The 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 proposition 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 work, display multimedia, and offer classic remote control operation with buttons – the Q6F might be an interesting option for you. It's a great choice for a senior or someone who needs a large screen "on the cheap" for daily television, where the IPS matrix and its good viewing angles really make a difference. However, we must be straightforward: the biggest drawback of 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 that we would recommend for 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, utilizing the full potential of this technology is practically impossible, as the device is technically not suited for such content. We know that it tempts with its very low price and may appeal to many people with modest requirements. However, you should know that the label "QLED" suggesting a premium product is far from what Samsung has accustomed us to in recent years. It's a ticket to the world of Samsung, but in a very basic version.
- Matching (Score) |
- Our verdict |
- 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 |
- Panel details |
- TV features |
- Apps |
- Playing files from USB |
- Sound
Samsung Q6F (IPS) vs Hisense A6Q
Direct comparison
Q6F
Available screen sizes: 55”
Panel type: LCD IPS
Resolution: 3840x2160
System: Tizen
Model year: 2025
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Panel type: LCD VA
Resolution: 3840x2160
System: VIDAA
Model year: 2025
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Overall rating
5.1
6.0
Movies and series in UHD quality 4.8
5.9
Classic TV, YouTube 4.7
5.8
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps) 4.9
5.0
Gaming on console 6.4
6.9
TV as a computer monitor 6.0
5.6
Watching in bright light 1.8
5.0
Utility functions 5.9
7.8
Apps 9.3
7.7
Sound quality 5.8
6.0
Complete the survey to find out what fits your preferences
Advantages
Tizen System: Works quickly, doesn't lag and
Large application library (Netflix, YouTube, HBO, Disney)
IPS matrix provides good image quality even when you are not sitting directly in front
Great font readability – good as a large monitor for text work
Basic gaming features: VRR and ALLM
Very low input lag
Senior-friendly remote: Classic layout with numeric buttons
Very attractive price
Disadvantages
A brightness level of 250 nits is not enough to feel any difference in HDR mode
Low contrast of the IPS panel ruins movie nights
An average brightness level of 150 nits during the day means you can hardly see anything in a sunny room
Lack of optical output
Infrared remote control (requires aiming at the screen)
Our verdict
TV appearance
Contrast and black detail
1.9/10
5.8/10
Local dimming function: No
Local dimming function: No
Contrast:
Result
900:1
Result
1,000:1
Result
1,050:1
Result
1,050:1
Result
900:1
Result
5,150:1
Result
5,550:1
Result
5,300:1
Result
5,800:1
Result
3,750:1
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
Check the visibility of bright lights on a dark background. Mini-LEDs often struggle with this. The photo does not compare black levels – that’s what the video below is for.
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.
Here it is clearly visible where the manufacturer decided to save money. The IPS panel used, despite the support of QLED technology, highlights problems with the lack of image depth. Results at the level of 1000:1 speak for themselves – the black in this model unfortunately resembles gray. You can try to save the situation by turning on the light in the room, and it's best to place it directly behind the television, which allows you to somewhat trick our eyes. However, regardless of what one might say, the contrast in the Q6F with the IPS panel is simply weak and this will be noticeable in dark scenes.
HDR effect quality
3/10
4.6/10
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
202 nit
Result
152 nit
Result
247 nit
Result
93 nit
Result
256 nit
Result
234 nit
Result
245 nit
Result
319 nit
Result
304 nit
Result
311 nit
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
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.
Static HDR10
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).
Dynamic: HDR10+
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).
HDR luminance chart:
Hisense A6Q
Samsung Q6F (IPS)
Unfortunately, the Samsung Q6F is a very dark model. Its peak brightness in HDR does not exceed 250 nits, which is definitely too low to even speak of any "high dynamic range" effect, or HDR. In practice, it's better to stick to content in SDR format, which simply looks more predictable on this TV. Another problem is the global dimming technique – in scenes with a lot of black, the TV drastically dims the entire panel to artificially improve the black levels. This causes the image to become even darker, and brightness can drop below 100 nits. The only consolation is the QLED technology, but even here it's average. The applied quantum dot layer is not top-notch, as the coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut does not exceed 90%. As a result, colors in HDR content may just seem under-saturated.
Factory color reproduction
5.1/10
4.3/10
This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.
Factory Mode
After calibration
This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.
Factory Mode
After calibration
We tested the television in Filmmaker mode, which showed us two completely different faces of this model. Looking at SDR content, we were honestly shocked at how good this TV looks straight out of the box. It was really hard to nitpick anything here. Despite a slight “haze” in the white balance or somewhat brightened details in the blacks (which directly results from the IPS panel's design), color errors hovered around the “2” level. This is surprisingly good, even outstanding, considering the price of this device.
On the other hand, what the Q6F displayed in terms of colors after switching to HDR mode was a very unpleasant surprise. The errors in color reproduction and palette were so huge that our charts literally ran out of scale. Of course, since Samsung even in such an inexpensive model offers very advanced calibration possibilities, we decided to approach the subject professionally and check what could be done about it during calibration.
Color reproduction after calibration
6.5/10
7.5/10
The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.
The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.
After our calibration, the colors in SDR mode looked even better – the result is quite surprising, as color errors at level "1" are something usually seen in devices costing several thousand dollars. In this regard, the Q6F is really a great screen for everyday television, less demanding series, or movies. Unfortunately, our interference in HDR mode did not bring about a noticeable improvement. The television, due to its poor black levels and low coverage of a wide color gamut, still has significant problems with proper color saturation, especially red. This is an example of a device where HDR mainly exists as a label on the box – for everyday use, we definitely recommend watching content in SDR format.
Smoothness of tonal transitions
9/10
7.6/10
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.
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.
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.
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.
Samsung Q6F handles the phenomenon of posterization very well. In most scenes, the color transitions are smooth and there are no problematic "steppings" when blending colors. Only in very extreme moments, especially in scenes with brightness close to pure gray, can slight banding be noticed. Although, to be honest, we personally found the issue of slight clouding (uneven backlighting) and the poor contrast of the IPS panel to be much more bothersome than the tonal transitions themselves.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
5/10
5/10
Smooth transition function
The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video.
Image scaling SD (576i)
The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.
The Q6F handles upscaling lower resolution content to native 4K very well. The scaling is surprisingly good here, even for such a budget TV from the QLED series. The only downside is when we watch very low-resolution material, like 576p (typical for old DVD players) – then the image may be slightly cropped. This is because the TV does not allow for the Overscan feature to be turned off, which is a common issue with Samsung devices.
The situation is completely different when it comes to digital processing, which is the attempt to smooth the image from unwanted artifacts. Here, the TV completely fails. Although we find a function in the menu called "Noise Reduction", it yields no visible results regardless of the slider setting. The only thing it seems to do is introduce unwanted errors into the image. Despite its presence in the system, we definitely do not recommend using it.
Blur and motion smoothness
4.6/10
4.3/10
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Image flickers in this mode
Blur ():
Blur (1080p@120Hz):
The 60 Hz panel in the Samsung Q6F is the standard in this price range, which makes it a rather average model for dynamic sports or gaming. However, in the case of movies, the TV performs quite well thanks to the smoothing feature. The "Motion Smoothing" option allows you to adjust the fluidity of motion to your own preferences – from maintaining a cinematic feel to full fluidity.
Console compatibility and gaming features
5.3/10
6.3/10
- ALLM
- VRR
- VRR range48 - 60Hz48 - 60Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode
- Correct implementation of HGIG
- 1080p@120Hz
- 1440p@120Hz
- 4K@120Hz
- Game bar
We won’t beat around the bush – the Q6F is not a television designed with gamers in mind. While it does have features like ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR frame synchronization for consoles, the list of benefits pretty much ends there. Besides these basics, the TV offers nothing more that might satisfy those who spend a lot of time in front of a console. It’s a real shame that such a useful tool as Game Bar is missing here, which in Samsung’s higher models allows for quick control of game parameters. In terms of gaming, this is an absolutely basic model and is only suitable for "casual" gamers.
Input lag
10/10
9.7/10
SDR
HDR
Dolby Vision
As a consolation for the modest list of features for gamers, it's 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 controls are very precise and comfortable, which is a significant advantage in this class of equipment.
Compatibility with PC
6/10
5.6/10
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.
Although the Q6F is not a screen specifically designed for PC gaming, it deserves praise for how it handles displaying fonts. As a monitor for text work, browsing websites, or daily news reading, the television performs exceptionally well. The readability of 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 a budget-friendly, large screen for office work, the Q6F holds up quite well in this regard. Especially since Samsung offers very good integration with the Windows system and built-in Microsoft Office tools.
Viewing angles
5.6/10
3.1/10
Viewing angles are one of the better aspects of the Q6F model, which is directly attributed to the use of an IPS panel. They are much better than those found in televisions based on VA panels. As a result, the image viewed at an angle remains clear and does not become "washed out" or faded. However, it is worth noting that although the colors look really good, the brightness drop at a larger angle is quite noticeable. Nevertheless, this is a solid performance for those who do not always sit directly in front of the screen.
Daytime performance
1.8/10
5/10
Panel brightness
Hisense A6Q: 341 cd/m2
Samsung Q6F (IPS): 125 cd/m2
There’s not much to say – aside from the satin coating of the panel, which dampens reflections only moderately, the Q6F is such a dark device that it’s not suitable even for moderately lit rooms. A brightness level of around 150 nits is simply astronomically low by today’s standards. With such a result, any larger light source in the room will make the picture hard to read. This is definitely not a model for a sunlit living room.
Panel details
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Samsung Q6F (IPS)
Hisense A6Q
TV features
5.9/10
7.8/10
- HDMI inputs3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.13 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
- Other inputsRCA (Chinch)
- OutputseARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
- Network InterfacesWi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100MbpsWi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV receptionDVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-CDVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
- Recording programming
- Picture in Picture (PiP)
- RF remote control (no need to aim)
- Backlit remote control
- Teletext
- Audio only mode
- Bluetooth headphones support
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
Smart features:
- AirPlay
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
- Voice search
- Voice search in native language
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
It's really cool that in Samsung TVs – even the most budget-friendly ones – the Tizen system just "doesn't slow down." The speed of operation, while not on par with 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's worth mentioning that the remote that comes with the Q6F is an older, yet somewhat modernized version of the classic Samsung infrared controller, equipped with a full numeric keypad. Even though it operates on infrared, it has a lot of buttons, which may 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 a senior's dream come true, and there really is something to it.
However, we must note a serious lack in terms of connections: this model does not have an optical output for audio devices. Only the HDMI eARC port is available, which can be quite a hindrance if we have an external audio system.
Apps
9.3/10
7.7/10
Playing files from USB
9.3/10
8.3/10
Supported photo formats:
Maximum photo resolution:
When it comes to multimedia support from external sources, the Samsung Q6F performs exceptionally well, especially considering that we are dealing with a closed system. The television has no issues with most popular video, audio, or image 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 movie archives or home photo galleries.
Sound
5.8/10
6/10
- Maximum volume-86dB
- 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. At the same time, however, the sound is clear and loud enough that it is perfectly suitable for listening to the news or regular television. The voices of the narrators are understandable and don’t fade into the background. However, if someone cares about at least decent experiences while watching movies, we definitely recommend purchasing a soundbar. Even the cheapest model from the Korean manufacturer's offering will make a huge difference here and save the situation.
Sound Quality Test
Acoustic Measurements
0dBC (Max)
75dBC
86dBC (Max)
75dBC