TECHWEEK
The Samsung QN90C is a great example of a TV that delivers incredible brightness with few compromises thanks to QLED, mini-LEDs and local dimming technology. It is the successor to the QN90B, a 2022 model. As it is now fashionable to talk about TVs: “it is bright and colorful.” True, you have to come to terms with the lack of Dolby Vision.
But the brightness of the QN90C is enough even for rooms flooded with sunlight. The QN90C Neo QLED is able to reproduce images with virtually no backlight bleeding and visually almost perfect black levels. In the Samsung QE43QN90C Neo QLED 4K HDR TV review, as a representative of the series, we will look at all the main pros and cons of the new product.
Samsung QN90C Review
Design
The appearance of the Samsung QE43QN90C TV suggests that it belongs to the thin segment of the company’s TV gene pool. The NeoSlim screen isn’t too thin (2.8 cm at its thickest point), but the narrow metal bezel that surrounds the screen on the left, right, and top, and the wider bezel on the bottom look especially good, never drawing too much attention.
I would like to say the same about the stand. But no, it’s a heavy structure. The two-piece unit requires eight screws for fastening. It looks unwieldy, like something designed to support a much larger or heavier TV. This is where you might seriously consider using the 200 x 200mm VESA holes to mount your TV on the wall.
The fasteners are located on the stylish back panel of black plastic imitating brushed metal. The difference from the Samsung QN90B lies in the shape of the stand. Now this is not a curved plate, but an irregular symmetrical hexagon. We also note that all the connectors are located in the TV case (and not in the Ony Connect module, like in the S95C ) and look sideways, without interfering with the tight fit of the TV to the wall.
Image quality
What Samsung calls the Neo QLED QN90C TV combines quantum dots and mini-LEDs into a display technology that the company claims delivers richer colors and higher contrast. This is easy to verify. High brightness is a characteristic feature of a QLED TV.
With SDR content, we are expected to see 700 nits in standard picture mode. With HDR content, the predecessor was impressive at 1100 nits (at 10% window). In Filmmaker mode, the brightness is usually noticeably lower. This sparkling HDR brings sizzling magical realism to special effects in movies across a wide range of genres.
In a VA panel that offers better contrast than an IPS panel, Samsung has packed its Ultra Viewing Angle technology to boost viewing angles. They are really excellent, and the colors retain their brightness and saturation. Samsung’s anti-glare technology has been added to the wider QN90C series models. It does a good job of hiding most reflections in a brightly lit room, with high brightness also playing an important role.
In addition, in 2023, Samsung is adding the Auto HDR Remastering option, the essence of which is evident from its name. Standard content is displayed in HDR mode (or matched to HDR content) thanks to a deep image analysis using the intelligent capabilities of the processor. Note that this algorithm also works only with Samsung QN90C TVs with large diagonals (not 43 and 50 inches).
Smart TV
The intelligent interface of the Samsung 43QN90C Tizen 7.0 TV is conceptually smart. It is both visually clear and intuitive. The customizable app drawer sits right where the eye falls, so you can easily access all major streaming services as well as Samsung TV Plus.
The main progress of Tizen 7.0 includes the work done to adapt new Tizen devices and strengthen the features of smart devices and the service platform. Base platform technologies are needed to prepare for a shared future with the Metaverse and robots. These new enhancements include an improved 3D rendering engine, a real-time engine, and more.
Note that the whole process is slow and clumsy, although this is a necessary evil given the remote’s limitations. Other interfaces are much more user-friendly, some (Google TV in particular) offering more upfront information and better suggestions on what to watch.
The included remote control acts like most remotes, allowing you to control the various features and functions of the Samsung QN90C, but it is also rechargeable. By collecting radio frequencies, it charges using both lighting and ambient wireless signals such as Wi-Fi. Its shape with rounded corners is different from last year’s remote control, but the functionality of the buttons remains the same.
Game features
If it’s not the best gaming TV, or even the best 43-inch gaming TV, it still stands up. The screen display delay time of the QE43QN90C TV does not exceed 10 ms. Note that all of the latest low input lag TVs are from Samsung, including the Q60C with 9ms latency.
HDMI 2.1 ports ensure that the QN90C supports all next-generation gaming features, including Low Latency Auto Mode (ALLM, which Samsung simply calls “Game Mode”) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) with a maximum of 120Hz (only Dolby Vision is missing). ). The game panel has been updated to version 3.0. There are mini-maps and new aiming.
Sound
The main difference between the audio system of the Samsung 43 QN90C TV is the intelligent remastering of the sound (whatever it is). If your TV gives you a good picture, you need good sound, and most TVs don’t meet this requirement. And the QN90C does not provide this, there is nothing special to write about here.
The sound of the TV is clear and without distortion in all applications and at all volume levels, whether you are watching action movies or animated musicals or listening to individual music tracks. Until we talk about sound effects that require the presence of a lot of bass. So if deep immersion is what you’re looking for, pairing your QLED TV with one of the best soundbars out there wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Connections
All QN90C ports are on the left side when viewed from the rear. The choice is large: two USBs (one at 0.5A, one at 1A), an optical audio output, an Ethernet port, an antenna jack (the number depends on the region) and four HDMIs, one of which is configured for eARC . All of them support the HDMI 2.1 standard, which allows you to play 4K at 120 Hz. there are also WiFi5 and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless adapters.
QN90C Price
At the moment (February 2023), the Samsung QE43QN90C TV can be purchased at a price of $ 1,200 by pre-ordering it in foreign online stores. The start of sales is scheduled for February 27, 2023. You can buy a Samsung QE50QN90C TV for $1600, Samsung QE55QN90C for $2000. The Samsung QE65QN90C is $2800, the Samsung QE75QN90C is $3300 and the Samsung QE85QN90C is $4800.
Conclusion
Treating such a small TV as just an add-on for the bedroom or some other tier-two application is to underestimate its capabilities. Even if the QN90C lacks some of the features found in the larger models in the series, it gives you so much that you won’t even remember that you’re missing anything.
The only problem is that the price is not too democratic. There are perfectly acceptable alternatives of the same size for less money (like the $550 Sony X80K 43-inch) and a huge number of large TVs that cost the same. But it is worth remembering that the Samsung QN90C line does not belong to the family of budget TVs. The 43QN90C delivers decent performance for the money you spend.
