Samsung’s Neo QLED televisions offer a comparable experience to OLED technology, providing better brightness that is ideal for bright rooms with glare. The Samsung QN90C, like its predecessor QN90B, delivers excellent brightness and uniform color across the panel. However, the television’s processor and algorithm have limitations in managing dimming zone transitions, and the operating system, Samsung’s Tizen, lacks customizability.
Disappointingly, Samsung has not addressed the local dimming issue, which is especially noticeable in gaming. The slow transitions from dark to bright areas can result in flashes and a jarring visual experience, particularly in HDR content. While the QN90C is great for watching movies and TV shows, it falls short in the gaming department, despite Samsung’s built-in support for gaming.
In terms of design and build, the QN90C continues Samsung’s tradition of attractive televisions. With slim bezels and a thin profile, the display seamlessly blends into any environment. The stand has been slightly modified from the previous model, making installation easier. However, cable management remains a weak point for Samsung, as threading cables through grates on the back of the television proves challenging.
In terms of connectivity, the QN90C offers four HDMI ports (including one eARC) with HDMI 2.1 compatibility, providing high bandwidth for multiple connections. There is no 3.5mm headphone port, but audio can be managed through the eARC HDMI port, Bluetooth, or an optical connection. The television also supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for smart assistant functionality.
Samsung’s remote control design stands out as one of the best in the industry. Solar powered and compact, the remote features only essential buttons, such as power, settings, volume, and channel rockers. However, certain buttons have double functions, requiring some adjustment for users. The Samsung interface provides on-screen tooltips to assist with navigation.
In terms of software and user interface, Samsung’s Tizen operating system leaves much to be desired. The autoplay feature often pushes content from Samsung TV Plus, which consists of outdated shows and movies. Fortunately, this channel can be removed. Adjusting picture settings can only be done when there is something playing on the TV, which limits customization options. The set of adjustments offered by Samsung is simplified and lacks depth, making fine-tuning difficult.
Despite the limitations in software and customization, the QN90C excels in picture quality for movies and television. Samsung’s Neo QLED technology ensures vibrant colors and impressive visuals. The QN90C provides an excellent viewing experience in this regard.
Overall, the Samsung QN90C offers great picture quality and an attractive design. While it falls short in terms of gaming performance and software customization, it remains a solid choice for those seeking a high-quality television.