Compare: Samsung Neo QLED QN95D vs TCL A300W NXTVision

Samsung QN95D instantly impressed us. Right from the start, we felt that the Tizen system is intuitive and quick. Quick access to streaming apps like PrimeVideo, Netflix, or MAX, along with the ability to integrate with the SmartThings ecosystem, makes using the television simply convenient. The solar remote is a clever solution – eco-friendly and practical as it allows control of other devices like a decoder (e.g. Canal+) or a soundbar. While watching movies and series, we quickly noticed the significant difference made by MiniLED technology. Thanks to the precisely functioning backlight zones, the image gained incredible depth – as confirmed by our contrast tests. The blacks are truly deep, and bright scenes using HDR stand out with excellent detail despite the absence of Dolby Vision. Additionally, high brightness combined with an anti-reflective coating enables comfortable viewing even in a sunlit room. When we played on this television, we immediately appreciated the low input lag and smooth image. The 144 Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 support guaranteed dynamic and responsive gameplay, regardless of the game. All these features made every gaming session pure pleasure, especially in dynamic titles where precision and lack of delays matter. In terms of design – worth mentioning for this television – the QN95D looks simply fantastic. The slim body, solid central stand, and Ambient Mode, which allows the screen to blend into the room's decor, lend it elegance. The included camera is an interesting addition that can be useful during video calls or when using interactive apps – like personal training through the Daily+ tab. However, let's be honest, for such an expensive piece of equipment, it wasn't without a few downsides. The lack of a recording function and support for DTS:X audio format may be a problem for users looking for that feature. Nevertheless, the Samsung QN95D is a television that combines exceptional picture quality, functionality, and elegant design. The MiniLED backlight makes a real difference here, especially if we care about deep blacks, high contrast, and excellent brightness. This device is suitable for film screenings, dynamic gameplay, and everyday TV watching.

At first glance, it’s clear that the TCL A300 NXTVision aims to be more than just an ordinary television. It offers a picture display mode that – unlike competitors from Korea, Samsung The Frame – is completely free. Additionally, just like its rivals, extras are included at no charge. In the packaging, alongside the television, we find extra frames that mimic light wood and a flat wall mount, allowing the television to truly resemble a gallery piece. When it comes to everyday use, the standout feature is the Google TV system – comprehensive, fast and offering access to a massive number of apps. And if we feel like stepping out of the digital museum and jumping straight into the gaming world, the A300 can surprise us. With two HDMI 2.1 ports, 144 Hz, VRR, ALLM, and a very low input lag, even demanding gamers can feel at home here. Well... perhaps except for those sensitive to motion blur – as this remains one of the bigger issues with this model. There are also downsides. While the picture mode is free – which is commendable – the actual quality of the available graphics falls noticeably short compared to what Samsung offers in its paid ART Store. The displayed images resemble photos rather than realistic reproductions of artworks. Unfortunately, the A300 – much like the competing Hisense S7NQ – performs poorly here and additionally has some software issues. The brightness of the television itself also leaves much to be desired – it’s the dimmest of the “framed trio,” which translates to average daytime viewing and limited HDR effect. Nevertheless, the TCL A300 NXTVision is a reasonably sensible alternative to Samsung The Frame or S7NQ – especially if we are looking for a cheaper solution without additional charges for access to the “gallery” mode and with an operating system that doesn’t limit us in any way regarding the number of apps. However, it’s important to remember that this is a proposal with a lot of compromises. If we want to save a bit and don’t expect top-notch picture quality, the A300 can hit the visual bullseye. Otherwise, it’s worth looking at its competition.

