Compare: Samsung Neo QLED QN90D / QN92D vs Sony X85L

Samsung offers two top models with a 4K resolution when it comes to MiniLED technology. In this test, we took a closer look at the not so "fancy" QN95D and QN90D, which we can also find under the name QN92D. Samsung proudly calls its MiniLED televisions the NeoQLED series. Thanks to this technology, the TV offers excellent contrast and high brightness, making movie watching an experience reminiscent of true cinema. During everyday use, the Tizen system performed excellently. It is fast, intuitive, and allows seamless switching between applications. We also appreciated how well the TV handles lower quality materials – traditional TV or older films looked better than we expected, and the advanced image processing algorithms did their job. This is a TV that can really enhance the viewing experience of content that isn't always in high resolution. The solar remote was a pleasant surprise for us. Although minimalist and with a small number of buttons, it turned out to be very practical – it allowed us to control not just the TV, but also other devices, like the decoder (Canal+) or soundbar. This meant we could reduce the number of remotes on the table, which immediately improved usability. Plus, solar charging – a simple idea that eliminates the need for battery replacements and aligns with eco-friendly trends. As for the picture in different conditions, the TV performs well in both bright and dark rooms. The high brightness and numerous dimming zones handle most content, although sometimes in contrasting scenes a halo effect is noticeable. The colours, however, are vibrant and natural, and the QLED coating gives them intensity. For even better results, we decided on calibration – after which the picture looked even more detailed and natural, which only confirmed our belief that QN92/QN90 is an excellent choice. And what about motion on the screen? It is absolutely fluid. The 144 Hz panel does an excellent job with dynamic scenes – fast actions, sports, games – everything looks natural and without blurring. We particularly appreciated the Auto Motion Plus Game feature, which makes games running at 30 frames look smoother, resembling 45 frames, and at 60 Hz, motion becomes even more natural, as if operating at 90 Hz. For gamers, this is a huge plus, especially since low input lag and features like the game bar further enhance the gaming experience. This is a TV that performs well in any situation – from evening screenings to gaming marathons. QN92D is a practical, well-designed TV that offers a picture quality that's really hard to ignore. An ideal choice for those looking for something more than just a regular screen for everyday content.

Sony X85L is a model from 2023 that will continue to be available in the 2024 range from the Japanese manufacturer. Its biggest advantage is the Google TV system. It currently provides the greatest access to applications, so we don’t have to worry about missing any of our favourite apps. The intuitive interface and voice control feature using Google Assistant make daily use of the television convenient and modern. As for picture quality, Sony X85L performs well. Thanks to local dimming (albeit with a very mediocre number of zones), black levels look quite decent. Additionally, its fairly high brightness allows for comfortable TV viewing during the day, even in well-lit rooms. Moreover, the television offers a program recording feature from built-in tuners, which is a great convenience for those wanting to control what and when they watch. In terms of motion smoothness, X85L also does not disappoint. The 120 Hz panel and Motionflow system provide smooth display of dynamic scenes, which will satisfy both movie lovers and sports fans. The television is also equipped with a range of features for gamers, including VRR, Game Bar, and G-Sync support, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. Of course, the television is not without its flaws. The lack of HGiG support and high input lag in Dolby Vision mode may be disappointing for more demanding gamers. Additionally, the compromise between font readability and smoothness of the image when connected to a PC may not appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, Sony X85L is a decent piece of equipment that is particularly worth considering if it can be purchased on sale.

