack) where XBR65A1E is equipped with this port while OLED65C7P is not. Talking about their input lag, the input lag of OLED65C7P is lower than XBR65A1E, no matter the sources. This means OLED65C7P is very comfortable when used for playing any kind of games, even for fast paced games. Meanwhile, although not as low as OLED65C7P, the input lag of XBR65X1E with 4K source is low enough to make it is very comfortable for playing any kind of 4K games. But at 1080p source, the input lag of XBR65A1E is still too high, so this is only comfortable for casual games while for fast paced games, it will feel laggy.

Winner: OLED65C7P

Sound Quality

As we see on comparison table above, LG OLED65C7P is equipped with 2.2 channels speaker system with 40 watt total sound output (20 watts sub woofer). Meanwhile, Sony XBR65A1E comes with 4.1 channel speaker system with 50 watts total sound output (10 W + 10 W + 10 W + 10 W + 10 W). Talking about their sound performance, for this case, sound quality of XBR65A1E is better due its frequency response and bass extension are better than OLED65C7P. On the other hand, the maximum volume that produced by them is loud enough, but at higher volume, their sound heard a bit compressed. Nevertheless, that makes Sony XBR65A1E is superior to OLED65C7P is not about sound quality produced by them, but about the technology that used. As we know, Sony XBR65A1E use “acoustic surface” technology that utilize the screen to generate sound. This means there are no speakers on XBR65A1E. This certainly helps to focus more on minimalistic design of XBR65A1E.

Winner: XBR65A1E

Smart TV

As we see on comparison table above, Sony XBR65A1E features Google Android TV as its smart TV platform while LG OLED65C7P features WebOS 3.5. The user interface and layout of both are equally designed very attractive. Additionally, performances of both are also equally fast and responsive. But in navigating, WebOS 3.5 is far simple and easier while navigating on Google Android TV is a bit confusing. Meanwhile, talking about apps that provided, both of them also provides tons of interesting apps. There are most popular apps like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Videos, Web browser, and a lot of more. In addition to a lot of default apps provided by them, both of these smart TV platform is also has Content Store app that allows you to download tons of games, apps, and content.  For this case, WebOS comes with LG’s Apps Store while Android TV comes with Google Play Store. Google Play Store might provide more complete apps and games due it is supported by a lot of more developer, but this precisely makes it is less focused on what people want. Meanwhile, although apps that available on LG’s Content Store are not as many as Google Play Store, but they are more focused on what people want.

Meanwhile, as the controller, Sony XBR65A1E uses Sony Voice Remote while LG OLED65C7P uses LG’s Magic Remote. Both of them are equally equipped with built in microphone for voice navigation and also can be functioned as a universal remote. The advantage of LG’s magic remote, there is point and click functionality that makes you more comfort when inputting the text or browsing on the internet.

Winner: OLED65C7P

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Summary

Conclusion

Since both of Sony XBR65A1E and LG OLED65C7P use the same OLED panel made by LG, the quality of the picture displayed on each of their screen is also not far different. Both of them equally offer stunning picture quality with extremely black level, accurate color, and smooth color gradient. They also equally offer extremely wide viewing angle coverage. Additionally, both of them also has extremely low pixel response time that makes they offer great performance when handling motion blur. On the other hand, peak brightness reached by them is also not far different and bright enough to makes dark and bright scenes displayed excellently. Come with HDR technology, they are equally certified by Ultra HD Premium Certification. But about the HDR format that supported, LG OLED65C7P support more HDR format than Sony XBR65A1E. The other advantages of OLED65C7P are its lower input lag particularly at 1080p source. Meanwhile, with “One Slate” design and unique sound technology called “Acoustic Surface” Sony XBR65A1E looks more gorgeously in your room than OLED65C7P.

Which is a better choice between them? You need to know, when I was writing this comparison, in the market, Sony XBR65A1E is sold more than a thousand dollar more expensive than OLED65C7P. Meanwhile, in term of picture quality, they are similar, even OLED65C7P offer better performance than XBR65A1E in some features. Now the decision comes back to you according to your need and preference. If you main consideration is about picture quality and features that offered, I think OLED65C7P is a better choice considering it is sold far more cheaper than XBR65A1E. Meanwhile, if you don’t mind to spend hundreds even more than a thousand dollars of your money to get gorgeous design and an innovative sound technology offered by XBR65A1E, you will not feel sorry with performance that offered.

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