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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize overall picture quality and regularly watch content in a mix of lighting conditions, the Samsung QN90C would be a better choice as it performs well in both dark and bright rooms. It also offers a more immersive experience for movies and gaming due to its higher brightness and better contrast. On the other hand, if you're sensitive to price and don’t need the best dark room performance or highest brightness, the Sony X85J can save you money while still offering good performance, especially for sports content and when using it as a computer monitor. Its sound quality isn't on par with the Samsung, and it doesn't have local dimming which can affect picture depth, but it's still a capable TV for general viewing. 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 QN90C (LCD)
- Best in class for bright room
- Good for dark room
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for movies & TV
- Excellent for news, talk, & other TV
- Very good for use as monitor
- Good viewing angle
- Excellent reflections
Advantages of the Sony X85J (LCD)
- Best in class for upscaling
- Best in class motion processing
Key differences
Picture Quality
8.2
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 QN90C (LCD) has very good picture quality, while the Sony X85J (LCD) has good picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.1
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 QN90C (LCD) is very good for movies & TV, while the Sony X85J (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90C offers better contrast, local dimming, and black uniformity, which enhances the quality of watching movies and cinematic TV, especially in dark scenes. Conversely, the Sony X85J, despite having good color accuracy out of the box, lacks local dimming and has narrower viewing angles, resulting in a less immersive experience in these viewing scenarios.
Gaming
8.8
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 QN90C (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Sony X85J (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90C is very good for gaming due to its top-tier response time and input lag, making it responsive and smooth for fast-paced games. In contrast, the Sony X85J, while still good for gaming, does not match the Samsung's performance in these crucial areas, which may affect its ability to handle the quickest games as effectively.
News, Talk, & Other TV
9.0
8.2
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is excellent for news, talk, & other TV, while the Sony X85J (LCD) is very good.
The Samsung QN90C upscales lower-resolution content well, is bright for SDR content, and provides good out-of-the-box colors, making it suitable for watching news and talk shows which don't require a wide color gamut or local dimming. Whereas the Sony X85J offers excellent upscaling, slightly better color accuracy out of the box, and performs well under bright conditions, but it lacks local dimming which can impact contrast, affecting the viewing experience in certain scenarios.
Bright Room
9.7
7.3
7.4/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.3/10
10.0/10
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 QN90C (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the Sony X85J (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90C outperforms the Sony X85J in a bright room primarily due to its superior reflection handling and higher SDR and HDR brightness, making it the best choice for environments with lots of ambient light. While the Sony X85J is also good in bright rooms, it has lower reflection handling capabilities, and although it still offers good brightness levels, they are not as high as the Samsung, which may affect viewing experience in very well-lit areas.
Cost
$1,199
$750
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) has a price of $1,199 and the Sony X85J (LCD) costs $750.
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Key similarities
Sports
7.1
7.2
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X85J (LCD) and Samsung QN90C (LCD) are both good for sports.
The Samsung QN90C excels in bright room usage, with reflections handling labeled as excellent, while the Sony X85J has poor reflection handling, making it less ideal in bright environments. However, the Sony X85J offers a better motion processing experience, which is key for fluid sports watching, but it falls short with a more limited viewing angle compared to the QN90C's wider viewing angle, which is better for group viewing.
Cartoons & Animation
8.8
8.6
7.8/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.3/10
8.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.3/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.5/10
9.5/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.1/10
6.6/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
8.2/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) and Sony X85J (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The Samsung QN90C stands out for its colors straight out of the box, making it immediately appealing for cartoons with minimal setup, while the Sony X85J also offers excellent colors, but with a more limited color volume compared to the Samsung. Both TVs exhibit vibrant color gamuts which is essential for the vivid, diverse palettes commonly found in animated content, although the Samsung may slightly edge out in overall color performance in this regard.
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How the Samsung QN90C (LCD) and the Sony X85J (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung QN90C (LCD) | Sony X85J (LCD) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,199 | $750 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | April 1, 2021 | |
Full name | |||
Full name | QN43QN90C | 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 | 7.3/10 | 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 | 8.9/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Movies & TV Score | |||
Movies & TV Score | 8.1/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Sports Score | |||
Sports Score | 7.2/10 | 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) | 24.4" x 37.8" | 24.7" x 38" | |
Weight without Stand | |||
Weight without Stand | 20.7 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 | Yes | Yes | |
DTS:X | |||
DTS:X | No | Up to DTS Digital Surround, Bypass only | |
Get a great deal on the Samsung QN90C (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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