One minute review
From a purely technological standpoint, Samsung's new QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV beats the best-in-class QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV in every way, bringing remarkable advances in image processing (especially when it comes to image accuracy). backlight) and audio (integrated Dolby). Atmos works perfectly with Samsung's Q-Symphony 2.0 technology).
So while the number of dimming zones offered by the QN900B's sporty Mini LED panel hasn't changed since last year, its lighting accuracy has improved significantly. That's thanks to an updated Neo Quantum processor that features new Shape Adaptive Light technology. This uses artificial intelligence algorithms to more precisely control the TV's backlight output and match the shape of objects on screen. The result is a large reduction in light bloom compared to last year. This, combined with Samsung's Real Depth Enhancer technology, can produce some truly remarkable images.
But it's not just about picture quality: the sound has also been overhauled this year, with the inclusion of built-in speakers that enable Dolby Atmos surround sound without the need for a soundbar. That said, the QN900B's upgraded Q-Symphony audio sounds even better when its speakers are paired with Samsung's soundbars, producing full, immersive surround sound without any perceptible echoes.
Samsung's 2022 TV lineup also sees the introduction of its new Smart Hub user interface, which debuted earlier in the year with The Freestyle projector. Unfortunately, we are not very interested in this particular change.
We can see the reasoning behind Samsung's decision for the redesign, as it gives users a Google TV-style full-screen home menu that's packed with browsable content. However, those of us who just want to adjust settings or display modes on the fly will find the experience frustrating and cumbersome.
Samsung put a lot of thought into updating its Neo QLED flagship this year, fixing its previous model's (fairly minor) problem with light blooming and improving other areas that can still be better, like integrated audio. While we wouldn't necessarily recommend an upgrade for those who bought last year's model, the Samsung QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV is a great starting point for those new to Mini LED.
Price and Availability
We're happy to report that each set of Samsung's second-generation 8K Neo QLED TVs are priced slightly lower than their predecessor.
Samsung's QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV starts at $4999 (£5799 / AU$5799) for a 65-inch model, followed by a 75-inch model at $6499 (TBA / AU$7999), and is complemented by a 85-inch version priced at €8499 (€10,999 / AU$11,999).
In terms of availability, the QN900B is available for pre-order now in the US, UK, and Australia, with it expected to arrive in early May 2022.
Integrated
- Industry-leading bezel-less design
- Handy One Connect Box
- Enhanced anti-reflective coating
In terms of industrial design, last year's Neo QLED 8K flagship was close to perfection, and now the QN900B is even closer.
Specifications of the Samsung QN900A Neo QLED 8K TV
Screen sizes: 65, 75, 85 inches | Tuner: Freeview Plus | 8K: Yes | HDR10: Yes | GLH: Yes | Dolby Vision/Atmos: No/Yes | Display technology: Mini LED (LCD) | Smart TV: Samsung / Tizen operating system | Curved: No | Dimensions: 2140 x 1872 x 1053 mm (85 inches without stand) | Weight: 43 kg (without stand) | 3D: Yes | Inputs: 4x HDMI 2.1 (1x eARC), 3xUSB, 1xRF, ethernet | Outputs: 1x optical
Once again, Samsung is going for absolute minimalism, offering a virtually bezelless 'Infinity' display that lets you simply focus on the content you're viewing without noticeable harsh lines. We were enamored with this approach in 2021 and we still are today.
You may recall that the QN900A from 2021 had speakers that weren't visible from the front of the TV, opting to embed them along the side and top edges of the screen. Samsung has kept that aesthetic in 2022, but with a slight revision to its grille: Last year's model had a dotted design, while this year's version has larger diagonal pill-shaped holes. This time around, the grilles house a 90W, 6.2.4-channel (12-speaker) system, as opposed to the 80W, 6.2.2-channel (10-speaker) setup we had last time.
Although the unit we reviewed is wall-mounted, the QN900B comes with an almost identical bracket to the 900 QN2021A, and that's an absolutely good thing. It's flat, centered (meaning your TV screen can be wider than the surface you're placing it on) and allows you to mount Samsung's One Connect removable box to the back if you wish.
