Summary
I have just returned from a visit to Samsung in New Jersey, during which I was granted exclusive access to a selection of 2024 televisions. This trip has been eagerly anticipated since CES, at which Samsung presented a wide array of goods during its First Look, making it difficult to really explore any of them.
Samsung QN900D 8K TV
In this analysis, we will examine the 2024 Samsung QN900D, which serves as Samsung’s primary 8K television for the current year. However, before to delving into the television, let me to regulate my expectations. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to assess many televisions during my visit and conduct a substantial amount of subjective evaluation. Consequently, I possess insights into the visual fidelity of each model, which I will elaborate on in the next days. However, because to the little time I had with the TVs, my evaluations are not comprehensive.
Taking this into consideration, let us now go into the QN900D.
What are the recent developments?
To be candid, the market for 8K televisions is now challenging. Samsung is among the few prominent TV makers who have made a significant commitment to developing an 8K TV range.
In the past, the prevailing belief was that 8K televisions were mostly purchased for their superior technological features rather than their 8K resolution. However, this perception has undergone a transformation in recent times. Samsung’s 4K Neo QLEDs also include cutting-edge technology. However, it is important to note that Samsung’s 8K portfolio offers a wide range of features, with the QN900D being positioned at the pinnacle of this spectrum. It might be said that the QN900D represents the pinnacle of Samsung’s Neo QLED television offerings.
What is the appearance of Samsung’s top-tier QLED TV? Extremely impressive. I will go into that matter shortly. Initially, I would want to provide a concise overview of the recent updates for this model this year.
This 8K TV seems to be the smallest I have seen. Thin televisions continue to be popular, despite the perception that we are somewhat more accepting of bulkier models as long as the visual quality is satisfactory.
We anticipate that this will result in improved upscaling and cleaning of material with low bit depth.
Samsung QN900D 8K TV first look
However, a significant portion of the new information is not something I could really explore on my little journey. The Tizen smart TV OS has been updated with a new Health App, enhanced SmartThings features, and a Knox Security chip, ensuring the same level of security as your phone. This has more significance than ever before.
The QN900D is equipped with Samsung’s latest NQA AI Gen 3 processor, which has an on-chip AI engine that exhibits a 2x increase in speed compared to previous iterations and incorporates eight times the number of neural networks. We anticipate that this will result in enhanced upscaling and optimization of low-bit-depth video, such as the content available on various streaming platforms, including Samsung’s TV Plus. Evidently, the recently developed CPU exhibits enhanced capabilities in converting low-resolution information to 4K resolution, followed by further scaling to 8K resolution for optimal display on the television’s 8K screen. This is of utmost importance, since it is very challenging to elevate the low-quality information to the 4K resolution. Upgrading from 4K to 8K is not as challenging, and Samsung achieved mastery in this area a long time ago.
According to our conversation with Samsung at CES, the new AI processor is capable of accurately identifying various types of balls, such as soccer balls, footballs, tennis balls, and even golf balls, and providing clear information about them, even when they are moving rapidly. Individuals who have observed golf on YouTube are aware that the little ball often seems disorganized when it traverses the display. This is due to the little visual data available for the small item, resulting in its appearance as an unremarkable white mass on the screen. I have great expectations for this new CPU, and I will thoroughly examine it in the comprehensive evaluation.
It is worth noting that the QN900D has the capability to achieve a variable refresh rate of up to 240HZ, which is a significant feature for gaming purposes. I have not yet examined the source resolution restrictions or the specific methods used by Samsung to achieve this. However, I will thoroughly explore these aspects in the comprehensive evaluation.
The visual appearance
Currently, it can be seen that Samsung has made significant progress in its upscaling efforts. I conducted a test on this TV using streaming video with poor quality and low bit-rate, and I was quite delighted. Samsung has narrowed the disparity with Sony in terms of upscaling and motion resolution, resulting in a very competitive battle for the next year.
Regarding measurements, I have obtained the following data so far. The QN900D has exceptional visual quality in its Filmmaker mode, including both SDR and HDR.
The errors seen in the whole set of tests were much below the observable threshold. The white balance and color accuracy were exceptional, and the TV did not excessively enhance brightness in this mode, which is commendable as it indicates Samsung’s commitment to maintaining the intended precision of Filmmaker mode.
However, if you want this television to excessively illuminate items, it certainly will. I believe that this will provide great satisfaction to many individuals who watch dark HDR video, since it will enhance the visibility of such content in non-black environments.
It is conceivable that Samsung has mitigated backlight irregularities, although at the cost of somewhat diminished brightness.
Regarding brightness, the QN900D achieved a peak white brightness of 2400 nits when measured from a 10% window (more on this shortly). The HDR color fidelity of the QN900D was particularly remarkable. Frequently, this is disregarded, even with televisions that provide remarkable SDR color precision. However, the QN900D effectively maintained its stability, even while it was attempting to achieve exceptional performance with the distant BT.2020 colors.
Regarding the local dimming technology of the television, I saw a rapid decrease in backlight brightness. This resulted in little residual bloom when white caption text faded or transitioned off a black letterbox bar.
Indeed, the occurrence of blooming and halo effect was rather insignificant. Although I did not quantify the zones, the halo effect was negligible, even when seen off-axis, which is really remarkable. Although I am unaware of the specific backlight count and zone count of this TV, I can confidently state that Samsung has used very efficient technology.
This might also explain the television’s peak brightness values, which may be lower than anticipated. It is conceivable that Samsung has mitigated backlight irregularities, although at the cost of somewhat diminished brightness. In my opinion, the decision was correct. LCD televisions always include a trade-off between peak brightness and halo/blooming management.
When I refer to a “lower-than-hoped-for” peak brightness, I am not referring to my own aspirations. There is a growing optimism among TV fans that if TCL and Hisense produce mini-LED TVs with 5,000- and 10,000-nits, the QN900D would have a little better brightness rating.
It is very bright, reaching around 800 nits in full-screen white, which is rather astonishing.
I believe that there was never or should not have been an inevitable outcome. To begin with, it is important to note that the flagship devices offered by Hisense and TCL are expected to have a much higher price point compared to the QN900D. Furthermore, the functional value of such brightness remains uncertain.
Therefore, do not get fixated on those luminosity figures. The QN900D is a very capable television. It is very bright, reaching around 800 nits in full-screen white, which is rather astonishing.
Ultimately, I found the QN900D to be really impressive. The product is vibrant, very vibrant, and exceptionally precise, if desired. In addition, it is abundant in features, distinguishing it from any other television brand available. Although the TV is expensive, it offers a wide range of benefits.
Samsung is now implementing a temporary promotional campaign to enhance the value proposition of their television. By pre-ordering the QN900D, customers will be eligible to get a complimentary 65-inch television in addition to the TV. Please go to the QN900D pre-order page for further information, should you be interested.
