If you are looking to save some money, the Samsung QN85B is less expensive and still offers good overall picture quality, gaming performance, and does well in bright rooms. However, it falls short in dark room viewing due to lower contrast and black uniformity.
On the other hand, the Samsung QN90C is more expensive but delivers better picture quality, especially in dark rooms, with higher contrast and black uniformity. It also has slightly better performance in bright rooms and comes with better speakers and voice command capabilities, which can enhance the overall user experience.
Consider how much you value dark room performance, sound quality, and additional features like voice commands against the price difference. 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 QN85B (LCD)
Good viewing angle
Advantages of the Samsung QN90C (LCD)
Best in class for bright room
Very good for movies & TV
Very good for upscaling
Excellent reflections
Key differences
Picture Quality
7.5/10
8.1/10
5.64/10
CONTRAST
7.38/10
7.5/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
9.1/10
miniLED FALD
PANEL TYPE
miniLED FALD
IPS
PANEL SUB-TYPE
ADS / IPS
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) has very good picture quality, while the Samsung QN85B (LCD) has good picture quality.
Movies & TV
7.3/10
8.0/10
5.64/10
CONTRAST
7.38/10
5.7/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.8/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for movies & TV, while the Samsung QN85B (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90C is considered very good for watching movies and cinematic TV primarily because it offers superior contrast, better black uniformity, and improved colors out of the box than the Samsung QN85B. Although the QN85B delivers good performance in the same aspects, its local dimming, color volume, and gray uniformity are somewhat less impressive when compared to the QN90C, which can provide a more engaging viewing experience.
Cartoons & Animation
8.0/10
8.8/10
7.2/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.5/10
7.5/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
9.1/10
9.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
7.9/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
8.1/10
7.2/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
7.7/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) and Samsung QN85B (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation, though the Samsung QN90C (LCD) is somewhat better.
The Samsung QN85B has good colors straight out of the box and a good color gamut, making it suitable for cartoons that often have vibrant and varied color palettes. However, the Samsung QN90C not only provides good colors out of the box but also has excellent color volume, which allows it to display a wider range of colors, giving it an edge for animation viewing where color depth and subtlety can really stand out.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.2/10
8.8/10
9.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) and Samsung QN85B (LCD) are both very good for news, talk, & other TV, though the Samsung QN90C (LCD) is somewhat better.
The Samsung QN85B performs excellently with upscaled content, making it a strong choice for viewing standard-definition news and talk shows, while its very good SDR brightness ensures a clear picture in most lighting conditions. Conversely, the Samsung QN90C offers slightly better upscaling and the best possible SDR brightness, which enhances visibility in bright rooms, but both have satisfactory performance in key areas like local dimming, contrast, and color accuracy that contribute to a high-quality viewing experience for regular TV programs.
Cost
$1,199
$1,299
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Samsung QN85B (LCD) has a price of $1,199 and the Samsung QN90C (LCD) costs $1,299.
The Samsung QN85B (LCD) and Samsung QN90C (LCD) are both good for sports.
The Samsung QN85B offers very good motion processing and handles reflections well, making it suitable for sports watching in bright rooms; however, its viewing angles are less accommodating for wider seating arrangements. Conversely, the Samsung QN90C presents excellent reflection handling and good response time, beneficial for fast-paced sports content, with a slight compromise on viewing angles.
Gaming
8.2/10
8.2/10
8.0/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
7.8/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.0/10
70.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
75.0/100
9.0/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.9/10
The Samsung QN85B (LCD) and Samsung QN90C (LCD) are both very good for gaming.
The Samsung QN85B and QN90C are very good for gaming as they both have excellent response times and the best input lag performance, ensuring minimal delay between your actions and what you see on screen, paired with a high refresh rate for smooth gameplay.
Bright Room
9.2/10
9.7/10
7.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
6.5/10
9.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
10.0/10
8.9/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.8/10
8.9/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung QN90C (LCD) to be best in class for bright room, while the Samsung QN85B (LCD) is excellent.
The Samsung QN90C exceeds the QN85B in terms of SDR brightness, making it better for very bright rooms, while both offer very good HDR brightness, facilitating rich detail in high dynamic range content. However, the QN90C also has excellent reflection handling which surpasses the QN85B's very good performance, reducing glare and improving visibility in brightly lit environments.
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How the Samsung QN85B (LCD) and the Samsung QN90C (LCD) compare to other TVs
"Particularly key to this is the fact that black levels are unusually good, on a level we haven’t seen from any IPS TV before. Build quality is impressive too, with a gleaming silver metallic frame and stand, and enough heft to suggest plenty of quality innards. High dynamic range content jumps off the screen with enough luminosity and intensity to really sell what makes HDR special."
Get a great deal on the Samsung QN85B (LCD) or the Samsung QN90C (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.