TECHWEEK
The Samsung QN800C is the absolute 2023 8K TV. The screen has more than 33 million pixels thanks to its 7680 x 4320 resolution. Having four times more information on screen than a 4K TV should result in a higher level of detail, superior clarity… in short, more realism.
But so far, these advantages are mostly theoretical. Native 8K content is currently still hard to find. But Samsung is very optimistic about the QN800C’s ability to upscale 4K content. The company suggests that it will look better on the Neo QLED QN800C than on the native 4K screen. In the Samsung QE65QN800C 8K HDR TV review, we will try to understand if this TV is worth the money.
Samsung QN800C Preview
Design
The Samsung QE65QN800C TV is a beautiful device with a modern design that matches the appearance of the QN800B series with a center stand. This is a FALD (Full Array Local Dimming) TV with mini LEDs, so the panel has little depth, but its edges are perforated to allow for cooling and sound from the OTS+ sound system.
With the Infinity One design, the screen has an almost bezel-less look, unlike the Infinity Screen of the QN900C . The thickness of the frames does not exceed 1.5 cm, and the stand looks solid. However, looks can be deceiving as the TV is quite heavy. Moreover, the weight is determined not only by the TV itself, but also by the Slim One Connect switching module.
The stand connects at the back with two plastic fasteners and a sturdy metal base. The back mount has a place to store the One Connect box if you want to hide it. A shorter cable is provided for this if you wish to use this approach. There are also flush-mounted audio drivers on either side of the stand.
The new Samsung TM2360E remote control is slightly smaller and has rounded corners. It contains a lot more recycled plastic than previous versions and still doesn’t use disposable batteries. This is all due to the tightening of European environmental standards. But it performs the same functions as the old models.
Image quality
The Samsung 65QN800C uses a VA panel. And it also has an anti-reflective coating with an ultra-wide viewing angle, just like IPS panels . This means you can sit much farther from the center than with conventional VA type panels and not suffer from color shifts.
As usual with LCD TVs, panel uniformity can be problematic, even when using Mini LED backlighting. The Samsung QN800C sometimes suffers from slightly bright edges and a darker center in most images, as well as some visible haze. Dirty Screen Effect (DSE) is also seen in content with large areas of the same color and a moving camera, such as soccer fields or the sky.
Blooming (bleeding) is also a problem, especially with HDR content where bright objects can create halos around them against a black background, or subtitles in a dark scene. The QE65QN800C TV uses a specific bloom suppression algorithm. If a certain percentage of the screen is bright against a dark background, the backlight level (APL) is lowered and those highlights are dimmed slightly so that no blooming is evident.
In addition to a detailed screen image, the Samsung QN800C TV features a Shape Adaptive Light Control mode that enhances viewing in both the brightest and darkest ambient lighting conditions. The level of brightness that Neo QLED QN800C produces is impressive (up to 2000 nits). Whites are crisp, clean and detailed, with plenty of gradations.
At the opposite end of the scale, deep blacks are as detailed and as impressively varied as whites. Combined with the white tone performance, the contrast here is significant and quite dynamic. Although, as mentioned above, the Samsung QN 800 C is willing to turn down the brightness when faced with small bright details in a dark scene.
The Real Depth Enhancer function increases the realism of the image perception, giving the objects on the screen a more three-dimensional appearance. Neo QLED TV QN800C, according to the manufacturer, provides a higher picture clarity, including due to the new algorithm for the functioning of the Auto HDR Remastering option.
Game Mode
Motion The QN800C displays motion well at 24fps with no signs of judder or blurring that shouldn’t naturally be present in content. Enabling Picture Clarity introduces frame interpolation but adds soap opera effect (SOE) and artifacts. In general, the 65QN800C TV has an excellent response time.
In addition, to reduce motion blur on the screen, there is a black frame insertion function. It may not work as well as it causes image duplication of fast moving objects. For gamers, the Samsung QN800C offers a new Game bar 3.0. It lets you view frame rates, HDR status, resolutions, and more.
Auto game mode also offers a handy dynamic black equalizer. It allows players to adjust shadow detail. There is built-in FreeSync support to reduce screen tearing. With ALLM enabled, the output delay (input lag) does not exceed 10 ms. The Samsung QN800C has no display issues with either PS5 or Xbox Series X.
Smart TV
Tizen OS 7.0, based on which QN800C smart functions are implemented, expands the possibilities of integrating a TV into your smart home. In 2023, the list of Tizen devices with which the TV can interact has grown significantly. The SmartThings app turns your smartphone into a remote control and allows you to display content from your smartphone on your TV.
If you have a compatible Samsung smartphone, you can also get a TV picture on a small screen. You can only send audio to your smartphone. This is convenient if you want to watch TV with headphones. If desired, you can turn the TV itself into a smart home control center using the Smart Hub.
The Smart Hub is intuitive and well organized, though Samsung’s own ad space at the top takes up a bit of space. The interface has different sections. As usual with Samsung, there are a lot of applications and media libraries on the screen. You can switch from media to “Ambient”. In this mode, you can view pre-loaded paintings, show your own photos or other interesting things.
Sound
Thanks to the Object Tracking Sound Plus (OTS+) system used in the QN800C, the TV’s sound quality is above average, with an excellent wide soundstage and crisp and clear dialogue. The sound follows objects around the screen, which adds realism to the dialogue of the actors in front of you. The width of the soundstage gives the system a pleasant feeling of spaciousness.
Bass is the only area that lacks sound. But it’s hard to expect from a flat TV that its 4.2.2 speakers with a total output of 70 watts will sound like explosions in films that shake the earth. Of course, there’s always the option to add an external soundbar and subwoofer to further enhance immersion.
Connections
All TV connections are made through the One Connect box. In 2023, it became thinner than, for example, the QN95B. But the connectors on the rear panel are the same. There are 4 HDMI 2.1 ports (one with eARC ), 3 USB ports, an Ethernet port and a digital optical audio output. Well, of course, a connector for connecting the One Connect cable.
Price of QN800C
At the current moment (March 2023), the price of Samsung QE65QN800C TV is $3,500 in overseas stores. You can buy a Samsung QE75QN800C TV for $4,000 and a Samsung QE85QN800C for $6,000.
Conclusion
This is a good quality 8K TV with good picture quality for SDR and HDR content, lots of useful features, a good OS, and a smart TV system. It also sounds good with OTS+, has a smart look and comes with a slim One Connect box, making it ideal for wall mounting.
However, the high price makes it difficult to choose the QN800C to buy. It has a hard time holding its own against serious OLED contenders, including Samsung’s own S95C QD-OLED. All in all, this TV has been designed for those who want a model that will support the formats and resolutions that will appear in TV shows and movies for the foreseeable future.
