LG a7 vs a9

In 2017, a new trend emerged in TVs, the emergence of smart processors. Of course you should know that processors of course can not be smart, they do not have any intelligence, it is a set of transistors, capacitors and other elements. Artificial Intelligence, it’s a self-learning program that can perform calculations and make millions of comparisons to find the best result. So in processors that are designed for smart computing, the so-called AI processors have a bit of a special structure. There are independent cores in the processor which might not take part in the main process, they work for AI to do the calculations for the artificial intelligence program.

Now about LG TVs, LG announced that the 2018 TVs have a new α9 smart processor, which replaced the previous α7 smart processor installed in the 2017 TVs. This processor is 4-core (main core), also the processor is equipped with a graphics processor, which has 2 cores. The RAM is 3 GB, the built-in memory is 8 GB.

What is the frequency of the cores and the type of GPU is not known. Or rather, LG does not disclose this information, the reason may be that this processor actually has average parameters and if you compare it with the processors in the phones, the comparison can show very interesting results. Some countries require detailed hardware specifications for devices. Therefore, you can find out the specifications of the LG α9 processor of the first generation.

Processor generations for LG TV Alpha 5, Alpha7, Alpha9 TVs

LG also added an Alpha 5 processor; I even missed the moment when it happened. However, you should know that LG TVs now come with three kinds of processors with the commercial names Alpha 5, Alpha 7, and Alpha 9.

• Alpha 5 processors – installed in entry-level LED UHD, Nano televisions. These are low-power processors designed to display an image with minimal processing.
• Alpha 7 processors are mid-range processors installed in QNED televisions.
• Alpha 9 processors are for premium OLED and 8K TVs.

Now a bit about generations, processors, marketing, and television promotion requires that televisions get better every year. In reality, televisions, like phones, have reached their peak of technical perfection in today’s environment. Therefore, LG marketers have chosen a straightforward scheme, there is a commercial name for the processor, and every year we will add a generation; this is what we have now with the Alpha generation of processors.

• 2022 – Alpha 5th generation
• 2021 – Alpha 4th generation.
• 2020 – Alpha 3rd generation.
• 2019 – Alpha 2nd generation
• 2017 – 2018 – Alpha 1st generation

Technical specifications of LG α9 intelligent processor

• Processor – 4 cores, processor frequency 1.008GHz
• Graphics processor – 2 cores, 700MHz frequency
• RAM Memory – 3Gb RAM
• Built-in Memory – 8Gb ROM

Technical specifications of LG α7 intelligent processor

• Processor – 4 cores, processor frequency 1.008GHz
• Graphics processor – 2 cores, 700MHz frequency
• RAM – 2Gb RAM
• Built-in Memory – 8Gb ROM

So, if you look at the processors, they are almost identical in their specifications and use the same cores of the central processor and graphics processor. Of course, it could be that the α9 uses cores of a newer generation. But, most likely, the difference between the processors is in the amount of RAM supported. Now let’s look at the processor, filtering out the advertising and marketing tricks, and let’s look at the advantages claimed by LG.

Experience our best picture quality

The exclusive α9 (Alpha9) Intelligent Processor is optimized for LG OLED TV.
Clarity with exquisite detail, vibrant colour and more depth presented in every image with the α9 Intelligent Processor.*
*Compared to previous LG models

Basically, the quality of the image is affected by which screen matrix is used, image processing algorithms can affect image quality but this is done by programs, not the processor. Yes, the speed of the processor may be increased, but the quality of the image does not depend on it.

Quad-Step Noise Reduction

The α9 Intelligent Processor creates a clearer image with LG’s own Quad-step processing technology
by reducing grain and banding noise better than conventional TV’s.*

*Conventional refers to previous LG models

Banding and noise can only occur when receiving an analog signal. A digital image is not subject to external influences that can create banding or noise. If there is uncertain reception of an over-the-air digital signal, the picture may only break up into squares. This advantage of LG is controversial and cannot be attributed to its merits. In addition, on TVs with screens over 40 inches, the analog image will look very bad because of the small initial resolution.

Frequency-based Sharpness Enhancer

The α9 Intelligent Processor’s sharpness enhancer boosts fine detail and texture by accentuating the edges of the object in the picture. This creates greater depth, exceptional detail, and more realistic pictures.

• Certain picture modes do not activate this feature.

This statement is a play on words; the processor cannot improve anything, but the software does. Televisions have built-in programs which additionally process the image. But image processing brings results if the original image has defects.
As practice shows, users usually turn off all image enhancement programs to continually improve the image. The most famous image post-processing is adding frames to a video stream with an initially low frame count. The video takes on a “soap opera” effect.

Object Depth Enhancer

The object depth enhancer precisely separates the main object from the background images  and analyses textures and edges. This is then processed differently to make detection clearer and the edges even sharper. It elevates the perceived depth of the whole picture and reveals hidden details.

Software improvement not related to the processor.

True Color Accuracy Pro

The α9 Intelligent Processor utilizes a colour table 7.3 times more sophisticated than a conventional TV.
This means that it has far more colour data points to display true to life colours, without any distortion.

Televisions and monitors use color spaces (in a transmitted signal standardized with color information) to display colors correctly, televisions use standard color spaces, usually RGB, REC2020. Therefore, using a unique complex table to display colors is impractical because if you use a table that differs from the standards, the correct color display will be impossible.

Seamless viewing with HFR

With HFR (High Frame Rate), the α9 Intelligent Processor is able to play content at up to 120 frames per second, maintaining its smoothness, even during fast motion.*
*HFR function is available only thru USB input for 2018 LG OLED TVs.

Since 2014, TVs support the ability to display video from a frequent frame change of 120 per second. But it should be noted that for example, HDMI 2.0 allows you to display video at a rate of 120 frames per second, but only Full HD resolutions. Video with UHD resolution is transmitted at a rate of 60 frames per second.

HDMI 2.1 supports video at a rate of 120 frames per second.

Since 2014, TVs have supported the ability to display video from a frequent frame change of 120 per second. But it should be noted that, for example, HDMI 2.0 allows you to display video at a rate of 120 frames per second, but only Full HD resolutions. Video with UHD resolution is transmitted at 60 frames per second. HDMI 2.1 supports video at a rate of 120 frames per second.
From the note, we can conclude that LG TVs, until 2018, could not display video via USB at a rate of 120 frames per second. In 2018, this issue was resolved by software improvement.