The Samsung 65-inch QN90D 4K QLED TV is, without a doubt, a powerhouse, delivering an exceptional viewing experience that redefines what’s possible with a non-OLED display.

It’s built for those who demand vibrant colors, deep contrasts, and incredible brightness even in well-lit rooms, making it a top contender for anyone serious about their home theater setup or next-gen gaming.

This model leverages Samsung’s Neo QLED technology with Mini-LEDs, offering precise lighting control that minimizes blooming and enhances detail, ultimately pushing the boundaries of LCD technology to achieve near-OLED black levels while maintaining superior peak brightness.

If you’re looking for a TV that stands out in bright environments and offers a compelling alternative to OLED without sacrificing much in terms of black levels or color volume, the QN90D merits serious consideration.

Product Name	Display Technology	Peak Brightness Nits	Refresh Rate Hz	Key Feature 1	Key Feature 2	Amazon Link
Samsung 65-inch QN90D	Neo QLED Mini-LED	2000+	120 Variable	Exceptional Anti-Glare	Wide Viewing Angle	Samsung QN90D
LG C4 65-inch OLED TV	OLED	1000-1100 Sustained	120 Variable	Perfect Blacks	Infinite Contrast	LG C4 65-inch OLED TV
Sony Bravia XR A95L 65-inch QD-OLED TV	QD-OLED	1500-2000	120 Variable	QD-OLED Color Volume	Google TV Interface	Sony Bravia XR A95L 65-inch QD-OLED TV
TCL QM8 65-inch QLED TV	Mini-LED QLED	2000+	120 Variable	High Brightness for Price	Built-in Subwoofer	TCL QM8 65-inch QLED TV
Hisense U8 Series 65-inch Mini-LED ULED TV	Mini-LED ULED	1500-2000	144 Variable	Excellent Value	Gaming Features	Hisense U8 Series 65-inch Mini-LED ULED TV
Apple TV 4K	Streaming Device	N/A	N/A	Seamless Apple Ecosystem	High-Quality Streaming	Apple TV 4K
Bose Soundbar 900	Soundbar	N/A	N/A	Dolby Atmos	Voice Assistant Built-in	Bose Soundbar 900

Table of Contents

Unpacking the Display Technology: Neo QLED and Mini-LEDs

The Samsung QN90D distinguishes itself with its Neo QLED panel, a significant evolution from traditional QLED. At its core, Neo QLED integrates Mini-LED technology, which is a must for LED-backlit displays.

The Power of Mini-LEDs

Unlike conventional LED TVs that use larger, fewer LEDs for backlighting, Mini-LED TVs employ tens of thousands of incredibly tiny LEDs, often less than 1/40th the size of a standard LED. This fundamental shift allows for a much greater number of local dimming zones.

Precision Lighting: More zones mean more precise control over brightness and contrast across the screen. When a dark scene is displayed, the TV can dim or even completely turn off the Mini-LEDs in specific areas, leading to much deeper blacks that rival, and in some cases, even surpass, OLED in certain scenarios.
Reduced Blooming: One of the perennial challenges with LED-backlit TVs is “blooming” or “haloing,” where light from bright objects spills into surrounding dark areas. Mini-LEDs, with their concentrated control, drastically reduce this effect. The QN90D showcases this beautifully, delivering sharp distinctions between bright elements and dark backgrounds.
Enhanced Brightness: Conversely, Mini-LEDs also enable incredible peak brightness. The QN90D can hit exceptionally high nits, making HDR content pop with stunning intensity. This is particularly advantageous in bright living rooms where ambient light can wash out the picture on less luminous displays.

Quantum Dots: The Color Engine

Beyond the Mini-LED backlighting, the QN90D leverages Quantum Dot QD technology. These microscopic nanocrystals are capable of emitting precise colors when illuminated by the Mini-LEDs.

Vibrant Color Volume: Quantum Dots allow the QN90D to display an expansive color gamut, rendering billions of shades with remarkable accuracy and saturation. This translates to incredibly lifelike images, especially in HDR content where colors are pushed to their limits.
Color Purity at Brightness: One of the challenges with traditional LED TVs is that colors can lose saturation or “wash out” at higher brightness levels. Quantum Dots maintain their color purity even at the QN90D’s extreme peak brightness, ensuring that vibrant reds, greens, and blues remain true to their intent.

Neo Quantum 4K Processor

The brains behind this visual feast is Samsung’s Neo Quantum 4K Processor. This isn’t just a simple chip. it’s an AI-powered engine designed to optimize every pixel.

AI Upscaling: The processor uses deep learning algorithms to analyze and enhance lower-resolution content like standard cable or older Blu-rays to near-4K quality. It doesn’t just stretch pixels. it intelligently reconstructs textures, reduces noise, and sharpens edges, making even older content look remarkably good.
Adaptive Picture: This feature, powered by the processor, uses a light sensor to detect ambient room conditions and automatically adjust the screen’s brightness and tone. This means your picture always looks great, regardless of whether you’re watching in a dark room or a sun-drenched living space.

Design and Build Quality: Aesthetic and Practicality

The Samsung 65-inch QN90D isn’t just a technological marvel on the inside.

Its exterior design also speaks volumes about premium craftsmanship and thoughtful engineering.

Samsung has clearly focused on creating a television that not only performs exceptionally but also integrates seamlessly into a modern living space.

Slim Profile and Bezel-Less Design

One of the most striking aspects of the QN90D’s design is its remarkably slim profile. Despite housing a complex Mini-LED backlighting system, the TV remains impressively thin, particularly at the edges. This sleekness contributes to a minimalist aesthetic, allowing the screen itself to dominate the visual experience.

Nearly invisible bezels: The QN90D features an almost bezel-less design. The borders around the screen are incredibly thin, creating an immersive viewing experience where the picture extends nearly edge-to-edge. This design choice is not just about aesthetics. it helps to minimize distractions and draw the viewer more deeply into the content.
Premium materials: The construction utilizes high-quality materials, giving the TV a robust and luxurious feel. The finish is typically a sleek, dark metallic, which complements various interior design styles.

The Central Stand: Stability and Elegance

Samsung has opted for a central pedestal stand for the QN90D, which is a practical and aesthetically pleasing choice for a 65-inch display.

Space-saving: Unlike TVs with wide-set feet, a central stand requires less surface area on your TV cabinet, making it suitable for narrower furniture.
Sturdy and stable: Despite its elegant appearance, the stand is engineered to provide excellent stability for the large 65-inch panel, minimizing wobble.
Cable management: Often, Samsung integrates smart cable management channels within the stand or on the back panel, allowing users to neatly route power and HDMI cables, keeping the setup clean and organized. This attention to detail contributes to a clutter-free entertainment area.

Wall Mounting Options

For those who prefer a wall-mounted setup, the QN90D is VESA compliant, making it compatible with a wide range of standard wall mounts. Its slim profile makes it an excellent candidate for a flush-to-the-wall installation, further enhancing its minimalist appeal. Dxo Pureraw Review

Slim Wall Mount compatibility: Samsung often offers its own “Slim Fit Wall Mount” accessories that allow the TV to sit extremely close to the wall, almost like a piece of art. This is a desirable feature for maintaining a clean aesthetic in modern homes.

Overall Aesthetic Impact

The overall design philosophy of the QN90D is one of understated elegance and premium functionality. It’s a TV that looks as good off as it does on, designed to be a focal point in your living space without being overly ostentatious. The attention to detail, from the material choices to the cable management, reflects Samsung’s commitment to delivering a high-end product experience from every angle.

Picture Quality Deep Dive: Beyond the Numbers

The Samsung 65-inch QN90D’s picture quality is where it truly shines, pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable with a non-OLED display.

It’s not just about raw numbers like peak brightness.

It’s about how those numbers translate into a compelling and immersive visual experience.

Black Levels and Contrast: Near-OLED Performance

This is often the Achilles’ heel for LED-backlit TVs, but the QN90D, with its Mini-LED technology and sophisticated local dimming, comes remarkably close to OLED’s perfect blacks.

Deep, Inky Blacks: In scenes with mixed bright and dark elements, the QN90D delivers surprisingly deep, uniform blacks. The ability to dim thousands of tiny LED zones individually means light bleed into dark areas is significantly reduced.
Exceptional Contrast Ratio: The difference between the brightest whites and the darkest blacks is immense, leading to an outstanding contrast ratio. This makes images incredibly punchy and gives a real sense of depth and dimension. For example, in a starry night sky scene, the stars truly pop against a backdrop that feels genuinely black, not merely dark gray.
Minimal Blooming: While no Mini-LED TV is entirely free of blooming, the QN90D’s implementation is among the best. You’ll notice very little haloing around bright objects on dark backgrounds, even in challenging scenarios like white subtitles on a black screen. This precision is a direct benefit of the densely packed Mini-LED zones.

Peak Brightness and HDR Performance: Blindingly Brilliant

This is arguably where the QN90D truly differentiates itself, especially from many OLED counterparts, for bright room viewing.

Staggering Peak Nits: The QN90D can achieve exceptionally high peak brightness levels, often exceeding 2000 nits in small highlights. This is crucial for HDR High Dynamic Range content, where specular highlights like reflections, sunlight, or distant lights are meant to appear incredibly bright and lifelike.
Impactful HDR Presentation: With its high brightness, HDR content on the QN90D has incredible impact. Details in bright areas are preserved, and colors remain vibrant even at their most luminous. This makes for a truly dazzling experience, especially with HDR10+ and HLG content.
Superior Bright Room Viewing: For living rooms with significant ambient light, the QN90D is an absolute champion. Its high brightness, combined with its class-leading anti-reflective screen coating, means reflections are minimized and the picture remains punchy and watchable even in broad daylight. You won’t find yourself drawing the curtains just to see the screen clearly.

