Compare: Sony X85L vs Samsung QN85F

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

The Samsung QN85F is a television that perfectly showcases the purpose of the Neo QLED line. On one hand, it provides everything that a modern user expects – high brightness, excellent smoothness, and full support for gamers. On the other hand, it is still LCD, meaning that the technology requires certain compromises. The question is whether these compromises actually hinder everyday use. In practice, it is hard not to be impressed with how the QN85F performs in HDR films. With brightness levels of 1700–1800 nits, watching dynamic scenes truly gives us the 'HDR spark' that many competing televisions lack. The lighting effects in movies or series can literally overwhelm with intensity while the television does not lose detail and does not turn the entire image into a washed-out blur. This is the kind of spectacularity that viewers investing in a new screen seek. Gamers also have reasons to be satisfied. There is support for 144 Hz, variable refresh rate VRR, and automatic game mode ALLM. This already constitutes a must-have set in this class, but Samsung goes further and adds the unique Game Motion Plus feature. Thanks to it, images in games become smoother, resembling the effect of motion smoothing in films, but without a noticeable increase in latency. This solution truly distinguishes the QN85F from its competitors. On top of all this, there is everyday convenience. The Tizen system is fast, stable, and filled with applications that we actually use – from Netflix to Apple TV, YouTube, and Disney+. Additionally, there is AirPlay support, a comprehensive SmartThings platform, and a remote that, instead of overwhelming us with dozens of buttons, offers simple control and quick access to the most important features. This makes the QN85F a television that we simply want to reach for every day. Of course, one could enumerate its shortcomings. There is no Dolby Vision, no USB recording, nor PiP, and the viewing angles typical of a VA matrix may not impress if we sit at a steep angle. But all of this pales in comparison to how versatile and refined the QN85F is. During the day, it performs excellently in bright rooms, in the evening it delivers cinematic emotions in HDR, and in games, it ensures smoothness and low input lag, which other models could envy. Overall, the QN85F is a television that not only successfully continues the tradition of value for money set by its predecessor, the QN85D, but even develops it with several strong points. It is equipment that is hard to define otherwise than as a 'safe choice' – one that will not disappoint in any scenario and is likely to meet the expectations of even the most demanding users.

The Sony X85L television is equipped with a VA panel, which in itself offers quite good contrast. Additionally, this model features local dimming technology – in the 55-inch version, it encompasses 24 zones. Although this number is not impressive, it naturally increases with the size of the television. The contrast in the X85L is good, though not the best, especially in comparison to other televisions also equipped with advanced local dimming technology. Results at a level of 8000:1 are satisfactory, but appear average in the context of competition. In some cases, such as the third scene from the film Arrival, the contrast is promising and performs fairly well. This is thanks to the very good dimming algorithm that Sony has employed in its televisions for years. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of local dimming zones, the television struggles with noticeable blooming, which can be observed, for example, in scenes with the helicopter from the film Sicario 2.

Our editorial office received a 55-inch model with a VA panel. In the case of NeoQLEDs, which are televisions with Mini-LED backlighting, size is of immense importance, as the larger the screen, the more local dimming zones it can contain. This directly translates to higher contrast. In the variant we tested, we counted as many as 240 dimming zones, which is twice as many as last year's QN85D. Theoretically, such an increase should bring an equally impressive improvement in contrast. Unfortunately, practice showed something different – the QN85F offers results very similar to its predecessor. Indeed, in certain scenes with a lot of black or in areas where details in the highlights are crucial, you can see progress, but it is not proportional to the number of zones themselves. Mini-LED technology can be capricious, and sometimes a slight halo appears around small bright objects. This is a typical compromise one must accept with such a solution. Nevertheless, the contrast in the QN85F is at a very high level and will comfortably satisfy most users, even those who are more demanding. However, we have the impression that Samsung could refine the algorithms controlling the dimming, as we know from experience that they can perform exceptionally well in other models.

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

Although more than twice the number of dimming zones compared to its predecessor did not translate into a spectacular jump in black levels and contrast, we definitely felt it in the HDR effect itself. The QN85F is up to 50% brighter than last year's model, making a huge impression in dynamic scenes. The peak brightness can reach almost 1700–1800 nits, which is truly impressive for Mini-LED in this class. The best part is that almost regardless of the scene being watched, the HDR effect remains strong and vibrant. In four out of five test scenes, brightness was maintained around 1000 nits, a level that in most cases allows the viewer to experience the true magic of this format. Of course, in scene number 4 from the film Sicario 2, the limitations of Mini-LED technology become apparent – the brightness of the helicopter’s small light drops to around 500 nits. This result is not stellar, but it is still much more acceptable than last year's model. Samsung therefore deserves applause, as the improvement in brightness in the QN85F is drastic compared to its predecessor. However, it is a shame about a certain trend visible in this year's televisions – the manufacturer has worsened the colour gamut coverage. Although the QN85F has a QLED panel, its score of around 90% DCI-P3 is average, and in the most demanding films, it can lead to less vibrant colours than its predecessor. Despite this shortcoming, the overall HDR effect stands at an excellent level and truly makes a big impression in this class of devices.

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

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

Samsung QN85F offers several preset picture modes, but by default, when the television is turned on, it starts in "Eco" mode. And we could actually end the discussion here, because for such a model, using this setting makes no sense – the picture is washed out, unpleasant, and far from what we expect from a television of this class. We therefore carried out our tests in the best of the available modes, which is the Filmmaker mode. Its purpose is to faithfully reproduce what the directors saw during the filming of the movies, and indeed this is the setting that performs best among all factory options. However, this does not mean that it is without flaws.

Both in SDR and HDR, the QN85F quite strongly emphasised warm colours. This resulted from deficiencies in white balance, where there was a distinct lack of blue. Additionally, the picture was sometimes overexposed – as indicated by both the gamma brightness characteristic and the EOTF curve, which showed that the television tends to blow out scenes. In SDR, the colour reproduction errors (Delta E levels of 4-5) were still acceptable, but in HDR the discrepancies became quite large and clearly deviated from what the creators intended to show us. Fortunately, Samsung provides a wide range of calibration tools in its televisions, so – as always – we proceeded with professional calibration to see how much could be improved.

Thanks to the application of calibration tools offered by Sony X85L, the image quality has been significantly improved. After calibration, the white balance for HD content is much more stable, making colours appear more natural and enhancing the authenticity of the image. Although it is not perfect, these changes allow viewers to enjoy a more realistic colour reproduction, eliminating the previous cool tone. The gamma, which was already decent, has been adjusted to an even better version. As a result, tonal transitions and brightness are more consistent, positively affecting the depth and detail of the image.

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

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

After calibrating the film mode, we managed to tame the colours in both modes to near perfection – most of them did not exceed an error value of 3, which is the threshold of perception by the human eye. The image became more natural, fuller, and at the same time free from bloom, which was noticeable right after taking the television out of the box. This shows the great potential of the QN85F and how well it responds to precise settings. However, this does not change the fact that certain technological barriers cannot be overcome. Despite the enormous benefits of calibration, there are still limitations of the panel itself. Although the number of dimming zones has doubled compared to its predecessor, the algorithms controlling the backlighting can manipulate brightness in their own way. Sometimes this leads to slight colour inaccuracies or gently visible halo effects around bright objects. Nevertheless, the experience after calibration is truly pleasant and demonstrates how good a screen the QN85F can be if we just take a moment for proper settings.

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

Slight colour errors are often practically unnoticeable; it is the fluidity of tonal transitions that is a category to which even a less experienced viewer will pay attention. Unfortunate bands and artificial lines can completely spoil the perception of the image. Fortunately, the QN85F handles this aspect almost perfectly. Gradients are smooth, transitions between colours seamless, and there are no artificial streaks or harsh lines separating the hues on the screen. The image remains coherent, and nothing distracts our attention from the content. Only under very extreme conditions did we notice slight issues in the grey palette, but this is a drawback typical of most televisions and is hard to consider a serious negative. In practice, while watching films, we encountered no problems.

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

Although the native tonal transitions on the QN85F with 4K material perform excellently, we do not always deal with content in the highest resolution. At that point, it becomes crucial how the television handles upscaling and digital image processing. This process is managed by Samsung's proprietary processor – AI NQ4 Gen2. In practice, it operates very efficiently. If visible colour banding or other undesirable phenomena occur on the screen, for instance, in materials from YouTube, they can easily be smoothed out using the "noise reduction" feature. Set to a medium level, it improves tonal transitions without excessively blurring desired details. However, it is important to remember that – as with most Samsung televisions – this function heavily interferes with the film grain. Therefore, during cinematic screenings, it is wise to use it cautiously to avoid losing the natural character of the image.

The upscaling itself looks very good. Test materials in lower resolutions were displayed sharply and clearly, with a great deal of detail. The only downside remains the issue of overscan, which is the trimming of the edges of the screen. In most situations, this is not noticeable, but with very old materials below HD quality, there may be cases where a fragment of the image from the left side gets slightly cut off.

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

Motion smoothing and fluidity in the QN85F is a topic worth discussing in more detail, as the television is equipped not with a standard 120 Hz panel, but with a 144 Hz one. The extra hertz will mainly be appreciated by PC gamers, but the mere presence of such an option can be seen as a nice addition and a sign of the times – it’s hard to complain about the trend towards faster panels, as in practice, each of us would prefer the image to be as smooth as possible. However, the most important thing is how the television handles typical 120 Hz refresh rates – in the case of consoles, sports, or films recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second. Here, the QN85F performs really well. In films, one can easily adjust the character of the image thanks to the "image clarity" function, where we find two adjustable sliders. Key for screenings is the one responsible for reducing judder. Lower values give the image a more cinematic character with preserved "frame rate," while higher values lead to strong smoothing reminiscent of television theatre.

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

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

The Samsung QN85F makes a really great impression in terms of gaming features. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports, so we can easily connect multiple devices simultaneously. There is also variable refresh rate (VRR) which prevents screen tearing, as well as an automatic game mode (ALLM) that allows the television to switch to the appropriate settings when we start the console. Additionally, it supports refresh rates of up to 144 Hz – something that PC gamers will particularly appreciate, but the mere fact that such an option is available shows that Samsung is fully committed to supporting gamers. The Game Bar panel also deserves praise. It provides a quick overview of the most important parameters – from frame rate to refresh mode, even including shortcuts to picture settings. Instead of navigating through the entire menu, everything is at hand, which proves to be very convenient in practice. However, the most interesting addition is the Motion Plus gaming feature. It's effectively a motion smoother adapted for the gaming world. When enabled, the image becomes smoother, sometimes looking as if we've gained several extra frames, and importantly – the response time doesn’t increase enough to hinder gameplay. This solution truly sets Samsung's 120Hz televisions apart from competitors.

[UPDATE] We have updated our tests of Samsung televisions from the 2025 model year due to the release of software version 1131, which restored the crucial gaming feature HGiG.

The only major downside remains the lack of proper HGiG support. This is a standard responsible for correct tone mapping in HDR games, meaning that brightness and contrast are displayed as intended by the creators. Without HGiG, we have to adjust brightness manually, which doesn’t always yield perfect results. The feature was available in previous models, but it vanished from the QN85F after one of the updates. We hope that Samsung will quickly resolve this issue, and we will keep checking to see if it has been fixed.

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

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

The input lag on the QN85F is at a very high level. With content at 120 or 144 Hz, the values often oscillated below 10 ms, which is a truly remarkable result. Naturally, when gaming at 60 Hz, the lag doubles, but it still remains low enough that in practice it is virtually unnoticeable. This means that the QN85F will perform well both in dynamic e-sports games and in more tranquil console titles.

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

On the other hand, if the television is to be used for gaming, where we can take full advantage of its capabilities at 120 Hz, we must bear in mind that the readability of fonts noticeably decreases. The image becomes less sharp, and the text harder to read, which can be frustrating. In short – Sony X85L will perform well for occasional connections to a computer, but if we need it on a daily basis for work and gaming, this compromise may not appeal to everyone.

The QN85F performs really well in terms of cooperation with a computer. Thanks to the PC mode with a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz, support for G-Sync, and low input lag, playing on a personal computer is very enjoyable and shouldn't cause irritation even for more demanding gamers. The readability of the fonts is also good – the television supports chroma 4:4:4, so standard texts look sharp and clear. The problem arises only with very thin letters. Regardless of the refresh rate setting – whether it's 144, 120, or 60 Hz – horizontal, thin lines were poorly visible. Reducing the refresh rate slightly improved the situation, but never enough to say that they were displayed perfectly.

The viewing angles on the Sony X85L, as is often the case with VA panels, are not the best. The picture looks great when viewed directly, but as soon as you move to the side, you notice that the colours lose intensity and the contrast significantly weakens. This can be an issue if the television is meant for viewing in larger groups, where viewers are seated at different angles. For those who usually watch solo or from one central spot, this won’t be a major downside, but when watching from the side, the picture quality unfortunately declines.

