Samsung QN900F vs Blaupunkt UGC5500S

Direct comparison

NeoQLED 8K / QN900F

Available screen sizes: 65”75”85”

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”75”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Tizen

Model year: 2025

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Panel type: LCD IPS

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2025

Complete the survey to find out the result

Overall rating

7.8

5.0

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    7.3

    4.2

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    7.3

    4.1

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    7.4

    4.1

  • Gaming on console

    9.1

    5.4

  • TV as a computer monitor

    8.4

    6.0

  • Watching in bright light

    7.1

    4.0

  • Utility functions

    7.2

    5.1

  • Apps

    9.3

    9.6

  • Sound quality

    8.2

    6.0

Advantages

  • Good blacks

  • Very high brightness - up to 2000 nits in HDR

  • Excellent motion fluidity - 4k@165hz with low motion blur

  • Many features for gamers: VRR, ALLM, Game-bar, low input lag

  • Decent viewing angles

  • High usability efficiency in difficult lighting conditions: Matte screen + high brightness

  • Pleasant and very fast operating system: Tizen

  • Pleasant sound from built-in speakers

  • Google TV system: massive app library

  • Relatively low input lag

  • Good viewing angles: thanks to an IPS panel

  • PC compatibility: excellent font readability (Chroma 4:4:4)

  • Refresh rate: 120 Hz at Full HD resolution

  • Presence of a classic mini-jack output

  • Quite pleasant sound: clear and loud beyond "budget" standard

Disadvantages

No like
  • Local dimming algorithms could have been better refined

  • Missing support for recording from built-in tuners

  • Missing DTS:X (home theatre)

  • Very weak blacks and contrast

  • HDR: low brightness (250 nits) and lack of real effect

  • System fluidity: sluggish performance and "dull" remote

  • Motion: total lack of digital smoothers in the menu

  • Image processing: noticeable overscan and motion artifacts

Our verdict

The Samsung QN900F is a television that can make a huge impression. The greatest strength of this model is the combination of Mini-LED backlighting with a matte panel. This not only provides decent blacks but above all incredible brightness and excellent visibility in any conditions. During the day, in a brightly lit room, it is probably the best-performing television in Samsung's offering this year. Gamers will also find plenty to like here – even though it's an 8K screen, it can run at 165 Hz in 4K. In addition, it comes with a full suite of HDMI 2.1, VRR and ALLM features, and low input lag, so the QN900F is well-suited for both next-gen consoles and PCs. The design also deserves big praise – when mounted on the wall, with its thick metal frame, this model resembles a more luxurious version of the iconic The Frame. Combined with the matte panel and Art Store mode, it can actually be treated as a piece of equipment that not only plays and shines but also decorates the living room.

However, not everything is perfect. Despite its impressive specs, managing local dimming doesn't always perform as well as one might expect. Given the large number of zones, Samsung could improve its control over blacks and HDR effects – it’s clear that the potential is enormous, but this doesn't always translate to top-tier picture quality. Additionally, it’s worth noting that 8K resolution is still more of a novelty than a real necessity, and the price of this model makes it easy to start looking for cheaper alternatives, even within Samsung's own offerings. Despite these reservations, the QN900F is a television that can definitely impress. Its strength lies not in the 8K itself, but in how it presents the picture, how it looks, and the enjoyment it provides when using it.

[UPDATE] We have updated our 2025 Samsung TV reviews following the release of firmware version 1131, which officially restores the essential HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group) support.

