Samsung TV Lineup 2021 – Neo QLEDs & more

The most affordable Neo QLED in this year’s Samsung line-up is the first of a total of six TVs with the Mini LED backlight. Together with Full Array Local Dimming, the QN85A can achieve a contrast of 2000:1, which is a good value.

In addition, the Neo QLED gets bright enough with ~1250 nitsSI unit of luminance: 1 nit = 1 cd/m² – The best way of measuring and comparing a TVs brightness   to shine even in dark environments. Unfortunately, Samsung still has to do without Dolby VisionDynamic HDR-format with a color depth of up to 12 Bits and Mastering of up to 10,000 Nits.

Although the QN85A only has an HDMI 2.1 interface, it offers all the features needed for the new consoles. VRRVariable Refresh Rate – synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the output refresh rate of the graphics card, ALLMAuto Low Latency Mode – Automatically detects connected consoles and keeps input lag as low as possible., low input lag and 4K@120Hz. Thanks to the built-in ADS panel, the viewing angle is also very wide, which means that multiplayer games are no problem.

The 85-inch version has a VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel, which has a positive effect on the contrast, as it is significantly higher.

Compared to the Q80A, the top model of this year’s QLED series, you notice clear differences. Because the QN85A has an anti-reflective layer, the model can better deal with reflections.

This makes the Neo QLED even more suitable for brightly lit rooms. Even though the contrast and brightness values are not very far apart, it is quite noticeable when watching HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content.

The QN90A also has the Mini LED backlight, from which the Full Array Local Dimming can clearly benefit. Despite the ADS panel, a contrast ratio of 2500:1 can be achieved, which is a good value. With a peak brightness of 1860 nitsSI unit of luminance: 1 nit = 1 cd/m² – The best way of measuring and comparing a TVs brightness  , the Neo QLED is well suited for bright rooms and an anti-reflective layer makes it almost immune to reflections.

Gamers will also have fun with the QN90A, as it has an HDMI 2.1 port and offers everything that is essential for the new consoles. In addition, Samsung now offers exciting features such as a Game Bar, which can display values such as FPS during gaming if required.

Compared to its little brother, the QN85A, we can hardly notice any differences between the two devices. Only the contrast and brightness values differ, which is why the QN90A scores slightly better.

The 50 and 85 inch versions have a VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel, which has a positive effect on the contrast, as it is significantly higher.

The QN95A is this year’s flagship of the new Neo QLED series and rightly so. First of all, the Neo QLED scores with a built-in VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel, which is why the TV achieves a contrast of 26000:1 thanks to Full Array Local Dimming and Mini LED backlighting.

In addition, the TV produces a uniformly deep black, which makes HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content look simply outstanding. However, it should be said here that the TV artificially brightens HDR content, making dark scenes in particular look brighter than intended.

To counteract the very narrow viewing angle of a VA panel, the QN95A has an Ultra Viewing Angle layer, which means you don’t have to put up with any loss of picture quality even from an oblique angle. An additional layer helps to significantly minimise reflections, which is why the TV is very good in bright rooms.

For gamers, the QN95A is an almost perfect TV, as it has four HDMI 2.1 interfaces and thus provides everything the new consoles need. However, the lack of Dolby VisionDynamic HDR-format with a color depth of up to 12 Bits and Mastering of up to 10,000 Nits means that Dolby Gaming is not possible with the Xbox Series X.

The contrast makes the difference compared to the QN90A. Here, the built-in VA panel on the QN95A is a clear advantage. This allows Samsung’s flagship to perform significantly better in the HDR range. In addition, the device has a One Connect Box and thus ensures clean cable management.

The QN800A not only features the new Mini LED backlight, but also boasts 8K resolution. This allows the TV to achieve a contrast of 10600:1 and a peak brightness of 1300 nitsSI unit of luminance: 1 nit = 1 cd/m² – The best way of measuring and comparing a TVs brightness  , which makes HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content look great.

Thanks to an Ultra Viewing Angle layer, the actually narrow viewing angle can be significantly expanded and an additional layer ensures that reflections are minimised.

Gamers also get their money’s worth, as four HDMI 2.1 interfaces are available and offer everything the new consoles need. VRRVariable Refresh Rate – synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the output refresh rate of the graphics card, ALLMAuto Low Latency Mode – Automatically detects connected consoles and keeps input lag as low as possible. and a low input lag ensure hours of gaming fun.

Only the sound is really negative here, as there is hardly any bass and an 8K resolution is hardly supplied with any content so far.

In a direct comparison, the QN95A is the same TV, but with a 4K resolution, a much higher contrast and a much lower price.

The QN900A is the top of this year’s line-up and can convince with a very high-quality Infinity Screen design. The Neo QLED achieves a contrast of 20000:1 and a peak brightness of 1700 nitsSI unit of luminance: 1 nit = 1 cd/m² – The best way of measuring and comparing a TVs brightness   through its local dimming function, producing an excellent picture in bright rooms.

The viewing angle of the VA panel is extended by an Ultra Viewing Angle layer, so no one on the sofa has to miss out on good picture quality. The TV is also convincing in the gaming sector, even though it only has a single HDMI 2.1 port.

However, it delivers VRRVariable Refresh Rate – synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the output refresh rate of the graphics card, ALLMAuto Low Latency Mode – Automatically detects connected consoles and keeps input lag as low as possible. and the low input lag means that games run smoothly and without input lag. Comparing Samsung’s two 8K behemoths, we can only see minor differences. The contrast is twice as high on the QN900A, which has a fundamental effect on the picture quality. HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content looks significantly better as a result.

