Ignacy Giżyński
The portal RTINGS published some time ago a test of the Samsung QN90F television, thus confirming the rumors that have been circulating for several weeks: the TV department at Samsung Electronics is making significant cuts and is trying to create more affordable televisions. The QN90F is the direct successor to our highly rated model QN90D/QN92D – one of the best 4K MiniLED televisions from last year. The most important changes? This time Samsung has used a matte panel! Yes, you read that correctly – a matte finish is making its way to standard 4K models, not just to the premium 8K versions or lifestyle models like The Frame.
Samsung consistently implements this "innovation" in subsequent series – but did such a change benefit the QN90F? Let's check the initial test results together and see what the new representative of the Neo QLED series has gained and what it has lost.
Matte Matrix – the biggest change in QN90F
The biggest and most noticeable change compared to its predecessor is the use of a new matte panel, very similar to the one found in lifestyle models like The Frame or this year's Samsung OLEDs S95D and S95F. It has a special anti-reflective coating that brilliantly reduces light reflections, particularly point sources – from lamps, windows, or the sun. This is a great solution for those who can't stand seeing their own lamp reflected on the screen – the television looks much cleaner and clearer in bright rooms. But – as always – there's a trade-off.
As we've frequently mentioned in our tests, the matte coating also has its downsides. In typical daytime use, colors can seem less saturated, and black may lose depth, especially when watching on very bright days. It's a compromise that you need to take into account. You have to assess what you prefer.
Contrast – still good, but... it's a clear step back
Another significant change in the QN90F unfortunately does not inspire much optimism. This time, we are dealing with something that can be linked to budget cuts and simplification of the design – we are talking about weaker contrast caused by a smaller number of local dimming zones.
For reference – in our tests, last year's QN90D was able to achieve almost infinite contrast in some scenes, comparable to OLEDs. Of course, we are still talking about MiniLEDs, so there were typical limitations, such as slightly lower brightness of very small, bright objects – but overall, the contrast was absolutely outstanding.
In the case of the QN90F, we unfortunately have to consider a certain downgrade. RTINGS indicates that although the contrast is still very good for an LCD TV with local dimming, it is clearly worse than its predecessor. Most users will probably be satisfied anyway – but if someone was counting on a level close to OLED or at least similar to its predecessor, they may unfortunately feel a slight disappointment.
QLED or not QLED? That is the question
Although the Samsung QN90F still belongs to the QLED family and therefore uses quantum dot technology, which theoretically should increase color saturation and range, unfortunately – in practice it performs worse than its predecessor. The dots are there, but the coverage of the DCI-P3 color palette is only about 85%, which – for a television of this class – is merely an average result. In comparison: the QN90D achieved around 95%, meaning this year's model has lost as much as 10 percentage points! For the average viewer, this may not be a dramatic difference, but those expecting to fully harness the potential of HDR or looking for intense, vibrant colors may feel somewhat disappointed again.
QN90F will probably be a hit for gamers!
Samsung QN90F, like most Samsung televisions, is designed with gamers in mind. It features a refresh rate of up to 165 Hz! Of course, PC gamers will benefit the most from this, but it's a nice upgrade! Additionally, it includes the well-known and beloved motion smoother Motion Game Plus, which also works in games! In terms of responsiveness and speed, the QN90F is looking really good. It also comes with the Xbox Game Pass app, which allows for cloud gaming without a console and without the need to install games. All you need is a controller and a subscription, just like in other Samsung models from last year.
But—here's a small catch—RTINGS noticed some issues with contrast in the "Game" mode. The black levels lose depth, and the contrast is noticeably weaker than in other modes. What does that mean? It's hard to say—perhaps Samsung will fix this with an update, or maybe it's just another limitation compared to its predecessor.
Was it worth cutting Samsung?
Looking at the QN90F, it's hard not to get the impression that Samsung has deliberately "slimmed down" this model compared to its predecessor. Fewer dimming zones, lower contrast, weaker color coverage – these are not random decisions. It's a shame because the QN90D was one of the best MiniLEDs on the market, with specifications so good that it realistically competed even with OLEDs, at least for some customers.
And perhaps this is where the problem lies. Last year, the QN90D often cost more than its OLED counterpart – the S90D model, and as we know: at a similar price point, most people simply choose OLED. The QN90F seems to be a step towards "complementarity" – intended to be a supplement to the lineup rather than a rival to its own OLEDs. It’s also possible that Samsung is trying to better prepare for the growing offensive from brands like TCL or Hisense, which are aggressively entering the market with increasingly better (and cheaper) MiniLEDs. The QN90F could therefore be a strategic response – a more accessible model, though less spectacular, but with a unique matte panel.
Is this a good decision? It's hard to say. If the price is indeed more attractive than last year, the TV could find quite a few buyers. But if the differences in quality prove to be too significant and the price remains at the same level as in the QN90D, then customers may look towards competition from China.
In the meantime, we invite you to our market analysis of Samsung's clearance models (and others) – perhaps it's the perfect opportunity to snag a 2024 TV at an exceptionally attractive price!