Blaupunkt UGC5500S is a textbook example of a very cheap television that has primarily two major advantages: the Google TV system and an extremely low price. It is these two elements that make it an attractive option for many people. During testing, we also found it has another great use, which is working with a computer. Thanks to exemplary font readability and good viewing angles of the IPS panel, Blaupunkt surprisingly performs well as a budget monitor. However, one must be aware that this device is typically budget-oriented, and that savings are reflected in the image quality. The panel is simply dark, making it difficult to perform well in tougher lighting conditions, not to mention creating any real HDR effect. Additionally, despite the good viewing angles, the black levels on this model leave much to be desired – in the evenings, it will tend to appear dark grey, which is a typical characteristic of the IPS technology used here. From a price perspective, this is a device that aims to compete in the market not on image quality, but rather on the amount on the receipt. Blaupunkt UGC5500S is perfectly suited as a secondary television in the home, equipment for the holiday house, or for a less important room, where the image just needs to be there, and we want to enjoy all the benefits and applications that Google TV offers.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (40Gbps)
3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
Other inputs
Toslink (Optical audio), IR (remote)
RCA (Chinch)
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Premium
Average
Stand type
Legs
Legs
Bezel color
Graphite
Graphite
Stand
Height adjustment
Fixed
Flat design
Yes
No
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

7.2/10

2.2/10

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 1056 (24 x 44)

Local dimming function: No

Contrast:

Review Samsung QN900F Contrast and black detail

Result

126,000:1

Review Samsung QN900F Contrast and black detail

Result

41,650:1

Review Samsung QN900F Contrast and black detail

Result

49,800:1

Review Samsung QN900F Contrast and black detail

Result

5,350:1

Review Samsung QN900F Contrast and black detail

Result

2,250:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,000:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,100:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,150:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,100:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,050:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

Check the visibility of bright lights on a dark background. Mini-LEDs often struggle with this. The photo does not compare black levels – that’s what the video below is for.

The video accurately shows differences in contrast and black levels between TVs, as well as potential issues: halo around bright objects or Mini-LED zone operation visible as brightness jumps.

The QN900F is equipped with a VA panel, which in itself provides decent contrast, but that’s not where its greatest strength lies. This is a mini-LED TV, so we have local dimming technology here, allowing selected areas of the image to be dimmed. In the 65-inch variant, we counted as many as 1,056 zones, which resulted in really solid performance. In the best possible scenario, the QN900F achieved a contrast exceeding 100,000:1, which is an absolutely impressive result – at such a moment, the blacks could really resemble those of an OLED. However, it's important to remember that it is not an OLED and has its classic mini-LED quirks. Because the TV must decide which zone to brighten and which to dim, there are moments when the algorithm doesn’t quite know what to do. This was the case, for example, in one of our test scenes, where the QN900F prioritised brightness over the depth of black, resulting in a significant drop in contrast to a level of 2,300:1. Yes, elements on the screen were brighter, but around them was a characteristic glow (halo effect) – the black then resembled more of a navy blue. Generally, the black in the QN900F is really very good – but not quite enough to compare it with TVs that have organic panels.

To put it bluntly: when it comes to black levels, it's just very poor. Our measurements on test patterns only confirmed what we could see with the naked eye – a result around 1000:1 is, these days, even in this price range, a disappointing outcome. In movie conditions, that "black" simply doesn't exist. To avoid being all talk, we fired up one of our favourite test scenes – the helicopter flight in "Sicario 2" (you can actually see it in the video we've linked below). Instead of inky, deep night, we got an image that is... navy blue. Everything on the screen that should be dark and mysterious actually glows a dark blue. This is the price we pay for using an IPS panel. On one hand, we get quite decent viewing angles, so if you're watching TV with the whole family from different angles, the picture doesn't lose much in saturation. On the other hand, if you're planning evening screenings with the lights off, this lack of contrast is going to sting your eyes from the very first minute.

HDR effect quality

6.4/10

3.8/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 90.6%, Bt.2020: 66.0%
DCI P3: 81.8%, Bt.2020: 60.3%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Samsung QN900F Brightness measurement

Result

1200 nit

Review Samsung QN900F Brightness measurement

Result

609 nit

Review Samsung QN900F Brightness measurement

Result

850 nit

Review Samsung QN900F Brightness measurement

Result

214 nit

Review Samsung QN900F Brightness measurement

Result

1415 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

232 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

245 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

255 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

238 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

252 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

The photos show two HDR10 movies. 'Pan' is one of the brightest productions ever made, while 'Billy Lynn' (soldier) has brightness typical of streaming (Netflix, Prime, HBO MAX). Notice the intensity of effects and detail in whites.

