Samsung Neo QLED QN43QN90FAFXZA 43"

Gaming performance in the 88th percentile makes this one of the best small TVs for PC and console gaming right now. The glare-free Mini-LED screen is genuinely impressive in bright rooms, but HDR is a letdown at the 34th percentile. Grab it around $482 and you're getting a steal; at $1000, just buy an OLED.

The NQ4 AI Gen3 processor does some heavy lifting here, and it shows. With a 120Hz native refresh rate that can push to 165Hz, motion handling is buttery smooth. We're talking about a display that's in the 88th percentile for gaming, which puts it ahead of most dedicated gaming monitors in our database. FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and four HDMI 2.1 ports mean you can plug in a PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X without a switcher. The Mini-LED backlight with local dimming delivers deep blacks that get surprisingly close to OLED territory, though blooming is still visible in high-contrast scenes. The 20W 2.0 channel speaker system with Object Tracking Sound Lite is above average for a TV this size, but you'll still want a soundbar for anything beyond casual viewing.

Stacked against the LG OLED C5, the QN90F wins on brightness and glare handling but loses badly on HDR performance and those perfect OLED blacks. The Sony BRAVIA 5 K55XR50 brings better picture processing and upscaling, but costs more and lacks the gaming chops Samsung packs in here. The Hisense U7 and TCL QM7K are the budget alternatives that actually beat the QN90F on HDR scores, though they can't match the Samsung's build quality or smart TV experience. If gaming is your priority, the QN90F is the clear winner in this group. If you're mostly watching movies in a dark room, the LG or Sony are better picks.

Pricing on the QN90F is all over the place, with a $518 spread between vendors. At the low end around $482, this is a steal for a Mini-LED TV with this gaming feature set. At the $1000 high end, you're creeping into OLED territory where the LG C5 and Sony BRAVIA 5 start looking real tempting. Amazon currently has the best deal with free delivery, and that's where the value proposition actually makes sense. If you're paying anywhere near full retail, you're leaving money on the table.

Samsung's QN90F is a 43-inch Mini-LED TV that punches way above its size class for gaming and smart features, landing in the 88th and 83rd percentiles respectively. The 120Hz native panel with Motion Xcelerator 165Hz and FreeSync Premium Pro support means this thing is a legit gaming monitor replacement if you've got the desk space. The glare-free screen is a real standout too, making it usable in bright rooms where most TVs would turn into mirrors. But the HDR story is a bit of a letdown, sitting in the 34th percentile, which is disappointing for a set that Samsung calls its brightest 4K TV yet.

If you're building a dedicated home theater in a dark room, look elsewhere. The HDR performance at the 34th percentile is a real weak spot, and the lack of Dolby Vision support means you're not getting the best out of streaming services or 4K Blu-rays. The outdoor score of 52.5 also tells you this isn't a patio TV. Movie purists and dark-room viewers will be much happier with the LG C5 or Sony BRAVIA 5, both of which deliver better HDR and deeper blacks for similar money at the high end of the QN90F's price range.

The QN90F is a gaming beast disguised as a living room TV. With an 88th percentile gaming score and a glare-free screen that actually works, it's the best 43-inch option we've seen for bright room gaming setups. The HDR weakness is real and frustrating at this price point, but if you're coming from an older LED TV, the Mini-LED contrast and brightness will still impress. Buy it at the low end of the price range and you've got one of the best values in the category. Pay full price and you should probably just get an OLED.