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Panel type: LCD IPS Refresh rate: 60Hz Brand: SAMSUNG Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Tizen Model year: 2025
The Samsung Q6F is a model that provides an entry into Samsung's QLED portfolio at a very low price. It is a proposal for those who want better colours without spending a fortune on top models. In this review, we will take a closer look at it and check why this model is so cheap and where the manufacturer had to cut costs to achieve such a price.
5.0
Overall rating
Samsung Q6F is a television that is difficult to evaluate through the lens of typical QLED models. We must remember that we are dealing with a budget-friendly proposal aimed at a very specific audience. If you are looking for an inexpensive device with the logo of a well-known manufacturer that simply needs to function, display multimedia, and offer classic remote control functionality with buttons – the Q6F might be an interesting option for you. It is a great choice for a senior citizen or someone who needs a large screen "on the cheap" for everyday television, where the IPS matrix and its good viewing angles truly make a difference. However, we must say this bluntly: the biggest complaint about this model is its very low brightness and poor black levels. These are two foundations on which image quality is built, and here they are simply very fragile. This is definitely not a television on which we would recommend watching HDR content – here, that format exists practically only in name. Although the Q6F has a QLED filter and belongs to the Quantum Dot family, utilising the full potential of this technology is practically impossible, as the device is technically unsuitable for such content. We know that it tempts with its very low price and may appeal to many people who do not have high demands. However, you need to know that the label "QLED" suggesting a premium product is in this case far from what Samsung has accustomed us to in recent years. This is a ticket to the world of Samsung, but in a very basic version.
Tizen System: Works quickly, does not lag and
Large application library (Netflix, YouTube, HBO, Disney)
IPS matrix provides a good image even when you are not sitting directly in front of it
Great font readability – good as a large monitor for working with text
Basic features for gamers: VRR and ALLM
Very low input lag
User-friendly remote for seniors: Classic layout with numeric buttons
Very attractive price
A brightness of 250 nits is too low to notice any difference in HDR mode
The low contrast of the IPS panel spoils evening film screenings
An average brightness of 150 nits during the day makes it hard to see anything in a sunny room
No optical output
Infrared remote control (requires aiming at the screen)
Movies and series in UHD quality
4.8
Classic TV, YouTube
4.7
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
4.9
Gaming on console
6.1
TV as a computer monitor
6.0
Watching in bright light
1.8
Utility functions
5.9
Apps
9.3
Sound quality
5.8
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HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1 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
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
In terms of visuals, the Samsung Q6F looks almost identical to the models from the basic Crystal series, such as the U8000F. This is a mid-range television, which in this case is not a drawback – it simply looks elegant from the front. The bezels are slim and although they are made of plastic, they do not give the impression of being cheap. However, the entire device is quite thick compared to other QLED models. This is especially evident from the back, which protrudes significantly from the body of the television, making it difficult to mount perfectly flat against the wall. The package also includes two plastic feet placed at the extreme ends of the screen.
Select size:
1.9/10
Local dimming function: No
Result
900:1
Result
1,000:1
Result
1,050:1
Result
1,050:1
Result
900:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
It is here that it is clearly visible where the manufacturer decided to cut costs. The IPS matrix used, despite being supported by QLED technology, highlights issues with a lack of depth in the image. Results at the level of 1000:1 speak for themselves – the black in this model unfortunately resembles grey. One can try to mitigate the situation by turning on the light in the room, preferably placing it directly behind the television, which allows us to somewhat trick our eyesight. However, no matter what is said, the contrast in the Q6F with the IPS panel is simply weak and this will be noticeable in dark scenes.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
3/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+ Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 87.7%, Bt.2020: 65.7%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
202 nit
Result
152 nit
Result
247 nit
Result
93 nit
Result
256 nit
The Samsung Q6F is, unfortunately, a very dark model. Its peak brightness in HDR does not exceed 250 nits, which is a value that is decidedly too low to even talk about any effect of “high dynamic range,” or HDR. In practice, it’s better to stick to content in SDR format, which simply looks more predictable on this television. Another problem is the global dimming technique – in scenes with a lot of black, the television drastically dims the entire panel to artificially improve the black levels. This causes the image to become even darker, and the brightness can drop below 100 nits. The only consolation is supposed to be the QLED technology, but even here it is average. The layer of quantum dots used is not of the highest quality, as the coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette does not exceed 90%. As a result, the colours in HDR content may simply appear under-saturated.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