Static HDR10

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

HDR luminance chart:

Blaupunkt UGC5500S

Samsung QN900F

QN900F is a seriously bright TV – it can generate nearly 2000 nits, which is a level that remains unattainable for most models on the market. But the ability to achieve such brightness isn’t everything – it also matters whether the TV can make good use of it. And here it’s not always perfect. Our tests on cinematic scenes showed that in scenes like those from Life of Pi or The Meg, the QN900F can really shine – both literally and figuratively. In such moments, its greatest advantage, which is brightness, makes a huge impression. However, in more demanding scenes, things start to get tricky – similar to assessing contrast. When smaller, bright elements appear on the screen, the TV often struggles with the decision of whether to highlight them at the cost of black levels or perhaps maintain deep blacks but tone down the brightness. The result is situations where, for example, in the movie Sicario 2, the brightness dropped to just 200 nits, making details barely visible. The dimming algorithms could definitely be better, considering the class of this television.

We won’t beat around the bush here – if you’re looking for a TV strictly for cinematic HDR experiences, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Unfortunately, the Blaupunkt UGC5500S is not a machine built for such challenges. This is primarily due to its very low brightness, which we measured during our tests. A result of around 250 nits on movie screens speaks for itself. It’s simply too little to even consider any real HDR effect. To be honest, everything displayed in this format can confidently be seen as a somewhat “enhanced” SDR mode. We expected this, as practically every device in this price range falls short in this area, but we feel it’s our duty to warn you. Manufacturers love to brag about HDR compatibility on the boxes, but in reality, this format simply doesn’t exist here – it lacks the “fuel” in the form of brightness.

The situation is further complicated for Blaupunkt, as we’re dealing with a panel that has very basic coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, reaching only about 80%. You won’t find any advanced coatings to expand these capabilities (like quantum dots), which means scenes that are supposed to burst with richly saturated colours appear simply underwhelming on this screen. Therefore, we have a particular piece of advice for you: don’t force HDR mode on this model. If you have the option in the streaming app settings – just turn it off. By sticking to the classic SDR mode, you’ll be sure that the TV won’t try to “enhance” something that it can’t handle hardware-wise.

Factory color reproduction

5/10

4.8/10

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

Testing the QN900F in Filmmaker mode, the distinct characteristics of the image quickly became apparent, despite this mode being designed to reflect the director's vision. The white balance was not perfect – the television had noticeable deficits in blue. This caused the entire scene to take on a warmer tone, as if someone had applied a subtle filter in shades of yellow and orange to the image. In films where bright shots dominate – for example, scenes in the snow or under strong daylight – this gave an impression of a slight warmth that does not always convey the director's intention. The second noticeable element was the management of brightness. The QN900F sometimes brightened the image more than necessary. It looked as if the exposure had been slightly "pushed up," which caused the scene to lose some naturalness. Shadows could be too shallow, and contrast slightly weakened. These are not disqualifying errors, but for a television in this price range, it is clear that the Filmmaker mode has not been perfected one hundred percent. This is particularly noticeable when we compare its image to what was visible after the screen calibration.

We also took a close look at how Blaupunkt handles colours in movie mode, and here the matter is, to put it simply, twofold. We must once again clearly separate what we see in the standard SDR format from what happens when HDR is switched on, as they are two completely different worlds. Let's start with the better side of the coin. If you're planning to watch traditional TV, YouTube, or older films on this television, you can count on really well-tuned colours. In our test sample, the white balance in movie mode performed exceptionally well, which honestly surprised us. Of course, to avoid being too rosy, we noticed some drawbacks. Looking at the gamma charts, we observed that the processor struggles with properly dimming the image in its brightest areas. Additionally, there is quite a strong, at times overly aggressive, red saturation, which resulted in visible errors in reproducing certain shades. Despite this, overall, the image in SDR is simply solid and watchable without a grimace on your face. Unfortunately, the magic fades when we re-enter the world of HDR. Here, Blaupunkt behaves as if we suddenly switched it to store mode, and in its worst rendition. The excess blue in the white balance is so significant that it’s glaring, ruining any realism in the scene. Furthermore, the television interprets brightness very loosely, which, upon analysing the EOTF curve, clearly showed that for most of the time, colours simply appear washed out and lacking depth. This is also perfectly evident in the colour errors that become apparent in this mode. Once again, we are left with the same conclusion: Blaupunkt in SDR mode looks significantly better and more natural than in HDR, which seems to be forcefully added without proper refinement.

