Samsung M80H Review

Item: Samsung M80H
Rating: 6.9

M80H / M86H

Available screen sizes:

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This TV was tested by:

Maciej Koper

Paweł Koper

Michał Wołoszyn

Last updated:

9/2/2026 05:24 PM

This review is an English translation of the Polish original. Read the original on Wybierz.tv.

Samsung M80H is the top model in the manufacturer's new budget Mini-LED TV series for 2026. The designation itself, however, suggests that it is not a successor to the well-known Neo QLED models, but an attempt to bring Mini-LED backlighting to a noticeably cheaper part of the lineup. The only question is how many of the capabilities of the pricier designs have been retained here and whether this really is the Mini-LED TV we've known so far.

SAMSUNG M80H - Our verdict

6.9

Overall rating

The M80H shows its strengths where motion matters most. A fast panel, a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz, and relatively low motion blur make sports and fast-paced games look really good. In this respect the TV can even beat some significantly more expensive Samsung LCD models. Gamers also get low input lag, three full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, and Game Motion Plus, which can improve the smoothness of games running at 30 or 60 frames. When connected to a PC you can also use a 240 Hz refresh rate, although only at Full HD resolution. A big plus for the M80H is the NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, which was until recently used in higher-tier Samsung series. It handles lower-resolution content well and can enhance the look of weaker sports broadcasts or heavily compressed footage. The extra image-enhancing features do produce a visible effect, although at higher settings they become too strong and start to interfere with the picture's natural look. Still, they are worth listing as an advantage, since in the cheapest TVs similar solutions often matter much less.

What raises the most concerns is the M80H being called a Mini-LED TV. It does not have local dimming, the feature that usually accounts for the biggest benefit of this technology. Brightness of around 350 nits also does not allow for particularly striking HDR. In terms of picture quality the M80H is therefore much closer to basic LCD TVs than to more advanced Neo QLED models like the QN80H. That does not mean movies look bad on it. The VA panel provides decent contrast, and the PFS filter delivers attractive, saturated colors. You should be aware, however, that the lack of local dimming clearly limits the TV's picture-quality capabilities. The M80H is therefore not a model that demonstrates the full potential of Mini-LED backlighting.

It will perform much better in the hands of a gamer or sports fan for whom panel speed, low input lag, and extensive gaming features are most important. If its price remains significantly lower than models equipped with local dimming, that compromise may be a sensible choice for that group of users.

Advantages

Three HDMI 2.1 ports with support for VRR and ALLM
Dedicated motion smoothing for gamers: Game Motion Plus
Low input lag
High refresh rates: 4K 144 Hz and Full HD 240 Hz
Decent contrast thanks to a VA panel
Minimal smearing for a VA panel
Rich colors thanks to the PFS filter (a different kind of QLED 😉)
Good digital image processing for this segment
Fast Tizen OS with a wide selection of apps

Disadvantages

No local dimming despite being labeled Mini-LED!
Low brightness: 350 nits
No support for Dolby Vision and DTS:X
No Toslink optical audio output

Movies and series in UHD quality

6.5
Classic TV, YouTube

6.6
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

6.7
Gaming on console

8.8
TV as a computer monitor

8.9
Watching in bright light

5.0
Utility functions

7.3
Apps

9.3
Sound quality

6.0

SAMSUNG M80H - Competing TVs in this price range

7.0

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SAMSUNG M80H - TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 3 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps

Build quality: Average

Stand type: Legs

Bezel color: Graphite

Review Samsung M80H Appearance of the TV

Stand: Fixed

Flat design: No

Accessories: Stand

M80H is a mid-range TV and you can see that in its build quality. From the front it looks fine: slim bezels on three sides and a classic thicker bottom bezel. There aren't, however, any elements that would particularly catch the eye. The more budget-oriented nature of the design is revealed mainly by the back of the cabinet. The M80H isn't as slim as Samsung's more expensive TVs, and its shape strongly resembles last year's Crystal UHD models and the cheapest QLEDs. The distinctive rear bulge also means that when wall-mounted the screen won't sit very close to the wall. The set comes with simple plastic feet that can't be adjusted for width or height. Overall the build quality is acceptable, but the M80H is not a premium product. It's just a properly made TV. That's it.

