Samsung M80H Review

Item: Samsung M80H
Rating: 6.9

M80H / M86H

Available screen sizes:

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This TV was tested by:

Maciej Koper

Paweł Koper

Michał Wołoszyn

Last updated:

9/2/2026 05:53 PM

This review is an English translation of the Polish original. Read the original on Wybierz.tv.

Samsung M80H is the top model in the manufacturer's new budget Mini-LED TV range for 2026. The model name alone suggests, however, that it's not a successor to the well-known Neo QLED models but an attempt to bring Mini-LED backlighting to a noticeably cheaper part of the lineup. The question is how much of the capabilities of the pricier designs have been retained here, and whether this is truly the Mini-LED TV we’ve known until now.

SAMSUNG M80H - Our verdict

6.9

Overall rating

The M80H shows its strengths best where motion matters most. A fast panel, a refresh rate up to 144 Hz and relatively low motion blur make sports and fast-paced games look really good. In this respect the TV can even outperform some significantly more expensive Samsung LCD models. Gamers also get low input lag, three full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports and Game Motion Plus, which can improve the smoothness of games running at 30 or 60 fps. When connected to a PC you can also use a 240 Hz refresh rate, though only at Full HD. A notable advantage of the M80H is its NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, until recently used in higher-tier Samsung ranges. It handles lower-resolution content well and can improve the look of weak sports broadcasts or heavily compressed recordings. The additional picture-enhancing features do produce a noticeable effect, though at higher settings they become too aggressive and start to interfere with a natural image. Still, they’re worth noting as a plus, because in the cheapest TVs similar solutions often have much less impact. The biggest reservations concern calling the M80H a Mini-LED TV. It lacks local dimming, the feature that usually accounts for the main advantage of the technology. A brightness level of around 350 nits also doesn’t allow for particularly impressive HDR. In terms of picture quality the M80H is therefore much closer to basic LCD TVs than to more advanced Neo QLED models like the QN80H. That doesn’t mean films look bad on it. The VA panel provides decent contrast, and the PFS filter delivers attractive, saturated colours. You should be aware, however, that the lack of local dimming noticeably limits the TV’s picture quality potential. So the M80H isn’t a model that demonstrates the full potential of Mini-LED backlighting. It will suit gamers or sports fans much better, for whom panel speed, low input lag and extensive gaming features are the priorities. If its price stays clearly lower than models equipped with local dimming, that compromise could be a sensible choice for that group of users.

Advantages

Three HDMI 2.1 ports with VRR and ALLM support
Dedicated motion enhancer for gamers - Game Motion Plus
Low input lag
High refresh rates: 4K 144 Hz and Full HD 240 Hz
Decent contrast thanks to a VA panel
Relatively low smearing for a VA panel
Vibrant colours thanks to the PFS filter (a different QLED 😉)
Good digital image processing for its class
Fast Tizen system with a large selection of apps

Disadvantages

No local dimming despite being labelled Mini-LED!
Low brightness: 350 nits
No support for Dolby Vision and DTS:X formats
No Toslink optical audio output

Movies and series in UHD quality

6.5
Classic TV, YouTube

6.6
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

6.7
Gaming on console

8.8
TV as a computer monitor

8.9
Watching in bright light

5.0
Utility functions

7.3
Apps

9.3
Sound quality

6.0

SAMSUNG M80H - Competing TVs in this price range

7.0

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SAMSUNG M80H - TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 3 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps

Build quality: Average

Stand type: Legs

Bezel color: Graphite

Review Samsung M80H Appearance of the TV

Stand: Fixed

Flat design: No

Accessories: Stand

The M80H is a mid-range TV and you can see that in its build quality. From the front it looks fine, with slim bezels on three sides and the classic thicker strip along the bottom edge. There’s nothing here that particularly grabs your attention. The more budget-oriented nature of the design is most obvious at the back. The M80H isn’t as slim as Samsung’s pricier TVs, and its shape strongly resembles last year’s Crystal UHD models and the cheapest QLEDs. The distinctive rear bulge also means the screen won’t sit very close to the wall when mounted. It comes with simple plastic feet that can’t be adjusted for width or height. Overall the build is okay, but the M80H isn’t a premium product. It’s just a properly made TV. That’s it.

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SAMSUNG M80H - Contrast and black detail

Viewing mode Game mode

6.3/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Local dimming function: No

Review Samsung M80H Contrast and black detail

Result

5,950:1

Result

7,150:1

Result

8,150:1

Result

7,850:1

Result

5,550:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

Samsung M80H is an LCD TV that, according to the manufacturer, uses Mini-LED backlighting. They may indeed have used smaller LEDs placed directly behind the screen, but it’s not the same kind of Mini-LED found in pricier TVs. The M80H doesn’t have local dimming, so the backlight can’t independently control the brightness of different parts of the image. Blacks are quite respectable, mainly thanks to the VA panel used. Depending on the scene, we measured contrast of about 5500:1 to over 8000:1. For a TV without local dimming these are good results, and it’s exactly in such designs that VA panels have a considerable advantage over IPS/ADS panels. It’s worth noting that some results exceed the native contrast of the panel itself, which is around 5000:1. Samsung has implemented a global dimming feature. When there’s a lot of black on the screen, the TV dims the entire backlight, making dark areas appear deeper. However, this comes at the expense of the brightness of other image elements. So the M80H won’t strongly boost a small bright spot while keeping deep blacks around it; it dims or brightens the whole screen.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

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.

SAMSUNG M80H - HDR effect quality

Viewing mode Game mode

4.7/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Samsung M80H Brightness measurement

Result

288 nit

Result

340 nit

Result

349 nit

Result

345 nit

Result

364 nit

The M80H is not one of the brightest TVs. Its peak brightness is around 350 nits, and we saw similar results across most of our test scenes. That's not enough to achieve truly striking HDR, as bright highlights lack punch and the overall image is a little too dim. In practice, HDR on the M80H feels more like well-presented SDR than noticeably more dynamic material with a wide brightness range. The picture can still look fine, but it's hard to point to strong highlights, clearly bright light sources, or an effect that immediately sets HDR apart from ordinary content.

Colours

One of the M80H's stronger points is its colours. The TV uses a PFS filter in the backlight, which lets it display a much wider colour gamut than a standard LCD without filters. Our measurements confirm this – the M80H covers about 96% of the DCI-P3 gamut and 72% of BT.2020. Those are very good results, which allow colours to be richly saturated. Samsung's positioning here is interesting. The M80H isn't part of the QLED family, even though in terms of colour it is practically on par with models carrying that badge. From an image quality point of view that doesn't make much difference – the colours are simply good.

BT.2020 color gamut coverage and primary color luminance

Data set	BT.2020	P3	R	G	B
Synthetic patterns	72.3%	96.2%	52%	56%	62%
Film measurements	72.3%	96.2%	52%	55%	61%

BT.2020 and P3 – average color gamut coverage (percent of the target gamut).

R, G, B – average primary color luminance relative to target (percent).

Synthetic data Film – large field Film – small field

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

Review Samsung M80H section HDR effect quality, scene “Pan”

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

Review Samsung M80H section HDR effect quality, scene “Billy Lynn”

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.

With material mastered to 1000 nits, the M80H copes quite well. The image is slightly brightened, but still looks decent. The very brightest elements fare a little worse. In the fireworks scene from Billy Lynn, individual bursts aren't as well separated and in places start to merge. Even so, the effect is fairly attractive, especially since the M80H reaches around 350 nits, which is almost three times darker than the mastered material assumes. Bigger problems appear in scenes that require brightness well above 1000 nits. A good example is a sequence from Pan, mastered to around 2800 nits. With static tone mapping the TV brightens the whole image too much, making the scene look flat and lacking contrast. Such demanding material doesn't look its best on the M80H. In those scenes the TV benefits from having dynamic tone mapping set to "Active". For content mastered to 1000 nits the situation is the opposite, and we get a more natural picture with the "Static" setting. Because content mastered to 1000 nits is far more common, for example on streaming platforms, that's how we recommend you leave it permanently.

HDR luminance chart:

On the M80H, HDR10+ can genuinely make a big difference. The dynamic metadata helps preserve more detail in the brightest parts of the image, which is clear when viewed alongside the same content played back in HDR10. That doesn't change the fact the TV itself is a bit dim, but in tougher scenes the picture simply looks better. It's a pity Samsung doesn't support Dolby Vision. On a model like this it would be useful, especially since there's still more Dolby Vision content than HDR10+. The difference may not be as big as it was a few years ago, but you can still notice it.

Static HDR10

Dynamic: HDR10+

Review Samsung M80H section HDR effect quality, 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).

SAMSUNG M80H - Smoothness of tonal transitions

9.8/10

The M80H's tonal transitions are almost perfect. Posterization is virtually non-existent, and successive shades blend very smoothly in both bright and dark scenes. We didn't notice any obvious colour banding, for example in skies or in scenes with smoke. If dark shots look worse, that's not due to gradation problems. It's more down to the backlight's limitations and the lack of local dimming, which means blacks don't have the proper depth.

Review Samsung M80H Smoothness of tonal transitions — 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.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7/10

Smooth transition function

Review Samsung M80H section Upscaling and digital image processing, match photo

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video. The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

Although the M80H is positioned fairly low in Samsung’s line-up, the maker equipped it with one of its stronger processors, the NQ4 AI Gen2. The same chipset is used in Neo QLED TVs and the higher‑ranked S85H OLED. That’s good news, because the processor handles improving weaker sources really well. Upscaling is its strongest suit. Low‑resolution material is displayed properly and edges don’t look overly jagged. The TV won’t of course create details that aren’t in the source, but regular broadcast TV and older recordings look decent on it. One drawback is overscan, i.e. edge cropping, which can’t be completely turned off. The feature that smooths tonal transitions, the so‑called noise reduction, also works well. The processor can effectively reduce visible signs of heavy compression, but it doesn’t do so without side effects. At higher settings it can smooth the picture too much, remove some fine detail and even eliminate film grain. For that reason we recommend using this feature mainly for material that genuinely suffers from heavy compression and posterisation.

SAMSUNG M80H - Blur and motion smoothness

7.9/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz

Film motion smoothing option: Yes

Blur reduction option: Yes

BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)

BFI function 120Hz: No

Brightness drop with BFI: 48%

Review Samsung M80H Blur and motion smoothness — The photo presents the motion smoothing settings in the tested TV.

The M80H performs very well for watching sport and for gaming. The TV is equipped with a panel offering a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz at 4K, and when the resolution is reduced to Full HD it can handle up to 240 Hz. That second option will be used mainly by PC gamers.

The panel also handles 120 Hz content well, which matters especially for console gaming. A high refresh rate is also useful when watching sport, and motion blur is relatively low. That's important because VA panels are not known for the best performance in this area. On the M80H, fast-moving objects do not produce a very noticeable blur.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Image flickers in this mode

Blur (4K@240Hz):

240 Hz mode improves motion clarity, provided the PC delivers a sufficiently high frame rate. It does not change pixel response time, so the smearing typical of VA panels may still be visible. It's also worth remembering that you can't use motion smoothing in this mode, so it's primarily intended for fast PC games rather than watching sport.

SAMSUNG M80H - Console compatibility and gaming features

9.6/10

ALLM: Yes
VRR: Yes
VRR range: 48 - 240Hz
Dolby Vision Game Mode: No
Correct implementation of HGIG: Yes
1080p@120Hz: Yes
1440p@120Hz: Yes
4K@120Hz: Yes
Game bar: Yes

The M80H could be a very good choice for gamers on a slightly smaller budget. In terms of features it offers pretty much the same as Samsung’s much more expensive TVs. All three HDMI inputs support HDMI 2.1, so even if one is taken by a soundbar connected via eARC there’s still room for a PC and consoles. There’s also VRR up to 144 Hz in 4K and up to 240 Hz in Full HD. Samsung has correctly implemented HGiG as well, so after performing HDR calibration on the console games are properly matched to the screen’s capabilities. That won’t make the M80H any brighter, but at least it won’t unnecessarily wash out the brightest parts of the image. On top of that there’s a Game Bar for quick access to key settings and a Gaming Hub that lets you play in the cloud without a console. The M80H also includes Game Motion Plus, which generates extra frames and improves the smoothness of games running at 30 or 60 fps. Input lag then increases to around 59 ms, but is still about one third of what you’d see with typical motion smoothing on other manufacturers’ TVs. We wouldn’t really recommend it for online multiplayer, but it can work very well in slower‑paced titles.

SAMSUNG M80H - Input lag

9.9/10

Input lag in the M80H is very low. With a 60 Hz signal it's about 14 ms, and at 120 Hz it drops to 9-10 ms. The delay is therefore practically imperceptible, whether we're gaming in SDR or HDR.

SDR	HDR	Dolby Vision
1080p60: 14 ms	2160p60: 14 ms
1080p120: 10 ms	2160p120: 9 ms
2160p60: 14 ms
2160p120: 10 ms

SAMSUNG M80H - Compatibility with PC

8.9/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Very Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good

Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate): 10ms

Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB

Max refresh rate: 144Hz

G-Sync: Yes

Review Samsung M80H section Computer compatibility, font readability test — 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.

The M80H also works very well as a PC monitor. Gamers can use 4K at 144 Hz, VRR and G-Sync, and input lag in PC mode is around 10 ms. There's also a Full HD mode at 240 Hz. The TV correctly displays 4:4:4 chroma at the maximum resolution and refresh rate. Combined with a classic RGB subpixel layout, this gives very good font legibility for both light and dark text. The M80H is therefore suited not only to gaming but also to everyday desk work.

SAMSUNG M80H - Viewing angles

3.1/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 84%

Viewing angles are one of the weaker points of the M80H. The TV uses a VA panel, which delivers better blacks and higher contrast than an IPS panel, but it looks worse when viewed from the side. Sit at a wider angle and colours start to lose saturation, blacks become noticeably lighter, and the whole picture looks more washed out. That's the typical trade-off with this kind of panel. The M80H therefore performs best when watched straight on or from only a slight angle.

SAMSUNG M80H - Daytime performance

5/10

Panel finish: Satin

Reflection suppression: Decent

Black levels during daytime: Good

In a bright room the M80H performs adequately, but without any real wow factor. Its satin coating does a decent job cutting reflections, although with large windows or lights positioned opposite the screen they will still be noticeable. A plus is the blacks, which don't become overly grey when the lights are turned on. SDR brightness is around 345 nits and stays stable regardless of the scene being shown. In a typical living room that should be enough for comfortable daytime viewing. However, in a very brightly sunlit room the image may look too washed out.

Panel brightness

Samsung M80H: 345 cd/m2

SAMSUNG M80H - TV features

7.3/10

System: Tizen

System performance: Very good

HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 3 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
Outputs: eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)

Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

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

Smart features:

AirPlay: Yes
Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
Voice search: Yes
Voice search in native language: Yes
Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes

Smart TV system

The M80H runs Tizen, the same system found in all Samsung TVs. The platform is fast, stable and offers all the most popular streaming apps. So there’s no worry that, because this is a lower-tier model, any of the major services would be missing. It also has AirPlay, Miracast and voice search. The TV works with SmartThings, so you can use it to control smart home devices.

TV features

The classic TV features are weaker. The M80H does not allow recording programmes to USB or scheduling recordings. There’s no picture-in-picture either. What remains are the basics, such as teletext and the option to turn off just the screen while keeping the sound on. You can connect Bluetooth headphones, and audio can play through them and the built-in speakers at the same time. That’s useful if one viewer needs higher volume, for example seniors. The set includes a simple Smart remote with a small number of buttons. Unfortunately it’s not the solar version found on other Samsung models, and the remote uses standard batteries. Fortunately it connects to the TV via radio, so you don’t have to point it directly at the screen.

Sound connection options

HDMI audio:

eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)

Other audio outputs:

Wireless audio:

Bluetooth: Yes
Samsung Q-Symphony (Speaker extension): Yes

Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):

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

Senior accessibility

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

SAMSUNG M80H - Apps

9.3/10

SAMSUNG M80H - Playing files from USB

Video Photos Audio

9.1/10

Video Photos Audio

Maximum photo resolution:	Supported photo formats:
4 Mpix	JPEG
6 Mpix	HEIC
8 Mpix	PNG
10 Mpix	GIF
12 Mpix	WebP
16 Mpix	TIFF
20 Mpix	BMP
24 Mpix	SVG
28 Mpix
32 Mpix

The built-in USB player handles most popular video and image formats. It easily displays JPEG, PNG and BMP files, including in high resolution. However, it doesn't support HEIC, the format used by iPhones, among others. In practice this probably won't be a big problem, because the M80H supports AirPlay and most people will likely use that to show holiday photos on the TV. 😉

SAMSUNG M80H - Sound

6/10

88dB

Maximum volume

Supported codecs (TV speakers)

Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Dolby True HD 7.1

Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)

Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD

DTS:X in DTS-HD MA

DTS-HD Master Audio

The M80H is equipped with a 2.0 speaker setup rated at 20 W. It performs adequately but doesn't stand out compared with TVs that have similar audio systems. Dialogue is clearly audible and the speakers themselves don't introduce noticeable distortion. However, it definitely lacks bass, so music in particular can sound flat. If you want a slightly fuller sound, it's worth considering a basic soundbar and connecting it via HDMI eARC. The TV can also pass Dolby Atmos audio that way. Bear in mind, though, that the M80H has no optical output, so you can't connect older audio equipment through that method.

Sound Quality Test: