Tv 65 Pouces Oled Ou Qled

TechRadar Verdict

Offering a superior 4K UHD picture performance, with excellent blackness levels and rich colour, Samsung'due south mid-range QLED is a tempting alternative to the make'due south more expensive range-topping screens.

Pros

+
Consistent black levels
+
Straight Full Array backlight
+
Excellent image processor

Cons

-
No Freeview Play
-
No Dolby Vision

The Samsung Q80R is potentially the breakout hit in the Samsung 2019 TV range. It may exist third in line for the throne, after the inimitable Samsung Q90R and Samsung Q85R, only given that those two are virtually the same beast anyhow (give or accept nearly 400 backlight zones), the Q80R could be the QLED most buyers settle on.

Certainly it'due south enviably well equipped, with a direct total array backlight, enhanced antireflection and dissimilarity technologies, and a smart TV platform with some novel functionality. When it comes to bang for the buck, information technology beats like Lars Ulrich.

The only caveats are cost, which is invariably on the steep side, and a certain elephant in the room named Dolby Vision...

Samsung Q80R price and release date

In the U.k., the Q80R is currently available in 55- and 65-inch sizes, called the QE55Q80R and the QE65Q80R, respectively, that will run y'all between £1,999 and £2,499, depending on which screen size you choose.

In the US, you lot'll be able to observe both the 55-inch QN55Q80R and 65-inch QN65Q80R that will run you $1,999 and $2,799, respectively, but in addition there's besides the choice of the 75-inch QN75Q80R and 82-inch QN82Q80R that cost an eye-watering $3,999 and $5,299 apiece.

In Australia buyers tin can pick from 65-, 75- and 82-inch models - the QA55Q80R, QA65Q80R and QA75Q80R - that go for AU$3,899, AU$five,299 and AU$7,699.

Design

Like the rest of Samsung's 2019 QLED fleet, with the exception of the Samsung Q60R, the Q80R uses FALD (Full Assortment Local Dimming) backlight technology, for more precise HDR and greater contrast. This means it'due south physically chunkier than edge-lit rivals. Not that nosotros mind the heft.

Build quality is a tad less refined than its step-up stablemates, but its dress sense is nonetheless entirely respectable, with textured plastic back and tidy T-stand.

The FALD backlight translates to a console depth of 62mm, so information technology lacks the sexy slimness of OLED, and information technology'due south hefty besides at 25.2kg. There's no separate One Connect Box with the Q80R, which would've allowed you to go on all the cables in one spot, which means cables will demand to exist routed right up into the Idiot box. This is a chip of a hassle, simply we didn't find it to exist too much of a bargain-breaker. Speaking of ports, there'due south a standard quartet of HDMI v2.0 inputs, two USB ports, Ethernet LAN, digital optical audio out, plus dual satellite and terrestrial tuner inputs. Wi-Fi is dual-ring.

The set ships with a pair of remote controls, a standard IR zapper, and a smaller, less buttony-Bluetooth wand. Call usa Luddites, just we naturally gravitate toward the IR pointer, fifty-fifty though the Bluetooth remote feels then much nicer in the hand.

Blueprint TL;DR: The apply of a Full Assortment backlight means this set was never going to be wafer thin, but the slim bezel and groovy T-stand ensure it looks smart enough and connectivity ticks all the correct boxes.

Smart TV (Tizen)

Samsung's Tizen platform doesn't become as well much love compared to LG's WebOS, but here it's well designed and intuitive to use. The two-tier layout is nifty and tidy, and doesn't dominate screen real manor. One customisable bar offers access to all the usual streaming apps, while the other features Samsung TV Plus curated content. It's here that you can rent movies from Rakuten TV, in both UHD and HD.

At that place'due south no Freeview Play tuner on the U.k. edition of the gear up, then that means no rollback seven-twenty-four hour period program guide to find the programs y'all've missed. However all the key catch-up TV channels are supported, along with Netflix, Amazon Prime number Video and YouTube. There's too, cue table drum roll, an Apple Goggle box app.

Currently exclusive to Samsung, this allows Apple fans to rent and buy movies and Tv set shows from the Apple shop, and stream from Apple tree's Tv set channel bouquet. Admittedly this merely includes the Smithsonian Channel and Starz Play at the moment, but it'll too end up as the habitation of Apple's new streaming Tv service, which could make the app a must-have.

Of class in that location's an irony here. The Apple movie store remains one of the best sources of Dolby Vision content. But that won't help yous on this ready...

Other smart niceties include Samsung'due south Ambient style, allowing your QLED to blend into garish wallpaper using the Groundwork function, or double as a fancy clock when in standby; a Smart Things app which offers control of uniform devices via the Television, Photo Gallery and web browser.

There'southward also vocalization control, using Samsung'southward Bixby AI, and compatibility with Apple Airplay ii.

