Samsung is probably the best known and largest TV manufacturer. The Korean company uses almost exclusively VA-LCD panels for its TVs. Thus, all TVs have good black levels and a high contrast ratio. With QLEDs, the Quantum Dot layer is added.
The 2020 Samsung televisions are richly equipped with Dolby Digital, Amazon Alexa and HDR10+. Unfortunately, you have to do without DTS sound formats, Google Assistant and Dolby Vision.
The 2021 lineup brings new QLEDs and, for the first time, the new Neo QLEDs, which use a mini LED backlight. This allows the picture to be illuminated equally strongly, since there are significantly more dimming zones. Thus, a much higher contrast can be achieved, which has a positive effect on the picture quality.
The year 2022 holds many interesting news in store. One of these first-time news is the upcoming QD OLEDs or QD displays as Samsung calls them.
So, besides Sony, Samsung also wants to bring out QD OLEDs in 2022 and Samsung is already stocking up on orders for the range of “normal” OLED TVs as well, according to The Elec.
The South Korean company Samsung has also ordered LCD panels from LG Display, which suggests LCDLCD = Liquid Crystal Display – a type of screen using liquid crystals for creating the image TVs in the future. It was also revealed that Samsung will continue to focus on 8K mini-LED TVs, or as Samsung calls them, 8K Neo QLEDs, and that they will represent the top of the lineup.
In terms of sales, Samsung plans to sell 3 million 8k and 4k Neo TVs, 1.5 million 4k W OLED TVs and 500 thousand 4K QD OLEDs.
As with its predecessors, Samsung has launched the AU8000, a TV that offers a great price-performance ratio for many users. Its strengths clearly include the smart features, which are inferior to those of the expensive QLED range in very little. The picture in a dark environment is especially noteworthy here, as it is best suited for this. Thanks to the improved reflection behavior, it can still produce a quite respectable picture even in brighter surroundings, which is really an impressive feat 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 compromises when it comes to some features. For example, the AU8000 does not have FALD and an HDMI 2.1 port is also not available.
In direct comparison to the AU7000, the Samsung AU8000 has a slightly better picture, the Bixby Assistant, and an Ambient Mode that can present pictures in a turned-off state – but you have to pay a little extra for that.
The Samsung Q60A is the most affordable model from Samsung’s 2021 QLED lineup. The direct difference to the UHD series here is the Quantum Dot layer, which is described in more detail again below in the glossary.
Samsung’s Q60A is a TV for everyday use that does without features like HDMI2.1 or Dolby Vison.
In direct comparison with the Samsung AU8079, it is noticeable that the differences between the two are not particularly large. Both are solid TVs from Samsung’s 2021 lineup, but since the Q60A sits in the higher-end QLED lineup, it performs slightly better in most categories accordingly. It has a wider color gamut and gets brighter with HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content, making highlights stand out more than on the AU8000. On the other hand, the AU8000 has a better reflection behavior, 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 like only a few differences can be noticed, as Samsung upgrades to 120Hz instead of a 60Hz panel here, and other features are included as well. 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 in terms of color 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 lineup is the QN85A Neo QLED, which, unlike the Q80A, is equipped with a mini LED backlight.
The main difference between the Q80A and the rest of the 2021 QLED lineup is that the Q80A is equipped with an ADS panel instead of a VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel. In direct comparison with the Q70A, we can see that the ADS panel primarily has a positive effect on the viewing angle. Apart from that, it becomes much brighter with HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content, which makes it stand out better in highlight. One drawback of an ADS panel is the lower contrast, which is worse than the Q70A even in combination with a full array local dimming feature, which the Q80A has.
Ultimately, both TVs are very similar or even the same in the case of the smart TV and gaming features. Thus, 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 VA panel with significantly higher contrast and a deep and even black, making their picture quality clearly superior. In return, the viewing angle is quite limited, making the Q80A and Q70A even more similar in size.
The cheapest Neo QLED of this year’s Samsung lineup 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. However, there is a lot of room for improvement here. Furthermore, 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 port, it offers all the features you need 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., a low input lag and [email protected] The built-in ADS panel also makes the viewing angle very wide, which means multiplayer games are no problem.
The 85-inch variant has a VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel, which has a positive effect on the contrast since it is significantly higher.
Compared to the Q80A, the top model of this year’s QLED lineup, you notice clear differences. Due to the fact that the QN85A has a layer against reflections built in, the model can handle reflections better. 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.
With a built-in VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel, the QN90A can achieve a contrast ratio of 26000:1, which is an unbeaten value among the new Neo QLEDs. Combined with a deep and even black and a peak brightness of 1800Nits, the TV can display HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content wonderfully. The viewing angle, which is actually narrow, is significantly widened by an Ultra Viewing Angle layer, so you can still fully enjoy the picture even at an oblique angle. The QN90A can also handle reflections well, as it has a corresponding layer built in.
With only one HDMI 2.1 ports, the Neo QLED still delivers everything the new consoles need. A low input lag paired with a 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 solid motion handling, the TV offers gamers everything they need. However, Dolby VisionDynamic HDR-format with a color depth of up to 12 Bits and Mastering of up to 10,000 Nits is still missing.
Comparing the two Neo QLEDs, we notice that the QN90A performs much better in HDR, SDRStandard Dynamic Range – image/video with a conventional gamma curve (opposite: HDR) – “normal” videos, and movies and series. This is due to the VA panel in combination with the local dimming function, which can produce a contrast of 26000:1 and therefore an amazing picture.
The QN800A not only features the new Mini LED backlight, but can also shine with its 8K resolution. This allows the TV to achieve a contrast ratio 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 expanded significantly and another layer minimizes reflections.
Gamers will also get their money’s worth, as four HDMI 2.1 ports are present 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 provided with any content so far.
The QN90A is almost the same TV in a direct comparison, just with a 4K resolution, a much higher contrast and a much cheaper price. Additionally, the QN800A has four instead of just one HDMI 2.1 ports.
The QN900A is the top of this year’s lineup and can convince with a very high-quality Infinity Screen design. The Neo QLED achieves a contrast ratio 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 due to its local dimming function, which makes it produce an excellent picture in bright rooms.
The VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel’s narrow viewing angle is extended by an Ultra Viewing Angle layer, which means that no one on the sofa has to miss out on good picture quality. The TV can also convince in the gaming field, even though it only has one HDMI 2.1 port. However, it provides 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 games run smoothly and without input delays due to the low input lag.
Comparing Samsung’s two 8K behemoths, we can only see minor differences. The contrast ratio is twice as high on the QN900A, which has a fundamental impact on the picture quality. This is the reason HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) content looks significantly better.
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 a wider color gamut. However, improvements have also been made to the new model’s response time and backlight, which is now completely flicker-free. Another feature reserved for the newer model is that The Frame 2021 supports 4k @ 120Hz 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 for that.
The unique selling point of The Frame is clearly its design. It is supposed to look like a painting and can present artwork even in off mode. This, coupled with the no-gap wall mount, allows it to blend in with other pictures. When needed, it can be conveniently turned on and used as a regular TV.
The “Crystal UHD TV” TU7000 represents the low-cost entry level model of the Samsung 2020 lineup. With its VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel, it has a relatively high contrast, but the picture from the side appears a bit washed out. Unfortunately, the TU7000 doesn’t offer a wide color gamut and rather low brightness, which makes it more suitable for darker room environments, such as movie nights. The TU7000 has a refresh rateHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s – When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second. of only 60 HzHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s – When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second., but the motion handling is altogether satisfactory for its price class: The response time is low at around 6 ms, so fast moving objects hardly leave behind a veil. In addition, the backlight flickers at 120 Hz, which the human eye can hardly perceive. In gaming, it offers advantages and disadvantages: Firstly, the input lag is very low, which is still supported by the existing Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLMAuto Low Latency Mode – Automatically detects connected consoles and keeps input lag as low as possible.). But HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) gaming doesn’t work perfectly, as the input lag increases here. And also an HDMI 2.1 connection and therefore a VRRVariable Refresh Rate – synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the output refresh rate of the graphics card is unfortunately missing.
In terms of sound, the device clearly lacks bass. Dolby AtmosObject-based surround sound format with 3D-Sound from any direction is present, but DTSMulti-channel-sound-system (Surround Sound) competing with Dolby Digital and Dolby DigitalMulti-channel-sound-system for up to 5.1 channel Surround Sound are not. Furthermore, there is no Twin Tuner and thus no functions like TimeShift and PVRPersonal Video Recorder, recording TV programs to a USB-Memory Device.
The next higher model in Samsung’s 2020 lineup is the TU8000, which is almost identical to the TU7000. Both the design and the performance are close together. The TU8000 has a slightly better contrast with 6400:1 and gets a bit brighter with 300 nitsSI unit of luminance: 1 nit = 1 cd/m2 – The best way of measuring and comparing a TVs brightness . Its response time is ~5 ms, which results in less motion blur. The input lag at 4K 60Hz SDRStandard Dynamic Range – image/video with a conventional gamma curve (opposite: HDR) – “normal” videos gaming is almost identical, only at 4K 60Hz HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) the TU7000 performs considerably better. But since HDR content is not really different from SDR on both devices, this difference is not very important. The included remote control of the TU8000 is the One Remote, which is a bit more comfortable than Samsung’s standard remote. It is also used for the more expensive QLEDs.
The Samsung Q60T may be the cheapest model in the QLED range from 2020, but it is superior to the UHD devices. It has an Edge LED backlight. The black level of the Samsung QLEDs is very good. So, unlike the lower UHD TVs, it is also suitable in bright rooms. As the first TV from the Samsung 2020 lineup, the Q60T offers a wide color gamut. Unfortunately, the response time of around 8ms is slightly longer than the TU8000. The contrast is a bit higher at 7000:1, as is the maximum brightness with 500 nitsSI unit of luminance: 1 nit = 1 cd/m2 – The best way of measuring and comparing a TVs brightness . In terms of gaming, it unfortunately doesn’t offer more than the TU series.
The Q70T is to be placed directly above the Q60T. In comparison to the latter, it has a refresh rateHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s – When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second. of 120 HzHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s – When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second. as well as a slightly higher contrast, a higher peak brightness and a slightly shorter response time. Moreover, judder can’t be found in any resource. The Q70T is also better suited for gaming: Thanks to VRRVariable Refresh Rate – synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the output refresh rate of the graphics card via FreeSyncVariable Refresh Rate with AMD graphics cards or consoles and an HDMI 2.1 connection, nothing stands in the way of smooth gaming – even with the new console generation.
The viewing angle and also the reflection handling of the Q80T are significantly better than that of its less expensive sister models: Samsung has used the Ultra Viewing Angle layer to compensate for the blurred image of the VAVertical Alignment, type of LCD Panel panel from the side. Unfortunately, contrast and brightness suffer a bit from this. The rates are still relatively high, but the contrast ratio is clearly below the one of the the Q70T, while the peak brightness is higher.
The Q90T is the highest ranking QLED from Samsung’s 2020 lineup. The Ultra Viewing Angle coating is also used here. Thanks to Full Array Local Dimming and 96 dimming zones, it achieves an excellent contrast ratio of 10500:1, and the peak brightness of around 1150 nitsSI unit of luminance: 1 nit = 1 cd/m2 – The best way of measuring and comparing a TVs brightness is also significantly higher than the Q80T.
The Q800T is the most affordable of two 8K models from Samsung’s QLED series. Except for the higher resolution and a more powerful processor, it is very similar to the Q90T in terms of performance. However, the Q90T can get a little brighter, which the Q800T compensates with a better full array local dimming with 480 zones.
“The Frame” and its sales variant “The Serif” represent the lifestyle models from Samsung, whose focus is on additional design features. They do not belong to the QLED series, but can be compared with it. Overall, The Frame and Q70T perform relatively similar. Like the Q70T, The Frame also doesn’t have local dimming. The maximum brightness and contrast are somewhat better than on the Q70T. The Q70T’s response time is also slightly worse and it produces judder. It’s a pity that The Frame also lacks a layer to improve the viewing angle. This is only reserved for the better QLED models. Unfortunately The Frame also doesn’t have a twin tuner and therefore doesn’t allow PVRPersonal Video Recorder, recording TV programs to a USB-Memory Device and TimeShift.
Samsung is on of the market leader among TV manufacturers and was for example the first to release a complete 3D lineup in 2010. The South Korean company relies on key features, such as the Quantum Dot technology (QLED) developed specifically for the display sector and the Quantum Processor 8K in combination with artificial intelligence (AI). Another characteristic feature of Samsung is the almost exclusively installed VA panel. The company advertises its “Anti-Glare” development on the QLED models, which is supposed to produce a strong brightness and high contrast. Another keyword is “Dual-LED“, Samsung’s patented backlight technology, which uses two different types of LEDs with different color temperatures to provide high native contrast. Only the high-end models also feature full array local dimming.
In the area of sound, the manufacturer is focusing on three special features: Object Tracking Sound (OTS), Active Voice Amplifier (AVA), an adjustment of the sound to the respective ambient noise and Q-Symphony, which is used to expand the audio range of the internal speakers with a soundbar.
Unfortunately, the Dolby VisionDynamic HDR-format with a color depth of up to 12 Bits and Mastering of up to 10,000 Nits and DTSMulti-channel-sound-system (Surround Sound) competing with Dolby Digital formats are not available on Samsung TVs. The fact that the DTS audio format isn’t supported by the TV isn’t that bad, as it’s easy to find a solution to solve the problem. But the fact that the high-end models in particular don’t support Dolby Vision is really annoying, as Dolby Vision will almost certainly prevail among the dynamic HDRHigh Dynamic Range – image/video with more dynamic range (contrast range) formats and the better Samsung TVs would actually have the necessary test values to display Dolby Vision content effectively.
In the Smart TV category, the key features are the Tizen OS software and the Smart Remote control. Since 2019 the models also bring Apple TV and AirPlay 2 with them.
In general, Samsung represents a minimalist design in which the lifestyle models “The Frame”, “The Serif” and “The Sero” stand out. The new Samsung models feature an Infinity Screen with a 99 percent screen to body ratio.
