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To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our 1-year video update with our latest findings on temporary image retention, burn-in, and more!

LG B8 OLED TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Reviewed Jul 13, 2018 at 08:28 am
Latest change: Test bench update May 21, 2020 at 08:51 am
LG B8 OLED Picture
8.5
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
8.1
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.5
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.3
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.6
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

The LG B8 is a 4k OLED TV with excellent picture quality, especially when viewed in a dark room. It can produce perfectly deep blacks due to the emissive technology, and has excellent motion handling with an instantaneous response time. The image also remains accurate when viewed at an angle, which is good for those who have wide seating. It isn't without downsides though, as the screen brightness changes depending on the content which can be distracting, and there may be a risk of permanent burn-in if you watch long periods with static content.

Our Verdict

8.5 Mixed Usage

This is a remarkable TV for mixed usage. The LG B8 performs impressively well in almost every usage. It is great for movie watching in both SDR and HDR content. It has remarkable motion handling and low input lag that will satisfy gamers and sports fans.

Pros
  • Perfect deep blacks
  • Almost no motion blur in sports and video games
  • Very good picture quality when viewed at an angle
Cons
  • Brightness depends on screen content due to Automatic Backlight Limiter (ABL)
  • Risk of permanent burn-in with long periods of static content
9.3 Movies

The LG B8 is outstanding for watching movies. The picture quality is great for dark rooms due to the perfect blacks and great image uniformity. Combined with the excellent 4k resolution display, it makes this TV a great choice for the movie enthusiasts.

8.1 TV Shows

The LG OLED B8 is impressive for watching TV shows. It has great reflection handing and great viewing angles so you can place it in large bright rooms. It will upscale cable content well and you can enjoy your favorite TV show without worries.

8.5 Sports

This is an awesome TV for watching sports. It has very good gray uniformity do panning shot will be clear from clouding, excellent motion handling for fast moving content and very good viewing angles to allow you to watch sport with a group of friends in wide seating arrangements.

8.3 Video Games

The LG B8 is amazing when playing video games. It has an excellent low input lag, amazing response time and can support a multitude of resolutions. It is equipped with the black frame insertion (BFI) feature that will clear blur and make the image look crisper.

8.6 HDR Movies

This LG B8 has outstanding performance when watching HDR movies. The real blacks and the wide color gamut offer an awesome picture quality when combined with HDR content. Highlights pop, colors are rich and the whole image is vivid and comes to life. It is an excellent TV for enjoying your favorite HDR content.

8.1 HDR Gaming

This LG B8PUA is excellent for HDR gaming. It has a very low input lag when showing HDR content and a remarkably low response time, that makes it very responsive. The picture quality is excellent and most gamers will be happy.

8.2 PC Monitor

Using the LG OLED B8 as a PC monitor is great. It has a remarkably low input lag and great motion handling. It feels very responsive and the good viewing angles allow you to sit close to it without experiencing uniformity issues. It will keep most people who want to use it as a PC monitor happy although you should keep in mind the OLEDs permanent burn-in risk.

  • 8.5 Mixed Usage
  • 9.3 Movies
  • 8.1 TV Shows
  • 8.5 Sports
  • 8.3 Video Games
  • 8.6 HDR Movies
  • 8.1 HDR Gaming
  • 8.2 PC Monitor
  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 Dec 10, 2018: We have retested the B8 on firmware 04.10.06, and have updated the peak brightness and input lag.
  5. Updated Jul 13, 2018: Review published.
  6. Updated Jul 11, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated Jul 11, 2018: Early access published.
  8. Updated Jul 09, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Jul 05, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 55" model (OLED55B8PUA). For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 65" (OLED65B8PUA).

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their LG OLED 55B8PUA doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that due to variances between panels some results such as gray uniformity and image retention may vary between individual units.

Size US / EU Model
55" OLED55B8PUA
65" OLED65B8PUA

Compared To Other TVs

Comparison picture

Top left: Vizio P Series 2018 (P65-F1). Bottom left: LG C8 (OLED55C8PUA). Middle: LG B8 (OLED55B8PUA). Top right: Q9FN (QN65Q9FN). Bottom right: Sony A8F (XBR55A8F).  Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.

The LG B8P offers excellent performance across the board and it is one of the best smart TVs we've tested. However, it isn't perfect and comes at a high price. Check out some of our comparisons below for different recommendations depending on your usage. See our recommendations for the best OLED TVs.

LG C8 OLED
55" 65" 77"

The LG C8 is very similar to the LG B8 for mixed usage. The C8 offers performance in the same ballpark, and the small differences between the two TVs could be due to panel variance. The C8 has the newer Alpha 9 processor, whereas the B8 still carries the Alpha 7 processor, but we did not see a significant difference in performance.

LG B7/B7A OLED
55" 65"

The LG B8 is somewhat better than the LG B7A. The LG B8 has slightly better motion handling due to the black frame insertion (BFI) feature, which is great if you play video games. Also, the LG B8 performs somewhat better in temporary image retention if you use it as a PC monitor, although this could be due to panel variance. On the other hand, the LG B7A has marginally better input lag in HDR gaming and marginally better viewing angles, although both TVs are very good in that respect.

LG B9 OLED
55" 65" 77"

The LG B9 OLED and the LG B8 OLED have very similar picture quality overall. The B9 is more future-proof, as it supports some great new features including HDMI 2.1, eARC, and HDMI Forum's variable refresh rate technology, which is currently only supported by the Xbox One.

Sony X900F
49" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The LG B8 OLED is a better TV than the Sony X900F. The OLED is better for watching movies in a dark room due to the perfect blacks. The B8 is also better for those with wide seating as the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle. On the other hand, the Sony is a much brighter TV that doesn't have the burn-in risk and can be placed in bright environments.

Samsung Q60/Q60R QLED
43" 49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The LG B8 is much better than the Samsung Q60/Q60R QLED for most uses, unless you're concerned about the possibility of burn-in. The LG has true blacks and delivers an excellent dark room performance. The B8 is a better choice for those who watch sports as it has a faster response time, better viewing angles, and excellent reflection handling. The Samsung Q60FN has lower input lag and supports FreeSync for tear-free gaming, and it doesn't have a risk of burn-in.

LG C7 OLED
55" 65"

The LG B8 is somewhat better than the LG C7. The B8 has a black frame insertion (BFI) feature that can introduce flicker to clear blur in fast-moving content, whereas the LG C7 has a lower input lag when you play HDR games. Other differences like the B8's less temporary image retention or the C7's better gray uniformity can be attributed to panel variance.

LG SM8600
49" 55" 65" 75"

The LG B8 and the LG SM8600 use different panel technologies, each with their strengths and weaknesses. The B8 uses an OLED panel, which delivers outstanding dark room performance and crystal-clear motion, thanks to the nearly-instantaneous response time. Unfortunately, the B8 also has a chance of permanent burn-in, which is not an issue on the LG SM8600.

LG C9 OLED
55" 65" 77"

The LG B8 OLED and the LG C9 OLED deliver very similar picture quality overall. The C9 supports some great new features, including HDMI 2.1, eARC, and HDMI Forum's variable refresh rate technology. Although all of these features don't add much now, they do make the C9 a slightly more future-proof choice.

Sony X950G
55" 65" 75" 85"

These are two different types of TVs, so if you're a movie enthusiast and want the best picture quality in a dark room, then get the LG B8, which has perfect blacks thanks to its emissive technology. If, on the other hand, you have a bright room or you'll be watching a lot of news channels, then get the Sony X950G, as it can get much brighter and doesn't have a burn-in risk. The LG B8 is also better suited for a room with a wide seating arrangement.

Vizio P Series 2018
55" 65" 75"

The LG B8 is much better than the Vizio P Series 2018. If you like watching movies in a dark room, the LG B8 will deliver an outstanding dark room performance thanks to the perfect blacks. Also, the LG is more suitable for a room with a wide seating arrangement, as the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle. It has a faster response time, which is great for sports. The Vizio P Series 2018, on the other hand, doesn't have the risk of burn-in and can get brighter, which is great if you have a bright room.

Samsung Q6FN/Q6/Q6F QLED 2018
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The LG B8 is much better than the Samsung Q6FN for most people, unless you're too concerned about burn-in. The LG B8 has perfect blacks and is amazing for dark room viewing. The LG B8 has better reflection handling and better viewing angles, so if you have a large room with many small light sources, then it's a better choice. The Samsung Q6FN, on the other hand, can fight better bright room glare, has a lower input lag and supports FreeSync, which is great for gaming.

Sony X850G
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X850G and LG B8 OLED use different panel technologies, each with advantages and disadvantages. The Sony has an IPS panel and can get much brighter than the LG. The LG, on the other hand, has much better dark room performance thanks to the perfect blacks of the OLED panel. The LG has a faster response time and delivers crisp motion but with more stutter. The Sony is immune to the risk of burn-in, which OLEDs have with cumulative prolonged exposure to static content.