Oh yes, Samsung's revolutionary One Connect box returns this year, giving users easy access to all of the QN900B's ports, with a single, near-seamless cable connecting to the display for power and data transfer. We simply cannot overestimate the quality of this approach.
In the One Connect box you'll find four HDMI 2.1 ports (eARC support is found in HDMI 3), one Ethernet (LAN) port, one digital audio out (optical) port, three USB 2.0 ports, and one RF input for your TV antenna or satellite connection.
With last year's top Neo QLED model, we noticed there was room for improvement when it came to visible glare and screen reflections. To our eyes, it looks like the QN900B has improved the anti-glare coating on its screen, but only slightly, as we can still make out reflections from our surroundings in darker scenes.
So why hasn't Samsung released a Neo QLED TV yet with a matte finish/anti-glare screen, similar to the impressive one featured in The Frame 2022 review? When asked, the South Korean company told us that matte screens scatter light into the inner and outer layers of a screen, which would "reduce sharpness and not let in 100% of the required light." In Samsung's own words, its "Neo QLED TVs are about to be vibrant and sharp," so it's no surprise that it wants to avoid compromising on that.
Smart TV (Tizen OS) and remote control
- Excellent app support
- The new Smart Hub UI is complicated
- Get that NFT crap out of here!
Samsung's 2022 TV lineup sees the introduction of its new Smart Hub UI on its flagship models. It's a totally revamped interface anchored in a Google TV-inspired home screen that contains content recommendations from your various subscriptions and streaming apps.
For its purpose, which is to highlight TV shows and movies from various sources in one place, it works quite well. That said, it takes up the entire screen, meaning the small, inconspicuous pop-up start menu that has been a staple of the Samsung Smart TV experience in recent years is a thing of the past.
Unfortunately, switching to a full-screen, content-rich start menu creates some frustration. You can no longer easily adjust settings and change display modes on the fly - you now have to completely abandon what you're watching or playing by opening said home screen, accessing a side menu, and then scrolling to a separate settings menu to perform actions that were previously just a few button presses.
Fortunately, Samsung's smart TV platform still offers access to all the major streaming apps and services, with Netflix, YouTube, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video all present and catered for.
In saying that, there's another side to the QN900B's smart TV experience that at best feels like a fancy inclusion, and at worst could encourage people to spend hundreds or even thousands. of dollars worth of digital items of questionable value. Of course, we are talking about the QN900B's ability to access the non-fungible token (NFT) market called Nifty.
The marketplace allows users to buy and sell crypto art using the Ethereum cryptocurrency, which can then be displayed on your TV through its popular ambient mode. If you're like this writer and your blood runs cold at the mere mention of the absurdity of NFT and its media infiltration of our society, you might find its presence on your home screen a bit off-putting.
On a lighter note, Samsung's wonderful light-powered TV remote returns this year, once again saving us (and the environment) from the long-term devastation of disposable batteries.
Instead, the remote can be charged over time via a rear solar panel that absorbs light, both natural and artificial. Alternatively, you can quickly top up the remote's battery via a USB Type-C port on its bottom edge.
The remote itself is pretty minimal, featuring just a handful of function and navigation buttons, as well as volume and channel controls. Dedicated Netflix and Prime Video buttons return, along with buttons to launch Samsung's Disney Plus and TV Plus app, offering a host of digital channels packed with ad-supported news, sports and entertainment content. That means all the Ryans and friends you can handle, free.
Performance
- Unrivaled brilliance and dynamism
- Light blooming has been minimized.
- Exceptional Player Support
As you'll no doubt recall, Samsung's Neo QLED moniker refers to the company's line of Mini LED TV products, which offer contrast levels close to OLED thanks to the inclusion of diodes that make 1/40th the thickness of ordinary LEDs. . This means Samsung can pack thousands of smaller diodes into a panel instead of hundreds, resulting in greatly increased dimming areas and improved black levels.
In our review of last year's model, the QN900A, we noted that while its contrast levels were far superior to anything we've seen before on an LCD TV, instances...