Great TVs really do come in small packages. I’ve been watching the 43-inch Samsung QN90C NeoQLED 4K TV for a few weeks and I can’t believe the picture quality this TV has. It can reach such deep, rich black tones and such bright colours that if I had to describe it in a few words I’d say it was a QLED that looks like an OLED. While I’ve never had a TV smaller than 55 inches before, I think 43 inches is the perfect size for a bedroom, office, or garage. It’s also available in larger sizes, and if this model is any indication, the picture quality would be absolutely stunning on a bigger screen.
Here’s a look at what I thought of the Samsung QN90C NeoQLED TV.
Features on Samsung QN90C NeoQLED TV
The Samsung QN90C NeoQLED is a very thin, very light TV that comes packaged with a stand. It weighs 9.4 kg (20.72 lbs). The stand resembles a computer monitor stand and you’ll need a screwdriver to attach it. The 43-inch model is the smallest size in the QN90C lineup, and you can also choose it in 50, 55, 65, 75, and 85 inch sizes.
- 43 inch 4K QLED TV with Mini LED backlight
- Neo Quantum HDR+ for vivid colour and exceptional brightness and Auto HDR Remastering for improved SDR content
- 4K Neural Quantum Processor is AI-powered to upscale your content
- Anti-Glare coating and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology
- Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound+
- Samsung Gaming Hub lets you play your favourite games in one location without the need for a console
- 120Hz native refresh rate with up to 144Hz and 9.7 milliseconds input lag
- Real Depth Enhancer and Pantone Validated Colour
- Smart Hub organizes your streaming content and Smart Things connects you to your smart home devices
- 4 HDMI ports, 2 USB, and an Ethernet port
- Solar cell remote control stays charged for months
Testing out Samsung QN90C NeoQLED
It’s hard not to be impressed by the Samsung QN90C NeoQLED TV. When you tap the remote the TV slides open and you’re presented with a bright screen packed with a ton of streaming and live TV choices. There is a menu on the left that lists a few of your TV options including search, ambient, game, media, connected devices, and settings.
NeoSlim design
This TV is very thin and there is a very small frame around IT that lets you enjoy the full size of the screen. Samsung calls the design NeoSlim. It’s the type of TV you can mount on the wall and use as a photo frame when you’re not watching, and I would definitely opt for a wall mount over the included stand. A wall mount would look more elegant and be more functional, and I’m a little leery about the durability of the stand. While I like the minimalist design, I was a bit nervous about knocking the stand and having it fall over. The TV is so light it doesn’t seem like it weighs it down enough to hold it in place if you bump it.
The QN90C has an anti-reflective coating that’s very effective. If you’re watching with your curtains open and you have bright light shining through the windows, it’s minimized when you’re watching. Sometimes, when scrolling through the menus, I could see light from the window reflecting on the screen, but when I started watching a movie or a TV show, it disappeared or was dimmed enough that it didn’t interfere with watching.
This TV also comes with the new Samsung SolarCell remote control. It has a small solar strip on the back so it can recharge via sunlight and the design is part of Samsung’s sustainability plan. If you ever run out of battery power you can also plug it in via USB-C.
Picture quality on Samsung QN90C NeoQLED
I spent a few weeks binging Netflix and Disney+ on the Samsung QN90C. The best way to describe the picture quality is to say that, if someone put me in front of the TV and I didn’t know anything about it, I would have a hard time determining whether or not it’s an OLED. One of the reasons I say that is the high contrast. I know a NeoQLED can’t achieve true black the way an OLED can and Mini-LEDs aren’t capable of turning off and on individually like OLED, but this TV can produce blacks that are so deep and dark you might struggle to tell the difference. At night, in a dark room without any light shining in, the screen looks pitch black.
QLED TVs with Mini-LED backlight are great for rooms without a lot of natural light. My house is shaded by trees so I need the brightest TV possible in every room. The default brightness on this TV was more than enough for a room without natural light, and even when I turned on the lights and watched with the curtains open it was still very bright.
The QN90C has a 4K Neural Quantum Processor that’s AI-powered to upscale everything you watch, and it has Neo Quantum HDR+ to brighten images, Real Depth Enhancer to make images more realistic, and Pantone Validated Colour so colours look bright and natural no matter what you’re watching. Colour is very sharp and natural, and in some cases, I thought it was so vivid I wanted to dial the brightness down a bit.
No matter what I watched on this TV, it looked better than on my own TV. Whether I was watching old YouTube videos I uploaded of my kids, black and white TV shows, or my favourite Marvel movies on Disney+, everything had sharp detail and cinematic colour. I watched a few IMAX-enhanced videos on Disney+ and Netflix and they looked spectacular too. The picture quality on this TV is so fantastic I didn’t even think about the fact that it was only 43 inches.
Samsung Gaming Hub and Neo Quantum HDR+
I’ve talked about the Samsung Gaming Hub in other reviews but I’m even more impressed with it now that I’ve linked it up to my Xbox Game Pass account. All you need is a controller and a good Internet connection and you can stream all of your Xbox games without plugging in your console. There are other platforms you can stream too including Amazon Luna, GeForce Now, and Utomik. The Gaming Hub also has videos so you can watch Twitch broadcasts and other gaming content.
This TV is amazing for gaming, and Neo Quantum HDR+ adds detail and brightness to dark games. My go-to game for testing out a new TV is always Red Dead Redemption, and I thought the TV really brought a natural quality to the game. Dark scenes and shadows are more detailed than I’ve seen on other TVs. The TV also has 120Hz native refresh rate with the option to enhance it to 144Hz in game mode and a minimal 9.7 milliseconds lag. With a console plugged in it’s fast enough to keep up with the most intense action games and you don’t experience blur or delay between controller and game.
If you’re going to connect your controller to the TV and stream games, my suggestion is to plug in the TV via Ethernet and maintain a close position to the TV. It takes a lot of bandwidth to load and stream the games, and while we have a very fast 5G network we use to connect our TVs we had a much smoother experience after we plugged in. I also tried to use an older Xbox controller that didn’t maintain a strong Bluetooth connection so there was a lot of lag between the controller and the TV. Any lag we experienced disappeared as soon as I added my PS5 controller.
Sound quality on Samsung NeoQLED
There are two different sound modes on the Samsung QN90C—Standard and Amplify. I thought the sound was great considering the size of the screen and how thin it is. When watching movies I kept the volume at 30 and in Amplify mode. Dialogue was very clear, and it felt like it was coming from a center speaker. This TV uses Object Tracking Sound technology to optimize sound and send it to your TV’s speakers in a way that makes it feel as though it’s moving with the action. It’s not as precise as a set of home theatre speakers or a sound bar, but it gives the TV great quality. It’s a good feature when you’re using the TV in your bedroom and you don’t want to add a sound bar or speakers.
The sound quality was loud enough to send my cats running when I put on a cat video. Nothing gets them in front of a TV faster than the sound of birds, and as you can see in the photos, my buddy Apollo made himself comfortable while he watched a few hours of squirrel videos.
Should you choose the Samsung QN90C NeoQLED?
If you’re looking for a second TV in a smaller size, the 43-inch Samsung QN90C NeoQLED is hard to beat. After using it for a few weeks it would be an easy choice for my bedroom. I’ve been firm in my decision to upgrade to an OLED for my next living room TV, but now I’m wondering if I have to. In my opinion, the QN90C gives you an OLED-quality picture that’s brighter and more vivid than most OLEDs, but it can still reach those deep black tones you really want for movies and gaming.
Samsung Gaming Hub is such a great addition to Samsung’s Smart Hub, and it’s nice that I can pick up a controller and game without plugging in a console. For streaming TV and movies, you can access all of your favourite apps on a smart screen that’s easy to navigate. I also love how Samsung SmartThings is integrated with this TV. I was pretty surprised when I was watching and my TV popped up a notification that my range had finished preheating. All of the smart devices you add to SmartThings can be accessed on your TV.
I am always impressed by Samsung TVs, and they just keep getting better and better. You can find the Samsung QN90C NeoQLED 4K TV in 43 inches as well larger sizes at Best Buy right now.
The TV usually does not get turned on on a weekday, except maybe an hour or two on Friday night. On the weekend we usually watch 2 to 3 hours each day depending on whether we are home or out at various activities.
I learned that the Samsung QN90C has a 4K Neural Quantum Processor that uses AI to upscale the picture. I did not know that this was possible.
That is has 144hz, i didn’t know TVs had more then 120hz.
2-4 hours daily, depending if it’s game day or not
We probably watch 4 hours of TV a night – unless there’s a new preview, then it’s more 😉
I learned that the QN90C has a 4K Neural Quantum Processor that’s AI-powered to upscale everything you watch – nice!
We watch 3 hours per day. The TV has Neo Quantum HDR+ for vivid colour and Auto HDR Remastering
We watch at least 4 hours of TV per day. I learned that the QN90C NeoQLED 4K TV can be used as a photo frame when you’re not watching.
Anti-Glare coating technology is an advanced feature that my current TV does not have. We watch 10 hours of TV per week.
I learned that this TV is well suited for gaming!
We typically watch around 20 hours of TV a week including gaming time.
I learned about Object Tracking Sound technology via this review.
We watch about 3-4 hours of TV a day …about 25 hours a week?!
I learned about the Object Tracking Sound technology. We watch 3-4 hours a day.
I learned about Object Tracking Sound Technology & Wide Angle Technology. We watch around 20 hours per week.
Once again, a solar rechargeable remote! LIghtweight and excellent picture quality with Neo Quantum HDR+. About 10 hours per week.
From this review I learned that Smart Hub organizes your streaming content and Smart Things connects you to your smart home devices. We watch 2-3 hours of TV per day.
Learned about the 4K Neural Quantum Processor to upscale the content.
Watch about 10 hours of TV a week!
I learned what Object Tracking Sound technology is used for when it optimizes sound to make it feel as though it’s moving with the action.
Our family watches between 20-30 hours of TV per week.
Learned about Object Tracking Sound Technology & Wide Angle Technology!
Watch about 20 Hrs a week.
One thing I learned was that this TV has a 4K Neural Quantum Processor for upscaling.
I watch about 20 hours a week
I watch around 24 hours of TV a week and I love that anti reflecting coating
We watch between 2-3 hours of TV a day.
Again this TV has so many great features but the most important or impressive thing I learned from Shelley’s review is that this TV gives you an OLED-quality picture that’s brighter and more vivid than most OLEDs and it can still reach those deep black tones you really want for movies and gaming.
Tv is my zen zone. 6 hours a day.
About 10 hours per week of TV watching. I didn’t know about that the 4K Neural Quantum Processor is AI-powered.
I learned that it has a quality picture that’s brighter and more vivid I watch 2 hours of television. GLA
I watch around 3 hours of TV daily. Learning about all of these features was very interesting, especially the solar cell remote control that stays charged for months. Thanks!
In our house, we watch about 3 hours of tv per day. I learned about the anti-glare coating. I really need that!
I learned that this TV is very thin. This would be great to put on a dresser in my bedroom. We probably watch about 6 hours of TV each day.
I watch about 2 hours daily. I learned that you can stream all of your Xbox games without plugging in your console
watch 4 hours of tv, most of it gaming, her review made me learn about samsungs gaming hub and how you can connect a controller by bluetooth and play on the cloud
I learned about Samsung Gaming Hub. I watch several hours on the days I’m not working.
We watch about 4 hours of tv a day
I learned this tv has a super thin bezel called NeoSlim which lets you enjoy the full size of the screen.
I learned about the anti glare, what a top notch feature! We probably watch 25 hours a week. Definitely getting to the weather where we are more entertained with TV.
We watch anywhere from 1-3 hours of TV a day and I would like the Anti-Glare coating and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology
the anti reflective tech is a great new feature my old Sony doesn’t have so this would be a great upgrade i watch about 21 hours of tv weekly
I would love to reduce eye strain with the Anti-Glare tech and the solar remote would be wonderful – not just for the green but also so that batteries do not fall out. Total family TV watching per day – 9, but I suspect the kids sneak in more when I am at work. More in the cold winter months.
I’ve learned about the amazing sound on these TVs. I probably have the TV on for about 8 hours a day or more… It’s usually on in the background while working from home.
We watch 2 – 3 hours of TV a day. I learnt about the viewing angle technology.
This TV has Anti-Glare coating which would be really useful,
and I watch about 4 hours a day.
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We have a curved TV and one of the main disadvantages is its viewing angle so I appreciate the Anti-Glare coating and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology that this TV offers. Our TV is on almost 18 hours a day as there is always someone home watching it, either for news, movies or talk shows. Our TV brings the whole family together!
I spend 1-2 hours watching Television daily. I learned this TVs remote is charged via solar energy.
I learned about the 4K Neural Quantum Processor that’s AI-powered to upscale everything you watch. We watch 3-4 hours a day.
I have learnt about the anti glare coating and auto HDR. We watch about 4 hours a day
Watch 3hrs a day. Learned about the Neo Quantum HDR+ for vivid colour, exceptional brightness and Auto HDR Remastering for SDR content.
I learned that this TV has Anti-Glare coating which would be really useful and on average at least 5 hours per day on the TV
I learned that it has a 4K Neural Quantum Processor that is AI-powered. I am embarrassed to admit that our tv is on for probably 6 hours a day. Between baseball games and favourite shows… Would love to win, thanks for the chance!
We watch at least 3 hours of TV daily. I’m really excited about the gaming hub. Thanks!
I learned about the Anti-Glare coating and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology .I watch about 20hr a week .
I learned about the AI upscaling the TV does to low-bitrate streaming. And that Shelly is into Alien conspiracy shows. We watch about 20 hours a week of TV. Always a couple hours in the evening after work.
I learned many things about this tv and am most impressed by the weight (weighs 9.4 kg). This would be so much easier to lift to dust under than our current tv that requires 2 persons to move it. My husband is in a wheelchair, so watches tv about 4 hours a day, while I watch perhaps 2 hours daily.
We watch about 20 hours a week. The SmartThings feature is new to me and sound like a cool thing to have.
Loved learning that it has an anti-reflective coating. Our old tv does not. Sources of light need to be taken care of before movie watching. Hours of viewing time ranges from 6-8 hours.
i love the idea of the Solar cell remote which can stays charged for months… and i watch about 10 hoursa week of tv.
I didn’t know about Object Tracking Sound technology – sounds fantastic!
I would guess that around 20-25 hours of TV gets watched per week – some weeks more (playoffs!), some weeks less.
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