⚡️ Quick Verdict - SAMSUNG QN90C Neo QLED (2023)
- Best For: Bright room viewing, HDR content, gaming enthusiasts.
- Strengths: Outstanding brightness, excellent anti-glare screen, robust gaming features.
- Drawbacks: Occasional blooming in dark scenes, Tizen OS can be complex.
- Verdict: A high-performance 4K TV excelling in bright environments and delivering a premium HDR and gaming experience.
⚖️ Pros & Cons Explained
| Aspect | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Picture Quality | Users report exceptional brightness that makes HDR content pop, even in sunlit rooms. The Mini LED backlight technology provides deep blacks and strong contrast for an LED-based TV. | Some users note visible blooming around bright objects on very dark backgrounds, particularly with subtitles or complex dark scenes. Color accuracy can require calibration for optimal results. |
| Anti-Glare Screen | Many users praise the TV's highly effective anti-reflection coating, which significantly reduces glare from windows or room lights, enhancing daytime viewing. | While effective, some sensitive users found the anti-glare layer can sometimes give a slight hazy or rainbow effect on bright direct light sources, though this is generally minor. |
| Gaming Performance | Gamers consistently highlight the low input lag, 144Hz refresh rate (on some sizes), and inclusion of FreeSync Premium Pro, which contribute to a very fluid and responsive gaming experience. | Some users report occasional firmware glitches that can affect gaming features, requiring updates. |
| Smart Features (Tizen OS) | The Tizen OS is generally found to be fast and responsive, offering a wide array of apps and smart home integration. | Some users find the interface can feel cluttered or overwhelming, with a focus on Samsung's proprietary services and ads that can detract from the user experience. |
🔧 What’s Included? & Why It Matters
| Component/Technology | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Neo QLED (Mini LED Backlight) | Utilizes thousands of tiny LEDs to achieve finer control over brightness and contrast, leading to deeper blacks and brighter highlights compared to traditional LED TVs. This improves HDR performance and overall picture quality. |
| Neural Quantum Processor 4K | This advanced processor uses AI-based neural networks to optimize picture and sound quality on a scene-by-scene basis, enhancing upscaling of lower-resolution content to 4K and improving color accuracy and contrast. |
| Anti-Reflection Screen | A specialized layer on the screen minimizes glare and reflections from ambient light sources, making the TV highly suitable for bright living rooms and improving viewing comfort. |
| Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) | Multiple speakers placed around the TV create a more immersive audio experience, with sound that appears to follow the on-screen action, enhancing realism for movies and games. |
| Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro | Enables support for high refresh rates up to 144Hz (on some models/sizes) and VRR technologies, crucial for smooth, tear-free gaming on compatible consoles and PCs. |
💰 Is It Worth It? – Value & Cost Efficiency
| Aspect | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Long-Term Value | The QN90C offers cutting-edge display technology like Mini LED and advanced gaming features, suggesting a relatively future-proof investment for a few years, especially for consumers prioritizing brightness and gaming. | As with any high-end TV, rapid advancements in display technology mean new models with incremental improvements are released annually, potentially reducing perceived long-term value for early adopters. |
| Feature Set vs. Performance | Its combination of extreme brightness, effective anti-glare, comprehensive gaming suite, and premium build quality justifies its positioning as a top-tier LED TV, delivering on its promises for a high-end experience. | While excellent, certain specific aspects, such as absolute black levels, are still surpassed by OLED technology, meaning users prioritizing perfect blacks above all else might find better value elsewhere despite the QN90C's strengths. |
| Ecosystem Integration | Integration with Samsung's SmartThings ecosystem and Bixby voice assistant offers convenience for users already invested in Samsung devices or smart home setups. | Reliance on Samsung's proprietary ecosystem might limit flexibility for users who prefer other smart home platforms or voice assistants as their primary control method. |
🔁 Samsung Comparison – How This Version Improves Over Previous Models
| Aspect | Samsung QN90B Neo QLED (2022) | Samsung QN90C Neo QLED (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh Rate | Up to 120Hz (all sizes) | Up to 144Hz (on some sizes) |
| Local Dimming Algorithm | Advanced local dimming | Refined local dimming algorithm (reportedly reduces blooming further) |
| Picture Processing | Neural Quantum Processor 4K | Enhanced Neural Quantum Processor 4K (improved upscaling and tone mapping) |
| Anti-Reflection | Excellent anti-reflection | Marginally improved anti-reflection (subtle refinements) |
| Sound System | Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) | Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) (similar, but with potential minor refinements) |
⚔️ Alternatives vs SAMSUNG QN90C Neo QLED (2023)
| Aspect | LG C3 OLED | Sony X95L Mini LED | SAMSUNG QN90C Neo QLED (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture Technology | OLED | Mini LED | Neo QLED (Mini LED) |
| Contrast & Blacks | Perfect blacks, infinite contrast | Excellent, deep blacks with minimal blooming | Excellent, deep blacks for an LED, minor blooming |
| Brightness (HDR) | Good, but not as bright as premium LEDs | Very good, high brightness | Exceptional brightness |
| Viewing Angles | Excellent wide viewing angles | Very good, but can show minor color shift at extreme angles | Good, but some color desaturation at extreme angles |
| Motion Handling | Excellent | Exceptional, very natural motion | Excellent, smooth motion |
| Gaming Features | Comprehensive (4x HDMI 2.1, 120Hz, VRR, G-Sync/FreeSync) | Good (2x HDMI 2.1, 120Hz, VRR) | Comprehensive (4x HDMI 2.1, 144Hz, VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro) |
| Operating System | webOS | Google TV | Tizen OS |
💡 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Does the Samsung QN90C support 144Hz refresh rate for gaming?Yes, the Samsung QN90C supports a 144Hz refresh rate on certain sizes (e.g., 50-inch, 55-inch, and larger) when connected to compatible PCs. Other sizes may be limited to 120Hz.
