Samsung QN95C review: newest Neo QLED 4K TV tested by our television experts
Discover more from The Shortcut
Samsung QN95C review: newest Neo QLED 4K TV tested by our television experts
Testing the Samsung QN95C has been a delight, with AI picture tuning for upscaling video content, but our analysis shows the pricing will likely drop post-launch
Pros
✅ 💡 Two times as many dimming zones as last year’s 4KTV favorite
✅ 🤖 14-bit processing and AI-tuned upscaling look picture perfect
✅ 📐 Comes in 65-inch, 75-inch and 85-inch screen sizes with a sleek frame
✅ 🎮 Ideal for gaming with bright Mini LED and 144hz refresh rate
Cons
❌ 💰 Starts at $3,299 for 65 inches
❌ 🤑 History shows it’ll come down in price – over time
Samsung QN95C review in progress
We’re still waiting for the Samsung QN95C release date, but I was able to test this Neo QLED 4K TV extensively in advance of my full review and I can already tell you plenty about its AI-upscaling benefits.
According to my hands-on time with the new QN95C, Samsung wants this TV to remake your living room with AI-assisted picture tuning and more local dimming zones that literally make this Mini LED shine in the right places. Artificial intelligence is controversial in much of technology today, but the Samsung QN95C has all of the right answers if you’re looking to buy a new 4K TV.
When I first tested the Samsung QN95C in February ahead of its launch date (which has yet to be finalized as of April 2023), I also saw two of its more headline-grabbing counterparts, the Samsung QN900C – the company’s premier 8KTV set for 2023 – and the Samsung S95C OLED – its second-gen OLED. The QN95C is less flashy in 4K, but it certainly held its own, and among the three new Samsung TVs I got hands-on time with, it’s likely to be the most popular due to its price and overall superb performance.
Samsung QN95C price
There’s some important insight about the Samsung QN95C price before I dive into the rest of the review: this TV is launching at $3,299 for the 65-inch screen size. That’s a lot of money, but the previous generation launched at $3,000 and has dropped in price to nearly half that amount over the course of 12 months.
In other words, early adopters are likely to pay a very similar premium for the QN95C at launch, while those who can wait may see some savings down the road. By the time the next Samsung Discover sales event happens or Black Friday 2023 occurs, the QN95C may cost less given its exceptionally high launch price.
Samsung QN95C screen sizes
65-inch, 75-inch and 85-inch screen sizes
Sweet spot: 65 inches has become the most popular size among high-end 4K TVs over 55 inches, according to our research data
The Samsung QN95C doesn’t put last year’s now-cheaper QN95B to shame, so you don’t need to upgrade if you just bought that TV. But the design of the QN95C hits all of the right marks as an upgrade for those who haven’t gotten a new TV in the last few years. The new QN95C comes in three sizes: 65 inches, 75 inches and 85 inches.
65 inches and up is the sweet spot for television sizes these days. 65-inch 4KTVs have replaced 55 inches among high-end television purchases, according to The Shortcut TV research data. So while you may wish that there was a 55-inch Samsung QN95C at a cheaper starting price, you’ll have to go a bit bigger in 2023, and that’s recommended when buying a brand-new television.
Samsung QN95C design: thin is in, box it out
Less than 20mm thick
No large external box – ports are integrated into the TV
I found Samsung QN95C to be noticeably thinner than last year’s Neo QLED 4K TV at less than 20mm. Yes, OLED is known for being paper-thin, but this QLED is getting us in the right direction while remaining brighter and refreshing faster than any OLED screen. That’s ideal for PS5 and Xbox gamers.
There’s something missing in the QN95C – and it’s actually good news: you’ll find no external connection box in this year’s model. Everything has been integrated into the television without the need for a Samsung OneConnect hanging out in the back of the television. I’m listing that as a perk in my review because, while I don’t mind the OneConnect box when it’s needed, the lack of an external connection box doesn’t seem to increase the thickness of the QN95C in a dramatic way.
One more design perk, the Samsung QN95C comes with a solar-powered remote. So that annoying process of trying to find new batteries to change channels is a thing of the past with this Samsung television. It’s a feature that’s been a part of Samsung TVs in recent years, but if you haven’t upgraded in a while, it’ll be a new benefit for you.
