The Samsung QN90A is a solid choice for a vibrant room due to its superior bright room performance and better handling of reflections; it'll display a more vivid picture when the lights are on. It also has better quality control and quality assurance scores, indicating a potentially more reliable product. Additionally, its overall picture quality, motion processing, and upscaling are superior, making it an excellent TV for mixed content, including movies, sports, and gaming.
On the other hand, the TCL R648, while generally more expensive, offers an 8k resolution which can provide sharper images for compatible content. However, keep in mind that 8k content is still rare, and this TV has lower scores for sports content, dark room viewing, and local dimming than the Samsung, meaning that it may not perform as well in those areas. The R648 also has a lower bright room score, so it might not be as clear in well-lit conditions. If gaming is a priority, both TVs perform well, but the Samsung has a slight edge.
Ultimately, if you're looking for an all-around performer with excellence in varied lighting conditions and a high likelihood of great build quality, the Samsung QN90A could be a better fit. If you are focused on future-proofing for 8k content and can compromise on some other visual aspects, the TCL R648 could be your choice. 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 QN90A (LCD)
Best in class for bright room
Very good for movies & TV
Good for sports
Very good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for use as monitor
Very good for upscaling
Very good motion processing
Excellent reflections
Advantages of the TCL R648 (LCD)
The TCL R648 (LCD) has no clear advantages over the Samsung QN90A (LCD).
Key differences
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.9/10
7.5/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good for news, talk, & other TV, while the TCL R648 (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90A is very good for watching news, talk shows, and other TV programs because of its excellent upscaling and SDR brightness, ensuring a bright and clear picture, along with strong local dimming and a wide color gamut that provide rich contrast and vibrant colors. The TCL R648 is good in the same scenario, also offering excellent upscaling and SDR brightness, but it has a slightly lower performance in local dimming and colors out of the box, which may affect the depth of the viewable picture contrast and color realism to a minor extent.
Bright Room
9.7/10
8.1/10
6.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.2/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.0/10
9.3/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.9/10
9.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
8.0/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the TCL R648 (LCD) is very good.
The Samsung QN90A provides excellent SDR and HDR brightness, paired with outstanding reflection handling, making it ideal for bright rooms. The TCL R648 also offers excellent SDR brightness and very good reflection handling but falls short in HDR brightness compared to the Samsung, making it slightly less suited for very bright environments.
Cost
$1,470
$2,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) has a price of $1,470 and the TCL R648 (LCD) costs $2,000.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung QN90A (LCD) to have very good picture quality, while the TCL R648 (LCD) has good picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.0/10
7.6/10
7.00/10
CONTRAST
7.00/10
7.0/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.5/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung QN90A (LCD) to be very good for movies & TV, while the TCL R648 (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90A delivers a very good movie-watching experience with high contrast, effective local dimming, and excellent black uniformity, ensuring deep blacks and minimized blooming in dark scenes. Meanwhile, the TCL R648 also provides a good experience, but its lower black uniformity and local dimming may result in less accurate darkness in dimly lit scenes, though it still maintains high contrast and vibrant colors.
Sports
7.0/10
6.5/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
5.3/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
5.9/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.0/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung QN90A (LCD) to be good for sports, while the TCL R648 (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90A excels in sports watching due to its faster response time and superior motion processing, which ensures smooth action without blur, and it handles reflections better, making it suitable for bright rooms. Conversely, the TCL R648, while also good, may not handle fast-moving sports scenes as well, and its narrower viewing angles could limit the view for those sitting off to the side.
Gaming
8.3/10
8.2/10
8.3/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.2/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
7.6/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
5.3/10
70.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
70.0/100
9.3/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.3/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) and TCL R648 (LCD) are both very good for gaming.
The Samsung QN90A is noted for its excellent response time and best-in-class input lag, making it highly suitable for gaming where fast action clarity and quick reaction times are critical. Likewise, the TCL R648 also delivers very good gaming performance with its very good response time and input lag, although it may not match the Samsung's prowess in these areas.
Cartoons & Animation
8.8/10
8.6/10
7.8/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.8/10
8.2/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
7.6/10
9.4/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.0/10
9.5/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
9.0/10
6.4/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
7.0/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) and TCL R648 (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The Samsung QN90A is superb for cartoons & animation with exceptional colors straight from the box and a very good color volume, making the animated content vivid and immersive. While the TCL R648 also delivers excellent colors without any adjustments and has a good color volume, ensuring a rich portrayal of cartoons & animation.
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How the Samsung QN90A (LCD) and the TCL R648 (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
Samsung QN90A (LCD)
TCL R648 (LCD)
GENERAL
Price
Price
$1,470
$2,000
Brand
Brand
Samsung
TCL
Release Date
Release Date
February 4, 2021
May 1, 2021
Full name
Full name
QN65QN90A
65R648
Screen Size
Screen Size
65"
65"
Screen Resolution
Screen Resolution
4K
8K
Screen Type
Screen Type
LCD
LCD
Screen Sub-type
Screen Sub-type
miniLED FALD VA
miniLED FALD VA
Smart TV
Smart TV
Yes
Yes
TV FEATURES
Operating System
Operating System
Tizen
Roku TV
Sound Quality Score
Sound Quality Score
8.3/10
8/10
NextGen Ready
NextGen Ready
Yes
No
HDMI Ports
HDMI Ports
4
4
Coax Ports
Coax Ports
1
1
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
HDR Supported formats
HDR Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
Accessibility
Accessibility
None
None
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES
Picture Quality Score
Picture Quality Score
8.2/10
7.8/10
Bright Room Score
Bright Room Score
9.8/10
8.2/10
Gaming Score
Gaming Score
8.4/10
8.3/10
Movies & TV Score
Movies & TV Score
8.1/10
7.7/10
Sports Score
Sports Score
7/10
6.6/10
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
9/10
7.6/10
Cartoons & Animation Score
Cartoons & Animation Score
8.8/10
8.6/10
Use as Monitor Score
Use as Monitor Score
8.2/10
7.5/10
PHYSICAL
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
32.6" x 56.9" x 1"
32.7" x 57" x 3"
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
35.2" x 56.9"
35.1" x 57"
Weight without Stand
Weight without Stand
53.8 lbs
70.1 lbs
VESA Mount
VESA Mount
400 x 300
400 x 400
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
7/10
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
8/10
6.5/10
Gaming Local Dimming
Gaming Local Dimming
7/100
7/100
Game HDR Brightness Score
Game HDR Brightness Score
9.3/10
8.3/10
SDR Brightness Score
SDR Brightness Score
9.4/10
9/10
HDR Brightness Score
HDR Brightness Score
9.3/10
7.9/10
Gray Uniformity
Gray Uniformity
6.4/10
7/10
Black Uniformity
Black Uniformity
7/10
6.5/10
Viewing Angle
Viewing Angle
6.5/10
5.2/10
Reflections Score
Reflections Score
9.1/10
8/10
Upscaling
Upscaling
8/10
5.9/10
Motion Processing
Motion Processing
8/10
5.3/10
Color Gamut Score
Color Gamut Score
7.9/10
7.9/10
Color Volume Score
Color Volume Score
8.2/10
7.7/10
Response Time Score
Response Time Score
8.4/10
8.3/10
Input Lag Score
Input Lag Score
10/10
7.7/10
Colors Out of the Box Score
Colors Out of the Box Score
9.5/10
9/10
Quality Control
Quality Control
8/10
7/10
Chroma Subsampling Score
Chroma Subsampling Score
8/10
8.8/10
SOUND
Speaker Setup
Speaker Setup
4.2.2
2.1
Speaker Power
Speaker Power
60 W
50 W
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos
Bypass only
Yes
DTS:X
DTS:X
No
Yes, Bypass only
Get a great deal on the Samsung QN90A (LCD) or the TCL R648 (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 TCL
TCL, the highly recognizable TV brand from China, has firmly established itself as the second-largest manufacturer in terms of sales volume. Renowned for striking an impressive balance between affordability, picture quality, and design, TCL TVs deliver a compelling overall package. While they have traditionally excelled in the low-end and midrange TV segments, TCL has recently made remarkable strides in the realm of high-end televisions, introducing impressive models that rival top competitors. Most TCL TVs use Roku software which is very user friendly and easy to use, but they have a few other models that use Google TV which has the largest app selection, but is not as user friendly as Roku.
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
120,030
Recommendations made
18,005
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.