Vizio P Series Quantum X 2019
65" 75"

These two TVs are different types, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The LG B8 is an OLED TV with perfect blacks and excellent dark room performance, wider viewing angles. The Vizio P Series Quantum X 2019 is an LED TV that can get much brighter suitable for very bright rooms and doesn't have a permanent burn-in risk.

Vizio M Series Quantum 2019
55" 65"

The LG B8 OLED and the Vizio M Series Quantum 2019 have different panel types, each with advantages and disadvantages. The LG B8 is an OLED TV and has perfect blacks that deliver an outstanding dark room performance. It also has wider viewing angles, which is great if you have a large room. The Vizio M Series Quantum 2019 is an LED TV that can get brighter, suitable for brighter rooms, and doesn't have a permanent burn-in risk.

Hisense H8F
50" 55" 65"

These two TVs have different panel types, each with advantages and disadvantages. The LG B8 OLED has a significantly better overall performance than the Hisense H8F for almost all uses. The H8F can get brighter and doesn't have the burn-in risk OLEDs have. The LG B8 has perfect blacks for an outstanding dark room performance, and the image remains accurate when viewed from the side. It has a faster response time, motion looks crisp with almost no blur, and it also has better gray uniformity.

LG SM9500
65"

The LG B8 and the LG SM9500 use different panel types, each with their advantages and disadvantages. The B8 is an OLED TV, and as such, delivers outstanding dark room performance. The B8 also has a nearly-instantaneous response time, and it has better viewing angles. Unfortunately, the B8 also has a chance of permanent burn-in. The SM9500, on the other hand, is immune to burn-in. The SM9500 can also get a lot brighter and is more future-proof, as it supports HDMI 2.1, HDMI Forum's variable refresh rate technology, and eARC.

Sony X800G
43" 49" 55" 65" 75"

The Sony X800G and LG B8 OLED use different panel technologies, each with advantages and disadvantages. The Sony has an IPS panel, and the brightness doesn't vary with content. The LG, on the other hand, can display perfect blacks in a dark room thanks to the OLED panel. The LG also has a much faster response time and delivers crisp motion, but with more stutter. The Sony is immune to the risk of burn-in that the B8 has.

Samsung Q80/Q80R QLED
55" 65" 75" 82"

These are two different types of TVs, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The LG B8 is an OLED TV with perfect blacks and outstanding dark room performance, which is great for movies and HDR movies. The LG also has marginally wider viewing angles, which is great if you often watch TV from the side. As an OLED, the LG has an almost instantaneous response time that delivers very crisp motion. The Samsung Q80R is a QLED TV that can get brighter. It has a wider color gamut, better color volume, and is packed with gaming features like low input lag with motion interpolation and FreeSync support.

Samsung RU8000
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The LG B8 OLED and the Samsung RU8000 are two different types of TVs, each with advantages and disadvantages, but overall the LG performs better. The LG is an OLED that can display perfect blacks and delivers a better dark room performance. The viewing angles on the B8 are wider, and fast-moving content has almost no blur thanks to the faster response time. The Samsung, on the other hand, can get brighter, which is great for bright rooms, and it's packed with gaming features, like FreeSync support, that will please demanding gamers.

Samsung Q70/Q70R QLED
49" 55" 65" 75" 82" 85"

These two TVs are different types, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The LG B8 OLED is an OLED TV with perfect blacks and excellent dark room performance. The LG also has wider viewing angles and better reflection handling. The Samsung Q70/Q70R QLED is a LED TV with a VA panel that can get brighter and doesn't have a permanent burn-in risk. The Samsung is loaded with gaming features that will please even hardcore gamers.

Sony X850F
65" 75" 85"

The Sony X850F and LG B8 use different panel technologies, each with their advantages and disadvantages. The X850F has an IPS panel and can get brighter than the B8, whereas the B8 has much better in a dark room performance, as the OLED panel delivers perfect blacks. The B8 has a faster response time that delivers motion with less blur trail but with more stutter. The B8 has the risk of burn-in when exposed to static content, whereas the X850F is immune to it.

Samsung Q90/Q90R QLED
65" 75" 82"

These are two different types of TVs. The LG B8 OLED is more suitable if you want perfect blacks in a dark room and you're not concerned about the risk of burn-in, whereas the QLED Samsung Q90R is a better choice to fight glare in a bright room. The image remains accurate for wider viewing angles on the LG. On the other hand, the Samsung supports FreeSync and has low input lag with motion interpolation, which is great for gamers and is more suitable for use as PC monitor since it has no burn-in risk.

Samsung Q900/Q900R 8k QLED
55" 65" 75" 82"

These two TVs are different types and are better for different things. The LG B8 is better in a dark room due to the perfect blacks in all cases. The B8 also has wider viewing angles and is more suitable for a room with a wide seating arrangement. The Samsung Q900R has an 8k resolution and can get significantly brighter to fight glare, which is great for a bright room. It doesn't have the risk of permanent burn-in and supports FreeSync for tear-free gaming, making it a better choice for use as a PC monitor.

Sony A9F OLED
55" 65"

The Sony A9F OLED is marginally better than the LG B8. When in HDR, the Sony A9F has marginally better color volume, and its ABL is a little less distracting. Also, the Sony A9F has slightly better gray uniformity, which might be more apparent in sports. The LG B8 has a lower input lag, which is great for gamers and slightly better performance as a PC monitor.

Vizio P Series Quantum 2018
65"

The LG B8 is a bit better than the Vizio P Series Quantum, unless you're placing the TV in a bright room. The B8 has even better dark room performance, thanks to the perfect blacks, than the already excellent Vizio P Quantum performance. The B8 has wide viewing angles, great for watching from the side. The Vizio P Series Quantum can get much brighter in SDR and in HDR and it's the better choice if you have a bright room. The Vizio is a LED TV and doesn't have a risk of burn-in.

LG E8 OLED
55" 65"

The LG E8 and the LG B8 have very similar performance. The differences are mostly cosmetic, with the LG E8 having a more premium feel and a dedicated soundbar.

TCL 6 Series 2018
55" 65" 75"

These are two different types of TVs. However, the OLED LG B8 has a significantly better overall performance than the VA panel TCL R617 in almost all aspects. The TCL R617 doesn't have the risk of burn-in, can get bright enough to fight glare, and has a slightly lower input lag, which is great for video games. On the other hand, the LG B8 delivers an outstanding dark room performance thanks to its perfect blacks, has wider viewing angles, and has a faster response time which leaves almost no blur in fast-moving content like sports. Finally, the LG B8 has better gray uniformity for mixed usage.

Samsung NU7100
40" 43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75"

The LG B8 is significantly better than the Samsung NU7100 except for those who worry about burn-in. The LG B8 has perfect blacks, just like all OLEDs, that enhance the picture quality in a dark room. The LG has better reflection handling and a faster response time that leaves only a small blur trail when you watch fast-action content like sports. The LG B8 also has better image accuracy when viewed from the side. The Samsung NU7100 has a lower input lag that makes it very responsive if you play video games.

LG SK9500
65"

The LG B8 and the LG SK9500 use different panel technologies, each with their advantages and disadvantages. The B8 has much better dark room performance, as it can deliver perfect blacks thanks to its OLED panel. The SK9500 has an IPS panel can get brighter than the B8 and is more suitable for a bright room. The B8 has wider viewing angles, faster response time, and better gray uniformity, which is great if you enjoy watching sports. The B8 has the risk of burn-in if you watch a lot of static content, whereas the IPS panel of the SK9500 is immune to it.

LG SK9000
55" 65"

The LG SK9000 and LG B8 use different panel technologies, each with their advantages and disadvantages. The SK9000 has an IPS panel can get brighter than the B8 and is more suitable for a bright room. The B8 has much better in a dark room performance, as it can deliver perfect blacks thanks to its OLED panel. The B8 has a better gray uniformity and faster response time that delivers crisper motion. The B8 has the risk of burn-in when exposed to static content, whereas the IPS panel of the SK9000 is immune to it.

LG SK8000
49" 55" 65"

These are two different types of TV, and unless burn-in is a concern, the LG B8 is a much better TV than the LG SK8000. The B8 can deliver perfect blacks thanks to its emissive technology, has wide viewing angles, and has an almost instantaneous response time. The LG SK8000, on the other hand, is more suitable if you plan to watch shows with a lot of static content like news channels, as it doesn't have the burn-in risk.

LG E7 OLED
55" 65"

The LG B8 is marginally better than the LG E7P. The LG B8 supports a black frame insertion (BFI) feature that can make fast content crisper. On the other hand, the LG E7P has a dedicated soundbar and a better input lag when playing HDR games.

