The Samsung 65-inch Class QN90B Neo QLED TV is, without a doubt, a game-changer for anyone serious about picture quality, especially in bright rooms, and for next-gen gaming. This set truly excels with its Mini-LED backlight technology, which allows for incredibly precise local dimming, delivering exceptionally deep blacks and blindingly bright highlights. It’s a stellar performer that stands out in the competitive 4K TV market, offering a premium viewing experience that justifies its higher price point through sheer performance and advanced features. If you’re looking for a TV that pushes the boundaries of contrast and color, the QN90B deserves your full attention.
Here’s a comparison of some top 65-inch TVs that compete with or offer alternatives to the Samsung QN90B:
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Samsung 65-inch Class QN90B Neo QLED TV
- Key Features: Mini-LED backlighting, Neo Quantum 4K Processor, Quantum HDR 64x, Anti-Reflection screen, 120Hz refresh rate native, FreeSync Premium Pro, Tizen OS.
- Average Price: Around $2,000 – $2,500
- Pros: Outstanding brightness for HDR content, exceptional black levels with minimal blooming, anti-glare coating is highly effective, excellent for gaming with low input lag and VRR support, vibrant color reproduction.
- Cons: VA panel can have narrower viewing angles compared to OLED, some minor uniformity issues can occur, Tizen UI can be a bit busy for some users.
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LG C2 Series 65-inch Class OLED evo TV
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- Key Features: OLED evo panel, α9 Gen5 AI Processor 4K, Dolby Vision IQ, webOS Smart TV, G-SYNC Compatible, FreeSync Premium.
- Average Price: Around $1,800 – $2,200
- Pros: Perfect blacks and infinite contrast, wider viewing angles, excellent motion handling, superb for movies and cinematic content, sleek design.
- Cons: Not as bright as Neo QLEDs, potential for temporary image retention burn-in with static logos over prolonged use though greatly reduced in modern OLEDs, less effective in extremely bright rooms.
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Sony BRAVIA XR A95K 65-inch Class QD-OLED TV
- Key Features: QD-OLED panel, Cognitive Processor XR, Acoustic Surface Audio+, Google TV, HDMI 2.1 features.
- Average Price: Around $2,700 – $3,000
- Pros: Combines OLED’s perfect blacks with QLED’s color vibrancy and brightness, stunning picture quality, exceptional sound integration, premium build.
- Cons: Very expensive, newer technology means less long-term data on panel longevity, limited availability compared to other models.
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Samsung 65-inch Class S95B QD-OLED TV
- Key Features: QD-OLED panel, Neural Quantum Processor 4K, Quantum HDR OLED, LaserSlim Design, Tizen OS.
- Average Price: Around $1,900 – $2,400
- Pros: Incredible color volume and brightness for an OLED, perfect blacks, slim design, excellent gaming features, more affordable than Sony’s QD-OLED.
- Cons: No Dolby Vision support, some users reported potential for panel issues though generally reliable, off-angle color shifting can be present.
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TCL 6-Series 65-inch Class Mini-LED QLED TV R655
- Key Features: Mini-LED QLED, QLED Wide Color Gamut, AiPQ Engine, Google TV, THX Certified Game Mode, Variable Refresh Rate.
- Average Price: Around $800 – $1,100
- Pros: Excellent value for money, good contrast and brightness for its price tier, decent gaming features, Google TV interface is intuitive.
- Cons: Not as bright or precise as premium Neo QLEDs, local dimming can be less refined, build quality isn’t as premium.
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Hisense U8 Series 65-inch U8H Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD Smart Google TV
- Key Features: Mini-LED ULED, Hi-View Engine, Quantum Dot Color, Dolby Vision IQ, Google TV, 120Hz refresh rate, Game Mode Pro.
- Average Price: Around $900 – $1,200
- Pros: Impressive brightness for its price, good contrast, strong gaming performance, robust smart TV platform, great value.
- Cons: Local dimming can have some blooming artifacts, motion handling isn’t as polished as higher-end models, off-angle viewing can degrade picture.
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Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series 65-inch 4K UHD Smart TV
- Key Features: QLED display, Full Array Local Dimming, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, Fire TV built-in with Alexa Voice Remote, Ambient Experience.
- Average Price: Around $600 – $800
- Pros: Very affordable QLED option, seamless Alexa integration, good for smart home users, decent picture quality for the price.
- Cons: Local dimming is basic, overall picture quality and brightness cannot compete with premium QLEDs or OLEDs, motion handling is average.
Unpacking the Neo QLED Technology: A Deep Dive into Mini-LED Brilliance
When we talk about the Samsung QN90B, the first thing that needs to be dissected is Neo QLED technology. This isn’t just a fancy marketing term. it’s a significant leap forward in LCD panel illumination. Traditional LED LCD TVs use larger LEDs to backlight the screen. While effective, these larger LEDs limit the number of dimming zones, leading to issues like “blooming” light halos around bright objects on dark backgrounds and less precise contrast.
What Makes Mini-LED Different?
Mini-LED technology, the core of Neo QLED, replaces those larger LEDs with tens of thousands of microscopic LEDs – as small as 1/40th the size of conventional LEDs. Think about it: a 65-inch QN90B can pack literally thousands of these tiny lights. This drastic reduction in size allows for:
- Significantly More Dimming Zones: Instead of a few hundred, you might have well over 1,000 or even thousands of independent dimming zones. Each zone can be precisely controlled, allowing for individual areas of the screen to be brightened or dimmed with much greater accuracy.
