Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV QN900D (2024) Review - Samsung's Best TV to Date

TweakTown's Rating: 90%

The Bottom Line

In a world without native 8K content everywhere, the new flagship Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) for 2024 smartly uses new powerful AI hardware to upscale 1080p and 4K content with remarkable results.

Pros

• Stylish and minimal 'Infinity Air' design
• NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor that upscales lower resolutions like 1080p or 4K to 8K
• Available in 65, 75, or massive 85-inches
• Vibrant color, excellent black levels, and some of the best HDR money can buy
• Excellent for PC gaming thanks to 4K 240 Hz support with VRR

Cons

• Low-quality, compressed video looks pretty bad when upscaled to 8K
• Low-latency gaming modes turn off image processing
• Flagship pricing

Should you buy it?

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Buy at Amazon for $4797.99

Buy at Newegg for $3797.99

Introduction & Specification Details and Close-up

Samsung's Neo QLED 8K Smart TV for 2024, the QN900D, may not feature the sort of OLED panel we usually associate with high-end displays but make no mistake, this is every bit Samsung's flagship showstopper TV. One that adds a new dimension to the idea of kicking back on a couch and watching a movie or tuning into some sport. Available in 65, 75, and 85-inch variants, even though the native resolution is 8K or 7,680 x 4,320 pixels, one of the highlights is the new (and currently exclusive to this model) NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor from Samsung.

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The new NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor increases CPU speed by around 30% compared to Samsung's previous-gen chip and doubles the speed of the NPU and GPU. Yes, there's a lot of AI going on with the new Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV for 2024, and for good reason. Like everyone who knows about resolutions, video formats, and streaming, Samsung is keenly aware that there's very little native 8K content out there.

Throwing up a native 8K video on the Neo QLED 8K Smart TV is immediately impressive but not required to get the full benefit of the display. What the new NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor can do regarding AI image upscaling, color accuracy, contrast, HDR, and even sound processing sells the big screen experience you want from a flagship.

Upscaling is a big part of the 8K TV experience because most of the content you'll watch across streaming, gaming, or movies stored on physical media will be in 1080p or 4K. Those aren't my words per se, but Samsung's. AI-powered image and audio processing is the feature of note for Samsung's new 2024 flagship TV, and it presents a significant upgrade (and step forward) for how 8K displays handle lower-resolution content.

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For high-quality 4K movies or television shows, the upscaling process enhances detail to deliver an image that, in many cases, looks better than a native 4K display of the same size. Samsung's AI models have been trained with all types of content, including sport - the new AI upscaling can accurately detect and enhance ball movement clarity from a lower resolution source. It's impressive stuff, but there are a few limitations. As a flagship, Samsung's Neo QLED 8K Smart TV doesn't come cheap - and the AI upscaling can't do much with heavily compressed video (not that we expected it to). Let's dig in.

Specifications and Close-Up

• Product Type: TV
• Panel Type/Size: Quantum Dot QLED, 85-inches (also available in 65 and 75-inches)
• Resolution/Aspect Ratio: 8K (7,680 x 4,320) (16:9)
• Refresh Rate: 100 Hz (Native) 200 Hz (Motion)
• Picture Engine: NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor
• HDR: Neo Quantum HDR 8K Pro, HDR10+
• Audio: 90W, 6.2.4 channel
• Operating System: Tizen Smart TV with Alexa
• HDMI Ports: 4 x HDMI 2.1 (8K 60Hz, 4K 240Hz)
• Connectivity: 3 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C, 1 x Ethernet, Optical Audio Out, RF In, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, eARC over HDMI
• Dimensions/Weight: 1877.4 x 1145.2 x 304.9 mm, 53.4 kg

Kosta's Test System Specifications

• Motherboard: ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER Founders Edition
• Display: MSI MAG 321UPX QD-OLED 4K 240 Hz
• Cooler: ASUS ROG RYUO III 360 ARGB
• RAM: 64GB (4x16GB) Corsair DOMINATOR TITANIUM RGB DDR5 DRAM 6000MT/s
• SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus-G M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD 4TB, Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus Plus M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD 8TB
• Power Supply: ASUS TUF Gaming 1000W Gold
• Case: Corsair 5000D AIRFLOW Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX PC Case
• OS: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 64-bit

Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV QN900D (2024)

	Today	Yesterday	7 days ago	30 days ago
	$4797.99	$4797.99	$4797.99	$4997.99	Buy
	$3797.99	$3797.99	$3797.99	-	Buy
* Prices last scanned on 10/23/2024 at 8:52 am CDT - prices may not be accurate, click links above for the latest price. We may earn an affiliate commission from any sales.

Physical Design and Panel Breakdown

Physical Design

Samsung's 'Infinity Air Design' for the Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) results in an ultra-thin 12.9mm back with a bezel-free look that is sleek and complimentary to the stunning display. It also features Samsung's One Connect Box, which makes cable management a breeze and allows for more room for the TV to be pushed up against or mounted on a wall. Even with a stand, it's a minimal and elegant design that genuinely impresses in full 85-inch form.

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As a flagship TV, you'd probably pair it with a home theater audio setup or high-end soundbar. Still, the Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) does feature a built-in 6.2.4-channel Dolby Atmos speaker system that can output up to 90W of positional audio with Samsung's impressive Object Tracking Sound and Q-Symphony technologies. The latter lets you pair the TV with a compatible soundbar so you can still take advantage of the positional audio from speakers spread across the display while leaning into the superior mid and low-range frequency detail of a dedicated audio solution.

With four HDMI 2.1 ports, you also have full bandwidth support for 4K 240 Hz (with VRR) or 8K 60 Hz, which makes the Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) one of the best displays for showcasing the true potential of PC hardware like the GeForce RTX 4090.

In addition, multiple USB ports, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth support are included alongside Samsung's overhauled and improved Tizen OS. Compatible with all major streaming apps and services, including Samsung's own free service, with a Gaming Hub for consoles, PCs, and cloud gaming, it's fast, smooth, and one of the best Smart TV interfaces available today.

Panel Breakdown

Like previous Samsung QLED TVs, the QN900D uses Quantum Dot technology. The 2024 panel steps things up with 14-bit HDR processing and more dimming zones than ever - numbering in the thousands. With all of the impressive image processing enabled, the result is fewer instances of the light-blooming effect that you get with LED displays, excellent contrast, and a notably brighter display than what you'd find with an OLED TV.

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The Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) is suitable for bright, dark, or any room really. With Pantone Validation for color and skin tone, the display's 'Filmmaker' equivalent setting delivers exceptional accuracy and depth for movies, with little calibration required. With a native 8K resolution, you're looking at 33 million pixels, around four times as many as you'd find in a 4K TV or 4K video. This is important to remember because, in 2024, a TV like the Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV needs AI processing and upscaling.

Adding AI to some gear or tech is so commonplace now that it's become a joke or meme. This is not so with the QN900D and its new NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor, which features 512 neural networks, eight times the number found in last year's 8K flagship from Samsung. Paired with Samsung's AI models trained across all forms of content, the result is AI used for upscaling, motion enhancement, and audio features like Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) Pro that boosts dialogue. Naturally, most AI features can be disabled - but the Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) is one of those rare products that excels because of AI.

Performance in Movies and Games

Movies

Upscaling is tricky; even the greatest AI models require a good starting point. Like NVIDIA's impressive AI-powered DLSS for PC gaming, Samsung's 8K AI Upscaling Pro works best with a high-quality input -a pristine and artifact-free 1080p or 4K image. Lower than this, which includes low-quality TV broadcasts or heavily compressed 720p YouTube-style content, the 8K result will be hit or miss. There's simply too much detail left to guesswork. Put on a 4K Ultra HD or Blu-Ray, and the Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) comes alive.

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This is also true, but to a slightly lesser extent, when watching a 4K Netflix or Disney+ stream. Remarkably, Samsung's AI upscaling can upscale a gritty and grain-heavy film source and a pristine digital source. Watching Top Gun: Maverick, The Wolf of Wall Street, Oppenheimer, and the original Ghostbusters on the QN900D, it was clear that Samsung's AI upscaling is a massive step up from what you usually find on a TV like this.

Crisp, sharp, and detailed - and not soft or fuzzy as you'd expect from upscaling to 8K. Character close-ups are stunning, delivering some of the best outright cinematic image quality I've ever seen on a big-screen TV.

Gaming Performance

With 4K 240 Hz (or native 8K 120 Hz), the Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) also supports VRR via AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Although the latency isn't at the level of OLED, it's still less than 3 seconds - making it an excellent choice for gamers. Well, those with a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or high-end PC that can push 4K visuals. One cool TV feature is the enhanced Gaming Hub that offers performance info with easy access to settings and little add-on effects like an on-screen aim reticle and a mini-map zoom feature (that can also be cast to a paired smartphone or tablet).

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The TV's gaming features also tap into AI, which detects the type of game being played and adjusts the image and color profile to match. In testing across various genres, the TV knew when it was an FPS or racing game on-screen. With more dimming zones and Samsung's flagship bright and vibrant 8K display, 4K gaming content looks amazing here - easily the best non-OLED gaming TV we've seen. And when it comes to HDR, the QN900D is in a league of its own.

On the PC side, there's also support for ultrawide resolutions (with black bars), which is always great.

Final Thoughts

Samsung's new 8K flagship is one of the most impressive TVs currently available, where AI and intelligent features are all used to enhance the experience. Even the in-built speakers, you probably think they're something you'd never use. With AI audio features for directional sound and enhancing voices, the built-in Dolby Atmos quality sound can be used with a soundbar and woofer.

Ultimately, the Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) is a success because it uses generative AI to make the image on an 8K TV look better than that on a 4K TV - even if the source isn't 8K. Samsung's focus on improving movies, sports, and gaming is commendable, with everything from enhanced ball tracking and visibility when watching football to detecting the genre of game you're playing and adjusting the image settings accordingly.

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Samsung's most advanced 8K panel and AI processor aren't cheap; the 85-inch model carries an MSRP of $7,999 USD or $13,900 AUD. Also, if you're not going to feed it a consistent stream of high-quality HD or 4K content, then the image quality will suffer - there's a point where the AI upscaled image goes from brilliant to 'meh,' and it comes down to the source. The good news is that Samsung has managed to make 8K relevant with the Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV (QN900D) - thanks to powerful and impressive AI upscaling that enhances 4K and 1080p content while still being ready for the native 8K future that is on the horizon.