Samsung’s newest Neo QLED 4K TV isn’t wildly totally different from final yr’s QN95B, however the QN95C gives sufficient developments to not solely elevate its efficiency in comparison with the earlier technology, but additionally give even the best OLED TVs a run for his or her cash by way of 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 photos which might be typically beautiful of their visible impression.
The QN95C is now obtainable for pre-order and is available in 55-, 65-, 75- and 85-inch display 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 photos able to competing with, and infrequently exceeding, the very best OLEDs. Sadly the One Join Field is gone, however a classy design, stable construct high quality, complete streaming apps, and in depth gaming assist make this 4K TV onerous to withstand.
- Extremely vivid, vibrant photos
- Peerless LCD black ranges
- Very good 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 seems to be the identical as final yr with one notable exception. Whereas the general look is mainly equivalent, the connections are actually a part of the TV slightly than in a separate field. That is presumably a cost-saving train, however a disgrace nonetheless.
In any other case it’s enterprise as standard, with an equivalent slab design that’s all clear strains and minimalist styling. The scale are surprisingly slim for an LCD TV, primarily as a result of LEDs used within the backlight, that are 40 instances smaller than these present in Samsung’s bulkier panels.
The QN95C seems to be significantly putting when wall mounted, though not fairly as tidy with out the one cable from the One Join Field. When you’d slightly use the elegant stand, it supplies stable assist however has a minimal footprint, which implies it should match comfortably onto narrower surfaces.
The connections are situated to the rear proper as you face the display, with 4 HDMI inputs, certainly one of which helps eARC. The entire HDMI inputs can deal with 4K/144Hz, VRR and ALLM, which makes this a terrific TV for any avid gamers seeking to get probably 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. When it comes to wi-fi connectivity, there’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and assist 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 slightly 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 additionally as a result of it’s manufactured from recycled plastic. The batteries aren’t simply recharged utilizing the photo voltaic panel constructed into the again both, but additionally by repurposing the Wi-Fi alerts bouncing round your home – useful for those who dwell in locations the place the sunshine does 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 assist
The Samsung QN95C sports activities a set of options which might be largely the identical as final yr, however some important enhancements have been made in the case of the backlight. The variety of independently dimmable zones has been practically doubled to an enormous 1,344 (48 x 28) zones.
Whenever you mix all these zones with Samsung’s class-leading native dimming algorithms, Quantum Matrix Expertise 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 parts and including a brand new Actual Depth Enhancer that mixes object detection and picture manipulation to create a larger 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 impression of compression to ship clear and detailed photos.
The image high quality is additional enhanced by the inclusion of a Filmmaker Mode, and this delivers very correct photos in each SDR and HDR. Nonetheless, for those who fancy tweaking this accuracy with out paying an expert calibrator, Samsung’s Sensible Calibration characteristic means that you can get nearer to the trade requirements utilizing simply your smartphone. It’s very intelligent, and it really works.
The Tizen-powered good system is much like final yr, though the interface now gives a helpful Media part the place all of the apps and related gadgets might be discovered, together with a curated Sport part the place you’ll be able to entry streamed gaming apps and related consoles. As with earlier years, Samsung gives 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 digital camera within the field. The concept 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 assist for 4K as much as a refresh price of 144Hz for those who 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 data and settings into one simple to know and entry location. It pops up once you first go into the Sport Mode, however for those who ever want it simply maintain down the play/pause button to convey 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 very efficient. We measured an enter lag of slightly below 10ms, which is extremely quick and ensures a responsive gaming expertise. In fact, since this TV makes use of an LCD panel, there’s additionally no hazard of display 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 consequence is a reasonably massive and expansive supply, plus a good quantity of bass.
The audio system are situated across the display, which provides peak to the general supply, and the onboard Dolby Atmos decoding additionally helps create a larger sense of immersion. Though if you wish to add an outboard audio answer, Samsung’s Q Symphony characteristic now provides AI-enhancements to raised 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 seems to be higher compared to final yr’s mannequin, and that TV was no slouch, which is a superb indicator of issues to come back. The substantial enhance within the impartial dimming zones permits the QN95C to ship extremely deep blacks and exactly rendered shadow particulars with nearly no blooming or haloing, even when considered at an angle.
That’s to not say the native dimming is flawless, and infrequently it could possibly wrestle with actually difficult materials, resembling when the Apollo 11 command module first goes into the shadow of the moon within the movie First Man. For probably 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 the very best OLEDs, and with a peak brightness of over 2,000 nits on a ten% window, HDR is usually beautiful. The QN95C may also hit over 700 nits on a full-field sample, which implies HDR content material graded at 1,000 nits requires virtually no tone mapping (the adjusting of content material to maintain the inventive imaginative and prescient intact in much less succesful situations).
Whether it is mandatory, 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. When it comes to HDR codecs, there’s assist for HDR10, HLG and HDR10+, however no Dolby Imaginative and prescient, which could be a sticking level for those who’re an enormous Netflix fan.
The color efficiency is equally expansive, protecting the DCI-P3 gamut used for HDR, and doing so with a satisfying degree of accuracy. When you 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 additionally stays true to the unique inventive intentions.
The category-leading processing squeezes each final pixel out of 4K content material, delivering photos which might be bursting with effective element. It could even make among the extra compressed commonplace definition TV channels look watchable – which is nothing wanting a miracle. There’s little question that the mix of accuracy, backlight and processing produces beautiful photos 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. When you’re not bothered by 24p judder and love film-like movement, the Image Readability setting needs to be switched off fully, whereas these searching for the very best of each worlds can strive making a customized setting of their very own.
When it comes to extra normal image qualities, the general display uniformity is superb, with no clouding, banding or soiled display impact. Lastly the display filter is a particular enchancment on final yr, not solely absorbing gentle from the entrance, and rejecting any ambient gentle within the room, but additionally dealing with robust gentle from the facet, which brought on annoying reflections on earlier generations.
Verdict
The Samsung QN95C actually isn’t low-cost, particularly in comparison with competing OLEDs, however this flagship mannequin gives 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 superb high-end alternative.
It’s additionally a stellar performer in the case of image high quality, with extremely vivid HDR and splendidly saturated colors, all of that are delivered with a nuanced accuracy. Reducing-edge processing and an elevated variety of dimming zones ship photos to rival the very best OLEDs.
The QN95C doesn’t simply look good, it sounds good because of an immersive sound system and assist for Dolby Atmos. In truth, 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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