- Is the anti-glare screen effective in bright rooms?Yes, the anti-reflection screen on the QN90C is highly effective at minimizing reflections from bright light sources or windows, making it an excellent choice for well-lit environments.
- What is the difference between Neo QLED and regular QLED?Neo QLED uses Mini LED backlighting, which employs thousands of tiny LEDs for more precise local dimming control, resulting in higher peak brightness and better contrast than regular QLED TVs that use larger LEDs.
- Does the QN90C have a good viewing angle?For an LED TV, the QN90C offers very good viewing angles, thanks to Samsung's Ultra Viewing Angle layer. While not as wide as an OLED, it minimizes color and contrast degradation when viewed from off-center positions.
- Can I wall-mount the Samsung QN90C?Yes, the Samsung QN90C is VESA compatible and can be wall-mounted. Users should verify the specific VESA pattern for their TV size.
👍 Positive Reviews - What Users Love
- The picture quality, especially with HDR content, is simply stunning, colors are vibrant, and blacks are deep for a non-OLED TV.
- The anti-glare screen is a game-changer; I can finally watch TV during the day without annoying reflections.
- Gaming on this TV is incredibly smooth and responsive, the 144Hz support makes a noticeable difference with my PC.
- The built-in sound system (OTS+) is surprisingly good, producing clear dialogue and a sense of sound coming from the screen itself.
- The design is sleek and premium, fitting well into any modern living space.
👎 Negative Reviews - What Could Be Better
- While overall excellent, blooming can be noticeable in very dark scenes, especially with bright objects on screen.
- The Tizen smart TV interface can feel a bit overwhelming with too many pre-installed apps and a somewhat busy layout.
- Out-of-the-box color accuracy could be better; professional calibration seems almost necessary to get the most accurate picture.
- Some users reported minor firmware issues that required updates to resolve, affecting initial setup or specific features.
- The remote control is minimalist, which is sleek, but some dedicated buttons for specific functions would be appreciated.
📋 Key Details & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display Type | Neo QLED (Mini LED) |
| Resolution | 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) |
| Processor | Neural Quantum Processor 4K |
| Refresh Rate | Up to 144Hz (Native) |
| HDR Support | Quantum HDR+ / HDR10+ Adaptive |
| Audio System | Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) |
| Smart TV Platform | Tizen™ Smart TV |
| Connectivity | 4x HDMI 2.1, 3x USB, Ethernet, Optical Digital Audio Out, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Gaming Features | FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, VRR, Game Bar, HGiG |
| Anti-Glare | Yes (Anti-Reflection with Ultra Viewing Angle) |
🔚 Summary – Is This the Right Choice for You?
- The Samsung QN90C Neo QLED (2023) stands out as an exceptional choice for those who watch TV in bright environments and desire vibrant, high-contrast images. Its Mini LED technology delivers impressive brightness and deep blacks for an LED panel, making HDR content truly shine.
- For gamers, the QN90C is highly appealing, offering a 144Hz refresh rate on some models, low input lag, and comprehensive VRR support for a fluid gaming experience.
- While its anti-reflection screen is a significant advantage, users sensitive to minor blooming in very dark scenes, especially around bright objects, should consider this trade-off. The Tizen OS is powerful and fast, though its interface may feel busy to some.
- Overall, if your priority is a TV that excels in bright rooms, provides a fantastic HDR picture, and offers top-tier gaming performance, the QN90C is a strong contender, offering a premium viewing experience with a few minor compromises inherent to the technology.
