Honestly, the tech world moves way too fast. We are constantly told that the "newest" thing is the only thing worth your money, but if you look at the Samsung QN90C Neo QLED, you’ll realize that’s mostly just marketing noise.
It's a beast.
Launched in 2023 as part of Samsung’s high-end Mini LED lineup, the QN90C hit a specific sweet spot that even the 2024 and 2025 successors have struggled to justify in terms of price-to-performance. While everyone is chasing the OLED dragon, this Neo QLED panel quietly delivers the kind of brightness that makes HDR content actually look like it’s popping off the glass. You've probably seen those reviews where people complain about blooming or "halos" around bright objects on dark backgrounds. Yeah, it happens. But on the QN90C, Samsung’s local dimming algorithms are so aggressive—in a good way—that you barely notice it unless you're watching Interstellar in a pitch-black room with your face three inches from the screen.
What Most People Get Wrong About Mini LED
There is this massive misconception that if it isn't OLED, it isn't "true" high-end. That's just wrong.
The Samsung QN90C Neo QLED uses a massive array of tiny LEDs. Think of them as a dense carpet of light behind the LCD layer. Because these LEDs are so small, Samsung can pack in hundreds of dimming zones. On the 65-inch model, you’re looking at roughly 720 local dimming zones. This matters because it allows the TV to get stupidly bright—hitting peaks of around 1,800 to 2,000 nits in certain HDR windows—while still keeping blacks deep.
OLEDs are great, sure. But try putting an LG C3 or even a newer C4 in a sun-drenched living room with three floor-to-ceiling windows. It struggles. The QN90C doesn't care about your windows. It fights the sun and wins.
The IPS vs. VA Panel Lottery
Here is where things get a bit nerdy and, frankly, a little annoying for consumers. Samsung used different panel types for different sizes of the QN90C. If you bought the 43-inch or 50-inch models, you likely got a VA panel. These have incredible native contrast but narrower viewing angles. However, the more popular 55, 65, 75, and 85-inch versions often shipped with ADS panels (a high-end version of IPS).
Wait. Don’t panic.
Usually, "IPS" means bad contrast. But because of the Mini LED backlight and the "Neo Quantum Processor 4K," the contrast on these ADS panels is actually shocking. You get the wide viewing angles—meaning your buddy sitting on the far end of the couch sees the same colors you do—without the grey, washed-out blacks usually associated with IPS tech. It’s a technical feat that RTINGS and other calibration experts have noted as a significant step up from the previous QN90B.
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Gaming on the QN90C: Is 144Hz Necessary?
If you’re a gamer, you’ve probably seen the "144Hz" badge on the box.
Most people don't need it.
If you are a console gamer on a PS5 or Xbox Series X, the console caps out at 120Hz anyway. The 144Hz capability is really for the PC crowd running an RTX 4090 who want that extra bit of fluidity. But even at 120Hz, the input lag on the Samsung QN90C Neo QLED is negligible. We’re talking under 10 milliseconds. It’s snappy.
Samsung’s Game Bar 3.0 is also a legitimate value-add. It lets you see your frame rate in real-time, adjust the "Virtual Aim Point" (which feels a little like cheating, let’s be real), and zoom in on mini-maps.
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports. All of them. Not just two like some of the competitors.
- VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support for G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro.
- Motion Xcelerator Turbo+ which keeps fast-moving objects from looking like a smeared mess of pixels.
One thing that genuinely bugs me, though? No Dolby Vision.
Samsung is stubborn. They refuse to pay the licensing fee to Dolby, so they push their own HDR10+ format. In 2026, most streaming services support both, but Netflix and Disney+ heavily favor Dolby Vision. The TV still looks incredible because it has the raw brightness to "brute force" a great HDR image, but it’s a limitation you should know about before dropping a couple thousand dollars.
The Software Situation (Tizen OS)
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Tizen.
Samsung’s smart TV interface is... polarizing. It’s fast, but it’s cluttered. They really want you to use "Samsung TV Plus," which is their free ad-supported streaming service. It’s fine if you want to watch 24/7 loops of Baywatch or old Gordon Ramsay clips, but the UI often feels like it's trying to sell you something.
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You’ve got a massive row of "sponsored" content and then your apps are tucked away in a small bar. It’s not as clean as Google TV or Apple TV’s interface. Most power users I know just plug in an Apple TV 4K or a Shield Pro and never look at the Tizen home screen again. If you can live with that, the hardware underneath is stellar.
Sound Quality: Don't Expect Miracles
The QN90C has "Object Tracking Sound+" (OTS+). Basically, there are speakers built into the sides and top of the frame to make it sound like the audio is following the action on screen.
It’s "okay."
For a flat-screen TV, it’s actually above average. It has 60W of power in a 4.2.2 channel configuration. But let's be honest: if you’re buying a TV of this caliber, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don't buy a dedicated soundbar or a 5.1 system. Samsung’s "Q-Symphony" feature does allow the TV speakers to work with a compatible Samsung soundbar, which adds some height to the soundstage, but on its own, it lacks the low-end punch for a proper movie night.
Why the QN90C Might Be the Best Value Right Now
Price.
When this TV launched, the 65-inch model was nearly $2,800. Now? You can often find it refurbished or on clearance for significantly less than the newer QN90D. And here is the kicker: the difference between the QN90C and the newer models is marginal.
We’ve reached a point of diminishing returns in LED tech.
The QN90C already has the brightness, it already has the dimming zones, and it already has the 144Hz panel. Buying the "last gen" model is often the smartest move in the tech world because the hardware has been battle-tested by firmware updates, and the price has cratered.
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Real World Performance Notes
- Anti-Glare: It has a "wide viewing angle" layer that also acts as a superb anti-reflective coating. If you have a lamp behind your couch, it won't create that annoying "purple streak" across the screen like some older LEDs did.
- Build Quality: It’s thin. Really thin. Samsung calls it the "NeoSlim Design." It looks expensive on a wall.
- Remote: It uses a solar-powered remote. No batteries. You just flip it over on your coffee table and the ambient light in the room keeps it charged. It's a small detail, but it's one of those "living in the future" moments that actually works.
Acknowledging the Limitations
I'm not going to sit here and tell you it's perfect.
The QN90C can sometimes over-brighten a scene. Because it’s trying so hard to be vibrant, it can occasionally lose some of the "intent" of a cinematographer. Skin tones can look a little too saturated out of the box. You’ll definitely want to switch it to "Filmmaker Mode" the moment you plug it in. This turns off all the "soap opera effect" motion smoothing and sets the colors to a more accurate D65 white point.
Also, the local dimming can be a bit "jumpy" in subtitles. If you watch a lot of foreign films with white subtitles on a black background, you might see the backlight pumping as the text appears and disappears. It's the price you pay for not having an OLED where every pixel is its own light source.
How to Get the Most Out of Your QN90C
If you decide to pick one up, don't just leave the settings at "Standard."
- Disable Power Saving: The "Eco Sensor" will dim the screen based on room light, but it often gets it wrong and makes the picture look muddy.
- Turn off "Contrast Enhancer": This is a software trick that makes the image look "pop-y" but actually crushes detail in the shadows.
- Calibrate for SDR and HDR separately: The TV remembers settings for both. For SDR (regular cable or YouTube), keep the brightness around 25-30. For HDR, crank it to the max to let the Mini LEDs do their thing.
The Samsung QN90C Neo QLED is a high-performance machine that doesn't require the "babying" that an OLED does. You don't have to worry about burn-in if you leave the news on for six hours a day. You don't have to close the curtains at noon. It's a "set it and forget it" powerhouse.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are currently cross-shopping the QN90C against newer models, do a side-by-side spec check on the number of local dimming zones. If the newer model doesn't offer at least a 20% increase in zone count, stick with the QN90C and save the extra $500 for a high-end soundbar like the HW-Q990C.
Always check the panel type for the specific size you're buying. If you're a movie purist who sits directly in front of the screen, try to track down the 50-inch VA version. If you're a family-room user with people scattered around the room, the 65-inch or 75-inch ADS version is the way to go. Verify the return policy as well; panel uniformity can vary slightly from unit to unit, and you want the option to swap it if you get a "dirty screen effect" (DSE) outlier.