LG QNED 8AA 4K AI TV Review: Better Than Sony Bravia 2? (2025)

LG has launched the QNED 8AA as a direct competitor to Sony’s popular Bravia 2 series. But here’s the catch—despite being positioned as a rival, the LG QNED 8AA costs ₹10,000-₹12,000 more than the Sony. After purchasing this TV with my own money and testing it extensively, I’m here to answer the big question: Is the premium price justified, or should you save money and go with Sony?

Let’s dive into this detailed, honest review where I’ll break down everything from picture quality to value for money.

Pricing & Availability

Before we get into the technical stuff, let’s talk about what you’ll actually pay:

• 43-inch: ₹45,000 – ₹48,000 (after bank discounts)
• 55-inch: ₹62,000 – ₹64,000 (bank discounts extra)
• 65-inch: ₹90,000 (can drop to ₹85,000 during sales with additional offers)

These prices fluctuate based on ongoing sales and bank offers, so timing your purchase right can save you a significant amount.

Unboxing & What’s Inside the Box

The LG QNED 8AA comes well-packaged with everything you need to get started:

• The TV unit
• Cable organizer
• Batteries for the remote
• Power cord
• LG stickers
• User manual
• Premium AI Magic Remote
• Warranty card

Important note about the stand: My unit didn’t come with the tabletop mount in the box. However, the installation technician offered both wall mount and tabletop mount options—one is provided free during installation. I opted for the tabletop mount, which took about 3 days to arrange but was installed smoothly without any additional charges (though some installers might try to charge extra).

Design & Build Quality: Premium Look, But Is It Worth It?

Physical Overview

The LG QNED 8AA sports a sleek, slim profile with thin bezels that give it a modern, premium appearance. Unlike many TVs where the motherboard area creates a bulge, this TV maintains a uniform flat profile throughout, which looks especially elegant when wall-mounted.

Key Design Features:

• Thin, dedicated bezels along with the screen bezel
• Slim, uniform body thickness
• All important ports easily accessible on the back
• Clean cable management options

Port Selection

The TV comes well-equipped with connectivity options:

• 2x USB 2.0 ports
• 3x HDMI ports (including one HDMI eARC)
• Antenna/Satellite port
• LAN port
• Optical audio out

Build Quality: The Plastic Problem

Here’s where I have mixed feelings. The entire body is made of plastic—yes, even at this premium price point. However, I must give credit where it’s due: the plastic quality is excellent. Unlike cheaper TVs where pressing the back panel causes flexing, this TV feels solid and well-constructed.

Even the tabletop mount stands are remarkably durable. Despite being a 43-inch TV, it’s surprisingly heavy, which speaks to the build quality.

My complaint: At this price point, with even mid-range brands offering metal frames (except the motherboard area), LG should have incorporated metal construction. It would have elevated the premium feel significantly.

The Magic Remote: One of the Best in the Market

LG’s AI Magic Remote is genuinely impressive and sets this TV apart from competitors.

Remote Features

Built-in Quick Access Buttons:

• Prime Video
• Sony LIV
• Disney+ Hotstar
• Alexa
• Dedicated AI button for instant AI features, voice search, and chatbot access

The Rotating Dial Innovation

The center dial isn’t just for navigation—it transforms into a mouse pointer when you click it. A cursor appears on screen, allowing you to navigate anywhere with ease. While it took me a little time to get used to, once I did, it became incredibly convenient.

Additional Controls:

• Number pad
• Home button
• Settings button
• Dedicated volume and channel buttons
• All essential buttons for a complete experience

The One Missing Feature: No Dedicated Mute Button

Here’s my biggest annoyance: there’s no dedicated mute button. You have to press and hold the volume button for 3 seconds to mute. This becomes frustrating when I’m watching at volume 50-60 and want to quickly lower it to 20-30—pressing and holding accidentally triggers mute instead. A dedicated mute button would have been much more user-friendly.

Bonus: Mobile App Control

Even without the remote, you can use the LG ThinQ app to control all the same functions from your smartphone—perfect for those times when the remote goes missing.

Connectivity: Modern & Comprehensive

The QNED 8AA checks all the boxes for modern connectivity:

• Dual-band Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi 5 support
• Bluetooth 5.3 support
• Built-in AI chatbot
• LG ThinQ app support
• AirPlay support
• Google Chromecast built-in
• Built-in Alexa support with far-field microphone
• Microsoft Copilot integration in the AI chatbot

Everything works seamlessly. You can use voice commands through the TV’s built-in microphone or via the remote’s Alexa button. The Copilot integration is a nice touch for those who want advanced AI assistance.

Gaming Features: Good for Casual, Not for Pro Gamers

Let’s be honest about gaming capabilities:

What’s Missing:

• ❌ No AMD FreeSync
• ❌ No 120fps support
• ❌ No NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility

What’s Available:

• ✅ 60fps gaming support
• ✅ Game Optimizer mode
• ✅ Decent input lag for casual gaming

Bottom line: If you’re a casual gamer who plays at 60fps, this TV will serve you well. But if you’re a pro gamer who needs 120fps, this isn’t the right TV for you.

Software & User Interface: WebOS 25

The LG QNED 8AA runs on WebOS 25, LG’s proprietary smart TV platform.

Operating System Features

• 5 years of OS upgrades guaranteed
• 100+ free channels (though most you probably won’t watch)
• All major OTT apps available in the app store
• Fluid, responsive UI with no lag
• 2GB RAM + 8GB internal storage
• Powered by Alpha 7 Gen 8 AI processor

App Store Limitations

Unlike Google TV, you cannot sideload apps on WebOS. You’re limited to what’s available in LG’s app store. While all major apps are present, power users who like to customize might find this restrictive.

Performance

The UI is smooth and fluid throughout. Scrolling, app switching, and navigation feel responsive with no noticeable lag. However, I wish LG had provided 16GB storage instead of 8GB—I’ve seen complaints from long-term users about running out of storage after several months or years of use.

Google Home Integration

The TV includes Google Home support, allowing you to see and control all your connected smart devices directly from the TV interface—a nice touch for smart home enthusiasts.

The Ads Issue: How to Disable Them

Here’s something frustrating: even this premium TV show’s promotional ads on the home screen—the same issue I observed on the ₹2,00,000+ LG C5 OLED TV.

How to Disable Home Screen Ads

Thankfully, you can turn them off:

1. Go to Settings
2. Navigate to General
3. Select System Settings
4. Go to Additional Settings
5. Enter Home Settings
6. Turn off “Home Promotional Content”

Once disabled, the ads disappear. You can also disable content suggestions if you prefer a cleaner home screen.

My take: LG shouldn’t be showing ads on a premium TV in the first place. Not everyone knows how to disable them, and it diminishes the premium experience.

Picture Quality: Where This TV Truly Shines

Now for the most important part—picture quality. This is where the LG QNED 8AA justifies its premium positioning.

Display Specifications

• 4K QNED IPS panel with 60Hz refresh rate
• HDR10+ and HLG support
• 4K upscaling technology
• Up to 400 nits brightness
• Nano Cell layer for enhanced color

What is QNED?

Don’t confuse QNED with QLED—LG has simply rebranded QLED as QNED. The key difference is the additional Nano Cell layer, which filters out dull colors and produces more vibrant, rich colors. The backlight size is also smaller (similar to Mini-LED), which is why LG calls it QNED.

Real-World Picture Performance

Brightness: The panel is impressively bright and handles most indoor conditions excellently. Unless you have direct sunlight hitting the screen, visibility is never an issue.

Picture Modes Available:

• Vivid
• Standard
• Auto Power Save
• Cinema
• Cricket
• Game Optimizer
• Filmmaker Mode
• Expert (Bright Room)
• Expert (Dark Room)
• Personalized Picture Mode

Picture Quality Breakdown

Color Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Colors are rich and vibrant
• Excellent color range
• Skin tones look natural and accurate
• Saturation levels are well-balanced

Contrast & Black Levels: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Deep, true blacks—no compromise here
• Excellent contrast ratio
• No black crush issues observed
• Grays and blacks mix properly without issues

Detail & Sharpness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Excellent detail in both bright and dark areas
• No bleeding or blooming
• Good shadow detail retention

Viewing Angles: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thanks to the IPS panel, viewing angles are excellent. Even from extreme corner positions, color shifting is minimal—definitely one of the best in this price range.

HDR & Dolby Vision Performance

I tested SDR content, HDR content, and Dolby Vision content across YouTube and various OTT platforms. The results were impressive across the board:

• Colors pop beautifully in HDR and Dolby Vision
• Dark area details remain visible
• Brightness ramps up appropriately for HDR highlights
• Overall HDR experience is excellent

LG QNED 8AA vs Sony Bravia 2: The ₹10,000 Question

This is what everyone wants to know: Is the LG QNED 8AA worth ₹10,000-₹12,000 more than the Sony Bravia 2?

After extensive testing of both TVs, here’s my honest comparison:

Picture Quality Comparison

Overall: Both TVs are almost equal in picture quality. I couldn’t observe any major, deal-breaking differences.

Brightness: The LG is slightly brighter than the Sony Bravia 2—this is where it has a clear edge.

Colors: Both are equally good in terms of color reproduction, saturation, and contrast ratio.

Sharpness: Here’s where I noticed a difference. The LG shows slightly artificial sharpening when the sharpness setting is increased, while the Sony maintains a more natural look. The Sony edges ahead in this department.

My Verdict: Sony Offers Better Value

Based on individual preferences, some might prefer the LG while others prefer the Sony. However, considering the price difference, the Sony Bravia 2 offers better value for money.

The Sony Bravia 2 costs ₹10,000-₹12,000 less and delivers nearly identical performance. Unless you specifically want LG or find the QNED 8AA at a heavy discount, the Sony Bravia 2 is the smarter purchase.

Sound Quality: Decent But Not Cinematic

The LG QNED 8AA features:

• 20W speakers
• Dolby Atmos support
• WOW Orchestra
• LG Sound Sync support

Audio Performance

The built-in speakers deliver decent sound quality. At medium volume, it’s quite loud and clear—adequate for regular TV watching and casual viewing.

However, if you want a cinematic, theater-like experience, you’ll need to invest in a dedicated soundbar. The built-in speakers, while good, can’t match the depth and immersion of external audio systems.

Should You Buy the LG QNED 8AA?

Buy It If:

• ✅ You specifically want an LG TV with premium features
• ✅ You can get it at a discounted price (closer to Sony’s pricing)
• ✅ You value the AI Magic Remote and WebOS ecosystem
• ✅ You prioritize brightness over everything else
• ✅ You need excellent viewing angles (IPS panel advantage)

Skip It If:

• ❌ You’re looking for the best value for money—get Sony Bravia 2 instead
• ❌ You’re a pro gamer needing 120fps
• ❌ You want metal build quality at this price
• ❌ You’re not willing to disable ads manually
• ❌ You need to sideload apps

Final Thoughts: Premium Quality, But Sony Wins on Value

The LG QNED 8AA is undoubtedly an excellent TV with outstanding picture quality, premium features, and a fantastic remote. The brightness, colors, viewing angles, and overall experience are top-notch.

However, the ₹10,000-₹12,000 price premium over the Sony Bravia 2 is hard to justify when both TVs deliver nearly identical picture quality. Sony offers slightly more natural sharpness and costs significantly less, making it the better value proposition.

My Recommendation:

• If you’re an LG loyalist: Go for it—you won’t be disappointed
• If you want the best value: Choose Sony Bravia 2
• If you find the LG on sale: Grab it at a discount—it becomes a great deal

Remember, I purchased this TV with my own money to give you an unbiased review. Your choice should depend on your budget, brand preference, and priorities.

Disclaimer: This TV was purchased with my own money for honest, unbiased testing. All opinions are based on real-world usage and experience.

For links to the best TVs currently available based on your budget and brand preference, check the description—I only recommend TVs that I’ve personally tested and can confidently stand behind.