Samsung QN90F / QN92F vs Philips OLED811

Direct comparison

OLED801 / OLED811

Info

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”75”85”98”

Available screen sizes: 48”55”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Tizen

Model year: 2025

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Panel type: WRGB OLED

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Titan OS

Model year: 2026

Complete the survey to find out the result

Overall rating

7.9

8.1

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    7.8

    8.5

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    7.6

    8.7

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    7.1

    8.5

  • Gaming on console

    9.1

    8.9

  • TV as a computer monitor

    8.8

    8.6

  • Watching in bright light

    7.2

    6.0

  • Utility functions

    7.7

    7.9

  • Apps

    9.3

    7.7

  • Sound quality

    7.8

    7.6

Advantages

  • Very good contrast and black levels

  • Amazing HDR brightness in films

  • Very good TV performance during the day thanks to the matte panel and high brightness

  • High motion fluidity – up to 165 Hz in PC mode

  • Low input lag

  • Plenty of features for gamers, including the proprietary gaming smoother Game Motion Plus

  • High susceptibility to picture calibration

  • Smooth Tizen operating system with smart home (IoT) features

  • Pleasant sound with noticeable bass despite the slim design

  • Modern design

  • Three-sided Ambilight, which creates a great atmosphere while watching

  • Perfect blacks and excellent contrast from the OLED panel

  • Powerful HDR effect. Brightness of about 1500 nits

  • Very good viewing angles

  • Excellent motion handling (no motion blur)

  • Supports 4K at 165 Hz

  • Four HDMI 2.1 ports

  • Extensive features for gamers

  • Supports multiple audio/video formats: Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR10+, DTS

Disadvantages

No like
  • Worse viewing angles compared to its predecessor QN90D.

  • No DTS audio for Blu-ray home theatres.

  • Titan OS has a smaller app library than Google TV and most competitors

  • Infrared remote requires pointing at the TV (sometimes responds slowly)

  • Very high input lag in games with Dolby Vision

  • Visible posterisation (mainly in bright scenes)

  • Untapped image processing potential of the Pentonic 800 processor

Our verdict

Samsung QN90F is a television that, in many respects, demonstrates how mature miniLED technology can be developed. It offers excellent contrast and blacks, very high HDR brightness that works well for both movies and games, and a matte screen that makes a significant difference in everyday use. It is this feature that makes the QN90F one of the best televisions for viewing in sunny living rooms – reflections and glare practically disappear, and the image remains sharp and clear. Gamers, on the other hand, receive a package of all the essential features, very low input lag, and a unique Game Motion Plus mode, which remains a strong advantage for Samsung over its competition. Additionally, there’s a fast Tizen system, high-level smart features, and quite pleasant audio that can be expanded with a soundbar via Q-Symphony. However, there are some compromises. Samsung opted to forego the coating that broadens viewing angles – and while the matte screen performs excellently during the day, there is a noticeable drop in brightness and loss of colour intensity at wider angles. Despite these remarks, the QN90F is still one of the best, if not the best, 4K miniLED televisions currently available for purchase. This model combines excellent image specifications, high functionality, and modern design, while being exceptionally practical for everyday use. If someone is looking for a television for a bright living room that can handle movies, sports, and games – it's hard to find a better choice today.

Philips OLED811 is a mid-range OLED for 2026 that stands out from its biggest rivals mainly for one thing: Ambilight. The light that follows the picture and spreads across the wall can change the mood of the whole viewing experience. In the evening the screen seems to extend beyond its frame and watching gains an extra bit of charm. For some it will be a pleasant extra, for others a decisive reason to pick Philips again. The picture itself is very comparable to what models like the LG C6 or Samsung S90H offer when using the same panel type. You get deep, perfect blacks that make bright elements really pop. The OLED811 can deliver strong HDR and, importantly, after calibration the picture is close to the reference. There’s no big advantage over the competition, but there’s also no sense that by choosing Philips for Ambilight you’re sacrificing image quality.

Gamers also get a few solid upgrades over last year’s model. Thanks to the MediaTek Pentonic 800 chipset we finally have four HDMI 2.1 ports, so connecting several devices, for example consoles, a PC and a soundbar, no longer means you have to decide which one gets the full capabilities of the port. Gaming itself is very enjoyable — the TV responds quickly, supports variable refresh rate, and from a PC it allows gaming in 4K at 165 Hz. It’s a pity the new processor’s capabilities haven’t been put to equally good use when processing lower-quality sources. The biggest doubts, however, concern the operating system. Titan OS replaced the popular Google TV and, although it has clearly developed over the past year, it’s still hard to call the change a good one. True, the system runs more smoothly, has more useful features, and its library already includes most popular streaming services. Still, the choice of apps is much smaller than Google’s (or the competition’s), and in our view that remains the OLED811’s biggest drawback. People using less popular services may feel that difference particularly strongly.

Is it worth buying? Yes, if Titan OS meets your needs. In terms of picture and the gaming features, the OLED811 has as much to offer as its rivals, but Ambilight gives it something others don’t. Philips therefore gives and takes a bit. It adds a unique viewing atmosphere but limits freedom of app choice. If the services you use are available, this compromise may be worth accepting.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
Other inputs
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
Good
Stand type
Central
Central
Bezel color
Graphite
Graphite
Stand
Fixed
Swivel
Flat design
Yes
No
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

8/10

10/10

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 504 (14 x 36)

Contrast:

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Contrast and black detail

Result

1,530,000:1

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Contrast and black detail

Result

62,450:1

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Contrast and black detail

Result

186,400:1

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Contrast and black detail

Result

7,400:1

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Contrast and black detail

Result

4,500:1

Review Philips OLED811 Contrast and black detail

Result

∞:1

Review Philips OLED811 Contrast and black detail

Result

∞:1

Review Philips OLED811 Contrast and black detail

Result

∞:1

Review Philips OLED811 Contrast and black detail

Result

∞:1

Review Philips OLED811 Contrast and black detail

Result

∞: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.

If you compare the contrast results of this year’s QN90F with last year’s QN90D, it quickly becomes clear that the differences are minimal. In the best movie scenes, the contrast can reach values well over six digits, and sometimes even seven digits, which can be confidently regarded as results almost infinite. And indeed – in typical cinematic shots, the effect closely resembles that known from OLED televisions. Samsung deserves commendation because, despite the relatively "modest" number of dimming zones – 504 in the 55-inch variant (modest compared to Chinese competitors like Hisense U8Q or TCL C8K/C9K) – it has managed to refine the local dimming algorithms. This is particularly evident in the most challenging scenes, where compared to last year's model, the precision of dimming has nearly doubled. Of course, we still don’t have perfectly separated bright objects from black, and we can’t speak of a lack of halo effects (subtle glows around small bright objects) known from MINI-LED televisions, so QN90F still doesn’t win against OLEDs. But it is definitely approaching them in a more mature and refined way than the year before.

Black levels and contrast are categories where the Philips OLED811 showcases all the advantages of OLED technology. Each pixel emits light independently and can be switched off completely, so black is simply black. No grey halo or blooming around bright objects. During evening viewings this creates a striking effect: stars in the night sky, city lights or text on a dark background remain clearly separated from a perfectly black surround.

So it's hard to expect any improvement over other OLEDs here, because in terms of black depth and contrast the result is already exemplary. The OLED811 doesn't need local dimming zones or a compromise between the brightness of a small object and the black around it. Even a single bright point can sit next to a completely switched-off pixel, giving the image excellent depth.

It's precisely in scenes with a lot of black that the advantage over Mini-LED TVs becomes apparent. Even the most advanced local dimming systems control larger areas of the picture, so in demanding shots they can produce a halo around bright elements or dim them to preserve the dark background. The Philips OLED811 doesn't have that problem.

HDR effect quality

7.4/10

7.6/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 91.1%, Bt.2020: 73.3%
DCI P3: 99.0%, Bt.2020: 74.5%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Brightness measurement

Result

1638 nit

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Brightness measurement

Result

763 nit

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Brightness measurement

Result

1119 nit

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Brightness measurement

Result

562 nit

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F Brightness measurement

Result

1947 nit

Review Philips OLED811 Brightness measurement

Result

1225 nit

Review Philips OLED811 Brightness measurement

Result

1310 nit

Review Philips OLED811 Brightness measurement

Result

1443 nit

Review Philips OLED811 Brightness measurement

Result

1368 nit

Review Philips OLED811 Brightness measurement

Result

626 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).

Dynamic: HDR10+

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

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:

Philips OLED811

Samsung QN90F / QN92F

Luminance of RGB colors

Samsung QN90F can really shine with brightness. In our measurements, it reached even over 2200 nits, which directly translates to the viewing experience. In practice, this means that when a very bright scene appears in a film – for example, a sunrise in The Meg – the screen looks as if natural light is actually shining on us. This isn't just a number from a table, but a real sense of image intensity! However, the TV can't always deliver its full power. With smaller details, such as spotlights or lamps, brightness drops to 500–700 nits. This is a deliberate decision by the algorithms – by doing this, the contrast between large and small elements is better controlled, and the image doesn't lose balance. Importantly, this is still a huge improvement compared to last year's QN90D, where similar details were almost invisible, shining at just 200 nits. Here, the HDR effect is much more cohesive and credible. The only downside is the colours. The coverage of the DCI-P3 spectrum has plateaued at 91%, which can be considered a rather average result in this price range.

Philips OLED811 uses the new generation WOLED EX panels, also found in models like the LG C6 and Samsung S90H. After calibration we measured about 1500 nits, which is a very good result for an OLED TV. You can see that clearly in films and series. Flashes of light have the right punch, especially when they appear on a dark background. In those scenes the OLED811 can deliver really impressive HDR. Of course this doesn't mean you'll see that level of brightness in every shot. When the screen is filled with a large area of white or a wide explosion, brightness falls to around 600 nits. That's still a good result, but such scenes don't have the same impact as small bright elements on a dark background. That's a known limitation of OLEDs and the OLED811 is no exception.

Colours

Aside from HDR brightness, colours also matter and here Philips also performs very well. It covers almost the entire DCI-P3 gamut, which contains most of the colours used in HDR films and series. So you get rich reds and lush greens, and while watching it's hard to fault it in that regard. It looks a bit worse with the much wider BT.2020 gamut — its most saturated shades are already beyond the reach of this panel. There's also the issue of the white subpixel that the WOLED panel uses to help boost brightness. With very bright colours you can see a certain "washout": the colour is bright but loses some of its intensity. It's in exactly these situations that Samsung Display's QD-OLED panels have the advantage. In most films and series, though, this won't be something that immediately jumps out at you.

Factory color reproduction

5/10

7.8/10

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

The colour reproduction in the QN90F was tested in Filmmaker mode and, as is usually the case with Samsung TVs, this mode proves to be the best starting point straight out of the box. However, this does not mean that we are dealing with an image free of flaws. The white balance in SDR and HDR content was surprisingly good – colours didn't drift in any direction and even in its factory settings it looked solid. However, a problem arose with the gamma and EOTF curves, which determine how the TV manages brightness. Here, the QN90F significantly brightened the entire image, causing the black levels and colours to lose their intensity, and the overall effect resembled that of an applied milky filter. Fortunately, Samsung, unlike many competitors in the miniLED world, provides users with plenty of tools to control settings that we won't find in other manufacturers, such as Chinese brands. Therefore, we decided to see if we could squeeze the full potential out of the QN90F because we know that such a high series is capable of much more.

The film mode on the Philips OLED811 is sensibly set up straight out of the box. Most colour errors remain minor in both SDR and HDR, so you can comfortably sit down to watch without adjusting the settings first. There are no large inaccuracies that would immediately distract from the film.

It’s not quite perfect, though. The white balance shows a slight lack of red relative to green, so whites and greys can have a faint greenish tint. It’s not a strong colour cast, but measurements clearly show it. There are also small luminance deviations in SDR: some parts of the image are slightly brightened, and the deepest tones aren’t always reproduced evenly. In HDR the TV stays much closer to the reference, although it occasionally lifts detail from the shadows. These are generally things that can be refined. The factory film mode provides a good starting point, and calibration will reveal how much more you can get out of it.

