- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- 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
- TV efficiency during daytime
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Details about the matrix
Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 60Hz Brand: SAMSUNG Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Tizen Model year: 2025
In the world of Samsung QLEDs, the Q7F (2025) plays a relatively important role. It is the cheapest model in this family currently offered by the Korean manufacturer. Of course, we won't find a 120 Hz panel or advanced features for gamers here, but… it makes up for it with a solid Tizen system and pleasantly saturated colours worthy of the QLED filter. The question is, how does it perform in everyday use? And more importantly, does a cheap QLED make sense at all? You'll find out in this review!
SAMSUNG Q7F - Our verdict
5.7
Overall rating
The Samsung Q7F is the manufacturer's cheapest model from the QLED line, and it must be admitted that a few advantages can easily be specified here. After calibration, the colours look really good, and the additional QLED filter makes the hues more saturated than in typical budget LCD televisions. Additionally, it features a VA panel that offers quite decent native contrast. It is certainly not at the level of top-tier models, but it performs adequately for everyday viewing. However, the biggest plus is the Tizen system, which is Samsung's flagship offering. It operates smoothly, is feature-rich, provides access to a multitude of applications and add-ons, and at the same time allows for straightforward connection of the television to the SmartThings ecosystem and control of other devices in the home. And basically, this is where the list of advantages ends, as the longer you use the Q7F, the more apparent it becomes that this is a product that is significantly underdeveloped. It's not just about the panel itself with its low brightness and mediocre picture quality in HDR films, but also about the lack of features that typically worked flawlessly in Samsung models. The manufacturer claims the presence of VRR and HGiG, but in practice, they offer no benefit, making it difficult to recommend this television even to casual gamers. It also does not perform particularly well for regular television as the digital image processing is at best average, and the tone transition enhancement feature, which usually worked excellently in Samsung models, hardly functions here. The Q7F is a piece of equipment that can only be recommended to those looking for a television with two phrases on the box: “QLED” and “good Smart TV”. Everyone else receives a rather bland product that falls significantly short of competing even with other more budget-friendly options. It’s a pity because usually, the word "QLED" in Samsung meant something more than just an ordinary television.
Advantages
Solid native contrast (VA Panel)
Vivid colours thanks to QLED filter
Low input lag (around 10ms)
Advanced and smooth Tizen operating system
Compact sleek design with Type-C charging
Disadvantages
Very low brightness (only 250 nits in HDR)
Lack of many features for gamers including VRR and HGiG – the manufacturer promised something, but in the end, those features are simply not available
Lack of many classic "television" features e.g. recording to USB or PIP
No Dolby Vision
Average quality of digital image processing
Movies and series in UHD quality5.7
Classic TV, YouTube5.6
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)5.3
Gaming on console6.3
TV as a computer monitor6.0
Watching in bright light3.9
Utility functions6.6
Apps8.7
Sound quality5.8
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SAMSUNG Q7F - Competing TVs in this price range
SAMSUNG Q7F - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1 Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: BuildQuality-Good
Stand type: Legs
Kolor ramki: Graphite
- Stand: Height adjustment, Base adjustment
- Flat design: No
- Accessories: Stand
Although the Samsung Q7F (2025) is rather a budget design, it is clear that the manufacturer has put effort into its execution. The bezels are slim and narrow – precisely what Samsung has already been installing on the majority of its televisions. The issue of the legs has been very nicely addressed. Indeed, they are plastic, but they have plenty of adjustment options: they can be set wider or narrower thanks to special recesses in the casing, and additionally, the television can be raised thanks to built-in spacers – useful if we want to slide a soundbar underneath. The only criticism that could be made is the fact that the Q7F has become slightly more "bulky" compared to what Samsung has accustomed us to. Once mounted on the wall, it will protrude more than the more expensive models. This may not be a major flaw, but it is certainly something that immediately catches the eye. Overall, we rate the appearance as a solid four on the school grading scale.
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SAMSUNG Q7F - Contrast and black detail
4.7/10
Local dimming function: No
Result
2,850:1
Result
2,750:1
Result
3,300:1
Result
3,050:1
Result
2,750:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
The Samsung Q7F in the tested size of 55 inches has a VA panel, which immediately translates to decent native contrast. Values around 3000:1 may not be record-breaking, as we know that panels with more than double the contrast are currently being produced, but it still performs much better than IPS or ADS panels, where black quickly fades into shades of grey or navy blue. Unfortunately, we do not find typical local dimming zones here, but the manufacturer has included something akin to global dimming – that is, dimming the entire screen in relation to the content. The effect? In most scenes, black appears rather solid, although during night viewing sessions, we will still see that it more closely resembles dark navy or grey than true pitch black. Overall, it's okay, but without fireworks – it's not spectacular, but it's also not a disaster.
