Samsung QN900D Neo QLED 8K vs Samsung R95H Micro RGB

Under synthetic testing conditions, the television showcased its impressive light output, achieving 1400 nits, which is undeniably remarkable. This capability was also evident in the opening scene of Life of Pi, featuring a vibrant sunrise. However, due to certain dimming algorithm issues, some drawbacks are noticeable. For instance, in test scenes from Sicario 2 and the second scene of Life of Pi, the brightness levels dropped to an average of 500-600 nits. While this performance isn't poor by Mini LED standards, expectations were higher given the premium price of the TV. Nonetheless, the set should be commended for covering a wide colour gamut of DCI-P3 at around 96%. Although some technologies offer higher coverage, this is still a commendable result.

In terms of brightness the Samsung R95H shows that we’re still dealing with a top-tier TV, although the results aren’t always as spectacular as you might expect from a flagship Micro RGB model. In synthetic tests the TV can exceed 2,400 nits, so it definitely has plenty of headroom. Importantly, it can sustain high brightness even when bright elements occupy a larger portion of the screen. In real movie scenes the situation is a bit more complex. The R95H most often reaches around 1,000 to 1,400 nits, which still delivers a very good, strong HDR effect. Bright sunlight, reflections, or lights can look truly impressive, and the TV has enough power for HDR to be clearly distinguishable from regular SDR.

The problem appears mainly in very dark scenes with single, small light sources. Here the local dimming algorithm favors deep blacks and reducing the halo over maximizing the brightness of such elements. As a result, small lights can be noticeably dimmed. Overall HDR performs well, but not without limitations. The R95H has huge brightness headroom, especially in larger and brighter parts of the image, but in difficult, dark scenes its capabilities are mainly limited by how the local dimming operates.

Colors

Colors were meant to be the biggest revolution enabled by the RGB backlight, and the R95H does show considerable potential here. The assessment is not, however, as simple as synthetic measurements might suggest. On test charts the TV performs superbly. BT.2020 coverage reaches almost 94%, and DCI-P3 98%, so especially strongly saturated reds and greens can look really impressive. The picture changes a bit when, instead of test charts, we start measuring real movie scenes. Then BT.2020 coverage drops to about 87% and DCI-P3 to 93%. It seems that with more complex imagery the RGB zones are not always able to maintain the same high color saturation as on simple charts. They are still saturated, but the advantage of the new backlight is no longer as large as the manufacturer's numbers might suggest.

The television includes a Filmmaker mode, intended to present films in the most authentic way possible, but it does come with some issues. For HD content, the white balance shows a dominance of red and blue, giving the image a pinkish hue. Conversely, for 4K HDR content, the levels of blue and red drop, resulting in a warming effect that shifts colours towards yellow tones. Colour Checker tests confirm this tendency, with colour samples visibly drifting in this direction.

In terms of brightness and contrast, the gamma is notably disrupted. The main issue is a marked spike at the start of the graph, indicating that dark details are excessively brightened, which reduces depth in the darkest parts of the image due to zone dimming. For 4K HDR content, the EOTF curve performs reasonably well but falls below the reference level, affecting the overall image dynamics.

To assess factory color reproduction, we of course chose Filmmaker mode, the setting that's supposed to be closest to how the creators intended the image to look. Unfortunately, the R95H does not fully exploit the potential of its panel. The biggest issue in SDR is the gamma. The image is noticeably brightened across almost the entire range, which robs it of some depth and makes it look flatter than it should. The white balance isn't ideal either, as increasing brightness brings a red bias and a lack of blue, making the image too warm. This is especially visible in bright elements and skin tones, which can appear redder than they should.

It's similar in HDR. The EOTF curve sits above the reference value for much of the range, so the R95H again brightens the image compared with how it should look. Combined with the inaccurate white balance, this means colors here are not as precise as we'd expect from a TV of this class. The factory Filmmaker setup is therefore not one of the R95H's strengths. At first glance the picture may look impressive because it's bright and highly saturated, but in terms of fidelity to the source material there is still plenty of room for improvement.

After calibration, the Filmmaker mode truly lives up to its name. The white balance for both HD and 4K HDR content has been significantly improved, resulting in more natural and consistent colours. The pink hues in HD content and the yellow tint in 4K HDR have been effectively eliminated, enhancing the realism of the image. As a result, the television now offers much better colour reproduction, positively impacting the overall viewing experience.

However, when it comes to brightness, the gamma curve now reveals a noticeable drop at the beginning, making the darkest details more difficult to discern. The EOTF curve for 4K HDR content remains largely unchanged and still falls short of the reference level, meaning the television continues to struggle with maintaining appropriate brightness. This issue is tied to the aggressive dimming algorithm, which affects overall brightness and black levels.

Despite the limitations associated with local dimming, the television has seen an improvement in colour reproduction quality. The Color Checker test results confirm that the colour samples are now much closer to the standards, resulting in a more natural and visually pleasing image.

