The Samsung Q80C is a midrange priced TV that typically costs much more than the Samsung AU8000, which has a lower midrange price. The Q80C excels in gaming and performs better in bright rooms. It also has better quality control and higher scores for movie watching, sports content, and overall picture quality. On the other hand, the AU8000 is more suited for those on a tighter budget and achieves better black uniformity; thus it could provide a more consistent color display across the screen. Both do not support premium HDR formats like Dolby Vision but do support HDR10+. If you prioritize gaming or viewing in brighter rooms and can afford the higher price, the Q80C may be the better option. However, if you want to save money and don't need the best performance in bright lighting conditions, the AU8000 could serve you well. 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 Q80C (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
Gaming
8.1/10
5.8/10
7.8/10
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
8.1/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.8/10
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung Q80C is better suited for gaming due to its higher response time and input lag scores, which means it displays fast-moving content with less blur and responds quicker to gaming inputs compared to the Samsung AU8000 which has lower scores in these key gaming aspects.
News, Talk, & Other TV
7.2/10
6.7/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.1/10
7.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) is good for news, talk, & other TV, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80C performs better than the Samsung AU8000 for watching news and talk shows due to its superior upscaling and better brightness for standard dynamic range (SDR) content, enhancing the clarity of lower resolution broadcasts. Additionally, the Q80C offers better color performance right out of the box, a wider color gamut and higher contrast with local dimming, which contribute to a more vibrant and detailed picture.
Bright Room
7.2/10
6.3/10
7.7/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.5/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.1/10
7.3/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.7/10
5.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
7.8/10
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) is good for bright room, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80C performs better in bright rooms due to its very good SDR and HDR brightness along with a fair handling of reflections, which reduces glare. In comparison, the Samsung AU8000 has fair reflection handling but only good SDR brightness and poor HDR brightness, which results in a less vibrant picture in well-lit environments.
Cost
$1,298
$648
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) has a price of $1,298 and the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) costs $648.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung Q80C (LCD) to have good picture quality, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has only fair picture quality.
Movies & TV
6.1/10
5.9/10
5.55/10
CONTRAST
6.71/10
4.4/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.9/10
7.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung Q80C (LCD) to be only fair for movies & TV, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung Q80C is considered fair for watching movies and cinematic TV as it has a reasonable contrast, local dimming feature, and black uniformity that enhances dark scene reproduction, although its performance is limited by poor viewing angles. On the other hand, the Samsung AU8000 is rated as poor for the same content because it lacks a local dimming feature, which is crucial for good contrast and deep blacks, and generally delivers a lower performance in terms of color and uniformity, despite having better black uniformity.
Sports
6.8/10
6.5/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
6.0/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
7.0/10
UPSCALING
7.5/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.1/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Samsung Q80C (LCD) and Samsung AU8000 (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
The Samsung Q80C has good motion processing and a fast response time, making it suitable for watching sports, but its poor handling of reflections and limited viewing angles may detract from the experience in a bright room or with a wide seating arrangement. The Samsung AU8000 has a slower response time and weaker motion processing, which could lead to blur during fast-paced sports; however, it handles reflections better, offering an advantage in well-lit environments, yet it also suffers from narrow viewing angles.
Cartoons & Animation
7.2/10
6.9/10
7.3/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
6.1/10
7.8/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.3/10
8.5/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.1/10
6.5/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
7.2/10
7.0/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung Q80C (LCD) to be good for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung Q80C has more accurate colors out of the box and a better color gamut, enhancing the vibrancy and range of hues for cartoons and animation. Meanwhile, the Samsung AU8000, while fair in these aspects, doesn't match the Q80C's performance in color reproduction which affects the overall experience when watching animated content.
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How the Samsung Q80C (LCD) and the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) compare to other TVs
"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 Q80C (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
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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.