- 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 |
- Daytime performance |
- TV features |
- Apps |
- Playing files from USB |
- Sound |
- Panel details
Samsung QN80H Review
Available screen sizes:
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: SAMSUNG Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Tizen Model year: 2026
Samsung QN80H is the top Neo QLED model you'll find in the manufacturer's 2026 line-up. It sounds like quite a surprise and, in fact, it is. For years the top Neo QLED series were the Koreans' technological pride and a demonstration of their strength in the LCD screen world. This year, however, Samsung has turned its portfolio on its head, changing not only the naming but the entire hierarchy in the catalogue by adding televisions from the Micro RGB series. So the question quickly arises: is the QN80H a proper flagship of the Neo QLED line, or simply the successor to the hugely popular QN85/QN80 series? After all, those models have for years been considered the sweet spot in Samsung's offering. In other words, the first TV in the brand's range that people bought for genuinely good picture quality. We put the QN80H to the test to see how much of that character remains.
SAMSUNG QN80H - Our verdict
7.3
Overall rating
The Samsung QN80H is a genuinely successful mid-range television and, in our view, should be seen exactly that way. Not as a new Neo QLED flagship, but as the first model in Samsung's lineup to give a clear taste of better picture quality. Full Mini LED backlighting, high brightness and well-saturated colours mean that for someone upgrading from a standard LCD TV the difference can be substantial. A huge plus is that Samsung did not neglect it in terms of functionality. The QN80H received almost the same rich package of features as the flagships. So we have a complete gamers' setup led by four HDMI 2.1 ports and a blazingly fast Tizen system, which also comes with a guarantee of support and updates for the next seven years. Of course we must remember that this is not a top-tier model. The number of Mini-LED dimming zones does not break any records, so in demanding scenes you can see some compromises in image quality. There are also small decisions we simply don't like, such as abandoning the solar-powered remote in favour of a less elegant battery-powered version. Still, it's hard to fault the QN80H for performing poorly in any important area. This is a television that performs at least well on practically every front. Those are exactly the expectations one should have of it. It doesn't try to pass itself off as a flagship, but neither does it disappoint in any aspect. These are precisely the results we expected from the '80' series, and those expectations have been met. Is it worth buying? Yes, but much will depend on the price. At a suitably attractive price, the QN80H could once again become one of Samsung's most sensible models for people who want to step up to a higher level of picture quality but do not intend to pay extra for the brand's most expensive televisions.
Advantages
Good blacks thanks to Mini LED backlighting
High brightness, exceeding 1,000 nits in HDR
Rich colours thanks to QLED quantum dots
High 144 Hz panel refresh rate
4x HDMI 2.1 ports
Very low input lag
Advanced gaming features
Fast Tizen OS
Seven years of system support
Excellent compatibility with PCs (240 Hz mode, excellent font readability)
Adjustable foot spacing and height
Disadvantages
Small number of local dimming zones, 110 in the 65-inch model
Average glare suppression
No USB recording or PiP function
Rather inelegant plastic feet
No solar-powered remote 😓
Movies and series in UHD quality7.0
Classic TV, YouTube6.8
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)6.8
Gaming on console9.0
TV as a computer monitor8.9
Watching in bright light5.8
Utility functions7.3
Apps9.3
Sound quality7.1
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SAMSUNG QN80H - Competing TVs in this price range
SAMSUNG QN80H - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Good
Stand type: Legs
Bezel color: Graphite
Stand: Height adjustment, Base adjustment
Flat design: Yes
Accessories: Stand
In this year’s '80' series, Samsung has opted for a noticeable facelift. The design is simpler and more minimalist than that of its predecessors. The TV looks solid, although it is certainly not among the slimmest on the market. It does, however, have one big advantage: a completely flat back with no protruding parts. That means you can hang it almost flush with the wall, without an annoying gap. The biggest change, however, is saying goodbye to the central stand and switching to two separate feet. At first this may look like a stylistic step backwards, but Samsung has taken a very practical approach. The feet can be mounted in two positions, wide (for better stability) or narrow if you have a smaller TV cabinet. What’s more, the adjustable height lets you raise the screen by a few centimetres, so even a fairly large soundbar will fit easily under the bottom edge. The only disappointment is the actual build quality of those feet. They are stable, but it’s a pity they’re made of plastic that feels rather cheap to the touch. Overall, the Samsung QN80H is simply a decent mid-range model. It lacks the luxury touches of premium models, but in return you get a well-thought-out design that is above all practical for everyday use.