Samsung QN92D is one of the top models of NeoQLED 4K (mini LED) from the Korean manufacturer for 2024. Although it does not offer as many dimming zones as its more refined sibling Samsung QN92D, the number of 504 dimming zones in the 55-inch version is still impressive. The VA panel works well with this solution, providing excellent results in terms of contrast. The contrast in Samsung QN92D is outstanding for a non-OLED television. Even in difficult scenes, like those from the movies "Oblivion" or "Arrival," the contrast is nearly infinite and can compete with the best televisions in the OLED segment, which is quite unusual among LED-lit televisions. However, mini LED diodes have their limitations compared to organic panels, which can lead to some issues. For example, on the last test screen from Pioneer, the television has significant difficulties. This may be due to a very aggressive dimming algorithm, which sometimes causes the mini LED diodes to struggle with what to do – whether to illuminate certain elements or maintain the blacks. Despite these drawbacks, Samsung QN92D is one of the best LCD televisions in terms of contrast and blacks.

The Sony X85L television is equipped with a VA panel, which offers quite decent contrast on its own. Additionally, this model features local dimming technology – in the 55-inch version, it includes 24 zones. Although this number isn’t impressive, it naturally increases with the size of the television. The contrast in the X85L is good, though not the best, especially compared to other televisions also equipped with advanced local dimming technology. Results at a level of 8000:1 are satisfactory, but they average out against the competition. In some cases, such as the third scene from the movie Arrival, the contrast is promising and performs quite well. This is thanks to the very good dimming algorithm that Sony has been using in its televisions for years. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of local dimming zones, the television struggles with noticeable blooming, which can be seen in scenes with the helicopter from the movie Sicario 2.

During synthetic tests, Samsung QN92D showed its incredible capabilities in terms of brightness. The charts clearly indicate that the television can achieve an impressive 2000 nits, giving it a solid power base to compete with the best models on the market. Such a result places it at the forefront, especially in the context of displaying HDR content, where brightness plays a key role. However, what happens when we move the tests to real film scenes? In favourable conditions, such as the first scene from the movie Life of Pi or the last scene, where the image is completely flooded with light, Samsung QN92D can achieve almost laboratory results, impressing with its brightness. The situation looks different when small, bright objects appear on a dark background, as in the fourth scene from the movie Sicario. In such cases, the television doesn't perform as well – brightness drops several times, and maximum values in the best conditions are around 600 NITS. Similar to contrast, these limitations arise from the use of an aggressive local dimming algorithm. This algorithm aims to reduce the 'halo' effect around bright objects on a dark background, but often at the expense of overall brightness. As a result, while the television performs well in bright scenes, its ability to display full brightness is limited when it comes to small, vivid elements.

The Sony X85L TV offers solid HDR performance with a brightness of 750 nits, which is sufficient to enjoy vibrant effects. In scenes of moderate difficulty, such as the first, third, or fifth test scenes, a brightness of around 600 nits allows you to fully experience the HDR effect. Unfortunately, in more demanding segments, like the scene from the film Sicario 2, the TV reveals its limitations. Drops in brightness to 250 nits make the HDR effect lose its impressive quality and resemble ordinary SDR. Nonetheless, it is worth highlighting the very good coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette at 95%, which definitely deserves praise and positively impacts the overall image quality.

The best mode that reproduces colours best on the Samsung QN92D has consistently been the Filmmaker mode for years. While it generally offers decent colour quality, it is not free from significant issues. Let's start with the analysis of HD/SDR image quality. The biggest challenge here is the white balance – the graphs show considerable instability, with a clear dominance of red making the image too warm. This distortion causes hues to be unnaturally shifted towards warmer tones, which can negatively affect the perception of materials with natural colours. Contrast, based on the gamma chart, although not the worst, remains far from ideal, impacting the overall image quality, especially in darker scenes.

This issue also persists with 4K materials, such as series or films of higher quality. In this case, the white balance also turns out to be faulty, with noticeable deficiencies in blue and red colour, leading to tonal shifts. Tests using the Colour Checker tool confirm these problems – all colours tend to skew towards yellow shades, further distorting the natural appearance of the image. Although the Filmmaker mode is one of the best available modes for watching cinematic content, it still requires improvements, especially in terms of colour accuracy and white balance.

The television Sony X85L has been tested in IMAX Enhanced mode, which, while associated with world-class cinema, does not guarantee an image consistent with the director's intent. The main issue is the white balance – there is a noticeable strong dominance of blue and significant deficiencies in red. As a result, the image becomes unnaturally cool and looks artificial. Errors in colour reproduction were confirmed by the Colour Checker test, which showed significant discrepancies – colours were "scattered" like shots from a rifle, and only a few samples hit the target values. This clearly shows that the precision of colour reproduction leaves much to be desired.

The brightness of the image is one of the positive features of the television. The gamma for HD content is at an acceptable level, although minor errors occur, but generally it is quite good. However, the issue remains the brightness characteristic for 4K materials, controlled by the EOTF curve. It is evident here that very small, bright elements of the image are too dim, which is the result of the limited number of backlight zones due to the design of the television.

After calibration, the Filmmaker mode on the Samsung QN92D television shows significant improvement, particularly in the SDR content range. The white balance has been greatly enhanced – the previous colour misalignment and dominance of red have been eliminated, resulting in a more natural colour reproduction. In terms of brightness, although the gamma chart did not require significant adjustments, it has been stabilised, which affects the overall picture quality.

Regarding high-quality materials, the white balance has also improved in this case. However, it is worth noting the contrast. The EOTF curve, which illustrates the values in this area, appears correct at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, the television struggles to maintain appropriate contrast in film materials. The EOTF curve reveals some discrepancies, suggesting that despite the progress, there are still areas that require improvement in this aspect. The television continues to strive for excellence in contrast reproduction. A strength of this television is the saturation of colours. Skin tones are rendered very well, and although some colours may be slightly oversaturated, the overall effect looks really attractive – the colours appear rich and vibrant.

Despite some shortcomings in contrast, after calibration, the Filmmaker mode on the Samsung QN92D offers excellent image quality, with natural colour reproduction, making it a great choice for watching movies.

Thanks to the use of calibration tools offered by Sony X85L, it has been possible to significantly improve the image quality. After calibration, the white balance for HD content is much more stable, making colours look more natural and enhancing the authenticity of the image. Although it's not perfect, these changes allow viewers to enjoy a more realistic representation of colours, eliminating the earlier cool tone. The gamma, which already performed reasonably well, has been adjusted to an even better version. As a result, tonal transitions and brightness are more consistent, positively impacting the depth and detail of the image.

As for 4K content, despite efforts, the white balance still struggles with a lack of red, which can cause overly warm colours in some scenes. Synthetic tests showed that the EOTF curve in HDR is fairly stable, with a slight boost in mid-bright scenes. However, in actual film material, the TV can still be too bright with fine, light details, which is a result of the limitations of large local dimming technology.

Nonetheless, the calibration has brought significant benefits, particularly in terms of colour accuracy, improving overall image quality and providing a more natural and consistent directorial vision.

The fluidity of tonal transitions on the Samsung QN92D TV is excellent, making the image look exceptionally natural, without visible disturbances. In scenes with complex colour gradations, the TV performs brilliantly, providing smooth and uniform transitions. Competing OLED TVs in a similar price range could successfully take a cue from this, as the Samsung QN92D offers quality that places it on par with models equipped with QD-OLED panels.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in Sony X85L is at a good level – the colour gradation is smooth, even in more demanding areas, making the perception of scenes positive and natural. The biggest issues arise in shadow areas, where subtle colour joins can be visible. Despite this, the television performs well enough that most viewers should not notice these minor imperfections.

Let's check how the Samsung QN92D TV performs with tonal transitions in very poor quality materials. The noise reduction feature shows good effectiveness, improving the fluidity of tonal transitions even in difficult conditions. However, it should be noted that, similar to other Samsung TVs, the effectiveness of this feature can lead to the removal of desirable elements, such as film grain, which can sometimes affect the authenticity of the image.

When it comes to digital processing, the Samsung QN92D TV also performs excellently. During tests, the image looked very good, with the model presented in a natural and correct way. Details, such as branches in the background, were reproduced with great precision, highlighting the TV's ability to enhance the quality of low-resolution materials.