R95H responds very well to calibration. In SDR we were able to set the white balance and gamma almost perfectly, and color errors dropped to very low levels. The difference compared with the factory settings is therefore considerable, and after calibration the picture looks much more natural. In HDR we can also improve a lot, especially regarding white balance and overall color accuracy. The issue of managing brightness and color saturation looks a bit different. Here, at some point we run into limitations resulting from the way RGB backlighting and local dimming work. Individual zones have to control both brightness and the color of the light at the same time, so in more demanding scenes it is not always possible to achieve exactly the same saturation and brightness that the TV shows on simple test patterns. Calibration simply can't completely overcome that. Despite this, after calibration the R95H delivers accurate image reproduction, and most of the errors we saw in the factory settings can be effectively eliminated.

The smoothness of tonal transitions in lower-quality materials looks great – the Noise Reduction function effectively smooths tonal transitions while eliminating film grain. Although removing grain is not always desired, the final effect looks very aesthetic, especially for those who prefer a cleaner image.

As for upscaling, the Samsung QN900D demonstrates the enormous capabilities of the new AI technology processor. Photos and materials in lower resolution are upscaled while retaining many details – for example, a photo with a model looks great, devoid of unnecessary jagged edges, and the branches in the background are not overly aliased.

Samsung R95H uses the new Micro RGB AI Processor, but in practice we didn't notice a big leap compared to the NQ4 AI Gen2 or Gen3 chips found in the manufacturer's other TVs. The upscaling itself still performs very well. The image is appropriately smoothed, yet retains plenty of sharpness and doesn't look overly soft. That's definitely one of Samsung's strengths. It's just a shame that with very low-resolution content you still can't completely turn off overscan.

The processor also handles gradients well and can effectively smooth unwanted posterization. The noise reduction feature works very effectively, but you need to use it judiciously. At higher settings it can noticeably interfere with the image and even remove natural film grain. So it's best to use it only when the source material is actually heavily compressed.

The Samsung QN900D is currently the fastest television in the world – quite literally. With an impressive refresh rate of 240 Hz at 4K resolution, it offers a remarkable performance that PC gamers will undoubtedly appreciate. Movie enthusiasts will also find much to admire, as Samsung provides a 10-level scale in the picture clarity settings, allowing for extensive image customisation. Users can choose whether they want the television to deliver a smoother, more fluid effect at the highest settings, or a more cinematic experience with visible frames at the lowest settings.

The Samsung R95H has a 165 Hz panel, so its motion handling is excellent. At 120 Hz, like when gaming on a console or watching sports, motion blur is minimal, and when connected to a PC you can use the full 165 Hz to further improve motion clarity. However, keep in mind that it’s still a VA panel, so it doesn’t respond as instantly as OLED. You may sometimes notice a faint trail behind moving objects, but from a normal viewing distance this shouldn’t be distracting. For movies and series you can also use the adjustable motion smoothing. You can keep the more cinematic 24 fps look or gradually smooth the motion if you prefer a smoother image. Samsung gives you plenty of freedom here, and it’s easy to choose a setting that matches your preferences.

The Samsung QN900D is excellent for console gaming, packed with features gamers will truly appreciate. It comes with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, but they do not support the full 48 Gb/s bandwidth. However, for most users, this bandwidth is more than adequate. The TV also supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which ensures smoother gameplay and eliminates screen tearing during fast-paced action. Features like G-Sync and FreeSync are also supported, enhancing compatibility with both consoles and PCs equipped with compatible graphics cards, helping to reduce stuttering and provide a smooth image.

A standout feature exclusive to Samsung is the Xbox Game Pass app, allowing users to stream games directly to the TV without needing an Xbox console. This is a very convenient option for gamers who want to enjoy their favourite games without purchasing additional hardware. The Samsung QN900D also features a Game Bar, which provides quick access to gaming-related settings, making it easy to configure the TV for optimal performance.

The Auto Motion Plus Game function offers a special motion smoothing mode that increases the frame rate (up to 4K@60Hz). Importantly, this does not raise input lag significantly, so players can enjoy smoother visuals without sacrificing responsiveness. With all these features, the Samsung QN900D is a top-tier choice for gamers seeking a television with the best possible specifications.

When it comes to gaming the Samsung R95H is almost a complete TV. When you connect a PS5 or Xbox Series X you can use 4K at 120 Hz, VRR and ALLM, and the TV also works properly with HGiG. The only major omission is Dolby Vision Gaming, which Samsung, like with its other TVs, simply does not support. There's also the Game Bar, familiar from other Samsung models, which lets you quickly check frame rate, VRR status or the HDR format and change the most important settings without leaving the game. You can also brighten darker parts of the image or change the screen aspect ratio.

Samsung also offers Game Motion Plus, a motion smoothing feature designed specifically for games. It makes the most sense for games running at 30 fps, where it can noticeably improve smoothness and make camera movement look much nicer. Just remember this comes at the cost of higher input lag (about 60 ms), so it's not the best choice for online or faster paced games. It's also worth noting Gaming Hub, which lets you run some games directly from the cloud without connecting a console. In terms of features for gamers, it's hard to find any major omissions in the R95H.