Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

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Samsung QN90C Reviewed at $1,899.00 (55")

Product Name: Samsung QN90C

Product Description: 2023 4K Neo QLED TV

  • Design - 9.5/10
    9.5/10
  • Video Quality - 8.9/10
    8.9/10
  • Ports & Connectivity - 9.4/10
    9.4/10
  • OS, Apps and Features - 9.4/10
    9.4/10
  • Price / Quality - 8.9/10
    8.9/10
9.2/10

Summary

Reviewed at $1,899.00 (55″)

Pros

  • Amazing SDR and HDR brightness
  • Excellent for gaming
  • Four 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports
  • Full Tizen support

Cons

  • Visible blooming
  • Contrast could be better
  • No Dolby Vision and no DTS support
  • Mediocre audio

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Recently we started looking at the new Samsung TVs for 2023 and we began with the amazing Samsung S95C which got excellent scores during our testing and review. But Samsung has a whole lot more other than just QD-OLED. And so today we will go a few steps down the performance ladder into the Neo QLED territory. Here, in our Samsung QN90C review we will be looking at the second best Neo QLED for 2023 and how it compares to last year’s model.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

The QN90C is supposed to replace the 2022 QN90B, if you look only at the naming. But after carefully going over the specs, this year’s release has also a lot in common with the 2022 QN85B. And this, in part, happened because Samsung decided to make some changes that we will discuss further down our analysis.

The TV utilizes a mini LED backlight system that uses smaller LEDs than conventional FALD systems. It comes equipped with the Neural Quantum Processor 4K, a 120Hz IPS panel and packs all the bells and whistles you should expect from a high profile TV as this. Some of its features include HDR10+, Samung’s Object Tracking Sound+ system, HDMI 2.1 and FreeSync Premium Pro. The new Tizen for 2023 is being used that includes all the previous features we had seen, plus a few new ones.

Obviously all the attention is drawn towards their new QD-OLED models. But Neo QLED still has a lot of life left into it and its more affordable price will surely make them an attractive option. So how does the new QN90C perform, and is it any better than the 2022 models? Let’s find out…

Design

Let’s start with the design. The QN90C is not all that different from some 2022 Neo QLEDs, namely the QN90B and the QN85B. The panel is the same in terms of design and what seems to change is only the stand. Unfortunately do not expect to find Samsung’s One Connect Box here.

Measurements

The TV uses Samsung’s NeoSlim Design making it incredibly thin. Basically this is the result of its mini LED backlight which greatly helps to minimize its overall thickness. As a result the panel measured just 1.06″ (2.7 cm), making it look great if placed on a wall.

As for its black borders, these are very thin and have the same thickness as in the 2022 models.

Back Side

The back side of the TV is entirely the same as the QN90B. It is covered by a plastic panel that in true Samsung fashion has a brushed texture look on it. All ports are grouped together in an inset that is placed at the left side and all look sideways. This way you can reach them easier if you have it on a wall.

On the lower part of the panel we get special grooves in order to place your cables and drive them through the central stand. The power connector is placed on the right side, as usual, away from the rest of the connectors.

The VESA wall mount holes is the only other element visible at the back.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Stand

As for the stand, the TV uses a small central hexagon shaped design. It does look a bit like the one used in the QN85B but it’s not entirely the same. With such a stand there is always some wobbling but it’s not much.

At least you don’t need to have a fairly large surface to place it on. With this stand the clearance between the screen and the surface is about 3″. This is more or less the same height we measured in the 2022 models. This means that most soundbars should fit under it without a problem. Just make sure to measure beforehand just to be safe.

Remote

The remote included in the QN90C is exactly the same one we saw in our S95C review. It is very similar to the 2022 remote but there are some minor design changes. The new remote lost one button at the top and it has a slightly different design with more round corners in all sides.

It is still small and uses very few buttons as it relies on the TV’s UI for most of its functions. It comes with a rechargeable battery that can be charged either through a USB-C cable or from its solar equipped back side.

