The Samsung QN90C is the more premium option, offering a better viewing experience for varied content like movies, sports, and gaming due to its higher brightness, which is especially relevant in sunny rooms. Its advanced mini LED technology and higher refresh rate improve picture quality and motion clarity. Conversely, the Sony X80K is less expensive and might suffice if you mostly watch TV shows and news in a dim or moderately lit room. However, it has a lower brightness, which is less ideal for very bright environments, and a lower refresh rate, making it less suitable for fast-moving sports or gaming. 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 QN90C (LCD)
Best in class for bright room
Good for dark room
Very good for gaming
Very good for movies & TV
Very good for news, talk, & other TV
Very good for cartoons & animation
Very good for use as monitor
Excellent reflections
Advantages of the Sony X80K (LCD)
Best in class for upscaling
Best in class motion processing
Good viewing angle
Key differences
Picture Quality
8.1/10
6.0/10
7.38/10
CONTRAST
5.06/10
9.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.6/10
miniLED FALD
PANEL TYPE
LED
ADS / IPS
PANEL SUB-TYPE
IPS
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) has very good picture quality, while the Sony X80K (LCD) has only fair picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.0/10
5.5/10
7.38/10
CONTRAST
5.06/10
6.8/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
5.2/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
No
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
Yes
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for movies & TV, while the Sony X80K (LCD) is poor.
Gaming
8.2/10
5.8/10
7.8/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
6.2/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.7/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
10.0/10
75.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
0.0/100
8.9/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.3/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for gaming, while the Sony X80K (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung QN90C is considered very good for gaming primarily because it has better response time and lower input lag compared to the Sony X80K, this results in quicker screen transitions and more responsive gameplay. Additionally, the QN90C's higher refresh rate enables smoother motion, which is crucial for fast-paced games, whereas the X80K with its lower refresh rate might not be as fluid in rendering quick movements.
Cartoons & Animation
8.8/10
7.2/10
7.5/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.1/10
9.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.6/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.5/10
8.1/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
8.5/10
7.7/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
8.0/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for cartoons & animation, while the Sony X80K (LCD) is good.
The Samsung QN90C displays vivid colors right out of the box and has an expansive color gamut, making cartoons and animations look lively and engaging. In comparison, while the Sony X80K also shows good colors without needing adjustments, it doesn't match the color gamut and volume of the Samsung, making it less ideal for the most vibrant of animated content.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.8/10
7.2/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.5/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
10.0/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is very good for news, talk, & other TV, while the Sony X80K (LCD) is good.
Bright Room
9.7/10
6.4/10
6.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
7.5/10
10.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.5/10
8.8/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.1/10
9.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
6.0/10
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the Sony X80K (LCD) is only fair.
The Samsung QN90C LCD TV outperforms the Sony X80K LCD TV in bright room conditions primarily because the Samsung model has the best SDR brightness and excellent reflection handling, which makes it well suited for well-lit environments. In contrast, the Sony X80K, with fair HDR brightness and reflection handling, is not as capable of maintaining picture quality under those same bright conditions.
Cost
$1,299
$798
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Samsung QN90C (LCD) has a price of $1,299 and the Sony X80K (LCD) costs $798.
The Sony X80K (LCD) and Samsung QN90C (LCD) are both good for sports.
The Samsung QN90C excels in motion processing and reflection handling, making it a strong choice for sports enthusiasts who often watch in varied lighting conditions, but has a narrower viewing angle which might not be ideal for large groups. On the other hand, the Sony X80K also handles motion well, with a faster response time, and offers wider viewing angles, which benefits multiple viewers spread out across the room, but struggles more with reflections that can be distracting in bright rooms.
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How the Samsung QN90C (LCD) and the Sony X80K (LCD) compare to other TVs
"The Sony Bravia X80K is an inexpensive LCD TV that turns out pleasing visuals and is armed with a number of other desirable features. Sony’s robust internal processing, results in generally better picture quality than you’ll usually get for this price. In practice, the X80K is satisfying to watch. You’re not going to get as sumptuous a picture as you may with other TVs from Sony or other companies, but we didn’t encounter anything that looked bad on it."
Get a great deal on the Samsung QN90C (LCD) or the Sony X80K (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.
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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.
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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.
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TVs Expert
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