Samsung Class Neo QLED 4K UHD QN85A Series Review

The Samsung QN85A Neo QLED TV series emerges as a challenger in the ever-competitive world of 4K televisions. Boasting innovative Mini LED technology, stunning visuals, and a user-friendly smart platform, the QN85A promises an elevated viewing experience. But with so many options on the market, does it live up to the hype? This review delves deep into the QN85A’s strengths, considerations, and how it stacks up against competitors, helping you decide if it’s the perfect fit for your home theater setup.

Specifications

Today’s Samsung Class Neo QLED 4K UHD QN85A Series Deals

Picture Quality

The Samsung QN85A prioritizes delivering a captivating picture:

• Neo QLED Technology: This innovative technology utilizes Mini LEDs, which are significantly smaller than traditional LEDs. This allows for tighter backlighting control, resulting in deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and improved overall image contrast. Compared to standard QLED TVs, the QN85A offers a noticeable improvement in picture quality, especially in dark scenes.

• 4K Resolution: Witness the difference! The QN85A showcases content in stunning 4K resolution, offering four times the detail of Full HD. This translates to sharper visuals, allowing you to see intricate details and enjoy a more immersive viewing experience, especially when watching native 4K content.

• HDR10+ Support: The QN85A supports HDR10+, a format that unlocks a wider range of colors and brightness levels compared to standard definition content. HDR10+ offers dynamic scene-by-scene adjustments, potentially offering a more nuanced and detailed picture compared to standard HDR10. However, content mastered in HDR10+ is still limited compared to HDR10.

• Quantum HDR Processing: Samsung’s processing engine analyzes incoming content and optimizes the picture for a more vibrant and impactful viewing experience. This processing helps enhance detail, color accuracy, and contrast, further enriching the visuals on the QN85A.

• Upscaling Technology: Breathe new life into your old favorites. The QN85A incorporates an upscaling engine that takes your standard definition and Full HD content and transforms it closer to 4K resolution. This results in improved clarity and detail in non-native 4K content, allowing you to enjoy your existing library on a bigger screen.

Design

The Samsung QN85A embraces a modern design philosophy:

• Ultra-Thin Bezel Design: The bezels are incredibly thin, creating a near bezel-less look that allows the picture to take center stage. This modern design complements most living room aesthetics without appearing bulky.

• Adjustable Stand Design: The QN85A offers an adjustable stand that allows you to raise or lower the TV to your preferred viewing height. This flexibility enhances ergonomic comfort and allows for optimal placement in your living room setup.

• Sleek Metal Back Panel: Unlike the Q80A series, the QN85A utilizes a premium metal back panel, exuding a more luxurious feel and potentially offering improved heat dissipation.

Standing Out from the Crowd: How the QN85A Stacks Up

The Samsung QN85A faces competition from both established and emerging 4K TV brands:

• LG OLED TVs: LG OLED TVs are renowned for their unmatched contrast ratios and perfect blacks thanks to their self-illuminating pixel technology. While the QN85A delivers excellent picture quality, LG OLED TVs might still hold the edge for viewers prioritizing the deepest blacks and the most cinematic viewing experience. However, OLED technology can be susceptible to burn-in for static images, and Samsung’s Neo QLED technology offers a brighter overall picture, making it a better choice for well-lit rooms.

• Sony X90K Series: The Sony X90K Series is another strong contender in the mid-range 4K TV market. It offers similar features to the QN85A, including 4K resolution, HDR support, and a user-friendly smart platform. The Sony X90K might have a slight edge in terms of motion handling for fast-paced content, but the QN8A’s Neo QLED technology delivers deeper blacks and a potentially brighter picture.

Brightness and Contrast

The Samsung QN85A delivers impressive brightness levels, making it suitable for most living room environments, including rooms with moderate ambient light. The Mini LED technology allows for improved peak brightness compared to standard QLED TVs, making highlights appear more vivid and HDR content even more impactful.

However, the QN85A doesn’t feature full-array local dimming, a technology that can further enhance contrast by dimming specific zones of the backlight. This means that blacks might not appear quite as deep as on some competitors with full-array local dimming, especially in very dark scenes. This might be a consideration for viewers seeking the most cinematic contrast experience for watching movies in a dark room.

Sound Quality

The built-in speakers on the Samsung QN85A Series deliver a functional audio experience for casual viewing:

• Decent Soundstage: The speakers offer a wider soundstage than some budget TVs, creating a more immersive feel compared to down-firing speakers.

• Clear Dialogue: Dialogue remains clear and audible, ensuring you don’t miss any important details in your favorite shows or movies.

However, the overall sound quality can feel a bit thin, lacking the depth and power needed for a truly immersive cinematic experience. This is a common limitation with budget and mid-range TVs.

If you crave a more robust and immersive soundscape, especially for movie nights or music listening, investing in a soundbar or a surround sound system is highly recommended. This will elevate your audio experience and do justice to the QN85A’s picture quality.

Smart Features

• Multiple Gaming Features: In addition to low input lag and Auto Game Mode, the QN85A offers additional gaming features:
  • HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma): This feature ensures HDR compatibility with certain gaming consoles, allowing you to experience HDR visuals in your games.
  • Motion Enhancement Technology: The QN85A incorporates motion processing technology that aims to minimize blur and judder during fast-paced action sequences in games. This can be helpful for enhancing the visual fluidity of gameplay. However, some users might find this processing introduces a slight “soap opera effect” that reduces the natural look of motion. Thankfully, motion processing settings can usually be adjusted to your preference.

Motion

The Samsung QN85A delivers decent motion handling for most viewers:

• 60Hz Refresh Rate: The QN85A offers a standard 60Hz refresh rate. While this might not be ideal for hardcore gamers seeking the absolute smoothest experience in fast-paced games, it suffices for casual viewers and most movie watching.

• Motion Processing Technology: As mentioned earlier, the TV incorporates motion processing technology to minimize blur and judder. This can be particularly helpful for watching sports or action movies. However, keep in mind the potential for the “soap opera effect” and adjust settings accordingly.

Gaming Features

The Samsung QN85A caters to casual gamers with the following features:

• Low Input Lag: As previously discussed, input lag is minimal, ensuring a responsive gaming experience.
• Auto Game Mode: The QN85A automatically detects when you’re connected to a gaming console and switches to a preset Game Mode, optimizing picture settings for gaming.
• HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma): This feature ensures HDR compatibility with certain gaming consoles for an enhanced visual experience.
• Motion Enhancement Technology: While potentially introducing a slight “soap opera effect,” motion processing aims to improve visual fluidity during fast-paced gameplay. Users can adjust these settings to their preference.

Durability and Build Quality

The Samsung QN85A offers a step up in build quality compared to the Q80A:

• Premium Metal Back Panel: Unlike the plastic back panel on the Q80A, the QN85A utilizes a more durable and luxurious-feeling metal construction. This might also improve heat dissipation for the TV.

• Sturdy Stand: The QN85A includes a sturdy and adjustable stand, providing a stable base for the TV.

Overall, the build quality feels solid and reliable, suggesting the QN85A should last for years of casual viewing enjoyment with proper care.

Viewing Angles and Screen Uniformity

The Samsung QN85A offers acceptable viewing angles:

• Decent Off-Axis Viewing: The picture quality remains relatively consistent even when viewed from off-axis angles. This makes it suitable for living rooms where viewers might not be seated directly in front of the TV. However, some higher-end models, particularly OLED TVs, boast superior viewing angles with minimal color or brightness shift, even at extreme angles.

• Acceptable Screen Uniformity: The QN85A delivers acceptable screen uniformity. This means that brightness, color, and contrast remain consistent across the entire screen, minimizing any distracting variations in picture quality.

Inputs

The Samsung QN85A offers a good selection of inputs, catering to most viewers’ needs:

• 4x HDMI ports (all support HDCP 2.2): Connect various high-definition devices like streaming sticks, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, or cable/satellite boxes. HDCP 2.2 ensures compatibility with the latest 4K HDR content.
• 2x USB ports: Connect external hard drives, flash drives, or other USB devices for media playback or even recording content (depending on the TV model).
• Digital optical audio output: Connect the QN85A to a soundbar or surround sound system for a more immersive audio experience.
• Ethernet port: For a wired internet connection, allowing you to stream content or access features that require a stable internet connection.

This selection of inputs ensures you can connect all your essential devices without any limitations.

Overall Value

The Samsung QN85A Neo QLED TV series offers a compelling proposition for viewers seeking a significant step up in picture quality compared to standard QLED TVs, but with some trade-offs:

• Strengths:

  • Excellent picture quality with improved contrast and brightness thanks to Neo QLED technology.
  • Impressive 4K resolution and HDR support for vibrant colors and details.
  • Upscaling technology breathes new life into older content libraries.
  • User-friendly Tizen smart platform with a vast app selection and voice control capabilities.
  • Sleek and modern design with a premium metal back panel.
  • Decent motion handling suitable for most viewers.
  • Low input lag and Auto Game Mode cater to casual gamers.
  • Plenty of inputs for connecting various devices.

• Considerations:

  • Limited contrast compared to some competitors due to the lack of full-array local dimming.
  • Built-in speakers deliver functional audio, but a soundbar is recommended for an immersive experience.
  • 60Hz refresh rate might not be ideal for hardcore gamers seeking the absolute smoothest experience.

The Final Verdict

The Samsung QN85A isn’t the most feature-rich 4K TV on the market, but it offers a significant leap in picture quality compared to standard QLED TVs thanks to its innovative Neo QLED technology. Here’s a quick recap to help you decide:

• Ideal for: Viewers seeking a significant improvement in picture quality, casual gamers, users who prioritize a user-friendly smart platform, and those seeking a modern design aesthetic.

• Look elsewhere if: You prioritize the deepest blacks possible for a cinematic experience in a dark room (consider OLED) or are a hardcore gamer demanding the highest refresh rates.

Conclusion

The Samsung QN85A strikes a compelling balance between picture quality, features, and price for mid-range TV buyers. If you prioritize a vibrant and immersive viewing experience without breaking the bank, the QN85A emerges as a strong contender, especially for casual viewers and gamers.