Samsung’s newest Neo QLED 4K TV isn’t wildly totally different from final yr’s QN95B, however the QN95C provides sufficient developments to not solely elevate its efficiency in comparison with the earlier technology, but in addition give even the best OLED TVs a run for his or her cash when it comes to black ranges and distinction.
The important thing to this efficiency improve is a Mini LED backlight that doubles the variety of dimming zones from final yr, and when mixed with Quantum Dots for purer colors and AI-enhanced processing, delivers SDR and HDR photographs which can be typically gorgeous of their visible influence.
The QN95C is now accessible for pre-order and is available in 55-, 65-, 75- and 85-inch display screen sizes. The mannequin reviewed right here is the 65-inch QE65QN95C, which retails for £3,699 within the UK, and $3,299 within the US.
Samsung/Pocket-lint
Samsung QN95C
Editor’s Selection
5/5
This Mini LED TV practically doubles the variety of dimming zones in its backlight in comparison with final yr, producing HDR photographs able to competing with, and infrequently exceeding, one of the best OLEDs. Sadly the One Join Field is gone, however a trendy design, strong construct high quality, complete streaming apps, and intensive gaming help make this 4K TV onerous to withstand.
- Extremely vivid, vibrant photographs
- Peerless LCD black ranges
- Excellent gaming options
Design
- Infinity One design
- Photo voltaic-powered distant management
- 4 x HDMI inputs with eARC; 2 x USB; Ethernet
- Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; AirPlay 2
The Samsung QN95C appears to be like the identical as final yr with one notable exception. Whereas the general look is mainly an identical, the connections at the moment are a part of the TV relatively than in a separate field. That is presumably a cost-saving train, however a disgrace nonetheless.
In any other case it’s enterprise as common, with an an identical slab design that’s all clear strains and minimalist styling. The size are surprisingly slim for an LCD TV, primarily as a result of LEDs used within the backlight, that are 40 occasions smaller than these present in Samsung’s bulkier panels.
The QN95C appears to be like notably hanging when wall mounted, though not fairly as tidy with out the one cable from the One Join Field. If you happen to’d relatively use the elegant stand, it gives strong help however has a minimal footprint, which implies it should match comfortably onto narrower surfaces.
The connections are positioned to the rear proper as you face the display screen, with 4 HDMI inputs, one in every of which helps eARC. The entire HDMI inputs can deal with 4K/144Hz, VRR and ALLM, which makes this an ideal TV for any avid gamers seeking to get essentially the most of their new consoles.
There are additionally two USB 2.0 ports, twin tuners for terrestrial and satellite tv for pc broadcasts, a CI slot, an optical digital output, and an Ethernet port. By way of wi-fi connectivity, there’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and help for Apple AirPlay 2.
The QN95C ships with two remotes: a typical zapper with a myriad of buttons, and a stripped down Photo voltaic Cell controller that’s designed for day-to-day use. The latter is a bit small, and each are relatively plasticky, which is a disgrace contemplating that is the flagship 4K TV for 2023.
The Photo voltaic Cell distant is doubly eco-friendly as of late, not solely as a result of it’s rechargeable, but in addition as a result of it’s fabricated from recycled plastic. The batteries aren’t simply recharged utilizing the photo voltaic panel constructed into the again both, but in addition by repurposing the Wi-Fi indicators bouncing round your home – useful in the event you dwell in locations the place the sunshine would not at all times cooperate.
Options
- Mini LED backlight with 1,344 dimmable zones
- 4K Neural Quantum Processor
- Object Monitoring Sound Plus
- 4K 144Hz and VRR gaming help
The Samsung QN95C sports activities a set of options which can be largely the identical as final yr, however some vital enhancements have been made relating to the backlight. The variety of independently dimmable zones has been practically doubled to an enormous 1,344 (48 x 28) zones.
While you mix all these zones with Samsung’s class-leading native dimming algorithms, Quantum Matrix Know-how and Form Adaptive Gentle management, the result’s a superior backlight efficiency the place the supply is extra exact and the implementation extra environment friendly.
The AI-enhanced Neural Quantum Processor additionally performs its half, bringing collectively all these disparate image components and including a brand new Actual Depth Enhancer that mixes object detection and picture manipulation to create a better sense of depth and dimensionality.
The upscaling can also be first-class, taking commonplace and excessive definition content material and mapping it to the 4K decision of the panel. The outcomes are clear and artefact free, and even 4K content material advantages from processing that eliminates the influence of compression to ship clear and detailed photographs.
The image high quality is additional enhanced by the inclusion of a Filmmaker Mode, and this delivers very correct photographs in each SDR and HDR. Nonetheless, in the event you fancy tweaking this accuracy with out paying knowledgeable calibrator, Samsung’s Good Calibration characteristic lets you get nearer to the business requirements utilizing simply your smartphone. It’s very intelligent, and it really works.
The Tizen-powered good system is just like final yr, though the interface now provides a helpful Media part the place all of the apps and related gadgets could be discovered, together with a curated Sport part the place you may entry streamed gaming apps and related consoles. As with earlier years, Samsung provides a complete alternative of video streaming apps, together with an expanded alternative of channels on its free live-streaming TV Plus service.
In an surprising blast-from-the-past, Samsung features a slim-fit digicam within the field. The thought of video calls or hand gesture management might sound a bit 2014, however it may be helpful with apps like Google Meet, Exercise, and Samsung Well being, together with the two-screen Multi View performance.
The QN95C has some severe gaming credentials too, with help for 4K as much as a refresh fee of 144Hz in the event you use a PC, and 120Hz for these with Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Variable refresh charges are additionally supported, because of the inclusion of AMD FreeSync Premium Professional and Nvidia G-Sync, though the latter isn’t formally listed.
The Sport Bar stays a helpful characteristic, collating all the principle game-related info and settings into one straightforward to grasp and entry location. It pops up once you first go into the Sport Mode, however in the event you ever want it simply maintain down the play/pause button to carry it again up.
Because of the automated low latency mode, the QN95C goes into Sport Mode every time ever it detects a console, and this mode is extremely efficient. We measured an enter lag of just below 10ms, which is extremely quick and ensures a responsive gaming expertise. After all, since this TV makes use of an LCD panel, there’s additionally no hazard of display screen burn – even after lengthy hours of gaming.
Unusually for a contemporary TV, the QN95C sounds genuinely good because of its Object Monitoring Sound Plus audio system. There’s a 4.2.2-channel speaker structure powered by 70W of amplification, and the outcome is a reasonably large and expansive supply, plus an honest quantity of bass.
The audio system are positioned across the display screen, which provides top to the general supply, and the onboard Dolby Atmos decoding additionally helps create a better sense of immersion. Though if you wish to add an outboard audio answer, Samsung’s Q Symphony characteristic now provides AI-enhancements to higher combine the TV’s audio system with these within the supporting soundbar.
Efficiency
- Unimaginable brightness and correct HDR tone mapping
- Nearly OLED-like black ranges and distinction ratios
- Extraordinarily broad however naturally rendered color gamut
The Samsung QN95C instantly appears to be like higher compared to final yr’s mannequin, and that TV was no slouch, which is a good indicator of issues to return. The substantial enhance within the impartial dimming zones permits the QN95C to ship extremely deep blacks and exactly rendered shadow particulars with just about no blooming or haloing, even when seen at an angle.
That’s to not say the native dimming is flawless, and infrequently it may well battle with actually difficult materials, corresponding to when the Apollo 11 command module first goes into the shadow of the moon within the movie First Man. For essentially the most half, although, the QN95C impresses with its skill to concurrently show inky blacks and vivid highlights in the identical picture.
On this respect it’s superior to even one of the best OLEDs, and with a peak brightness of over 2,000 nits on a ten% window, HDR is commonly gorgeous. The QN95C can even hit over 700 nits on a full-field sample, which implies HDR content material graded at 1,000 nits requires nearly no tone mapping (the adjusting of content material to maintain the inventive imaginative and prescient intact in much less succesful circumstances).
Whether it is crucial, the Samsung tone maps 1,000, 4,000 and 10,000 nits content material by monitoring the goal curve exactly, thus making certain the blacks aren’t crushed and the highlights aren’t clipped. By way of HDR codecs, there’s help for HDR10, HLG and HDR10+, however no Dolby Imaginative and prescient, which could be a sticking level in the event you’re a giant Netflix fan.
The color efficiency is equally expansive, protecting the DCI-P3 gamut used for HDR, and doing so with a satisfying stage of accuracy. If you happen to select the Filmmaker Mode, you’ll be rewarded with an extremely correct image that also retains vivid specular highlights and deeply saturated colors, making certain HDR that not solely pops but in addition stays true to the unique inventive intentions.
The category-leading processing squeezes each final pixel out of 4K content material, delivering photographs which can be bursting with high-quality element. It might even make a number of the extra compressed commonplace definition TV channels look watchable – which is nothing in need of a miracle. There’s little doubt that the mix of accuracy, backlight and processing produces pretty footage from any content material.
The movement dealing with can also be spectacular, though the default Auto setting ends in extreme smoothing and an apparent cleaning soap opera look, so it’s finest prevented. If you happen to’re not bothered by 24p judder and love film-like movement, the Image Readability setting ought to be switched off utterly, whereas these on the lookout for one of the best of each worlds can strive making a customized setting of their very own.
By way of extra basic image qualities, the general display screen uniformity is great, with no clouding, banding or soiled display screen impact. Lastly the display screen filter is a particular enchancment on final yr, not solely absorbing mild from the entrance, and rejecting any ambient mild within the room, but in addition dealing with robust mild from the facet, which induced annoying reflections on earlier generations.
Verdict
The Samsung QN95C actually isn’t low-cost, particularly in comparison with competing OLEDs, however this flagship mannequin provides sufficient to justify its worth premium. From the design and construct high quality to the good platform and gaming options, this succesful Neo QLED 4K TV is a good high-end alternative.
It’s additionally a stellar performer relating to image high quality, with extremely vivid HDR and splendidly saturated colors, all of that are delivered with a nuanced accuracy. Slicing-edge processing and an elevated variety of dimming zones ship photographs to rival one of the best OLEDs.
The QN95C doesn’t simply look good, it sounds good because of an immersive sound system and help for Dolby Atmos. In reality, it’s onerous to fault this TV, though Samsung dropping the intelligent One Join Field is a disgrace. In any other case, it’s an aesthetic performer that’s positive to please.
To check the Samsung QN95C we used Portrait Shows Calman color calibration software program.
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