It's a size available in a lot of the best TV series we review at CNET -- even those fancy OLED TVs (technically they're 77 inches, but they're still included on this list). It fell short of the black levels and brightness of some less-expensive TVs, such as the Vizio P-Series and TCL 6 series, especially with HDR material, but showed less blooming and a slightly cleaner image, earning the same score of 8 (Excellent) in this category. According to my measurements it does what it claims: boosts brightness at low levels (5% to 20%) as you creep up. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Samsung’s premium-priced mid-range QLED barely puts a pedestal wrong, offering vibrant HDR, a forward facing feature set and HD upscaling to die for. The list below represents the best TVs I've reviewed in CNET's test lab, where I compare them side by side to see which is most worth buying. If you value Sony's brand, the X900H Sony TV is an excellent choice, with image quality on par with the TCL 6-Series and a price that's not that much more expensive. Video processing: As usual the Samsung aced my tests in this category, delivering true 1080p/24 film cadence with film-based sources and plenty of motion resolution (1,000 lines) with video-based sources. It's clean, modern, and simple. The Q80T uses a true 120Hz panel, which improves the TVs' motion performance, but as usual the "Motion Rate 240" specification is made up (note that the 49- and 50-inch sizes are 60Hz/MR 120). From off-angle the Samsung was the best LCD TV I've tested, maintaining color fidelity, brightness and contrast better than the others.Â. More than a slight increase in image quality, color accuracy, viewing angle or any smart functionality, stepping up in TV screen size is the best use of your money. The Q80T's big brother, the Q90T, also has FALD and I expect it to perform even better, but once again there's an issue with price. The Samsung Q80T QLED TV is the new jumping-on point if you want the cheapest full array backlight QLED TV in the brand’s 2020 line-up. Here are our current favorites. Read our TCL 6-Series (75R635) review. Click the image above for picture settings and HDR notes. Meanwhile the LED Clear Motion option makes motion even sharper with the help of black frame insertion, at the expense of flicker and a dimmer image. The Q80T is the lowest model in Samsung’s 2020 TV range to get the company’s new Object Tracking Sound technology, which uses extra drivers to create a more spacious and involving sound stage. It has full 4K/120Hz HDMI input capability to maximize the potential of the new Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, and right now it's the cheapest TV that works with ATSC 3.0 antenna broadcasts. Differences emerged in darker scenes, for example during Park Dong-ik's ride in the back of the car in Chapter 4. Uniformity: With demanding, full-field test patterns the Q80T's screen was quite uniform, with more-even lighting from edge to edge than the Vizio, whose sides looked slightly dark, and slightly less-even lighting than the TCL. Amazon introduces first OLED TV with built-in Amazon Alexa, Hisense 70-inch 4K UHD Smart Android TV deal is still available for $400, Budget hack: Replace Netflix and other pricey subscriptions with these free versions, 15 of the best TV shows to watch on Amazon Prime Video, The 9 best TV series you can watch free on Peacock and other services, Best portable projector with battery power for 2021: BenQ, Anker, LG and more, Don't see what you're looking for below? Don't let the high score in Dynamic fool you. Samsung Q60T QLED TV review: Design. In the 55- and 65-inch sizes the Q90T costs basically the same as my favorite high-end TV for 2020, the OLED-powered LG CX, and in my experience the OLED will have a better picture overall. Ambient mode is designed to show stuff on the screen when you're not watching TV. But if you're brand-agnostic, the Vizio and TCL are both better values. On the other hand those lights and other bright spots were more brilliant on the TCL and Vizio, and both exposed more shadow detail than the Samsung -- while the Sony had the best shadow detail and the worst contrast. We give 5/5 points for the Samsung QN49Q80T review part of the design. While the Q95T has eight drivers, this cheaper model has six: two mid-range drivers and two woofers along the bottom, and two extra drivers at the top. The bezels are thin on all sides, and the stand is center-mounted, similar to the Samsung Q90/Q90R QLED. The step-up Q90T and the company's 8K models have more dimming zones and brighter images than the Q80T, but Samsung doesn't say exactly how many zones each has.