The viewing angles on the QN85F are the classic Achilles' heel of most LCD televisions with VA panels. Looking at the screen from an angle, the drop in brightness becomes noticeable quite quickly, the whites start to grey, and the colours lose their intensity. This is the price to pay for the high contrast that this technology offers. Samsung could have included a better coating to widen the viewing angles in this model, but it is not present here. In practice, this means that the best viewing experience is achieved when sitting directly in front of the television, and any significant deviation will result in a noticeable loss of image quality.

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

The QN85F performs excellently during the day. The satin finish of the panel combined with high brightness makes it a television designed for bright rooms. Colours do not lose their intensity, and the picture does not fade even when a lot of light enters. The television itself is bright enough to handle a living room with large south-facing windows without any issues. Therefore, the QN85F provides us with an image that allows us to watch films or matches during the day without annoying reflections and the feeling that the picture disappears in the sunlight.

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

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

The design of the Sony X85L television, while perhaps not among the thinnest, is solid and elegant. The metal stand with adjustable feet is one of its stronger points, allowing the height and width of the television to be adapted to various furniture and spaces. This practical solution enhances the interior and adds a modern character to it.

Smart TV and Tizen System

The Samsung QN85F runs on the proprietary Tizen operating system, which has been one of the strongest points of the Korean manufacturer for years. The platform operates quickly, is well-developed, and provides access to virtually all necessary applications. It supports AirPlay, allows screen mirroring, voice search, and has a very clear interface. It is all controlled by a remote with a minimal number of buttons, designed for quick access to the most important applications.

Classic TV Features

In terms of classic television functions, the QN85F offers a rather basic set. The EPG interface is readable and easy to use, resembling a traditional teletext programme list. A drawback is the lack of USB recording and the absence of PiP functionality, which Samsung has offered in many other models. This is due to the use of single tuners in the QN85F. For some, this may be a disadvantage, but considering how few viewers today use traditional linear television, it may not matter much to the majority of users.

SmartThings and Device Support

A strong element of the entire platform is the SmartThings application. Thanks to it, we can integrate the television with other home devices – not just those from Samsung. We can connect smart lighting such as Philips Hue or Yeelight, video doorbells, and many other devices to the system. SmartThings also allows us to control the television without using a traditional remote – we can use the app on a smartphone, mouse mode, or gesture control if we have a Samsung watch. This makes the QN85F part of a larger ecosystem and fits perfectly into the smart home IoT trend.

Sony X85L easily handles playback of most popular file formats from USB, which is a big plus for those who often access external content. However, it should be mentioned that there is a small downside – the built-in player does not allow for changing the font colour in subtitles, which may be troublesome for some. Fortunately, thanks to the extensive Google TV system, users have a wide range of options. Alternative media players can be easily installed, offering more personalisation options.

The player in the QN85F works as most people expect; it supports practically all popular formats and is more than sufficient for even the more demanding users. Movies, music, photos – everything runs smoothly. The only hiccup occurs with HEIC files, which are photos from Apple devices. According to the specifications, they should work, but in practice, they simply do not open. Thumbnails are visible, but the file refuses to launch. This seems to be a common software glitch. Aside from that one issue, the player performs well and does not give rise to complaints.

The sound in Sony X85L is good – it is clear across the entire range, allowing enjoyment of both dialogues and music. The bass, though light, is noticeable and adds some depth to the overall sound. However, it should be emphasised that this is a subjective assessment – some may find such a sound profile satisfying, while others might need additional audio equipment to fully experience stronger tones and a more spacious sound.

The Samsung QN85F is equipped with a 2.2 system with a power of 40 W, and when it comes to built-in speakers, it performs really well. The bass is pleasant, and the dialogues are clear and easily heard even during louder scenes. Even at maximum volume, the television does not produce any unwanted vibrations and nothing crackles. At the bottom of the casing, there is a subwoofer responsible for the bass – therefore, when installing, it is worth ensuring that it is not obstructed by anything.

As for formats, the QN85F does not support DTS:X audio, which has been a standard from Samsung for several years now, forcing Blu-ray enthusiasts to connect audio devices first to the home cinema and then to the television. However, in return, we receive support for the more popular Dolby Atmos format, which can add additional space to sound in films and series.

Sony X85L vs Samsung QN85F

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

Daytime performance

Panel details

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

Smart TV and Tizen System

Classic TV Features

SmartThings and Device Support

Apps

Playing files from USB

Sound

Acoustic Measurements