Color reproduction after calibration

8.7/10

6.4/10

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

After calibration, we managed to reduce the errors in white balance and adjust them to a level that can be considered acceptable. It's not perfect, but definitely better than the factory settings. Most colour errors now fall within the deltaE 2–3 range, so in practice, they shouldn't be noticeable during everyday viewing. The biggest improvement is evident in how the television handles brightness in SDR content. Shadows and details are no longer flattened, giving the image depth and naturalness. As for 4K HDR materials – colours themselves are no longer an issue, but one can still notice some imperfections in Mini-LED technology. The QN900F tends to excessively dim the smallest bright elements, causing them to sometimes disappear from view. However, it's worth noting that this is a much better solution than boosting the entire screen, which would ruin the contrast. This is more of a characteristic of the technology rather than a typical flaw, but it's worth keeping in mind. The effects of the calibration are really very good.

It may sound like a joke – pulling out professional measuring equipment for a TV that costs around a thousand złoty / 250 dollars, but we wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t check it. The question is: does such cheap gear give us any leeway in terms of calibration? To your surprise, the answer is: yes, absolutely. In the Blaupunkt UGC5500S menu, we found surprisingly many options that allowed us to effectively work on the picture. These aren't just empty sliders; these are concrete tools that enabled us to make use of our measurement sensors and software. In SDR mode, the effects were visible to the naked eye. We successfully eliminated the problem we mentioned earlier – that excessive, almost artificial saturation of reds. We also fixed the issue with the incorrect dimming of the brightest parts of the image. After calibration, the picture in standard format became significantly more balanced and simply correct. When it comes to HDR, the situation was more complicated again. While we managed to “tame” that aggressive blue tint in the white balance, it was clear that we were fighting a bit of a losing battle. Even after changing the settings, the TV still tried to interfere with the picture in its own way, as if the electronics knew better than we did how the scene should look. To top it off, there's the hardware barrier that no slider can overcome – colours in HDR still remain undersaturated. This simply results from the quality of the panel itself; it physically cannot produce the most vivid colours. To summarise this point: if any of you ask whether it’s possible to calibrate a TV for “a grand”, we respond with complete conviction: it is possible.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.3/10

6.4/10

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

The QN900F performs really well in terms of gradation. The tonal transitions are smooth and natural, without clear contours or banding. Interestingly, it is one of the few televisions that handles dark transitions better than bright ones – we only noticed subtle imperfections in strongly illuminated scenes like that from the Kingsman film. In most cases, the image simply looks very good and we have nothing to complain about.

Looking at our test photographs, it’s really hard to pick at anything. Most of the colours in the attached images blend together almost perfectly, creating smooth gradients without noticeable "jaggies". And indeed, in most scenes where we took these shots, it looked surprisingly good. However, the problem arises when we stop analysing still frames and start simply watching the films. In motion, the situation changes dramatically. During dynamic scenes on screen, artefacts begin to pop up, which are a direct result of simply having a poor image processor here. Unfortunately, a static photo can't capture that "tearing" of colours, but you have to take our word for it: what looks clean and smooth in the photo can really stand out and simply irritate during viewing. This is where our rather low rating in this category comes from.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7.5/10

2.5/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
No
No
Smooth transition function
OK
No

Smooth transition function

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video.

Image scaling SD (576i)

The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

If we want to get rid of awkward tonal transitions that can be annoying, for example, while watching YouTube, we can use a feature called noise reduction. It works really effectively – it eliminates issues with colour blending when set to Standard level. However, as with most Samsung TVs, this comes with some compromises. Although we didn't notice this feature having a significant impact on the structure of objects in the image, it unfortunately reacts quite aggressively to film grain. Most people will likely appreciate this effect – the noise is simply removed – but if someone is looking for an image as close as possible to reference settings, we definitely recommend turning this option off.

When it comes to upscaling, or dealing with very low-quality content, the QN900F performs really well. On the test pattern with a model, the image looked clear, with only slight jaggedness that shouldn't bother most viewers. However, it’s worth mentioning one issue – the TV sometimes struggles with so-called overscan, which means older content may be slightly cut off. This can manifest, for example, with disappearing subtitles at the bottom of the screen.

If you're hoping that the processor in this model will magically "fix" the poor quality signal from your cable TV or old movies from YouTube, we must disappoint you. The capabilities of this television end at absolutely basic upscaling, which is simply stretching the image to a higher resolution. It does this correctly in that the image is not blurry, but there is no mention of any intelligent sharpening or adding details. Worse still, Blaupunkt is completely devoid of any functions to reduce unwanted tonal transitions. If the material being viewed shows what is known as banding (ugly "steps" instead of a smooth transition of colours, e.g., in the sky), this television will display them in all their glory. Additionally, the television has a tendency to slightly crop the edges of the image. Instead of displaying 100% of what the source sends, Blaupunkt slightly zooms in on the frame, causing us to lose details that are at the very edges of the screen. In summary: in the category of digital "enhancement" of the image, Blaupunkt simply performs poorly. We receive a raw, unprocessed signal, with all its flaws.

Blur and motion smoothness

7.8/10

3.7/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
165Hz
60Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
No
Blur reduction option
OK
No
BFI function 60Hz
Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
-
BFI function 120Hz
No
-
Brightness drop with BFI
74%
-%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Image flickers in this mode

Blur (4K@165Hz):

Blur ():

There’s really nothing to nitpick here – the QN900F looks great when it comes to motion. Thanks to its 165 Hz panel in 4K, you can confidently say that this TV is suited for both watching sports and gaming. The motion smoother plays a key role here. It works brilliantly – not just with sports broadcasts, where it can eliminate blurring and image judder, but also in games, where animation becomes clearer and more fluid. And of course, if someone likes to experiment with movies – they have that option as well. At lower settings, you can see a slight graininess and a filmic quality, while higher settings introduce a soap opera effect. So everyone can tailor the picture to their preferences, and the TV has the power to handle it.

When it comes to motion fluidity, Blaupunkt has nothing to defend itself with. A 60 Hz panel at this price is standard, so none of us expected a perfectly sharp image in fast action scenes or during a match. However, the biggest drawback of this model is that you won’t find any digital motion smoothers in the menu. The manufacturer hasn’t given us any room for manoeuvre – nothing can be smoothed out or the image adjusted to our personal preferences. The picture is always "raw" and we receive it exactly as it is transmitted by the source. For fans of cinematic "jumping" images, this might be good, but the rest simply has to get used to the lack of any motion enhancement.

Console compatibility and gaming features

9.6/10

3.5/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    No
  • VRR range
    48 - 165Hz
    No
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    No
    No
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    Yes
    No
  • 1080p@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • 1440p@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • 4K@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • Game bar
    Yes
    No

[UPDATE] We have updated our 2025 Samsung TV reviews following the release of firmware version 1131, which officially restores the essential HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group) support.

It's really good here. The QN900F offers a full set of features that we would expect from a top-notch gaming TV – we have VRR, ALLM, Game Bar, as well as cloud gaming apps. However, the biggest standout is its proprietary motion smoother, which also works in games and – importantly – does not add noticeable input lag. This is something we won't find in other competitors. Unfortunately, there is also something concerning. This year, Samsung has clearly messed up something with its TVs. During the testing of the QN900F before its update, it had the HGIG feature, which allowed for perfect adjustment of HDR settings for consoles. However, according to our procedures, we always update the hardware to the latest version – to give the manufacturer a chance to fix any issues. And here… it went the other way.After the update, the HGIG feature disappeared from the menu, making proper configuration of the console for HDR practically impossible. It was supposed to be complete – 165Hz, four HDMI 2.1 ports, a full gaming package… but unfortunately, it turned out to be a little mishap. What a shame.

