The South Korean tech giant makes everything from refrigerators to soundbars, the best Samsung TVs are big enough to turn heads. Admit it: when you’re inside an electronics store, your eyes tend to gravitate towards Samsung models, even if those price tags may make you settle for one of the more affordable brands. Samsung makes televisions for every room, every lighting situation, and every lifestyle, and if you’re in the mood to treat yourself to a premium television, Samsung’s build quality is practically unmatched. Here’s a selection of the best Samsung TVs on the market today.
— Best Overall: 65-Inch Class QN900A Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV
— Best for Bright Room: Samsung 55-Inch Class The Terrace Partial Sun Outdoor QLED 4K Smart TV
— Best 4K: 85-inch Class QN90B Samsung Neo QLED 4K Smart TV
— Best for Streaming: 43-inch Class The Sero Samsung QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart TV
— Best Budget: Samsung 55-inch Class RU7100 Smart 4K UHD TV
How We Picked the Best Samsung TVs
How many different styles of television can a single manufacturer make? If you’re Samsung, the answer is “way too many.” In fact, the differences between many models sort of run together. What’s the difference between Neo QLED, QLED, or regular old UHD? We’ll touch on that, and many other facets of these gorgeous televisions. Here are some of the things we considered when choosing the best of the best Samsung TVs.
Picture Quality: You can set your watch to the quality of Samsung screens. Even after intense use, these screens rarely show signs of burn-in, dead pixels, or any other massive inconveniences that plague lesser televisions. However, even Samsung offers a myriad of screen types across a few different categories. Not everyone needs a QLED screen, and even 8K may be overkill for some folks.
Usability: Televisions, even smart ones, occasionally run slow. If there’s a reason to drop the extra cash on a Samsung television, it’s for the speed of these flashy devices. Processing speed is great, but upscaling and AI-powered neural networks that optimize everything from screen brightness to color are even better. A television should also be able to be set up in minutes, not hours, even if you are mounting it.
Price: You can expect to drop at least several hundred dollars on a Samsung television, even on the lower end of the price range. But prices for Samsung televisions don’t always make sense. Newer versions of the same model of television may only include a couple of improvements but drastically higher price tags. A deal is always good, but the value is paramount. Every dollar spent should be worth it.
Best Samsung TVs: Reviews and Recommendations
Best Overall: 65-Inch Class QN900A Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV
Why It Made The Cut: Samsung screens don’t get brighter or more colorful, or detail-rich than the NEO QLED 8K Smart TV.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 32.3 inches L x 56.4 inches W x 0.7 inches D, without stand
— Screen Size: 64.5 inches
— Weight: 49.8 pounds, without stand
— Display: QLED
— Resolution: 8K (7,680 x 4,320)
— Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz (hertz)
Pros:
— Bezel-less
— Intense and surprisingly deep colors
— Lightning-fast
Cons:
— Incredibly expensive
Sure, 4K is good, but 8K is even better, which is one of the reasons why the 65-Inch Class QN900A Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV is an easy pick for our overall best.
The level of detail on the Neo QLED screen is unimaginably detailed. Proprietary Quantum Mini LEDs provide the deep contrast and intense brightness you want from an OLED TV, with a precision that makes you feel like the on-screen action is right there in the room. Samsung’s Neo Quantum Processor 8K makes this television as fast as a high-end PC, and it utilizes AI to make every scene look its best, with unmatched clarity and depth. If you’re looking for a bezel, you simply won’t find one with the Infinity Screen design that provides edge-to-edge viewing. Even content that isn’t natively 8K gets upscaled to look its absolute best, taking full advantage of this television's visual capabilities. No matter where you’re sitting in a room, the Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV will look great, without a single bit of glare. There’s little not to love here, aside from the price tag. A new 2022 model of this television is up for pre-order, but last year’s model is not just a little more affordable but maybe more than you need.
Best for Bright Room: Samsung 55-Inch Class The Terrace Partial Sun Outdoor QLED 4K Smart TV
Why It Made The Cut: For bright rooms and outdoor viewing, The Terrace stands up to any and all tricky lighting situations.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 28.7 inches L x 49.1 inches W x 2.4 inches D, without stand
— Screen Size: 55 inches
— Weight: 49.8 pounds, without stand
— Display: QLED
— Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
— Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz
Pros:
— Great indoors and out with weatherproof screen
— Reduce glare from any angle
— Motion-rate 240 makes it great for live events
Cons:
— Weak audio
— No stand
Pizza ovens, wicker furniture, and sprawling gardens are nice, but nothing makes a backyard the envy of the neighborhood the way an outdoor television like the Samsung 55-Inch Class The Terrace Partial Sun Outdoor QLED 4K Smart TV can.
The Terrace is made for rooms that are flooded with sunlight — including, as the name states, a shaded outdoor terrace. This Samsung TV stands up to challenging lighting situations, so you can watch the big game during your summer cookout. Vivid picture quality is possible with its intense brightness that’s perfect indoors and out with fantastic anti-reflection capabilities. The same picture quality you can expect from a typical 4K Samsung QLED TV is found here in spades, complete with a refresh rate fast enough for live events.
If you do decide to mount it outside, you can rest easy that it's resilient to the elements, to a point. This screen comes with some water- and dust-resistance, so you don’t need to worry about it as the seasons change. Of course, one of the afterthoughts in this television is its audio. It’s weaker than other televisions in its class, which is odd considering that it’s made for the outdoors. Also, this TV doesn’t come with a stand, so you will have to mount it.
Best 4K: 85-inch Class QN90B Samsung Neo QLED 4K Smart TV
Why It Made The Cut: For the best in 4K, Samsung Neo QLED Smart TV is easy to recommend.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 42.6 inches L x 74.5 inches W x 1.1 inches D, without stand
— Screen Size: 84.5 inches
— Weight: 98.1 pounds, without stand
— Display: Neo QLED
— Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
— Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz
Pros:
— Great upscaling
— Unbelievably slim
— Intense brightness
Cons:
— Weak stand
— Audio is good, not great
There’s just no beating a massive screen, and the 85-inch Class QN90B Samsung Neo QLED 4K Smart TV takes full advantage of every inch.
Neo QLED means that that crisp 4K resolution is gonna look great in just about any lighting situation. Individual, carefully controlled light zones provide incredible color and contrast, so details burst through life. It’s cinema-ready, and powerful enough that you won’t miss a single frame of Hollywood nuance. Its Neo Quantum Processor 4K upscales all content that isn’t natively 4K, which makes it a fantastic go-to streaming device considering online content still lags behind in the definition department. This Samsung TV touts immersive sound, and it is perfectly serviceable, but it’s not exactly as cinematic as the visuals. A soundbar could remedy this, but there’s no fixing the weak stand, so you’re better off mounting it. This will be incredibly easy, though, considering just how unbelievably slim this TV is.
Best for Streaming: 43-inch Class The Sero Samsung QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart TV
Why It Made The Cut: Form and function have never blended to make a cooler television aimed at sharing mobile content than with Samsung’s The Sero.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 22.2 inches L x 47.2 inches W x 12.9 inches D, in landscape mode
— Screen Size: 42.5 inches
— Weight: 38.1 pounds, without stand
— Display: QLED
— Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
— Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz
Pros:
— Optimized to stream and share mobile content
— Rotatable screen
— Attractive stand helps screen blend in
Cons:
— Maybe too niche for most homes
— True optimization only for Samsung devices
No, it’s not the best television in Samsung’s repertoire, and it's certainly not the biggest, but The Sero definitely scores some serious originality points.
The 43-inch Class The Sero Samsung QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart TV isn’t simply another screen, it’s an eye-catching piece of decor. The screen sits on an easel-like stand and can rotate in portrait or landscape mode. If portrait mode looks like a massive smartphone screen, that's totally intentional. The Sero is built for streaming, and sharing content from your Samsung phone or tablet can be done instantly and seamlessly. Using an iPhone will require more steps, and tapping into all the sharing features will require a Samsung phone, which is a little cynical, but not altogether terrible considering Samsung phones are as solid and dependable as its televisions. This is also among the easiest Samsung television to move, whether you’re dragging it about or using the optional wheels. Does anyone truly need The Sero in their home? It’s difficult to recommend this as your main home television, but its style is definitely unparalleled.
Best Budget: Samsung 55-inch Class RU7100 Smart 4K UHD TV
Why It Made The Cut: A legacy television like the Samsung 55-Inch Class RU7100 is still powerful enough to turn heads and keep you at the edge of your seat.
Specs:
— Dimensions: 42.6 inches L x 74.5 inches W x 1.1 inches D, without stand
— Screen Size: 54.6 inches
— Weight: 38.1 pounds, without stand
— Display: LED
— Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
— Refresh Rate: Up to 60Hz
Pros:
— Fast and dependable
— Optimized picture performance
— Affordable
Cons:
— Less bright than OLED
— Struggles with darker end of spectrum
If you’re willing to make a few tech trade-offs to save a buck or two, a legacy model like the Samsung 55-inch Class RU7100 Smart 4K UHD TV is a prudent choice that will still provide stunning performance.
So many smart TVs are slow, cumbersome, and well, not that smart. The backend in this television is not only full of the usual streaming destinations like Disney Plus, Prime Video, and even Spotify, but you can sync them up to your smart home, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The slim and lightweight design slides into even smaller entertainment centers and doesn’t hog up much space on walls. A UHD processor optimizes day-to-day surfing and picture quality, to render everything in glorious 4K. And the screen, while bright, isn’t nearly as bright as an OLED. Its shortcomings are especially prevalent when it comes to rendering black levels. Still, this television is still one of the best budget offerings across all TV brands, even if it’s still a little on the pricier end.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Samsung TV
LED vs. QLED vs. Neo QLED
Most of the televisions in this compilation are QLED or stronger. What’s the difference between LED and QLED? How much better is Neo QLED compared to regular old QLED? Here’s a quick primer.
— LED: Stands for “light-emitting diode.” These televisions are LCD panels that get an extra punch of light from a layer of LEDs. These screens are bright but are usually more affordable than other LED styles with extra letters in their abbreviations.
— QLED: Stands for “quantum light-emitting diode.” These televisions work just like LED televisions, utilizing a layer of lights to help brighten an LCD screen. In between these layers lies a “quantum dot layer” which filters light to produce intense and saturated colors.
— Neo QLED: The latest and greatest screen innovation by Samsung ups the ante by swapping out the LED backlighting with mini-LEDs. A smaller LED means you can fit more of them on a screen, which results in far better color precision and intensity.
There’s no comparing an LED to a Neo QLED in picture quality, and it's why the Samsung 55-inch Class RU7100 Smart 4K UHD TV is our overall best pick.
Samsung Add-Ons
Depending on how important fidelity and sound quality are to you, you may want to make your already massive investment just a little larger. Like Apple and Nintendo, the best peripherals you can nab for your fancy new television are the ones manufactured by Samsung. Here are a few recommendations.
— Samsung All-in-One Soundbar with Acoustic Beam: There are a million ways to optimize the sound quality of your Samsung television, with everything from in-wall to surround-sound speakers. For most cases, a good soundbar will be more than enough and provide rich, immersive sound across even sprawling rooms. We recommend the Samsung All-in-One Soundbar, which works swimmingly with every television in this round-up.
— Samsung Wall-Mounts: Do you need a Samsung wall-mount to mount your Samsung TV to a wall? Probably not. But spending a little extra on a fancy television only to cheap out on a TV mount is a dubious prospect. Better yet, there are quite a few different styles to choose from, just make sure that it accommodates the size of TV you end up buying.
— Bezels: Sometimes, you want a bezel on your TV, as long as it’s on your terms. If you decide to mount your television and want it to more or less blend into the wall as if it were a family portrait, a custom bezel could be just the thing. Like the mounts and soundbars, there are a handful of styles to choose from.
FAQs
Q: How much do Samsung TVs cost?
Samsung televisions run anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on screen size and features. The Samsung 55-Inch Class The Terrace Partial Sun Outdoor QLED 4K Smart TV and the 65-Inch Class QN900A Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV run the lower and higher end of the Samsung TV price spectrum.
Q: How long does a Samsung Smart TV last?
On average, Samsung televisions last anywhere from four to seven years, even when you max out the performance settings and use them extensively. Gentler usage can make them last even longer.
Q: What is the difference between LED and QLED TVs?
Both LED and QLED TV screens use LCD panels with LED backlights to provide the brightest and clearest picture quality. QLED utilizes a quantum dot layer that produces a much wider range of color.
Q: What size TV is best?
Deciding which screen size is good for you depends on how much space you can dedicate to it, how much you want to spend, and what features are important to you.
Q: What TV is best for bright rooms?
The Samsung 55-Inch Class The Terrace Partial Sun Outdoor QLED 4K Smart TV is perfect for bright rooms and can even stand up to outdoor settings. It’s available in two different styles, for partial sun and full sun.
Q: Do I need a smart TV for streaming?
No, you do not need a smart TV for streaming. You can utilize a streaming device like Roku or Amazon Fire, but many Samsung TVs have a built-in backend just for streaming.
Final Thoughts on Samsung TVs
Samsung televisions are fantastic, even if most of them are an intense strain on the old bank account. The 65-Inch Class QN900A Samsung Neo QLED 8K Smart TV is the best and the brightest in the most literal sense, with cinematic capabilities if you’re down to drop a serious investment on a television. On the other end of the price spectrum, the Samsung 55-inch Class RU7100 Smart 4K UHD TV is well within most budgets, with impressive picture quality. For the most eye-catching television, the 43-inch Class The Sero Samsung QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart TV scores some serious originality points, considering you can rotate the screen.
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.
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