65" Class QN90B Samsung Neo QLED 4K Smart TV

4.5/ 5 Very good

pros and cons

Pros

• Vivid detailed picture
• Smart calibration feature
• Bright screen for bright spaces

Cons

• Expensive
• Confusing homepage
• No Dolby Vision

$1,614.99 at Best Buy $1,495.99 at Amazon $1,615.99 at Walmart more buying choicesMy experience with the Samsung QN90B over the last few weeks has been simply magical.  

When my old 55-inch Samsung LED TV died, I couldn't live without seeing my favorite shows in my living room. I wanted an even larger 4K TV to capture the fine detailing onBridgertoncostuming. That's where Samsung's latest model, the 65-inch QN90B QLED TV, comes in. It gave me the bright, gorgeous picture that I wanted in a premium-grade TV, and proved to be especially suitable for my sunlit apartment.

Specs

Screen Size	64.5 inches
Resolution	3,840 x 2,160
Color	100% Color Volume with Quantum Dot
High Dynamic Range	Quantum HDR 32x
Picture Processor	Neo Quantum Processor 4K
Viewing Angle	Ultra Viewing Angle
Adaptive Picture	Optimized, EyeComfort
Auto Motion Plus	Yes
Refresh Rate	120Hz
Nits	1700.16
Audio	Dolby MS12 5.1ch
Wi-Fi Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2
HDMI Ports	4
USB 2.0 Ports	2

Rebecca Isaacs

Set Up

I don't recommend setting up the QN90B solo; I enlisted my partner to help me screw in the mount and shift the TV on our TV stand. You wouldn't think a razor-thin TV measuring only one inch in width would weigh that much, but the TV weighs over 50 pounds. That said, from unboxing to placement, it took only 20 minutes.

Setting up the software proved easy as well. The TV allows setup on a smartphone through the SmartThings app. I had to download this app on my phone, but once I did, it also acted as a remote in addition to the solar-powered remote Samsung provided with the TV. Setup also checked if I had an Amazon or Google smart home system (spoiler alert: I do), and connected the TV to it, allowing me to rename it for future voice commands. 

Samsung's UI/UX

One of the first features I noticed about the display was that motion smoothing was on, giving every movement on-screen a soap opera-like effect, but it also provided the 3-dimensional depth Samsung mentioned. I loved the 3D feel but couldn't get past feeling like I watched a soap opera, and fiddled with the settings to turn this off. You'll find this setting under Picture Clarity, specifically under the Expert Settings. In the main settings area, you can find a host of presets, including features like Intelligent Mode, EyeComfort Mode, Film Mode, and others.

Adjust the picture manually under expert settings; otherwise, you can also use the smart calibration feature straight from your smartphone.

Rebecca Isaacs

It took me some time to play around with the settings, even googling at times what the perfect calibration for a QN90B TV was because I couldn'tquiteget to a place where I felt satisfied. I still felt motion smoothing was on, or the screen was too dark when I got the smoothing figured out, as examples. For those that don't want to fiddle with the settings like I did, the SmartThings app provides smart automatic calibration in seconds. I recommend using this feature to save you time and energy.

The biggest complaint I have about the QN90B came from the Samsung home screen. Based on my hours of surfing Reddit, I knew going into testing that I would be dealing with an interface that was less than user-friendly. What I didn't realize washowunfriendly it would be. 

The homescreen came muddled, with my preferred apps like Hulu and HBO Max featured in small icons at the top, and other content jammed below.

Rebecca Isaacs

The homepage brings your streaming services plus live TV straight to your living room, complete with live TV recommendations and movies and TV shows that are free on-demand. However, Samsung emphasizes their programming over your apps, and the widgets to enter your apps are smaller than the live TV and on-demand recommendations. It's a miniature-sized gripe in the grand scheme of this gargantuan-sized television though.

Connectivity

For those who like to game or those who prefer to use soundbars, the connection options can be found behind the TV display. In addition to the cable connection, you'll also find an ethernet (LAN) input, two USB 2.0 ports, and 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, including a 4K connection. Since it's tucked away and connects via a small side insert, you can mount this TV flush to the wall. Additionally, you can connect your home system to the TV's Wi-Fi connection for ease of use when pulling up shows and other voice commands.

Performance and image quality

Once the TV was set up to my liking, I started viewing older content to test the automatic 4K AI upscaling, tossing on 1995'sSense and Sensibilityas I'm having a regency obsession. When Kate Hudson's Marianne came into view, I could see the character's every ringlet in clear detail, and see the stitching on each gown. 

In contrast, I swapped over toBridgertonto experience the detailing and costuming and felt blown away. Every jewel shined and I could see the stitching on the Queen's gown during the episode I watched. The QN90B boasts over a billion colors with its quantum dot technology, and after seeing the vibrant hues in theton'sparties coupled with Barton Cottage's bright green countryside, I believe it. I also attribute it to the mini-LEDs -- 8 million of them, coupled with specialized dimming zones and the 120Hz refresh rate this TV boasts. And, of course, the 1700 nits of brightness this TV packs.

The Queen's costuming stood out in life-like imagery on the 65-inch screen.

Rebecca Isaacs

Those dimming zones and the mini-LEDs work to bring enhanced picture to your viewing experience -and it works in any space. I couldn't watch darker shows in my living room with my previous TV because I couldn't see the actors in the afternoon sun. With the QN90B, I can, and can see each actor vividly.

As I previously mentioned, 3-dimensional layering is packed into this TV, and even on older classics like Seinfeld, the effect makes you feel like you're in the middle of the caf