Â. Here's a quick and dirty list. We will give 4/5 points for the Samsung QN49Q80T review part of the price. Colors were crisp and vibrant, however, and the orange of the monarch butterfly for example appeared a bit deeper and more saturated than the TCL, if not quite as powerful as the Vizio. The TVs above are superior values but if you want a Samsung TV anyway, this is a great choice. You can also add more smoothing or soap opera effect by increasing Judder Reduction or choosing Auto instead of Custom. I still ended up preferring the TCL and Vizio overall, but the Samsung was much closer. Another advantage: The Q80T was the best among the three at controlling blooming, so stray illumination wasn't an issue even in difficult mixed bright-and-dark scenes. And just like the 6-Series above, it uses the Roku smart TV system. In a bright room all of the TVs in my lineup were better at reducing the brightness of reflections to preserve the fidelity of the image. Full-array local dimming sets the Q80T apart from cheaper Samsung TVs. I'm pretty sure you'd be happy with any one of the TVs above, but a new smart TV set can be a big investment, so maybe you're looking for a bit more information. For the Accurate measurements in SDR I used the Natural picture mode in combination with the Warm color temperature setting (the default temperature for Natural is quite blue). You can select between the three in the menus and whichever one you choose will be available when you press the mic button on the clicker.Â, Alternately you can set the remote's mic to listen for the "Alexa" or "Hey, Google" wake words, allowing you to issue commands hands-free (it worked well as long as I stayed relatively close to the remote). Color accuracy: The Samsung's Filmmaker Mode and Movie modes are both accurate before calibration but I prefer the former because it disables most video processing by default (see below). CNET brings you pricing information for retailers, as well as reviews, ratings, specs and more. Channel and volume keys click up and down, Ambient mode gets its own button as does the mic for voice, and even the Netflix and Amazon app shortcut keys are nicer than on other remotes: They lack garish colors and instead just match the rest of the wand. Samsung's homebrew Bixby voice assistant is built into the Q80T, as you'd expect, but new for 2020 you can choose the overwhelmingly more-popular Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant instead. The default "0" setting is the most accurate but cranking it up did reveal more, yes, details like the car seat cushions and floor of Parks car became more visible. Samsung QN49Q80T Review Conclusions That's where the reviews come in: to help you decide just how much money to spend. Here areÂ, With the ongoing pandemic, many new TVs are shipping late. I preferred the Vizio and TCL overall for image quality and liked the Sony X900H a bit less, but all four occupy the same general plane. Bright lighting: These days TVs just seem to be getting brighter but the Q80T is an exception, measuring dimmer than many TVs at its level including the TCL, Vizio P and Sony, and even slightly dimmer than the Q70 from 2019. Read our TCL 8-Series (75Q825) review. It upscales lower resolution content from cable boxes well, and Samsung's Tizen OS platform has tons of streaming services available. In brighter scenes the Samsung generally matched the image quality of the others -- all four were excellent overall. Samsung Q60 QLED TV review: Price and availability The Samsung Q60 comes in a huge range of sizes, starting with the smallest, at 43 inches, … Read our Samsung Q80T series (2020) review. The most obvious upgrade is the stand: Samsung uses a central pedestal, which to my eye looks a lot sleeker than the two separate legs to either side that most new TVs employ. You just want the best TV in this size class, money no object? Click the image above to see the picture settings used in the review and to read more about how this TV's picture controls worked during calibration. Samsung sells more TVs than anyone and our favorite is the Q80T series. Beyond voice, Samsung's on-screen smart TV system is excellent, with quick responses and plenty of apps, and I'd take it over LG or Vizio's systems. Samsung's clicker is also among my favorites, with minimal buttons and just the right feel in-hand. Subscribe to the CNET TVs, Streaming and Audio newsletter for the best of our home entertainment coverage. Just like most TVs now (including Roku), Samsung has the Apple TV app and works with Apple's AirPlay system. It's still bright enough for just about any room, however, and has plenty of punch to make HDR look impactful. The Q80T is one of the few TVs that doesn't at least offer one analog input, audio or video. Curved: Samsung offers quite a few curved screen televisions. I compared all four in my basement TV lab side-by-side and the Samsung Q80T was indeed excellent, but despite costing more than the other three, it didn't put out a better picture. The effect is better brightness and color compared to non-QD-equipped TVs. Dim lighting: I started with the excellent-looking Blu-ray of Parasite. CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. Watching the Spears and Munsil HDR benchmark's test montage, the ferris wheel at night (4:51) was a good example, with a slightly gray-blue cast to the sky, and less pop in the lights on the Q80T. This list is mostly solid, unless you happen to own a legacy device that requires analog video (component or composite) or audio. It's not cheap, but it is the least expensive Samsung QLED TV to feature full-array local dimming, which gives it an excellent picture. Here's everything to know (and more) about buying a new TV.Â. Here's where I mention an unusual thing Samsung did with settings, which I liked. Two Minute review. And its suite of connections is actually better than the TCL's. Gaming features are one of the Q80T's strong points. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. The Samsung Q80T QLED TV is a feature-packed flatscreen that uses Quantum Dot Technology to allow for 4K AI upscaling, so that you always … It's also a solid choice for gamers with a new THX mode that combines low input lag and high contrast. Currently, my TV lab is my basement, and as usual, I've actually reviewed the 65-inch sizes in the series listed below. The Q80T also accepts 4K/120Hz input on HDMI 4, which is conveniently marked with a little game controller icon. This technology, which improves LCD image quality significantly in our experience, boosts black levels and contrast by making certain areas of the picture dimmer or brighter in reaction to what's on the screen. The TCL and the Vizio both showed darker, more realistic "black" in the shadows and letterbox bars, with less bleed from bright areas into dark, compared to the Sony and Samsung. Switching over to Parasite in HDR, the Samsung's image held up better than before thanks to its ability to control blooming and maintain black levels (at the expense of brightness). We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. The Samsung Q80T (QE65Q80T) may be the entry-level 4k UHD screen in Samsung’s 2020 QLED FALD (Full Array Local Dimming) range, but it … Then again so did the other displays -- it was difficult to see any real color differences even side-by-side with non-HDR colors. I've seen no evidence that one HDR format is inherently "better" than the other, so I definitely don't consider lack of Dolby Vision a deal-breaker on this TV -- instead it's just one more factor to consider. No TV I've ever tested offers this much picture quality for this little cash. When you pay a little extra for a Samsung you expect superior design, and the Q80T delivers. Like the others it's also well-suited to pair with an Xbox Series X or PS5 thanks to variable refresh rate capability and 4K/120Hz input.Â. While a 65-inch TV remains the standard size of choice for many consumers, if you're ready for an upgrade, the most common next step is to check out 75-inch models. Samsung Q900 85-inch 8K TV hands-on: A beautiful beast - CNET The base is a single slab of metal, flush against the tabletop. The Samsung Q90T has an exceptional design. Samsung Q80T review: Verdict The Q80T is a formidable 4K performer that warrants a premium price tag overall. Splitting the difference between the two models above in price and picture quality, this TCL features Mini-LED, a technology that isn't found on any other TV currently available. Â, The Samsung and Sony had one advantage during the montage however: they were slightly cleaner than the TCL and Vizio in the first fade up from black to a bright sky. Our review price was $1099 as of March 2020 which is a very good price considering the amazing picture quality and the awesome features. The cheapest Samsung TV with full-array local dimming, our favorite picture-enhancing extra for LCD TVs, is the Q80T, which costs $1,800 for the … Samsung QN65Q80T CNET revie... by David Katzmaier, Portrait Displays Calman calibration software was used in this review.Â. Discuss: Best 75-inch TV for 2021: TCL, Samsung, LG and Sony compared, Best 75-inch picture quality in a non-OLED, Best 75-inch value with next-gen connectivity, Read our LG OLEDCXP series (OLED77CXPUA) review, Read our Sony XBR-X900H series (XBR-75X900H) review, Read our Samsung Q80T series (2020) review, How Samsung QLED and LG OLED, the two best TV technologies, compare, 12 awesome kids TV shows to watch during quarantine, Philips Hue adds Alexa, Siri and Google voice control for TV synced lighting, Best gaming TV in 2021 with low input lag and high picture quality. Samsung’s Q80T is also a strong contender in this price class. Like all of Samsung QLED TVs, as well as most higher-end TVs from Vizio and TCL, the Q80T's LCD panel is augmented by a layer of quantum dots -- microscopic nanocrystals that glow a specific wavelength (i.e. It still looked great, with plenty of punch and contrast I expect from HDR, but next to the TCL and Vizio it didn't convey quite the same sense of realism -- although it looked better overall then the Sony. I still like Roku and Android TV (found on Sony TVs) better overall, however, because they have even more apps. In 2021, Samsung's TV lineup appears skewed greater than ever towards higher-end fashions: There are three sequences with 8K resolution, Samsung Q80T series (2021) review… This year Samsung has changed up the local dimming approach in its Direct Full Array 16x (20x in the 85-inch) LED backlight system by arriving at a compromise from last year’s focus on making stable black to making the panel a little brighter while balancing it against deep black. Its reflection handling is decent, but it doesn't get very bright, so it isn't ideal for well-lit rooms. Samsung QN49Q80T Price. It has excellent color accuracy out-of-the-box, and an impressive HDR color gamut to produce a wide range of colors. During Parasite, colors like the green lettuce and red kimchi in the cafeteria in Chapter 4, as well as the skin tones of the family as they eat, looked natural and well-balanced. 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