When it comes to gaming on the Blaupunkt, we weren’t expecting miracles and indeed – the list of features isn’t very long. However, there are two interesting points worth mentioning, as they might be significant for some of you at this price. The first advantage is that the TV quite smoothly detects the connected console. Thanks to the ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) feature, the device knows when you start gaming and automatically switches to low latency mode. This is convenient because you don’t have to fiddle with settings every time to ensure input lag doesn’t spoil the fun. The second point is a real curiosity that surprised us. Despite it being a 60 Hz panel, the Blaupunkt can display a 120 Hz image at Full HD resolution. Sure, we lose 4K details, but for those playing more dynamic, online shooters where smoothness is more important than resolution, this is a really nice and unexpected addition in such an affordable device. Other than these two points, you won’t find anything more here. There are no advanced smoothness enhancement systems for gamers or extensive gaming menu bars. It’s a simple screen for occasional gaming.

Input lag

9.8/10

8.6/10

SDR

1080p60
13 ms
36 ms
1080p120
12 ms
25 ms
2160p60
14 ms
13 ms
2160p120
11 ms

HDR

2160p60
13 ms
12 ms
2160p120
10 ms
4320p60
18 ms

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
2160p120 DV

In terms of input lag, the QN900F presents a class of its own. Regardless of the resolution or refresh rate set – the response time remains instantaneous. It's one of those TVs where it's really hard to feel any delay. Gamers can count on full responsiveness and certainty that every action from the controller will be instantly reflected on the screen. In this category – it's simply the top shelf.

An important point for every gamer is, of course, input lag, which is how quickly the television responds to our movements on the controller. Here, Blaupunkt has something to boast about, although the results are quite specific. At 4K resolution, the lag is only 12 ms. That's an excellent result. With such a lag, gaming is simply phenomenal, and the response is almost instantaneous. However, it's a bit disappointing that the situation changes when switching to 1080p. Here, the input lag increases to around 30 ms. Just to be clear: that's still not a terrible result. For most people, it will be "more than acceptable," and during casual gaming, you probably won't even notice it. Nevertheless, it's a pity that such good parameters couldn't be maintained as we saw with full 4K. Nonetheless, in the overall assessment, as a budget screen for console gaming, Blaupunkt really performs admirably in this regard.

Compatibility with PC

8.4/10

6/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Good
Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Average
Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
18ms
13ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
RGB
Max refresh rate
165Hz
60Hz
G-Sync
Yes
No

The photo shows the legibility of small fonts. Ideally, lines should be the same thickness on both light and dark text, with minimal pixel gaps.

QN900F is an 8K television, so even in a larger size it can be considered a fully-fledged work monitor – of course, provided that someone can actually fit such a colossus on their desk. The device supports chroma 4:4:4, so overall font readability is good, although we noticed some issues with the thinnest lines. This may be due to the fact that at its native 8K resolution, some texts are simply so microscopic that the television isn't necessarily perfectly suited for it. It sounds a bit silly, but how else can you explain it? 😉

On the other hand, the QN900F can be a great choice for PC gamers. It supports G-Sync technology, and at 4K resolution, it offers a refresh rate of up to 165 Hz. So if you have a very powerful computer, the QN900F will allow it to spread its wings and showcase its gaming prowess in full glory.

If you're planning to connect a computer to this television, it's absolutely crucial to find and enable the PC compatibility option in the menu. Once you do this, magic happens – the implementation of Chroma 4:4:4 and font readability jump to an exemplary level. The readability of text is simply excellent here. Of course, our editorial diligence wouldn't let us pass this equipment without taking a look "under the hood." In very specific tests with thin, dark text, we noticed that the horizontal and vertical matrix masks differ slightly in brightness levels. However, we want to reassure you: this phenomenon is so subtle that, during normal use, writing emails or browsing the web, you won't be able to notice it with the naked eye. We maintain our opinion that as a monitor strictly for dynamic gaming on PC, it isn't the ideal choice (as we mentioned in the context of the 60 Hz refresh rate), but if any of you are wondering whether you can comfortably work on such a Blaupunkt – we say: yes, it absolutely can be done.

Viewing angles

5/10

5/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
67%
71%

The viewing angles on the QN900F are pretty decent, but we feel that the "Ultra Viewing Angle" coating that Samsung heavily advertises underperforms compared to last year. Yes – the effect is still much better than most LCD TVs with VA panels, but it's still a fair way off from OLEDs or high-quality IPS panels. The image holds up reasonably well from the side, with colours not fading as quickly as with standard VAs; however, we expected more, especially since previous generations from Samsung have managed to perform better. Perhaps the addition of the matte coating that appeared in this year's 8K series is having an impact on this.

Here it's really very good. Whether we were sitting straight on or on the edge of the couch, the colours didn't lose their saturation. This is a big plus if you're planning to watch matches or movies with a larger group – no one will complain that the picture looks worse for them. Although IPS panels are known for their good viewing angles, in this particular model, when viewed from a sharp angle, the picture noticeably loses brightness. Interestingly, the colour saturation still remains in place, but the screen simply becomes darker. It's not something that disqualifies this television, but it's worth knowing.

Daytime performance

7.1/10

4/10

Panel finish
Matte
Satin
Reflection suppression
Very Good
Decent
Black levels during daytime
Average
Good

Panel brightness

Blaupunkt UGC5500S: 245 cd/m2

Samsung QN900F: 723 cd/m2

One of the new features in 8K from Samsung is the matte display. The Koreans have been gradually "matting" their televisions this year, and it's fair to say that the QN900F is at the very top in this regard – reflections are suppressed better than in any other model on the market. Practically, this means that even in a brightly lit lounge, the image remains clear, and reflections virtually disappear from the screen. Of course, such a coating comes at a cost. Colours lose a bit of intensity, and black in bright light doesn't appear as deep as on glossy screens. But this is more of a detail than a real problem, because after all, the vibrancy of colours and depth of black matter most in the evening, with the lights off – and then this effect completely disappears.

In terms of daytime performance, Blaupunkt is simply average. It all comes down to the low brightness of the panel, which – as we mentioned, hovers around 250 nits. That’s definitely too low for the screen to comfortably "cut through" the strong light coming into the living room. As a result, in bright sunlight, the image loses its clarity and appears somewhat washed out. However, there is one bright spot in this category: the satin coating of the panel. Thanks to this, we don't have to deal with the mirror effect, which often means instead of watching a movie, we're seeing our own couch reflected. The satin nicely diffuses reflections, which somewhat saves the situation. Nevertheless, we can’t cheat physics: while the coating bravely fights against reflections, the low brightness ultimately capitulates in the face of the sun's rays. If you plan to watch something in the middle of the day in a very bright room, prepare yourself for the necessity of drawing the curtains.

Panel details

Backlight Type
Mini-LED QLED
White LED
Software version during testing
T-OSCPFDEUC-0090-1110.7, E2500007, BT-S
RTM9.241015.007
Image processor
m7332 2GB RAM

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review Samsung QN900F TV Panel details
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV Panel details
Review Samsung QN900F TV Panel details
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV Panel details

Samsung QN900F

Blaupunkt UGC5500S

TV features

7.2/10

5.1/10

  • HDMI inputs
    0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 40Gbps
    3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
  • Other inputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), IR (remote)
    RCA (Chinch)
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    No
  • Recording programming
    No
    No
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    Yes
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    No
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    Yes
    No

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    No
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    Yes
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes
Review Samsung QN900F TV features
Review Samsung QN900F TV features
Review Samsung QN900F TV features
Review Samsung QN900F TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features

Television Features

QN900F has a lot to offer. In addition to standard connections and tuners, it also has many television-specific features. There’s teletext, a clear EPG, and even a PiP function, which is quite rare these days. The QN900F easily handles other devices using the included solar remote, which in a sense compensates for the lack of recording from the built-in antenna tuners.

Smart TV

When it comes to smart features, Samsung as usual provides plenty – there’s a large number of applications (though not all), and Tizen on the QN900F ran very smoothly. It’s also hard to find a better television for connecting external devices – AirPlay, Miracast, Chromecast – everything works flawlessly. An interesting feature is the Art Gallery mode, which – like in The Frame – allows you to display images on the screen when it’s off. With quite a thick, massive frame, the effect is really impressive – it looks like a digital painting on the wall and could leave a lasting impression. So, you could call the QN900F extravagantly The Frame Super Extra Pro 😉

In terms of Smart TV functionality, the Blaupunkt UGC5500S is a classic example of a device where the system is both its biggest asset and its greatest flaw. On one hand, we have full Google TV, which is a huge plus at this price point. We gain access to a massive library of apps and basically all the functionality we know from brands using this software. Nothing has been cut out forcefully, which is really refreshing in such an inexpensive TV. Unfortunately, it must be honestly admitted that in the case of Blaupunkt, this system operates quite clumsily. This is a typical issue with low-budget TVs running Google TV – the processor barely keeps up with the software. Navigating through the menu isn’t as smooth as we would like, and the remote can react with noticeable delays, giving the impression of being "dull." Of course, once you launch a specific app and start a movie, everything works steadily, but just browsing through the interface requires a bit of patience.

When it comes to classic TV features, Blaupunkt offers nothing extraordinary. It’s a simple device for basic tasks. The remote is a plus, featuring a traditional numeric keypad, which is just convenient for hopping through cable channels. We also have Bluetooth, so you can easily connect wireless headphones or a speaker. The TV also has a physical mini-jack headphone output. At a time when manufacturers are mass-eliminating this connection, the presence of a "jack" is a nod to those with older audio equipment or simply those who prefer classic wired headphones. It’s a small thing, but it’s appreciated.

Apps

9.3/10

9.6/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
OK
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
OK
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
OK
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link

Playing files from USB

9.1/10

9.3/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
No
Yes
PNG
Yes
Yes
GIF
No
Yes
WebP
No
Yes
TIFF
No
No
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
Yes
12 Mpix
Yes
Yes
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
Yes
24 Mpix
Yes
Yes
28 Mpix
Yes
Yes
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

The built-in media player in the QN900F works really well. During testing, we didn’t notice any major issues with handling various audio and video formats – and you can check this for yourself in our file list. The only puzzle that arose was with the subtitles – we could only get those saved in .txt format to work, even though according to Samsung's information, the TV should support many more extensions. What could be the reason for this? It's hard to say. It’s possible that it’s just a temporary bug that will be fixed in one of the upcoming updates.

In terms of playing files from USB, Blaupunkt performs quite solidly. We tested several of the most popular formats and basically everything that matters worked without any fuss on the factory player. So you're not forced to immediately download additional software right after pulling the TV out of the box, because the equipment is simply self-sufficient ‘out of the box’. Nevertheless, taking advantage of the charms of Google TV, we still recommend installing some external software, like VLC or Kodi. The factory player is adequate, but it's in those external applications where you'll find the most configuration options, better subtitle support, or just a more convenient interface. Since the system gives you that freedom, it's worth taking advantage of it to get as much as you can out of your multimedia.

Sound

8.2/10

6/10

  • Maximum volume
    -
    85dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    No
    No
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    No
    No
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    No
    No

The QN900F performs really nicely – as you’d expect from a premium television. The bass is quite strong but slightly muted. We wouldn’t compare it to top-tier audio systems, but for built-in speakers, it does the job. The high tones also stand out – quite clear and distinct, which is particularly helpful when watching films with a lot of dialogue. Unfortunately, Samsung still doesn’t support the DTS:X format in its televisions. This means that if we want to hear sound recorded in that standard, we need to connect an external home theatre system via an amplifier – the television alone simply won’t play it.

In terms of audio, Blaupunkt performs really well, especially considering it's a typical budget television. You can see, or rather hear, that the brand hasn't forgotten its roots and for such an inexpensive build, the sound is actually superb. Of course, there's a noticeable lack of bass, but overall it's loud, and surprisingly clear. What matters most to us – even at higher volumes, the sound isn't heavily distorted, which is rare and a pleasant surprise at this price point.

Sound Quality Test

No sound test video

Acoustic Measurements

No acoustic data

85dBC (Max)

75dBC