Samsung QN95D is a television that certainly catches the eye thanks to its use of a VA panel and innovative Mini LED backlighting. This model stands out with an impressive count of 1344 local dimming zones, providing an exceptional level of contrast and depth of black. It's worth noting that the number of backlighting zones can vary depending on the screen size — in larger models, these zones naturally increase, allowing for even better performance in terms of contrast and black levels. Mini LED, with smaller diodes, allows for more precise backlight control, significantly enhancing the quality of the displayed image. The tested 55-inch model excels at reproducing details, and its ability to adjust brightness in different parts of the screen results in a phenomenal visual effect. During our tests, Samsung QN95D on the test pattern from the film "Oblivion" surprised us with results that could compete with OLED televisions, offering nearly reference-level contrast. However, how does the television perform in more challenging conditions? In more demanding scenes, the local dimming algorithm may exhibit certain imperfections. In some cases, small bright elements on a dark background may lose a lot of brightness, which we noticed during tests with the Pioneer Kuro test disc. Additionally, when we take a closer look (e.g., a scene from the film Sicario 2), certain flaws become apparent. The television sometimes struggles with brightness optimisation — in some scenes, it dims elements too much, while in others, it brightens the screen too intensely. These phenomena can be noticeable enough to draw the viewer's attention, especially in demanding night scenes. However, if we do not pay too much attention to the mentioned imperfections, Samsung QN95D proves to be one of the best choices in terms of black depth among displays with MiniLED technology.

TCL A300, also known as NXTVision, uses a VA panel, so from the outset, decent contrast could be expected. On our test screens, the television indeed showed typical results for this type of panel – in the best case, the contrast reached around 5000:1, which is not a bad result for this segment.

However, it should be noted that the model is not equipped with any local dimming technology, which unfortunately is evident in practice. Black, although at times quite deep, often turns into navy blue or grey – especially in darker scenes. In short: for a television without local dimming, it’s not bad, but it shouldn't be compared to models that already have such a feature on board.

Samsung QN95D handles HDR exceptionally well, achieving peak brightness around 2000 nits. In tested movie scenes where the screen is fully illuminated, the TV delivers intense and realistic HDR content reproduction, significantly enhancing the quality of visual experiences. However, similar to the contrast, the dimming algorithm can sometimes exhibit limitations. Despite a significant number of Mini LED zones, the TV won’t amaze users with incredible lighting. For example, in scenes from "Life of Pi," where a bright moon appears against a dark background, and in segments of "Sicario 2," featuring intense lighting effects on a dark backdrop, the TV shows very poor performance. During such moments, the TV attempts to reduce the halo effect by dimming the image to a level reminiscent of SDR quality. This results in deep and uniform blacks, but at the cost of losing some details in bright areas. It’s a compromise aimed at maintaining the best possible black quality, although it does make the image lose some of its dynamism. Despite some flaws in the local dimming algorithm's performance, this TV deserves praise for its wide coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. This is made possible by the use of a quantum dot coating, also known as QLED technology, which allows for vibrant and rich colours.

When it comes to brightness, the TCL A300W is definitely the dimmest TV among all frame-style models, such as Samsung The Frame or Hisense CanvasTV – and unfortunately, you can see that right away. In our measurements, peak luminance reached only around 400 nits, and on test movie screens, this value dropped to 350 nits. That’s definitely too little to feel the real "magic" of bright HDR effects. As a consolation – the TV is equipped with a PFS LED coating (which is something like QLED), which provides very good coverage of a wide colour gamut, both DCI-P3 and BT.2020. In addition, there is full support for all popular HDR formats – HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision – which somewhat compensates for the shortcomings in brightness and helps improve the overall experience of materials in this quality.

In the category of factory colour reproduction, the Samsung QN95D television has been tested in Filmmaker mode, which offers the best settings from the manufacturer. However, it is not entirely free of flaws. For HD content, there is a significant colour discrepancy, particularly in the white balance, where the red colour clearly dominates the graph. The situation improves with 4K HDR content, but there are still significant drops in blue colour reproduction. These effects can be observed in a scene from the film "Star Wars," where the main character is rendered in overly warm tones.

In terms of contrast, the gamma graph shows a large initial spike, indicating that the television effectively highlights the brighter parts of the image. However, at the end of the graph, we notice a significant drop, which may mean that details may be lost in darker tones. This shape of the gamma curve can affect how users perceive dark scenes, where some details may become too blurred or too dark, causing the image to lose clarity. It's also worth noting the curve corresponding to brightness (EOTF), which is quite correct, except for the initial drop.

Although the Samsung QN95D boasts impressive specifications and advanced technologies to earn the title of one of the best televisions on the market, it requires some improvements in colour reproduction and contrast to fully realise its potential.

TCL A300 offers several picture modes, but without a doubt, the movie mode performs the best. Unfortunately, even though it is the best option available, it is not free from errors. Both in HD and HDR content, the image has a noticeably too warm hue – it has a slight pink tint, which is particularly noticeable in snowy scenes. Instead of pure white, we get a pinkish coating that spoils the natural perception of colours.

The management of brightness is also lacking. In the case of older HD materials, the image often seems too dark – confirmed by an elevated gamma value. Conversely, with HDR content, the effect is the opposite – the image is overly bright, as we observed in scenes from the film Pan. Such a lack of consistency also affects colour accuracy – a test with a ColorChecker showed that many samples clearly deviate from reference values.

Fortunately, TCL allows for manual adjustment of settings, so we decided to check how the television would perform after our professional calibration. The effects of this adjustment are described below.

After calibration, the picture on the Samsung QN95D television achieves truly impressive results. The white balance is perfectly balanced, and error readings rarely exceed a value of 2, which means that colours are displayed very accurately. Most samples from the Color Checker test fall within an acceptable error range, confirming that the television reproduces colours excellently. The contrast has also improved significantly, and the gamma curve is more stable, leading to better visibility of details in dark and bright scenes. However, it is worth noting the EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) curve, which shows some discrepancies in film tests. Although the television performs well in most scenes, in more extreme cases, details in black can still be lost - this is due to an aggressive dimming algorithm.

Nevertheless, these minor imperfections do not diminish the overall picture quality. After calibration, the Samsung QN95D delights with its visual quality, offering an exceptional experience that will certainly please anyone looking for a top-of-the-line television.

After our professional calibration, the TCL A300 has literally been given a new lease on life. The image has stopped being too warm, and the colours finally look as they should – as confirmed by the ColorChecker test, where the colour samples finally started hitting their marks, at least to some reasonable degree. It was also possible to partially correct the brightness management – the image is now more balanced and less "wobbly" between different types of content. Of course, certain limitations can't be bypassed – a slightly visible blooming effect still occurs, but that's a characteristic of the technology, not something that can be eliminated even after professional settings.

Generally: after calibration, the A300 looks significantly better and gains a whole new quality.

The smoothness of tonal transitions is one of the strongest aspects of the Samsung QN95D television, which received a very high rating in this category. Such results are rarely found in televisions that offer such high brightness. Thanks to the precise operation of the matrix, tonal transitions are exceptionally smooth and natural. The only noticeable shortcomings may be minor flaws in the black areas; however, they are subtle enough that most users will likely not notice them. This makes the Samsung QN95D an excellent choice for those who value image quality and detail, especially in scenes with complex lighting.

TCL A300 NXTVision is another frame-style television that really manages well with the smoothness of tonal transitions. It's hard to find distinct bands or sharp transitions between shades of one colour – it all looks natural and smooth.

However, it's fair to say that among the three tested models (The Frame and S7NQ), TCL performs the weakest in this category. In darker and lighter scenes, you can notice slight imperfections. Nevertheless, looking at it as a whole, for a television in this range – it really presents itself solidly. It might not be the best of the bunch, but it holds a very good standard.

The Samsung QN95D television handles tonal transitions well, even in lower-quality materials, thanks to the noise reduction feature, which acts like a gentle gradient. This feature is incredibly effective, smoothly rendering the image and eliminating unwanted noise while significantly improving the quality of the displayed content. However, as is often the case, excessive effectiveness can lead to unintended side effects. In some materials, this feature can also blur elements that should remain sharp, such as film grain.

