The Samsung Q80B may deliver a better gaming experience due to its lower input lag, making it suitable for fast-paced games. However, for watching movies in a dark room, the Sony X90K offers better performance with a higher dark room viewing score.
Choosing between the two may come down to specific uses—gamers may prefer the Samsung, while movie enthusiasts, especially those watching in darker rooms, might lean towards the Sony. Keep in mind that both TVs are similar in price, so the decision should be based on the viewing environment and content preferences. 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 Q80B (LCD)
Good viewing angle
Advantages of the Sony X90K (LCD)
Very good for bright room
Good for dark room
Good for movies & TV
Good for sports
Very good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Best in class for upscaling
Best in class motion processing
Key differences
Picture Quality
7.1/10
7.7/10
5.33/10
CONTRAST
7.38/10
7.5/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.8/10
LED FALD
PANEL TYPE
LED FALD
IPS
PANEL SUB-TYPE
TBD
The Sony X90K (LCD) and Samsung Q80B (LCD) both have good picture quality, though the Sony X90K (LCD) has somewhat better picture quality.
Movies & TV
6.4/10
7.5/10
5.33/10
CONTRAST
7.38/10
5.2/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.1/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The Sony X90K (LCD) is good for movies & TV, while the Samsung Q80B (LCD) is only fair.
The Sony X90K provides a superior movie and cinematic TV experience compared to the Samsung Q80B mainly due to its higher contrast and better black uniformity, which enhance the depth and detail in dark scenes. Though both TVs offer good colors out of the box and color volume, the Q80B has a wider viewing angle, but its lower black uniformity and contrast make it less ideal for watching movies where dark scene performance is crucial.
News, Talk, & Other TV
7.8/10
8.7/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.7/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
The Sony X90K (LCD) is very good for news, talk, & other TV, while the Samsung Q80B (LCD) is good.
The Sony X90K is very good for watching news, talk shows, and other TV programs thanks to its superior upscaling capability, which enhances the picture quality of lower resolution content, and its high color accuracy right out of the box. While the Samsung Q80B also performs well in these regards, it does not quite match the Sony X90K's level of detail in upscaling and color reproduction, making it simply good for the same types of content.
Bright Room
7.4/10
8.0/10
7.4/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.4/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.7/10
7.7/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.3/10
6.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
6.3/10
The Sony X90K (LCD) is very good for bright room, while the Samsung Q80B (LCD) is good.
The Sony X90K is considered better for bright room viewing as it has a higher HDR brightness, enhancing the viewing experience in rooms with a lot of natural light compared to the Samsung Q80B, which has a slightly lower HDR brightness. Both TVs have similar performance in handling reflections, which is fair, assisting in maintaining picture quality despite room brightness.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony X90K (LCD) to be good for sports, while the Samsung Q80B (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80B offers fair motion processing which is important for watching fast-paced sports, but it has wider viewing angles which makes it easier for groups to watch together. On the other hand, the Sony X90K provides better motion processing which helps in rendering smoother movement in sports, yet it has more limited viewing angles, possibly affecting off-angle viewing clarity.
Gaming
8.2/10
8.1/10
8.1/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.0/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
60.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
76.0/100
8.0/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.6/10
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) and Sony X90K (LCD) are both very good for gaming.
The Samsung Q80B is outstanding for gaming because it has the best input lag performance, ensuring minimal delay between user input and on-screen action, and a very good response time, providing smooth motion in fast-paced games. The Sony X90K also boasts very good gaming capabilities with a strong response time for minimal blur during movement and good input lag performance, although not as optimal as the Samsung, it still supports a fluid gaming experience.
Cartoons & Animation
7.6/10
8.0/10
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.7/10
7.5/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.8/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.7/10
7.8/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
7.0/10
6.4/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony X90K (LCD) to be very good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung Q80B (LCD) is good.
The Samsung Q80B and Sony X90K both have good color performance straight out of the box and cover a wide color gamut, which is critical for accurately reproducing the vibrant colors often found in cartoons and animation. Although equally matched in color gamut, the Sony X90K is noted to have better gray uniformity and contrast, which can enhance the overall picture quality and make it very good for watching animated content compared to the Samsung Q80B which is just good.
Cost
$898
$898
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) has a price of $898 and the Sony X90K (LCD) costs $898.
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How the Samsung Q80B (LCD) and the Sony X90K (LCD) compare to other TVs
"For most people its picture, sound, and price make it a midrange TV worth considering. HDR brightness was generally exceptional. Its viewing angles are shockingly good, among the very best we’ve seen recently from any non-OLED TV. For gamers input lag isn’t too shabby."
"As Sony’s next-to-flagship LCD TV, the X90K series delivers impressive performance for the price. The XR90K had fairly accurate out-of-box color. The TV’s multi-position stand lets you either set the screen flush with any stand its mounted on or elevate it to clear space for a soundbar. With the latter option, you get around 3 inches of clearance enough to accommodate most soundbars. The X90K’s excellent suite of gaming features ranks it up there with the best 120 Hz 4K TVs."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Q80B (LCD) or the Sony X90K (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.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec TVs team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest TV information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
385
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About the TV team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and TVs Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Jaime Roldán
TVs Expert
Jaime is a Colombia-based TV expert. He is an electronics engineer with 8 years of experience in the telecom sector and has been making TV recommendations for 12 years.