- Enhanced Contrast Control: With more zones, the TV can achieve deeper, more inky blacks right next to incredibly bright highlights. This is where the QN90B truly shines, mimicking some of the contrast benefits previously exclusive to OLED panels, but with far greater peak brightness.
- Reduced Blooming: The smaller LEDs and increased zone count mean light bleeding from bright objects into dark areas is dramatically minimized, leading to a much cleaner and more impactful image. This is a crucial improvement for HDR content.
The Brain Behind the Beauty: Samsung’s Neo Quantum Processor 4K
It’s not just the hardware. the software and processing power are equally vital. The QN90B leverages Samsung’s Neo Quantum Processor 4K. This isn’t just a simple upscaler. it’s a sophisticated AI-driven engine that analyzes content on a scene-by-scene basis, optimizing it for the Mini-LED panel.
- AI-Based Upscaling: The processor uses deep learning algorithms to upscale lower-resolution content like 1080p Blu-rays or even standard definition broadcasts to near-4K quality. It doesn’t just stretch pixels. it intelligently fills in missing information and enhances textures.
- Brightness and Contrast Management: The processor works in tandem with the Mini-LED backlight to optimize brightness and contrast in real-time. It ensures that the thousands of dimming zones are being utilized to their fullest potential, extracting every bit of detail from HDR content.
The synergy between the advanced Mini-LED panel and the intelligent Neo Quantum Processor is what elevates the QN90B’s picture quality to a premium level.
It’s a testament to Samsung’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of LCD technology. Motorola Moto G 5G 2022 Review
Picture Quality and Performance: A Deep Dive into Visual Excellence
When you fire up the Samsung 65-inch QN90B, the first thing that hits you is the sheer vibrancy and punchiness of the image. This isn’t just a bright TV.
It’s a TV that intelligently harnesses light to deliver stunning contrast and vivid colors.
Let’s break down its performance across key visual metrics.
Unrivaled Brightness and HDR Impact
The QN90B is a brightness beast, especially for an LCD TV. It regularly achieves peak brightness levels of over 2,000 nits in HDR, and in some smaller highlights, it can even push close to 3,000 nits. This insane brightness is critical for:
- Stunning HDR Highlights: When watching HDR content Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, the QN90B can reproduce dazzling specular highlights – think sunlight glinting off water, reflections on metallic surfaces, or distant streetlights at night – with incredible realism and intensity. This makes HDR content truly pop.
- Excellent Performance in Bright Rooms: If your living room is bathed in sunlight, this TV is your ally. The high peak brightness, combined with Samsung’s excellent anti-reflection layer, ensures that the picture remains vibrant and detailed even in challenging ambient light conditions. You won’t be squinting to see details.
- Dynamic Range: The ability to go from incredibly dark blacks to intensely bright whites in the same scene creates an immense sense of dynamic range, adding depth and realism to every frame.
Inky Blacks and Precise Local Dimming
While OLEDs have perfect blacks, the QN90B comes remarkably close for an LCD, thanks to its Mini-LED backlighting and sophisticated local dimming. Microsoft Whiteboard Review
- Deep Black Levels: The individual dimming zones can be completely turned off in dark areas, resulting in remarkably deep, inky blacks. You won’t see the murky gray glow often associated with lesser LED TVs.
- Minimal Blooming: One of the most significant improvements with Mini-LED is the substantial reduction in “blooming,” the halo effect around bright objects on a dark background. While not entirely absent it’s an LCD, after all, it’s incredibly well-controlled on the QN90B, making dark scenes much more immersive. Samsung’s Shape Adaptive Light Control further refines this by analyzing the shape of objects to reduce light bleed.
Color Accuracy and Volume
Samsung’s QN90B utilizes Quantum Dot technology to achieve a wide color gamut and impressive color volume.
- Vibrant and Accurate Colors: The TV produces incredibly rich and saturated colors, covering over 90% of the DCI-P3 color space, which is the standard for HDR content. This means it can display a vast array of colors, making scenes look lifelike and engaging.
- Excellent Color Volume: Unlike some TVs that lose color saturation at extreme brightness levels, the QN90B maintains its color vibrancy even when displaying very bright elements. This contributes to a more realistic and impactful HDR experience.
- Calibration Potential: For enthusiasts, the QN90B offers extensive calibration options, allowing for professional-grade color accuracy to be achieved.
Motion Handling: Smooth and Clear
For action movies, sports, and gaming, excellent motion handling is paramount. The QN90B performs admirably here.
- Native 120Hz Refresh Rate: The panel’s native 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth motion, reducing blur in fast-moving scenes.
- Black Frame Insertion BFI: Samsung includes an optional BFI feature that can further enhance motion clarity by inserting black frames between regular frames. While this can slightly dim the image, it makes motion incredibly crisp for those who prefer it.
- Minimal Judder: The TV handles 24p content movies well, displaying it without significant judder, whether from native sources or streaming apps.
Anti-Reflection Layer: A Game-Changer for Bright Rooms
One of the unsung heroes of the QN90B is its impressive anti-reflection screen coating. This isn’t just a minor improvement. it’s a significant practical benefit for many users.
- Reduced Glare: The matte finish effectively diffuses reflections from windows and lights, making them much less distracting. Instead of seeing a clear mirror image of your room, you’ll see a softened, dispersed glow.
- Maintained Picture Quality: Unlike some anti-glare coatings that can degrade sharpness or color, Samsung’s implementation on the QN90B is highly effective without noticeable negative impact on the picture quality itself.
- Ideal for Day Viewing: If your TV is in a living room with significant ambient light, this feature alone can dramatically improve your viewing experience during the day, making the QN90B a top choice for bright environments.
In summary, the Samsung QN90B delivers a truly premium visual experience.
Its exceptional brightness, precise local dimming, vibrant colors, and excellent motion handling make it a top contender for anyone seeking a high-performance 4K TV, particularly if you primarily watch content in a bright room or prioritize impactful HDR. Furbo 360 Dog Camera Review
Gaming Features and Performance: Ready for the Next Generation
For serious gamers, the Samsung 65-inch QN90B isn’t just a good TV. it’s a top-tier gaming monitor in disguise. It’s packed with features designed to give you a competitive edge and make your gaming experience as smooth and immersive as possible. This TV fully embraces the capabilities of the latest generation consoles PS5 and Xbox Series X and high-end PC gaming.
HDMI 2.1 and Key Gaming Specifications
The QN90B comes equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, which are essential for maximizing next-gen console and PC performance. These ports support:
- 4K @ 120Hz: This allows games to run at a buttery-smooth 120 frames per second at 4K resolution, provided the game and console support it. This significantly reduces motion blur and improves responsiveness.
- Variable Refresh Rate VRR: The QN90B supports multiple VRR technologies, including FreeSync Premium Pro and HDMI Forum VRR. VRR dynamically matches the TV’s refresh rate to the game’s frame rate, eliminating screen tearing and reducing stutter, especially when frame rates fluctuate.
- Auto Low Latency Mode ALLM: When your console or PC detects you’re playing a game, ALLM automatically switches the TV into its lowest input lag “Game Mode.” This means you don’t have to manually change settings, ensuring optimal responsiveness immediately.
Ultra-Low Input Lag
This is where the QN90B truly excels for competitive gaming. Input lag on the QN90B is exceptionally low, consistently measuring in the single-digit milliseconds around 9-10ms at 4K/60Hz and as low as 5ms at 4K/120Hz.
- Immersive Experience: Even for casual gamers, ultra-low input lag makes the game feel more direct and responsive, pulling you deeper into the experience.
Game Bar and Game Hub
Samsung has integrated a dedicated Game Bar and a broader Game Hub available via software updates to enhance the gaming experience directly from the TV.
- Game Bar: This on-screen overlay, accessible with a long press of the play/pause button, provides quick access to crucial gaming information and settings. You can see:
- Input Lag Status: Confirm if Game Mode is active.
- FPS Frames Per Second: See the game’s current frame rate.
- VRR Status: Confirm if VRR is active.
- HDR Status: Check if HDR is enabled.
- Aspect Ratio: Quickly change to ultrawide modes 21:9 or 32:9 for compatible PC games, a feature typically found on gaming monitors.
- Mini Map Zoom: Magnify a portion of the screen, useful for seeing small details like a game’s mini-map.
- Game Hub: This acts as a central dashboard for all your gaming activities. It aggregates your connected consoles, cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and even Twitch streams, providing a unified gaming experience without needing external devices.
Gaming in HDR
Thanks to its incredible peak brightness and precise local dimming, HDR gaming on the QN90B is spectacular. Jvc Ha S100N Review
- Punchy Visuals: HDR games benefit immensely from the TV’s ability to display intense highlights and deep shadows simultaneously. Explosions are brighter, light sources are more realistic, and overall visual fidelity is significantly enhanced.
- Vibrant Colors: Quantum Dot technology ensures that the wide color gamuts used in modern HDR games are reproduced with stunning accuracy and saturation.
The Samsung QN90B is genuinely a fantastic choice for gamers.
Its combination of four HDMI 2.1 ports, ultra-low input lag, VRR support, and dedicated gaming features like the Game Bar make it one of the most capable gaming TVs on the market, ready to handle anything the next generation of gaming throws at it.
Smart TV Features: Tizen OS and Ecosystem Integration
Samsung’s Tizen OS powers the smart features of the QN90B, offering a comprehensive and generally user-friendly experience. It’s a mature platform that has been refined over several generations, providing access to a vast array of streaming services, apps, and smart home capabilities.
Tizen OS Interface and Navigation
The Tizen interface is characterized by its horizontal ribbon menu at the bottom of the screen, which provides quick access to:
- Recent Apps: Your most frequently used applications are right there for easy access.
- Recommended Content: The TV intelligently suggests content based on your viewing habits and subscriptions.
- Source Selection: Easily switch between HDMI inputs, antenna, or other connected devices.
- Universal Guide: This feature attempts to consolidate content from various streaming services and live TV into a single, personalized recommendation hub.
- Media Hub: Organizes all your personal media from USB drives, network storage for easy browsing.
While generally intuitive, some users might find the Tizen interface a bit cluttered at times, especially with the introduction of new features and advertising. Gator Website Builder Review
However, it’s highly customizable, allowing you to reorder or remove icons for a more personalized experience.
App Ecosystem: All Your Favorites and More
The Samsung app store is robust, offering virtually every major streaming service you could want:
- Video Streaming: Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV+, Max, Paramount+, Peacock, and countless others.
- Podcast Streaming: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Pandora.
- Sports Apps: ESPN, Fox Sports, and various dedicated league apps.
- Cloud Gaming: With the addition of Samsung’s Gaming Hub, direct access to services like Xbox Game Pass and NVIDIA GeForce NOW allows you to stream games without needing a console.
- Niche Apps: Beyond the giants, there’s a wide selection of more specialized apps covering everything from news to fitness.
The apps generally load quickly and run smoothly on the QN90B, thanks to the powerful processor.