The new remote is every bit as functional and practical as it was last year. To be honest we are not very thrilled by the minor design change but this comes down to personal taste.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

The QN90C looks really good. As a Neo QLED TV it is still considered a top-tier model and its quality surely reflects that.

Video Quality

Processor technology used

One area where the QN90C seems to get an upgrade over last year is in its processor. In 2022 the QN90B was using the Neo Quantum Processor 4K. This year the QN90C got the Neural Quantum Processor 4K. This processor seems to be similar in capabilities with the processor that was used in the 8K TVs of 2022. In fact this is the same chip that the top-tier S95C is using this year.

What we do know is that this processor uses up to 20 different neural network models. Each of them is trained in AI upscaling and deep learning technology. As a result the processor can optimize picture quality to 4K picture output regardless of the input quality.

Also its Real Depth Enhancer feature automatically separates objects in the content from the background. This creates a 3D like depth in order to make the image even more immersive.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

Another feature that finds its way form previous years is Adaptive Picture. This can analyze the light conditions in your room and can calibrate the picture accordingly in order to provide you the best image quality for your specific situation.

Resolution and Up-scaling

We run a few videos in different resolutions ranging from ultra low quality ones, some 480p DVDs, some in 720p and obviously 1080p resolutions. The QN90C didn’t have any trouble up-scaling everything to 4K without any noticeable artifacts. Everything looked great in that respect.

Audio Processing

For audio the TV comes with Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) system. Along with it we get various audio features like Adaptive Sound+ and Active Voice Amplifier (AVA). Minor changes compared to the QN90B here but we will talk more about audio in its dedicated section.

Lighting technology used

The QN90C is using a mini LED backlight system which is precisely controlled by Quantum Matrix Technology. The major advantage of Quantum Mini LED is that it only has 1/40 the height of a conventional LED.

Instead of using a lens to disperse light, and a package to fix the LED in place, the Quantum Mini LED has incredibly thin micro layers filled with many more LEDs. This way Quantum Matrix Technology has much better and more precise control of the densely packed LEDs. This prevents what was the most obvious disadvantage of previous LCD backlight systems, blooming.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

Keep in mind that mini LED technology is vastly superior to any other LCD backlight system so far. But it cannot completely erase the blooming problem that plagues LED LCD TVs. The number of zones used along with how efficient the dimming algorithms are determine how good it can be.

Number of Dimming Zones

The 55″ version of the QN90C we have for testing seems to be using 504 dimming zones in a 36 x 14 pattern. Again bigger sizes use more zones like the 65″ size that comes with 720 zones while even bigger sizes use close to 1,000 zones. But we do not have confirmed numbers for them as Samsung does not provide such data.

Blooming & Zones Transitioning

One thing that was obvious was that the QN90C tried to handle blooming differently from the QN90B. Blooming was still very much obvious in dark scenes with bright objects. But the light seems to have wider dispersion in the 2023 model compared to the QN90B.

We cannot say that we liked what we saw. On the one hand it makes the halo effect less obvious. But on the other hand a bigger portion of the screen feels washed out when a lot of highlights are on screen. So it really depends on the content. In some situations the new algorithms fare better while in others the overall quality feels much worse.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

Zones transitioning was average as fast moving highlights would reveal the slow response time of the dimming zones. As a result the front part of the moving object may look darker until the zone can get into full brightness. On the other hand the zones do not transition to black very fast either. This creates a ghosting effect that does not look very good.

Brightness / Contrast

Next we will be looking at the brightness of the unit. In terms of settings we used the usual as we do in all Samsung models. We used the Movie mode and Warm 2 color tone along with Local Dimming set to High.

SDR and HDR Measurements

First test here is the SDR brightness over a 10% window and the number we got was 1,866 nits which is excellent. In reality this is much more than any SDR content will ever need.

We then switched to HDR content and in our HDR brightness over a 10% window test we measured 1,922 nits which again is amazing.

Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL)

As with most TVs nowadays the QN90C comes with an Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL). This system lowers the overall brightness of the screen when large parts of it become very bright for a long period of time. This may not be very obvious when watching a movie for example. But it can be noticed more with bright static images, or if you use the TV as a computer monitor.

The saving grace of the QN90C is that even when this system kicks in the TV is bright enough. So in most cases this shouldn’t be bothering.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Last Year Comparison

Looking at the above numbers the QN90C seems to be slightly less bright this year. The difference is not big and with such high peak brightness the difference is negligible. But the reality is that the QN90C is a bit dimmer than the QN90B.

EOTF Tracking

Brightness levels followed the EOTF reference values extremely close up to its sharp roll-off point which results in some clipping. In order to be able to get such accurate results you need to use either the Filmmaker or the Movie mode. All other modes were far less accurate.

Contrast Performance

In terms of contrast the QN90C comes with an ADS panel (for the 55″ unit we had for testing). ADS is an IPS-like panel and usually these panels have mediocre contrast. And this is where the TV’s local dimming feature helps a lot. As a result contrast with local dimming is vastly improved and is on the same levels as last year.

Keep in mind that only the 55″ and above use ADS panels. The 43″ and 50″ sizes use VA panels and thus behave differently.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Viewing angles

The QN90C is using an ADS panel which has decent viewing angles. Basically here the TV is similar to the QN85B, but we do not know why Samsung decide for this change. As the QN90B was using a VA panel instead.

There seems to be a lot of confusion here as different sizes use different technologies and Samsung is not doing anything to improve this. And this is one area where casual consumers will have a hard time spotting the differences.

From looking at the TV from different angles we would say that about 30 degrees angle was the maximum before the image would start to degrade a lot. Obviously how acceptable an image is, is entirely a personal matter. But objectively speaking anything over 35-40 degrees would make the image quality unbearable.

HDR support

HDR support is another area where things haven’t changed much. As it seem that most brands stick to their guns without any changing in sight. As such we get the most basic HDR10 that is required for 4K UHD playback. There is also HLG that is used mainly for broadcasting. And lastly the newer HDR10+ which is the most advanced HDR protocol. This uses dynamic metadata in order to provide the best image quality on a frame by frame basis, similar to what Dolby Vision is doing.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

In the QN90C we also find HDR10+ Adaptive and HDR10+ Gaming. HDR10+ Adaptive uses its AI engine to analyze the viewing environment. This includes the lighting, brightness and even reflections using the sensors equipped on the TV.

The results are then incorporated into the dynamic metadata. After going through four further steps, the brightness and contrast of a scene are optimized. This way you can view HDR10+ movies and television programs in various environments at home.

Keep in mind that like many new Samsung TVs the QN90C comes with an HDR Tone Mapping setting. You can set this to either static or Active with static being more accurate. Active will increase highlight intensity but makes the image less natural.

Unfortunately, Samsung still refuses to allow Dolby Vision in their TVs and stay firm behind their own HDR10+. A big disappointment, and we have no hopes this to change any time soon.

Color coverage

The QN90C, being in essence a QLED, uses Samsung’s special Quantum Dot layer. With this the TV is able to display more vivid and lifelike colors. Samsung claims 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space for all of their QLED and Neo QLED series. But you should never take these numbers literally as they are mostly used for marketing purposes. Real numbers usually deviate a lot from these claims.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

In our case we measured the TV to have about 92% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space which is great. On the wider REC.2020 color space we got a coverage of 72% which again is very good.

The numbers we got are very similar to last year’s QN90B. So no major changes here.

DeltaE Errors

Before calibration the TV had very good color accuracy but not without some inconsistences. White balance and color temperature were very close to their target values while gamma was a bit high. Most colors had values below the DeltaE limit of three with the exception of red and blue which were slightly above it.

A more thorough calibration will fix most of these errors but some colors were still not perfect. But to be honest this was not noticeable with naked eye and colors looked wonderful.

Color Gradients

Color gradients were very good but we did notice some banding in some white and blue shades. Nothing very bothering, but it was there.

