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:

9/7/2026 10:04 AM

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 series for 2026. The designation itself already suggests, however, that it is not a successor to the well-known Neo QLED models, but an attempt to transfer Mini-LED backlighting into a noticeably cheaper part of the line-up. The question is how much of the capabilities of the pricier designs has been preserved here and whether this is truly the Mini-LED TV we have known until now.

SAMSUNG M80H - Our verdict

6.9

Overall rating

The M80H shows its strengths where motion matters most. A fast panel, refresh rate up to 144 Hz and relatively low motion blur mean sport and fast-paced games look really good on it. In this respect the TV can even outclass some much 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 frames per second. When connected to a PC you can also use a 240 Hz refresh rate, although only at Full HD. A considerable advantage of the M80H is the NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, until recently used in Samsung’s higher-tier ranges. It handles lower-resolution material well and can improve the appearance of weaker sports broadcasts or heavily compressed recordings. The additional picture-enhancing features do produce a noticeable effect, though at higher settings their action becomes too strong and starts to interfere with the natural look of the image. Even so, they are worth counting as positives, because in the cheapest TVs similar solutions often have far less impact.

The biggest objection, however, is calling the M80H a Mini-LED television. There is no local dimming here, the feature that usually accounts for this technology’s main advantage. A peak brightness of around 350 nits also does not allow for particularly impressive HDR. In terms of picture quality the M80H therefore sits much closer to basic LCD TVs than to more elaborate Neo QLED models such as the QN80H. That does not mean films look bad on it. The VA panel provides decent contrast and the PFS filter delivers attractive, saturated colours. One should be aware, however, that the lack of local dimming clearly limits the TV’s picture-quality capabilities. The M80H is therefore not a model that reveals the full potential of Mini-LED backlighting.

It will perform much better in the hands of a gamer or a sports fan for whom panel speed, low input lag and extensive gaming features are the priorities. If its price remains noticeably lower than models equipped with local dimming, that compromise could be a perfectly sensible choice for those users.

Advantages

Three HDMI 2.1 ports with VRR and ALLM support
Dedicated motion smoothing 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 little smearing for a VA panel
Rich colours thanks to a PFS filter (a different QLED 😉)
Good digital image processing for this segment
Fast Tizen system with plenty 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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Hisense UR8S 65”

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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 that shows in its build quality. From the front it looks acceptable — it has slim bezels on three sides and a conventional thicker bottom bezel. However, there’s nothing that particularly catches the eye. The more budget-oriented nature of the design is revealed mainly by the rear of the case. The M80H is not as slim as Samsung’s pricier models, and its shape closely resembles last year’s Crystal UHD models and the cheapest QLEDs. The characteristic bulge at the back also means that when wall-mounted the screen does not sit very close to the wall. The set includes simple plastic feet that cannot be adjusted in width or height. Overall, the build quality is fine, but the M80H is not a premium product. It’s just a well-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 a Mini-LED backlight. It may indeed use smaller LEDs placed directly behind the screen, but it is not the same type of Mini-LED found in more expensive TVs. The M80H does not have local dimming, so the backlight cannot independently control the brightness of individual parts of the image. Black levels are quite decent, mainly thanks to the VA panel used. Depending on the scene, the contrast we measured was roughly 5,500:1 to over 8,000:1. For a TV without local dimming these are good results, and it is precisely in such designs that VA panels have a considerable advantage over IPS/ADS panels. It is worth noting that some results exceed the panel’s native contrast, which is around 5,000:1. Samsung has implemented a global dimming function. When there is 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 the rest of the image. So the M80H will not significantly brighten a small bright spot while maintaining deep blacks around it, as 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 among the brightest TVs. Its peak brightness is around 350 nits and we saw similar results in most of our test scenes. That is not enough to achieve truly striking HDR; bright highlights lack the necessary punch and the overall image is a bit too dark. In practice HDR on the M80H resembles a well-presented SDR image more than noticeably more dynamic material with a wide brightness range. The image can still look acceptable, but it is hard to speak of strong specular highlights, clearly glowing light sources or an effect that immediately distinguishes HDR from ordinary content.

Colours

One of the M80H's stronger points is its colours. The TV uses a filter based on PFS backlighting, which allows it to display a much wider colour gamut than a standard LCD screen without filters. Our measurements confirm this – the M80H covers around 96% of the DCI-P3 gamut and 72% of BT.2020. Those are really good figures, which allow colours to be deeply saturated. Samsung's approach here is interesting. The M80H is not part of the QLED family, even though in terms of colour it is practically indistinguishable from models carrying that badge. From an image-quality point of view it doesn't really matter though — 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 performs quite well. The image is slightly brightened but still looks decent. The brightest highlights fare a little worse. In the fireworks scene from Billy Lynn individual bursts are not as well separated and sometimes start to blend together. Even so, the effect is quite attractive, especially since the M80H reaches only about 350 nits, almost three times dimmer than the content assumes. Bigger problems occur in scenes that require brightness well above 1000 nits. A good example is a sequence from the film Pan, mastered to around 2,800 nits. With static tone mapping the TV brightens the whole image too much, making the scene flat and lacking contrast. Such demanding material does not look its best on the M80H. In those scenes the TV benefits from the dynamic tone mapping function set to "Active". For material mastered to 1000 nits the situation is reversed and a more natural picture is achieved with the "Static" setting. Because content mastered to 1000 nits is much more common, for example on streaming platforms, we recommend leaving it set like that permanently.

HDR luminance chart:

In the case of the M80H, HDR10+ can really make a difference. Dynamic metadata helps preserve more detail in the brightest parts of the image, as is evident compared with the same material played back in HDR10. That does not change the fact that the TV itself is fairly dim, but in more challenging scenes the picture simply looks better. It's a pity Samsung does not support Dolby Vision. That would be useful on a model like this, especially since there is still more Dolby Vision content than HDR10+. The gap may not be as large as it was a few years ago, but it is still noticeable.

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 delivers almost perfect smoothness of tonal transitions. Posterisation is practically absent, and successive tones 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 the image looks worse in dark shots, that isn’t due to gradation issues. Instead, the limitations of the backlight and the lack of local dimming become more apparent, causing blacks to lack sufficient 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

Image without overscan on the SD signal

Review Samsung M80H section Upscaling and digital image processing, shot with a model

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 range, the manufacturer equipped it with one of its stronger processors, the NQ4 AI Gen2. The same chip can be found, for example, in Neo QLED TVs and the lower-tier S85H OLED. That is good news, because when it comes to improving weaker sources the processor performs really well. Upscaling is the strongest point. Low-resolution content is displayed correctly and edges do not look overly jagged. Of course the TV will not create details that are not present in the source, but regular broadcast TV and older recordings look decent on it. One drawback is the overscan effect, that is edge cropping, which cannot be completely turned off. The tonal transition smoothing function, the so-called noise reduction, also works well. The processor can effectively reduce visible traces of heavy compression, but it does not do this without side effects. At higher settings it may over-smooth the image, remove some fine detail and even eliminate film grain. For that reason we recommend using this function mainly for content that really suffers from strong 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 fitted with a panel offering a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz at 4K, and when the resolution is lowered to Full HD it can even support 240 Hz. PC gamers will benefit most from the latter.

The panel also handles content displayed at 120 Hz well, which is particularly important for console gaming. The high refresh rate is also useful when watching sport, and motion blur is relatively limited. That matters because VA panels are not known for top results in this area. With the M80H, fast-moving objects do not show pronounced smearing.

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. However, it does not change pixel response time, so the smearing typical of VA panels may still be visible. Also bear in mind that you cannot use motion smoothing in this mode, so it is primarily intended for fast PC gaming rather than for 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 essentially the same as far more expensive Samsung TVs. All three HDMI ports support the 2.1 standard, so even if one is taken by a soundbar connected via eARC there is still room for a PC and consoles. There is also VRR that runs up to 144 Hz at 4K and up to 240 Hz at Full HD. Samsung has also correctly implemented HGiG, so after performing HDR calibration on a console games are properly matched to the screen’s capabilities. This won't make the M80H any brighter, but at least it won't unnecessarily crush the brightest parts of the image. There's also 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 offers Game Motion Plus, which creates additional frames and improves the smoothness of games running at 30 or 60 fps. Input lag then rises to around 59 ms, but is still roughly three times lower than with ordinary motion smoothing on TVs from other manufacturers. We wouldn't really recommend it for online gaming, but in more relaxed titles it can perform very well.

SAMSUNG M80H - Input lag

9.9/10

Input lag in the M80H is very low. With a 60 Hz signal it is about 14 ms, and at 120 Hz it drops to 9 to 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 computer monitor. Gamers can use 4K at 144 Hz, with VRR and G-Sync, and input lag in PC mode is around 10 ms. There is 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 suitable not only for gaming but also for 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 provides deeper blacks and higher contrast than an IPS panel, but it looks worse when viewed from the side. Just sitting at a wider angle is enough for colours to start losing saturation, blacks to become noticeably lighter, and the whole image to look more washed out. This is a typical compromise associated with this type of panel. The M80H therefore performs best when watched straight on or from a minimal 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 acceptably, but without any major surprises. The satin finish does a decent job of reducing reflections, although with large windows or lamps positioned opposite the screen they will still be visible. Black levels are a plus: with the lights on they do not become overly grey. SDR brightness is around 345 nits and remains stable regardless of the scene being shown. In a typical living room this 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 on Tizen, the same system found in all Samsung TVs. The system is fast, stable and offers all the most popular streaming apps. There is therefore no need to worry that a lower-tier model would be missing any of the major services. It also supports AirPlay, Miracast and voice search. The TV works with the SmartThings system, so it can be used to control smart home devices.

Television features

Traditional television features are weaker. The M80H does not allow recording programmes to a USB drive or scheduling recordings. It also lacks picture-in-picture. What remains are the basics, such as teletext and the option to turn off the screen while keeping the sound on. You can connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV, and audio can be played 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 comes with a simple Smart remote with a small number of buttons. Unfortunately it is not the solar-powered version known from other Samsung models, and the remote runs on standard batteries. Fortunately it connects to the TV via radio, so you do not 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 common video and image formats. It easily displays JPEG, PNG and BMP files, even in high resolution. However, it lacks support for HEIC, the format used, among others, by iPhones. In practice this is unlikely to be a big problem, because the M80H supports AirPlay and most people will probably 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 fitted with a 2.0 speaker set rated at 20 W. It performs adequately but does not stand out among TVs with similar audio systems. Dialogue is clearly audible and the speakers themselves do not introduce noticeable distortion. However, there is a definite lack of bass, so music in particular can sound flat. If you want a somewhat fuller sound, it's worth considering even a simple soundbar and connecting it via HDMI eARC. The TV can also pass Dolby Atmos audio that way. Bear in mind, however, that the M80H has no optical output, so older audio equipment cannot be connected to it in that way.

Sound Quality Test: