Samsung Neo QLED QN900A 8K
The Samsung Neo QLED QN900A is Samsung's flagship model for 2021, and as such it takes a heavy load on its circuitry. currently in the catalog of this manufacturer; It must also be measured face to face with
the most sophisticated televisions
of its competitors, it will therefore be forced to compete with the
the best of the best
models with an OLED panel.
On paper, their weapons are powerful. One of them, a priori the one that should help you to be competitive in the premium segment with guarantees, is the development of a FALD (
Full array local dimming
) backlight system with MiniLED technology equipped with no less than 1,344
dimming zones
.
But that's not all. It also has an extremely slim design; implements the 2.1 standard in its four HDMI connectors and is supported by the latest revision of Tizen OS, the operating system that Samsung integrates into its televisions. Throughout this article, we will see if these assets
enough to win
on the most advanced OLED TVs. Or not.
Contents
show
1
Samsung Neo QLED QN900A 8K: technical specifications
2
Designed and finished to compete in the Premier League
3
Its rivals have improved, but Tizen OS 6.0 remains a safe bet
4
A top of the range with high-end image quality, but with points for improvement
5
This TV is a gaming titan
6
Its sound convinces with both cinema and video games
7
Samsung Neo QLED QN900A 8K: Easy Wp Hub review and rating
Samsung Neo QLED QN900A 8K: technical specifications
Although this is by no means the only novelty that this brand has introduced in this TV if we compare it to last year's flagship model, the equally ambitious Q950TS QLED 8K ,
the MiniLED backlight
is arguably the most interesting innovation from a technical point of view. For this reason, I propose that we start the analysis by looking at both this one and the panel it is supposed to work with side by side .
VA LCD panels stand out for their high native contrast ratio and low light leakage, but they also have an Achilles' heel - your typical viewing angles
Samsung has chosen to integrate
VA type LCD panels
in its high-end and premium models, and this model fully adheres to this strategy. These matrices stand out for their high native contrast ratio and low light leakage, but they also have an Achilles heel: their typical are smaller than those of TVs with an IPS LCD and OLED panel. wait.
A well-implemented backlight system should be able to improve the qualities of the LCD and, at the same time,
minimize his faults
.This TV is backed by a much smaller array of LEDs than those used by a typical LED LCD model, which has allowed Samsung to introduce a lot more, and also come closer. That's pretty much the strategy MiniLED backlight.
On paper, this approach achieves backlight dimming
with more precision
, ensuring that the light from each LED only hits the pixels it should hit. deep, less
fulfillment
and a greater ability to recover detail in shaded and brighter areas. In the section where we will analyze the picture quality of this TV, we will check if it lives up to expectations.
The LEDs in this TV use a new housing that reduces light scattering
One important detail we want to know about the LED diodes that Samsung uses in its MiniLED backlit TVs is that they are not only smaller than conventional diodes;
its encapsulation is also different
.And it is that the engineers of this company have replaced the packaging of their previous diodes with a new encapsulation that incorporates a film of a material that, according to Samsung, reduces the dispersion of light.Thus, that emitted by each diode acts only on the appropriate pixels, not on neighboring pixels.
However, managing the 1344 independent dimming zones on this television in real time requires a significant processing effort. To meet this challenge, the engineers of this brand
have developed new
backlight management
algorithms
, as well as a new processing engine and a more powerful processor designed to cope with the huge computational effort involved in managing and processing backlight images.
SAMSUNG NEO QLED QN900A 8K 65′′
FEATURES
SIGN
65-inch, 120Hz, 16:9 aspect ratio VA 8K Neo QLED LCD
RESOLUTION
7680 x 4320 dots
BACKLIGHT
MiniLED with 1344 dimming zones
HDR
HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG
IMAGE PROCESSOR
Neo QLED 8K with AI
MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS DISTRIBUTION CAPACITY
3000 nits
OPERATING SYSTEM
Tizen OS 6.0
RING
6.2.2 channelsDolby Digital Plus and Dolby 5.1 processing Total power (RMS): 80 wattsOTS Pro and Q-Symphony technologies
CONNECTIVITY
4 x HDMI 2.1, 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x optical digital audio output, 1 x CI and 1 x antenna input
WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY
WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2
CINEAST MODE
Yes
GAMING TECHNOLOGY
ALLM, VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
DIGITAL TUNER
2x DVB-T2CS2
ECO SENSOR
Yes
ENERGY LABEL
g-class
AVERAGE CONSUMPTION
255 watts
DIMENSIONS
1433.1 x 892 x 300.5 mm (with peana)
WEIGHT
30.1 kg (with stand)
THE PRICE
4250 euros
About 5000 USD
Designed and finished to compete in the Premier League
The design of this TV is essentially tied to that of Samsung's 2020 flagship model. is that top and side executives
measures only 2 mm
, so at a viewing distance of 2.5 m or more, they go almost completely unnoticed. of the most stylish that can currently be found in stores.