Voice Assistants: Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant
The QN90B offers built-in voice assistant capabilities, providing flexibility in how you interact with your TV and smart home. Sony Bravia Xr 65 Inch Class A95K Oled Tv Review
- Bixby: Samsung’s native voice assistant is integrated and can control TV functions, search for content, and answer basic queries. While improved, it’s generally considered less robust than Alexa or Google Assistant.
- Amazon Alexa: You can link your Amazon account and use Alexa directly through the TV’s microphone. This allows for seamless control of smart home devices, Alexa skills, and content search.
- Google Assistant: Similar to Alexa, Google Assistant can be enabled to control your TV, access Google services, and manage smart home devices.
The ability to choose your preferred voice assistant is a significant convenience, allowing users to integrate the TV into their existing smart home ecosystem.
Samsung SmartThings Integration
For those with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem, the QN90B acts as a central hub.
- Control Connected Devices: You can monitor and control compatible smart home devices lights, thermostats, cameras, smart plugs directly from the TV interface.
- Notifications: Receive notifications from your smart devices on the TV screen e.g., “Someone’s at the door” from a smart doorbell.
- Automations: Potentially integrate the TV into SmartThings routines, such as turning off the lights when the TV is powered down.
Additional Smart Features
- Multi View: Allows you to display two sources simultaneously e.g., a sports game and a YouTube video, which can be useful for multitasking.
- Tap View: A feature that allows you to mirror content from your compatible Samsung smartphone to the TV with a simple tap.
- Ambient Mode+: When the TV is off, it can display artwork, photos, or blend into your wall decor, making it less of a black rectangle.
Overall, the Tizen OS on the QN90B is a mature and feature-rich smart TV platform.
It provides a vast array of streaming options, robust voice assistant integration, and seamless connectivity within the Samsung ecosystem, making it a comprehensive entertainment hub.
While some minor interface clutter might be present, the overall experience is highly positive. Skullcandy Mod Review
Audio Quality: Surprisingly Good, But Consider a Soundbar
Let’s be real: built-in TV speakers are almost never the highlight of a premium television. Physics dictates that thin panels struggle to produce rich, expansive sound. However, the Samsung QN90B makes a commendable effort and, surprisingly, delivers a better-than-average audio experience for integrated speakers. That said, for a TV of this caliber, investing in a dedicated sound solution is highly recommended to match the visual grandeur.
Object Tracking Sound+ OTS+
One of the standout audio features on the QN90B is Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound+ OTS+. This technology aims to create a more immersive and spatially accurate soundstage.
- Multi-Channel Speakers: The QN90B isn’t just relying on two down-firing speakers. It typically incorporates multiple speakers positioned around the TV’s frame often 4.2.2 or 4.2.4 channels. This includes top, side, and bottom-firing drivers.
- Sound Tracking: OTS+ analyzes the on-screen action and attempts to make the sound follow the object’s movement. So, if a car moves from left to right on the screen, the sound of the car will appear to move with it. This adds a noticeable layer of realism and immersion, especially for movies and sports.
- Enhanced Dialogue Clarity: The additional speakers and intelligent processing often result in clearer dialogue, as voices are more precisely anchored to the characters on screen.
Dialogue Clarity and Overall Sound Profile
- Clear Dialogue: Generally, dialogue is clear and intelligible, even in busy scenes. This is a crucial aspect for enjoying movies and TV shows without constantly adjusting the volume.
- Decent Mid-Range: The mid-range frequencies, where most voices and instruments reside, are reasonably well-represented, contributing to a balanced sound.
- Limited Bass: As expected from any thin TV, bass response is limited. Explosions and deep rumbles will lack the visceral impact that a dedicated subwoofer can provide. You’ll hear the sound, but you won’t feel it in your chest.
- Average Soundstage: While OTS+ attempts to expand the soundstage, it still remains somewhat constrained within the TV’s physical dimensions. You won’t get true surround sound immersion, but it’s a significant improvement over basic stereo TV speakers.
Q-Symphony: A Unique Integration Feature
Samsung offers a unique feature called Q-Symphony, which allows the TV’s built-in speakers to work in conjunction with compatible Samsung Q-Series soundbars.
- Combined Output: Instead of the soundbar replacing the TV speakers entirely, Q-Symphony uses both simultaneously. The TV’s top speakers might handle overhead effects, while the soundbar handles the main front soundstage.
- Expanded Sound: This can create a richer, more expansive, and more immersive sound experience than either the TV speakers or the soundbar could achieve on their own. It effectively creates more channels and a larger sound field.
- Seamless Setup: It’s designed for seamless integration and optimization, often requiring minimal setup.
The Case for an External Sound Solution
Despite the QN90B’s impressive efforts with OTS+ and Q-Symphony, for a truly cinematic or impactful gaming audio experience, a dedicated soundbar or a full home theater system is highly recommended.
- Soundbar: A quality soundbar, especially one with a separate subwoofer, will drastically improve bass response, widen the soundstage, and offer much greater clarity and dynamics. Consider Samsung’s Q-Series soundbars for Q-Symphony compatibility.
- AV Receiver and Speaker System: For the ultimate audio experience, a separate AV receiver combined with a multi-channel speaker system e.g., 5.1.2 or 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos setup will provide true surround sound, overhead effects, and room-filling audio that no TV can replicate.
In conclusion, the Samsung QN90B’s built-in audio is surprisingly good for a TV, particularly with its OTS+ feature, making casual viewing and dialogue-heavy content enjoyable. Amazon Fire Tv Recast Review
However, to truly complement its phenomenal picture quality and unlock its full potential, investing in an external audio solution is a wise decision.
Design and Build Quality: Premium Aesthetics and Practicality
The Samsung 65-inch QN90B exudes a premium aesthetic that aligns with its high-end positioning. It features a sleek, minimalist design that should blend well into most modern living spaces. Beyond just looks, there are practical design choices that enhance the overall user experience.
Slim Profile and Bezel-Less Design
- NeoSlim Design: Samsung refers to its design philosophy as “NeoSlim,” and the QN90B embodies this. The TV boasts an incredibly thin profile, especially considering it’s an LCD with a full-array Mini-LED backlight. This thinness makes it look elegant whether wall-mounted or placed on a stand.
- Near Bezel-Less: The bezels around the screen are almost non-existent. This “infinity screen” design maximizes the screen-to-body ratio, creating a more immersive viewing experience where the picture seems to float in space, free from distraction.
Central Stand: Stability and Space-Saving
The 65-inch QN90B comes with a central pedestal stand. This design choice offers several practical benefits:
- Stability: The central stand provides a solid and stable base for the TV, reducing wobble.
- Smaller Footprint: Unlike wide-set feet that require a very broad TV stand, a central stand allows the TV to be placed on narrower furniture, which can be a significant advantage for those with limited space.
- Premium Material: The stand itself is often made of sturdy metal, contributing to the TV’s overall premium feel.
Connectivity Ports and Cable Management
- Rear-Facing Ports: Most of the connectivity ports are located on the rear of the TV, typically on the right side when viewed from the front. This includes the four HDMI 2.1 ports, USB ports, optical audio out, and Ethernet.
- Side-Facing Ports: Often, at least one or two HDMI and USB ports are side-facing, making them easier to access for temporary connections like a gaming console or USB drive if the TV is close to a wall.
- Cable Management: Samsung usually includes built-in cable management solutions, such as channels or clips on the back of the TV and through the stand, to help keep cables tidy and out of sight. This contributes to a cleaner, more organized setup.
Remote Control: Solar-Powered and Streamlined
The QN90B comes with Samsung’s signature SolarCell Remote. This remote is a standout feature for its eco-friendliness and convenience.
- Solar Charging: The remote has a small solar panel on the back that allows it to charge using ambient indoor light or even natural sunlight. This virtually eliminates the need for disposable batteries, which is a big win for sustainability and user convenience. There’s also a USB-C port for quick charging if needed.
- Minimalist Design: The remote is sleek, slim, and features a minimalist button layout. This keeps it from feeling cluttered but means some functions are nested within menus.
- Voice Control Button: A dedicated voice assistant button for Bixby, Alexa, or Google Assistant provides quick access to voice commands.
- Dedicated Streaming Buttons: Typically, there are dedicated buttons for popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, allowing for one-touch access.
- Premium Feel: The remote often has a brushed metal or premium plastic finish, fitting the TV’s overall build quality.
Overall, the Samsung QN90B’s design is thoughtful and well-executed.
It prioritizes a minimalist aesthetic, robust build quality, and practical features like a stable central stand and a sustainable remote, making it an attractive addition to any modern home.
Potential Downsides and Considerations
While the Samsung 65-inch QN90B is an exceptional television, no product is perfect for everyone.
It’s important to be aware of its potential limitations and considerations to ensure it’s the right fit for your specific needs and viewing habits.
Viewing Angles Compared to OLED
- VA Panel Limitation: The QN90B, like most Neo QLEDs, uses a Vertical Alignment VA panel. While VA panels are excellent for contrast and black levels when viewed straight on, they typically suffer from degraded picture quality when viewed from wide off-angles.
- Color and Brightness Shift: As you move off-center, you may notice a slight reduction in brightness, a subtle shift in colors, and a washing out of blacks. While Samsung often incorporates wide viewing angle layers like Ultra Viewing Angle on the QN90B to mitigate this, it’s still not on par with OLED’s virtually perfect viewing angles.
- Consideration: If your primary viewing setup involves many people seated at wide angles to the TV e.g., a large living room with a sprawling couch, an OLED TV might offer a more consistent picture for everyone. For head-on viewing or slightly off-angle, the QN90B is fantastic.
Lack of Dolby Vision Support
- Proprietary HDR10+: Samsung continues to exclusively support HDR10+ Dynamic HDR alongside the industry standard HDR10. However, the QN90B does not support Dolby Vision, which is another widely adopted dynamic HDR format.
- Impact: Many movies and TV shows from major streaming services Netflix, Disney+, Max and Blu-ray discs are mastered in Dolby Vision. While the QN90B will still play this content in HDR10, and its own processing is excellent, it means you won’t get the full, creator-intended dynamic metadata that Dolby Vision provides.
- Consideration: For most casual viewers, this isn’t a deal-breaker, as the QN90B’s HDR10 performance is phenomenal due to its brightness and local dimming. However, if you are a cinephile who specifically seeks out Dolby Vision content for the absolute best possible picture and prefer to see content exactly as the creators intended with dynamic metadata, this is a significant omission.
Price Point
- Premium Segment: The QN90B sits firmly in the premium tier of 4K TVs. While its performance justifies the cost for many, it’s certainly not a budget-friendly option.
- Value Proposition: For the exceptional brightness, advanced Mini-LED technology, and comprehensive gaming features, the price is competitive within its segment. However, cheaper Mini-LED options like TCL and Hisense offer good value, though with compromises in peak performance and processing.
- Consideration: Evaluate your budget and priorities. If absolute cutting-edge performance in a bright room is paramount and budget isn’t the primary constraint, the QN90B is a strong contender. If you’re looking for great performance on a tighter budget, there are other viable options.
Tizen OS Interface Personal Preference
- Feature-Rich but Potentially Cluttered: While Tizen OS is robust and offers a vast array of features and apps, some users might find its interface to be a bit busy or cluttered, especially with recommended content and sometimes integrated advertising.
- Resource Intensity: With so many features, the initial startup or navigation can occasionally feel slightly less snappy than simpler smart TV interfaces, though this is often momentary.
- Consideration: This is largely a matter of personal preference. Many users find Tizen intuitive and powerful. If you prefer a simpler, more streamlined interface, you might consider connecting an external streaming device like an Apple TV 4K or Roku Ultra, though this defeats some of the TV’s integrated smart features.
By carefully considering these potential downsides alongside its numerous strengths, you can make an informed decision on whether the Samsung 65-inch QN90B is the ideal television for your home. Geekom It8 Mini Pc Review
For many, its unparalleled brightness, black levels, and gaming prowess will easily outweigh these minor caveats.
Longevity and Future-Proofing: A Smart Investment?
When you invest in a premium TV like the Samsung 65-inch QN90B, it’s natural to consider its lifespan and how well it will hold up against future technological advancements.
The good news is that the QN90B is remarkably well-equipped to remain a relevant and high-performing display for many years to come.
Hardware Durability and Panel Life
- Solid Build Quality: Samsung is known for producing well-built electronics, and the QN90B is no exception. Its premium materials and construction suggest good physical durability.
- Mini-LED Longevity: Unlike OLED, which has a theoretical risk of permanent image retention burn-in with static logos over prolonged use though greatly reduced in modern panels, Mini-LED LCD panels do not suffer from this issue. The individual LEDs are designed for a long operational life. While LED backlights can degrade over time, it’s typically a very gradual process spanning many years, well beyond the average upgrade cycle for most consumers.
- No Burn-In Risk: This provides peace of mind for those who might leave news channels or gaming HUDs on for extended periods, making it a “safer” choice in terms of panel longevity compared to OLED, particularly for heavy static content users.
Future-Proofing with HDMI 2.1
One of the strongest arguments for the QN90B’s future relevance is its full suite of HDMI 2.1 features across all four ports.
- 4K @ 120Hz: This is already standard for next-gen console gaming and high-end PC gaming. Any future improvements in gaming performance will likely build upon this foundation.
- VRR FreeSync Premium Pro, HDMI Forum VRR: Variable Refresh Rate is crucial for smooth, tear-free gaming, and its importance will only grow as game engines become more demanding. Having multiple VRR standards covered ensures broad compatibility.
- ALLM Auto Low Latency Mode: This automatic game mode switching is a quality-of-life feature that will remain standard for the foreseeable future.
- eARC Enhanced Audio Return Channel: This allows for uncompressed, high-bitrate audio formats like Dolby Atmos to be passed from the TV back to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver via a single HDMI cable. This ensures the TV can handle advanced audio setups for years to come.
These HDMI 2.1 features mean the QN90B is ready for whatever the next iteration of consoles brings and will likely remain highly desirable for gamers for at least the next 5-7 years, if not longer. In Win N515 Review
HDR Format Compatibility A Nuance
While the QN90B’s lack of Dolby Vision support is a current consideration, it’s important to view this in the context of future content.
- HDR10+ Ecosystem: Samsung continues to push HDR10+ as its dynamic HDR standard, and content providers like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV on some titles, and various studios support it. While Dolby Vision is more prevalent, HDR10+ is not going away.
- Peak Brightness as a Buffer: The QN90B’s extraordinary peak brightness and local dimming performance mean that even when playing Dolby Vision content in HDR10 mode where it falls back to basic HDR10, the TV’s intrinsic capabilities often make up for the lack of dynamic metadata, delivering a truly impactful HDR image regardless. It renders HDR content with such intensity that many users won’t notice the absence of Dolby Vision’s dynamic tone mapping.
Smart TV Updates and Support
- Software Updates: Samsung regularly pushes firmware updates to its smart TVs, improving performance, adding features like the Gaming Hub, and patching security vulnerabilities. This commitment to ongoing software support helps keep the TV feeling fresh and functional.
- App Compatibility: As a major platform, Tizen OS enjoys strong support from app developers. It’s highly likely that major streaming apps will continue to be updated and supported on the QN90B for many years.
In conclusion, the Samsung 65-inch QN90B is a well-engineered display designed for longevity.
Its robust hardware, leading-edge gaming features via HDMI 2.1, and impressive Mini-LED picture quality position it as a solid long-term investment.
While no TV is truly “future-proof” indefinitely, the QN90B is certainly more future-ready than many of its contemporaries, ensuring it will deliver a premium viewing experience for years to come. Wyze Video Doorbell Pro Review
Getting the Best Out of Your QN90B: Calibration and Settings Tips
The Samsung QN90B is a phenomenal TV right out of the box, but with a few tweaks and an understanding of its settings, you can unlock its full potential and tailor the picture to your specific viewing environment and content.
Think of it as fine-tuning a high-performance engine.
Essential Picture Mode Selection
- Film Mode or Filmmaker Mode if available and preferred: For movies and cinematic content, Film Mode or Filmmaker Mode, if a firmware update has enabled it on your model is generally the most accurate and recommended setting. It aims to reproduce content as the creators intended, with natural colors and appropriate motion.
- Standard Mode: This is the default and often boosted for retail environments. It might look punchy, but colors can be oversaturated, and motion processing can be overly aggressive. Good for bright rooms and casual viewing, but not for accuracy.
- Dynamic Mode: Avoid this unless you like hyper-saturated, eye-searingly bright images. It sacrifices accuracy for maximum pop.
- Game Mode: Crucial for gaming. As discussed, this significantly reduces input lag. Ensure it’s active when you launch a game. The QN90B often auto-switches via ALLM.
Key Picture Settings Adjustments
Once you’ve selected your primary picture mode e.g., Film Mode, here are the critical settings to consider adjusting:
- Backlight: This controls the overall brightness of the display. Adjust it to your viewing environment.
- Bright Room: Higher backlight e.g., 40-50 for SDR, Max for HDR.
- Dark Room: Lower backlight e.g., 10-20 for SDR to reduce eye strain and enhance perceived contrast.
- Brightness Black Level: This adjusts the black level. Too high, blacks look gray. too low, you lose shadow detail. Typically, leave this at its default often 0 or 50 in calibrated modes.
- Contrast White Level: Controls the white level. Too high, you lose highlight detail. too low, the image looks flat. Again, often good at default in calibrated modes e.g., 50.
- Sharpness: Generally, turn this down to 0 or 5. Modern 4K content is already sharp. Boosting sharpness can introduce artificial halos and edge enhancement, making the image look unnatural.
- Color and Tint: In Film Mode, these are usually accurate. Avoid adjusting them unless you have calibration equipment.
- Local Dimming: Set to High or Standard. This controls the effectiveness of the Mini-LED backlight. High usually gives the best contrast performance, though in some rare cases, it might introduce a bit more blooming. Experiment slightly to see what looks best to you.
- Contrast Enhancer: Turn Off. This is an artificial processing feature that can crush blacks and whites.
- Film Mode Picture Clarity Settings: This refers to judder and blur reduction.
- Auto Motion Plus: This is Samsung’s motion interpolation feature the “soap opera effect”.
- For Movies 24p content: Set Judder Reduction to 0 or “Off”. This preserves the cinematic look. If you can’t stand judder, experiment with low settings, but be aware of the “soap opera effect.”
- For Sports/Gaming: You might want to experiment with Blur Reduction or a low level of Judder Reduction to make fast motion smoother, but watch for artifacts.
- LED Clear Motion Black Frame Insertion: This can improve motion clarity but dims the image. Use for gaming if you prioritize ultimate clarity and don’t mind the brightness reduction.
- Auto Motion Plus: This is Samsung’s motion interpolation feature the “soap opera effect”.
- Noise Reduction Digital Clean View, MPEG Noise Filter, etc.: Turn Off for 4K content. Only enable if you are watching very low-quality, compressed content e.g., old DVDs, very blocky streaming. These features can soften the image.
HDR Specific Settings
When watching HDR content, the QN90B often defaults to its optimal settings, but keep these in mind:
- Peak Brightness: Usually set to “High” or “Maximum” automatically in HDR modes. Leave it there to get the full HDR impact.
- HDR Tone Mapping: This is often an automatic process. The QN90B uses its processor to map the HDR signal to its capabilities. There might be a setting like “Dynamic Tone Mapping” – usually best to leave it on for the most impactful HDR.
Gaming Specific Settings
- Game Mode: Ensure it’s active for any console or PC input.
- Input Signal Plus: Ensure this is enabled for all HDMI 2.1 ports connected to gaming consoles or PCs. This activates full bandwidth for 4K/120Hz and HDR.
- Game Bar: Remember to utilize the Game Bar for quick access to FPS, VRR status, and other gaming-specific settings.
By taking a few minutes to adjust these settings, you’ll ensure your Samsung QN90B is performing at its absolute peak, delivering the best possible picture quality for all your content. Samsung 65 Inch Class The Frame Qled Tv Review
Don’t be afraid to experiment, but always start with a “calibrated” mode like Film Mode for the most accurate foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Neo QLED technology on the Samsung QN90B?
Neo QLED is Samsung’s premium LCD TV technology that uses Mini-LED backlighting.
This means tens of thousands of tiny LEDs control individual dimming zones, allowing for incredibly precise light control, deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and reduced blooming compared to traditional LED LCD TVs.
Is the Samsung QN90B good for bright rooms?
Yes, the Samsung QN90B is exceptionally good for bright rooms. Its incredibly high peak brightness often over 2,000 nits combined with an effective anti-reflection screen coating ensures that the picture remains vibrant and clear, with minimal glare, even in well-lit environments.
Does the Samsung QN90B support Dolby Vision?
No, the Samsung QN90B does not support Dolby Vision. It supports HDR10 and HDR10+ Samsung’s proprietary dynamic HDR format, along with HLG. While its HDR performance is outstanding, it won’t display content mastered in Dolby Vision with dynamic metadata. Hp Scanjet Pro 3600 F1 Review
How many HDMI 2.1 ports does the QN90B have?
The Samsung 65-inch QN90B has four HDMI 2.1 ports, making it highly capable for connecting multiple next-gen gaming consoles PS5, Xbox Series X and PCs, supporting features like 4K @ 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM.
What is the native refresh rate of the Samsung QN90B?
Is the QN90B good for gaming?
Yes, the QN90B is excellent for gaming. It offers extremely low input lag as low as 5ms at 4K/120Hz, four HDMI 2.1 ports with support for VRR FreeSync Premium Pro, HDMI Forum VRR and ALLM, and a dedicated Game Bar for quick settings adjustments.
Does the QN90B have a risk of burn-in?
No, the QN90B uses a Mini-LED LCD panel, which is an inorganic technology and is not susceptible to permanent image retention burn-in, unlike OLED panels.
What smart TV platform does the QN90B use?
The Samsung QN90B uses Samsung’s proprietary Tizen OS smart TV platform, which offers a wide array of streaming apps, voice assistant integration Bixby, Alexa, Google Assistant, and smart home connectivity via SmartThings.
Can I control the QN90B with voice commands?
Yes, the QN90B supports multiple voice assistants, including Samsung Bixby, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, allowing you to control the TV and search for content using your voice.
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Does the QN90B come with a remote that doesn’t need batteries?
Yes, the QN90B comes with Samsung’s SolarCell Remote, which features a small solar panel on the back for charging via ambient light, significantly reducing the need for disposable batteries. It also has a USB-C port for quick charging.
What is Object Tracking Sound+ OTS+ on the QN90B?
Object Tracking Sound+ OTS+ is a Samsung audio technology that uses multiple speakers around the TV’s frame to create a more immersive soundstage.
It attempts to make the sound follow the on-screen action, enhancing realism.
Can the QN90B work with a soundbar?
Yes, the QN90B works seamlessly with soundbars. It also supports Q-Symphony, a unique feature that allows the TV’s built-in speakers to work in conjunction with compatible Samsung Q-Series soundbars for a fuller, more expansive sound experience.
What is the difference between QLED and Neo QLED?
QLED TVs use quantum dots to enhance color and brightness with a traditional LED backlight. Neo QLED takes it a step further by replacing traditional LEDs with much smaller Mini-LEDs for the backlight, allowing for significantly more local dimming zones and thus superior contrast, deeper blacks, and even higher peak brightness.
Are the viewing angles good on the QN90B?
The viewing angles on the QN90B are good for an LCD TV, especially with Samsung’s “Ultra Viewing Angle” layer, but they are not as wide or perfect as those on OLED TVs. You may notice some slight color and brightness degradation when viewing from very wide off-angles.
Does the QN90B have good black levels?
Yes, thanks to its Mini-LED backlighting and advanced local dimming, the QN90B achieves exceptionally deep, inky black levels for an LCD TV, coming very close to OLED performance in this regard.
What is the “soap opera effect” and how do I turn it off on the QN90B?
The “soap opera effect” also known as motion interpolation or motion smoothing is caused by the TV generating extra frames to make motion appear smoother. To reduce or eliminate it on the QN90B, go to Picture settings > Picture Clarity Settings > Auto Motion Plus and set Judder Reduction to 0 or turn the feature off.
Is the QN90B suitable for wall mounting?
Yes, the QN90B has a slim “NeoSlim” design and is suitable for wall mounting. It supports standard VESA mounting patterns.
Does the QN90B support HDR10+ Adaptive?
Yes, the QN90B supports HDR10+ Adaptive, which uses a light sensor to optimize HDR10+ content based on the ambient lighting conditions in your room.
What is Samsung’s Game Bar feature?
The Game Bar is an on-screen overlay on the QN90B accessible with a long press of the Play/Pause button on the remote that provides quick access to gaming-specific information like FPS, VRR status, input lag, and the ability to change aspect ratios for PC gaming.
Does the QN90B consume a lot of power?
Like any high-brightness TV, the QN90B will consume more power than smaller or less bright models, especially when displaying HDR content at full brightness.
However, it also includes eco-sensors and power-saving features that can help optimize consumption.
Can I connect Bluetooth headphones to the QN90B?
Yes, the Samsung QN90B supports Bluetooth, allowing you to connect wireless headphones, earbuds, or other Bluetooth audio devices directly to the TV.
What’s the main difference between the QN90B and the QN95B?
The primary difference between the QN90B and the QN95B in regions where the QN95B is available is often the inclusion of an external One Connect Box on the QN95B, which houses all the TV’s ports and electronics, allowing for a single, thin cable to run to the display.
The QN90B has its ports directly on the back of the TV.
Is the Samsung QN90B worth the price?
The Samsung QN90B is a premium TV, and its price reflects its cutting-edge Mini-LED technology, exceptional brightness, precise local dimming, and robust gaming features.
For users who prioritize a high-performance TV for bright rooms and next-gen gaming, it offers significant value and is considered worth the investment.
How does the QN90B handle reflections?
The QN90B features an excellent anti-reflection screen coating that is highly effective at diffusing reflections from windows and lights, making it a top performer in rooms with significant ambient light.
Can I browse the internet on the QN90B?
Yes, the Tizen OS platform on the QN90B includes a built-in web browser, allowing you to surf the internet directly on your TV screen.
Does the QN90B support screen mirroring from phones?
Yes, the QN90B supports screen mirroring from compatible smartphones via technologies like Samsung SmartView and Apple AirPlay 2, allowing you to cast content or mirror your device’s screen onto the TV.
What is the “Ambient Mode+” feature?
Ambient Mode+ on the QN90B allows the TV to blend into your decor when not in use.
Instead of a black rectangle, it can display artwork, photos, weather information, or mimic the wall texture behind it.
How often does Samsung release software updates for the QN90B?
Samsung generally provides regular firmware updates for its premium TVs like the QN90B, typically several times a year, to improve performance, add features, and fix bugs.
What is the best picture mode for watching movies on the QN90B?
For the most accurate and cinematic viewing experience when watching movies on the QN90B, the “Film Mode” is generally recommended. If available via a software update, “Filmmaker Mode” is also an excellent option.
What kind of stand does the 65-inch QN90B have?
The 65-inch Samsung QN90B typically comes with a central pedestal stand, which provides stability and allows the TV to be placed on narrower TV stands.
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