The Neo QLED QN90B is the leading 4K TV with Mini LED technology for 2022 in samsung’s line-up. For this year, the successor of QN90A, a model very well evaluated in tecnoblog tests, arrives with a strong appeal in the gamer public. But calm, the South Korean does not cease to wave to the ordinary user, who seeks for strong brightness and beautiful contrasts in real content.
Available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inch versions, the QN90B promises 100% color volume with quantum dots, plus deep black and consistent brightness. That is, solutions that the manufacturer had already promised in the past generation. However, the new product now has an upgrade rate of up to 144 Hz and sound integrated with Dolby Atmos. I tested the Neo QLED QN90B before launch and count my impressions in this review.
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Before exploring the image quality, let’s talk about the look of the QN90B, which remains modern and beautiful — this also means that the TV will look very stylish in your living room. When we look at the predecessor, the QN90A, the similarity between the 2021 model and the current generation of neo QLED is undeniable. I’m not criticizing, after all Samsung kept what was already good, with few caveats.
The TV will not impress by the slightly reduced thickness of an OLED from LG, for example, but still, the manufacturer managed to maintain the minimalism, which I like so much. With the exception of weight, what i’m also content with is the metal support. The component is relatively small, which allows the owner of the QN90B to add a soundbar at the front without difficulty.
And once again, the company has put One Connect aside. The external equipment is very useful for concentrating the connections, avoiding that mess of wires. Just like last year, there are “channels” on the QN90B for you to hide the power cord, video game and soundbar. But that’s not the best solution in the world. The Xbox HDMI cable, for example, sometimes got rid of it.
And by the way, there have been important advances in physical connectivity. In this tested model, 50 inches, all HDMI ports are 2.1, which confirms the gamer profile of the product. Owners of newer video games such as Xbox Series S, Series X, and PlayStation 5 can benefit from higher resolutions and high frame rates.
Connections remain grouped on the right side. In addition to the four HDMI already mentioned, there are two USB 2.0, an optical audio output, an Ethernet port and a TV antenna input.
The solar-powered remote control remains the highlight of Neo QLED after Mini LED technology. This is a solution that I greatly admire. First because it is environmentally friendly; second because it is friend of the consumer pocket, who will not need to buy batteries while with the QN90B at home.
If for some reason the power runs out, the bottom has a USB-C port for power. In the few days that the TV stayed with me, before the official release, I did not have to resort to the second option of loading.
The first thing you need to know before choosing this Neo QLED is: the low frequencies are very weak, so you can not extract great bass, nor subbass, which consequently makes dolby atmos dull in some content. The limitation is not a surprise, given that the nearly 3 cm thick QN90B would not support a subwoofer of a QLED C825 TCL.
If there’s no bass, there’s treble. It is precisely the medium and high frequencies that this model prioritizes. The mediums are high, defined and do not present risk of stridency, even in high volumes. The treble also is not lost and has been stable in testing with songs played from Apple Music.
Generally speaking, I found the integrated speakers of this Samsung quite honest. They are really high, the Dolby Atmos does not deliver the extension and involvement of an LG SP9A soundbar, which I use on a day-to-day date, but having the technology available is a relevant differentiator.
Samsung paid close attention to the software with the aim of delivering useful features to the gamer audience. Before I explore this universe —which has made me very excited in this generation—I want to talk about the new Tizen. The system, which I praised so much for its ease of use, began to invade all the content. Now comes the time when I sit and cry, since all manufacturers have adopted this type of layout.
Despite this, the experience of using smart hub software pleases me more than LG’s WebOS. To give you an example, tizen’s access to cable TV is much faster and more practical than lg’s system. The impression is that Samsung’s interface seems to be smarter to recognize what is being played.
Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Globoplay and YouTube are already on the app menu and come pre-installed. Other services, HBO Max, Star+, Spotify, DirecTV Go, PlayPlus and Discovery+, can be found for installation in the app store. Samsung TV Plus, available with Tastemade Brasil, Record News, Euronews, among other channels, is here without requiring subscription.
Connected home solutions are very convenient. You can easily turn your TV on and off through Google Nest Audio or Amazon Echo and their respective virtual assistants. In my tests, through SmartThings, I was able to connect both to the QN90B. Bixby is a third option, but since it’s very flopped, I stayed with the popular assistants, even.
