James Davidson

The Sony Bravia 7 II and Samsung R95H both deliver strong contrast, deep blacks and impressive color, but they emphasize different strengths. The R95H is substantially brighter, has better reflection handling and produces more dynamic highlights, while the Bravia 7 II offers richer, deeper colors, stronger fullscreen HDR brightness and better value, particularly in the UK and Australia. The R95H is the preferred choice for buyers without budget constraints, whereas the Bravia 7 II is recommended as the more affordable option. Neither TV surpasses OLED overall, although both demonstrate that RGB backlight technology is becoming a serious competitor.

A visit to UK-based Silversalt Restorations reveals the painstaking process behind 4K Blu-ray releases, from frame-by-frame inspection, cleaning and high-resolution scanning to digital restoration and HDR grading. Restoration artists must balance removing damage and modernizing presentation with preserving a film’s authentic appearance, avoiding errors such as removing genuine image detail or excessive grain. Examples from classic films including The Deer Hunter, Dracula, The Wicker Man and Don’t Look Now demonstrate how careful technical and artistic decisions can significantly improve picture quality while respecting the original work.

The Hisense UR8 is an affordable RGB mini-LED television with excellent backlight control, strong gaming performance, four HDMI 2.1 ports, an anti-glare screen, and generally good sound and picture quality. However, its measured color gamut does not translate into the bold, vibrant colors expected from RGB technology, and some motion blur and limited differentiation between movie picture modes remain drawbacks. It offers good value in the United States and Australia, but its United Kingdom pricing puts it alongside or above competing OLED TVs, which still provide deeper blacks, stronger colors, and better motion handling.

James Davidson selects Project Hail Mary, Troy, West Side Story and Mars Attacks! as his four most anticipated UK 4K Blu-ray releases for August 2026. He expects Project Hail Mary to showcase high-contrast imagery, bold colors and detailed Dolby Atmos sound; Troy to stand out for its 35mm restoration, Dolby Vision presentation and powerful DTS-HD 5.1 audio; West Side Story to benefit from vivid HDR imagery and immersive musical Atmos effects; and Mars Attacks! to deliver colorful Dolby Vision visuals, improved presentation of its dated CGI and impactful sound. The selections are part of TechRadar’s monthly Blu-ray Bounty testing of disc picture and audio quality, with a broader release list also provided.

James Davidson evaluates four July 2026 4K Blu-ray releases using an LG G6 OLED TV, Panasonic DP-UB820 player, and Samsung HW-Q990C sound system. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie receives the strongest praise for its vibrant Dolby Vision animation, excellent contrast, and highly immersive Dolby Atmos mix. Arrow Video’s restoration of To Live and Die in L.A. is commended for detailed textures, vivid colors, deep blacks, and clear surround sound. Disney’s Alice in Wonderland offers bold, faithful colors and a clean presentation, while its 5.1 mix adds depth despite limited showcase effects. Criterion’s Hairspray retains substantial film grain while improving detail, color, and musical clarity. Overall, the releases are presented as strong demonstrations of 4K home-theater picture and audio quality.