If you're looking for better overall picture quality and performance, especially for gaming and watching sports, the Samsung Q80B would be a superior choice, offering features such as local dimming and higher brightness in HDR content which make for a more impressive viewing experience. The sound quality is also better with the Q80B. However, it does come at a higher price.
On the other hand, if you want to save money and don't need advanced features, the Samsung AU8000 is a more budget-friendly option. It has a decent picture quality that may be satisfactory for general viewing and news but falls short for more demanding content and darker viewing environments. It has a more limited ability to handle reflections and a narrower viewing angle than the Q80B. 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 for bright room
Very good for gaming
Good for news, talk, & other TV
Good for cartoons & animation
Good for use as monitor
Very good motion processing
Good viewing angle
Advantages of the Samsung AU8000 (LCD)
Good reflections
Key differences
Picture Quality
7.1/10
6.6/10
5.33/10
CONTRAST
6.71/10
7.5/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.3/10
LED FALD
PANEL TYPE
LED
IPS
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) has good picture quality, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has only fair picture quality.
Movies & TV
6.4/10
5.9/10
5.33/10
CONTRAST
6.71/10
5.2/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.9/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) is only fair for movies & TV, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung Q80B offers better performance for movies and cinematic TV due to its superior local dimming, which enhances contrast, and better black uniformity, which is crucial for watching content with dark scenes. While both TVs struggle with viewing angles, the Q80B provides a more consistent color experience out of the box and maintains a fuller color volume, making it more suitable for rich cinematic visuals compared to the Samsung AU8000, which falls short in these areas.
Gaming
8.2/10
5.8/10
8.1/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
5.9/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
6.0/10
60.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
0.0/100
8.0/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.8/10
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung Q80B offers a better gaming experience compared to the Samsung AU8000 due to its very good response time and best input lag performance, which are crucial for smooth and responsive gameplay, while the AU8000's poor performance in these areas makes it less ideal for gaming. Additionally, the higher refresh rate of the Q80B enhances motion clarity for fast-paced games, a feature where the lower refresh rate of the AU8000 falls short.
Cartoons & Animation
7.6/10
6.9/10
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
6.1/10
7.5/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.3/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.1/10
7.8/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
7.2/10
6.4/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.8/10
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) is good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80B is better for watching cartoons and animation due to its good performance right out of the box for color accuracy and a wider color gamut, allowing it to display a broader range of colors. On the other hand, the Samsung AU8000 is fair in these areas, indicating less accurate colors and a more limited range, which could make animated content appear less vibrant.
News, Talk, & Other TV
7.8/10
6.7/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.1/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) is good for news, talk, & other TV, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80B is better for watching news and TV programs because it has very good SDR brightness and good upscaling which enhances the clarity of lower resolution content found in regular broadcasts. In contrast, the Samsung AU8000 is rated fair for watching such content, despite having good SDR brightness, due to its lack of local dimming and a lesser color gamut which affects picture contrast and color richness.
Bright Room
7.4/10
6.3/10
7.4/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.5/10
8.8/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.1/10
7.7/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.7/10
6.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
7.8/10
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) is good for bright room, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80B performs better in a bright room due to its very good SDR brightness and fair handling of reflections, compared to the fair SDR brightness and good reflections handling of the Samsung AU8000. Additionally, the Samsung Q80B's good HDR brightness enhances viewing in bright conditions, while the AU8000's HDR brightness is considered poor.
Cost
$998
$648
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) has a price of $998 and the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) costs $648.
The Samsung Q80B (LCD) and Samsung AU8000 (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The Samsung Q80B has a fair performance for watching sports primarily because it handles reflections better and has wider viewing angles, which makes it suitable for a group watching, but it may have some blur due to motion, which is not ideal for fast-paced sports. The Samsung AU8000 also offers a fair experience with decent response time and motion processing but struggles more with reflections and has narrower viewing angles, potentially making it less suitable for large groups or bright rooms.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Samsung Q80B (LCD) and the Samsung AU8000 (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."
"To put it directly: you’d never see a mid-range 4K TV hitting this black levels half a decade ago. AU8000 plays the part of a higher-end TV thanks to its sleek design. If you’re upgrading to a smart TV for the first time, the software is a great way to dip your toes in the streaming water."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Q80B (LCD) or the Samsung AU8000 (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.
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
TVs evaluated
33,110
TVs stats compiled
21
Proprietary TVs ratings developed
122,430
Recommendations made
18,365
Consumer hours saved
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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.