The QN90C’s onboard sound high quality higher matches its premium aesthetic, rising above nearly all of TVs I’ve examined. Whereas it could possibly get a bit of sharp within the higher midrange, it’s obtained surprisingly hefty bass response and adept object monitoring for a comparatively immersive soundstage. I’m fairly choosy about sound, so the truth that the TV audio system sufficed for almost all of my testing, even with a number of motion flicks, was spectacular.
I additionally adore Samsung’s teensy, solar-powered distant. It’s not backlit, however it’s designed to be navigated by contact, with pop-up quantity and channel keys, and different controls intuitively organized. A responsive management ring resides on the heart, whereas a microphone key on the prime calls up Alexa or Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant for good dwelling controls and search.
(Largely) Posh Image
Proper out of the field, the QN90C revealed very good picture high quality marked by wonderful distinction and punchy brightness, wealthy and pure colours, and vivid element that pops throughout each 4K and HD content material, due to Samsung’s unbelievable image processing.
I did nearly all of my viewing within the Filmmaker Mode, with solely minor changes. The Film mode can also be a stable selection that gives extra brightness, although to my eyes it appears much less pure. You’ll be able to rev up HDR brightness considerably by altering HDR Tone Mapping from Static to Lively below the Image’s Knowledgeable settings, which additionally enhances shadow element for higher readability in significantly darkish scenes.
Shadow element basically is effectively showcased, particularly in SDR (Commonplace Dynamic Vary) mode. Calling up a go-to HD torture check in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Half 2, I used to be totally impressed with the QN90C’s dealing with of inauspicious scenes like Voldemort’s hilltop assault or the thrilling tunnel trip into the Gringotts vault, even with reasonable daylight pouring in. The film was mesmerizing in brighter scenes too, because the TV rendered the delicate colour shades with depth and steadiness, proper right down to nuances just like the mud on Griphook’s striped shirt.
One level the place the TV underperforms is in its backlight management. Outfitted with mini LED backlighting and a great deal of dimming zones, it could possibly render appropriately deep black ranges and wonderful distinction between the lightest and darkest photographs onscreen. However its native dimming often struggles to maintain up in significantly tough scenes, creating some minor mild blooming round shortly transferring shiny objects.
It was solely distracting in a few cases, however cheaper choices just like the U8K and QM8 supply little or no noticeable blooming, if any. The QN90C is noticeably extra clumsy. The pricier QN95C has extra dimming zones and sure performs higher in these areas.
The QN90C makes up for the occasional blooming fake pas with its off-axis viewing, which is among the many greatest I’ve seen in a QLED TV. In contrast to OLED shows, which usually betray little or no image high quality loss from a aspect view, most backlit TVs wrestle to take care of colour vibrancy, brightness, and distinction from even a number of ft off the middle place. The QN90C principally treatments this concern, with out a lot compromise to different image parts. (To my delight, its display avoids the rainbow reflections from overhead lights discovered within the a lot pricier QN900C 8K TV.)
The element on this TV was gorgeous, from the sparkled pores on Drax’s alien pores and skin in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol II to remarkably clear 1080p and even 720p content material. The TV tends to upscale lower-quality SD content material with a good bit of noise contemplating its value, however the total image readability was a deal with throughout nearly every little thing I watched.
Whereas I used to be often underwhelmed by the QN90’s minor blooming, its mixture of searing brightness, wealthy colours, and vivid particulars make for a enjoyable trip. I believe most image purists with this sort of money will nonetheless wish to contemplate an OLED TV like Samsung’s S90C or LG’s C3 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) first, that are shiny sufficient for almost all of properties. If you happen to’re on a tighter funds, you’ll discover extra worth in highly effective mid-tier choices just like the Hisense U8K and TCL QM8, particularly at sale pricing.
Samsung’s second-tier QLED continues to be very a lot a participant on this sport, although, particularly in the event you’ve obtained a big house the place of us will likely be seated off to the aspect. The QN90C is a bright-room magnificence that basically ties the room collectively.