In terms of smoothing tonal transitions, the Sony X85L television doesn’t offer any dedicated enhancement options, which is a bit of a downside. On the other hand, the image scaling performs quite well – the television adds a touch of artificial sharpness, which can make details such as tree branches more pronounced, although sometimes with visible jagged edges. This type of effect may appeal to some viewers who prefer a more detailed image.

The Samsung QN92D television is equipped with a 144 Hz panel; however, when watching content using the smoothness feature, the maximum refresh rate is 120 Hz. As a result, both gamers and sports enthusiasts will be satisfied with the picture quality. It’s also worth mentioning the available options for image enhancement, such as the "motion blur and judder reduction" feature, which allows users to adjust smoothness to their individual preferences on a 10-point scale. Motion blur reduction increases the sharpness of fast-moving objects, while judder reduction smooths out motion, eliminating the "stutter" effect. With these advanced settings, one can achieve optimal visual experiences, making the Samsung QN92D perfect for both dynamic scenes and intense gaming.

In terms of motion blur, the television performs really well, and it’s hard to pick faults. The only note we might have is a slight overshoot effect noticeable on dark backgrounds during our test with "Ufoludkiem." Nevertheless, thanks to the advanced smoothness settings, the Samsung QN92D excels in both dynamic scenes and intense gaming.

Sony X85L, equipped with a 120 Hz panel, will meet the expectations of a wide range of users – from sports and gaming fans to movie enthusiasts. Movie lovers will surely appreciate the presence of one of the best motion smoothing systems, known as Motionflow. This system offers adjustment using smoothness and clarity sliders – smoothness is responsible for fluid motion, eliminating the stuttering effect, while clarity enhances the sharpness of fast scenes, reducing blur.

The television Samsung QN92/QN90 is an excellent choice for avid gamers, deserving of the highest recommendations. This model offers practically all the features available on the market in terms of gaming, making gameplay even more exciting. One of the key differentiators is the 120 Hz panel, which ensures exceptional motion smoothness, crucial during dynamic action games. The television also boasts low input lag, guaranteeing instant reactions to player commands. Additionally, technologies such as VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) adjust the refresh rate and automatically switch the television to game mode, translating to even better gaming experiences. Another advantage is the Xbox app, which allows gaming of favourite titles directly on the television, eliminating the need for a console. This is a typical feature of Samsung televisions, making them exceptional in the gaming world.

Auto Motion Plus Game is a feature that really deserves praise for Samsung. It is a motion smoother that works wonderfully in games, creating the impression of a higher frame rate – a 30 frames per second image looks like 45, and 60 Hz becomes close to 90 Hz. Importantly, this feature does not introduce significant lag (input lag does not exceed 25 ms), so it does not negatively affect gameplay comfort, unlike many other smoothers available on the market. This allows gamers to enjoy a much smoother image without compromising responsiveness.

Sony X85L offers a fairly solid set of features for gamers, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. First and foremost, the television has a 120 Hz panel, which translates to smooth and dynamic image display, ideal for both fast-paced action games and more demanding sports titles. It is equipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s, allowing for the full capabilities of next-generation consoles to be utilised. Additionally, Sony X85L supports VRR (variable refresh rate) technology, which helps reduce stuttering and artifacts during gameplay, ensuring a smooth experience. The television also supports G-Sync, which is particularly beneficial for gamers using NVIDIA graphics cards, allowing for screen refresh rate synchronization with GPU performance, eliminating screen tearing. It’s worth mentioning the Game Bar feature, which facilitates quick access to important game-related settings, such as VRR, brightness levels, or display modes, making it convenient and useful during gameplay.

However, there are some limitations. The television does not support HGiG, which may be a downside for some gamers, as HGiG optimises HDR effect rendering in games, providing a more authentic visual experience. Additionally, the Dolby Vision mode, although available, is not practical for gaming due to very high input lag.

The input lag category is crucial for gamers, and the Samsung QN90D performs exceptionally well in this aspect. Input lag values below 13 ms are impressive, meaning that the delay between pressing a button on the controller and the reaction on the screen is minimal. Such a low value allows for smooth and responsive gaming experiences, which will certainly please both casual gamers and professionals for whom every millisecond of reaction time matters. This makes the Samsung QN92D an excellent choice for those who value precision and speed in gameplay.

Generally speaking, the input lag on the Sony X85L is very good, which is crucial for smooth gameplay and quick reactions in games. In standard modes, particularly when using HDMI 2.1 and playing at 4K resolution at 120 Hz, the input lag is minimal.

Unfortunately, the Dolby Vision mode is an exception to this rule. In this case, the input lag reaches as high as 95 ms. Such a high level of latency makes the Dolby Vision mode practically unplayable, as responses to commands are noticeably delayed.

The television stands out with its high performance, supporting chroma 4:4:4 and offering exceptionally low input lag. These features allow users to enjoy fluidity and responsiveness, making it an excellent choice for office work and everyday applications. However, one noticeable drawback is the poor visibility of horizontal lines on dark backgrounds. On the test screen, letters on the right side appear more like vertical lines, which can be frustrating for some users. Nonetheless, the television generally works well with a computer, providing comfort in carrying out daily tasks. It’s also worth mentioning in this paragraph the "Remote PC" feature; thanks to Microsoft’s collaboration with the Korean giant, we can seamlessly pair Windows PCs and use Office 360 apps.

The collaboration of the television Sony X85L with a PC involves a bit of balancing between image quality and user comfort. If we want to use the TV for work, where clear fonts matter, we need to set the refresh rate to 60 Hz. In this mode, text looks good and doesn't strain the eyes, which is crucial if we plan to spend a longer time in front of the screen.

On the other hand, if the TV is intended for gaming, where we can take full advantage of its capabilities at 120 Hz, we must consider that the readability of the fonts noticeably decreases. The image becomes less sharp and the text harder to read, which can be frustrating. In short – Sony X85L works well for occasional connection to the computer, but if we need it daily for work and gaming, this compromise may not appeal to everyone.

In the case of TVs with VA panels, you can usually expect limited viewing angles, however Samsung QN90D surprises in this category. Thanks to the applied coating that widens the viewing angles, the TV offers really good performance, which is rarely seen in devices with this type of panels. Although VA panels are typically not the best in this regard, in this model the image remains clear and saturated even when viewed from the side, making it a great choice for larger rooms and group viewing.

Viewing angles on the Sony X85L, as is often the case with VA panels, are not the best. The picture looks great when you’re watching the TV head-on, but all it takes is a slight shift to the side to notice that the colours lose their vibrancy and the contrast noticeably weakens. This could be a problem if the TV is meant for watching in larger groups, where viewers are seated at different angles. For those who typically watch solo or from one central spot, it won't be a major downside, but the picture quality unfortunately drops when watching from the side.

The television performs well in bright rooms due to its high brightness, especially when watching standard television. A constant brightness level of 600 nits ensures excellent visibility even in intense daylight. Unfortunately, despite the use of a satin finish, handling reflections is average, which can affect viewing comfort. An additional downside is the matrix that improves viewing angles, which causes reflections of sunlight to spread vertically, potentially further reducing viewing comfort in a bright environment.

The performance of the television Sony X85L during the day is quite decent. Its satin screen coating handles light reflection moderately well, which means that in bright rooms there may be some glare, but it is not bothersome enough to significantly interfere. The brightness in SDR mode at 570 nits is sufficient for comfortably watching TV during the day, even with natural light coming in through the windows. This ensures that colours remain vibrant and the picture is clearly visible, making the television suitable for everyday use.