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SAMSUNG QN80H - Contrast and black detail
6.7/10
Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 110 (10 x 11)
Result
18,900:1
Result
7,100:1
Result
23,200:1
Result
7,750:1
Result
3,800:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
The QN80H represents the Neo QLED line, which means it features Mini-LED direct full-array local dimming. In the 65-inch model we tested we counted exactly 110 local dimming zones. Against aggressively priced Chinese competition that number may not look particularly impressive, but it is still vastly better than having no dimming at all or the edge-dimming used in lower-tier models. Especially since Samsung has paired the QN80H with a high-contrast VA panel. As a result, even with a relatively modest number of zones the TV can achieve very good results. In our tests on film scenes the QN80H performed solidly, particularly where deep blacks dominated the screen. In films such as Oblivion the black we measured could be three to four times deeper than the panel’s native capability. That shows the TV can competently and precisely dim the appropriate areas to deliver an image with satisfying contrast.
However, things get tricky in more demanding moments. In scenes with a large number of fine details on a dark background (the helicopter shot at the bottom) the QN80H’s biggest weakness becomes apparent. When small but very bright points appear on screen the dimming algorithm clearly gets confused. Instead of precisely lighting only those details, the TV brightens almost the entire screen, causing the blacks around them to go noticeably grey. This is a direct consequence of the modest number of dimming zones. One can only hope Samsung will optimise the algorithm in future firmware updates. Despite this, we judge the overall contrast positively, particularly when comparing the QN80H with screens that lack local dimming altogether.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
SAMSUNG QN80H - HDR effect quality
5.8/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
694 nit
Result
385 nit
Result
703 nit
Result
307 nit
Result
660 nit
The Samsung QN80H is undoubtedly a bright TV. In synthetic tests it exceeds the 1000-nit mark, which on paper promises a solid HDR effect. In practice the screen really shows its teeth, although it can't fully spread its wings (or its backlight, if you will 🤔) in every condition. Bright, wide scenes make the best impression. Well-lit outdoor shots and brightly lit scenes look really good on it. Brightness then stays around 700 nits, which provides a noticeable step up in quality compared with standard SDR. Problems start in dark scenes with small, pinpoint highlights. The QN80H tends to dim these strongly, in order to protect black depth at all costs. On the one hand this gives better contrast, on the other... you lose dynamics and the brilliance of fine HDR detail. So the TV has considerable potential, but the dimming algorithm can be too restrictive.
Colour gamut coverage
When it comes to colours it's good as well. The QN80H uses quantum dot technology, and in our measurements it covered 93% of the DCI-P3 colour space and about 70% of BT.2020. Today those results aren't exactly jaw-dropping, but in real-world use they're more than sufficient to deliver a vivid, natural image for most films and TV series. Colours are suitably saturated, and after proper calibration they don't look artificial or overly aggressive.
BT.2020 color gamut coverage and primary color luminance
| Data set | BT.2020 [%] | P3 [%] | R [%] | G [%] | B [%] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic patterns | 70.0 | 92.7 | 71.2 | 72.9 | 80.5 |
| Film measurements | 69.9 | 92.6 | 67.2 | 71.0 | 78.0 |
Arithmetic means of BT.2020 and P3 gamut coverage and the luminance of the primary colors (red, green, blue) as a % of target.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Measurements aside, the most important thing for us is how the Samsung QN80H performs when watching real films. And here it again does quite well, although a lot depends on the material being shown. Let’s start with what it does best. The QN80H handles popular films and series on streaming services very well — that is, material with a peak brightness of around 1000 nits. A good example is the scene with the soldier shown on the right of the comparison. Bright elements have the right intensity and a lot of detail remains visible. It is with this kind of content, which most people watch every day, that the QN80H shows its best side. Interestingly, the “HDR tone mapping” feature plays a big role here. With the QN80H, contrary to what we usually recommend for Samsung televisions, it’s worth setting it to active mode rather than static. This brings out considerably more detail in the picture while avoiding an excessive brightening of the whole scene.
So where does the QN80H meet its limits? It is certainly not a screen made for viewers seeking uncompromising quality from 4K Blu-rays or other productions mastered to extremely high peak brightnesses, for example 4000 nits. In such demanding films the tone-mapping algorithm often starts to struggle, which leads to noticeable loss of highlight detail. A good example is a scene from the film "Pan". The sun in the background is clearly blown out and almost completely loses its shape. The television tries to render the scene as brightly as possible but cannot preserve all the information contained in the material. This makes it quite clear that the QN80H was prepared primarily with typical HDR streaming content in mind. In that use it performs really well.
HDR luminance chart:
How the QN80H handles standard HDR10 largely depends on the particular film. Sometimes it’s really good, other times it can lose some detail in the brightest scenes. It looks much better with HDR10+, because then the TV gets additional information for each scene and doesn’t have to make all the decisions itself. In practice the picture is more detailed and bright elements less often appear blown out. One positive is that HDR10+ is not the exotic format it was a few years ago. It’s still less common than Dolby Vision, but it appears on many streaming platforms and is actually usable. Samsung still doesn’t support Dolby Vision, but in the case of the QN80H we wouldn’t see that as a major drawback. The differences between a well-executed HDR10+ and Dolby Vision are really small for most viewers.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
6.1/10
The factory settings of the QN80H performed really well, especially compared with the majority of TVs we receive for testing. Of course, our measurements were taken in Filmmaker Mode, and that's the mode we recommend turning on immediately after the initial setup. For SDR material, our sample was set up surprisingly well. The white balance was very even, colours looked natural, and errors were so small they were hard to notice without measurement equipment. The only weaker point was the gamma. In the brighter parts of the image the TV brightened them a little too much, which at times made the picture lose some depth. Still, we'd like most TVs to look this good straight out of the box.
It fared a little worse in HDR. The white balance was still set correctly, so the problem was not with the colours but with the way the QN80H managed image brightness. This was immediately visible on the EOTF chart. The TV brightened large parts of scenes too much, causing the brightest elements to clip. Interestingly, very small points were often dimmed too much at the same time. As a result, some fine details simply disappeared. So the factory Filmmaker mode in HDR is not bad, but it is definitely not as well calibrated as in SDR.
Color reproduction after calibration
8.2/10
We saw the biggest difference after calibration in HDR Filmmaker mode. SDR was already very good out of the box, so we didn't have much work to do there. In HDR, however, we managed to get to grips with the way the QN80H handled brightness, as it had been over-brightening most scenes. After calibration the picture is calmer, more natural and much closer to how a faithful image should look.
SAMSUNG QN80H - Smoothness of tonal transitions
9.5/10
The tonal transitions on the Samsung QN80H are very good. Colours of similar hues blend smoothly, without obvious banding, blotches or abrupt steps between successive gradations. Dark gradients look particularly good, for example shades of grey and transitions just above black. It’s in such areas that many televisions begin to show their weaknesses, whereas the QN80H handles them surprisingly well. Minor imperfections only appear in very bright scenes, where slight banding occasionally occurs. However, this is subtle enough that it shouldn’t bother anyone during normal viewing.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Digital image processing in the Samsung QN80H is handled by the second-generation NQ4 AI processor. It's a chip we already know from the manufacturer's earlier models, and it still performs very well, especially with lower-resolution content. The image is effectively upscaled to 4K, but without excessive sharpening and without giving the impression the TV is aggressively trying to improve the source material.
The "Noise Reduction" function also proves useful. It can noticeably reduce posterisation and visible banding in lower-quality material, particularly in low-bitrate streaming. However, it's important to remember that it does not work without side effects. It can remove some film grain and slightly smooth the image. So with a high-quality source we'd leave this function switched off. If, however, someone is more bothered by banding and uneven tonal transitions than by the loss of some grain, "Noise Reduction" can be a really useful addition.
SAMSUNG QN80H - Blur and motion smoothness
7.8/10
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: 70%
Motion handling and motion clarity on the QN80H are really good, mainly thanks to the fast panel. In 4K the screen refreshes at up to 144 Hz, and when switched to Full HD and connected to a PC it can reach as much as 240 Hz. That's new for Samsung TVs and a useful addition for people who want to use the TV for PC gaming as well. We were more interested, however, in how the QN80H performs at 120 Hz, because consoles use that refresh rate. Here it performs very well. The panel does not suffer greatly from the smearing typical of VA panels, and light trails behind moving objects are mainly visible on dark backgrounds. That said, it's nothing that would interfere with normal watching of sport or gaming. The TV also has a motion smoothing system that Samsung calls "Wyrazistością obrazu". You can adjust judder reduction and blur reduction separately, so it's easy to tailor its behaviour to films, sport or your own preferences.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Image flickers in this mode
Blur (4K@144Hz):
SAMSUNG QN80H - 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 Samsung QN80H is a TV that stands out when it comes to gaming features. The biggest new addition for 2026 is DLG mode, which allows refresh rates of up to 240 Hz when the image is switched to Full HD. It's an option aimed mainly at PC users, but it also shows that Samsung is still heavily developing the gaming side of its TVs. However, the list of advantages doesn't end there. The QN80H has four full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports, which is still not standard at this price point. So you can connect several consoles, a PC or a soundbar at the same time without having to wonder which port supports the full video capabilities. The TV also supports VRR, ALLM and HGiG, so it's hard to fault its basic feature set.
A downside is the lack of Dolby Vision, which may matter primarily to Xbox Series X owners. However, this is not a flaw that disqualifies the QN80H as a gaming TV. Samsung has a feature most manufacturers still lack: its proprietary motion smoothing, Game Motion Plus. It's a motion smoothing system that works in game mode too, allowing you to improve the smoothness of titles running at 30 or 60 frames per second without a drastic increase in input lag. In practice, Game Motion Plus can make a much bigger difference than the Dolby codec, especially in more demanding games that don't offer a 60 FPS mode. The image becomes noticeably smoother, while controls remain sufficiently responsive. So despite the lack of Dolby Vision, the QN80H remains one of the best-equipped gaming TVs in its class.
SAMSUNG QN80H - Input lag
10/10
Input lag on the QN80H is at a very good level. In Game Mode the delay is around 10 ms, which is exactly what we expect nowadays from the best gaming TVs. In that respect it’s hard to fault Samsung. Controls are responsive, controller movement is instantaneous and even more demanding players should not experience any discomfort. With the aforementioned Game Motion Plus enabled, input lag increases to about 45 ms. Of course this is a higher value, but still small enough that in more relaxed role‑playing or adventure games the feature remains fully usable, especially since in return you get a much smoother picture.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 11 ms | 2160p60: 11 ms | |
| 1080p120: 9 ms | 2160p120: 9 ms | |
| 2160p60: 11 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 9 ms |
SAMSUNG QN80H - 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): 9ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
The Samsung QN80H will also easily serve as a large monitor. Aside from the already mentioned 144 Hz refresh rate in 4K (and as much as 240 Hz in Full HD!), the TV offers a full set of gaming features, which when connected to a computer provides plenty of scope. When used for text work, the QN80H also performs very well. The panel used here has a classic, standard RGB pixel layout. Fonts are sharp, clean and very legible. There is no sign of jagged letter edges or strange, coloured outlines around the text. Of course, few people will probably buy such a large TV solely for office work. It is worth knowing, however, that the QN80H will handle such tasks without the slightest hesitation.
SAMSUNG QN80H - Viewing angles
3.2/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 83%
Viewing angles are unfortunately the Achilles' heel of the VA panel used here. On the one hand this panel gives the QN80H higher contrast and better blacks, but on the other hand it produces a noticeably worse image when viewed off-axis than TVs with IPS or ADS panels. If you sit a little to the side, colours start to lose saturation and blacks become lighter. The picture remains readable, but it no longer looks as good as when viewed from straight on. Therefore the QN80H will perform best when most viewers sit as close to the centre of the screen as possible.
SAMSUNG QN80H - Daytime performance
5.8/10
Panel finish: Satin
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Good
In terms of brightness for everyday SDR content the Samsung QN80H is a fairly modest television. In typical material it reaches around 460 nits. That may not be a record result, but it's easily enough for watching in a normally lit living room. However, the screen coating is less impressive. It's satin, so it copes with reflections better than a typical glossy panel, but it can still show them quite clearly. What is more, in this respect the QN80H performs a little worse than last year's QN80F. While there should be no problems in a moderately bright room, a large window (or a lamp) placed directly opposite the television can be highly distracting during viewing.
Panel brightness
Samsung QN80H: 459 cd/m2
SAMSUNG QN80H - TV features
7.3/10
System: Tizen
System performance: Very good
- HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- 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
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: Tizen
Samsung QN80H traditionally runs on Samsung's proprietary Tizen platform. This software is strongly focused on AI-based solutions and a whole range of other modern features. So things like AirPlay and phone screen mirroring (Screen Mirroring) work here without any problem. The system itself is fast, menu animations are smooth, and that's a clear plus. Tizen also includes many of Samsung's own solutions, led by the SmartThings app, which lets you conveniently manage smart devices throughout the home. Everything is controlled with a small, intuitive remote. Another major advantage is that Tizen is currently one of the longest-supported Smart TV platforms on the market. Samsung states it will support the device for up to 7 years from its launch.
Classic features
The situation is worse when it comes to more traditional TV features. What's missing? The QN80H doesn't allow recording TV programs to USB storage, so it lacks PVR functionality. There is also no classic remote with a numeric keypad, which may bother people who still like to change channels directly using numbers (without a set-top box). In this year's "80" series PIP is also missing, which was present in earlier models. So there's no way to display two images at once. It's clear that Samsung today is focusing more on online features than on solutions aimed at traditional TV users.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
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 QN80H - Apps
9.3/10
SAMSUNG QN80H - Playing files from USB
9.1/10
| 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 |
The built-in media player on the QN80H works very well. If you connect a USB stick or an external USB drive, you shouldn't have any major problems playing your own content. The TV supports most popular video, audio and photo formats. The only thing missing for it to be ideal is broader support for less common image formats. A good example is HEIC, which is often used by Apple devices. The QN80H may not be able to open such files.
SAMSUNG QN80H - Sound
7.1/10
86dB
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
In terms of audio the Samsung QN80H sounds relatively decent. The 2.0 speaker setup with a total power of 30 W isn't exactly spectacular compared with flagship models, but it's perfectly adequate for everyday TV watching, the news or basic TV series. If, however, you want a more cinematic experience, the set offers full support for Dolby Atmos. By connecting a suitable soundbar or speakers you can expect a more spacious sound. Additionally, Samsung supports Q-Symphony, which allows simultaneous playback from the TV's speakers and a compatible soundbar.
An interesting new feature is one based on artificial intelligence. It's a special sport-watching mode called "Football AI". It was created to use sliders to artificially boost the commentator's voice above the stadium noise or... quite the opposite: mute it and leave only the crowd. Although the algorithm can be a little "clumsy" at times, this feature can be a lifesaver. Especially if you happen to tune into a match with a commentator you particularly can't stand... 😉
Sound Quality Test:
Acoustic Measurements
86dBC (Max)
75dBC
SAMSUNG QN80H - Panel details
Software version during testing: 1122
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: Mini-LED QLED
Founder and originator of the "ChooseTV" portal
Journalist, reviewer, and columnist for the "ChooseTV" portal
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