Smart Tv TL;DR: With all the streaming apps you really care about (plus a few y'all don't) and some innovative smart functionality, Samsung's Tizen platform excels when information technology comes to everyday usability.

What is the best smart Television receiver platform?

HD/SDR Functioning

SDR moving-picture show modes incorporate Standard, Dynamic, Natural and Movie, though our recommended options are Standard and Natural, the latter distinguished past a more contrasty arroyo that tends to crush some black level detail.

An Intelligent Mode, with adaptive effulgence and adaptive sound, can exist left to manage screen settings and insular an optimum performance without having to delve into menus. For this review, local dimming was left on Standard and Dissimilarity Enhancer Low.

Samsung'south Paradigm interpolation is powerful, but if y'all accept an disfavor to the dreaded 'lather opera' effect, yous might want to tread carefully.The Auto Motion Plus settings tin be manually configured, via adjustable blur and judder reduction, or merely left on Auto.

Our tip? For sports and studio content, the Motorcar setting is fine. It's not particularly cinematic though. For a compromise that controls judder without looking overly candy, continue blur reduction on 0 and judder reduction effectually 3-4. There'south also an LED clear movement choice, however this black frame insertion process adversely darkens the image.

Samsung's Ultra Viewing Angle technology trickles down from the models above, and does an first-class job of maintaining color and dissimilarity when viewed from the side. In the average living room, this is certain to be appreciated when it comes times to accept friends over to picket the large friction match.

The set proves a adept option for gamers, provided you master Samsung's convoluted Game settings. We measured input lag at a paltry 13.7ms, only to accomplish this delicious depression figure you lot'll demand to ensure that Game mode is on, but Game Motion Plus is switched off.

HD/SDR Functioning TL;DR: The Q80R has a summit-notch Hard disk performance. This pleasingly vivid panel offers a expert level of colour pop and dissimilarity with Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) content.

4K/HDR Performance

As we've seen on the Q90R and Q85R, this QLED delivers a premium HDR performance. Reflecting its official designation of HDR 1500, by Samsung, we measured its peak brightness functioning at an impressive 1200 cd/thousand (aka nits), using a ten per cent HDR window.

This is more than than bright enough to provide a sparkle with real world HDR content, and we found this a very rewarding HDR screen to watch.

Support covers vanilla HDR10, plus broadcast friendly HLG and dynamic metadata enabled HDR10+, which is widely used by Amazon Prime number Video, and finding its way onto Blu-ray. Significantly though, at that place'southward no compatibility with Dolby Vision.

Samsung's stubborn refusal to dorsum that particular Dolby equus caballus is a frustration, non least because the relatively lower brightness of the Q80R would benefit from Dolby Vision's superior dynamic HDR handling.

On a lighter note, the ready'southward fine item performance is start form. Adding to the sheer snap of the epitome is extremely good screen linearity and consistent blackness level functioning, courtesy of the VA panel used here. Color fidelity is superb, with convincing primaries and naturalistic pare tones.

Black level performance is higher up average. Letterbox bars are solid and ebon, without any wandering greyness. At that place's no obvious bug with blooming or haloing either.

4K/HDR Functioning TL;DR: While not in the same league as the Q90R or Q85R, the ability to deliver solid, consistent blackness, with minimal blooming, superlative detail and rich colour make this a luscious screen for movies, Boob tube shows and sports alike.

Sound

While the Idiot box has downward facing speakers, its performance is surprisingly robust, there's enough volume for typical living room living and the wider cabinet that accommodates the FALD backlight allows for drivers that offer a decent mid- and upper range operation.

Other panels to ponder...

There'south no shortage of rivals to the Q80R. Well-nigh tempting is arguably the Panasonic GX800 LED-LCD range. Some other 4K HDR offering, the GX800 combines superb image processing with a broad colour gamut console, and, information technology'due south HDR support covers all the bases, from HDR10 through to HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.

Alternatively, consider the 65-inch Sony KD-65XG8505 (XBR-65X850G in the United states of america), which offers both the brand's outstanding X1 image processor and highly constructive Acoustic Multi-Audio sound organisation. It too offers Dolby Vision HDR, just not HDR10+.

Verdict

The Samsung Q80R is a quality QLED. Information technology comes shut to the extreme HDR performance of the range-topping Q90R, offering pictures with inky blacks, vibrant color fidelity and outstanding make clean detail. We also like the accommodating nature of the Tizen smart platform.

The only caveats are price, which is invariably on the steep side, and a certain elephant in the room named Dolby Vision.

Don't miss our circular-up of the best TVs

Dwelling house entertainment AV specialist

Steve has been writing about AV and home cinema since the dawn of time, or more than accurately, since the celebrity days of VHS and Betamax. He has strong opinions on the latest TV applied science, Hello-Fi and Blu-ray/media players, and likes zilch better than to creepo upwards his ludicrously powerful home theatre arrangement to binge-watch Television receiver shows.