This week on You Asked, we address some of the most frequently asked questions from our viewers. Let’s dive in!
Where Are the Sony Bravia 7 & 9 Reviews?
The biggest question this week is, “When are the Bravia 7 and 9 reviews coming out?” While I might have seemed to be “stalling,” the truth is that the timing for the Bravia 7 review didn’t work out as planned. Sony offered to send it a few weeks ago, but it would have arrived right as I was leaving for vacation. So, I had to politely ask Sony to hold onto it for a bit. Now that I’m back, I’ve got a Bravia 9 and a theater quad on the way, and I’m planning to get the Bravia 7 shortly after. In the meantime, I’ve got a massive 115-inch TCL QM8 in the studio to keep me busy, alongside the Roku Pro, Hisense U9N, U7N, LG C3, and Samsung S90D. It’s a busy time for reviews, but I’m looking forward to getting those Sony TVs in soon!
Apple TV 4K Support for 21:9
Shaun B asks about Apple’s new 21:9 support for Apple TV 4K and why there aren’t any 21:9 TVs on the market. This is a great question! Apple’s announcement is primarily focused on improving compatibility with home theater setups using projectors and 21:9 cinema screens. The Apple TV 4K will now present 21:9 content in a 16:9 format, which is frustrating for those with wide screens. This update removes the need for letterboxes and pillarboxes, allowing for a full 21:9 image on a compatible screen.
As for why there aren’t more 21:9 TVs, it’s because the market is simply not big enough. Samsung and LG both attempted to create 21:9 TVs, but they were expensive and didn’t sell well. The issue is that most content is in 16:9, so a 21:9 TV would result in letterboxing or pillarboxing for most viewing. However, with streaming services like Netflix, Max, and Disney+ using cinematic aspect ratios for their content, maybe there’s a chance we’ll see more 21:9 TVs in the future.
Full Screen vs HDR Brightness
Oliver C asks about the difference in HDR brightness measurements between small windows and full screens. He’s wondering why TVs like the TCL QM8 can achieve very high brightness in small windows but not when measured across the entire screen.
While it’s true that driving all the mini-LED backlights to their max would result in a brighter screen, it’s not practical. The power consumption for full-screen brightness is extremely high, and the result would be a very uncomfortable viewing experience, even in a daylight-soaked room. Additionally, if the average picture level is that high, the HDR highlights would need to be even brighter to stand out, which is beyond the capabilities of current TVs. So, for practical reasons, full-screen brightness is limited.
18,000 Hours on an OLED TV!
Barry Mayhew has been using an LG C6 OLED for eight years, and it’s only now starting to show signs of wear. That’s an impressive 17,909 hours of use! Barry is considering upgrading to an LG G4, but wonders if he should switch to a non-OLED TV given the high usage.
My answer is a resounding “no!” Barry got eight years of fantastic use out of his OLED, and I think he should stick with OLED for his next TV. The LG G4 is a great option, offering brighter images, better SDR performance, and improved processing compared to his C6. The only reason I wouldn’t recommend OLED is if Barry wanted to significantly increase his screen size, as larger OLEDs can get quite expensive. Otherwise, the LG G4 is a fantastic choice and comes with a 5-year warranty for added peace of mind.
