If you are buying your first commercial display, the two names that keep coming up are Samsung and LG. In our catalog that usually means the Samsung QBC and the LG UH5Q-E. Both are 4K, both run their own signage software, and both cost far less than an outdoor or window display. They are not the same class of screen, though. The QBC is Samsung's entry 4K line, rated for 16 hours a day. The UH5Q-E is a step up: brighter, and rated by LG for 24/7 use. You pay for that difference, and this guide is about whether you need to.
Prices below are our current prices. Specs come from the Samsung QBC data sheet and the LG UH5Q-E spec sheet. If you want every spec line by line, our QBC vs UH5Q-E spec comparison page has the full table.
What each size costs
| Size | Samsung QBC | LG UH5Q-E | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43" | QB43C: $696 | 43UH5Q-E: $899 | $203 |
| 50" | QB50C: $1,029 | Not stocked | n/a |
| 55" | QB55C: $1,029 | 55UH5Q-E: $1,295 | $266 |
| 65" | QB65C: $1,338 | 65UH5Q-E: $2,295 | $957 |
| 75" | QB75C: $2,317.50 | 75UH5Q-E: $3,495 | $1,177.50 |
| 85" / 86" | QB85C: $3,603.97 | 86UH5Q-E: $4,995 | $1,391.03 |
At 43 and 55 inches the gap is a few hundred dollars. From 65 inches up it approaches or passes $1,000 per screen. On a single lobby screen that may not matter. On a twelve-screen rollout it is the whole budget conversation.
What the extra money buys
The two lines share more than you might expect. Both are 3,840 x 2,160, both have three HDMI inputs, both carry an IP5x dust rating, both have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and both work in portrait or landscape. Three things separate them:
- Duty rating. Samsung rates the QBC for 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. LG rates the UH5Q-E for 24/7. This is the biggest difference and the one that should drive the decision.
- Brightness. The QBC is 350 nits. LG lists the UH5Q-E at up to 500 nits. In an evenly lit interior you will not notice much. Near windows or under strong store lighting, the UH5Q-E holds up better.
- Platform. The QBC runs Tizen 7.0 with Samsung's MagicINFO tools. The UH5Q-E runs webOS 8.0 with LG's SuperSign software (sold separately). The UH5Q-E also adds a DisplayPort input. Most third-party signage software supports both platforms, so check yours before you buy.
When the QBC is enough
Most entry-level signage runs during business hours and sits indoors. A menu board that goes dark at close, a reception screen, a conference room, a retail promo screen behind the counter: none of these run all night, and none of them face direct sun. For those jobs, the QBC's 16/7 rating and 350 nits are a match, and you keep the savings.
The QBC also covers sizes the UH5Q-E does not in our catalog: a 50-inch model at 4K, and the 24-inch QB24C (Full HD) for small counters and shelf-edge spots.
When the UH5Q-E is worth it
Pay the difference when the screen runs longer than 16 hours a day. Hotel lobbies, 24-hour gyms, hospital wayfinding, convenience stores that never close: these need a 24/7-rated panel, and running a 16/7 panel around the clock shortens its life. The UH5Q-E is also the better pick when the room is bright, for example a lobby with a glass front or a showroom with skylights. It still is not a window display, though. If the screen faces out through glass toward the street, you need a dedicated high-brightness model.
If you already run LG webOS screens or SuperSign, staying on one platform is a fair reason to choose the UH5Q-E even for business-hours use. The same logic applies in reverse for a fleet already on MagicINFO.
Frequently asked questions
Is the LG UH5Q-E or Samsung QBC better for a restaurant menu board?
For a typical indoor menu board that switches off after close, the QBC is the better value: 350 nits is readable under normal dining-room lighting, and its 16/7 rating covers a full day of service. Choose the UH5Q-E if the board runs more than 16 hours a day or the dining room gets strong daylight, since it is rated for 24/7 and is brighter at up to 500 nits.
Can I run either display 24 hours a day?
Only the UH5Q-E. LG rates it for 24/7 operation. Samsung rates the QBC for 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, so a QBC should have a daily off period.
Do I need a separate media player?
Usually not. The QBC runs Tizen and the UH5Q-E runs webOS, and both can play scheduled content from their built-in player or a supported signage app. Add an external player only if your software requires one.
Are both dust-rated?
Yes. Samsung lists IP5x for the QBC and LG lists IP5X for the UH5Q-E, so dust protection is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Weighing two Samsung lines instead? Our Samsung QBC vs QBR comparison explains how the current QBC differs from the older QBR. If you would rather hand off the whole project, including install and the software that runs the screens, CrownTV handles fully managed digital signage deployments.
Ready to choose?
Browse the Samsung QBC series and the LG UH5Q-E series, or contact our team with your room, hours and viewing distance and we will tell you which one fits. Every commercial display from DisplayDetails, an Authorized Samsung Reseller, ships free in the lower 48.
