Samsung Neo QLED QN900D 65"

The Samsung QN900D is a top-tier 8K Mini-LED TV with stunning brightness, best-in-class built-in audio, and four HDMI 2.1 ports for gamers. It's ideal for bright rooms and future-proofing your setup, but the lack of Dolby Vision and scarce 8K content are real drawbacks. If you find it at a reasonable price, it's one of the best LED TVs you can buy right now.

In our database, the QN900D's audio system lands in the 100th percentile, which is our fancy way of saying it's the absolute best right now for built-in TV sound. The 6.2.2-channel setup with Dolby Atmos actually has some weight to it, with clear dialogue and a surprising amount of bass. You could skip a soundbar for casual viewing, though a dedicated system will still outclass it for movies. The display metrics are equally ridiculous, sitting in the 99th percentile. Color volume hits 100%, and the Mini-LED backlight delivers HDR highlights that pop like crazy. HDR performance is strong, landing in the 85th percentile, with support for HDR10+ and HLG. Dolby Vision is still missing, which is a Samsung tradition at this point, and that'll bug some people.

Gaming performance is a standout, ranking in the 87th percentile. The 120Hz panel and FreeSync Premium Pro keep things buttery smooth, and input lag is low enough that you won't notice it even in competitive shooters. The NQ8 AI Gen3 processor handles motion interpolation well, though purists will want to turn it off for movies. Upscaling is where this chip really shines. Feeding it a 1080p or 4K signal results in a cleaner, sharper image than you'd expect, which is crucial since most of what you'll watch isn't 8K. The smart platform is snappy and ranks in the 94th percentile, so navigating apps and settings feels instant. Connectivity is top of the charts too, with Wi-Fi 6E and four HDMI 2.1 ports that all support 4K at 120Hz.

Stacked against the Sony BRAVIA XR A95L, the Samsung takes a different approach. The Sony uses a QD-OLED panel that delivers perfect blacks and better viewing angles, but it can't touch the QN900D's peak brightness. For a sun-drenched living room, the Samsung is the clear winner. The LG G5 Series OLED is another rival that excels in dark room performance, but again, brightness and gaming features on the Samsung are a step ahead. The TCL QM6K and Hisense U7 Series are budget-friendly Mini-LED options that offer great value, but they're playing in a different league. They lack 8K resolution, have fewer HDMI 2.1 ports, and their processing isn't nearly as refined. The Roku Plus Series is even further behind, aimed at a completely different buyer who prioritizes simplicity over peak performance.

If you're a gamer, the Samsung's four HDMI 2.1 ports give it a practical edge over the Sony and LG, which typically offer only two. FreeSync Premium Pro support is also a nice bonus for PC gamers. The Tizen smart platform on the Samsung is more feature-rich than Roku's OS, but some people find it a bit cluttered compared to LG's webOS. Ultimately, the QN900D is for someone who wants the sharpest, brightest picture possible and doesn't mind paying a premium for future-proofing. The Sony and LG are better for movie purists in a light-controlled room.

Value is a tricky conversation with the QN900D because the price range across vendors is absurd. We're seeing it listed anywhere from $1,788 all the way up to $124,299, which is frankly a mess. If you can snag it at the low end of that spectrum, it's a steal for the tech you're getting. At the high end, you're being taken for a ride. Best Buy seems to be the most consistent retailer for reasonable pricing, so we'd point you there first. Compared to something like the Sony BRAVIA XR A95L, which uses a QD-OLED panel, you're trading perfect blacks for higher brightness and better gaming features. The LG G5 OLED is another alternative that offers superior contrast but can't match the QN900D's peak brightness or upscaling prowess. If you're set on 8K and want a bright room performer, this is the one to beat, but make sure you're not overpaying.

The Samsung QN900D is the kind of TV you buy when you're done compromising. It's an 8K Neo QLED with Mini-LED backlighting, and it sits at the very top of Samsung's 2024 lineup. If you've been searching for the best 8K TV that doesn't sacrifice brightness or smart features, this is basically the poster child. The 65-inch model we're looking at packs a 7680 x 4320 panel, the new NQ8 AI Gen3 processor, and a 6.2.2-channel speaker system that pumps out 90 watts. It's an absurdly thin display too, thanks to the Infinity Air Design, which makes it look like a piece of glass floating on your wall.

Setup is straightforward, and the Tizen smart platform is snappy and loaded with every app you'd actually use. You get full smart home integration with Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings built right in. For gamers, there's a lot to love here: four HDMI 2.1 ports, a 120Hz native refresh rate that can be pushed further with Motion Xcelerator 240Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro, and ALLM. It checks all the boxes for current-gen consoles and PC gaming. But the real question most people have is whether 8K is worth it right now, and honestly, that depends on how much you care about future-proofing and upscaling. The AI processor does heavy lifting to make 4K content look sharper, but native 8K content is still rare.

At its core, this is a TV for enthusiasts who want the absolute best picture processing and don't mind paying for it. The local dimming is some of the best we've seen on a Mini-LED set, keeping blooming in check while hitting eye-searing peak brightness. It's not an OLED, so you won't get those perfect blacks, but the contrast is still impressive for an LCD-based panel. For anyone asking "is the Samsung QN900D good for bright rooms?" the answer is a resounding yes. This thing gets bright enough to fight off direct sunlight without breaking a sweat.

You should skip the Samsung QN900D if you primarily watch movies in a dark, light-controlled room. An OLED like the Sony A95L or LG G5 will give you perfect blacks and better shadow detail for a cinematic experience. If you're not a gamer and don't need four HDMI 2.1 ports, you're paying for features you won't use. And if you're on a tighter budget, the TCL QM6K or Hisense U7 Series offer impressive Mini-LED performance for a fraction of the price. This TV is also overkill if you're just streaming cable news or reality shows. The upscaling is great, but you don't need an 8K AI processor to watch the evening news.

Should you buy the Samsung QN900D? If you want one of the brightest, most feature-packed TVs on the market and you're ready to embrace 8K, the answer is yes. This is a halo product that delivers a genuinely stunning picture, especially with high-quality 4K content. The built-in sound is good enough to skip a soundbar for everyday use, and the gaming features are top-notch. It's a smart home hub, a gaming monitor, and a movie screen all in one impossibly thin package.

But if you mostly watch TV in a dark room and care more about perfect contrast than peak brightness, an OLED from Sony or LG will serve you better for less money. And if you're not planning to keep this TV for at least five years, the 8K resolution is probably overkill right now. The QN900D is a long-term investment for someone who wants the best Samsung has to offer and has a bright room to fill with it. Just shop around and don't pay anywhere near that six-figure price tag some vendors are trying to get away with.