As you can see in our photos, the reproduction of details in HDR content on the Q6F model is far from ideal. Due to its very low brightness and very poor ability of the television to adapt to specific scenes (tone mapping), the image often appears excessively blown out in areas where it shouldn't – this is particularly evident in shots of sunrises or in very bright exposures, such as in the film "Billy Lynn". In some cheaper televisions, the situation is salvaged by effective tone mapping, which allows for the preservation of details in the whites despite low brightness. However, in the case of the Q6F, it is difficult to speak of any effective adaptation.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
One might think: “Since the TV itself does not handle HDR10 signals very well, perhaps the dynamic metadata format HDR10+ will rescue it and improve the situation?”. Unfortunately, we do not have good news here either. In practice, even with HDR10+ support, the Q6F shows no noticeable improvement in picture quality. It’s a great shame because over the past two years, this format has become significantly more available on streaming platforms. One could have hoped that it would assist these cheaper models in better managing brightness, but in the case of this TV, we were mistaken.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
5.1/10
We tested the television in Filmmaker mode, which showed us two completely different facets of this model. Looking at SDR content, we were genuinely shocked at how good this television looks straight out of the box. It was really difficult to find fault with anything here. Despite a slight 'muddiness' in the white balance or somewhat brightened details in the blacks (which directly stem from the design of the IPS panel), the colour errors hovered around a level of '2'. This result is not only surprisingly good but downright amazing, considering the price of this device.
On the other hand, what the Q6F displayed in terms of colours after switching to HDR mode was a very unpleasant surprise. The errors in colour reproduction and palette were so enormous that our charts literally ran out of scale. Of course, since Samsung even in such an affordable model offers very extensive calibration options, we decided to approach the issue professionally and see what could be done during calibration.
6.5/10
After our calibration, the colours in SDR mode looked even better – the result is truly surprising, as colour errors at the '1' level are something generally seen in devices costing several thousand pounds. In this regard, the Q6F is really an excellent screen for everyday television, less demanding series or films. Unfortunately, our intervention in the HDR mode did not bring a noticeable improvement. The television, due to its poor blacks and low coverage of a wide colour gamut, still has significant issues with proper colour saturation, especially reds. This is an example of a device where HDR exists mainly as a label on the box – for everyday use, we definitely recommend watching content in SDR format.
9/10
Samsung Q6F handles the phenomenon of posterisation very well. In most scenes, the colour transitions are smooth and there are no noticeable problematic "steps" when blending colours. Only in very extreme moments, particularly in scenes with brightness close to pure grey, can light banding be detected. However, to be honest, we personally found the issue of slight clouding (uneven backlighting) and the poor contrast of the IPS panel to be more bothersome than the tonal transitions themselves.
5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Q6F performs very well in upscaling lower-resolution content to native 4K. The scaling here is surprisingly good, even for such an inexpensive television from the QLED series. The only downside is the situation where we are watching very low-resolution materials, such as 576p (typical for old DVD players) – in which case the image may be slightly cropped. This is due to the fact that the television does not allow the Overscan function to be turned off, which is a typical issue with Samsung devices.
The situation is completely different when it comes to digital processing, specifically the attempt to smooth the image of unwanted artifacts. Here the television completely fails. Although there is a function in the menu called "Noise Reduction," it yields no visible results regardless of the slider setting. The only thing it manages to do is introduce undesired errors in the image. Despite its presence in the system, we definitely do not recommend using it.
4.6/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 60Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: No
BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
Brightness drop with BFI: 49%
The 60 Hz panel in the Samsung Q6F is standard for this price range, making it rather average for dynamic sports or gaming. However, when it comes to films, the television performs quite well thanks to the motion smoothing feature. The "Motion Reduction" option allows you to adjust the smoothness of movement to your own preferences – from maintaining a cinematic character to complete fluidity.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Image flickers in this mode
When it comes to smudging, the Q6F doesn't have major issues. Thanks to the use of an IPS panel, we won't experience annoying ghosting, which often occurs in VA-type panels. Unfortunately, with very fast motion, the image becomes unclear due to low dynamic resolution. You can try to improve this aspect with the "Clear Motion (LED)" feature, but in practice, we advise against using it – it causes a drastic drop in already low brightness and noticeable doubling of the outlines of moving objects.
4/10
We're not going to beat around the bush – the Q6F is not a television designed for gamers. Although it features additions like ALLM (automatic low latency mode) and VRR frame synchronisation for consoles, the list of advantages basically ends there. Aside from these basics, the television offers nothing more that would satisfy those who spend a lot of time in front of a console. It’s a great shame that such a useful tool as Game Bar, which allows for quick control of game parameters in Samsung's higher models, is missing here. In terms of gaming, this model is absolutely basic and is only suitable for "casual" gamers.
10/10
As a consolation for the modest list of features for gamers, it is worth adding that the Q6F has absolutely no issues with input lag. The response to controller movements is instantaneous, and the television does not introduce any additional delays regardless of the resolution we are currently playing in. In this respect, the control is very precise and comfortable, which is a significant advantage in this class of hardware.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 11 ms | 2160p60: 11 ms | |
| 2160p60: 11 ms |
6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 11ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 60Hz
G-Sync: No
Although the Q6F is not a screen specifically designed for PC gaming, it deserves praise for how well it handles text rendering. As a monitor for text work, browsing the web, or daily news reading, the television performs exceptionally well. The readability of the text is at a very high level, thanks to the proper implementation of the Chroma 4:4:4 signal and the use of an IPS panel. If you are looking for an affordable, large screen for office work, the Q6F performs really solidly in this regard. Especially since Samsung offers very good integration with the Windows system and built-in Microsoft Office tools.
5.6/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 78%
The viewing angles are one of the stronger points of the Q6F model, which is directly due to the use of an IPS panel. They are significantly better than those in TVs based on VA panels. This means that the image viewed at an angle remains clear and does not become "washed out" or faded. However, it is worth noting that while the colours look really good, the drop in brightness at wider angles is quite noticeable. Nevertheless, this is a solid performance for people who do not always sit perfectly in front of the screen.
1.8/10
Panel finish: Satin
Reflection suppression: Average
Black levels during daytime: Good
What more can I say – apart from the satin finish of the panel, which does a fairly mediocre job of reducing reflections, the Q6F is such a dark device that it’s not suitable even for moderately lit rooms. A brightness level of 150 nits is simply astronomically low by today’s standards. With such a result, any larger light source in the room will make the image difficult to read. This is definitely not a model for a sunlit living room.
Panel brightness
Average luminance SDR
Samsung Q6F (IPS): 125 cd/m2
5.9/10
System: Tizen
System performance: Decent
It is really nice that in Samsung televisions – even the most budget-friendly ones – the Tizen system simply "doesn't lag". The speed of operation, although not at the level of the most expensive models, is definitely better than in the case of Google TV at a similar price. Thanks to Tizen, we have access to a truly vast library of applications, AirPlay, and other Smart TV features.
It is worth adding that the remote control included with the Q6F is an older, yet somewhat modernised version of the classic Samsung infrared controller, equipped with a full numeric keypad. Although it operates via infrared, it has many buttons, which might appeal to older users watching traditional television – it simply makes channel switching easier. We will also find a clear EPG interface, teletext, and support for Bluetooth headphones. It sounds a bit like the fulfilment of a senior's dream, and there is some truth in that.
However, we must note a serious lack regarding connections: in this model, we will not find an optical output for audio devices. Only the HDMI eARC connection is available, which can be a significant hassle if we have an external audio system.
9.3/10
9.3/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
When it comes to multimedia support from external media, the Samsung Q6F performs exceptionally well, especially considering that it is a closed system. The television has no issues with most popular video, audio, or photo formats (EVEN HEIC!). The media player operates stably and quickly loads content from USB drives or network servers. It is a solid device for browsing your own film archives or home photo galleries.
5.8/10
-
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
When it comes to sound, the Samsung Q6F plays... well, flat. However, at the same time, the sound is clear and loud enough that it is perfectly suitable for listening to the news or regular television. The voices of the presenters are understandable and do not fade into the background. However, if someone cares about even decent experiences when watching films, we definitely recommend purchasing a soundbar. Even the cheapest model from the Korean manufacturer's range will make a huge difference here and save the situation.
Sound Quality Test:
0dBC (Max)
75dBC
Software version during testing: T-KSU2EFDEUC-0090-1110.7
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: QLED
Founder and originator of the "ChooseTV" portal
Journalist, reviewer, and columnist for the "ChooseTV" portal
4/3/2025