Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV review

The Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV is one of the best TV options out there, not only because of the tech it crams in for now but for the fact that this will still be a cutting edge TV years from now.

The TV uses smart upscaling to take 4K feeds and make them 8K quality with impressive results. That means that even though content is thin on the ground right now, you can still take advantage of that panel quality to a certain degree. Expect the likes of Netflix and Disney Plus to get 8K content flowing fast as the jump from 4K to 8K is more digital than 1080p to 4K was, and so should be more quickly adopted.

All that aside, the Samsung QN900A also uses Neo QLED lighting which makes for some of the best pictures ever produced on a TV, but more on that below.

Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV review: Picture

The Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV has combined the 8K resolution of the last generation of TV with the company's latest Mini LED tech. This is a winning combination. It means that smaller areas can be lit or turned off thanks to more, smaller LEDs packed in to an area to light it. 

The result is a TV that finally gives OLED and run for its money in terms of blacks. It's not able to light every pixel, like OLED, but it's getting closer except in this case you also have a peak brightness of a near-bliding 4,000 nits.

Unlike previous 8K TVs this new local dimming allows for detail and speed which creates a stunning result. That applies not only in 8K but also in 4K when upscaling content to the higher resolution. All that makes for a more lifelike experience with rich detail that you may not have noticed on a 4K TV – all leading to greater immersion. 

Colors are rich, even in brighter scenes while contrast is fantastic and especially noticeable on these larger panels. This can even upscale 1080p passably, albeit a bit simplistic looking compared to the higher quality feeds. The AI in this TV uses 15 neural networks, rather than the one used in the last gen, which is visible in the improved upscaling that is at a whole new level now.

So while there was a little light bleed and wide angle blooming, this is a bright, vibrant and fantastically colourful TV. The fact it lacks Dolby Vision support isn't ideal but with HDR10+ it can offer the best Amazon Prime Video has to offer and certainly works well for gaming, but more on that below.

Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV review: Sound

Unlike many modern TVs, the Samsung QN900A Neo QLED has an impressive audio setup, with beautifully drilled metallic grilles down the sides of the set. These are able to offer Object Tracking Sound Pro which can add a great level of depth to whatever is being watched.

All the speakers crammed into this TV create a 6.2.2 channel arrangement with 80W of power backing that, for a Dolby Atmos style sound spread, although it's not quite up to that standard.

Watching movies, you'll be able to notice objects moving about the room with sound being thrown out wide, even over your head at times. It's not Atmos level but it's really impressive for a TV and would be impressive enough for most people.

Of course you can attach a soundbar or home theater system and you'll get a more powerful and immersive result. So perhaps factor that in on top of the price of this TV's steep price tag.

Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV review: Design and build

The Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV is the best looking 8K TV yet, thanks to those Mini LEDs allowing for a far more compact setup. As such, the Infinity Screen does give you an edge-to-edge finish with very little bezel. It's also thinner than ever allowing for better wall mounting.

That said, the Samsung One Connect box now sits on the rear stand of the TV. It's a great design idea which allows you to have just one cable running from your TV and the box where access for HDMI ports and the like is far easier. Talking of those, this packs in four of the latest HDMI 2.1 ports making this ideal for next-gen gaming at 120Hz and up to 8K plus support for VRR, ALLM, AMD FreeSync Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. The input lag of just 5.8ms when handling 4K at 120Hz is one of the lowest on any non-OLED TV.

There is an anti-reflection layer on the screen but you do still get some reflections in daylight, as is the case with many TVs. Perhaps the payoff of richer blacks just shows this up more on this model.

Those side viewed speaker grilles look fantastic, though, actually enhancing the look of the TV overall. Gone is the slight lean of the previous model in favor of a better front-facing finish that makes this a stunning point of focus for any room.

The Tizen operating system is better than ever, crammed full of useful apps and packing in features like Google video call support as well as a selection of voice assistants including Alexa, Bixby and Google Assistant. Multi-view, which splits the screen for two feeds, is actually useful on this model where one person can be gaming and another watching TV, for example.

Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV review: Should you buy?

If you want the very best resolution TV, on a large screen, that is packed with future-proof features then this is the model for you. This TV is built for next-gen gamers but also produces some super bright pictures making it ideal for daytime use. Even the darker reproductions are better than ever, setting this up as a viable OLED alternative.

The only downside, aside from that price, is that this is HDR10+ only meaning you won't get the best quality Dolby Vision feeds from Netflix or Disney+. That and the fact that there is still very little decent 8K content out there right now.

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