The Samsung Q60A is the most affordable model from Samsung’s 2021 QLED series. The direct difference to the UHD range here is the Quantum Dot layer, which is described again in more detail in the glossary below. Samsung’s Q60A represents a TV for everyday use that has to do without features such as HDMI 2.1 or Dolby VisionDynamic HDR-format with a color depth of up to 12 Bits and Mastering of up to 10,000 Nits.

In direct comparison with the Samsung AU8079, it is noticeable that the differences between the two are not particularly great. Both are solid TVs from Samsung’s 2021 range, but since the Q60A sits in the higher-end QLED range, it performs slightly better in most categories accordingly.

It has a wider colour gamut and gets brighter with HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content, making highlights more prominent than on the AU8079. On the other hand, the AU8079 has a better reflection behaviour, but this only comes into play in rooms flooded with light.

The Samsung Q70A is the next most expensive model to the Q60A. Here, it’s not that few differences can be noticed, as Samsung upgrades to 120Hz instead of a 60Hz panel, and additional features are also included.

These include VRRVariable Refresh Rate – synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the output refresh rate of the graphics card, ALLMAuto Low Latency Mode – Automatically detects connected consoles and keeps input lag as low as possible. and an HDMI 2.1 interface – which clearly sets the Q70A apart from the Q60A – at least in terms of gaming features. Apart from that, the Q70A has a noticeably higher contrast, but it falls slightly short in terms of colour space and viewing angle.

Thus, the Q70A is a mid-range QLED TV from Samsung that should catch the eye of gamers in particular. Almost not worth mentioning are the smart TV features, which are also well developed here and are in no way inferior to the more expensive models.

The Samsung Q80A QLED is the top of the 2021 QLED series, so to speak. The next most expensive model in Samsung’s line-up is the QN85A Neo QLED, which unlike the Q80A has a mini-LED backlight.

The main difference between the Q80A and the rest of the 2021 QLED range is that the Q80A has been fitted with an ADS panel instead of a VA panel. A direct comparison with the Q70A shows that the ADS panel has a particularly positive effect on the viewing angle.

Apart from that, it becomes significantly brighter with HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content, which makes it stand out more. One disadvantage of an ADS panel is the lower contrast, which even in combination with a full array local dimming feature, which the Q80A has, is worse than the Q70A.

Ultimately, both TVs are very similar, or even the same in the case of the smart TV and gaming features. So one is better for different applications. It’s a good viewing angle on the Q80A versus better contrast on the Q70A.

The 50 and 85 inch variants of the Samsung Q80A use a VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel with significantly higher contrast and a deep and even black, making their picture quality clearly superior. On the other hand, the viewing angle is quite limited, making the Q80A and Q70A even more similar in size.

The Frame 2021 is the direct successor to The Frame 2020. They are extremely similar, but the 2020 model has a higher contrast and also an additional colour space range. However, improvements have also been made to the response time and the backlighting on the new model, which is now completely flicker-free.

An additional feature reserved for the newer model is that The Frame 2021 supports 4K at 120 Hertz with HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) on the PS5. In general, The Frame is very close to the QLED range and it is comparable to the Q70A. The Q70A QLED has better contrast and the brightness is also higher, but the lifestyle TV has a One Connect Box to make up for this.

The unique selling point of The Frame is clearly its design. It is supposed to look like a painting and can present works of art even when switched off. This, coupled with the No-Gap wall mount, allows it to blend in with other pictures. When needed, it can be conveniently switched on and used as a regular TV.

The AU7179 is the lowest-priced “Premium UHD TV” model in Samsung’s 2021 line-up. It entices with an excellent price-performance ratio, which it can also keep. Anyone who does not value an HDMI 2.1 interface or a VRRVariable Refresh Rate – synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the output refresh rate of the graphics card function and wants a low-priced 4K TV can buy the Samsung AU7179 with a clear conscience.

The reflection behaviour has been improved compared to the previous model, which does not make it suitable for bright rooms, but it can cope with the most common lighting conditions. Apart from missing features such as the HDMI2.1 interface mentioned above, the AU7179 is a solid choice as a gaming TV. It has a low input lag of around 10ms and it has an Auto Low Latency Mode.

Of course, you can’t expect all the features here, as these are reserved for the more expensive models, but the price is in good proportion to the quality of the TV. One aspect that the AU7179 offers and is also found in the more expensive models in this form is its Smart TV features. With the Tizen 6.0 operating system, the AU7179 offers everything you could wish for in terms of smart home features.

As with its predecessors and also with the Samsung AU7179, Samsung has launched a TV on the market with the AU8079 that has a wonderful price-performance ratio for many users. Its strengths clearly include the smart features, which are very little inferior to those of the expensive QLED range. The picture in a dark environment is particularly worth highlighting here, as it is best suited for this.

Thanks to the improved reflection behaviour, it can still produce a quite respectable picture even in brighter surroundings, which is really an impressive achievement in this price range. In terms of gaming features, it is extremely well positioned for the price range with low input lag and an Auto Low Latency Mode.

Of course, you have to make a few concessions when it comes to features. The AU8079 has no FALD and an HDMI 2.1 interface is also not available. In direct comparison to the AU7179, the Samsung AU8079 has a slightly better picture, the Bixby Assistant and an Ambient Mode that allows pictures to be presented when the TV is switched off – but you have to pay a little extra for this.