Color Accuracy and Volume: A Rich Palette

The QN90D’s Quantum Dot technology ensures a wide and accurate color palette.

Vibrant and Saturated Colors: Colors are rich, vibrant, and incredibly saturated without looking artificial. The QN90D covers nearly 100% of the DCI-P3 color space, which is the standard for modern HDR content.
Accurate Out of the Box: In its more accurate picture modes like “Filmmaker Mode” or “Movie Mode”, the QN90D delivers impressive color accuracy out of the box, often requiring minimal calibration for critical viewing.

Viewing Angles: Improved, But Still LED

While the QN90D has made significant strides in viewing angles compared to older LED TVs, it’s still an LED panel at its core, meaning perfect viewing angles are largely limited to direct front-and-center.

Ultra Viewing Angle Layer: Samsung incorporates an “Ultra Viewing Angle” layer on the QN90D, which significantly mitigates color and contrast degradation when viewing from off-center positions. This is a notable improvement and allows for more comfortable group viewing without a drastic drop in picture quality.
Compared to OLED: While much better than standard LEDs, it’s still not on par with OLED’s near-perfect viewing angles, where picture quality remains consistent from extreme angles. However, for most living room setups, the QN90D’s viewing angles will be more than sufficient.

In essence, the QN90D’s picture quality is a triumph of Mini-LED and Quantum Dot technology.

It combines stunning brightness and vibrant colors with surprisingly deep blacks and excellent contrast, making it a formidable contender for anyone seeking a premium visual experience, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Canon Color Imageclass Mf753Cdw Review

Gaming Performance: A Gamer’s Dream TV

For serious gamers, the Samsung 65-inch QN90D isn’t just a great TV for movies.

It’s a meticulously engineered display designed to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience.

From its lightning-fast response times to its comprehensive suite of next-gen gaming features, this TV is built to give you the competitive edge and immerse you fully in virtual worlds.

120Hz Refresh Rate and HDMI 2.1 Ports

All Four HDMI 2.1 Ports: Crucially, the QN90D features four full HDMI 2.1 ports. This is a significant advantage, as many TVs only offer two. HDMI 2.1 is essential for unlocking the full potential of modern gaming consoles PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and high-end gaming PCs.
- 4K @ 120Hz: All four ports support 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, ensuring you get the smoothest, most detailed experience possible from your gaming hardware.
- Variable Refresh Rate VRR: HDMI 2.1 enables VRR technologies like FreeSync Premium Pro and HDMI Forum VRR. These synchronize the TV’s refresh rate with the game’s frame rate, eliminating screen tearing and reducing stutter, even when frame rates fluctuate.
- Auto Low Latency Mode ALLM: The QN90D automatically detects when a gaming console is connected and switches to its lowest latency “Game Mode” to minimize input lag.

Ultra-Low Input Lag: milliseconds Matter

Input lag is the delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the action on screen.

For competitive gamers, even milliseconds can make a difference.

Exceptional Responsiveness: The QN90D boasts ultra-low input lag, typically in the range of 5-6ms at 4K@120Hz and around 10-12ms at 4K@60Hz. These are among the lowest input lag figures found on any TV, ensuring that your commands are registered almost instantaneously.
Game Mode Optimization: When Game Mode is activated which happens automatically with ALLM, the TV bypasses most of its picture processing to reduce latency, while still maintaining excellent picture quality.

Motion Handling: Smooth and Clear

Beyond input lag, how well a TV handles fast motion is critical for gaming.

Fast Response Time: The QN90D has a very fast pixel response time, meaning pixels can change colors quickly. This translates to minimal motion blur and ghosting, keeping fast-moving objects and characters sharp and clear on screen.
Motion Xcelerator Turbo+: Samsung’s proprietary motion handling technology ensures that even during intense action sequences, the image remains fluid and judder-free.

Gaming Hub and Game Bar: Centralized Control

Samsung’s Tizen OS now features a dedicated Gaming Hub and Game Bar, enhancing the gaming experience further.

Gaming Hub: This central dashboard aggregates all your gaming inputs, cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce NOW, and Luna, and even popular streaming apps. It provides a single point of access for all your gaming needs, making it incredibly convenient.
Game Bar: When you’re in a game, the Game Bar is a quick-access overlay that provides real-time information and quick settings adjustments.
- FPS Counter: See your real-time frames per second.
- VRR Status: Confirm if VRR is active.
- Input Lag Check: See the current input lag.
- Picture Mode Presets: Quickly switch between gaming-specific picture modes.
- Ultrawide GameView: For compatible PC games, this allows you to play in 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratios, similar to ultrawide monitors, providing a more expansive field of view.

Overall Gaming Verdict

The Samsung 65-inch QN90D is genuinely a top-tier gaming TV.

