Unlike curved panels and models with 3D support, 8K TVs still hold their ground. Of course, consumer excitement has dropped significantly due to the shortage of 8K content, and the high price radically reduces their competitiveness. However, companies quickly adjusted their efforts, concentrating them on improving upscaling quality. As a result, the playback of 4K content in 8K resolution has become one of their main bonuses.
Of course, assessing the validity of a higher price for increasing resolution is debatable. Strictly speaking, the difference only appears on a fairly large screen.
For example, today only a few flagship smartphones offer 4K, as even Full HD resolution provides superb detail on a relatively small screen. Therefore, manufacturers do not offer 55-inch 8K TVs. Moreover, another nuance arises. Given the peculiarities of our vision, ophthalmologists recommend the optimal viewing distance as a screen diagonal with a multiplier of 1.3. Accordingly, viewing on a 75-inch panel is optimal from a distance of ~2.5 meters. But our visual acuity is clearly inferior to that of an eagle, and we are unlikely to be able to distinguish pixels from such a distance.
A few years ago, one of the South Korean companies conducted research in this area. Already at a distance of several meters, the perception of differences between 4K and 8K images of average size practically disappears. In fairness, most of the subjects noted that the smoke over a cup of hot coffee in the 8K image seemed ‘hotter’ to them. This result indirectly confirms the influence of resolution on immersiveness.
However, regardless of such discussions, 8K TVs are still relevant. Samsung claims dominance in this segment, annually expanding its 8K line. In this year it introduced the QN900F and QN990F 8K models.
Samsung Neo TVs
As the abbreviation in the Neo QN name suggests, both models are LCD TVs with quantum dot (QD) technology and mini LED backlight.
QD expands color gamut, improves color brightness and accuracy. The mini LED backlight significantly increases contrast, which directly affects HDR performance, colors saturation and detail in dark scenes.
The QD’s opertion principle is simple and elegant. The blue from the rear blue LEDs is directed to a film with deposited microparticles, the size of which corresponds to the wavelengths of red and green. Blue partially passes through the film, and is partially absorbed and re-emitted as a red or green, depending on the microparticle size. Behind the film, three primary colors (blue+red+green) are combined into high-quality white, which is directed to the RGB filter.
In fact, the developers have improved the image quality by creating an analogue of a small sun that generates high-quality white color.
Mini LED backlight was first introduced in the TCL 6 Series in 2018. Chinese developers replaced hundreds of traditional LEDs with tens of thousands of miniature ones, forming hundreds and even thousands of independently controlled local dimming zones.
A revolutionary increase in the brightness control accuracy in the different screen zones depending on the scene provided a radical improvement in the overall image contrast. Today, almost all industry leaders use their own versions of this technology.
Of course, the processors are one of the main difference between the models. The QN990F is equipped with Samsung NQ8 AI Gen 3 using 768 neural networks, while the QN900F uses NQ8 AI Gen 2 with 256 neural networks. In turn, their performance directly affects the operation of video processing algorithms and miniLED backlight control, which determine image quality.
65″ QN900F vs 75″ QN990F
The TVs have VA panel with matte coating and use a BGR (Blue-Green-Red) subpixel layout instead of the traditional RGB layout.
Main differences
– $ 2,700 vs $ 4,500 (for 65-inches models);
– Samsung NQ8 AI Gen 3 vs Gen 3 CPU;
– 8K AI Upscaling vs 8K AI Upscaling Pro;
– Motion Xcelerator 165Hz vs Motion Xcelerator 240Hz;
– OTS+ vs OTS Pro;
– Metal Frame Design vs Infinity Air Design;
– Attachable Slim One Connect vs Wireless One Connect box.
Wireless One Connect box has 4x HDMI 2.1 (one with eARC support), 3x USB-A, Ethernet port (LAN), optical digital audio output and RF input.
Additional Micro HDMI 2.1 and USB-C ports are located on the back of the TV.
HDR Brightness
– peak 2% window ~ 1,650 vs 2,015 nits (cd/m²);
– 25% window ~ 1,790 vs 1,480 nits;
– 100% window ~ 720 vs 510 nits.
The QN990F delivers over 2,015 nits in a 2% window, flawlessly displaying very bright details like flashes for a very short time. But the average brightness across the entire screen of 65QN900F is slightly higher.
SDR Brightness
– peak 2% window ~ 1,510 vs 2,100 nits;
– 25% window ~ 1,685 vs 1,545 nits;
– 100% window ~ 710 vs 520 nits.
QN990F has no trouble overcoming glare even in a very bright room.
Formally, the QN900F is slightly brighter, but the excess brightness of both models levels out this difference.
Contrast
Dimming Zone Count – 1,056 (65″) vs 1,920 (75″);
Dinamic / Native contrast – 146,686 : 1 / 1,708 : 1 vs 208,100 : 1 / 1,314 : 1.
Audio
– 70W 4.2.2ch vs 90W 6.2.2ch and 120W 6.4.4ch on the 98-inches model.
Other specs
Pre / Post – calibration color accuracy (QN900F vs QN990F)
SDR
– White Balance dE 2000 – 1.75 / 0.36 vs 5.60 / 0.28 (good value < 3);
– Color dE 2000 – 1.66 / 1.56 vs 3.90 / 1.89 (good < 3);
– Gamma – 2.13 / 2.21 vs 2.28 / 2.20 (2.1 – 2.3);
– Color Temperature – 6,290K / 6,503K vs 6,206K / 6,490K (6,500K).
HDR
– White Balance dE ITP – 9.21 / 6.89 vs 18.83 / 5.14 (good value < 9);
– Color dE ITP – 12.2 / 9.10 vs 11.2 / 7.00 (good value < 9).
Presets of QN900F are almost perfect ‘out of the box’. The tested QN990F required calibration, after which it also demonstrated excellent results.
PQ EOTF tracking
– 0.0045 / 0.0045 / 0.0041 vs 0.0022 / 0.0023 / 0.0018 for 600 / 1000 /4000 nits (good value < 0.008).
For reference, PQ (Perceptual Quantizer) EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) tracking characterizes the accuracy of converting a digital signal into screen brightness. In fact, accurate PQ EOTF tracking means correct transmission of details in bright and dark areas.
65QN900F is good, but QN990F is equally superb for near-blacks and very bright highlights.
Black Uniformity
Std. Dev. / Native Std. Dev. ~ 0,4% vs 0,99% / 2,65% vs 0,83% (good value < 0,6%).
Both models demonstrate slight blooming around bright objects on a dark background but blacks are deep and uniform across dark areas of the screen.
SDR Color Volume
– CIELAB DCI-P3 Coverage ~ 85.5% vs 88.5%;
– CIELAB BT.2020 Coverage ~ 60.3% vs 63.3%.
Incomplete coverage creates slight distortions when reproducing greens and reds at any lightness. To be fair, almost all SDR content uses BT.709 color space, which both models cover completely.
Key Features
Formally, the NQ8 AI Gen 3 of QN990F with 768 neural networks boasts a 15% faster CPU, 40% faster GPU, doubled NPU performance vs NQ8 AI Gen 2 with 256 neural networks. But to be fair, both TVs provide the same superb upscaling of lower-resolution content, which is especially important due to the limited amount of 8K content available. This is probably due to their redundant performance. However, the difference sometimes appears when local dimming algorithms work in high-dynamic scenes.
Both series feature innovative Samsung’s Glare Free coating, which virtually eliminates glare.
The input lag of QN900F is significantly lower than QN990F and is in Game Mode ~ 6.5 ms for 1080p/4K@120Hz. For comparison, in the QN990F it reaches 22 ms for 1080p/4K@120Hz or 54.1 ms for 8K@120Hz signal. This is due to the use of the Wireless One Connect box, which adds a considerable amount of latency. Of course, it’s sufficient for casual games, but a little high for competitive or fast-paced gaming. However, using Micro HDMI port on the back of the TV reduces it to 5.6 ms for 1080p/4K@120Hz. Both models offer a full range of popular gaming options, including multiple HDMI 2.1 ports, Game Bar, VRR and ALLM features.
The viewing angles of both TVs reach 30°, which is okay for most rooms. When they are exceeded, the colors fade and red shift appears.
The list of cons of QN900F includes:
– no recording support from built-in tuners;
– not always flawless work of local dimming algorithms;
– no DTS:X (home theater) and HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group) support.
QN990F:
– very high price;
– missing Dolby Vision and DTS:X;
– high input lag with Wireless One Connect box.
Conclusion
Once again, the South Korean giant has created one of the best LED LCD TVs on the market. In fact, the flagship QN990F 8K embodies all the latest technological solutions, including 8K resolution, newest Samsung NQ8 AI Gen 3 with 768 neural networks, QD, mini LED backlight, Glare Free coating and Wireless One Connect box (max distance up to 10 meters). Of course, $ 4,500 for 65-inch models is expensive. But price is unlikely to stop progressists and perfectionists with a good budget.
The QN900F 8K is ideal for pragmatists. Of course, $ 2,700 for a 65-inch TV is also quite expensive. But the 8K resolution and impeccable playback quality give it a superb price-quality ratio and good marketing prospects.
Video introduces the new Samsung Neo QLED QN990F 8K TV.