Despite this, the television performs well in terms of image scaling, eliminating larger jaggedness in the picture. In a scene where branches are visible, they are not overly artificially sharpened, which allows for a natural appearance, and the model does not have an artificial outline. Overall, this means that even in more challenging conditions, the film material presents itself satisfactorily on the Samsung QN95D. The only downside when watching HD/SD content (like regular terrestrial television) is that we have a slightly cropped image - this is caused by the so-called overscan, which cannot be turned off.

TCL A300 handles tonal transitions in high-quality films very well, but the question arises – how does it perform with weaker materials? The TV is equipped with a tonal smoothing feature; however, its effectiveness can be described in one word: “random”. In one scene, it may work and improve the gradation, but when turned off… the effect remains the same. There is a lack of consistency and predictability here.

Image scaling is also not one of A300's strong points. On the test pattern, the main character actually looked better than on the raw signal, but with thin lines – like fonts or background details – there was noticeable jaggedness and aliasing. On the plus side, the TV does not cut off the image and has no issues with overscan, but the overall quality of scaling is rather average.

The panel in Samsung QN95 performs very well in terms of motion blur and fluidity. With a refresh rate of 120 Hz and features that reduce blur and jitter, users can adjust the picture settings to their personal preferences, whether for watching films or dynamic sports broadcasts. Users have the ability to customise the motion smoothness on a 10-point scale – from a more frame-like appearance, reminiscent of traditional film, to a smooth, almost theatrical effect that works especially well in sports broadcasts.

TCL A300 is equipped with a 144 Hz panel, which should instantly satisfy virtually everyone - both gamers and sports fans. Motion is fluid and the image is clear even during fast scenes. Additionally, the television offers a motion enhancement feature called "Motion," where we find two sliders on a 10-point scale. These allow you to adjust the effect to your own preferences - from a classic, filmic look with visible frames to a very smooth (though already unnatural) image reminiscent of a soap opera effect. This way, everyone can find a setting that suits them.

Samsung QN95D offers a fair bit of features that gamers will appreciate. First and foremost, the television supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which allows for smoother gameplay by eliminating screen tearing issues, especially during dynamic scenes. There's also the Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which automatically switches the TV to low latency mode when it detects a connected console or computer, providing more responsive control.

Additionally, the QN95D Samsung has a gaming mode that reduces input lag to a very low level, which is crucial in games where reflexes play an important role. With a high refresh rate of 120 Hz, the image is exceptionally smooth, significantly impacting the experience of dynamic action games and sports productions. The television also supports G-Sync and FreeSync technologies, which further enhance gameplay smoothness and improve user comfort. An interesting addition is the 'Game Bar' – a special menu that provides quick access to all game-related settings, allowing easy adjustment of the image and parameters to the user's preferences without the need to pause the gameplay.

Although the Samsung QN95D does not support Dolby Vision – which is quite obvious for Samsung TVs – it does offer the HGiG feature, which ensures appropriate image quality in HDR games, in line with the creators' vision.

The TCL A300 is a television designed not only to transport us to a digital art museum but also into the full-fledged world of gaming. It offers practically everything you can expect from gaming hardware: two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, 144 Hz refresh rate, support for VRR and ALLM.

It also deserves credit for the proper implementation of the HGIG mode – something that competing Hisense sometimes struggles with. The television handles lower resolutions (e.g., Full HD) with ease while maintaining high refresh rates, which will be appreciated by owners of older consoles or PCs.

Additionally, there's an attractive and clear GameBar that facilitates quick access to settings for gamers. The A300 is indeed well-prepared for gaming at the highest level – it’s just a shame that issues with ghosting somewhat detract from its overall appeal as a gaming device.

QN95D Samsung stands out with excellent results in terms of input lag, achieving values below 15 ms. This is an impressive result that is independent of resolution or refresh rate. With such low latency, gamers can enjoy the lightning-fast response of the television to their commands, which is crucial in dynamic games. Whether playing 4K titles at 120 Hz or games at a lower resolution, the QN95D provides exceptional gameplay fluidity and precise motion rendering. This level of responsiveness makes the television an ideal choice for any avid gamer.

