Samsung’s 2019 Qled’s Preview – First look at the new 4k and 8ktvs

True to tradition, CES in Las Vegas marks the start of the year for the major television manufacturers. At this fair, many brands give a preview of the new TV models. At the last CES, Samsung showed a very interesting vision of the future in the form of a modular microLED screen. This screen looked very impressive, but unfortunately it was still only a prototype; we will probably have to wait many years before we see the first microled televisions in the shops.

Although we find the still young microLED technology very interesting, we were a bit disappointed that the world’s largest TV manufacturer did not show any new production models. For that we had to wait until last Wednesday when the new Qled line-up was presented at a special event in Porto. Samsung invited us to be there, so armed with our camera, we traveled to Portugal to see the new 4k and 8k televisions.

The new Qled models will all again be equipped with a smart TV in the form of Tizen. This operating system has largely remained the same as last year, but this year it is better able to provide recommendations based on your viewing habits. It does not matter whether you watch the old-fashioned way or via streaming services such as those of Netflix and Amazon.

Naturally, Samsung’s voice assistant Bixby is present, but it still does not speak Dutch and will probably not do so this year either. Fortunately, the televisions can also be operated with the smart speaker from Google, which has been understanding and speaking Dutch for some time now. There is support for Apple AirPlay 2 and, if you use it, you can also access your own iTunes library via the included ‘iTunes Movies & TV Shows’ app. In addition to a deal with Apple, there is also an agreement with Netflix, which means that Samsung will now also be the last major manufacturer to add a special Netflix button to the remote controls of 2019.

Ambient Mode

The Ambient Mode, in which the television shows images in standby to better blend in with the environment, has also been improved. The ability to photograph the wall behind your TV with an app to display the pattern of the wall on screen has remained the same, but the ability to display things like photos, arty designs, and screensavers of sorts are extensive.

For example, we saw a butterfly that seemed to land on the bezel of the TV and a picture of us was taken that could then be displayed as a water or oil painting. The TV can also be used in Ambient mode to play music with the current song appearing on the screen. By means of sensors, the brightness is adjusted to the lighting situation in the room, and the screen is switched off completely when no one is in the room. As a result, the energy consumption of the Ambient mode must remain within limits.

Q60R

The Qled entry-level model is called Q60R and is equipped with an edge-lit VA panel. As a result, the HDR display is not as beautiful as with the other models. This TV does have the large color range that you know from QLED TVs. This is made possible by using only blue LEDs for the backlight. Due to the quantum dots, this blue light is partially converted into very pure green and red light, so that very saturated colors can be displayed. Covers the full dci-p3 color range. The Q60R will come in 43, 49, 55, 65, 75 and 82-inch sizes.

Q70R

To better compete with OLED, all 2019 Qled models from the Q70R are equipped with Full Array Local Dimming. This clearly improves the contrast in the image and makes a nicer HDR display possible. Samsung did not want to say how many zones have been used in the Q70R, but that it is several dozen. There are also more fald zones with larger image sizes than with small ones. The maximum brightness of this model will be close to 1000cd/m² and will come in variants of 49, 55, 65, 75 and 82 inches.

Q80R

In terms of viewing angles, OLED screens have so far had a clear advantage over LCDs; certainly in the case of the va panels used by Samsung. From the Q80R, the QLEDs this year are equipped with a diffuser film on the LCD panel that spreads the light better, improving viewing angles. The models we’ve seen were still prototypes, so we’re holding back, but the viewing angles of these TVs were very good indeed. There are more zones in the false-backlight than with the Q70R and the maximum brightness is also higher at around 1500cd/m². The available sizes are 55 and 65 inches.

Q85R

The Q85 is equipped with the same screen as the Q80, but has a different foot design and can be hung very tightly against a wall by means of a bracket that must be purchased separately. This TV also comes with a One connect box that houses all electronics and connections. The separate box can be placed out of sight and was therefore not visible at the event. A very thin cable runs to the screen that is easy to hide. In addition to a fiber optic for signal transmission, this thin cable also contains a number of copper wires that feed the screen. The available sizes are 55, 65 and 75 inches.

Q90R

The top model of the 4K models is the Q90R, which is equipped with a large number of false zones. How many there are again depends on the image size and runs somewhere in the hundreds. Due to the larger number of backlight LEDs, Samsung promises a high maximum brightness of around 2000cd/m² for this TV. The image looked very good in the brightly lit room where the Q90R was set up. With white logos on a black background, we could just detect some vague halos in the image, but they were certainly not disturbing. The Q90 will be made in 65, 75 and 82 inch sizes.

Q950R

Last year at IFA , Samsung was the first of the major manufacturers to show the first 8k model; the Q900R. During the event in Porto, Samsung unveiled a new 8k TV that will be positioned above the existing model. The new Q950R is the only one of the 2019 models equipped with HDMI 2.1. We were told that HDMI 2.1 will also be available for the Q900R, but it was not yet known when and how that will happen. Because hardware will have to be replaced, Q900R owners may have to pay extra.

The new 8k top model will have to do without content in its own resolution of 7680 × 4320 pixels for many years to come, so Samsung is very proud of the upscaling technique used. This would use AI to make lower resolution images look almost as beautiful as real 8k images. We’re not overly impressed with the upscaled images; it looks fine, but as far as we’re concerned, no better than on a 4k TV. The higher resolution is only really useful when displaying native 8k images, and then only when you are close to the screen.