The Samsung QN85A QLED is a mid-range 4K TV that boasts impressive picture quality and a sleek design. It comes packed with features that elevate the viewing experience, making it an attractive option for those seeking a high-quality TV without breaking the bank. This review dives deep into the performance of the QN85A, exploring its strengths and weaknesses, to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your home theater setup.
The QN85A stands out with its vibrant and detailed picture quality, thanks to its Quantum HDR and Quantum Processor 4K. These technologies deliver a wide color range and enhanced contrast, resulting in stunning visuals that bring your favorite movies and shows to life. You’ll also enjoy smooth motion with the TV’s 120Hz refresh rate, which ensures crisp and clear action sequences, ideal for gamers and sports enthusiasts.
Beyond picture quality, the QN85A offers a user-friendly experience with its smart TV features. The Tizen operating system provides access to a wide range of streaming apps and services, allowing you to enjoy your favorite content seamlessly. The TV also comes with a voice remote, enabling you to control everything with your voice, adding an extra layer of convenience.
However, the QN85A isn’t without its drawbacks. Some users have noted that its audio performance could be better, and the TV’s design lacks the premium feel of more expensive models. Ultimately, the Samsung QN85A offers an excellent balance of features and performance for the price, making it a solid choice for viewers looking for a high-quality TV at a reasonable cost.
| Name: | Samsung QN85A QLED |
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| Price: | |
| Rating: | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
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Samsung QN85A QLED Review: A Comprehensive Look
The Samsung QN85A QLED TV is a fantastic option for those looking for a high-quality, feature-rich TV experience. Its stunning picture quality, coupled with a sleek design and impressive smart features, makes it a strong contender in the premium TV market. Here’s a detailed look at what the QN85A has to offer:
Picture Quality: The QN85A boasts Samsung’s Quantum HDR technology, which delivers exceptional brightness and contrast. The vibrant colors and deep blacks make every scene pop, regardless of the viewing environment. It also features a 120Hz refresh rate, making for smooth motion during fast-paced action scenes. The QN85A also boasts a wide viewing angle, meaning you’ll enjoy a consistent picture quality even when sitting off-center.
Sound Quality: The QN85A is equipped with a 2.1-channel speaker system that delivers clear and crisp audio. While it doesn’t quite match the immersive audio experience offered by dedicated soundbars, the built-in speakers are more than sufficient for casual viewing.
Smart Features: The QN85A runs on Samsung’s Tizen operating system, which provides a smooth and intuitive user experience. The TV is packed with streaming apps, and you can easily access content from services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also use voice control to navigate the TV and find content with ease. The TV also includes features like Ambient Mode, which allows you to display artwork or personal photos when the TV is off.
Gaming Performance: The QN85A is an excellent choice for gamers, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate, low input lag, and support for HDMI 2.1 features like VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). The QN85A also supports FreeSync Premium Pro for smoother gameplay and reduced tearing.
Design and Build Quality: The QN85A boasts a minimalist design that blends seamlessly with any living room. The thin bezel allows the screen to be the focal point, while the sleek stand provides a sturdy base. The build quality is top-notch, with premium materials used throughout the construction.
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Connectivity and Inputs: The QN85A features a comprehensive selection of ports, including four HDMI 2.1 inputs, three USB ports, an optical audio output, and an Ethernet port. These options allow for easy connectivity to your gaming console, streaming devices, and other peripherals.
Overall, the Samsung QN85A QLED TV is a highly recommended option for those seeking a premium TV experience. Its excellent picture quality, robust smart features, and gaming capabilities make it an impressive all-around performer.
Design and Build Quality
The Samsung QN85A QLED TV boasts a sleek and modern design that complements any living room décor. Its thin bezels, which are practically invisible from a distance, create an immersive viewing experience. The stand is minimalist and sturdy, with a wide base that provides excellent stability for the TV. The overall build quality is excellent, with a premium feel thanks to the use of high-quality materials. The TV’s back panel is smooth and uncluttered, housing all the necessary ports and connections. While the TV is thin, it is not overly fragile and can handle everyday use without any issues. The Samsung QN85A QLED TV’s design and build quality are top-notch, making it a visually appealing and reliable option for any home theater setup.
Picture Quality
The Samsung QN85A QLED delivers impressive picture quality that elevates your viewing experience. The QLED technology, coupled with Samsung’s Quantum HDR, brings out vibrant colors, deep blacks, and exceptional contrast. You’ll notice a wide color gamut, especially in HDR content, which makes everything from sunsets to explosions pop off the screen. The QN85A boasts excellent local dimming capabilities, resulting in a more immersive viewing experience, especially when watching dark scenes. This technology allows the TV to control the brightness of individual zones, effectively minimizing blooming and haloing around bright objects.
The QN85A also offers a smooth and detailed picture thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate and motion interpolation. This combination ensures that fast-paced action sequences and sports broadcasts are displayed with minimal blur. The overall picture quality is crisp and sharp, with a resolution of 4K UHD that provides remarkable detail and clarity. You’ll appreciate the level of depth and realism in movies, TV shows, and even video games. While some users have mentioned slight motion artifacts in fast-paced scenes, these are minimal and generally do not detract from the overall viewing experience.
The QN85A also comes with Samsung’s Tizen operating system, which is known for its intuitive interface and robust app selection. You’ll have access to popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and YouTube, as well as a variety of other apps for music, games, and more. The QN85A also supports multiple HDR formats, including HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG, ensuring you get the best possible picture quality from any HDR-compatible source.
Overall, the Samsung QN85A QLED offers an exceptional picture quality that’s hard to beat in its price range. With vibrant colors, deep blacks, excellent local dimming, and a smooth refresh rate, the QN85A is an excellent choice for those who prioritize picture quality in their home theater setup.
Sound Quality
The Samsung QN85A QLED delivers decent sound quality that’s more than adequate for casual viewing. While it doesn’t boast the booming audio of a dedicated sound system, it’s certainly not lacking in the sound department. It produces clear dialogue, balanced sound, and sufficient volume for most rooms.
The speakers are integrated into the TV’s slim frame, providing a somewhat immersive experience. You can hear the subtle nuances of sound effects, like the rustling of leaves or the faint hum of a machine, without any noticeable distortion. However, the bass can feel a bit lacking, especially when watching action movies or listening to music with heavy bass lines.
The QN85A also features Samsung’s “Object Tracking Sound” technology, which uses a virtual surround sound effect to create a more dynamic audio experience. While this technology does add some depth and movement to the sound, it’s not as effective as a true surround sound system.
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If you’re looking for a TV with exceptional audio quality, you might want to consider investing in a separate sound bar or home theater system. However, for casual viewers who are satisfied with a good, balanced audio experience, the Samsung QN85A’s integrated speakers are more than enough.
Smart Features and Operating System
The Samsung QN85A QLED runs on Samsung’s Tizen operating system, which is known for its user-friendliness and extensive app selection. The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those unfamiliar with smart TVs. It features a clean and organized layout, with quick access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, and more.
One of the standout features of the QN85A is its voice control capabilities. You can use either Bixby, Samsung’s own voice assistant, or Amazon Alexa to control your TV with your voice. This allows you to easily change channels, adjust volume, search for content, and even control other smart home devices.
The QN85A also supports Multi-View, which lets you watch two different sources on the screen simultaneously. This is great for multitasking, such as watching a game while checking your social media feeds or watching a movie with a split-screen view for picture-in-picture.
In terms of smart features, the QN85A boasts a comprehensive suite of options. It features Samsung’s SmartThings integration, allowing you to connect and control various smart home devices directly from your TV. You can also access the Samsung TV Plus service, which offers a selection of free live channels and on-demand content.
The QN85A’s smart features are all designed to enhance your viewing experience and make using the TV as enjoyable as possible. From the intuitive interface to the extensive app selection and voice control capabilities, the QN85A delivers a seamless and feature-rich smart TV experience.
Gaming Performance
The Samsung QN85A QLED delivers a smooth and responsive gaming experience thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium Pro support, and low input lag. Games look incredibly sharp and detailed with vibrant colors, thanks to the QLED technology and HDR support. You can expect a lag-free, immersive gameplay experience, making it a fantastic choice for gamers of all levels.
The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth visuals and minimizes motion blur, especially in fast-paced games. This is crucial for staying ahead of the competition and improving your reaction times. FreeSync Premium Pro, compatible with both AMD and Nvidia GPUs, further enhances the experience by syncing the refresh rate of the TV with your graphics card, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering for a more seamless visual experience.
The QN85A boasts incredibly low input lag, meaning there’s minimal delay between your controller input and what’s displayed on the screen. This is a game-changer for competitive gamers as it allows for lightning-fast reactions and precise control. The combination of low input lag and fast refresh rate makes the QN85A an excellent choice for competitive gaming, ensuring you have the edge in fast-paced action games.
While not a dedicated gaming monitor, the QN85A delivers an excellent gaming experience. It boasts a combination of features that make it ideal for both casual and competitive gamers. Its high refresh rate, FreeSync Premium Pro, and low input lag contribute to a smooth, responsive, and immersive gaming experience. Whether you’re enjoying the latest console titles or diving into PC gaming, the QN85A provides an excellent visual experience that’s sure to enhance your gaming sessions.
Connectivity and Inputs
The Samsung QN85A QLED boasts a comprehensive set of connectivity options, catering to a wide range of user needs.
Inputs:
- 4 HDMI Ports: The QN85A features four HDMI ports, all supporting the latest HDMI 2.1 standard. This ensures support for high-resolution video signals, such as 4K at 120Hz, along with features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) for a smooth and responsive gaming experience.
- 2 USB Ports: These USB ports are useful for connecting external devices like USB drives for media playback or connecting a keyboard and mouse for navigation.
- 1 Ethernet Port: The ethernet port provides a reliable wired internet connection for streaming and online gaming, offering better stability and speed compared to a wireless connection.
- Digital Audio Output: A digital optical audio output allows for connecting external sound systems like soundbars or AV receivers for a more immersive audio experience.
Connectivity:
- Wi-Fi 6: The QN85A is equipped with the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, offering fast and reliable wireless internet connectivity.
- Bluetooth 5.0: This enables easy connection to Bluetooth devices like headphones, speakers, and other peripherals.
- SmartThings Compatibility: The QN85A seamlessly integrates with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem, allowing you to control and manage your smart home devices from the TV interface.
Other notable features:
- One Connect Box: This external box houses all the ports and connections, keeping your TV’s rear clean and clutter-free. You can use a single cable to connect the One Connect Box to the TV for a neat setup.
- Wireless DeX Support: This allows you to mirror your Samsung smartphone’s screen on the TV wirelessly, enabling you to use your phone’s apps and features on a larger screen.
The QN85A’s comprehensive connectivity options and support for the latest standards ensure that it can seamlessly integrate into any home entertainment setup and meet the needs of most users. Whether you’re an avid gamer, movie buff, or simply enjoy streaming content, the QN85A offers the connectivity and input flexibility you need.
Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stunning Picture Quality: The QN85A boasts excellent picture quality thanks to its Quantum HDR and QLED technology. It delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and exceptional contrast, making it ideal for movies, TV shows, and gaming.
- Impressive Brightness: The QN85A is incredibly bright, making it suitable for well-lit rooms. This brightness also contributes to a more impactful HDR experience.
- Smooth Motion: With a 120Hz refresh rate, the QN85A delivers fluid and smooth motion, making fast-paced action scenes and sports look great.
- Excellent Smart Features: The Tizen operating system is user-friendly and loaded with popular streaming apps, making it easy to access your favorite content.
- Sleek Design: The QN85A has a minimalist design that looks great in any home. Its thin bezels and stand enhance the overall aesthetics.
- Great Sound: While not a dedicated sound system, the QN85A’s built-in speakers deliver decent sound quality for everyday use.
- Wide Viewing Angles: The QN85A offers wide viewing angles, ensuring a consistent picture quality even when viewing from the sides.
Cons:
- Price: While offering impressive features, the QN85A is priced higher than some other QLED TVs on the market.
- Limited Local Dimming Zones: While the QN85A does feature local dimming, the number of zones is limited, which can affect black levels in dark scenes compared to higher-end models.
- No Dolby Vision Support: The QN85A does not support Dolby Vision, a competitor to HDR10+ that some consider to be superior. However, it does support HDR10+, which is still an excellent HDR format.
- No FreeSync Premium Pro: The QN85A doesn’t have FreeSync Premium Pro, which can limit its gaming performance with certain PCs. While it does support FreeSync, it doesn’t offer the full range of benefits.
- No HDMI 2.1 Features: Although the QN85A has HDMI 2.1 ports, they don’t offer all the latest features like 48Gbps bandwidth, which is needed for the highest refresh rates and resolutions.
Conclusion
The Samsung QN85A QLED is a solid choice for those looking for a TV with excellent picture quality, smart features, and good gaming performance. The QLED technology delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks, while the Quantum Processor 4K ensures smooth motion and clear details. The Tizen operating system is intuitive and user-friendly, offering access to a wide range of streaming services. The inclusion of four HDMI 2.1 ports makes this TV ideal for gamers, as it supports features like VRR and ALLM. However, the sound quality could be better, and the price point might be a bit high for some users. If you are looking for a high-end TV with a top-notch picture quality and features that cater to gamers, the QN85A is definitely worth considering. But if you prioritize sound quality or are on a tight budget, you might want to explore some of the alternatives.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a high-quality TV with a similar feature set to the Samsung QN85A QLED, you have a few great options to consider. These alternatives offer comparable picture quality, smart features, and overall performance, while potentially catering to different budgets or preferences:
- LG OLED C1 Series: LG’s OLED C1 Series is known for its exceptional contrast and deep blacks, which are unmatched by QLED technology. It also boasts a wider viewing angle and a faster response time, making it a great choice for gamers. However, OLED screens can be prone to burn-in if you leave static images on the screen for extended periods.
- Samsung QN90A QLED: The Samsung QN90A QLED is a step up from the QN85A, featuring advanced features like Mini-LED backlighting for even brighter highlights and deeper blacks. It also boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and a powerful Neo Quantum Processor 4K, making it ideal for fast-paced gaming and high-definition content. This comes at a higher price point, however.
- Sony X90J Series: Sony’s X90J series offers a compelling combination of HDR performance, smooth motion handling, and a wide color gamut. It features a powerful processor and Google TV, making it a user-friendly and feature-rich option. Its price point is generally lower than the Samsung QN85A QLED.
- TCL 6 Series: The TCL 6 Series is a budget-friendly option that delivers excellent value for the price. It offers a 4K resolution, HDR support, and Dolby Vision for immersive viewing. While it may not have the same level of picture quality as the Samsung QN85A QLED, it’s a solid choice for those on a tighter budget.
Ultimately, the best alternative for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Consider your budget, desired picture quality, smart features, and gaming performance to determine the best fit. It’s always a good idea to read reviews and compare specs before making your final decision.
The Samsung QN85A QLED is a fantastic TV overall, offering excellent picture quality, vibrant colors, and a sleek design. Its Quantum HDR and 120Hz refresh rate provide an immersive and smooth viewing experience, making it ideal for gaming and watching action-packed movies. The Tizen operating system is intuitive and user-friendly, with a wide selection of streaming apps and features. However, its lack of local dimming and relatively high price point might be a dealbreaker for some.
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If you’re looking for a premium TV with exceptional picture quality and a smart platform, the Samsung QN85A QLED is a solid choice. Its vibrant colors, sharp details, and responsive performance make it a great option for movie enthusiasts, gamers, and anyone who appreciates a high-quality viewing experience. However, if budget is a major concern, you might find better value in other models that offer similar features at a lower price.
Ultimately, the decision of whether the Samsung QN85A QLED is right for you depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you prioritize picture quality and smart features, this TV is a strong contender. But if you’re on a tight budget or don’t need the absolute best in picture quality, there are other options available that might be a better fit.
The Samsung QN85A QLED is a solid addition to Samsung’s QLED lineup, offering impressive performance and features for a premium price. While it may not be the most budget-friendly option, it delivers a truly immersive viewing experience that’s sure to impress. Consider your needs and budget carefully before making a decision, but if you’re looking for a high-quality TV that delivers on its promises, the Samsung QN85A QLED is certainly worth considering.
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