In terms of input lag, the TCL A300 performs really well. Values below 10 ms at a refresh rate of 120 Hz are something many gamers dream of – such low lag is practically unnoticeable, both during everyday gaming and in more demanding esports titles. One could nitpick about the result of 23 ms in Dolby Vision mode at 60 frames, but it's still low enough that serious objections are hard to come by. In this category, the A300 truly excels.

In the category of PC collaboration, the Samsung QN95D TV stands out with high performance, offering 4:4:4 chroma support and impressively low input lag. With these features, users can enjoy fluidity and responsiveness, making it an ideal choice for office work or everyday applications. However, one noticeable issue is the poor visibility of horizontal lines on a dark background. On the test board to the right, you can see how the letters resemble vertical lines, which can be somewhat frustrating. Nevertheless, the TV generally provides good collaboration with computers, and users can expect comfortable handling with daily tasks.

If we plan to use the TCL A300 as a computer monitor, we may be pleasantly surprised. The television performs really well in this role. It is equipped with a 144 Hz panel, supports G-Sync, and, as we mentioned, offers very low input lag, so gaming on it with a connected PC is pure enjoyment.

Working with text is also possible, although with some limitations. The TCL A300 has slight issues displaying dark fonts and thin lines – this is due to the construction of the subpixels, which in everyday use can be a bit annoying, even though it looks better in photos than in reality.

The television supports chroma 4:4:4, but only up to 120 Hz. Therefore, we noted that this feature is available, but with a limitation – if we care about perfectly readable fonts, it's worth sticking with the refresh rate of 120 Hz. At 144 Hz, the clarity of the text may suffer somewhat.

In the case of TVs with VA panels, you can usually expect limited viewing angles; however, QN95D Samsung surprises in this category. Thanks to the applied coating that widens the viewing angles, the TV offers truly good performance, which is rarely seen in devices with this type of panels. Although VA panels are not usually the best in this regard, in this model, the image remains clear and vibrant even when viewed from the side, making it a great choice for larger rooms and group viewing.

The viewing angles on the TCL A300 NXTVision are, let’s be honest, average. The TV is equipped with a VA panel, which inherently has quite limited angles, and unfortunately, this is evident here. The video below speaks for itself – even a slight deviation from the centre results in a noticeable drop in contrast and colour saturation. It’s a shame that this is yet another frame-style TV that has done absolutely nothing about it. After all, we don't always have the option to sit perfectly straight on – especially if the device is also meant to serve a decorative function in the living room.

In the category of daytime performance, QN95D Samsung, despite using a glossy panel, may struggle with highly visible reflections on the screen. As seen in the picture on the right, the lamp disperses to the left and right, which is a result of the anti-reflective coating. However, overall this coating performs very well when the television displays any colours outside of black, where reflections become more noticeable. It's worth emphasising that the television achieves very high brightness for SDR material, exceeding 650 nits, which ensures comfortable viewing even in bright rooms.

The TCL A300 NXTVision is equipped with a matte panel very similar to the one found in one of its Chinese competitors – the Hisense S7NQ. This type of surface does quite well in reducing reflections, although it must be admitted that it performs worse than Samsung's The Frame, which offers a significantly higher level in this regard. As is usually the case with matte displays, blacks during the day lose depth and appear more grey than black – and this is no different here. Unfortunately, the fact that the A300 is the darkest TV of the three tested doesn’t help either. This gives it a real problem in breaking through in heavily sunlit rooms.

The Tizen system in Samsung televisions is characterised by its simplicity and speed of operation. The central point of the interface is the "Smart Hub", which allows quick access to the most important apps and recommended content, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. Tizen also supports the Multi View feature, allowing simultaneous viewing of multiple image sources. Integration with AirPlay enables easy content sharing from Apple devices, as well as voice control in Polish. Users can control the television, search for content, and perform other operations using voice commands, which significantly simplifies everyday use of the device. One of the standout features of Samsung QN95D is the included Slim Fit camera, which offers functionality that goes beyond the standards of other models currently on the market. Thanks to the applied "POGO" connection, the camera can be easily connected directly to the television. It provides the opportunity to use video calls and personal training functions using the camera. This innovative approach opens up new possibilities for users in terms of interacting with their television.

It is also worth mentioning the solar remote, which is an eco-friendly solution – it does not require battery replacement as it charges with solar energy. This remote is also universal, allowing control of other devices, such as the Canal+ decoder, without the need for additional remotes. This is a significant convenience that enhances user comfort. Features dedicated to users of traditional television include picture-in-picture (PIP), which allows simultaneous viewing of two programs. However, the lack of a recording feature may be a disappointment for some users, as it could be considered a drawback.

TCL A300 is a television styled as a painting, which in everyday use can successfully pretend to be a work of art hanging on the wall. It is equipped with a special image display mode, additional frames in a light wood tone, and a flat wall mount that allows you to hang the television like a real painting – without any gap from the wall.

A significant advantage of the image mode is that it is completely free. We have access to several dozen works from which we can choose one to be displayed while in standby – instead of a black screen, the image we selected remains on the wall. The quality of graphic reproduction is okay, but it must be admitted that it clearly falls short of that from Samsung's ART Store. Although access to images there is paid, the quality of the scans is significantly better – you can see the texture of the paint, canvas, and details. In the TCL A300, it resembles high-quality photos rather than realistic reproductions of artworks. Additionally, the implementation of the image mode in the system leaves a lot to be desired. For example – if we set the brightness to 10% in image mode, that same value automatically transfers to the regular viewing mode, where we could easily set the brightness to 50% or even 100%. It also works the other way around – when we set the brightness to 100% in regular mode, after switching to gallery mode, the images are displayed with the same maximum brightness, shining too intensely and losing the whole effect of a “picture on the wall.” These are minor but irritating errors that can spoil the experience of what was supposed to be visually subtle and elegant.

Moving on to more classic functions – the A300 runs on the Google TV system, which currently offers by far the largest selection of applications (full list available below). The responsive voice assistant with support for the Polish language also deserves a big plus. As standard – as with most TCL televisions – the USB recording function or picture-in-picture (PiP) mode was missing.

The built-in player in the Samsung QN95D television is undoubtedly one of its stronger points. It handles almost all video and audio file formats we've tested exceptionally well. The exception is the lack of support for Dolby Vision, which aligns with Samsung's policy, as well as for less popular codecs. A big plus is the support for Polish characters in subtitles and the ability to customise font colours, which significantly improves the viewing comfort for content with subtitles. A downside may be the limited support for photo formats – the TV mainly supports JPEG, and lacks support for more advanced formats such as PNG or Apple HEIC.

The built-in player on the TCL A300 works as it should – most popular video and photo files play without any problems. It lacks support for Apple's HEIC format (which is quite common in many TVs), but most users still use AirPlay, so it shouldn't be a major issue. If someone isn't satisfied with the default player, the Google TV system offers plenty of options – you can easily install an alternative app that better suits your tastes. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that the factory solution is completely sufficient for everyday use.

The sound on the Samsung QN95D is at a very good level thanks to the 4.2.2 system with a power of 70W. It delivers clear, crisp audio, and the bass is well balanced, making it suitable for both watching movies and gaming. The Dolby Atmos support adds a spatial effect, allowing for a fuller audio experience. However, it lacks support for DTS, which is a typical feature for Samsung TVs, but may be a downside for those attached to that format. Overall, the sound performs very well and should meet the needs of most users.

When it comes to sound, the TCL A300W – like its competitors – sounds quite... flat, after all, we are talking about a super slim television. For everyday watching of news or series, this level is more than sufficient, but during movie screenings, we might noticeably miss depth and space. On a positive note, it’s worth mentioning that the television supports both Dolby Atmos and the increasingly rare DTS:X – which provides more options when connecting an external audio system. It’s also worth noting that the A300 PRO model is equipped with a dedicated, flat soundbar. And it’s no ordinary soundbar – it sounds better than most of the televisions we’ve tested.

Samsung Neo QLED QN95D vs TCL A300W NXTVision

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