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Samsung M80H (paid link)

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SAMSUNG M80H - Contrast and black detail

Viewing mode Game mode

6.3/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Local dimming function: No

Review Samsung M80H Contrast and black detail

Result

5,950:1

Result

7,150:1

Result

8,150:1

Result

7,850:1

Result

5,550:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

Samsung M80H is an LCD TV that, according to the manufacturer, uses Mini-LED backlighting. And maybe smaller LEDs placed directly behind the screen are indeed used here, but it's not the same type of Mini-LED we know from more expensive TVs. The M80H lacks local dimming, so the backlight cannot independently control the brightness of individual parts of the image. Black levels are quite decent, mainly thanks to the VA-type panel used. Depending on the scene, our measured contrast was about 5500:1 to over 8000:1. For a TV without local dimming, those are good results, and it's exactly in such designs that VA panels have a considerable advantage over IPS/ADS panels. It's worth noting that part of the results exceed the native contrast of the panel itself, which is about 5000:1. Samsung has implemented a global dimming feature. When there's a lot of black on the screen, the TV dims the entire backlight, making dark areas look deeper. However, this comes at the cost of the brightness of the rest of the image. The M80H therefore won't strongly brighten a small bright spot while maintaining deep black around it; it dims or brightens the whole screen.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

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.

SAMSUNG M80H - HDR effect quality

Viewing mode Game mode

4.7/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Samsung M80H Brightness measurement

Result

288 nit

Result

340 nit

Result

349 nit

Result

345 nit

Result

364 nit

The M80H is not one of the brightest TVs. Its peak brightness is around 350 nits and we saw similar results in most of our test scenes. That's not enough to produce genuinely impressive HDR — bright highlights lack punch and the overall image is a bit too dark. In practice, HDR on the M80H resembles a well-presented SDR image more than clearly more dynamic wide-range content. The picture can still look fine, but it's hard to point to strong specular highlights, clearly bright light sources, or an effect that immediately separates HDR from ordinary content.

Colors

One of the M80H's strengths is its color. The TV uses a PFS-based backlight filter, which allows it to display a significantly wider color gamut than a standard LCD screen without filters. Our measurements confirm this — the M80H covers about 96% of the DCI-P3 gamut and 72% of BT.2020. Those are very good results, which let the colors appear strongly saturated. Samsung's policy here is interesting. The M80H is not part of the QLED family, even though in terms of color it is practically on par with models carrying that label. From an image-quality standpoint, that doesn't matter much; the colors are simply good.

BT.2020 color gamut coverage and primary color luminance

Data set	BT.2020	P3	R	G	B
Synthetic patterns	72.3%	96.2%	52%	56%	62%
Film measurements	72.3%	96.2%	52%	55%	61%

BT.2020 and P3 – average color gamut coverage (percent of the target gamut).

R, G, B – average primary color luminance relative to target (percent).

Synthetic data Film – large field Film – small field

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Review Samsung M80H section HDR effect quality, scene “Pan”

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

Review Samsung M80H section HDR effect quality, scene “Billy Lynn”

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.

With material mastered to 1000 nits the M80H does quite well. The image is slightly brightened but still looks decent. The brightest elements fare a bit worse. In the fireworks scene from Billy Lynn the individual bursts aren't as well separated and in places start to merge. Even so, the effect is fairly attractive, especially given that the M80H reaches about 350 nits, meaning it's almost three times dimmer than the content assumes. Bigger problems appear in scenes that require brightness well above 1000 nits. A good example is a sequence from the film Pan, mastered to around 2800 nits. With static tone mapping the TV brightens the whole image too much, making the scene flat and lacking contrast. Such demanding material doesn't look its best on the M80H. In those scenes the TV benefits from having dynamic tone mapping set to the "Active" level. For material up to 1000 nits the situation is reversed and a more natural image is achieved with the "Static" setting. Since content mastered to 1000 nits is much more common, for example on streaming platforms, we recommend leaving it set that way permanently.

HDR luminance chart:

For the M80H, HDR10+ can really make a difference. The dynamic metadata helps preserve more detail in the brightest parts of the picture, which is clearly visible next to the same material played back in HDR10. That doesn't change the fact that the TV itself is fairly dim, but in more challenging scenes the image simply looks better. It's a shame Samsung doesn't support Dolby Vision. On a model like this it would be useful, especially since there's still more Dolby Vision content than HDR10+. The difference may not be as large as it was a few years ago, but it's still noticeable.

Static HDR10

Dynamic: HDR10+

Review Samsung M80H section HDR effect quality, 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).

SAMSUNG M80H - Smoothness of tonal transitions

9.8/10

The smoothness of tonal transitions on the M80H is nearly perfect. Posterization is practically non-existent, and successive shades blend very smoothly in both bright and dark scenes. We didn't notice any obvious color banding, even in the sky or in smoke scenes. If the image looks worse in dark shots, that's not due to gradation issues. What becomes more apparent are the backlight limitations and the lack of local dimming, which keep blacks from having proper depth.

Review Samsung M80H Smoothness of tonal transitions — 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.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7/10

Smooth transition function

Review Samsung M80H section Upscaling and digital image processing, match photo

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video. The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

Although the M80H is positioned fairly low in Samsung's lineup, the manufacturer equipped it with one of its stronger processors, NQ4 AI Gen2. The same chip can be found in Neo QLED TVs and the lower-tier OLED S85H. That's good news, because the processor does a very good job improving weaker source material. Upscaling performs best. Low-resolution content is displayed properly, and edges don't look overly jagged. Of course the TV won't create details that aren't in the source, but regular broadcast TV and older recordings look decent on it. One drawback is overscan, that is, edge cropping, which cannot be fully disabled. The tonal transition smoothing feature, the so-called noise reduction, also works well. The processor can effectively reduce visible signs of heavy compression, but it does so not without side effects. At higher settings it can overly smooth the image, remove some fine detail, and even eliminate film grain. Therefore we recommend using this feature primarily for content that actually has problems with heavy compression and posterization.

SAMSUNG M80H - Blur and motion smoothness

7.9/10

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: 48%

Review Samsung M80H Blur and motion smoothness — The photo presents the motion smoothing settings in the tested TV.

The M80H performs very well for watching sports and gaming. The TV is equipped with a panel with a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz at 4K, and when the resolution is lowered to Full HD it can handle up to 240 Hz. PC gamers will benefit most from the latter option.

The panel also handles 120 Hz content well, which matters especially for console gaming. The high refresh rate is useful for watching sports too, and motion blur is relatively low. That’s important because VA panels are not known for the best results in this respect. With the M80H, fast-moving objects do not produce a very noticeable trail.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Image flickers in this mode

Blur (4K@240Hz):

The 240 Hz mode improves motion clarity, provided the PC delivers a sufficiently high frame rate. However, it does not change pixel response time, so the smearing typical of VA panels may still be visible. Also keep in mind that in this mode you can't use motion smoothing, so it's primarily intended for fast PC games rather than watching sports.

SAMSUNG M80H - 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 M80H can be a very good choice for gamers on a slightly smaller budget. Feature-wise it offers essentially the same as Samsung's much more expensive TVs. All three HDMI inputs support HDMI 2.1, so even if one is taken by a soundbar connected via eARC there’s still room for a PC and consoles. There’s also VRR up to 144 Hz at 4K and up to 240 Hz in Full HD. Samsung has properly implemented HGiG as well, so after performing HDR calibration on the console, games are appropriately matched to the screen’s capabilities. That won’t make the M80H any brighter, but at least it won’t unnecessarily wash out the brightest parts of the image. There’s also a Game Bar for quick access to the most important settings and a Gaming Hub that lets you play in the cloud without a console. The M80H also includes Game Motion Plus, which creates extra frames and improves the smoothness of games running at 30 or 60 fps. Input lag then rises to about 59 ms, but it’s still roughly three times lower than with the typical motion smoothing on other manufacturers’ TVs. We don’t really recommend it for online multiplayer, but in more relaxed titles it can work very well.

SAMSUNG M80H - Input lag

9.9/10

Input lag on the M80H is very low. With a 60 Hz signal it's about 14 ms, and at 120 Hz it drops to 9-10 ms. The lag is therefore practically imperceptible, whether you're playing in SDR or HDR.

SDR	HDR	Dolby Vision
1080p60: 14 ms	2160p60: 14 ms
1080p120: 10 ms	2160p120: 9 ms
2160p60: 14 ms
2160p120: 10 ms

SAMSUNG M80H - 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): 10ms

Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB

Max refresh rate: 144Hz

G-Sync: Yes

Review Samsung M80H section Computer compatibility, font readability test — 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.

The M80H also works very well as a computer monitor. Gamers can use 4K resolution at 144 Hz with VRR and G-Sync, and input lag in PC mode is about 10 ms. A Full HD mode at 240 Hz is also available. The TV correctly displays chroma 4:4:4 at the maximum resolution and refresh rate. Combined with a classic RGB subpixel layout, this provides very good font legibility for both light and dark text. The M80H is therefore suitable not only for gaming but also for everyday desk work.

SAMSUNG M80H - Viewing angles

3.1/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 84%

Viewing angles are one of the weaker points of the M80H. The TV uses a VA panel, which delivers better blacks and higher contrast than an IPS panel, but it looks worse when viewed from the side. Sit at a wider angle and colors start to lose saturation, blacks become noticeably lighter, and the whole image looks more washed out. That's a typical trade-off with this type of panel. The M80H is therefore best used when watched straight on or from only a slight angle.

SAMSUNG M80H - Daytime performance

5/10

Panel finish: Satin

Reflection suppression: Decent

Black levels during daytime: Good

In a bright room the M80H performs adequately but without much fanfare. Its satin coating reasonably reduces reflections, though with large windows or lamps placed opposite the screen they will still be visible. The blacks are a plus; they don’t become excessively gray when the lights are turned on. SDR brightness is about 345 nits and remains stable regardless of the scene being shown. In a typical living room that should be enough for comfortable daytime viewing. In a room with very strong sunlight, however, the picture may not be vivid enough.

Panel brightness

Samsung M80H: 345 cd/m2

SAMSUNG M80H - TV features

7.3/10

System: Tizen

System performance: Very good

HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 3 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
Outputs: 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): 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 system

The M80H runs Tizen, the same system used across Samsung TVs. It's fast, stable, and offers all the most popular streaming apps, so you don't have to worry that a lower-tier model would be missing any major services. It also supports AirPlay, Miracast, and voice search. The TV works with SmartThings, so you can use it to control smart home devices.

TV features

Conventional TV features are weaker. The M80H doesn't allow recording programs to a USB drive or scheduling recordings. It also lacks picture-in-picture. On the plus side, it keeps the basics, like teletext and the ability to turn off the screen while leaving the audio playing. You can connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV, and audio can play simultaneously through them and the built-in speakers. That's useful if one viewer needs higher volume, for example seniors. The TV comes with a simple Smart remote with a limited number of buttons. Unfortunately it's not the solar-powered version found on some other Samsung models, and the remote uses regular batteries. Fortunately it connects to the TV via radio, so you don't need to point it directly at the screen.

Sound connection options

HDMI audio:

eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)

Other audio outputs:

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 M80H - Apps

9.3/10

SAMSUNG M80H - Playing files from USB

Video Photos Audio

9.1/10

Video Photos Audio

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 USB player handles most popular video and photo formats. It easily displays JPEG, PNG, and BMP files, even in high resolution. However, it lacks support for HEIC, the format used, among others, by iPhones. In practice this probably won’t be a big issue, because the M80H supports AirPlay and most people will likely use that to show vacation photos on the TV. 😉

SAMSUNG M80H - Sound

6/10

88dB

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 M80H is equipped with a 2.0 speaker setup with 20 W of power. It performs adequately but doesn't stand out compared with TVs with similar audio systems. Dialogue is clearly audible and the speakers themselves don't add noticeable distortion. However, it definitely lacks bass, so music in particular can sound flat. If you want a somewhat fuller sound, consider a simple soundbar and connect it via HDMI eARC. The TV can also pass through Dolby Atmos audio that way. However, note that the M80H has no optical output, so you can't connect older audio equipment using that method.

Sound Quality Test: