Artie Beaty/ZDNETWhat’s the Black Friday deal?
Samsung is at the moment discounting as much as $2,000 off the QN90C Neo QLED mannequin. The 55-inch mannequin I examined might be had for simply $1,399 ($600 off).
Why this deal is ZDNET-recommended
Since being launched in 2021, Samsung’s Neo QLED collection of televisions has ranked excessive in its class, setting the benchmark for show high quality and options. And with this yr’s providing, the QN90C, it might simply be on the prime.
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The set is obtainable in 43 to 85 inches, however I examined the 55″ for the needs of this assessment. Retail worth on that model is $1,999.
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Samsung QN90C TV
The corporate’s newest 4K TV options mini LEDs, a Neural Quantum Processor for 4K upscaling, and a unbelievable Anti-Glare panel.
Proper out of the field, that is only a handsome TV. It has a really slim design and a super-thin bezel that actually makes the image stand out. As I used to be unboxing it, the stand additionally caught my eye. As an alternative of two legs like nearly all different TVs, the QN90C is supported by a single leg within the center, just like a pc monitor.
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Although I’ve to confess, establishing that stand was a little bit cumbersome, a lot in order that after I learn the guide and began placing it collectively, I needed to refer again to the directions as a result of I could not determine it out. I might think about {that a} small inconvenience, although as it is a “one and finished” kind of factor, I really feel just like the smooth, premium look was ultimately value it. The stand did have a slight wobble, particularly when my children ran by the lounge, however I used to be by no means frightened in regards to the set toppling over.
If inputs are a priority, the QN90C carries 4 HDMI ports (one eARC), all of them supporting HDMI 2.1.
Here is a more in-depth have a look at the ports on the again.
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For an working system, the set makes use of Samsung’s personal Tizen software program. This was my first expertise with Tizen, and whereas it wasn’t as user-friendly as Roku or Google TV, I used to be in a position to navigate the place I wished to go with out a lot bother.
On the show facet, this can be a Quantum Mini-LED, which Samsung first launched in 2021. Because the title implies, the LEDs are a lot smaller right here than typical, main to raised backlight management. Samsung claims to take {that a} step additional although, with microlayers contained in the LEDs, eliminating noise.
There’s help for HDR10 and HDR10+, and on-line studies put the brightness at practically 2,000 nits — which means it is brilliant sufficient for many residence and workplace environments.
My front room has a good quantity of pure mild shining the place my TV sits, and I am going to positively say this set’s show thrives in that surroundings — largely as a result of its anti-reflection movie. There are occasions with my on a regular basis tv that I’ve to shut my blinds due to glare, however the QN90C was brilliant sufficient which made that pointless. I fired up a private favourite, Netflix’s Stranger Issues, to check the show, and it was truthfully essentially the most I’ve loved that present visually.
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The QN90C additionally makes use of native dimming management, which takes unused electrical energy from darkish areas of the display and diverts it to brighter areas. I used to be impressed with how that labored right here, as darkish scenes had been darkish as meant, however black ranges nonetheless had a distinction the place issues had been clearly seen. Brilliant colours popped superbly, and scenes with quick motion confirmed no indicators of blur.
So far as upscaling content material Samsung has its Neural Quantum Processor on board, which makes use of AI so as to add depth and sharpness to content material whatever the authentic decision — primarily making every thing 4K. I examined this out with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and completely liked how issues seemed. I’ve had televisions the place the upscaling produced outcomes far too unnatural wanting, however the QN90C does this very nicely.
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On the subject of sound, this set is a lot adequate as-is. It does help Dolby Atmos, however even and not using a sound bar, I might clearly hear dialogue over the bustle of my two children and canine. I hold closed captions on my on a regular basis TV for this very purpose, even when utilizing a sound bar, and it was good to have the ability to flip that off for some time.
Like different Samsung televisions, it helps what they name object monitoring, which sends sounds to the related a part of the display. For instance, when you’re watching a film with a racing scene, you will audibly discover the engine sound roar left to proper together with the automotive.
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After I began digging into the gaming options although, I discovered the place this tv actually shined. It has a really low enter lag (underneath 10ms), a 120Hz show, help for variable refresh price, and Samsung’s above-average Sport Bar function.
Holding the pause/play button whereas a online game console is on brings up the menu overlay, and from there you possibly can dig into the settings like Sport Image Mode (there are six to select from, plus two customized choices), Sport Movement Plus (which reduces movement blur and improves image high quality), and an on-screen crosshair (with three colour choices).
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From that bar, there is a deeper sport mode settings possibility, which helps you to tune the black equalizer, select “primary” or “superior” for HDR, and even select the extent of judder discount and blur discount.
Most informal avid gamers would not dive this deep into these settings, however for critical avid gamers, this can be a unbelievable factor to have. It is the deepest stage of customization I’ve seen from a gaming menu. In reality, I might name this simply one of many finest gaming TVs I’ve come throughout.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Samsung QN90C TV has a number of minor annoyances — I am hesitant to name the wobbliness and set up course of shortcomings — however its image high quality in each occasion and gaming options greater than made up for these. For those who’re searching for a premium-level TV that does nicely in any surroundings with any type of content material, hold this one excessive in your checklist.