SAMSUNG Q7F - HDR effect quality
3.7/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 92.4%, Bt.2020: 69.2%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
215 nit
Result
225 nit
Result
267 nit
Result
113 nit
Result
250 nit
Unfortunately, the Samsung Q7F is not one of the brighter televisions, and this has a direct impact on the quality of HDR films. The peak brightness of the panel is just around 250 nits, which is definitely too low to speak of true cinematic experiences. In practice, the image in HDR content does not differ significantly from classic SDR, making it difficult to talk about any "wow effect" that usually accompanies us when watching such films. During tests of film scenes, the image simply looked dark, and the brightness almost always hovered around the aforementioned 250 nits. The worst performances were with shots that included small, intensely shining elements – the global dimming technique used reacted very aggressively in these cases, dimming the entire screen to maintain the effect of black. However, it is worth noting the presence of the QLED coating that expands the colour palette. For a budget QLED model, the Q7F performs quite decently here: the coverage of the DCI-P3 palette is about 93%, and BT.2020 reaches 70%. This means that, despite the low brightness, the colours can still look quite vivid and attractive.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
In the case of the Q7F, the situation is quite complicated. The brightness is low enough that it's hard to talk about cinema experiences on the level of better screens, but at the same time, one cannot say that the image it presents is completely unattractive. A scene from the film The Man, despite some slight overexposure, appeared vibrant and colourful, and the segment with Billy Lynn was also rendered quite correctly. A significant factor in this is the dynamic tone mapping function, which is definitely worth turning on. Interestingly, in the Q7F, it works in the opposite way compared to most Samsung models. The ‘static’ setting makes the image look more washed out, while the ‘active’ mode can enliven it and add complete depth (of course, within the capabilities of the display). It is this function that largely saves the Q7F in more challenging film scenes, allowing the viewing experience to gain attractiveness despite the limitations of the panel itself.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
Although the effect of burn-in is still occasionally visible, enabling tone mapping makes the image look significantly better. It then becomes easier to notice more shadows and details that simply get lost in static mode. In everyday viewing, the difference is substantial enough that this feature can be regarded as essential. It gets even more interesting with HDR10+ content. This format immediately shows that the Q7F is capable of extracting more from the image than one might think based on the panel's parameters alone. In HDR10+ materials, details in challenging scenes become more apparent. This can be compared to Dolby Vision, which is unfortunately missing from the Q7F – both solutions operate on a similar principle, adjusting the television's parameters scene by scene and even frame by frame. Fortunately, HDR10+ has been gaining more popularity in recent years – not only among games but also streaming services. A good example is Netflix, which has recently begun to support this format. This somewhat compensates for the absence of Dolby Vision and ensures that the Q7F performs reasonably well with cinematic content.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
5/10
The factory colour accuracy of the Samsung Q7F is certainly not one of its strong points. In Filmmaker mode, which theoretically should be the closest to neutral, the issue with white balance immediately stands out. There is too much red on the screen, while blue is lacking. The consequences of this are very easy to notice – white, instead of being neutral, takes on warm, almost slightly orange tones. In the long run, this makes the entire image look somewhat unnatural, and bright areas of the scene may seem unrealistic. The problems become even more evident in HDR content. The graphs show that the television has significant errors in the Color Checker palette, which translates to visible inaccuracies in the actual image. Practically, this means that the colours are not presented as they should be. The Q7F also heavily manipulates brightness; darker elements are overly boosted, losing their cinematic quality, while bright parts may appear dimmed. As a result, the image seems flattened, and contrast, instead of helping to bring out details, only highlights its own limitations. This is particularly frustrating in HDR material, where every detail matters. In scenes where there should be a subtle play of light and shadow, the Q7F either oversteps by brightening too much or conversely – suppresses elements that should draw the eye. This causes the image to lose its depth, and instead of cinematic realism, we have a rather simplified effect.
Color reproduction after calibration
7.6/10
After professional calibration, we managed to bring the Q7F into order – at least in terms of SDR content. The picture in this mode looks really good: the white balance has been set correctly, the colours appear natural, and errors in the colour palette have dropped to levels that are practically invisible to the eye. Gamma behaves exemplary, and the only minor drawback is a slight lightening of smaller elements, which results from the lack of local dimming. For everyday watching of television or films in standard quality, the Q7F performs surprisingly well.
It was significantly harder to tame HDR content. Despite adjusting the white balance, the television still heavily manipulates brightness, causing scenes to sometimes look unnatural – what should be subtly darker can be overly brightened, and bright areas of the picture can occasionally appear dimmed. The end result is better than in factory settings, but it is evident that the structural limitations of the Q7F do not allow for the full potential of HDR materials to be fully realised.
SAMSUNG Q7F - Smoothness of tonal transitions
9/10
The fluidity of tonal transitions in the Q7F is really quite good. The gradients are smooth, without strong stair-stepping or artificial divisions that can be quite noticeable in cheaper televisions. Even in more challenging scenes, such as the one from The Revenant or the red shot with the actor swimming in water, the image maintained quality and simply looked good. If someone were to look very closely, they might notice slight imperfections in extremely demanding moments, but they are subtle enough that most people won't even notice them. For this price range, the Q7F performs surprisingly solidly in terms of gradation, and it's hard to find anything significant to criticise.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
4.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Upscaling and digital image processing on the Q7F is a bit of a sine wave. On one hand, we have really nice upscaling – weaker sources look better than one might expect. The image becomes clearer, sharper, and even older films or terrestrial television perform adequately. Samsung has been strong in this area for years, and the Q7F confirms that. On the other hand… there are some issues. The television has a problem with overscan – part of the image is simply cut off, and it doesn't look very elegant. Additionally, we were let down by a feature called "noise reduction", which should improve the smoothness of tonal transitions in weaker materials. In other Samsungs, it works relatively well, but here it makes practically no difference – the banding in gradients is still there. It's a bit of a shame, as one could have expected more from a model that is aimed at users looking for a display for SDR content.
SAMSUNG Q7F - Blur and motion smoothness
5.5/10
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%
Ghosting and motion smoothness in the Q7F are probably the most budget-friendly elements of this television. The 60 Hz panel makes itself known, with noticeable ghosting, especially in dynamic scenes, and it's rather difficult to regard this model as equipment designed for watching sports or playing fast-paced games. In tests with the little green man, a long trail was left behind, similarly to how a ball in a football match would leave streaks.
On the plus side, the presence of motion smoothing must be acknowledged. In films, it actually makes a difference – especially since most material is recorded at 24 frames per second. Here we can decide whether we prefer a more "cinematic" image, with slight judder typical of cinema, or a smoother, more "television" approach. This part works quite well and helps to improve the viewing experience for series and films.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Image flickers in this mode
SAMSUNG Q7F - Console compatibility and gaming features
3.3/10
ALLM:
Yes - VRR:
No
- VRR range:
No
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
No
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
No
- 1080p@120Hz:
No
- 1440p@120Hz:
No
- 4K@120Hz:
No
- Game bar:
Yes
Features for gamers in the Samsung Q7F is a topic that evokes quite a lot of mixed feelings. On the one hand – no sensible person expected miracles here, as it is after all a 60 Hz television and it was clear from the start that it would not be a device for squeezing the maximum out of a console or PC. On the other hand, since the manufacturer promised specific solutions in promotional materials, it is natural that we wanted to see them in practice. At the outset, it’s quite decent. The automatic game mode (ALLM) works, so there’s no need to manually fiddle with the settings; the console automatically switches the television to low-latency mode. Additionally, we have the Game Bar, which looks impressive and allows you to check a few basic parameters without leaving the game. And this is where the good news ends.
The biggest problem with the Q7F is VRR, or rather its absence. Yes, an appropriate icon appears in the menu, and you can even see it in the Game Bar, but throughout the entire test, the feature remained inactive and could not be enabled in any way. The situation with HGiG is even more painful; this option was indeed available at the beginning, but after a software update, it completely vanished, which is simply unprofessional. Therefore, the Q7F is only suited for the absolute basics. Of course, you can turn on the console, play some calmer titles, and enjoy low input lag, but if someone is counting on more advanced features that the manufacturer promised, they will be disappointed. This is not a television to buy with gaming in mind, and it's better to be aware of that before making a purchase.
SAMSUNG Q7F - Input lag
10/10
Input lag on the Samsung Q7F is really good for a television with a 60 Hz panel. Measurements showed values below 12 ms, which means that for regular gaming on a console, this model is more than sufficient. Of course, it is not on the level of high-end 120 Hz screens, which can go as low as 6–7 ms, but in everyday practice, it is hard to talk about noticeable delay. In this respect, the Q7F does not fall behind its competitors in its segment and can easily be considered a safe choice for casual or sports gaming. At least in this regard.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 13 ms | 2160p60: 12 ms | |
| 2160p60: 13 ms |
SAMSUNG Q7F - Compatibility with PC
6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 13ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 60Hz
G-Sync: No
Collaboration with a PC on the Q7F is decent, although it is not a television that will satisfy the most demanding users. Fonts are displayed clearly and sharply, so it is perfectly fine to work on it – especially for daily office tasks or browsing the internet. With thin letters, one can notice slight shadowing, but it is not something that interferes with normal use. In a smaller size, the Q7F can indeed work as a computer screen, although one must remember its limitations. The lack of variable refresh rate means we cannot use G-Sync or FreeSync, and 60 Hz practically closes the door to more demanding PC gaming. For work and light usage, it will be okay, but for serious gaming, it is definitely better to look for something higher in Samsung's offering.
SAMSUNG Q7F - Viewing angles
3.5/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 78%
The viewing angles on the Q7F are simply poor – typical for a VA panel. Just sitting slightly to the side immediately shows that the image loses quality. Colours fade, contrast clearly drops, and blacks start to resemble grey more than anything deep. This is a television that is definitely best viewed head-on, and any wider viewing angle comes with compromises.
SAMSUNG Q7F - TV efficiency during daytime
3.9/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Good
The performance of the Q7F during the day unfortunately does not impress. Due to its low brightness, the screen quickly capitulates in very sunny rooms. It is therefore hard to recommend it to those who plan to watch television in a bright living room with large windows. In moderately lit rooms, it still performs adequately, but in bright light, the picture loses clarity. Additionally, the fact that the panel does not always effectively handle glare means reflections can be distracting during the day. This is more of a screen for evening viewing rather than for daily sessions in full sunlight.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Samsung Q7F: 237 cd/m2
SAMSUNG Q7F - TV features
6.6/10
System: Tizen
- HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), 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 at the screen): 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 – Tizen System
Here Q7F shows its strongest side. Samsung has been developing the Tizen system for years, and it is evident that we are dealing with a mature, well-refined platform. Everything runs smoothly, the menu does not lag even when switching between heavier applications, and installing additional programmes from the library is quick and hassle-free. In addition, there is full support for AirPlay, integration with voice assistants, as well as a wide range of add-ons – from cooperation with devices in the SmartThings ecosystem to the ability to control Philips Hue smart lighting or other smart gadgets. Samsung strongly focuses on advanced networking features, and this is evident – in terms of Smart TV, the Q7F has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, and on the contrary, it can embarrass more expensive competitors.
Classic Features
On the side of classic, “television” solutions, it is clear that the manufacturer has bet everything on the smart card. We will not find any USB recording or PiP mode here, which used to be standard features. It is evident that the Q7F is meant to be primarily a multimedia centre, rather than a device for those accustomed to more traditional solutions. Fortunately, several practical additions are not lacking – we have Bluetooth for pairing headphones or speakers, and the option to change the font size in the menu, which will be appreciated by users with weaker eyesight.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Samsung Q-Symphony (Speaker extension): Yes
Obsługiwane formaty audio:
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
Ułatwienia dla seniorów
- Font size adjustment: Yes
- Audio description: Yes
SAMSUNG Q7F - Apps
8.7/10
SAMSUNG Q7F - Playing files from USB
9/10
| 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 |
In the Q7F we have a built-in file player, and as is usually the case with Samsung televisions, it works quite well – most popular films or music will play without fuss. For basic use, it is sufficient, and there is no real need to reach for external solutions like connecting a laptop. It is worse if someone wants to upload photos – here it can lag, especially with Apple's HEIC or PNG, which are visible in the player menu but do not necessarily want to work.
SAMSUNG Q7F - Sound
5.8/10
80dB
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 Samsung Q7F comes with a 20 W speaker system and… well, let’s not kid ourselves, it’s nothing revolutionary. The television itself sounds quite decent, meaning we can clearly hear series, news, or daily programmes; dialogues do not get lost, but there’s a significant lack of depth and sound space. There is virtually no bass; it thuds somewhat, but it resembles more of a box being tapped rather than true low tones. Music comes across flat, and films don't make any significant impression – we won’t feel like we're in a cinema. It’s sound from the ‘acceptable’ category, just enough to have something built-in, but if someone is counting on a stronger experience, they will inevitably reach for a soundbar sooner or later. And to be honest – even the simplest model will make a considerable difference, and Samsung has quite a few in their offering.
Acoustic Measurements
80dBC (Max)
75dBC
SAMSUNG Q7F - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: T-RSLFDEUC-0090-1110.7, E2500007, BT-S
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: QLED
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