Its combination of a native 120Hz panel, four HDMI 2.1 ports with full VRR and ALLM support, incredibly low input lag, and excellent motion handling makes it an ideal choice for both console and PC gamers.

The addition of the Gaming Hub and Game Bar further refines the experience, solidifying its position as one of the best TVs for immersive and competitive gaming. Samsung 55 Inch S95D 4K Oled Tv Review

Smart Features and Tizen OS: A Connected Experience

The Samsung 65-inch QN90D runs on Samsung’s proprietary Tizen Smart TV operating system, which has consistently been praised for its speed, intuitiveness, and comprehensive feature set. For a modern TV, a robust smart platform is just as crucial as picture quality, and Tizen delivers a highly polished and connected experience.

User Interface and Navigation

Tizen OS is known for its clean, responsive, and user-friendly interface.

Horizontal Bar Layout: The main navigation features a horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen, providing quick access to frequently used apps, inputs, and settings. This design allows you to browse content without completely interrupting what you’re currently watching.
Customization: You can easily customize the order of apps on the bar, pinning your favorites for even quicker access.
Speed and Responsiveness: Thanks to the powerful Neo Quantum 4K Processor, navigating Tizen is incredibly fluid and fast. Apps launch quickly, and there’s virtually no lag when switching between menus or inputs.

App Ecosystem: All Your Favorites and More

The Tizen app store offers a vast and comprehensive selection of streaming applications, ensuring you have access to virtually any content you desire.

Major Streaming Services: All the heavy hitters are present and accounted for:
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Max formerly HBO Max
- Amazon Prime Video
- Hulu
- YouTube
- Apple TV+
- And many more niche services.
Podcast Streaming: Apps like Spotify and Pandora are available.
Cloud Gaming: As mentioned in the gaming section, services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce NOW are integrated directly into the Gaming Hub, allowing you to play games without a console.

Voice Assistants: Smart Control at Your Command

The QN90D offers multiple integrated voice assistant options, providing flexible ways to control your TV and smart home devices.

Bixby: Samsung’s native voice assistant is fully integrated, allowing you to change channels, adjust volume, search for content, open apps, and even control compatible smart home devices.
Amazon Alexa Built-in: For those in the Alexa ecosystem, you can enable Alexa directly on the TV to access all its functionalities, including smart home control, weather updates, and information queries.
Google Assistant Compatibility: While not built-in, the QN90D is compatible with Google Assistant devices, meaning you can control the TV using an external Google Home or Nest speaker.

SmartThings Integration: Your Connected Home Hub

Samsung’s SmartThings platform is deeply integrated into Tizen OS, transforming your QN90D into a central hub for your smart home.

Device Control: You can view and control compatible SmartThings devices directly from your TV screen, such as smart lights, thermostats, cameras, and more.
Dashboard View: A dedicated SmartThings dashboard provides an overview of your connected devices and their status.
Automations: Set up automations, for example, have your lights dim automatically when you start watching a movie.

Other Notable Smart Features

Multi View: This feature allows you to display multiple sources on the screen simultaneously, like watching a game on one side and a video tutorial from your phone on the other. It’s incredibly useful for multitasking.
Ambient Mode+: When the TV is off, instead of a blank black screen, Ambient Mode+ can display artistic content, photos, weather updates, or blend seamlessly into your wall décor. This enhances the TV’s aesthetic appeal even when not in use.
Tap View: Easily mirror content from your Samsung phone to the TV with a simple tap.
Samsung TV Plus: A free, ad-supported streaming service built into the TV, offering a wide variety of channels across different genres, no subscription required.

Overall, Tizen OS on the QN90D provides a comprehensive, fast, and user-friendly smart TV experience.

Its deep app integration, multiple voice assistant options, and SmartThings connectivity make it a versatile and intelligent hub for your home entertainment and beyond.

Audio Quality: More Than Just an Afterthought

While no slim TV can truly replicate the immersive sound of a dedicated home theater system, Samsung has put considerable effort into making the audio experience on the 65-inch QN90D surprisingly capable.

They’ve integrated several technologies to enhance built-in sound beyond what you might expect from such a thin panel. Samsung 43 Inch Qn90D 4K Qled Tv Review

Object Tracking Sound+ OTS+

One of the standout audio features of the QN90D is Object Tracking Sound+ OTS+. This technology isn’t just about outputting sound. it’s about making the sound appear to come from the exact location of the object on the screen.

Dynamic Sound Placement: The QN90D features multiple speakers strategically placed around the TV’s frame – not just at the bottom. The Neo Quantum processor analyzes the audio signal in real-time and directs sound to the specific speakers that align with the movement of an object on screen. For example, if a car drives from left to right, the sound of the car will literally follow its movement across the screen.
Enhanced Immersion: This creates a more dynamic and immersive audio experience, adding a new layer of realism to movies and games. Dialog often sounds clearer and more anchored to the characters speaking.
Improved Verticality: While not true overhead Atmos, OTS+ can create a sense of verticality, making sounds appear to come from above or below, further enhancing the spatial audio effect.

Q-Symphony: Harmonizing TV and Soundbar

Samsung’s Q-Symphony technology is a unique feature designed for users who also own a compatible Samsung soundbar like the Bose Soundbar 900 listed earlier, or a Samsung Q-series soundbar.

Synchronized Sound: Instead of disabling the TV’s internal speakers when a soundbar is connected, Q-Symphony allows both the TV speakers and the soundbar to operate simultaneously and in harmony.
Expanded Soundstage: The TV’s speakers, particularly the ones at the top and sides, act as additional channels, working in conjunction with the soundbar to create a much wider and taller soundstage. This results in a fuller, more enveloping sound, especially beneficial for Dolby Atmos content.
Enhanced Immersion: The combined audio output can make dialogue clearer and effects more distinct, pulling you further into the content. It’s an intelligent way to leverage the TV’s internal speakers rather than letting them go to waste once a soundbar is introduced.

Adaptive Sound Pro

The QN90D incorporates Adaptive Sound Pro, an intelligent audio optimization feature.

Scene Analysis: This technology uses AI to analyze the content being played e.g., dialogue, podcast, action sequences and the acoustics of your room.
Real-time Optimization: It then automatically optimizes the sound profile in real-time to deliver the best possible audio experience. For instance, it might boost dialogue clarity during a quiet conversation or enhance bass during an explosion.
Environmental Adaptation: It also takes into account ambient noise and room reflections, adjusting the sound to ensure clarity and impact regardless of your viewing environment.

Dolby Atmos Support

The QN90D supports Dolby Atmos, allowing the TV to process and output object-based audio tracks.

Immersive Audio Decoding: While the TV’s internal speakers can’t deliver true overhead Atmos effects, the OTS+ system does a commendable job of creating a sense of verticality and spatial audio.
eARC for Passthrough: The TV includes eARC Enhanced Audio Return Channel on one of its HDMI ports. This is crucial for sending uncompressed, high-bitrate audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X from the TV to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver. This ensures you get the highest quality audio experience from your external audio system.

While a dedicated sound system will always provide superior audio, the Samsung QN90D’s built-in audio capabilities are genuinely impressive for a flat-panel TV.

OTS+, Q-Symphony, and Adaptive Sound Pro work together to create a surprisingly immersive and dynamic sound profile, making it more than sufficient for casual viewing and an excellent starting point for those planning to upgrade their audio setup later.

Connectivity and Ports: Ready for Anything

The Samsung 65-inch QN90D comes equipped with a comprehensive array of connectivity options, ensuring it can seamlessly integrate into any modern home entertainment setup.

The placement and type of ports are designed for both convenience and high-performance throughput.

HDMI Ports: The Backbone of Your Setup

As highlighted in the gaming section, the QN90D is generously equipped with four HDMI ports, all of which are the latest HDMI 2.1 standard. This is a critical distinction that future-proofs your TV for years to come.

HDMI 2.1 Benefits Across All Ports:
- 4K @ 120Hz: All four ports support full 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, which is essential for next-gen gaming consoles PS5, Xbox Series X and high-end gaming PCs.
- Variable Refresh Rate VRR: Support for FreeSync Premium Pro and HDMI Forum VRR ensures smooth, tear-free gaming by synchronizing the TV’s refresh rate with your source device’s frame rate.
- Auto Low Latency Mode ALLM: The TV automatically switches to Game Mode for the lowest input lag when a gaming console is detected.
- Enhanced Audio Return Channel eARC: One of the HDMI 2.1 ports typically HDMI 3 or HDMI 4, though check the specific model for exact labeling is designated as the eARC port. This allows for uncompressed, high-bitrate audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to be sent from the TV to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver, ensuring the highest quality audio passthrough.

USB Ports: For Media Playback and Peripherals

The QN90D typically includes two USB ports, which serve several useful functions: Aqara Smart Lock U100 Review

Media Playback: Connect USB drives or external hard drives to play back personal photos, videos, and podcast files directly on your TV. The built-in media player supports a wide range of formats.
Power for Peripherals: These ports can also supply power to external devices, such as USB-powered streaming sticks though you’d likely use the TV’s built-in apps for most streaming, or even to charge small devices.
Keyboard and Mouse Connectivity: For easier navigation within the smart TV interface or web browsing, you can connect a standard USB keyboard and mouse.

Network Connectivity: Wired and Wireless

Reliable internet connectivity is paramount for a smart TV, and the QN90D offers both wired and wireless options.

Ethernet LAN Port: A dedicated Ethernet port allows for a direct, wired connection to your home network. This is the most stable and reliable option for streaming high-bandwidth 4K content, especially if your Wi-Fi signal is inconsistent or congested. For critical applications like online gaming or 4K HDR streaming, a wired connection is always recommended.
Wi-Fi Built-in: The TV includes built-in Wi-Fi, supporting the latest standards e.g., Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6, depending on the model year for fast and convenient wireless access to your network. This is ideal for most streaming and general smart TV functions.
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth connectivity allows you to wirelessly connect various peripherals:
- Bluetooth Headphones: Enjoy private listening without disturbing others.
- Bluetooth Keyboards/Mice: For easier text input and navigation.
- Game Controllers: Some Bluetooth game controllers might be compatible.
- Wireless Soundbars: Connect compatible Samsung soundbars wirelessly though eARC is typically preferred for highest quality.

Digital Optical Audio Output: Legacy Audio Support

A digital optical audio output Toslink is included for connecting to older soundbars or AV receivers that do not support HDMI ARC or eARC. While HDMI eARC is preferred for modern setups due to its higher bandwidth for uncompressed audio, the optical port ensures compatibility with a wider range of audio equipment.

RF Input Coaxial: Antenna/Cable Connection

For those who still use over-the-air antennas or direct cable connections, an RF input coaxial port is present. This allows you to connect an antenna to access free broadcast channels or a cable box directly though most modern cable boxes connect via HDMI.

The comprehensive suite of ports on the Samsung 65-inch QN90D ensures that it’s a versatile hub for all your entertainment devices, from gaming consoles and streaming boxes to sound systems and external storage.

The inclusion of four full HDMI 2.1 ports is a significant advantage, setting it apart as a truly modern and future-ready display.

Value Proposition: Is the QN90D Worth the Investment?

When considering the Samsung 65-inch QN90D, the fundamental question boils down to its value proposition.

Is it worth the premium price tag, especially when pitted against formidable competitors like OLEDs or more budget-friendly Mini-LED options? The answer, as always, depends on your priorities and viewing environment.

The QN90D’s Unique Strengths:

The QN90D carves out a niche for itself by excelling in areas where traditional OLEDs face challenges, while still offering a picture quality that often comes very close to OLED’s strengths.

Unmatched Brightness for Bright Rooms: This is arguably the QN90D’s biggest selling point. If your primary viewing space is a brightly lit living room with lots of windows or ambient light, the QN90D’s incredible peak brightness and industry-leading anti-glare screen are unparalleled. OLEDs, while stunning in dark rooms, can struggle with reflections and a loss of impact in bright environments. The QN90D ensures a vibrant, punchy picture regardless of external lighting.
Stellar HDR Performance: The combination of extreme brightness and precise Mini-LED local dimming makes HDR content truly pop. Highlights are dazzling, and the wide color volume ensures a rich, lifelike image that accurately conveys the director’s intent.
Minimal Risk of Burn-in: For users concerned about potential screen burn-in image retention with OLED technology – particularly those who game extensively, watch news channels with static logos, or use their TV as a PC monitor – the QN90D offers peace of mind as an LCD-based display. While burn-in is much less of a concern with modern OLEDs than it used to be, it’s still a factor for some.
Exceptional Gaming Features: With four HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K@120Hz support, VRR FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, ultra-low input lag, and the intuitive Game Bar, the QN90D is a phenomenal gaming display. It offers everything a next-gen console or PC gamer could ask for.
Robust Smart TV Experience: Tizen OS is fast, intuitive, and feature-rich, with a comprehensive app selection, multiple voice assistants, and seamless SmartThings integration.

Comparing to the Competition:

Against OLEDs e.g., LG C4, Sony A95L:
- Advantage QN90D: Superior brightness, better reflection handling in bright rooms, no burn-in risk.
- Advantage OLED: Perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and wider viewing angles. In a perfectly dark room, an OLED will still deliver a more authentic “inky” black. QD-OLEDs like the Sony A95L also offer phenomenal color volume and brightness, bridging the gap somewhat.
- Conclusion: If you primarily watch in a dedicated, dark home theater, an OLED might still win on pure black-level performance. However, for a versatile living room TV, the QN90D’s brightness and anti-glare often make it the more practical choice.
Against Other Mini-LED QLEDs e.g., TCL QM8, Hisense U8 Series: Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery Service Review
- Advantage QN90D: Generally superior local dimming algorithms leading to less blooming, better anti-glare screen, more refined picture processing Neo Quantum 4K Processor, potentially better viewing angles, and a more premium build quality.
- Advantage Competitors: Often come at a significantly lower price point while still offering very high peak brightness and good local dimming. They represent excellent value for money.
- Conclusion: The QN90D is the more premium Mini-LED option, offering refinements that justify its higher price for discerning viewers. If budget is a stricter constraint, the TCL QM8 or Hisense U8 are strong alternatives that offer much of the QN90D’s performance at a lower cost, though with some compromises in processing and screen uniformity.

The Verdict:

The Samsung 65-inch QN90D is a premium television that excels in almost every metric. It’s an investment, but one that pays dividends in stunning picture quality, especially in challenging bright environments. It’s a top-tier choice for:

Bright Living Rooms: If your room is well-lit and reflections are a concern, this TV is second to none.
HDR Enthusiasts: The dazzling brightness and vibrant colors make HDR content truly sing.
Serious Gamers: The comprehensive suite of HDMI 2.1 features and low input lag make it an ideal gaming monitor.
Those Seeking a Premium Experience: If you want a TV with cutting-edge technology, a sleek design, and a robust smart platform without the slight worry of OLED burn-in, the QN90D is a fantastic option.

While cheaper alternatives exist, the QN90D’s blend of superior picture processing, effective anti-glare, and comprehensive features solidifies its position as one of the best overall LED-backlit TVs on the market.

It represents excellent value for its performance, offering a truly premium viewing experience.

Accessories and Enhancements: Completing the Experience

While the Samsung 65-inch QN90D is an impressive piece of technology on its own, certain accessories and external devices can significantly enhance your overall home entertainment experience.

Think of these as leveraging the TV’s capabilities to their fullest, turning a great setup into an exceptional one.

Soundbars and Home Theater Systems

As discussed in the audio section, while the QN90D’s built-in sound is decent, a dedicated audio system will always provide a superior, more immersive experience.

Samsung Q-Series Soundbars: These are particularly recommended due to Q-Symphony integration. When paired with a compatible Samsung Q-series soundbar, the TV’s internal speakers work in conjunction with the soundbar, creating a wider and taller soundstage. This is especially impactful for Dolby Atmos content.
- Example: A Bose Soundbar 900 or a premium Samsung soundbar like the Q990D can offer incredible object-based audio and deep bass that TV speakers simply cannot reproduce.
AV Receivers and Speaker Systems: For the ultimate audio experience, connecting the QN90D via its eARC port to an AV receiver and a multi-channel speaker system e.g., 5.1.2 or 7.1.4 for Dolby Atmos will deliver true cinematic sound.

Streaming Devices Even with Smart TV Built-in

While Tizen OS is excellent, some users prefer external streaming devices for specific reasons:

Roku/Amazon Fire TV Sticks: These offer alternative interfaces or specific app selections that might be preferred by some users. They are also highly portable.
Apple TV 4K: For those deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple TV 4K offers seamless integration with iTunes movies, Apple Arcade, and AirPlay, often providing a very polished user experience.
NVIDIA Shield TV Pro: For enthusiasts who demand the absolute best picture quality, have large local media libraries, or use advanced Plex setups, the Shield TV Pro is known for its powerful upscaling capabilities and broad codec support.

Gaming Consoles and Accessories

To fully leverage the QN90D’s gaming prowess, ensure you have the right hardware:

PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series X: These consoles are essential to experience 4K @ 120Hz gaming with VRR and ALLM on the QN90D.
High-Speed HDMI 2.1 Cables: Investing in certified Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 cables is crucial. Standard or older HDMI cables cannot handle the bandwidth required for 4K@120Hz and VRR, leading to degraded performance or no signal at all. Don’t skimp on these!
Gaming Headsets: For competitive online gaming, a good headset allows for clear communication and immersive audio, often with spatial audio capabilities.

Wall Mounts and TV Stands

Depending on your preference, consider how you want to display your QN90D: Msi B760M Edge Ti Wi Fi Review

VESA Compatible Wall Mount: If wall-mounting, choose a VESA-compliant mount appropriate for a 65-inch TV’s weight. Samsung often has its own Slim Fit Wall Mounts that allow for an extremely flush installation.
Sturdy TV Cabinet/Stand: If using the included central stand, ensure your TV cabinet is wide and deep enough to safely support the TV’s base and weight. Consider one with integrated cable management.

Smart Home Integration

Leverage the QN90D’s SmartThings capabilities:

Smart Lights: Control smart bulbs or light strips e.g., Philips Hue, Govee through the TV’s SmartThings dashboard to create immersive lighting scenes for movies or games.
Smart Plugs: Control lamps or other non-smart devices connected to smart plugs directly from your TV.

By strategically adding these accessories, you can unlock the full potential of your Samsung 65-inch QN90D, creating a truly cinematic and immersive home entertainment ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main advantage of the Samsung QN90D over standard QLED TVs?

The main advantage is its Neo QLED technology with Mini-LED backlighting, which offers significantly more local dimming zones, leading to much deeper blacks, higher contrast, and superior control over blooming compared to standard QLEDs.

Does the Samsung QN90D support Dolby Vision?

No, Samsung TVs, including the QN90D, do not support Dolby Vision. They support HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG Hybrid Log-Gamma.

How many HDMI 2.1 ports does the 65-inch QN90D have?

The Samsung 65-inch QN90D features four full HDMI 2.1 ports, all capable of 4K @ 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM.

Is the QN90D good for gaming?

Yes, the QN90D is excellent for gaming, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate, four HDMI 2.1 ports with VRR FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, ultra-low input lag, and the dedicated Game Bar and Gaming Hub.

Does the QN90D have good viewing angles?

The QN90D has very good viewing angles for an LED TV, thanks to Samsung’s “Ultra Viewing Angle” layer. While not as perfect as OLED, it significantly reduces color and contrast degradation when viewing from off-center, making it suitable for group viewing.

What is Object Tracking Sound+ OTS+ on the QN90D?

OTS+ is a Samsung audio technology that uses multiple speakers positioned around the TV frame to make the sound appear to follow the movement of objects on the screen, creating a more immersive and dynamic audio experience.

Can I connect a soundbar to the QN90D using Q-Symphony?

Yes, you can connect a compatible Samsung Q-series soundbar using Q-Symphony, which allows the TV’s internal speakers and the soundbar to play audio simultaneously for a richer, more expansive soundstage.

Does the Samsung QN90D have an anti-glare screen?

Yes, the QN90D features a class-leading anti-reflective screen coating that significantly reduces glare and reflections from ambient light sources, making it ideal for bright rooms. Atari The400 Mini Review

What smart TV operating system does the QN90D use?

The QN90D uses Samsung’s proprietary Tizen Smart TV operating system, known for its speed, intuitive interface, and extensive app ecosystem.

Can I control smart home devices with the QN90D?

Yes, the QN90D has SmartThings integration, allowing you to view and control compatible smart home devices directly from your TV screen.

Does the QN90D support Wi-Fi 6?

Yes, typically the QN90D supports Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax for faster and more stable wireless internet connectivity.

What is the peak brightness of the 65-inch QN90D?

The 65-inch QN90D can achieve exceptionally high peak brightness levels, often exceeding 2000 nits in small HDR highlights.

Is the QN90D prone to burn-in?

No, as an LCD-based Neo QLED TV, the QN90D is not susceptible to permanent screen burn-in like OLED panels.

Does the QN90D have built-in voice assistants?

Yes, the QN90D has Bixby and Amazon Alexa built-in, and it is compatible with Google Assistant through external devices.

What is Ambient Mode+?

Ambient Mode+ is a feature that allows the TV to display artistic content, photos, weather updates, or blend into your wall when it’s not in use, preventing a blank black screen.

Can the QN90D upscale lower resolution content to 4K?

Yes, the Neo Quantum 4K Processor uses AI-powered deep learning to intelligently upscale lower-resolution content to near-4K quality.

What is the difference between QLED and Neo QLED?

Neo QLED is an evolution of QLED that incorporates Mini-LED backlighting for much finer control over brightness and contrast, leading to superior picture quality, especially black levels and blooming control. Intel Core I9 14900Ks Review

Does the QN90D have eARC?

Yes, one of the HDMI 2.1 ports on the QN90D is an eARC Enhanced Audio Return Channel port, allowing for uncompressed, high-bitrate audio passthrough to compatible soundbars or AV receivers.

What refresh rate does the QN90D support?

Can I connect a USB drive to the QN90D for media playback?

Yes, the QN90D typically includes two USB ports for media playback from external drives.

Is the QN90D good for bright rooms?

Yes, the QN90D is one of the best TVs for bright rooms due to its extremely high peak brightness and excellent anti-reflective screen coating.

Does the QN90D come with a remote control?

Yes, the QN90D comes with a SolarCell Remote, which can be charged via indoor lighting or USB-C, eliminating the need for disposable batteries.

What is Adaptive Sound Pro?

Adaptive Sound Pro is an audio feature that uses AI to analyze the content and room acoustics, optimizing the sound profile in real-time for the best listening experience.

Can I use the QN90D as a PC monitor?

Yes, with its 4K@120Hz support, VRR, and low input lag, the QN90D makes for an excellent PC monitor for gaming and productivity.

What is Ultrawide GameView?

Ultrawide GameView is a feature on the QN90D that allows compatible PC games to be displayed in 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratios, similar to ultrawide monitors, offering a more expansive field of view.

Does the QN90D support Apple AirPlay?

Yes, the QN90D supports Apple AirPlay 2, allowing you to wirelessly stream content from your Apple devices to the TV.

What is the benefit of the central stand design?

The central stand design offers greater flexibility for TV cabinet placement as it doesn’t require a cabinet as wide as the TV itself, unlike models with wide-set feet. It also provides stability.

Does the QN90D support Bluetooth headphones?

Yes, the QN90D has built-in Bluetooth, allowing you to connect wireless Bluetooth headphones for private listening. Hisense 65U8N Review

How does the QN90D handle reflections?

The QN90D has an outstanding anti-reflective screen that is highly effective at diffusing reflections from light sources, minimizing distraction in bright environments.

What is Samsung TV Plus?

Samsung TV Plus is a free, ad-supported streaming service built directly into Samsung TVs, offering a wide variety of channels without requiring a subscription.

Samsung 65 Inch Qn90D 4K Qled Tv Review