This week on You Asked, we sort out a few of the most typical TV shopping for questions proper now, from selecting between LG and Samsung’s newest OLEDs to which manufacturers deal with upscaling finest. We additionally dig into whether or not Dolby Vision 2 is a cause to carry off on a brand new TV buy, or if right this moment’s high-end units are already adequate.
LG C5 vs. Samsung S90F: Which do you have to purchase?
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LG C5 Andre Revilla / Digital Trends
@alexandervictoria7609 asks: Hi , I’ve been following you guys for years. You’re the rationale I purchased the sony a80k . Now my television bought broken and I’m on the lookout for one thing new. I can get a reduction on the lg c5 and the Samsung s 90f each for a similar value and about 150 greater than the 2024 fashions. What ought to I do?
First of all, you’re going to have a good time with both of these TVs. They’re each an improve from the A80K when it comes to HDR brightness and peak highlights. And I feel we had them each on our Best TVs record this 12 months.
The competitors between the C5 and S90F may be very shut, and it most likely comes down as to whether or not you care about having Dolby Vision with the C5.
Samsung S90F Image used with permission by copyright holder
Samsung doesn’t assist Dolby Vision, however will you even miss it? What the S90F does have that LG doesn’t, and neither did the Sony A80K, is a QD-OLED panel on the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch sizes. It offers an excellent bit extra colour quantity than the C5 and its W-OLED panel.
The C5’s benefit is SDR brightness and, should you’re an Xbox gamer, you get Dolby Vision there as nicely.
Still, each choices supply 4 HDMI 2.1 ports and a really huge viewing angle with excellent distinction, as a result of OLED.
So my vote is with the S90F, however you actually can’t go mistaken.
Which TVs have the very best upscaling?
Sony A95K Dan Baker / Digital Trends
@bmj4052 asks: my largest query that i can by no means get a straight reply – what television is has the very best upscaling for normal definition indicators? ie. primary netflix, youtube, different generic streaming platforms that don’t stream 4k
This is an efficient query. And although I haven’t personally run this take a look at with a bunch of TVs aspect by aspect taking part in the identical factor from a wide range of completely different sources to totally examine which is finest, I’ve some takes and proof behind them.
When we examined the Vizio Quantum Pro some time again, one in all our largest critiques was this actual factor. It didn’t do nicely with upscaling. To illustrate it, we put it up in opposition to the Sony A95K OLED. Those TVs are usually not in the identical league in any respect, however info are info.
In that take a look at, the Sony did a significantly better job. And as a result of these are such night-and-day comparisons between a less expensive Mini LED TV and a top-notch OLED, we additionally examined it with the Samsung QN90C, a premium Mini LED that got here out in the identical 12 months. It was additionally a giant step up.
Through watching plenty of TV on that Samsung in my own residence, and from what I’ve seen filming a few of Sony, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic’s finest TVs over the previous few years, I’m going to say Sony. Their processing has been the working favourite for years now.
That’s additionally most likely why lots of people are freaking out about TCL probably taking on Sony’s TV manufacturing subsequent 12 months.
That stated, whereas Sony’s processing and upscaling is prime notch, except you place it aspect by aspect with a few of Samsung and LG’s finest, I’m undecided it’s one thing that simply jumps out at you from TV to TV. Even if it’s primary Netflix or one other streamer in 1080p as a substitute of 4K, if the content material is nicely produced, it’ll look fairly good on most fashionable, higher-end TVs.
It’s the blocky, grainy, poorly lit, or previous content material that hasn’t been remastered the place you’ll be able to actually see how nicely a TV does its cleanup job.
Is Dolby Vision 2 price ready for?
Dolby Vision 2 Demo at CES 2026 Chris Hagan / Digital Trends
@amitavraja3385 asks: In 2026 solely TCL and Hisense are going to assist Dolby Vision 2, the remainder of the massive producers are usually not. Don’t suppose Sony would both. Suspect most huge manufacturers are wait and see coverage this 12 months and possibly from 2027 they might have assist for Dolby Vision 2. Don’t neglect 2026 TVs gained’t be backwards appropriate and not using a main {hardware} improve, except it’s from TCL & Hisense. So is it dangerous to purchase new costly televisions this 12 months figuring out that these TVs gained’t be capable to assist DV2?!
I need to level out that I learn that query because it was written, however I don’t know that every one of that’s one hundred pc true. I don’t know what a few of these producers have deliberate, nor do I do know the precise chipsets within the TVs popping out and whether or not they’ll assist Dolby Vision 2. What we do know is that TVs want the MediaTek Pentonic 800 chip.
What I can supply is a few perspective, particularly since we’ve discovered in regards to the TCL–Sony deal.
If I needed to purely guess and speculate on one producer that may have Dolby Vision 2 functionality sooner or later, it’s Sony. MediaTek has been their supply of system-on-chips, and with the hype and work put into their new RGB backlight TV that’s on the way in which, I discover it onerous to consider Sony wouldn’t put the newest and best into that mannequin, particularly if it meant with the ability to get an over-the-air replace down the road and increase gross sales by including Dolby Vision 2.
So should you’ve bought the funds that you will want to purchase that premium TV from Sony, I’d most likely be ok with it. And I’d wager my backside greenback it’s going to be an attractive TV.
That brings me to my subsequent level. Dolby Vision 2 seems actually, actually good, and it’s a noticeable enchancment from the unique Dolby Vision. But you see the most important distinction in lower-end and budget-friendly TVs, no less than from what we have been proven at CES.
The distinction between the higher-end TVs we noticed Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision 2 displayed on wasn’t fairly as huge.
My level is that this: If it’s essential get a high-end, costly TV, otherwise you simply need one since you’re due for an improve, I don’t know that Dolby Vision 2 goes to be the rationale to delay that buy.
HDR10 and HDR10+ additionally look nice. They gained’t have the content material intelligence function to scrub up some actually darkish scenes, however these things nonetheless seems nice, and none of that is Dolby Vision 2.
Whether it’s processing and upscaling, HDMI inputs, brightness, distinction, picture high quality, model loyalty, or no matter different cause you provide you with, there are many issues that may drive a TV buy. Assess these issues alongside along with your curiosity about Dolby Vision 2, and make your choice based mostly on all of that.