There is also a Noise Reduction function in case you do see it. But if you enable it some detail is lost and in general we didn’t like this feature much.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Motion performance

Next we will test the TV’s motion performance. And from the looks of it the QN90C is not all that different from its predecessor.

The QN90C comes with a 120Hz panel along with a backlight dimming frequency of 960Hz. This is exactly the configuration we saw in the QN90B and QN90A before that. Such a high frequency ensures that flickering is completely invisible but this also depends on the picture mode. Because in some of them the frequency drops to 120 Hz while in others it remains at 960Hz.

As last year, the 43″ and 50″ sizes can actually do 144Hz but all sizes from 55″ and above are limited to 120Hz. This most probably has to do with the fact that these smaller sizes are going to be used for gaming purposes. And pushing the framerate to 144Hz was a much needed feature.

Motion Interpolation

Motion interpolation could not be missing and is named Motion Xcelerator Turbo+. The QN90C was capable of removing judder and stutter but as usual artifacts would become visible in some cases. In scenes where the camera would make fast movements the TV could not keep up. This resulted in some visible artifacting, but it really depends on the content.

Some stutter was also noticeable during low frame rate content which could only be eliminated by enabling motion interpolation.

This is enabled in the same way as with all other Samsung models. You will find it in the Picture Clarity settings, in the menu, and by adjusting the two sliders for blur or judder. Keep in mind that very high values in the sliders and the “Soap Opera Effect” will appear. So if you want to improve motion keep minimal values in these two sliders. A value of 1 or 2 can smooth motion enough without affecting the quality much.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)

Black Frame Insertion (BFI) is also available as usual which can be enabled in the menu with the LED Clear Motion option. BFI is a technique that inserts a black frame in between two individual frames in order to smooth out motion.

Although the end result is very good, it has a couple of side effects. First due to the black frames, brightness takes a visible hit. Also, due to the lower frequency used, which can be either 120Hz or even 60Hz, some flickering may become noticeable.

Overall Motion Impressions

Motion performance is similar to last year. The QN90C seems to have all the strengths and weaknesses of its predecessor with minor deviations. There may be some differences between the two models but these are negligible and we consider them equal. As a result we can say that the QN90C had very solid performance here.

Sadly if you were hoping to get 144Hz on a big screen forget it. The 144Hz framerate is once again available only in the small 43″ and 50″ sizes. But this is mostly for hardcore gamers, so if you are not, the supported 120Hz is enough.

Input lag Measurements

Let’s test the TV’s input lag output next. Can the QN90C equal its predecessor?

According to our measurements the TV displayed an average of 10.8ms input lag in both 1080p and 4K resolutions at 60Hz. Switching to 120Hz input lag fell to 5.8ms, in both 1080p and 4K resolutions.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

We took both measurements after we obviously switched to Game mode. If you switch to another picture mode the input lag will spike to 93ms.

From these numbers we can say with certainty that there is no change this year in this part. The TV is every bit as good as the 2022 model. If you enable the Game mode you will get an extremely smooth experience.

Other Gaming Features

We should also not forget to mention that the TV supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). And both the PS5 and Xbox consoles support this feature, so the TV will switch to Game mode automatically.

HGiG Mode is not missing either. This is HDR Gaming Interest Group’s technology that ensures you enjoy HDR games the way that their creators and developers intended.

VRR Support

The QN90C makes sure to include all VRR support there is. As such we find HDMI Forum VRR, AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync. And you can handle all of them in the new Game Bar 3.0.

One feature that we got last year through a firmware update was the Samsung Game Hub. Well, this year it is available from the start in many of the new models, including the QN90C. With it you can use various online gaming services, including the Samsung-exclusive Xbox app. But as always the kind of content you will find in the Hub depends on the region you are.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Trying Out a Few Games

To get a feel of the TV’s responsiveness we connected both our PS5 and Xbox series X. As for the game of choice, we went with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 which supports 120Hz in both consoles. The QN90C was really smooth in both cases. We didn’t notice any slow response times and all our commands registered blazing fast on screen.

