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LG E8 OLED  TV Review

Reviewed Oct 22, 2018 at 09:23 am
LG E8 OLED
8.6
Mixed Usage 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

9.3
Movies 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.3
TV Shows 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.6
Sports 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.4
Video Games 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.7
HDR Movies 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.1
HDR Gaming 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

8.2
PC Monitor 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

Tested using methodology v1.5 
 0
 TV Settings
Notice: This TVs was replaced by LG E9 OLED
The LG OLED E8 is an excellent 4k OLED TV with a remarkable picture quality. It can display perfect blacks and is has excellent for dark room viewing. The E8 is also a good choice for rooms with wide seating arrangements as the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle. It has a wide color gamut and can display HDR content with vivid colors and bright highlights. It has excellent motion handling and a low input lag, good for most gamers and PC users. Unfortunately, just like all OLED TVs, the E8 runs the risk of permanent burn-in when it displays static images for a prolonged period of time.

Our Verdict

8.6
Mixed Usage 

The LG E8 is an excellent TV for many different uses. It has a remarkable picture quality with perfect blacks. The image remains accurate when viewed at an angle and thus it is suitable for a large room where people will be watching from the side. It has good motion handling and good gray uniformity to please sports fans, and low input lag, good for most gamers.

Pros
  • Perfect blacks
  • Image remains accurate when viewed at an angle
  • Instantaneous response time leaves very little motion blur
Cons
  • Risk of permanent burn-in with prolonged exposure to static content
  • Brightness changes with screen content (ABL)
9.3
Movies 

The LG E8 is excellent for watching movies. Especially in a dark room, the perfect blacks and the wide color gamut produce excellent picture quality with bright and vivid colors. Motion handling is excellent too, so fast moving content is clear with only a small blur trail. The E8 can clear 24p judder from the most common inputs so you should not have any issues with this.

Pros
None
Cons
None
8.3
TV Shows 

The LG E8 is excellent for watching TV shows. It has remarkable reflection handling, so you can place it in a room with many small light sources without issues. It has good viewing angles so you can enjoy your favorite show without the need to sit directly in front of the TV. It has a very good smart platform with an abundance of available apps, and you will most certainly find the app that carries your favorite TV shows.

Pros
None
Cons
None
8.6
Sports 

Excellent TV for watching sports. It has excellent reflection handling, so you can place it in a room with many small windows without issue. It has a very fast response time, so there is only a small blur trail in fast-content like sports. It is unlikely that you will notice any dirty screen effect due to the good gray uniformity. Finally, it is a good choice if you plan to watch the big game with a group of friends, as it has good viewing angles and the image remains accurate for those watching from the side.

Pros
None
Cons
None
8.4
Video Games 

The E8 is an excellent TV for playing video games. It has very low input lag and it is very responsive to your actions. At the same time, fast content looks good with only a small blur due to the almost instantaneous response time of the TV. If you play games during the night, you will enjoy the impressive dark room performance of the TV with perfect blacks. Unfortunately, it does not support any VRR implementation to avoid tearing in very graphics intensive games.

Pros
None
Cons
None
8.7
HDR Movies 

This is an excellent TV for watching HDR movies. The OLED55E8 has perfect blacks that boost the picture quality in dark rooms where HDR movies are meant to be watched. It has a wide color gamut that produces rich colors and its good HDR brightness levels make highlights pop. It has very good motion handling with very little blur in fast action movies, and 24p judder will not be an issue.

Pros
None
Cons
None
8.1
HDR Gaming 

The LG E8 has an excellent performance in HDR Gaming. It is very responsive due to the very low input lag when displaying 4k @ 60Hz + HDR. The picture quality is remarkable, with perfect blacks, vivid colors and highlights that pop. When playing a fast action game you will appreciate the fast response time that only leaves a small blur trail, and if you wish to make the image even crisper you can use the optional BFI feature.

Pros
None
Cons
None
8.2
PC Monitor 

This E8 has a remarkable performance when used as a PC monitor. It supports chroma 4:4:4 so the text is clear in all backgrounds. The image remains accurate when viewed at an angle so there are no uniformity issues at the sides of the screen. It has excellent motion handling and an instantaneous response time so you will not see much blur trail on your mouse. Unfortunately, the brightness lowers when large areas of the screen are illuminated, and this can be bothersome in PC usage. Finally, displaying a static content, like software menus, for a prolonged period may have a risk of burn-in.

Pros
None
Cons
None
  • 8.6
    Mixed Usage
  • 9.3
    Movies
  • 8.3
    TV Shows
  • 8.6
    Sports
  • 8.4
    Video Games
  • 8.7
    HDR Movies
  • 8.1
    HDR Gaming
  • 8.2
    PC Monitor
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated May 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
    2.  Updated Feb 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
    3.  Updated Feb 28, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
    4.  Updated Oct 22, 2018: Review published.

    Check Price

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    We tested the 55" model (OLED55E8PUA), and we expect our review to be valid for the 65" (OLED65E8PUA).

    If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their LG E8 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.

    Size US Model UK Model Panel Type Refresh Rate Notes
    55'' OLED55E8PUA OLED55E8PLA OLED 120Hz  
    65'' OLED65E8PUA OLED65E8PLA OLED 120Hz  

    The LG E8 we reviewed was manufactured in May 2018.

    Compared To Other TVs

    Comparison picture

    Top left: Sony Z9F(XBR65Z9F ). Bottom left: Sony A9F(XBR55A9F). Middle: LG E8(OLED55E8PUA). Top right: Samsung Q9FN(QN65Q9FN). Bottom right: LG C8(OLED55C8PUA). Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.

    The LG E8 is an excellent TV with for most usages, especially when placed in a dark room. See our recommendations for the best TVs and the best OLED TVs.

    LG E9 OLED

    The LG E8 OLED and LG E9 OLED deliver very similar picture quality. The E9 is marginally better, as it has better gray uniformity and is a more future-proof model. The E9 supports HDMI 2.1 on all HDMI ports and supports a few new features, like HDMI Forum's variable refresh rate technology, and eARC.

    LG C9 OLED

    The LG E8 and C9 deliver very similar picture quality, thanks to their impressive OLED panels. The C9 is slightly better, though, especially as a future-proof model. The C9 supports HDMI 2.1 on all HDMI ports and supports many new features, including HDMI Forum's variable refresh rate technology, as well as eARC.

    LG E7 OLED

    The LG E8 is slightly better than the LG E7P. The LG E8 has an optional black frame insertion feature that helps remove motion blur and make the image look crisper. The LG E8 also has better out of the box color accuracy so that you can enjoy great picture quality in movies without the need for a professional calibration.

    Samsung Q9FN/Q9/Q9F QLED 2018

    The LG E8 is better than the Samsung Q9FN for most people, unless the possibility of burn-in is a concern or you have a bright room. The E8 can display perfect blacks and supports Dolby Vision, and this is great for watching movies or HDR content in a dark room. The E8 also has better viewing angles, so it's more suitable for large rooms with wide seating arrangements. The Samsung Q9FN, on the other hand, can get brighter and is suitable for brighter viewing environments and also supports FreeSync variable refresh rate, which is great if you play video games.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    Sort:
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    All
    Design
    9.5
    Style
    CurvedNo

    The design of this year's LG E8 is an advancement over last year's E7P model, which was also excellent. LG put a lot of effort to create a TV that will look good even when it's off. The results are very good as the TV has a strong premium feel, an elegant look, and excellent overall build quality. The edges of the TV are made of glass, and the embedded soundbar is hardly noticeable, as it is thinner than last year's and it is blended in the lower bezel of the screen. The glass border also acts complementary to the stand to provide extra support for the TV.

    Stand

    The stand of the LG OLED E8 resembles that of the B8. The TV, however, has a thick sheet of glass onto which the screen is placed. This sheet of glass also helps support the TV and also serves the illusion that the TV is floating.

    Footprint of the 55" TV stand: 24.1" x 8.9"

    Back
    Wall MountVESA 300x200

    The back of the TV is plain. The electronics compartment is at the lower half of the back. There is very basic cable management with the use of a small removable cable guide as seen here. The 3 HDMI inputs and one USB face to the side, so you will have easy access if the TV is wall mounted.

    Borders
    Borders0.41" (1.1 cm)

    The borders are made of glass. This design is very similar to last years E7P model.

    Thickness
    Max Thickness2.16" (5.5 cm)

    This TV is very thin when you look at it from the side. The panel is placed on a 1/4 inch thick glass that gives off a sturdy feel and a sleek look.

    9.0
    Build Quality

    The build quality of the LG OLED55E8PUA is excellent. The premium feel is apparent everywhere in this TV's build. You will have no issues.

    Picture Quality
    10
    Contrast
    Native Contrast
    Inf : 1
    Contrast with local dimming
    N/A

    The LG E8, just like all OLEDs, has an infinite contrast ratio as it can switch off individual pixels. This produces perfect blacks and is great for watching movies in a dark room.

    10
    Local Dimming
    Local Dimming
    No
    Backlight
    No Backlight

    The LG OLED55E8PUA has no need for local dimming as it can switch off each pixel individually. The video is for reference only.

    6.9
    SDR Peak Brightness
    SDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
    330 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 2% Window
    326 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 10% Window
    325 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 25% Window
    323 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 50% Window
    323 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 100% Window
    154 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 2% Window
    311 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 10% Window
    311 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 25% Window
    311 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 50% Window
    311 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 100% Window
    149 cd/m²
    SDR ABL
    0.058

    Very good SDR peak brightness for the LG OLED E8. Slightly lower than the levels measured for the B8 and the C8. The brightness level remains relatively constant regardless of the window size, except when almost the entire screen is lit, at which point the brightness level drops due to Automatic Brightness Limiter(ABL). This is not noticeable to most people during normal use.

    The menu option that controls the luminance on this LG E8 is called OLED Light.

    7.2
    HDR Peak Brightness
    HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
    685 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 2% Window
    929 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 10% Window
    868 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 25% Window
    468 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 50% Window
    313 cd/m²
    HDR Peak 100% Window
    153 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 2% Window
    851 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 10% Window
    829 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 25% Window
    479 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 50% Window
    298 cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 100% Window
    150 cd/m²
    HDR ABL
    0.106

    Good HDR peak brightness but still short of the 1000-4000 cd/m² HDR is mastered for. The real scene peak brightness is, however, among the highest we've measured on OLED TVs, almost identical to the C8, and certainly brighter than the Sony A9F.

    As expected, brightness levels drop gradually as the illuminated window size increases. This is due to the TVs brightness protection mechanism Automatic Brightness Limiter(ABL).

    7.9
    Gray Uniformity
    50% Std. Dev.
    2.547%
    50% DSE
    0.140%
    5% Std. Dev.
    1.439%
    5% DSE
    0.132%

    The LG OLED E8 has very good gray uniformity and most people will not notice any clouding. It is a great choice for those who enjoy watching sports as it only has a minimal dirty screen effect. In the 5% gray uniformity picture the E8 displays some vertical bands that some people might spot when watching dark scenes in a dark room. This behavior is similar to other 2018 OLEDs like the B8, the C8, and the A8F. This is hardly noticeable, and only when in a dark room.

    8.9
    Viewing Angle
    Color Washout
    50°
    Color Shift
    30°
    Brightness Loss
    66°
    Black Level Raise
    70°
    Gamma Shift
    70°

    Just like most OLEDs, the viewing angles of the E8 are very good. The picture quality remains good even when watching from the side. It is a good choice for a room with a wide seating arrangement. When viewed at an angle, colors do shift, but less than LCD TVs with a VA or IPS panel.

    10
    Black Uniformity
    Native Std. Dev.
    0.347%
    Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
    N/A

    The LG OLED55E8PUA has perfect black uniformity. Just like all OLEDs, switching off individual pixels produces perfect blacks and thus perfect black uniformity.

    9.3
    Reflections
    Screen Finish
    Glossy
    Total Reflections
    1.4%
    Indirect Reflections
    0.1%
    Calculated Direct Reflections
    1.3%

    Excellent reflection handling on the LG E8. Reflections are well defined due to the glossy filter and, at the same time, they are greatly diminished. There is a slight pink tint that is not uncommon, and it is also found on the LG C8 and the Samsung Q8FN.

    8.8
    Pre Calibration
    White Balance dE
    1.62
    Color dE
    1.40
    Gamma
    2.14
    Color Temperature
    6,256 K
    Picture Mode
    Expert (Dark Room)
    Color Temp Setting
    Warm 2
    Gamma Setting
    2.2

    Unlike the B8 or the C8, the LG E8 has excellent out of the box color accuracy. The most accurate picture mode was the 'Expert (Dark Room)'. The white balance dE and the color dE are well below the threshold of 3 where most enthusiasts would notice any inaccuracies. At the same time, the color temperature is slightly warm with an insignificant red/yellow tint. Gamma is a little higher at 2.33 and does not follow the target very well, thus shades are slightly darker.

    9.6
    Post Calibration
    White Balance dE
    0.10
    Color dE
    0.87
    Gamma
    2.20
    Color Temperature
    6,496 K
    White Balance Calibration
    20 point
    Color Calibration
    Yes
    Auto-Calibration Function
    Yes

    Excellent results after calibration. The color and white balance dE were diminished below 1, making any inaccuracies impossible to spot with the naked eye. This is one of the best results we've measured until now. Gamma was also corrected and now follows the target almost perfectly. Finally, the color temperature was brought almost spot on the 6500K target.

    You can see our recommended settings here.

    8.0
    480p Input

    The E8 upscales older 480p content well. The resulting image quality is not overly sharp, but all of the details are preserved well.

    8.0
    720p Input

    720p content is displayed without any obvious issues.

    9.0
    1080p Input

    Full-HD content such as 1080p cable, streaming, and Blu-rays look good when upscaled. The image is clear and detailed.

    10
    4k Input

    Native 4k content is displayed without any issues.

    0.0
    8k Input
    Pixels
    TypeOLED
    Sub-Type
    WRGB

    With WRGB OLEDs, all four subpixels are never on at the same time. We have taken two photos to demonstrate this.

    Alternative pixel picture.

    8.6
    Color Gamut
    Wide Color Gamut
    Yes
    DCI P3 xy
    97.74%
    DCI P3 uv
    99.02%
    Rec 2020 xy
    71.81%
    Rec 2020 uv
    75.65%

    Excellent wide color gamut. The TV covers almost all of the DCI P3 space, whereas the coverage of the wider Rec 2020 is more limited. Very similar results to the B8 and the C8.

    In the 'Cinema' picture mode the EOTF follows our PQ curve well until the higher luminosity levels when it starts to slowly roll off.

    The EOTF in the Game picture mode and in PC picture mode are nearly identical to that of Cinema, which is good.

    If you find HDR content too dim, you can set the Dynamic Contrast setting to 'High', and the Dynamic Tone mapping to 'On'. These settings will raise the EOTF and brighten most HDR scenes.

    7.0
    Color Volume
    Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
    78.8%
    10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
    43.9%
    Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
    59.9%
    10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
    33.1%

    Decent color volume coverage. The TV is has a wide color gamut, but loses volume at high levels of luminance. This happens because of the presence of a white subpixel in its WRGB pixel panel. This white subpixel helps boost luminance but at the same time, its mere presence de-saturates the colors produced by the other subpixels. This is more apparent at higher luminosity levels where the white subpixel intensity is higher. This results in less bright colors on the E8, just like the B8 and the C8. However, most people will not notice it.

    8.7
    Gradient
    Color Depth
    10 Bit
    Red (Std. Dev.)
    0.097
    Green (Std. Dev.)
    0.101
    Blue (Std. Dev.)
    0.078
    Gray (Std. Dev.)
    0.081

    The gradient on this TV is excellent. Our test image is displayed smoothly with no visible banding except in the dark green and gray shades, where slight banding is visible. In certain scenes, there is some banding noticeable in large areas of similar color. You can reduce banding by enabling MPEG Noise Reduction, which activates the gradient smoothing feature of the E8. This reduces the visible banding but also results in a loss of fine detail.

    10
    Temporary Image Retention
    IR after 0 min recovery
    0.01%
    IR after 2 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 4 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 6 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 8 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 10 min recovery
    0.00%

    The LG OLED55E8PUA shows no signs of image retention except for a minor issue at the very beginning of the recovery time and this is great.

    There is, however, some panel variation to be expected. Even panels of the same model may be more or less prone to image retention. This year we've tested the LG B8, the C8 and now the E8. The LG B8 and the E8 show almost no signs of image retention whereas the C8 shows slightly more signs of image retention.

    Be reminded that this test is only indicative of short-term image retention and not the permanent burn-in that may occur with prolonged exposure to static images. To further investigate the issue of permanent burn-in, we are currently running a test and you can read all about it, here.

    2.0
    Permanent Burn-In Risk
    Permanent Burn-In Risk
    Yes

    Update 11/01/2019: Updated text to include our stance on burn-in.

    Although we don't expect most people who watch varied content to have any issues, OLED TVs, such as the LG OLED E8 do have the possibility of experiencing burn in. Each manufacturer implements different technologies in an effort to decrease the risk of burn-in. The LG E8, just like the B8 and the C8, has three features to decrease the risk of burn-in.

    We recommend enabling Pixel Refresher and Screen Shift, and setting Logo Luminance Adjustment to 'Low'.

    We are currently running a test about this and you can see the results here.

    Motion
    9.9
    Response Time
    80% Response Time
    0.2 ms
    100% Response Time
    1.0 ms

    The response time of the LG E8 is almost instantaneous. This means that there is virtually no blur, and this is great for fast-moving content as the image is crisp.

    10
    Flicker-Free
    Flicker-Free
    No
    PWM Dimming Frequency
    0 Hz

    The LG E8 does not have any visible backlight flicker and this makes motion look smoother. However, this creates some persistence blur. If you want to minimize blur, you can enable the Black Frame Insertion option available on this TV.

    8.7
    Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
    Optional BFI
    Yes
    Min Flicker for 60 fps
    60 Hz
    60 Hz for 60 fps
    Yes
    120 Hz for 120 fps
    No
    Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
    60 Hz

    The E8 has an optional Black Frame Insertion mode that will insert a black frame and make the image crisper. To enable BFI you must go into the TruMotion menu, select the 'User' option, and then enable Motion Pro.

    TruMotion is grayed out when displaying 120Hz content.

    Motion Interpolation
    Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
    Yes
    Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
    Yes

    The LG E8 has excellent motion interpolation features. It does a very good job in slow moving shots, and when there is too much motion where the artifacts would multiply, it just stops.

    The TV uses the same menu options like the B8 and the C8 to control interpolation. To interpolate low fps content to 60Hz, set TruMotion to 'User' and raise the De-Judder slider. To interpolate 60Hz content to 120Hz, raise the De-Blur slider.

    Motion interpolation will create some artifacts, especially in fast-moving content. If you find the artifacts bothersome, we suggest that you lower the interpolation settings. This will make the interpolation algorithm more conservative, but it will also make motion look less smooth.

    4.6
    Stutter
    Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
    40.7 ms
    Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
    15.7 ms

    The almost instantaneous response time of the E8 makes the image look crisp with very little blur. This, however, increases the stutter that can be experienced in lower FPS content like 24p. This is why the TV scores bad in the stutter test.

    If you find stutter bothersome you can remove it by using the motion interpolation features that work very well on this TV.

    10
    24p Judder
    Judder-Free 24p
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via 60p
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via 60i
    Yes
    Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
    Yes

    The TV has excellent judder handling. It can display 24p movies without judder from the most common sources. To remove judder turn the Real Cinema option to 'on'. Note that just like the B8 and the C8, there is always judder when BFI is enabled.

    0.0
    Variable Refresh Rate
    Native Refresh Rate
    120 Hz
    Variable Refresh Rate
    No
    HDMI Forum VRR
    No
    FreeSync
    No
    G-SYNC Compatible
    No
    4k VRR Maximum
    N/A
    4k VRR Minimum
    No VRR support
    1080p VRR Maximum
    N/A
    1080p VRR Minimum
    No VRR support
    1440p VRR Maximum
    N/A
    1440p VRR Minimum
    No VRR support
    VRR Supported Connectors
    No VRR support

    The LG OLED E8 has a native 120Hz panel but does not support any variable refresh rate technology like FreeSync or G-SYNC.

    Inputs
    7.9
    Input Lag
    1080p @ 60 Hz
    21.4 ms
    1080p @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
    50.3 ms
    1440p @ 60 Hz
    N/A
    4k @ 60 Hz
    21.4 ms
    4k @ 60 Hz + 10 bit HDR
    21.3 ms
    4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
    21.4 ms
    4k @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
    50.3 ms
    4k @ 60 Hz With Interpolation
    100.3 ms
    8k @ 60 Hz
    N/A
    1080p @ 120 Hz
    14.7 ms
    1440p @ 120 Hz
    N/A
    4k @ 120 Hz
    N/A
    1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
    N/A
    1440p with VRR
    N/A
    4k with VRR
    N/A
    8k with VRR
    N/A
    Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
    No

    The input lag of the LG E8 OLED is excellent and very similar to the C8 or the B8. It is worth noting that the E8 has a lower input lag than the C8 and the B8 when displaying 1080p @ 120Hz. We do not know why and we will retest the C8 and the B8 with the new firmware to see if this remains the case.

    4:4:4 Chroma is only properly displayed when the input mode (Input icon) is set to 'PC'. However, if you need low input lag while using the TV as a PC monitor, you are better off switching to game mode.

    The 4:2:0 input lag bug that was noticed on the B8 has been fixed, so now 4k in HDR has the same input lag as in SDR.

    8.3
    Supported Resolutions
    Resolution4k
    1080p @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    1080p @ 120 Hz
    Yes (native support)
    1440p @ 60 Hz
    No
    1440p @ 120 Hz
    No
    4k @ 60 Hz
    Yes
    4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
    Yes
    4k @ 120 Hz
    No
    8k @ 30 Hz or 24 Hz
    No
    8k @ 60 Hz
    No

    The TV supports most common resolutions without any issue. Unfortunately, 1440p is not supported on this LG E8.

    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 or @ 4:2:2 is only supported when HDMI ULTRA HD Deep Color is enabled.

    4:4:4 Chroma is only properly displayed when the input mode (Input icon) is set to PC.

    In PC Mode, Sharpness at '20' means that there is no added sharpness.

    The bug that was making colors washed out in HDR when in PC mode, as seen on the B8, has now been fixed on the E8. Unfortunately, PC mode + HDR still has more banding than out of PC mode, so if you notice bad banding it may be best to change out of PC mode and into Game mode.

    Input Photos
    Total Inputs
    HDMI4
    USB3
    Digital Optical Audio Out1
    Analog Audio Out 3.5mm
    Analog Audio Out RCA0
    Component In0
    Composite In1 (incl. adapter)
    Tuner (Cable/Ant)1
    Ethernet1
    DisplayPort0
    IR In0
    SD/SDHC0

    The LG E8, just like the other 2018 models, does not have a component input. It supports composite input using the included adapter. It has 3 USB 2.0 ports and no USB 3.0 ports, unlike last years' C7.

    The TV does not have an analog audio output, so if you want to connect wireless headphones, you will need a digital to analog converter like this one.

    Inputs Specifications
    HDR10
    Yes
    HDR10+
    No
    Dolby Vision
    Yes
    HLG
    Yes
    3D
    No
    HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
    Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
    HDMI 2.1
    No
    CECYes
    HDCP 2.2Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
    USB 3.0
    No
    Variable Analog Audio OutNo
    Wi-Fi SupportYes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
    Audio Passthrough
    ARC
    Yes (HDMI 2)
    eARC support
    No
    Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
    No
    DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
    No
    5.1 Dolby Digital via ARC
    Yes
    5.1 DTS via ARC
    Yes
    5.1 Dolby Digital via Optical
    Yes
    5.1 DTS via Optical
    Yes

    Update 02/27/2019: While the TV doesn't support Atmos passthrough via a Dolby TrueHD carrier signal (common in Blu-ray disks), it is advertised as supporting Atmos passthrough via Dolby Digital Plus, which is the Atmos format used by some sources like Netflix; our testing confirmed this passthrough on the LG C8. We expect this to be true for the LG E8.

    Sound Quality
    7.8
    Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    Low-Frequency Extension
    71.27 Hz
    Std. Dev. @ 70
    2.11 dB
    Std. Dev. @ 80
    2.07 dB
    Std. Dev. @ Max
    4.13 dB
    Max
    90.3 dB SPL
    Dynamic Range Compression
    3.52 dB

    The frequency response is good. LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 71Hz, which is quite decent, especially for a TV. This means the bass will have a good amount of punch and body to it. However, since it lacks sub-bass, it won't produce any thump or rumble, which is common to bass-heavy music, film and video game sound effects. The response above the TV's LFE is quite even and flat, which results in clear and intelligible dialog. This TV also gets quite loud, but loses some of its punch in the bass range and clarity in the treble range when pushed to the maximum.

    7.0
    Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted THD @ 80
    0.617
    Weighted THD @ Max
    1.488
    IMD @ 80
    0.80%
    IMD @ Max
    2.73%

    The distortion performance is decent. The overall amount of THD produced at 80dB SPL is above-average. This TV also performs decently at maximum volume, but could sound a little harsh and impure when pushed to the limit.

    Smart Features
    8.5
    Interface
    Smart OSWebOS
    Version4.1
    Ease of Use
    Easy
    Smoothness
    Very Smooth
    Time Taken to Select YouTube
    2 s
    Time Taken to Change Backlight
    6 s
    Advanced Options
    Many

    The webOS interface of the LG E8 is excellent. It has three sections: settings, inputs, and apps. The interface is easy to use, and navigating through the menus is fast thanks to the α9 processor. Some first-time users, however, might find it confusing.

    0.0
    Ad-Free
    Ads
    Yes
    Opt-out
    No
    Suggested Content in Home
    Yes
    Opt-out of Suggested Content
    No

    We did not see any ads during testing this LG E8. However, we have found ads on other 2018 LG TVs as shown here, so we assume all 2018 LG TVs have ads.

    8.0
    Apps and Features
    App Selection
    Great
    App Smoothness
    Average
    Cast Capable
    Yes
    USB Drive Playback
    Yes
    USB Drive HDR Playback
    Yes
    HDR in Netflix
    Yes
    HDR in YouTube
    Yes

    Like the rest of LG's lineup, the LG OLED55E8PUA comes preloaded with most of the popular apps, including Netflix, Amazon Video, and YouTube. You can always download more from LGs content store, where you will find a plethora of apps.

    9.0
    Remote
    Size
    Large
    Voice Control
    Many Features
    CEC Menu Control
    Yes
    Other Smart Features
    Yes
    Remote AppLG TV Plus

    The remote of the LG E8 is excellent. Just like the rest of the 2018 LG OLED lineup, the TV will respond to voice commands through the mix of Google Assistant and ThinQ AI.

    The TV can perform several actions using voice. You can ask the TV to: 'Change to HDMI 1' or 'Open YouTube' or even 'Search Netflix for Marco Polo'. You can also ask the assistant more general questions like 'How's the weather in Montreal', and the TV will answer through the use of LG ThinQ and Google Assistant.

    Unfortunately, you can not control the TV's settings with your voice, as commands like 'Change OLED Light to 10' will not work.

    TV Controls

    Like almost all LG TVs and monitors, the E8 has a single rocker joystick on the back of the TV. It works very well and allows quick access to most functions of the TV.

    In The Box

    • Manual
    • Remote
    • Batteries
    • Composite adapter
    • Power cable: 60". (Not shown)

    Misc
    Power Consumption88 W
    Power Consumption (Max)188 W
    Firmware04.10.06

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