Samsung QN90C Neo QLED

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

Samsung NeoQLED QN90C 4K 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

Samsung QN90C Neo QLED stand

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

Samsung solar cell remote

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+

Samsung Gaming Hub

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

Samsung NeoQLED QN90C

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?

Samsung QN90C 4K TV review

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.

Shelly Wutke
Editor TV & Home Theatre
I'm a Vancouver freelancer and tech enthusiast. When I'm not writing you'll find me on my farm with my alpacas, chickens, and honeybees. Visit my website Survivemag

695 COMMENTS

  1. We watch about 3 hours of TV a day. I learned about the Real Depth Enhancer and Pantone Validated Colour, which sounds awesome!

  2. About 3 to 4 hours per day of actually paying attention to the TV, beside that it usually runs while im working from home or when im cooking etc. The input lag is the best feature for a large size TV and gaming.

  3. The fact you can watch the Samsung QN90 with your curtains open and bright light is awesome and would work out perfect for our north facing bedroom. The Anti-Glare coating is great.

    TV viewing time in the colder months is about 5hrs a day here.

  4. In our home we watch TV about 3 hours a day. One thing I learned about this TV from Shelly’s review is that the QN90C has an anti-reflective coating that works well to reduce glare at when you watch TV with bright daylight coming in the window.

  5. I spend about 15hrs a week watching tv and love the fact that with the tv’s anti-glare coating that even with the blinds open and the sun shining through you can watch the tv without any issues.

  6. We spend around 3 hours of TV time a day. I learned about the Samsung SolarCell remote control. Great to save on batteries and the environment.

  7. I watch TV with my husband and grandsons – about 2 -3 hours per day. I learned from Shelley’s review that this TV is very thin and has a very small frame around it which lets you enjoy the full size of the screen. It also has a smart screen which is easy to navigate.

  8. Total daily hours of tv is a little embarrassing as we use it as background noise and the kids each have one 12 +

    Anti glare coating would be very useful as we constantly adjust the blinds during the day

  9. 30-40 hours a week of tv is watched. Shelly’s review told me that it is easier to view from any angle which would be great!

  10. about a couple of hours a day of TV time and what I learned was about the Anti-Glare coating and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology

  11. I watch a lot of TV in a week – probably around 30 hours!
    I like that the Solar cell remote control stays charged for months, makes it more convenient!

  12. We watch TV about 2-3 hours a day. I learned that this TV uses Object Tracking Sound technology to optimize sound, which makes it seem like the sound moves with the action.

  13. Four hours a day of tv is watched in my house. I like the Object Tracking Sound technology of this tv so that I do not have to use sound bars or speakers.

  14. I watch about 10 hours a week, if I include the late night news. What I learned and liked is the quality of the picture and the small 43# size that would work in my very small den.

  15. We watch about 30 hours of tv a week! I love that this tv has an anti-reflective coating, the glare is always bothering us on our current tv!

  16. I don’t watch TV much, maybe 30 min. a week. I might leave it the Samsung QN90C NeoQLED 4K TV on more, since I learned that with the integrated Samsung SmartThings it can send me notifications, like Sally, that the oven has preheated.

  17. We have The Main TV in The Living Room & a Smaller one in The Spare Room. Combined I’m Sure we Watch & Enjoy Around 20 hours of TV a Week.

  18. We watch about 35 hrs of tv a week. I learned 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.

  19. We watch about 4 hours of TV (including some videos on computer) most days. I sometimes have news or something like that on for another hour or so, but I’m not really watching it.
    I learned about the anti-reflective coating which I really like the sound of. Too many things now are shiny mirrors and you get glare from everything.

  20. We watch about 15 hours of TV per week. I learned that Anti-Reflective coating allows you to watch tv in a brighter room.

  21. I’d say we watch about 15 hours a week of TV and I learned that there is anti glare coating to making watching tv in a bright room more enjoyable – that would be amazing due to the amount of light in our family room.

  22. It’s embarassing to say but we probably watch TV five hours a day -mostly evenings. Anti-Glare coating and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology sounds very useful.

  23. about 28 hours of TV get watched a week in my home, and one thing that I learned about this television from Shelly’s review is that it is easier to view from any angle..

  24. I watch about 5 hours of tv a day, mostly news, shows and movies. I learned that the TV is very thing thanks to NeoSlim.

  25. In my home we watched 2-3 hours TV daily.

    I really love the excellent gameing experience of this TV: Neo Quantum HDR+, 120Hz native refresh rate, game mode etc.!

    Thanks!

  26. I learned about the anti-glare coating, which would be so helpful for us. I’d say we watch about 3-4 hours per day.

  27. The TV is on about 14 hours a day at our house. I learnt about this TV having a 4K Neural Quantum Processor that is AI Powered!

  28. I learned about the anti-reflective coating which would be perfect in our house. Between all members of the family we probably watch 50+ hours of TV a week

  29. I learned about the anti-glare coating. and in my house, depending on work, we watch at least a couple hours TV a day!

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