LG SK85 Super UHD review

Launched alongside LG’s actually spectacular 2018 OLED TV lineup, it might be simple to miss the corporate’s new ‘Tremendous UHD’ sister vary. However whereas these LED fashions could lack their greater siblings’ more-expensive natural light-emitting diodes, they nonetheless exhibit lots of the similar futuristic options. 

Backed by LG’s ThinQ artificial-intelligence (AI) know-how, the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD TV feels leading edge in its implementation of AI, making it one of many smartest sensible TVs we have examined. 

Mixed with the tv’s built-in Google Assistant performance, the ThinQ platform helps to streamline the TV viewing expertise, performing such duties as switching image modes by itself, or offering you with an expanded vary of voice instructions. 

That is all very spectacular, however when it comes right down to it, image and sound high quality stay a very powerful elements to contemplate when buying a brand new 4K tv. 

Fortunately, the inclusion of Full Array Native Dimming, nano cell know-how and assist for HDR10, Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Dolby Atmos implies that LG’s 2018 Tremendous UHD vary is able to ship the products within the audio visible division. 

For the needs of this evaluate, we had been in a position to take a look at the 65-inch SK85, however there’s additionally a extra reasonably priced 55-inch mannequin obtainable. The 65-inch mannequin (often known as the 65SK8000PUA within the US) is priced at $1,799 (£2,499 / AU$four,799), whereas the 55-inch mannequin (often known as the 55SK8000PUA within the US) is priced at $899 (£1,699 / AU$three,099). 

Design

From entrance on, the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD presents a putting, minimalist visage that, at first look, appears to eschew bezels totally from its design — they’re there, however you will must squint to see them. 

Whereas switched off, all that is seen is a modern black rectangle with an austere metallic stand — and it is a design whose look is much more restrained when the SK85 is wall-mounted.

In profile, chances are you’ll discover that the LG SK85 is not fairly as slim another LED-LCD televisions available on the market and at its thickest level, it is 62.5mm. There is a good motive for that although: the additional width is there to accomodate the SK85’s Full Array Native Dimming (FALD) system, which employs tons of of tiny backlights throughout the complete panel, reasonably than the edge-lit backlighting methods that many different TVs implement.

This FALD system permits the SK85 to be way more exact with its backlighting, making it doable to gentle small particular person sections of the panel whereas minimizing backlight bleed — we’ll look a bit deeper into this know-how within the Efficiency part beneath.

On the rear of the tv, you’ll discover a nifty brushed-metal end, plus 4 HDMI ports, three USB 2.zero ports, element/composite inputs, a digital optical audio output, a three.5mm headphone jack, an Ethernet port and an RF antenna port.

Just like the entrance, the LG SK85’s rear is kind of spartan, which helps to maintain the again of the set neat, if not fairly to the extent of Samsung’s Q9F QLED tv, which shows solely a single all-purpose cable from its chassis. 

Design TL;DR: The LG SK85 Tremendous UHD bears a minimalist design that exudes sophistication. Its slim bezels and durable one-piece metallic stand go to nice lengths to maintain issues easy in your front room. 

It is not the thinnest TV round, however the inclusion of Full Array Native Dimming backlighting at the very least places that additional thickness to good use. 

Sensible TV (webOS)  

With its reliance on LG’s Magic Distant, which prompts customers to level on the display in a Wiimote-like trend, the webOS sensible TV platform could be an acquired style, requiring a bit extra consideration and precision to be paid when choosing a operate or menu merchandise. 

That mentioned, with its implementation on the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD, webOS has lastly began to win over this reviewer due to a refined presentation that feels intuitive and completely suited to LG’s distinctive point-and-click management mechanic. 

Hitting the ‘dwelling’ button in your distant will carry up the webOS launcher, which sits on the backside of the show and cleverly enables you to cycle by the TV’s numerous inputs and put in apps with out having to go away what you are presently watching. 

Hovering over a person blade will carry that app to the forefront, filling the display with enticing graphics that solidify webOS as essentially the most visually-arresting platform presently obtainable for sensible TVs. 

And, if you wish to lower down on all of the distant waggling, you may also assign your favourite apps to the 1-9 buttons on the Magic Distant, permitting you to rapidly launch your most regularly used features with the push of a button.

Talking of visually-arresting options, LG’s 2018 Tremendous UHD vary has introduced over the favored Gallery Mode from the corporate’s OLED TVs, giving customers the choice to cycle well-known artworks on the show if you’re not actively watching one thing.  

In relation to controls although, it is actually LG’s AI-backed ThinQ performance that can have customers speaking in 2018 — and we imply that actually.

Mixed with Google Assistant voice management performance, it is doable to make use of lots of the SK85 Tremendous UHD’s features by speech alone. 

Asking the tv what the climate will probably be like subsequent week is one factor, however we love having the ability to hand out extra informal instructions — saying “present me one thing to look at” or “I am bored” will routinely launch YouTube and begin enjoying well-liked movies, as an example. 

In our evaluate supplies, we got an enormous checklist of voice instructions which we examined at random. To our shock, the SK85 Tremendous UHD was in a position to make out what we had been saying the overwhelming majority of the time with none particular setup. This consists of instructions reminiscent of “What is the newest TV collection?”, which introduced us to Netflix’s latest additions, and “quantity up” to crank up the noise.

And, in case you’re the kind of one who frequently vegetation themselves on the sofa for multi-hour binge-watching marathons, you’ll be able to pre-emptively encourage your self to rise up and transfer round a bit by asking the TV to “flip off after this program ends.”

We’re instructed that the goal for LG ThinQ is to study what you want over time — one thing that can finally present added comfort by predicting your wants. Sadly, that is not one thing we had been in a position to put to the take a look at in our restricted time with a LG SK85 Tremendous UHD take a look at unit. 

Sensible TV TL;DR: LG’s webOS platform continues to get higher with each iteration, although its reliance on the Magic Distant’s point-and-click management methodology could irk some. That mentioned, we actually dig the TV’s ThinQ and Google Assistant voice performance, the inclusion of which makes the SK85 really feel like a futuristic system. 

HD and SDR Efficiency 

Having examined a lot of Full HD TV reveals, motion pictures and movies on the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD by way of Netflix and YouTube, we discovered efficiency to be exemplary throughout the board. 

We kicked issues off with a little bit of animation by watching The Simpsons Film, which seems to be completely unbelievable on this telly. Strains had been extremely sharp with little or no cases of noticeable aliasing, and colours popped from the display with immense vibrance.

Likewise, watching the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in 1080p proved an important demonstration of the SK85’s SDR shade accuracy, showing vivid and shiny even with none excessive dynamic vary tinkering. It additionally appeared clear and excessive intimately, usually showing near Extremely HD.

That mentioned, some seen cases of very minor shade gradation did crop up whereas watching older content material, reminiscent of The Fifth Aspect, however this was by no means noticeable sufficient to spoil the viewing expertise. 

Blacks appeared a lot darker than most different LED LCD TVs available on the market, due to  the aforementioned Full Array Native Dimming know-how behind the show. 

Whereas the SK85’s native dimming system exhibited far much less blacklight bleed than we’re used to seeing on LED LCD televisions, it by no means fairly fooled us into pondering that we had been trying on the good blacks of an OLED show — a fast boot up of Netflix revealed to us a backlight that was nonetheless seen within the black areas of the service’s launch display. That mentioned, the SK85’s black ranges are extraordinarily spectacular for an LED TV. 

HD/SDR TL;DR: Newer HD content material seems to be unbelievable on the SK85 Tremendous UHD, showing vibrant, shiny and excessive intimately. You could discover some minor cases of shade gradation in older content material, and its Full Array Native Dimming system would not fairly attain OLED ranges of pure blackness, however that is about nearly as good as LED LCD will get. 

4K and HDR Efficiency 

As anticipated, a lot of what we have mentioned above within the HD/SDR part could be additionally utilized to this 4K/HDR part, solely the image high quality is much more distinctive with regards to HDR and Dolby Imaginative and prescient materials.

A variety of this may be attributed to the SK85’s nano-cell know-how, which goals to supply a superior HDR image by outputting narrower, high-density main shade wavelengths, which it is claimed enhance each shade accuracy and distinction.

LG has employed nano cell know-how prior to now, however we’re getting the second-generation model of the tech right here, which the corporate says achieves 30% much less ambient gentle reflectivity in comparison the tech’s earlier iteration, and a 44% discount in comparison with standard LED TVs on the whole. 

We watched some content material on the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD throughout daytime hours with the curtains open, and whereas there was nonetheless gentle reflecting from the display (which is unavoidable, actually — even on the most costly units), it did appear much less intense than a number of the different TVs we have reviewed prior to now 12 months. 

When it comes to devoted 4K HDR content material, we kicked issues of with a viewing of Christopher Nolan’s house epic, Interstellar, and had been floored with the outcomes. 

Image high quality, significantly through the movie’s many full-frame IMAX sequences, was extraordinary, particularly in well-lit scenes.

Throughout the movie’s house sequences, such because the second wherein the crew’s shuttle passes by a blackhole, additionally impressed. As we talked about within the part above, you won’t be fooled into pondering that you simply’re watching the infinite distinction of an OLED show, however the SK85 will get fairly darn shut. 

The 4K Extremely HD Blu-ray model of Justice League additionally revealed exceptionally vibrant colours, with highlights, reminiscent of Surprise Lady’s glowing lasso, and Cyborg’s glowing crimson eye, piercing by the darkness with a burning depth. 

We adopted up Interstellar and Justice League with some HDR reveals and films on Netflix, together with the food-centric Ugly Scrumptious, spectacular sci-fi collection Misplaced in Area and the Dolby Imaginative and prescient-boasting Luke Cage. As anticipated, the LG SK85 delivered a excessive stage of element and shade accuracy.

We would additionally prefer to level out that at no level did the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD falter with regards to picture processing and movement. No matter which mode the tv was in, it achieved clean, constant movement with completely no ghosting. 

4K HDR Efficiency TL;DR: Improbable shade accuracy, distinctive brightness and constant movement and picture processing are simply a number of the SK85’s most spectacular feats. Black ranges aren’t fairly as good as an OLED, however we’re impressed by what LG has been in a position to obtain with LED LCD know-how. 

Sound

For the needs of our evaluate, the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD was linked to a SK9Y Dolby Atmos soundbar — though we did flip it off so as to get an concept of what the TV’s personal built-in audio system had been able to. 

Boasting 40W audio system with Dolby Atmos functionality, the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD’s audio system did a fairly good job making a three-dimensional encompass soundscape. 

Clear and clear, the audio system delivered speech with terrific readability and never a single trace of crackle. The place the SK85’s sound efficiency falls a bit quick is within the bass division.

Whereas not precisely weak or tinny sounding, the SK85 may stand to be a bit extra highly effective, supplying you with an aural expertise that is about what you’d count on from in-built TV audio system. Not like Samsung’s 2018 Q9F QLED, you most likely will not be fooled into pondering there is a hidden soundbar close by. 

Sound TL;DR: Although completely succesful with regards to delivering sound, these in search of highly effective, bass-filled audio will most likely need to complement the tv with a soundbar or hi-fi system. 

Different panels to ponder 

As Dolby Imaginative and prescient continues to realize traction with TV producers, we’re seeing extra units which can be in a position to boast unbelievable shade accuracy and brightness. 

Sony’s X900F (XBR-65X900F) 4K TV is a unbelievable different that gives wonderful HDR image and shade vibrance. Although it would not have Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist out of the field, it has been promised future replace will carry the format to the X900F.

Alternatively, whereas it is a bit costlier, LG’s personal C8 OLED TV is a best-in-class product that options all the AI ThinQ options included within the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD, together with the infinite distinction and ideal blacks that OLED know-how is thought for.

Verdict

Whereas OLED is mostly thought of the gold commonplace with regards to TVs, the LG SK85 Tremendous UHD reveals that LED LCD know-how nonetheless has loads of methods up its sleeve. 

That includes spectacular backlighting know-how in full Array Native Dimming and essentially the most leading edge AI-assistant performance presently obtainable for televisions, LG’s SK85 Tremendous UHD TV is a terrific different to the corporate’s costlier OLED vary.