The Samsung QN92D television features a modern Tizen operating system, which offers users an intuitive and visually appealing environment. Tizen ensures smooth and fast navigation through applications, significantly enhancing the comfort of using the television. With an extensive ecosystem, users can easily connect the QN92D to other devices. The television supports many features that make everyday use easier, such as controlling set-top boxes with the remote, eliminating the need for multiple remotes. With AirPlay functionality, Apple device users can effortlessly stream multimedia from their iPhone. Additionally, there is a remote PC feature that allows users to access their computer on a large screen, as well as the Office 365 application, making the QN92D an ideal solution for both work and entertainment.

Furthermore, like many Samsung televisions, the QN92D offers Ambient Mode, which allows users to customise the appearance of the television to blend in with its surroundings. Users can display a variety of images or information, turning the television into an elegant part of the interior decor, even when not in use. Speaking of decor, it’s certainly worth mentioning the device's appearance. It is really very slim, around 2cm at its thickest point, which is impressive. The metal frame definitely gives the impression of a premium device, and the stand included in the box is sturdy.

However, for those using traditional television, the QN92D may prove to be a bit disappointing, as there is no television programme recording function available in the Polish market. Nevertheless, the television offers a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature that allows for simultaneous viewing of two programmes at the same time. The Samsung QN92D is a television with rich functionality that caters to both gaming enthusiasts and multimedia users, and it aesthetically fits into modern interiors.

Sony X85L operates on the Google TV system, which is a significant advantage for many users. The television offers wide access to apps, and using streaming platforms is smooth and user-friendly. The interface is intuitive and easy to master, allowing for quick switching between apps and searching for favourite content. Google TV allows for personalization of the home screen, enabling each user to tailor it to their preferences. Google Assistant further enriches the experience by offering voice control and quick changes to settings or searching for films without using the remote.

In terms of user features, Sony X85L offers many useful options. The television has the capability to record programs, which is a great convenience for those wanting to watch their favourite content at any time. AirPlay support allows seamless streaming of content from Apple devices, which iPhone and iPad owners will appreciate. In addition, with built-in Bluetooth, various devices such as headphones or keyboards can be connected. However, one drawback is the absence of the PiP (picture in picture) function, which may disappoint users who prefer multitasking on the screen.

The design of the Sony X85L TV, while perhaps not the slimmest, is sturdy and elegant. The metal base with adjustable legs is one of its strong points, allowing for the height and width of the television to be adjusted to fit various furniture and spaces. This practical solution enhances the interior and adds a modern character to it.

The built-in player in QN90D should satisfy a large portion of users. It will easily handle most popular video and audio formats. However, more demanding users may notice some shortcomings – it is not possible to play photos in HEIC format, which is popular on Apple devices, as well as several other, less common photo formats.

Sony X85L handles playback of most popular file formats from USB without any issues, which is a big plus for those who often access external content. However, it's worth mentioning a minor drawback – the built-in player does not allow for changing the font colour in subtitles, which may be troublesome for some. Fortunately, thanks to the extensive Google TV system, users have a wide range of options. Alternative media players can be easily installed, offering more personalisation options.

The television is equipped similarly to the QN95 with a speaker system featuring a 4.2.2 layout with a total power of 70W (the exception is the 50' variant with a 2.2 layout and the 43' with a 2.0 layout). Despite its very slim casing, the television sounds loud and clear, and the overall sound is well balanced. Points were deducted as per standard practice for every other Samsung model for the lack of support for the DTS format. It's also worth mentioning the proprietary Q-Symphony feature, which allows you to synchronise the sound of the television with a Samsung soundbar.

The sound on the Sony X85L is good – it's clear across the entire scale, allowing enjoyment of both dialogue and music. The bass, though light, is noticeable and adds some depth to the overall sound. However, it should be emphasised that this is a subjective assessment – some may be satisfied with this sound profile, while others might require additional audio equipment to fully experience the stronger tones and a more spacious sound.

Samsung Neo QLED QN90D / QN92D vs Sony X85L

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound