Image source: Future
A small LED TV that is both brilliant and attractive from any angle
The feature-rich Neo QLED from Samsung is highly popular.
The entry-level Neo QLED TVs from Samsung for 2023 are the QN90C series. Neo QLED TVs have a mini-LED backlight instead of a traditional LED one. Therefore, they can be brighter and have better local dimming than conventional QLED TVs.
Thanks to its mini-LED backlighting, the QN90C can achieve a peak light intensity comparable to that of Samsung’s top-of-the-line QN95C Neo QLED TVs, and it can also reach the deep blacks that local dimming is known for. Also, the QN90C performs a respectable job at rendering deep shadows, but it can’t compare to the QN95C’s OLED-like capabilities. The HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG formats are all supported, just like on other Samsung TVs, although Dolby Vision isn’t.
Ambient Mode, a Samsung feature for low-power photo and artwork display, brings out the QN90C’s excellent visual appeal thanks to its tiny form factor, narrow bezel, and solid hexagonal plate stand. While competing 4K TVs may have simpler user interfaces, this one’s Tizen smart TV platform offers many customization and extension options, especially for smart home technology.
When it comes to gaming, Samsung Neo QLED TVs shine. The QN90C, for example, has four 4K 120Hz HDMI 2.1 connectors to hook up all your next-gen gaming consoles. With cloud-based services like Xbox, Amazon Luna, Utomik, Nvidia GeForce Now, and more, its Gaming Hub considerably broadens gamers’ possibilities.
Regarding TV audio, the QN90C is above average, and it even features a feature called Object Tracking Feel Plus that can make movie soundtrack effects feel more directed. Additionally, it is compatible with Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature, which allows you to connect the TV to certain Samsung soundbars for a more immersive and lively audio experience.
Like most Samsung Neo QLED TVs, the QN90C can be expensive. Unless you’re a die-hard videophile, the differences between the two will seem insignificant, and you can get one for a lot less than the company’s flagship QN95C. You can find cheaper mini-LEDs from brands like TCL and Hisense, but they can’t hold a candle to the QN90C regarding functionality and design refinement.
Features
Samsung uses QLED panels with mini-LED backlights with full-array local dimming in its QN90C line of televisions. Regular HD images are upscaled to 4K using a Neural Quantum Processor, while a Neo Quantum HDR+ feature dynamically processes high dynamic range information. There is no support for Dolby Vision, and the HDR handling is restricted to the HDR10+ format, as is the case with other Samsung TVs. In addition to the company’s Ultra Viewing Angle technology, which enhances picture clarity even from far-off-center seats, the QN90C has an anti-glare screen coating.
Streaming media and controlling smart home devices are possible using Samsung’s proprietary Tizen smart TV interface and the Samsung SmartThings app. In addition to supporting Google Assistant and Alexa devices, the company’s Bixby tech is also included for voice requests. You can personalize the pre-set images or add your own by activating the TV’s ambient Mode, which displays various still and moving images when the screen is off.
Despite featuring a built-in 4.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos sound system, the QN90C series still manages to showcase Samsung’s NeoSlim Design. One feature, Q-Symphony 3.0, integrates the TV’s audio output with a Samsung speaker for an improved presentation, while another, Object Tracking Sound Plus processing, makes on-screen noises more realistic and lifelike.
Cloud gaming services, including Xbox, Utomik, Amazon Luna, and Nvidia GeForce Now, are compatible with Samsung’s Gaming Hub, a central location for gaming apps and settings. You can pair a Bluetooth controller for online gaming, and titles that support high dynamic range (HDR10+) are compatible.
The TV has four HDMI 2.1 inputs, so you can connect a PS5 or Xbox Series X game console and enjoy 4K 120Hz content. Connecting a digital TV antenna to the set’s RF antenna input allows it to tune US NextGen digital stations with its built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner.
Picture Quality
Image source: Future
In Movie picture mode, the 65-inch Samsung QN90C TV I tested produced a remarkable peak HDR brightness of 1,787 nits, measured on a 10% white window test pattern. Another choice is Filmmaker mode, which is less accurate than Movie and has lesser brightness. At its brightest, the TV registered 1,219 nits in Standard Mode. We tested the Samsung flagship QN95C 4K mini-LED TV, and in Movie mode, it produced a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and in Standard Mode, it achieved 2,240 nits so that you can put those numbers in perspective.
The Samsung can achieve “infinite” contrast and show 0 IRE full black with its full-array local dimming backlight. In low-light settings, it also performed an excellent job of bringing out shadow details. It was clear that backlight “blooming” was happening on the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD HDR test Blu-ray; light halos appeared around white-on-black movie titles, and there were pinpoints of light in the Starfield motion patterns. While I did notice some blooming when watching ultra-widescreen movies, it was only noticeable during the transitions between bright parts of the image and the black letterbox bars; otherwise, these were barely noticeable during normal viewing.
With Delta E values in the 3–4 range at various brightness levels (we usually aim for them to fall below 3), the color balance in Movie image mode’s default Warm color temperature setting was somewhat blueish. Coverage of DCI-P3, the color space utilized for mastering 4K Blu-rays and digital cinema releases, was found to be 93.3% according to measurements taken with Portrait’s Calman color calibration software. BT.2020 was found to be 73.1 percent. You may obtain comparable performance with sets from inexpensive brands like TCL and Hisense. Therefore, these findings are only average.
The QN90C series’ anti-glare screen coating from Samsung successfully reduced reflections. With that plus the TV’s bright screen, the QN90C is a fantastic choice for watching sports during the day. When compared to inexpensive LCD TVs, which tend to seem washed out when viewed from a position other than the center, the QN90C has an advantage in terms of performance thanks to the company’s Ultra Viewing Angle innovation, which helps images keep contrast and color saturation even when viewed from off-center seats.
The TV performed admirably with HDR images graded at a high brightness level, as I discovered when viewing the montage section of the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark DVD. Although the backlight blooming faults I had previously observed appeared on high-contrast shots, such as a nighttime photograph of a Ferris wheel, the picture quality was superb, and bright highlights had robust dynamic punch.
The sequence from James Bond’s 2021 film No Time to Die that I used to test motion handling appeared very accurate and sturdy on the QN90C. Bond is seen traversing a rough slope as the camera tracks along. I usually utilize the image Clarity settings on my Samsung TVs, which allow me to reduce image issues like motion blur and judder effectively. Still, I didn’t even need to use them here.
In another example, a scene from Dune (2021) that I viewed on 4K Blu-ray, the QN90C’s picture looked clean and sharp despite the grainy nature of the images. After an interrogation, Paul and his mother were walking through a dark, misty region. This set performed far better compared to last year’s QN90B, which displayed a significant amount of noise in this identical environment during my hands-on testing.
While I was getting the hang of the QN90C, the sixth season of Black Mirror came out on Netflix, and I blew through it in one sitting, enjoying a variety of production values. Both Beyond the Sea and Joan is awful, featuring technologically advanced sets that look sharp and striking because of excellent shadow detail and vibrant colors. Additionally, the rural settings depicted in Beyond the Sea (again) and Loch Henry exhibited a pallet of nuanced, authentic colors. The skin tones were consistent, and the QN90C’s vivid, exciting image was perfect for delivering Netflix’s comedic science fiction series.
The Final Verdict
High brightness and outstanding video performance are Samsung’s next-best Neo QLED TV model features. Although it needs to improve in performance compared to the company’s flagship QN95 series, it offers many of the same features at a much lower price and is much more affordable. The QN90C is ideal for playing games on consoles or in the cloud, and its anti-glare screen makes it suitable for watching sports during the day.
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