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In addition, its finish is on par with its design. As you can see from the following detailed photo, the side profile of the TV box is made of aluminum and
is impeccably machined
.The small holes that Samsung has made there facilitate the evacuation of hot air which has absorbed by convection part of the thermal energy dissipated by the panel and the matrix of LED diodes responsible for delivering the light.The back of the television is plastic, but it uses a good quality polycarbonate and has a brushed finish which gives it a very nice feel.
In the next photo we can see that the back surface of this TV is completely seamless. It has no protrusions and its thickness is only 17 mm thanks in large part to the fact that the electronics do not reside in the same box that supports the panel and the backlight; the processing circuits and connectors are housed in the One Connect external module that Samsung has used in its high-end televisions for several generations. However, as we will see more away, the external module of this TV
it's very different
previous years to allow us to place it with more flexibility.
Like last year's flagship model, this TV relies on panel stability
has a
aluminum
central base
which has a very respectable thickness and solidity. It installs in a simple way, which is appreciated, and transmits a very strong feeling of robustness, so I cannot fault it despite the fact that in televisions over 55 inches I prefer the side legs as they tend to deliver more stability to the panel.
If we look from behind the rigid polycarbonate piece that connects the base of the stand and the TV box, we will see that, curiously, it
incorporates a
big
hole made
so that we can install the One Connect module there. It is one of the most interesting novelties of this television because it puts in our hands the possibility of placing this external module here, so that it does not take up extra space .However, of course, it is also possible to place it relatively far from the TV, just like the previous One Connect modules.
In the following photo you can see what the Slim One Connect module looks like, this is what Samsung calls it to emphasize that it is more elegant and compact than its predecessors, when we install it on the base. detail that reflects the care with which this brand has redesigned its flagship model this year is that this television incorporates
two cables of different lengths
to carry power and audio and video signals from the external module to the panel. The shortest is only 20 cm, which is the ideal length so that it does not over-cable when laying the external module on the base.And the longest measures 240 cm, so it allows us to place it relatively far from the TV if it suits us that they are not close for practical reasons.
Its rivals have improved, but Tizen OS 6.0 remains a safe bet
If it works, don't touch it. Or press it down to the gist to refine it a bit more. I'm sure that's what Samsung's engineers must be thinking when, year after year, they're faced with to the challenge of developing a new batch of televisions. And it is that Tizen, the operating system they use, offers us
a very satisfying experience
for several generations. The 6.0 iteration of this platform, which is the one that integrates this TV, is fast, intuitive and attractive from an aesthetic point of view.
This TV turns on and off much faster than Samsung's 2020 flagship model
It allows us to run apps and scroll through menus with minimal latency. In addition, this TV turns on and off with much more agility than Samsung's flagship model of 2020. Here's the proof : The 30s it took to turn on the Q950TS QLED 8K model is reduced
just over 3 sec.
in this Neo QLED QN900A 8K. And it's appreciated. A lot.
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Third change, the factory calibration that Samsung offers on this TV is careful, but objectively it is not perfect. Many people will not see the need to touch it because they will find it very pleasant just as they have come out of the box, but for those who want to tune it to the max by following, for example, the procedure that we propose in our calibration guide, I suggest that you pay close attention to the gamma correction and the balance of the whites because these are in my opinion the two parameters on which this television has the most room for improvement. However, ideally, anyone who can afford it should turn to a technician capable of
professional calibration
because such an expensive and ambitious device is worth it.
In the following photo we can clearly see the design of the new Slim One Connect external module. It is much thinner than the original module, mainly due to the fact that its height is much lower, although, yes, it is significantly deeper than its predecessor. In any case, it is easier to pass unnoticed. A note that we want to take into account: this component
dissipates a lot of heat
as most of the electronic components reside inside, so it is important that it is placed in a place where it can be properly cooled. Under no circumstances should it be enclosed in a closed compartment, such as a drawer .
The supply of connectors offered by the
Slim One Connect
module is very complete (we detail them in the table of specifications). As you can see in the following photo, it has all the physical connections that one can demand from a high-end television today, including the four HDMI inputs which implement the 2.1 standard. Unfortunately, few TVs still have four HDMI 2.1 connectors, but this is one of them. One point in your favour. Samsung has also solved wireless connectivity very well by providing it Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
Apparently, the remote control that Samsung gives us with this television is identical to the one that this brand has offered us in previous generations with its high-end televisions, but, in reality, it is not like that. The buttons and their distribution are very similar, although not identical, but the new remote is made using
28% recycled polyethylene
in a clear attempt to promote environmental friendliness. Cheers, Samsung. However, the changes don't stop there.
If we turn the remote over and look at its back, we will see that it incorporates
a small photovoltaic panel
this allows us to charge the battery using both sunlight and artificial light, although it can also be charged through the USB-C port that incorporates .According to Samsung, the battery life of this remote control is at least seven years old, so it's about the average lifespan of a TV today.
A top of the range with high-end image quality, but with points for improvement
To test this TV, I turned to
my usual reference movies
, including 'The Arrival' , 'The Revenant' , 'Interstellar' or 'Blade Runner 2049' , all on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray. these films, I turned to an OPPO UDP-205 player, a now discontinued device, but which continues to stand out for the high quality of its transport mechanics and its audio and video processing logic.
The photograph that we can see below these lines was taken using my digital microscope, and we can appreciate it with relative clarity.
the RGB subpixel distribution model
that generate the images. The reason why we can't identify the perimeter of each sub-pixel more clearly is because of the coverage that Samsung uses to increase light diffusion, and thus correct the limited viewing angles of the panels. VA type LCD. And works. This TV has very good viewing angles, so the color hardly degrades when we look at the panel from a very tilted position.
Samsung claims that the nanocrystals in this TV allow it to restore
100% DCI-P3 color space
, and I have no objective reason that invites me to doubt it. In fact, in the following photo, you can see that by subtly adjusting its calibration, it is possible to make it reproduce the tones of human skin, which is undoubtedly one of the most difficult textures to reliably recreate. And, moreover, without diminishing in any way the chromatic richness of the other portions of the image. TV is fabulous.
As you can see, some of the photos in this section of the article were intentionally taken with very little ambient light so that they reflect what really matters: the picture quality of this TV. gives when local backlight dimming is fully used
are very deep
, and panel uniformity under these conditions is very good. However, if we turn local dimming to its minimum value, panel uniformity suffers slightly. Not dramatic at all, but test images allow us to appreciate it with some clarity.
As I just mentioned, local dimming has a very obvious impact on the depth of blacks, which are very good when used fully. However, it comes at a price: it
accentuates
fulfillment
, which is that defect that manifests as a halo that surrounds the brightest areas of each image, especially if the neighboring region is noticeably darker.
This effect can be seen quite clearly in the subtitles, especially if they overlap the black band in the lower part of the screen. The following photo was taken by meticulously adjusting the exposure time and the aperture value of the camera until I get it to recreate with the greatest possible precision
the perception we have of
fulfillment
when we are in front of this TV in a room without ambient light.
One of the strengths of this TV is its maximum brightness casting capabilities. Apart from
3000 nit peaks
that Samsung says in the 65-inch model, which is the one we're reviewing (both the 75-inch and 85-inch versions deliver peak 4000 nits according to the South Korean brand), just playing content in HDR10 or HDR10+ perceive the huge amount of light it's able to project towards our eyes without degrading color rendition in the least. This TV's performance in HDR content is fabulous, but it's a shame Samsung still isn't betting on content processing Dolby Vision, especially in a TV as ambitious and expensive as this.
If we stick to the ability to recover detail in shadow and highlight areas (the brightest areas of each frame), this TV stands out very well. The level of detail suffers noticeably in the regions where the brightness is highest, such as in settings where a sky appears with a very bright sun, but when the light is moderate, and above all, in dark regions,
manages to give us a lot of information
.The merit of this TV's performance in this area is the backlight's ability to deliver the correct level of light very accurately, as well as its very capable image processing.
In the next test, LCD TVs with LED backlights suffer, and this proposal from Samsung didn't have a good time despite a very fancy MiniLED backlight scheme. The white circle you can see in the image moves more faster throughout the panel, forcing the backlight to cycle the LED array diodes on and off very quickly. As the speed exceeds a certain threshold, the object loses its solid white tone, so the edge closest to the side to which it moves is noticeably darkened because the LEDs in that region
not enough time
to achieve the level of delivery.brightness required by that part of the image.
It takes some time for the LEDs in the array to provide a high level of brightness, which can cause some regions of very bright, fast-moving objects to lose their robustness.
This is not dramatic at all because under typical breeding conditions this flaw usually goes unnoticed, but in a demanding test scenario it appears and users should be aware of it. mitigate, or even resolve it completely, by acting on
the backlight management algorithm
via a TV update
firmware
.After all, the MiniLED backlight scheme of this device is taking its first steps.
Samsung TVs have had some of the best anti-glare coverage on the market for three or four generations, and this Neo QLED model is no exception to that tradition. environment appear in the darkest areas of the frames, but under these same conditions other TVs with less worked anti-reflective treatment suffer much more. In the next photo you can clearly see
how well
the panel coverage of this tv
manages the
high intensity
flashes
, confining them to a very limited region of the array so that they do not degrade image quality.
The typical power consumption that Samsung announces in the specifications for this TV is 255 watts, a value close to the measurements I have observed during my tests. However, at certain times, in particular when the brightness level is high over a wide area of the panel, it is noticeably increased. At these times, my consumer meter recorded consumption peaks
greater than 362 watts
This TV is a gaming titan
To evaluate the performance of this TV
with video games i
turned to our Xbox Series X and several very latency-sensitive titles, such as "Mortal Kombat X", "Forza Horizon 4", "Gears 5" and "Ori and the Will of the Wisps". One of its points strengths in this use scenario is that it implements the full 2.1 standard in all four HDMI connectors, so in each of them we have VRR, ALLM, 120 FPS technologies and, as a tip, also synchronization adaptive.FreeSync from AMD.
An interesting point: this television incorporates
an options bar
which allows us to consult and act on the parameters that determine our experience with games, such as input latency, HDR or adaptive synchronization.
In the following photo, you can see that our Xbox Series X has correctly identified that this TV implements ALLM (the automatic low latency mode) and VRR (the variable refresh rate) technologies. Its only relatively significant shortcoming in this area is the absence of
Dolby Vision content
treatment, especially since Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox Series X and S will offer us games with this HDR mode in the future.
In combat, this television works like a shot. Its overall image quality with games is very high, but if I had to highlight some of its qualities in this use-case scenario, I would stick to its ability to recover detail. in dark regions and how impressive its HDR is. Anyway, what makes it stand out is
its very low input latency
.
Like last year's Q950TS model, it flies in the orbit of
10 milliseconds
at any resolution, a minimum value that makes first-person shooters or fighting games, among other genres, very fun in this game.TV.Plus, it's interesting for us video game lovers , note that LCD TVs are essentially immune to image retention.
Its sound convinces with both cinema and video games
The endowment of speakers with which Samsung has equipped this television is ambitious. In the lower part of the rear panel, there is
are eight speakers
, four on each side of the base, which are responsible for reproducing mid and low frequencies. finally, they are powered by several class-D amplifiers that have a total power of 80 watts. That's not bad at all.
In the lower part of the rear panel are eight speakers responsible for reproducing mid and low frequencies
The combination of audio hardware and processing in this TV allows it to work with
6.2.2 channels
, and it is compatible with Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby 5.1 content, but does not process DTS or Dolby Atmos audio. one of those offered by Samsung itself or any other brand, or, better still, with dedicated multi-channel equipment, which is always the case. the option that gives us the highest quality surround sound.
OTS Pro (
Sound Pro Object Tracking
) is a key element of the sound performance offered by this television. This innovation uses an algorithm which evaluates the position on the screen of the object which emits a particular sound to determine by which speakers it should be reproduced so that the user have the feeling that he is from this place. I appreciate
three-dimensionality
of this technology because, although it does not always make it possible to clearly locate the position of all sound sources, it allows the user to perceive how they move in a wide sound field.
Samsung Neo QLED QN900A 8K: Easy Wp Hub review and rating
This TV has personality. And it is appreciated. The same that we find in the premium proposals that Samsung has launched in recent years. Its clean design and careful construction work to your advantage in this area, but do not neglect not a sound and visual performance
first division
, that's what users can demand from a TV as advanced and expensive as this TV.
Going by its image quality, I would be left with its exceptional color reproduction, its ability to recover detail in dark regions, and also with the way it resolves HDR content thanks, above all, to a monstrous brightness delivery capability..And I can't overcome
the performance of Tizen OS 6.0
, an agile, intuitive and very enjoyable operating system that is easy to get to grips with in just a few minutes.
This TV is an excellent option for gamers. For its four HDMI 2.1 ports. And also because of its very low input latency.
Its performance with video games deserves separate mention. Having four ports that implement the full HDMI 2.1 standard is a joy, and this TV's extremely low input latency makes gaming with it similar to playing with a monitor. , the fact that the LCD panels are
essentially immune to retention
serves to reassure users who are concerned that an OLED TV may be affected by this issue.
However, in the balance of this television there are also shortcomings. In a high-end device with the price of this Neo QLED QN900A, I miss the possibility of playing Dolby Vision content, as well as Dolby Atmos sound and DTS. And, as we saw in the section where we carefully analyzed its picture quality, the MiniLED backlight has great potential, but it
also has room for improvement
.
I have no doubt that this latest innovation is the way forward to further develop LCD TV technology, but I am confident that Samsung will
refine it
so that the defects that we have identified in this television will be corrected, if not in this model, at least in those that will reach stores in the future