The Samsung QN85A QLED TV is a fantastic option for users with big bright rooms. It performs very well for both gaming & for watching movies and TV shows. It delivers wide viewing angles, spectacular peak brightness, fantastic response time, and a judder-free viewing experience. In addition, gamers will appreciate the 120Hz native refresh rate and the low input lag. But users with dark rooms will be disappointed by the insufficient black levels and the low contrast ratio.
PICTURE QUALITY
4K
- Most reviewers were impressed by how perfectly the Samsung QN85A QLED TV handles native 4K content. The Samsung Neo Quantum Processor 4K also upscales lower-resolution content amazingly well. Experts did not note any upscaling artifacts at all. It is as good as most of the top-rated 4K TVs available in the market.
Color
- The Quantum Dot panel on the Samsung QN85A QLED TV has fantastic coverage of both the DCI P3 and the Rec. 2020 color spaces. According to RTings, this Samsung TV has a wide color gamut, which is fantastic for HDR content. In addition, the quantum matrix technology also helps deliver 10-bit color.
Black
- Testers were let down by the highly lackluster black levels of the Samsung QN85A QLED TV, partly due to the IPS panel. Even though it features the mini LED display technology, visible blooming is present. Top experts also noted that it crushes many small black details compared to the older Samsung Q80/Q80T QLED TV. The Samsung QN9DA also beats it in this regard as it produces deep blacks and has a black equalizer.
Brightness
- The Samsung QN85A QLED 4K smart TV has excellent brightness for both SDR and HDR content. RTings measured the peak brightness at 1265 nits. However, they also noted that you could get even better results by selecting the High Contrast Enhancer option in the “Brightness and Contrast” setting, same as the higher-end Samsung QN90A.
Contrast
- Despite the Quantum dot display technology, experts were disappointed by the low contrast ratio of the Samsung QN85A QLED 4K smart TV. Full array local dimming and the mini LED display help a bit, but it’s not enough. According to reviewers, users with dark rooms should avoid this Samsung Neo QLED 4K Smart TV.
Dimming
- Thanks to the mini LED display; the Samsung QN85A QLED TV comes with 576 dimming zones. But they still can’t get this quantum dot panel to display better blacks. However, top experts noted that, unlike the Hisense H8G, it improves the contrast quite a bit.
Gaming
- Experts adore the gaming performance of the Samsung QN85A QLED 4K smart TV. Full HDMI 2.1 support will be great news for owners of next-gen gaming consoles (Xbox Series X/S and the PS5). And FreeSync + G Sync compatibility is excellent for gaming PCs.
- Though, one reviewer pointed out that you need to update the firmware to get G Sync support.
HDR
- The Samsung QN85A QLED TV produces good color volume with Quantum Dot matrix technology. And that’s why reviewers love the output of content available in high dynamic range on this quantum dot TV. HDR 10+, HDR 10, and HLG are supported, while Dolby Vision is missing.
Motion
- Testers applauded the excellent motion handling capabilities of the Samsung QN85A QLED 4K Smart TV. They also reported the optional BFI feature to be top-notch for handling motion blur. Fans of the Soap Opera Effect can turn on the “Motion Xcelerator Turbo” setting as well.
Refresh
- The Samsung QN85A QLED TV comes with a 120Hz panel. Variable Refresh Rate technology is also present. Top experts noted that 4K 120Hz signals from compatible devices work flawlessly even in the game mode.
Response
- Reviewers liked the excellent response time the Samsung QN85A QLED 4K Smart TV offers. And in the game mode, testers measured the input lag to be below 10ms.
- But, they also noted that the fast response time makes lower frame rate content look stuttery.
Viewing Angle
- The Samsung QN85A QLED TV features an ADS-type panel, which is very similar to an IPS display. And according to experts, it delivers impressive viewing angles for users with big rooms.
- However, they also mentioned some screen uniformity issues, clouding, and backlight bleeding.
Burn-In
- Even though some IPS panels suffer from temporary display burn-in, according to certified reviewers, the Samsung QN85A QLED TV doesn’t have this problem.
DESIGN
Stand
- The Samsung QN85A QLED TV features Samsung’s Neoslim design, and the stand is a mix of metal and plastic. It is centered, and according to reviewers, there’s minimal wobble. One tester noted that they could fit this Samsung TV on a small table.
Back
- The back of this Neo QLED TV has a textured brushed metal finish. Additionally, testers noted holes on the back of the Samsung QN85A QLED TV for a VESA 200×200 wall mount.
Borders
- Top experts measured the bezels to be 0.9cm wide. So they are pretty thin, and with the Neoslim design, the Samsung QN85A QLED TV looks relatively modern overall.
Thickness
- Expert reviewers agree that the maximum thickness of the Samsung QN85A QLED TV is just 2.7cm. Thus, this Neo QLED TV is thinner than most TVs available in the market.
FEATURES
Tuner
- The Samsung QN85A QLED TV comes with a standard tuner for your run-of-the-mill cable box or HDTV antenna. In addition, reviewers noted that it performs appropriately.
Input
- Testers liked that the Samsung QN85A QLED TV comes with four HDMI ports. In addition, it is an HDMI 2.1 enabled TV, which means Variable Refresh Rate, ALLM, and eARC are supported. There are also two USB ports and an ethernet jack for those who don’t want to use Wi-Fi.
Remote
- The Samsung QN85A QLED TV includes an excellent flat remote which is voice-enabled. In addition, top experts pointed out that the remote can charge using USB type C or the back solar panel rather than using disposable batteries.
- However, one reviewer pointed out that Bixby can’t search for movies and TV shows on Netflix.
SMART TV
Applications
- Reviewers love the massive app library of the Samsung store. And apps run smoothly for the most part. Also, 4k AI upscaling works perfectly within the native apps.
Streaming
- As long as your internet can back it up, the Samsung QN85A QLED TV can stream 4K HDR content without any frame drop. Testers also noted that it comes with Samsung TV Plus, which delivers free TV with a few ads. A Netflix-specific picture mode is also present.
Menu
- Top experts lauded the smoothness of the Samsung Tizen OS UI. And they also pointed out that the Samsung QN85A QLED TV features Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant for voice control.
- However, Lifewire pointed out that it doesn’t have Chromecast or AirPlay 2.
SOUND QUALITY
Audio
- Thanks to HDMI 2.1 and eARC, the Samsung QN85A QLED TV can pass through uncompressed Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus signals. In addition, reviewers mentioned that the active voice amplifier feature is handy for dialogue. And the object tracking sound setting helps mimic a virtual surround sound system.
Bass
- Testers were pretty disappointed with the built-in Spacefit sound system in terms of the bass. Even though Samsung advertises Spacefit sound as a “room-filling experience,” experts did not feel the same. Instead, they said that the bass lacks punch.
Sound Stage
- Dolby Digital Plus and Atmos support allow for a wide soundstage. And the object tracking sound setting of the Samsung QN85A QLED TV is also pretty helpful in this regard.
- On the other hand, reviewers noted a lot of distortion, though it may vary depending on the content.
