A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Samsung QN90A is at a premium price and performs better overall, especially in bright rooms and for gaming experiences. If you prioritize superior picture quality, gaming, and usage in various lighting conditions, and are willing to invest more, the Samsung QN90A would be a better choice. However, if you're looking for a more affordable option and can compromise on some performance aspects, the Sony X85J could be suitable. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Samsung QN90A (LCD)
- Best in class for bright room
- Good for dark room
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for movies & TV
- Very good for use as monitor
- Excellent reflections
Advantages of the Sony X85J (LCD)
- Best in class for upscaling
- Best in class motion processing
Key differences
Picture Quality
8.1
7.3
7.00/10
CONTRAST
7.88/10
8.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.3/10
miniLED FALD
PANEL TYPE
LED
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) has very good picture quality, while the Sony X85J (LCD) has good picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.0
6.5
7.00/10
CONTRAST
7.88/10
7.0/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.9/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good for movies & TV, while the Sony X85J (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90A is considered very good for watching movies and cinematic TV because it has a high contrast, excellent local dimming, and good black uniformity, which enhance picture quality in dark scenes, alongside colors that look great right out of the box and a strong color volume for vivid images. On the other hand, the Sony X85J, even though it offers slightly better contrast, is only considered fair because it lacks local dimming, has poorer viewing angles, and less impressive colors out of the box and color volume, which can result in less depth and realism in the overall viewing experience.
Gaming
8.3
7.6
8.3/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
7.8/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
70.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
0.0/100
9.3/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.5/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Sony X85J (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90A is better for gaming than the Sony X85J due to superior response times and lower input lag, providing a smoother gaming experience with less delay between the user's actions and the on-screen reaction. While both TVs have a high refresh rate that is good for gaming, the enhanced response and lag performance make the Samsung QN90A the better choice for serious gamers.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.9
8.2
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) and Sony X85J (LCD) are both very good for news, talk, & other TV, though the Samsung QN90A (LCD) is somewhat better.
The Samsung QN90A excels at upscaling lower-resolution content, which is important for viewing regular TV programs and news, and it offers very vibrant out-of-the-box colors, enhancing the viewing experience without the need for additional calibration. The Sony X85J, while slightly better at upscaling, providing very clear image quality for non-HD content, may not offer the same level of color depth and vibrancy as the Samsung, but still provides an impressive color accuracy that’s quite good straight out of the box.
Bright Room
9.7
7.3
6.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.3/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
9.3/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.1/10
9.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
5.9/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the Sony X85J (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90A outperforms the Sony X85J in a bright room due to its excellent SDR and HDR brightness levels and superior reflection handling, minimizing glare and maintaining picture quality under various lighting conditions. While both TVs offer good color volume and gamut, the Samsung QN90A's higher contrast enhances dark scene details, making it a superior choice for brightly-lit environments.
Cost
$948
$750
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) has a price of $948 and the Sony X85J (LCD) costs $750.
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Key similarities
Sports
7.0
7.2
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X85J (LCD) and Samsung QN90A (LCD) are both good for sports.
The Samsung QN90A delivers exceptional contrast and peak brightness, excellent reflection handling, and very good response time, which ensures clear motion with little blur—ideal for fast-paced sports watching; however, its viewing angles are less broad, so it's less suitable for wide seating arrangement. On the other hand, the Sony X85J, with its superb motion processing, ensuring smooth action during sports, does not perform as well in bright rooms due to its poor reflection handling and has somewhat inferior response time, making it not as adept at handling fast-moving scenes compared to the QN90A.
Cartoons & Animation
8.8
8.6
7.8/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.3/10
8.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.3/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
9.5/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.1/10
6.4/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
8.2/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) and Sony X85J (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The Samsung QN90A excels in cartoon and animation viewing due to its 'Best' score for colors out of the box, ensuring accurate and vibrant colors immediately without needing adjustments, and a 'Good' color gamut, providing a wide range of colors. The Sony X85J also performs well in these areas, as it has an 'Excellent' score for colors out of the box, indicating less need for calibration, and also has a 'Good' color gamut, though its color volume is just 'Good' compared to the Samsung's 'Very Good', affecting how rich the colors appear in different brightness levels.
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How the Samsung QN90A (LCD) and the Sony X85J (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung QN90A (LCD) | Sony X85J (LCD) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$948 | $750 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2021 | April 1, 2021 | |
Full name | |||
Full name | QN43QN90A | KD-43X85J | |
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 43" | 43" | |
Screen Resolution | |||
Screen Resolution | 4K | 4K | |
TV FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Tizen | Android TV | |
Sound Quality Score | |||
Sound Quality Score | 8.3/10 | 7.5/10 | |
NextGen Ready | |||
NextGen Ready | Yes | Yes | |
HDMI Ports | |||
HDMI Ports | 4 | 4 | |
Coax Ports | |||
Coax Ports | 1 | 1 | |
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Picture Quality Score | |||
Picture Quality Score | 8.2/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Bright Room Score | |||
Bright Room Score | 9.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Movies & TV Score | |||
Movies & TV Score | 8.1/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Sports Score | |||
Sports Score | 7/10 | 7.3/10 | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | |||
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D) | 22" x 37.8" x 1.1" | 22.2" x 38" x 2.7" | |
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | |||
Dimensions with Stand (H x W) | 24.5" x 37.8" | 24.7" x 38" | |
Weight without Stand | |||
Weight without Stand | 20.3 lbs | 22.5 lbs | |
VESA Mount | |||
VESA Mount | 200 x 200 | 200 x 200 | |
DISPLAY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Color Depth | |||
Color Depth | 10 bit | 10 bit | |
Black Frame Insertion | |||
Black Frame Insertion | Yes | Yes | |
Auto Low Latency Mode | |||
Auto Low Latency Mode | Yes | Yes | |
Contrast | |||
Contrast | 7/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Local Dimming | |||
Local Dimming | 8/10 | 2.5/10 | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Speaker Setup | |||
Speaker Setup | 2.0 | 2.0 | |
Speaker Power | |||
Speaker Power | 20 W | 20 W | |
Dolby Atmos | |||
Dolby Atmos | Bypass only | Yes | |
DTS:X | |||
DTS:X | No | Up to DTS Digital Surround, Bypass only | |
Get a great deal on the Samsung QN90A (LCD) or the Sony X85J (LCD)
About Samsung
Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, holds the title of being the largest global TV vendor in terms of units sold. They offer a diverse lineup of TV products that cater to various budget ranges. A notable achievement in recent years is the development of Quantum Dots, a technology that enhances color reproduction, resulting in richer and more vibrant hues. Samsung TVs are well-regarded for their high manufacturing quality and user-friendly software, making them an excellent choice for consumers seeking an intuitive viewing experience.
About Sony
Sony stands as a highly experienced and widely trusted TV manufacturer, earning a reputation that surpasses all others. A Japanese company, Sony has been making TVs for far longs than it has been making Playstation game consoles. Sony's high-end TVs are often regarded as the ultimate choice for videophiles, representing the epitome of quality, albeit at a premium price point. Renowned for their advanced and precise motion handling, as well as their cutting-edge local dimming algorithms, Sony consistently delivers unparalleled performance in these areas. They include Google TV software with all their TV sets, which grants access to the largest selection of apps available and they also include Bravia Core which is a movie streaming platform specifically for Sony TVs that offers higher picture quality by using more bandwidth.
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