Samsung NU8000
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The LG B8 is significantly better than the Samsung NU8000. The LG B8 has perfect blacks and delivers an excellent movie-watching experience. It also has wider viewing angles and better reflection handling than the Samsung and is a better choice for wide seating arrangements or rooms with many light sources. The B8 also has a faster response time resulting in less blur when watching fast content. The Samsung NU8000 supports the FreeSync VRR implementation to help avoid tearing and also has lower input lag, which is great if you play video games.

Sony A8F OLED
55" 65"

The LG B8 is marginally better than the Sony A8F. The LG B8 has better input lag, which is great if you play video games as it's more responsive. The Sony A8F has better gray uniformity that will please sports fans and supports a 1440p @ 60Hz input signal which will please Xbox One or PC gamers.

Samsung Q9FN/Q9/Q9F QLED 2018
65" 75"

The LG B8 is better than the Samsung Q9FN for mixed usage. If you like watching movies in a dark room, the LG delivers a much better experience due to its true blacks. Also for those who love sports, the B8 is a better option due to its faster response time, better viewing angles and very good gray uniformity. The Samsung Q9FN can get much brighter, which makes it suitable for brighter environments, and it doesn't have a risk of burn-in.

Samsung Q8FN/Q8/Q8F QLED 2018
55" 65" 75" 82"

The LG B8 is better than the Samsung Q8FN for most people, unless burn-in is a concern. The LG B8 is an OLED TV with perfect blacks that delivers outstanding dark room performance. The LG is better for a room with a wide seating arrangement, as it has better viewing angles and can handle the reflections of multiple small light sources better. On the other hand, the Samsung Q8FN is more responsive to your actions due to the lower input lag, supports FreeSync VRR, and can get very bright to fight the glare of bright rooms.

Samsung Q7FN/Q7/Q7F QLED 2018
55" 65" 75"

The LG B8 is significantly better than the Samsung Q7FN if burn-in isn't a concern. The LG B8 is an OLED TV with perfect blacks and amazing dark room performance. The LG has better viewing angles and the image remains good when viewed from the side. The LG B8 also has better reflection handling in case you have many small light sources where you watch TV. The Samsung Q7FN has lower input lag, supports FreeSync, and is great if you play video games. Finally, the Samsung Q7FN can get brighter, so it's a better choice if you have a very bright room.

+ Show more

Test Results

Design
9.5
Design
Style
Curved No

The design of the LG OLED B8 is excellent. It has a feel of premium both due to the build quality and the sleek design. The design is almost identical to the C8 but with a different stand. On the B8, the stand that supports the TV is not very wide and will fit in most tables. If you choose to wall mount the TV most inputs will be easily accessible. The operating temperature of the TV is good and you should have no issues with it. Care should be taken when handling the TV as the panel is extremely thin and can be easily damaged if not handled properly.

Design
Stand

The stand is metallic and provides a steady support to the TV. It is quite narrow and will fit in most tables. It resembles the stand of last years' C7.

Footprint of the 65" TV stand: 21.7" x 8.9"

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 300x200

The back of the TV is plain and resembles a lot the back of previous OLED LG TVs. There is only basic cable management as you can see here. The HDMI inputs are facing to the side and would be easily accessible if wall mounted, but there are a few secondary ones on the back that are facing outwards and may be difficult to access. The control button is located on the back to the side, similar to the C8.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.39" (1.0 cm)

The borders of the LG B8PUA are very thin and look great and look very similar to the LG C8.

Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 1.93" (4.9 cm)

The TV panel is extremely thin like most latest LG OLEDs. The thickness of the TV, which is still quite thin, is only due to the electronics compartment.

9.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality of the LG OLED B8 is excellent. There are no obvious build issues or gaps and the TV feels solid. You should be careful when moving the TV because of the thin screen.

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

The LG B8 has an infinite contrast ratio as it can switch off individual pixels and thus create perfect blacks when viewed in dim environments. This is great for movies enthusiasts.

10
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
No Backlight

Just like all OLEDs, the B8 has no need for local dimming as it can switch off each pixel individually. The video is for reference only.

6.4
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
288 cd/m²
SDR Peak 2% Window
312 cd/m²
SDR Peak 10% Window
310 cd/m²
SDR Peak 25% Window
310 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
310 cd/m²
SDR Peak 100% Window
146 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
298 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
298 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
297 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
298 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
141 cd/m²
SDR ABL
0.053

The SDR peak brightness of the LG OLED B8 is very good. The TV gets bright enough to be placed in most rooms. The small highlights look bright in SDR content, but as the whole screen brightness increases the Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL) is activated and the screen gets dimmer. This is not an abnormal behavior and is also encountered in other premium models like the LG C8, which has very similar behavior. The difference in brightness between the B8 and C8 may be due to panel variance. The B8 is significantly less bright than the LED Sony X900F or the QLED Samsung Q8FN.

Update 11/27/2018: We retested with the latest firmware (04.10.06) and found that, while the HDR brightness remained generally unchanged, the SDR brightness decreased by 50 cd/m² in all but the 100% window which remained unchanged. Results found above are updated.

6.6
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
548 cd/m²
HDR Peak 2% Window
722 cd/m²
HDR Peak 10% Window
693 cd/m²
HDR Peak 25% Window
487 cd/m²
HDR Peak 50% Window
318 cd/m²
HDR Peak 100% Window
159 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 2% Window
660 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 10% Window
662 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 25% Window
472 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 50% Window
307 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 100% Window
153 cd/m²
HDR ABL
0.090

The HDR peak brightness is decent. This is worse than the C8 model which gets about 100 nits brighter in our real scene test pattern. Part of this may be due to panel variance, and part of it may be due to an algorithm change with a firmware update. We will retest our C8 to see if the brightness behavior has changed. Although the TV can display small highlights well, as larger areas of the screen are lit the level of the brightness diminishes due to the Automatic Bright Limiter (ABL) and this is not good. The LG B8 can't get as bright as high-end LED TVs like the Sony X900F or QLED Samsung Q8FN that have excellent HDR brightness.

If you find HDR content too dim, see our recommended settings.

Update 11/27/2018: We retested with the latest firmware (04.10.06) and found that the HDR brightness remained generally unchanged. Results found above are updated.

8.0
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.454%
50% DSE
0.131%
5% Std. Dev.
1.490%
5% DSE
0.141%

The gray uniformity of the LG OLED B8 is very good and most people will not notice any clouding. This makes it a very good TV for sports watching as the great gray uniformity results in very little dirty screen effect during wide panning shots.

However, in the 5% gray uniformity picture there are some vertical bands that are visible when watching dark scenes in a dark room. We've found similar behavior on other 2018 OLED like the C8 and A8F. This is only rarely noticeable in a dark room.

8.8
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
48°
Color Shift
29°
Brightness Loss
67°
Black Level Raise
70°
Gamma Shift
69°

The viewing angles are very good just like most OLEDs. This makes it a great choice for wide rooms since the picture quality remains good even when watching from the side. When viewed at an angle, colors do shift, but less than LCD TVs with a VA or IPS panel.

10
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
0.315%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The LG B8 has perfect black uniformity since, like all OLEDs, the pixels can completely shut off. This is especially well suited to watching movies in a dark room.

9.2
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Glossy
Total Reflections
1.5%
Indirect Reflections
0.1%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.4%

The LG B8 has excellent reflection handling. There is a glossy finish that makes reflections more well defined but at a very low intensity. There is a slight purple tint to the reflections due to the antireflective coating. This is very common in other high-end TVs like the C8 and or the Q8FN and is not really noticeable. You should have no problem using this TV in a bright room.

6.9
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
3.72
Color dE
3.16
Gamma
2.17
Color Temperature
5,868 K
Picture Mode
Expert (Dark Room)
Color Temp Setting
Warm 2
Gamma Setting
2.2

The out-of-the-box color accuracy is decent. The best results were obtained when the Picture Mode was set to Expert(Dark Room). The white dE and the color dE were greater than our threshold of 3 and some people will notice those inaccuracies. Gamma was at 2.38 and thus shadows will look too bright, whereas the color temperature was warm with red and yellow tones dominating the image.

9.5
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.11
Color dE
1.29
Gamma
2.20
Color Temperature
6,513 K
White Balance Calibration
20 point
Color Calibration
Yes
Auto-Calibration Function
Yes

The post calibration color accuracy is remarkable. The white dE is almost perfect and the color dE is well below 3. Gamma is spot on 2.2, and the color temperature is very close to the target of 6500K.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

Upscaling of DVDs or other 480p content is good, with no obvious artifacts.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

There are no issues when upscaling 720p content.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

Upscaling of 1080p content such as Blu-rays looks good. The image is good and there are no obvious issues.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

Native 4k content is displayed well on the LG B8 with no issues.

0
Picture Quality
8k Input
Picture Quality
Pixels
Type OLED
Sub-Type
WRGB

With WRGB OLEDs all four subpixels are never on at the same time, so we have two photos.

Alternative pixel picture.

8.5
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
96.25%
DCI P3 uv
98.00%
Rec 2020 xy
70.64%
Rec 2020 uv
74.77%

The LG B8 has an excellent wide color gamut as it covers an impressive amount of the DCI P3 color space and also performs very well in Rec 2020. These results are nearly identical to the C8.

In the Cinema HDR picture mode the TV's EOTF follows the target PQ curve fairly closely, until it starts to roll off gradually to the TV's peak brightness. If you find HDR content too dim you can set the Dynamic Contrast setting to High, which raises the EOTF and brightens most HDR scenes. The EOTF in the Game picture mode is nearly identical to that of Cinema, which is good.

In HDR on our unit the black level was raised on the left side of the screen, but could be fixed by lowering the Brightness setting to 49. We don't expect most B8 units to have this issue, as we've seen a few OLEDs with black level issues in the past, and many have fixed themselves over time. We'll recheck the black level after the TV has 100 hours of cumulative use.

Update 11/15/2018: The TV has been now used for 127 hours, and the black level is no longer raised in HDR.

6.8
Picture Quality
Color Volume
Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
75.7%
10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
37.3%
Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
59.7%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
29.3%

The color volume coverage is decent. Although the TV is has a wide color gamut it loses volume at the top because of its WRGB pixel structure. It can use the white subpixel to make white very bright, but it can't do the same to produce saturated colors, and thus the colors are not as bright.

8.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
Red (Std. Dev.)
0.091
Green (Std. Dev.)
0.098
Blue (Std. Dev.)
0.076
Gray (Std. Dev.)
0.082

The gradient on this TV is excellent. Although there is some banding in the above test image, in normal content very little or no banding is visible. We trust the full test results as we have seen this with other LG TVs like the SK8000 and the reason is explained well here.

In HDR, setting MPEG Noise Reduction to Low activates a gradient smoothing feature.

9.9
Picture Quality
Temporary Image Retention
IR after 0 min recovery
0.03%
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 B8 shows almost no signs of image retention except for minor issues less than 2 minutes after recovery time and this is very hopeful.

Note however, that there is some panel variation even within the same model and some panels may be more or less prone to image retention. For example this is the same panel as the LG C8 we tested which shows more signs of image retention.

At the same time 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. You can read about the test we are currently running to help us better understand permanent burn-in here.

2.0
Picture Quality
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 B8 do have the possibility of experiencing burn in. This TV 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.

You can see our investigation into this issue here.

Motion
9.9
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
0.3 ms
100% Response Time
1.1 ms

The response time of the LG OLED B8 is instantaneous and this is great for fast moving content.

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

Just like all OLED TVs, there is no visible backlight flicker. This helps motion appear smoother, but results in some persistence blur. If you want to minimize blur, you can enable the BFI option available in this TV.

8.7
Motion
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 LG B8P, just like the C8, has an optional BFI mode that can help reduce blur and make the image crisper. It can be enabled by setting 'Motion Pro' to 'On'.

TruMotion (BFI and motion interpolation) is grayed out when displaying 120Hz.

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

The LG B8 has remarkable motion interpolation. It is nearly perfect during slow-moving shots, and it stops if there is too much motion. When fast motion is displayed some people might notice very few artifacts.

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.

If you find the artifacts caused by motion interpolation bothersome, we recommend lowering the interpolation setting to make the algorithm more conservative, but this will also cause motion to look less smooth.

4.7
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
40.6 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
15.6 ms

This LG OLED B8 has bad stutter on slow fps content. It has bad stutter on low fps content due to the instantaneous response time. This can result in jarring motion during panning shots on 24p movies. If you find stutter bothersome, you can remove it using the excellent motion interpolation features of the TV.

10
Motion
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 LG B8P has excellent handling of judder as it can display 24p movies without judder from the most common sources. To remove judder the Real Cinema option must be turned on.

Update 10/05/2018: We have retested the B8 after firmware 04.10.06, and it is no longer necessary to set TruMotion to 'User' to remove Judder. Simply enabling Real Cinema will remove Judder from all sources on the B8. Like the C8, there is always judder when BFI is enabled.

0
Motion
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 B8 has a native 120Hz panel but does not support variable refresh rate technology.

Inputs
7.9
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60 Hz
21.3 ms
1080p @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
41.9 ms
1440p @ 60 Hz
N/A
4k @ 60 Hz
21.3 ms
4k @ 60 Hz + 10 bit HDR
21.3 ms
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
21.3 ms
4k @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
50.2 ms
4k @ 60 Hz With Interpolation
91.9 ms
8k @ 60 Hz
N/A
1080p @ 120 Hz
21.9 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 is excellent.