For your orientation: Samsung’s model designations consist of letters and numbers. The letters used stand for the year of release (from K=2016 to T=2020), while the number says something about the quality of the TV model. Roughly speaking, the higher it is, the better the TV. The letter Q indicates that this is a QLED model.
QLED refers to TVs or monitors that use an LCDLCD = Liquid Crystal Display – a type of screen using liquid crystals for creating the image panel and have a Quantum-Dot layer in front of the LED backlight. This Quantum-Dot layer enables greater color space coverage and color accuracy through more precise basic colors. There are similar technologies from other manufacturers, which are then called either QLED (TCL), NanoCell (LG) or Triluminos (Sony).
The so-called Quantum Dot layer of Samsung’s QLED models is added to the various layers of the LCDLCD = Liquid Crystal Display – a type of screen using liquid crystals for creating the image panel. It ensures that the light of the (possibly different colored) backlight is split into the monochromatic wavelengths of either red, green or blue. The color depends on the size of the quantum dot. With this technique, higher brightness and a larger color space coverage can be achieved.
Dual LED is the name of a new backlighting technology and as a result is a Samsung word mark. Two types of LEDs are used here. They produce different color temperatures: about 5,000 Kelvin for warm light and about 20,000 Kelvin for rather cold light. They change between these depending on the content of the picture. Samsung expects this to result in a higher contrast value and better color accuracy. This technology can be found in the mid-range QLEDS Q60T and Q70T, the TU8509 and the lifestyle model The Frame.
Micro LED is a development of self-luminous LEDs, which form the individual pixels of the display. It has not yet been used in any marketable Samsung TV, but is constantly being developed further. It is reminiscent of OLED technology, but is supposed to work without its disadvantages. Inorganic LEDs are used for this purpose, which can be much brighter than OLEDs but, unlike OLEDs, do not overheat and consume significantly less energy. To achieve this, only red, yellow and blue subpixels are used. The Micro LED technology is supposed to combine perfect black and an almost infinite contrast with good brightness and color accuracy.
QD-OLED combines, as the name suggests, QLED and OLED technology. Unlike LG’s OLEDs, QD-OLEDs do not use an RGB OLED layer that glows white and is then colored by color filters. Instead, only blue OLEDs are used together with a yellow reflective film and quantum dots (QD) to create red and green subpixels. The goal is to combine the natural and saturated colors of a QLED with the advantages of an OLED, such as deep black and very high contrast. The QD-OLED panels from Samsung Display use only two emitting LCDLCD = Liquid Crystal Display – a type of screen using liquid crystals for creating the image layers for this purpose.
An “8K” resolution describes a resolution of 7680 x 4320p, which in comparison to 4K as UHD, should actually be called UHD-2. It is important to note that such a high resolution of the device is only useful if the content played was produced in this resolution. Otherwise it comes to “upscaling“, i.e. the picture is enlarged so that it fits on the TV. Unfortunately, this can partly even worsen the image quality.
With the Object Tracking Sound (OTS) feature, Samsung is trying to enhance the home cinema feeling. It is designed to track moving objects in the picture and then play the corresponding sound from the appropriate speaker at the right position. For example, on Samsung models with a 4.2.2 sound format, the speakers are located at the bottom, sides and top of the TV. However, object tracking sound is rather difficult on televisions with a screen size of less than 49 inches, as the speakers are too close together to create a really noticeable effect. Unfortunately, this feature also doesn’t work with film material with stereo sound.
Samsung’s Active Voice Amplifier (or “AVA” for short) is designed to provide “clear dialogues in all environments”. This feature allows the TV to recognise the (disturbing) ambient noise and adjust the volume of the voices in the scene accordingly.
In Samsung’s QLEDs, Q-Symphony refers to a 2.2.2 channel sound system designed to expand the audio range of the TV’s internal speakers when connected to a soundbar. This means: If you use a suitable Samsung soundbar, the treble channels of the TV remain active, which then extends the soundbar by 2 treble channels or improves the surround sound sound stage.
refresh rateHertz is the derived SI-unit of frequency with 1Hz=1/s – When talking about TVs this means how many different pictures a TV can display in one second.“glosLCDLCD = Liquid Crystal Display – a type of screen using liquid crystals for creating the imagey-tooltip glossary-term-162158″ tabindex=”0″>FreeSyncVariable Refresh Rate with AMD graphics cards or consoles is the name of the variable refresh rate for LCD displays and for AMD graphics cards. It is used in Samsung televisions and is interesting for gamers. FreeSync helps to avoid screen tearing and judder by synchronizing the signal of the graphics card and the refresh rate of the TV. The advantage of FreeSync is that the refresh rate of the TV is constantly adapted to the performance of the graphics card.