Color reproduction after calibration

9/10

9.3/10

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 our adjustment of the settings, the QN90F showed what it’s really capable of – and we have to admit, it’s one of the best images we’ve seen on a miniLED screen this year. As we mentioned earlier, the white balance wasn’t a big issue even in the factory settings, but it was only after gamma calibration that we were able to get close to reference values. The same goes for HDR content, where the EOTF curve post-adjustment presents mature and consistent results. Indeed, in some films, you can notice that the smallest elements of the image are slightly brightened, and with a limited number of local dimming zones, there's still a risk of halo effect. However, it’s important to remember that such phenomena are characteristic of all miniLED TVs and it’s difficult to expect miracles even from the QN90F. The most important thing is that after calibration, the television displays an image that confidently competes with many OLED screens available on the market in terms of expressing the director's vision.

After calibration the Philips OLED811 delivers an image very close to the reference. We managed to even out the white balance and remove the slight colour cast visible in the factory settings. ColorChecker errors for SDR and HDR fell to around 1 to 2, with many samples even below 1. That's a level at which differences from the reference are hard to spot with the naked eye. We also improved the gamma, with only a slight lift remaining in the brightest whites. In HDR the EOTF curve also stays close to the reference, although the TV still tends to slightly boost the brightness of small details, such as stars or subtitles. That gives the picture a bit of extra brightness that shouldn't be there, but otherwise it's hard to find fault. It was already good out of the box, and calibration allowed us to iron out most of the remaining issues.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.9/10

7.5/10

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 tonal transitions in the QN90F are at a very good level. Regardless of the scene being tested, it was hard to find clear problems with colour blending or visible banding. Even in demanding segments, such as the scene from the film Green Knight where the actor immerses himself in red water, the image presented itself smoothly and naturally. Indeed, with careful watching, one might notice minor micro-imperfections – for example, in greys or in very bright shots – but they do not affect the overall perception. The TV performs well enough that most viewers won't notice these imperfections.

Compared with Philips' previous OLEDs, the smoothness of tonal transitions has clearly improved. The biggest difference is in the dark parts of the picture, which can cause WOLED panels quite a few problems. On the OLED811 they have been smoothed very well, with tones flowing smoothly from one to the next, without obvious banding or posterisation. That's a big plus, especially when watching dark scenes.

Unfortunately, it isn't as good in brighter shots. That's where we have the biggest reservations: instead of a gentle transition between tones you can sometimes see distinct boundaries, in other words posterisation. It can be noticeable, and it's a pity the improvement seen in dark scenes didn't extend to the brighter areas of the picture to the same degree.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7.5/10

6.8/10

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

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.

QN90F handles upscaling very well. Materials in lower resolutions, even SD, are enhanced to a clear and sharp image, where a lot of background detail can be seen. This is a big advantage, as the TV makes older content or everyday television look significantly better than on most budget screens. However, the issue of overscan remains, which is the cropping of the screen edges that cannot be turned off on Samsungs. This can cause some subtitles on the screen to disappear or Auntie's face from the wedding on a VHS tape to be slightly cropped. 😉

The digital image processing also performs well. In the menu, we find a feature called "noise reduction," which can smooth tonal transitions and improve the viewing of lower quality materials, such as those from YouTube. In the medium setting, the effect is most beneficial – it doesn't heavily interfere with details while simultaneously eliminating the problem of "banding" in colours. However, it's worth noting that the feature can be quite aggressive and removes natural film grain in older movies, so it's best to use it sparingly.

The OLED811 handles processing lower-quality material reasonably well, though it's far from perfect. The "Banding reduction" function helps smooth tonal transitions and on the low setting gives a pretty good effect. It doesn't remove banding between shades as effectively as similar solutions from some competitors, but at least it doesn't introduce new artefacts. It's a sensible setting for everyday viewing. Still, there's a bit of a letdown, because the MediaTek Pentonic 800 chipset used here can, in other manufacturers' hands, deal with the effects of heavy compression more effectively even at similarly low settings. A lot therefore depends on how a given manufacturer uses its capabilities.

We have a few more comments about the upscaling to 4K. There's plenty of detail, but overall the image looks rather soft. Edges are heavily smoothed, so the picture lacks some sharpness and clarity. You can partially correct this with the sharpness slider in the menu, though that will be extra edge enhancement rather than recovering detail. On the plus side, there's no overscan, and even with an SD signal the TV doesn't crop the edges of the picture.

Blur and motion smoothness

7.5/10

8.5/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
165Hz
165Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
OK
OK
BFI function 60Hz
Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
No
BFI function 120Hz
No
No
Brightness drop with BFI
72%
-%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Image flickers in this mode

Blur (4K@165Hz):

Blur (4K@165Hz ):

QN90F has been equipped with a panel that has a maximum refresh rate of 165 Hz, and while this advantage will mainly be appreciated by PC gamers, it’s still worth highlighting. In movies or sports broadcasts, we are limited to the classic 120 Hz, but this is not a cause for concern. In practice, the additional motion smoother is more significant here. Thanks to the "Motion Clarity" setting, we can adjust the picture to our own preferences. The blur reduction option is responsible for fluidity and ghosting in sports. Meanwhile, the "judder reduction" function improves motion fluidity in productions recorded at 24 frames, namely films and series. If we set it high, the film looks smoother and more fluid than it was actually shot. Lower values, on the other hand, preserve its cinematic "rawness" with the visible film frame.

In terms of motion handling the OLED811 performs superbly. At 120 Hz, which is useful for console gaming and watching sport, the image remains clear and moving objects don't leave noticeable trails. The OLED's fast pixel response helps here. You can see it clearly in the UFO test, even on a dark background. There are also controls for motion smoothing. In movies you can adjust the strength of smoothing to your taste, from preserving a cinematic feel to much smoother motion. A separate blur-reduction control is useful for fast-paced content like live sports broadcasts.

Console compatibility and gaming features

9.6/10

9.5/10

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

QN90F has almost everything to become the perfect TV for gamers. Things like four HDMI ports, VRR, ALLM, or refresh rates reaching up to 165 Hz need no reminder. The Game Motion Plus mode deserves a big thumbs up, which is the proprietary motion smoothing technology for games. With it, you can add a few 'artificial' frames and make the image generated from the console look smoother than it should. This is a very unique solution in the world of TVs – competing systems usually do not offer this – and that's why Samsung has had a strong selling point among gamers for years, even despite the lack of support for the still niche Dolby Vision in games.

[UPDATE] We have updated our tests of Samsung TVs from the 2025 range due to the release of firmware version 1131, which restored the crucial HGiG feature for gamers.

So why do we refer to it as an 'almost' perfect screen? Unfortunately, just like in recent Samsung models, we've noticed a problem with the lack of HGiG functionality. This is a solution that allows the TV to leave control over tone mapping to the console, so that games look exactly as the creators intended. Worse still, this feature was previously present and disappeared after software updates. Instead of minor fixes, we got a step backward. It's a shame, because if it weren't for this lack, the QN90F could have been a truly ideal choice for gamers in the miniLED category.

The OLED811 has almost everything you’d expect from a TV for gaming. It supports 120 Hz at Full HD, 1440p and 4K, and when connected to a PC it can reach up to 165 Hz. It also offers VRR to help avoid screen tearing when frame rates fluctuate, and ALLM, which automatically switches to game mode. So you don’t have to go into the settings every time you start your console.

Another plus is the properly working HGiG, which ensures that once HDR is set on the console the TV doesn’t apply its own changes to image brightness. The Game Bar is also available, letting you check signal parameters and quickly change settings useful while gaming. The list even includes Dolby Vision for games, but there’s a significant catch here, which you’ll read about below.

Input lag

9.6/10

8.8/10

SDR

1080p60
18 ms
14 ms
1080p120
12 ms
5 ms
2160p60
18 ms
14 ms
2160p120
12 ms
5 ms

HDR

2160p60
17 ms
14 ms
2160p120
11 ms
5 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
157 ms
2160p120 DV
57 ms

Input lag on the QN90F is very low. For 120 Hz content, it measures around 10–12 ms, and at 60 Hz it drops below 20 ms. These are values that can confidently be called exemplary. The slightly higher input lag – by 1–2 ms – is due to the fact that the lowest latencies, below 10 ms, are reserved for the 165 Hz mode. Regardless of resolution or refresh rate, you can count on the QN90F always responding quickly and responsively to our movements on the controller or keyboard and mouse.

OLED811 responds instantly. We measured 14 ms at 60 Hz and just 5 ms at 120 Hz, both in Full HD and 4K. Those are excellent results that let you comfortably play even fast online multiplayer games. Unfortunately, when Dolby Vision is enabled the situation changes dramatically: at 60 Hz latency rises to 157 ms, and at 120 Hz it’s 57 ms. The first result in particular already causes a clearly noticeable lag between a movement on the controller and the response on screen. For gaming it’s definitely better to stick with HDR10.

Compatibility with PC

8.8/10

8.6/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Very Good
Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Good
Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
12ms
5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
RGWB
Max refresh rate
165Hz
165Hz
G-Sync
Yes
Yes

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.

Collaboration with a PC is another strong point of the QN90F. It’s a screen that performs well for both work and gaming. This makes sense especially in smaller sizes, e.g., 43 inches, where the television can easily fit on a desk. The 165 Hz mode, primarily intended for PC gamers, supports technologies like G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, so gameplay is smooth and very responsive. Office work performs equally well – the readability of fonts is high thanks to proper chroma handling. However, we noticed that switching the refresh rate from 165 Hz to 120 Hz further improves the readability of very dark text and thin lines. Therefore, if someone wants to use the QN90F as a work monitor, it's worth considering the 120 Hz mode.

The Philips OLED811 works very well with a PC. The manufacturer has finally managed to correctly implement 4:4:4 chroma, even at maximum resolution and refresh rate. As a result, small text and coloured edges are readable, without the blurring or rainbow fringing that comes from loss of colour information. Dark text on dark backgrounds also holds up well, which TVs can struggle with. There are still minor imperfections related to the RGWB subpixel layout. Fonts are not as sharp as on a classic RGB monitor, and with white letters you can see faint red halos up close. From a normal viewing distance you barely notice it, though it’s easier to spot when sitting close at a desk.

Where it really shines is gaming from a PC. The combination of 4K at 165 Hz, working G-Sync and input lag around 5 ms makes the OLED811 excellent for that. If you have a computer that can take advantage of that refresh rate, it’s definitely worth plugging it into the Philips.

Viewing angles

3.3/10

7.8/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
70%
32%

The viewing angles on the QN90F are rather average and typical for LCD screens with a VA panel. It’s a bit of a shame that Samsung opted out of additional coatings to widen the viewing angles in this model – probably at the cost of using a matte panel. The effect is that at larger angles off centre, the drop in brightness is quite significant, and the colours lose their intensity. This is a compromise that one has to consider when choosing a screen with a classic VA panel.

The viewing angles on the OLED811 are excellent and among the best on the market. Even when sitting well off to the side you still see an image with deep blacks and well-saturated colours. That's a big advantage over LCD screens. You don't have to sit exactly in front to enjoy good picture quality.

QD-OLED panels perform even better, keeping colours more faithful at off-axis angles. On the Philips, at wider off-axis angles the whites shift slightly towards greenish tones, but the effect is so small that it's hard to find it bothersome while watching. We'd even say that in this respect this is the best WOLED panel sample we've tested so far.

Daytime performance

7.2/10

6/10

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

Panel brightness

Philips OLED811: 392 cd/m2

Samsung QN90F / QN92F: 665 cd/m2

QN90F is the first Neo QLED 4K with a matte display, and it must be said that this change is noticeable straight away. During the day, the screen behaves completely differently than typical LCD TVs – reflections are heavily suppressed, glare nearly disappears, so there’s no need to constantly cover windows or reconfigure furniture. Colours in a bright room appear natural, though their intensity can slightly drop with very strong lighting. However, this is not something that ruins the viewing experience – rather a small price to pay for comfortable viewing in the sunlight. Additionally, the average SDR brightness is around 700 nits, which means the TV can easily "cut through" in very sunny living rooms. It’s hard to give a better recommendation: if someone is looking for a miniLED 4K TV that can handle a brightly lit living room, the QN90F is one of the safest choices.

OLED811 copes with daytime viewing, although in a very bright living room it already has its limits. Peak brightness in SDR reaches about 600 nits, a level comparable with the LG C6 or Samsung S90H, which use the same panel. That’s noticeably more than basic OLEDs and will be plenty for most people. Bear in mind, though, that this brightness isn’t maintained across the whole screen — it falls with a lot of white, and the average from our measurements was around 392 nits.

A bigger issue can be direct reflections from windows or lamps. The glossy coating dampens them reasonably well, but they’re still clearly visible on the screen, especially in dark scenes. It doesn’t diffuse reflections as effectively as matte screens, so placing the TV opposite a large window isn’t the best idea. On the plus side, black levels remain very good even in daylight. In a typical living room the Philips will therefore perform without major problems, but with strong sunlight falling directly on the screen you’ll want blinds.

Panel details

Backlight Type
Mini-LED QLED
WRGB OLED
Software version during testing
T-RSMFDEUC-0090-1126.0, E2540300, BT-S
TPM267E_V167.002.054.151
Image processor

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F TV Panel details
Review Philips OLED811 TV Panel details

Samsung QN90F / QN92F

Philips OLED811

TV features

7.7/10

7.9/10

  • System
    Tizen
    Titan OS
  • System performance
    Very good
    Good
  • HDMI inputs
    0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
    0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
  • 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
    No
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    Yes
  • Teletext
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    Yes
    Yes

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    Yes
  • 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 QN90F / QN92F TV features
Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F TV features
Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F TV features
Review Samsung QN90F / QN92F TV features
Review Philips OLED811 TV features
Review Philips OLED811 TV features
Review Philips OLED811 TV features
Review Philips OLED811 TV features

Sound connection options

  • HDMI audio
    eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Other audio outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio)
    Toslink (Optical audio), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
  • Wireless audio
    Bluetooth, Samsung Q-Symphony (Speaker extension)
    Bluetooth, Samsung Q-Symphony (Speaker extension)

Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):

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

Senior accessibility

  • Numeric keyboard on TV
    No
    Yes
  • Font size adjustment
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio description
    Yes
    Yes

Smart TV Features: Tizen

Samsung has been developing its Tizen system for years, and in the QN90F, it shows that it has reached a point where it's really hard to nitpick. The system runs smoothly, responds quickly to commands, and doesn't struggle with more demanding applications. If someone uses an iPhone – there's AirPlay and screen mirroring. If someone has an Android phone – there won’t be any problems either. Additionally, there's a voice assistant that understands commands in several languages, including Polish, so you can play a movie or change the channel without reaching for the remote. An interesting feature is the integration with Microsoft's Coopilot and AI functions, but SmartThings proves to be much more practical – thanks to it, the TV can become the centre of the home ecosystem, connecting not only Samsung devices but also, for example, Philips Hue bulbs.

Classic Features

The QN90F can also serve as a regular television. While we can forget about USB recording, we do get PIP mode, which is picture-in-picture – a function that's rarely seen these days. With it, you can follow a match and a series simultaneously, which can save the evening in many households. Also, there's a clear EPG guide and a small remote that charges with light (so no batteries are needed) and can take control of the decoder, soundbar, or even a console. It may not be the most advanced on the market, but it proves to be simply convenient in everyday use.

Smart features — Titan OS

The Smart TV system is the most controversial change in the OLED811. Philips has dropped the user-favourite Google TV in favour of its own Titan OS. For many people this may be a hard decision to accept, although Titan is getting noticeably better year on year and runs more smoothly. We have working AirPlay, screen mirroring from a computer and voice search in Polish. System responsiveness has improved too, though you can still notice small delays when navigating the menus. We have the impression the IR remote is partly to blame, as it doesn’t always pick up commands immediately. The biggest limitation compared with Google TV is the smaller selection of apps. That doesn’t mean it’s empty, however — you’ll find Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, CANAL+, and Apple TV has recently joined the library. If you mainly use popular services, Titan should be fine, but it’s worth checking availability of less well-known apps before buying (see the list at the bottom 😉).

Ambilight

Ambilight remains one of the best reasons to consider a Philips TV. On the OLED811 it’s three-sided — LEDs along the top and sides of the casing light the wall with colours matched to what’s happening on screen. In the evening this creates a great effect and can change the whole room’s atmosphere, so we awarded extra points for this feature. You don’t have to use the dynamic picture tracking though. If you prefer a calmer viewing environment you can set a static white light. It’s a pleasant option for evening sessions when you don’t want to sit in front of a bright screen in a completely dark room.

Classic features

For regular TV viewing the OLED811 performs well, though it lacks USB recording and picture-in-picture (PiP). You can connect Bluetooth headphones and use them alongside the TV’s speakers. What bothers us most, however, is the infrared control mentioned earlier. The remote itself is quite interestingly designed: it’s backlit and has a hybrid keyboard with a numeric section. It’s a shame you still have to point it at the TV like with old sets. With equipment at this level we’d prefer to just press buttons without worrying which way we’re holding the remote. Hopefully Philips will fix that in future models.

Apps

9.3/10

7.7/10

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
No
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
No
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
No
GeForce NOW
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link

Playing files from USB

9.1/10

8.6/10

Supported photo formats:

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

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
No
6 Mpix
Yes
No
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
No
12 Mpix
Yes
No
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
No
24 Mpix
Yes
No
28 Mpix
Yes
No
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

The built-in media player on the QN90F performs quite well. It supports most popular audio and video formats and can also easily play graphic files such as JPEG and PNG. The problem arises with HEIC files – a kind of high-quality photo standard used in iPhones. In theory, the television should support them, as they are listed among the compatible formats, but in practice, trying to open a HEIC file can freeze the entire system and force a power reset. It’s a bit of an odd situation and another small glitch that shouldn't happen in equipment of this caliber. On the other hand, one can be very pleased as it supports most popular audio and video formats.

The USB player in the OLED811 handles most of the audio and video formats we test, so it's perfectly adequate for watching a movie or playing music from a USB stick. Our main reservations are about photos, specifically the strangely selective handling of their resolutions. The TV opened 8, 16 and 32 Mpix files, but couldn't cope with the rest. So it's not that the photos are simply too large, because the player can display a higher-resolution image and refuse to open a smaller one. When browsing holiday photos this can be genuinely annoying, as some will need to be converted on a computer first... or you could just use remote screen mirroring...😉

Sound

7.8/10

7.6/10

  • Maximum volume
    86dB
    93dB
  • 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
    Yes
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    No
    Yes

QN90F plays really well. Despite the sleek design of the television, you can sense a slight bass that adds depth to the sound. The speaker system operates in a 4.2.2 configuration and offers a total power of 60 W – for built-in speakers, that's a truly solid result. Moreover, with materials that support Dolby Atmos, one can experience a subtle spatial effect, which works quite well for everyday viewing. Of course, with equipment of this class, it's hard not to recommend an additional soundbar. It's best to opt for one that supports Q-Symphony technology – thanks to it, the television and soundbar play simultaneously, creating a fuller and definitely more cinematic effect.

There have been a few concrete changes to the sound compared with last year’s OLED820. The rear subwoofer is gone and the 4.1 speaker layout has been replaced by a 2.2 configuration. Despite these changes the OLED811 still sounds good and fairly even. It can play louder, and the sound even seems a touch fuller than a year ago. The bass has suffered; although the sound has weight, the low end lacks the depth of its predecessor. You can hear this most clearly in films and music when you’re waiting for a stronger hit. That said, it’s still well above average for built-in TV speakers. If you want deeper bass and more distinct spatial effects, it’s worth considering a soundbar or a system with an AV receiver. Philips gives you plenty of flexibility: it supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS, and will pass Dolby TrueHD tracks over HDMI eARC to compatible equipment without any problems. So there’s room to upgrade later if you decide to expand the sound system.

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements

86dBC (Max)

75dBC

93dBC (Max)

75dBC

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