At a look
Professional’s Ranking
Execs
- Spectacular picture high quality
- Tizen sensible TV platform
- 120Hz refresh charge
Cons
- No Dolby Imaginative and prescient
- AI Audio sounds harsh
Our Verdict
This Quantum Mini LED display screen proves you don’t want to purchase an OLED to get spectacular black ranges. Crisp photographs and a number of gaming options make this a formidable Neo QLED flatscreen that isn’t as eye-wateringly costly as you would possibly anticipate.
Value When Reviewed
From $1,499 | Mannequin examined $1,999
Greatest Costs In the present day: Samsung QN85C (2023)
$1499.99
$1499.99
$4,345.98
With a formidable roster of options and an upgraded Mini LED backlight, this entry-level Neo QLED mannequin for 2023 is a tempting sensible TV for field set bingers and players alike. It affords an OLED-like black stage efficiency, potent HDR and deep, vibrant color.
The set additionally comes has a 2.2.2 Dolby Atmos sound system, plus a quartet of 4K 120Hz succesful HDMI inputs.
Sensible performance is offered by Tizen, Samsung’s more and more adept related platform. That’s a number of packing containers ticked.
Design & Options
- Slim bezel, central pedestal
- Tizen OS with Sport Hub
- Two distant controls
Regardless of the calls for of its Mini LED backlight, the QN85C’s Neo Slim design nonetheless seems premium, at simply 28mm deep. A central pedestal ensures the TV works with most AV furnishings choices.
To the rear are 4 HDMIs, all of that are 4K 120Hz succesful. HDMI 3 is eARC prepared, so there can be no drawback accommodating each an Xbox and PlayStation 5, in addition to a Blu-ray participant or set-top field. That is as future-proof as TVs get proper now.
Different connections embody an optical digital output, Ethernet, two USB ports and a CI card slot, whereas Bluetooth and Wi-Fi present wi-fi protection. There’s a selection of terrestrial or twin satellite tv for pc tuner feeds.
Steve Could / Foundry
The QN85C ships with two distant controls, a slim way of life mannequin and a normal zapper. Each sport devoted buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Samsung TV Plus and Disney+.
On the subject of audio, the QN85C contains a six channel iteration of Samsung’s OTS (Object Monitoring Sound) audio system. Cleverly, it manages to cover all these drivers from view.
Maybe essentially the most fascinating addition to the Tizen smorgasbord is a devoted Sport Hub. That is house to cloud gaming companies, like Xbox, Utomik and Twitch, and any related consoles
General usability is okay. Whereas Samsung continues to snub Freeview Play, all the primary UK TV catch-up gamers can be found by way of the Tizen sensible platform. There’s additionally no scarcity of streaming TV companies in addition to Samsung TV Plus, the model’s personal FAST (Free Advert-Supported TV) channel choices.
A single rail helps these varied apps, so scrolling alongside to search out your service of selection is a doddle; under this are bars from On Now and Not too long ago Seen content material.
Steve Could / Foundry
Menus sit to the left. It’s from right here you’ll be able to activate Ambient, Sport and Media playback modes, or dive even deeper into the Settings menu.
Maybe essentially the most fascinating addition to the Tizen smorgasbord is a devoted Sport Hub. That is house to cloud gaming companies, like Xbox, Utomik and Twitch, and any related consoles.
There’s additionally a Gaming overlay which teams all related console settings, similar to enter lag, VRR and HDR data. The TV is AMD Freesync Premium Professional and Nvidia G-Sync appropriate. Extra on gaming efficiency later.
Image High quality
- Punchy HDR efficiency
- Wonderful color vibrancy
- Highly effective picture interpolation
When you like your telly footage shiny and color wealthy, you’ve come to the appropriate place. The QN85C boasts a excessive common image stage, impactful peak HDR brightness and prolonged color depth.
When you thought solely OLED might ship unbroken strong black, then assume once more. In a totally darkish room, the letterbox bars of TV and widescreen motion pictures on this Neo QLED are inky black. There’s none of that insipid greyness that may afflict LED backlighting applied sciences.
I measured peak HDR brightness at simply over 1000 nits with a ten% measurement window. Greater than ok to ship shiny specular highlights, similar to lamps, avenue lights, reflections and the like, and daring sufficient to maybe forgive the set’s lack of Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist.
When you thought solely OLED might ship unbroken strong black, then assume once more
I did word some cloudiness with regards to low luminance shadow element, however then that’s maybe to be anticipated with a restricted variety of backlight clusters.
The set is appropriate with HDR10+, the energetic metadata system favoured by Amazon Prime Video.
Samsung
The panel is partnered with an AI-enhanced processor, Samsung’s Neural Quantum Processor 4K, which leverages the ability of 20 neural networks to optimise photographs on a scene-by-scene foundation. The fruits of this silicon labour may be discovered within the Clever Mode.
Choose this feature and the TV takes care of brightness, distinction and high quality element, making judgements based mostly on content material. If you wish to get extra fingers on, there’s a collection of picture presets: Customary, Eco, Film, Filmmaker mode, and Dynamic.
I discovered Customary the simplest to stay with, because it makes good use of accessible display screen brightness reserve and color constancy, with out resorting to oversaturation.
Movement dealing with is mostly good, courtesy of Movement Xcelerator Turbo+. It’s tempting to depart the Image Readability setting Off for motion pictures, though I discovered judder does change into intrusive. It’s higher to stay with Auto, or experiment with Customized to search out the most effective compromise.
Samsung
The display screen is a formidable gaming show. 4K 120Hz video games play significantly easily, though it didn’t enhance my Overwatch abilities. Remember that there are two Sport choices: Sport Movement Plus retains some processing for further picture nuance, however the primary Sport mode is essentially the most responsive.
I measured enter lag at a wonderful 9.4ms (1080p/60fps), in that mode, whereas with Sport Movement Plus engaged, which reinstates some picture enhancement, this falls to 25ms.
The soundstage is huge and excessive, with a surprisingly potent mid-range, courtesy of twin woofers
Sound High quality
- Object Monitoring System
- AI Audio mode
- 60W sound system
You possibly can’t inform from the set’s svelte chassis, however this set has a reasonably subtle OTS (Object Monitoring Sound) sound system built-in, full with a pair of peak drivers prime left and proper.
The soundstage is huge and excessive, with a surprisingly potent mid-range, courtesy of twin woofers. Motion pictures sound involving, no soundbar required. There’s no scarcity of quantity, because of 60W of amplification on board.
I’m actually not bought on the QN85C’s AI audio mode although. It’s very speech focussed, and the Amplify mode is kind of harsh. I got here to the conclusion that AI isn’t audio’s buddy simply but.
Value & Availability
The Samsung QN85C is available in 4 display screen sizes, all out there now. Select from 55-, 65-, 75- and 85in fashions (QE55QN85C, QE65QN85C, QE75QN85C and QE85QN85C).
These units promote for £1,899, £2,599, £3,599, and £4,699 respectively and you should purchase them from Samsung in addition to retailers similar to Amazon, Currys and Hughes.
The identical fashions can be found within the US, priced $1,499, $1,999, $2,699, and $3,799 – out there from Samsung US, Amazon US and BestBuy.
On my check bench is the 65in model and you’ll try loads of nice alternate options in our greatest TV chart.
Verdict
The QN85C is a high-performance 4K sensible TV, with an enviable characteristic specification.
The set’s Neural Quantum Processor 4K is multi-talented and does a high quality job with photographs. Black stage efficiency is especially spectacular, making certain photographs have actual depth.
Peak HDR brightness can also be spectacular, though the shortage of Dolby Imaginative and prescient stays a disappointment for movie followers.
The set excels with regards to gaming. The supply of 4 4K 120Hz inputs is sweet information for severe players, low latency is spectacular whereas the supply of a Sport Hub provides further polish.
This 4K Mini LED mannequin for 2023 is a good all-rounder.
Specs
- Mannequin examined 65in
- Display screen sizes: 55-, 65-, 75-, 85in
- Neo QLED show know-how
- Decision: 3840 x 2160
- HDMI: x4
- HDR assist: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG,
- Tizen sensible platform
- Freeview terrestrial tuner
- 2.2.2 sound system with Dolby Atmos
- Dimensions: 1446(w) x 828(h) x 25(d)mm
- Weight: 23.7kg