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
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
Twitter Youtube

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

695 COMMENTS

  3. We watch about 25 hours per week of television in our house, and I learned about the solar power remote control from this review.

  4. Our household probably watches 30+ hours of tv per week. Someone always wants to watch something, be it the news, sports, shows or movies. I learned that this tv has a 4K Neural Quantum Processor that’s AI-powered to upscale everything you watch.

  5. On average the TV is watched 5 hours a day. I learned about the Anti-Glare coating which would be nice since we have to close the curtains in order to watch TV and still get some glare.

  6. We watch 4 to 6 hours of TV a day because my partner has it on while she works on art projects. I learned about the very effective anti-reflective coating, which would be useful in her studio.

  7. I watch about 3-4 hours of TV / day. I learned the QN90C has Anti-Glare coating and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology as well as 4 HDMI ports, 2 USB, and an Ethernet port.

  10. We watch about 3 to 4 hours of TV per day plus Oilers Hockey Games. I learned that the TV has anti-glare coating which will be great in our family room.

  11. Per week I probably watch about 20 hours of television.

    I learned that QN90C has an anti-reflective coating which would be super helpful to me as my TV room has tons of natural light and there is always a glare on my screen

  12. I learned that the TV is very thin and there is a very small frame around IT that lets you enjoy the full size of the screen. I watch about 2 hours per day.

  14. We watch about 3 hours per day. More on the weekends in the winter time. Like perhaps 5 hours or so. I learn that this tv has two different sound modes. Woot.

  16. I am embarrassed to say that the TV is on, for at least 6-8 hours per day. (Not good!!), watching the noon and evening news and then many taped hours of some sort of TV series or a movie. I tend to binge watch, while I am sewing or cooking as well. I did learn that I can use this TV as a photo frame when I am not watching and I have a HUGE blank wall at my cottage above the Living room couch. It would be fantastic to mount this TV there, as my kitchen faces that wall and I spend easily 4-5 hours a day, prepping meals and cooking/baking for guests.

  17. Anti glare coating would be really useful because of the position of where the tv would be placed in my home. I did not know this Tv had it

    My family watches about 4 hours of Tv a day i’d say

  18. Weather depending I watch anywhere from 2 hours a day to 8 hours a day. I learned this TV has Anti Glare coating and offers ultra viewing angle technology.

  19. Well, its always more in the winter time with football season and the colder weather but, on average, I’d say about 5-6 hours of TV watching a week is about right.

    I learned that when you tap the remote the TV slides open and you get a bright screen with tons of streaming and live TV choices. A menu is on the left that holds a few of your TV option as well as a list of options, like search, ambient, game, media, connected devices, and settings.

  20. Per week I probably watch about 30 hours of television. Sometimes just have it playing while I’m doing other tasks

    I learned that QN90C has an anti-reflective coating which would be super helpful to me as my TV room has tons of natural light and there is always a glare on my screen

  21. I like the Anti Glare and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology feature for in my bright living room. I watch at least 4 hours TV a day.

  24. We watch about 3 to 4 hours of TV in any given day. I learned that the TV has anti-glare coating – our current TV has the worst glare that drives me mad!

  25. We watch 4-5 hours of TV per day.
    I learned that that QLED TVs with mini-LED backlights are ideal for rooms with low natural light. My apartment has very little natural light, so a bright, beautiful TV would be great!

  28. We watch about 5 hours of TV per day/evening.
    I learned that the Object Tracking Sound technology can compliment a sound bar for an amazing surround sound effect.

  29. At the moment I would say on an average week (including the weekend) around 12 hours of TV gets watched. In Shelly’s review on the QN90C NeoQLED TV I learnt that the TV includes a 4K Neural Quantum Processor which is AI-powered to help advance my content.

  31. An anti-glare coating would be perfect in our room which has an abundance of natural light. The TV is on at least 6 hours a day (different people at different times)

  32. My TV watching hours depend on the seasons. During the warmer months it might be 2-3 hours each day. During the colder months, it’s around 4-5 hours. I learned about Object Tracking Sound technology which optimizes sound and sends it to the TV’s speakers in a way that makes it feel as though it’s moving with the action.

  33. The smart hub and smart things features sound interesting! We usually watch a couple hours a day, mostly the kiddos with their cartoons but sometimes me and my partner watch something when the kids go to bed!

  36. On an average day I watch between 3-4 hours of tv, and the one thing i learned that I didn’t know about about was the mini-LED backlights and how they work

  37. We watch about 2 hours of tv a day. I learned about the gaming hub and the Anti-Glare coating and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology

  39. We watch about two hours of TV a day. I learned about how the QLED TVs with mini-LED backlight are great for rooms without a lot of natural light.

  41. We watch about 6 hours of TV a day. I learned that this TV has a Samsung Gaming Hub that lets you play your favourite games in one location without the need for a console

  43. We watch 6-8 hours (we’re retired) of TV each day and this tv has an anti reflective coating and enhanced colour.

  45. The TV is on constantly in our home. I guess at least 7 hours per day. I learned about backlighting and the fact the Tv is very light (20 lbs approx) so is easy to move.

  46. We probably watch an average of 1-2 hours per day. Less in the summer, more in the winter. There is a lot of natural light in our living room so I was excited to learn that there is an anti reflective coating that will help keep the picture bright.

  47. I watch at least 2 hours of TV each day. I learned about the Anti-Glare coating and Ultra Viewing Angle Technology that are used to enhance the viewing options.

  48. We watch at least 2 hours of TV each day in our family. I learned that TV is very thin and there is a very small frame around IT that lets you enjoy the full size of the screen. I also learned that it would be best to mount it which is perfect because we have our TV mounted on our fireplace currently.

  50. I learned about the neoslim design and how there is barely any frame so you can maximize your viewing of the screen.

    I typically watch about 3 hours of my TV at home on an average day.

« Older Comments Newer Comments »

Comments are closed.