Samsung QN95C picture quality: AI selling point
AI upscale standard definition content to 4K
Two times as many local dimming zones
14-but processing and Samsung’s Neo Quantum Neural Processor
It’s sleeker, yet smarter than last year’s Samsung 4K TVs, with new AI upscaling and auto-HDR remastering in the QN95C taking the SD and HD content I viewed and upscaling it to a higher resolution while shoehorning in HDR where it might not have been before. Not everything will look 4K – it really depends on the source material – but Samsung’s Neo Quantum Neural Processor works its magic to up-rez content from yesteryear, especially on streaming services where I tested old shows that pre-date 4K and even HD.
There are also two times as many dimming zones and 14-bit processing in the QN95C, meaning movies and games were better looking to my eye, though you may only notice the differences in side-by-side comparisons. If you’re upgrading from a standard LED TV, you’re definitely going to notice the difference, though.
The Samsung QN95C isn’t twice as bright as last year’s TV model, however. The fact that it has twice as many local dimming zones as last year’s QN95B means that it has brightness is concentrated in the right places. The result? Less of that nasty blooming effect that QLEDs can sometimes exhibit vs more precise, almost perfect OLED TVs.
Samsung QN95C gaming
144Hz refresh rate outpaces all of those 120Hz TVs
0.1 millisecond response time offers low input lag for gaming
Comes with Samsung’s Game Hub menu that includes Xbox Game Pass
As mentioned, this television remains great for gaming, too, with a 144Hz refresh rate and Xbox Game Pass built into the Game Hub menu system. That means there’s no hunt for the best Xbox Series X price to stream on-demand Microsoft games, and hey, we have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 12-month membership discount code handy for just the occasion. The Samsung Game Hub on the QN95C also includes Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and Utomik for additional gameplay experiences. The Samsung QN95C also promises other cloud gaming platforms in the post-Google Stadia era, with retro-game-filled Antstream and Blacknut listed as coming soon.
Samsung QN95C vs OLED
I get asked this all of the time: OLED or QLED for gaming? There’s really no wrong answer with today’s televisions. However, QLED will give you a brighter screen – sometimes at double the brightness – and oftentimes a faster refresh rate – 144Hz on the QN95C (although Samsung’s new S95C OLED does have a 144Hz refresh rate). I do value the deeper blacks exhibited by OLED televisions, but that’s not the biggest need for most gamers. What’s interesting is that the QN95C shows that the OLED vs QLED debate is increasingly becoming moot – OLEDs are getting brighter and QLEDs are showing deeper black levels.
Samsung QN95C price comparison
65-inch: $3,299
75-inch: $4,199
85-inch: $5799
Prices often fall fast: last year’s 65-inch started at $3,000 and is now $1,899
The Samsung QN95C price, starting at $3,299 for the 65-inch 4K TV, is going to make some people hit the pause button, at least at launch. But there are other options in Samsung’s 2023 pipeline: the step-down QN90C starts at $1,999 (granted that’s at 55 inches), and the QN85C begins at $1,499 (also at 55 inches).
As noted in this Samsung QN95C review, you’re getting more from this year’s flagship than last year’s 4KTV: more dimming zones, a sleeker design and better AI picture tuning. It’s just $300 more than last year’s launch price. But last year’s QN95B is significantly cheaper than it was this time one year ago. It started at $2,999 and is now $1,899.
Something tells me that the QN95C price will follow a similar trajectory over time, as Samsung TV sales happen throughout the year. I’ll also update this review in case I see launch day discount – whenever Samsung gets around to actually announcing a release date for the QN95C.
More Samsung QN95C testing to come
This isn’t the end of our ongoing Samsung QN95C review. We’re destinated to have more hands-on time with this new TV considering the fact that, while 8K and OLED are headline-grabbing technology, this 4K QLED will be even more popular. It’s the more important television for everyday consumers who want to see our final testing.
Samsung says this particular 4K TV is “rolling out” right now, although as of late March 2023, we’re still waiting on a release date and final product to score our QN95C review. However, as our hands-on Samsung QN900C review and Samsung S95C OLED review mention, those sets are currently on sale. It’s only a matter of time before we can tell you when you can splurge on the QN95C too.
Updated: April 12, 2023