The QN90B was already very good with gaming. And the QN90C continues this trend. Nothing more to add here.

Overall Image Quality Impressions

Looking at the overall performance of the QN90C we cannot really say if it is better or worse than last year. Both the QN90B and QN90C have their own set of strengths and weaknesses.

On the one hand the QN90C has better EOTF tracking and the different panel type allows it for wider viewing angles. On the other hand the QN90B scored a bit higher in most of our brightness tests. Another difference is how the local dimming algorithm is working on both TVs. The QN90C is spreading the light across more zones than the QN90B. And this is both good and bad as in some scenes this looks good while in others, where a lot of highlights are present, it will make the screen look washed out.

There were a few other differences but these were very small to be noteworthy. All other measurements we did were very close to each other.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

Audio Quality

As most brands, Samsung developed their own audio system to use in many of their top and middle tier models. It is called Object Tracking Sound and as of 2021 there are four variants of this system depending how capable it is. We have the OTS Pro, OTS+, OTS and OTS Lite.

The QN90C got the Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) variant, which again is the same as last year.

Audio System – Channels & Power Rating

The Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) uses a 4.2.2 channels configuration and 60 watts of power output.

Audio Formats Support

The TV supports Dolby Atmos but this is mostly for promotional purposes as the TV cannot create a real surround experience. If you want to get the most out of it then you will certainly need a dedicated audio system or at least a soundbar with surround speakers. Dolby Atmos can pass-through from eARC to some Dolby Atmos soundbar or dedicated sound system in this case.

A feature we saw for the first time last year and makes a comeback is wireless Dolby Atmos transmission. With it you can pass Dolby Atmos sound to a soundbar without the need to connect a HDMI cable. Just keep in mind that the soundbar must support this feature also. Be very careful with the specs as not all Samsung soundbars come with this.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

Once again there is no DTS support. As such the TV cannot decode or pass-through DTS audio signals to another device. Samsung made that decision some years ago and seems to be definite.

If you really want DTS then Sony is the only of the big three that still supports it in their new releases, so keep that in mind.

Audio Features

Samsung is adding a lot of audio features in their models, so let’s take a look at some of them.

First we find Adaptive Sound+ with which the TV analyzes the content and for each scene can identify and render the best sound type. This whole process starts by separating and classifying audio input signals. After it pulls out its key characteristics, it renders them to best suit the scene.

We also get Active Voice Amplifier (AVA). By using AVA the TV can detect environmental noise and enhance the voice output of the content you watch for a more pleasant viewing experience.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

And obviously with a Samsung TV we could not miss Q-Symphony. This is a feature that you can use to combine the TVs audio system with an appropriate soundbar that supports it.

This year Samsung released Q-Symphony 3.0 and with it the audio can sync and output from both devices for an even more immersive audio experience. Samsung released a whole lineup of soundbars that support this feature in case you are thinking of getting one.

Overall Audio Performance Impressions

We tried the OTS+ system a few ties in the past and our opinion of it hasn’t changed. The QN90C can be loud and for a TV system it has enough clarity and resolution.

But if you expect any short of cinematic experience out of it you will be greatly disappointed. This system is good for casual use but nothing more. If you want good sound even a cheap surround sound system will do far better.

Ports and Connectivity

Samsung is using the exact same layout in many of their TVs for some years now. And the QN90C is no different.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Tap on image for a closer look

Starting from the top right we find two USB ports, a single digital optical output, four HDMI ports, an Ethernet port for wired connection to your local network, an Ex-Link port and the usual antenna/cable connector.

HDMI Specifications

From 2022 and onwards Samsung updated the HDMI ports in order all of them to support the full 48Gbps bandwidth. And this continues into 2023 with the QN90C using four, fully capable HDMI 2.1 ports.

These support all new and old features including 4K@120, ARC, eARC, ALLM, VRR, G-Sync, FreeSync Premium Pro, HFR and HDMI-CEC. 

Connectivity Observations

And while we could not be happier with the four HDMI 2.1 ports, the inclusion of a 100Mbps Ethernet port is inexcusable in 2023. We cannot understand why TV manufacturers still insist on not including Gigabit adapters.

Streaming requirements and internet connections have greatly advanced the last few years. This made the 100Mbps limit obsolete a while back. And while most TVs update their WiFi capabilities (some models support WiFi6 this year) the Ethernet adapters are still the same.

Wireless Capabilities

When it comes to its wireless capabilities the Samsung QN90C supports WiFi5 (802.11ac) along with Bluetooth 5.2 which is the same across all Samsung TVs in 2023.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

OS, Apps and Features

Samsung updated their OS to the latest 2023 version but this is only a minor upgrade compared to the 2022 version. Almost everything is still the same and this year there are small improvements and additions.

Tizen 2023

Being a Samsung TV means that for its OS we find the usual Tizen platform in its 2023 edition. The new Tizen occupies the whole screen instead of being a tile based row at the bottom of the screen, exactly as Google TV and webOS are lately.

It seems that smart TV platforms opt for a more personalized experience and as such the new OS tries to provide you with options that are tailored for your viewing habits. As such you will see personalized ads, recommendations for streaming services and broadcasting channels and even shopping suggestions.

If you have used Tizen before 2022, the new version may feel a bit chaotic at first. This was the same with Google TV and webOS when they changed into a full screen UI and certainly you will need to spend some time with it to get your bearings. But once you get the hung of it, it is easier to navigate than it may seem.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Samsung Smart TV Hub

The new Samsung Smart TV Hub includes different sections and it allows you to navigate easily through all of them. At the left of the screen there is a single column with a few central selections while the rest of the screen use rows with streaming services, apps and other functions and features available.

The new Tizen is not all that different really. Obviously the layout is tailored to Samsung’s needs but in essence it offers the same thing. Navigation was smooth enough and jumping from one app to the other was relatively fast and with no obvious lags or delays.

Game Bar 3.0

Let’s go over some of the features we find this year. These are all the same features we saw in our S95C review, so no real changes here. And the first we will talk about is the Game Bar.

In 2023 this feature is now in its 3.0 version. This is an on-screen menu that lets you make real-time adjustments to screen ratio, input lag check, FPS, HDR, wireless headset settings and more. This can be a really handy feature to gamers as you don’t have to mess with menus every time you want to check on a specific setting. With this quick feature you have everything in front of you with the click of a button.

The new Game Bar 3.0 has a couple 2023 features that were not available before. This is MiniMap sharing and Virtual Aim Point for gaming. And, as we mentioned above, Samsung TVs remain the only ones that include Xbox’s Game Pass.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Streaming Capabilities

When it comes to content the Tizen platform is famous for it’s enormous support from developers. The QN90C offers practically all known services and platforms you can think of. Netflix, Apple TV, Disney Plus, Youtube, Amazon, Hulu, Rakuten, Demand 5 and BBC iPlayer are just a few of the big names available.

There is also Samsung TV plus which offers hundreds of subscription-free channels to choose from. Many of these services can playback in both 4K with HDR like Netflix and Amazon but this really depends on each app and not on the TV itself.

SmartThings Integration

With a Samsung TV SmartThings integration is a must. With it you can make your TV the central hub of all your smart houses devices. These can be lights, electronic locks, alarms, vacuum robots, thermostats and everything that supports the SmartThings platform.

For 2023 Samsung added Matter and Thread integration meaning you can control such devices from a single app instead of multiple ones and there is no need for an additional dongle as it is built-in the TV itself.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Voice Control

Voice control is another standard feature nowadays. It seems that Samsung is really trying to market their own Bixby service. But even if you are not very fond of that there is Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant to choose from.

On the other hand, if you are an Apple guy then don’t get disappointed as there is also Airplay 2 support. And you can even use Siri through it for your voice commands. Unfortunately while Airplay is available HomeKit is not, something that hasn’t really changed lately for Samsung.

Multi-View & Tap-View

Another feature that was introduced some time ago and seems to be a standard now is Multi-View. Although at it’s core this is not something entirely new Samsung took it a step further. Multi-View is basically a more advanced screen mirroring program. But with it instead of just simply projecting the screen from your mobile device on the TV you can choose to have two screens showing both TV content and what your mobile device shows.

In addition to Multi-View there is also Tap View. With it you can mirror your phone on your TV with just a tap to continue enjoying movies, music, and apps on the bigger screen within seconds. Nothing major, but anything that can save even a few seconds of your time can be valuable.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)
Ambient Mode+

Another returning feature is Ambient Mode+. This is a slightly more enhanced version of the Ambient Mode we get in many Samsung models for the last few years. With the plus version except from the ability to display various images on the TV, when not in use, it can also project various information including weather updates, news headlines, photos and music.

Samsung Health

Samsung Health is another standard feature by now. The last couple of years, with the coronavirus pandemic, many people were staying indoors so Samsung thought that exercise at home would be on the rise. So many of their TVs came with Samsung’s program in order to stay in shape. It seems that Samsung liked it so they decided to keep it.

Various Other Features

Other interesting new functions include a smart calibration function that works in combination to your smartphone. And also it seems that the new Samsung TVs have now access to the Philips Hue Sync app.

The differences with the 2022 are not big. Some minor additions and improvements here and there but most of them will go unnoticed. The Tizen 2023 is as good as ever and packs a lot of functionality and features.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

Final Thoughts

If you were expecting a clear winner between the QN90C and the 2022 QN90B then you will definitely be disappointed. Neither TV can claim to be totally superior over the other and each one has its own advantages. And with so many similarities in most tests it really depends on what you prefer the most.

The QN90C can create very good upscaled images to 4K, its color reproduction and accuracy was very good, brightness was amazing, input lag was great, motion was solid while its gaming prowess was unquestionable. The Tizen platform is at its best and quality wise you get the usual Samsung treatment.

On the downsides we can say that the mini LED backlight disappointed us with blooming being very much visible. Viewing angles are just ok while blacks surely have a grey-ish look making us miss the pitch blacks of OLEDs. Samsung insists on avoiding Dolby Vision and DTS which is unacceptable while audio is mediocre at best and cannot offer a true cinematic experience.

The 2023 Samsung QN90C remains a good TV that has its fair share of problems, just like its predecessor. It is neither an improvement nor a disappointment and while Samsung made a few changes, looking at it as a whole we could say it is on par with last year’s release. If you are looking for a good gaming TV but afraid to go the OLED way due to burn-in risks then the QN90C can be a good option to consider.

Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)

For more reviews you can check our dedicated 4K LED LCD TV reviews list or even look at our Product Reviews Table where you can find the brand and specific product you are looking for.



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Samsung QN90C Specifications

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4 thoughts on “Samsung QN90C Review (2023 4K Neo QLED TV)”

  1. Samsung decided to focus mostly on the QD-OLEDs. Nothing below that is interesting to me and from what I see the LED LCDs are somewhat worse than last year. Which is shocking to say the least looking at the increased prices they have this year. So it’s either going premium or try a different brand.

    Reply
    • Hey Eric. We only have tested a couple of Samsung’s 2023 TVs so we do not still have a clear image where their models perform in comparison to 2022. But the general feel is what you said. They seem to put a lot of attention to their QD-OLED lineup. But with its high price tag many cannot still afford to go for these.

      Reply
  2. I was looking for a comparison between the QN90C and QN90B. I am a bit disappointed to be honest. The QN90C looks a bit worse in my opinion. I hate these washed out images. After seeing the QN90B in person I think this is the one I will go for.

    Reply
    • Hello Joseph. Indeed in terms of how the backlight of the QN90C works, it feels like the QN90B was slightly better. But it comes down to content. As only in specific scenes this becomes very evident.

      Reply

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