4:4:4 chroma subsampling is only properly displayed in the PC input mode and when in that input mode, all picture modes have the same low input lag.

In HDR when 4:2:0 chroma is sent there's an extra 120 Hz frame (8.3 ms) of input lag. This bug was also seen on other 2018 LG TVs like the C8 and SK8000, and is explained in more detail in the SK8000 review.

Update 11/27/2018: We retested with the latest firmware update (04.10.06) and found two previous bugs had been fixed. Now 4k in HDR has the same input lag as in SDR and 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR is properly being displayed and has been measured.

8.3
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
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 LG B8 supports most common resolutions without any issue.

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.

Unfortunately, 1440p is not supported on this LG B8.

This TV does not have the new Alpha 9 processor, but it is still able to play our 1080p @ 120Hz test file perfectly at 120Hz without dropping any frames.

HDR in the PC input mode appears to be bugged, as we've seen with many 2018 LG TVs: colors are washed out and have more banding, and 4:4:4 chroma subsampling is not shown properly.

Update 07/24/2018: The PC mode Sharpness setting for no added sharpness was mistakenly written as 0 (The true value is 20). The review has been updated.

Update 11/27/2018: We retested with the latest firmware update (04.10.06) and found 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR is properly displayed.

Inputs
Input Photos
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 3
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 0
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 1 (incl. adapter)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
SD/SDHC 0

Update 05/21/2019: Some regions also have a component input, which, like the composite adapter, requires an included adapter.

Update 01/29/2019: We have received reports that the B8 sold in Australia does have an analog audio jack.

Just like the C8, the LG B8PUA 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
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
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3,4)
USB 3.0
No
Variable Analog Audio Out No
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
Inputs
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 B8.

Sound Quality
7.1
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
67.27 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
3.23 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.61 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
6.09 dB
Max
88.4 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
4.30 dB

The frequency response is decent. LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 67Hz, which is above-average. This means this TV will have a good amount of punch to its bass, but won't be able to produce any thump or rumble in the sub-bass region. The response above the LFE point is quite good too, which is important for reproducing clear dialogue. Also, this TV can get pretty loud, but it would produce a bit of compression and pumping artifacts at maximum volume. Additionally, the room correction system of this TV (One Touch Sound Tuning) wasn't able to remove the modes of our test room around 200Hz.

7.4
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.113
Weighted THD @ Max
0.769
IMD @ 80
1.11%
IMD @ Max
2.99%

The distortion performance is above-average. The overall amount of produced THD at 90dB SPL is low, but there's a noticeable rise in THD under heavier loads. This could make the sound a bit impure at higher volumes.

Smart Features
8.5
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS WebOS
Version 4.0
Ease of Use
Easy
Smoothness
Average
Time Taken to Select YouTube
2 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
8 s
Advanced Options
Many

The interface of the LG B8 is excellent. We did experience some frame drops when quickly going through the menus, but the overall experience is smooth and should not trouble anyone. It uses the Alpha 7 processor and so is slightly less smooth than other 2018 LG TVs which use the Alpha 9 processor, but this isn't very noticeable.

0
Smart Features
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. However, we have found ads on other 2018 LG TVs as shown here, so we assume all 2018 LG TVs have ads.

8.0
Smart Features
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

The TV comes preloaded with the most popular apps like Youtube, Netflix, and Amazon Video. You can download many more from the LG Content Store, that has an abundance of apps, more apps than most other smart platforms but not as many as on Samsung TVs and Android TVs.

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

The remote of the LG B8 is excellent. It has the same voice control as other 2018 LGs, with a mix of Google Assistant and ThinQ AI (these are voice operated assistance features).

The LG can perform several actions using voice. Some of the actions are: 'Change to HDMI 1' or 'Open YouTube' or even 'Search Netflix for Marco Polo'. Also, you can ask the assistant more general questions like 'How's the weather in Montreal', but you can not control the TV's settings with your voice, as commands like 'Change OLED Light to 5' will not work.

Smart Features
TV Controls

Like almost all 2018 LG TVs, the B8 has a single button on the back of the TV to control most functions of the TV. It works very well and its use is quite intuitive.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Manual
  • Remote
  • Batteries
  • Composite adapter
  • Power cable: 59". (Not shown)
  • Smart Features
    Misc
    Power Consumption 78 W
    Power Consumption (Max) 171 W
    Firmware 03.01.30