Samsung QN800D: Unmatched 8K Quality and Features

The Samsung QN800D is a standout in the 8K TV market. Its picture quality is remarkable, thanks to effective 8K upscaling and exceptional detail. Furthermore, it boasts a plethora of gaming and smart TV features. Despite the steep prices of 8K TVs, the QN800D’s offerings largely justify the cost.

Samsung QN800D: A Quick Overview

The Samsung QN800D, an entry-level model in Samsung’s 8K Neo QLED lineup, offers 8K resolution at a more affordable price than its flagship counterpart, the Samsung QN900D. However, it’s still a high-end TV, with the 65-inch model retailing for $3,499 / £3,499 / AU$4,799, a price point higher than most premium 4K TVs.

Samsung, a leading TV manufacturer, continues championing 8K technology as other brands shift away. The performance of the QN800D validates this commitment.

Picture Quality The QN800D delivers impressive picture quality, primarily due to the exceptional 8K AI upscaling and Real Depth Enhancer Pro features of the TV’s NQ8 AI Gen2 Processor. These features add incredible depth and refined detail to any textures. The picture also boasts rich contrast and impressive black levels for a mini-LED TV. Minor backlight blooming and reflections in harsh lighting conditions are the only drawbacks.

Gaming Features The QN800D is equipped with numerous gaming features, including four HDMI 2.1 ports with all the features expected in the best gaming TVs. It supports 4K up to 165Hz, 8K up to 60Hz, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and comes with Samsung’s Gaming Hub. The excellent gaming performance provides a smooth and seamless experience even in intense FPS games.

Sound Quality The sound quality of the QN800D is a weak point compared to its other features. A 4.2.2-channel speaker array provides exceptional tracking of on-screen action and clear dialogue, but the QN800D’s lean bass means it can’t compete with some of the best TVs for sound. Therefore, pairing the QN800D with a top-tier soundbar is recommended.

Design The QN800D employs Samsung’s ‘Infinity One’ design for a sleek, slim look with a near bezel-less appearance. It also includes Samsung’s One Connect Box for all external source connections, making it ideal for wall mounting. It comes with a premium metal stand, although it can be tricky to install.

Price and Value The QN800D is a premium-priced TV, with many flagship 4K models selling for significantly less while still offering many of the same great features. There’s also a lack of 8K media to fully utilize the QN800D’s high resolution. However, the QN800D’s impressive 8K upscaling adds extra value to every source, especially 4K movies with HDR. If your budget allows, the QN800D won’t disappoint. It has certainly made a believer out of skeptics of 8K TVs.

Samsung QN800D: A Brief Overview of Pricing, Release Date, and Specifications

The Samsung QN800D, a more affordable model in the 8K Neo QLED lineup, was launched in April 2024. It is positioned below the flagship Samsung QN900D. The TV is available in three sizes: 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch.

In conclusion, the Samsung QN800D offers a balance of price and performance, making it a compelling choice for those looking to enter the 8K TV market.

Samsung QN800D: A Snapshot of Key Features

The Samsung QN800D is a feature-rich 8K TV. It employs the NQ8 AI Gen2 Processor, which offers 8K AI Upscaling Pro to enhance 4K images to near 8K quality. It also includes Real Depth Enhancer Pro and Adaptive Picture, both AI-driven features that optimize the picture based on the content and viewing environment.

HDR Support The QN800D supports HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG HDR formats, but it does not support Dolby Vision.

Gaming Capabilities Equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, the QN800D supports a refresh rate of up to 165Hz at 4K and 60Hz at 8K. It also supports VRR, including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and HGiG. Additionally, it features Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which consolidates all gaming-related content in one place.

Connectivity The QN800D comes with the One Connect Box Slim, which houses all connections and links to the TV with a single cable. This design keeps cables organized, especially for wall-mounted setups. Connections include optical digital audio out, an ATSC 3.0 tuner (US-only), aerial and satellite connections for the UK, and three USB ports, including USB-C.

Audio Features The QN800D has a built-in 4.2.2 channel speaker array with 70W of power and Dolby Atmos support. It also features AI-driven Adaptive Sound Pro and Active Voice Amplifier Pro, which optimize sound based on the scene and viewing environment. The QN800D supports Q Symphony, which combines the TV’s audio output with compatible Samsung soundbars.

Smart TV Platform The QN800D uses Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform, which has been updated for 2024 with a new ‘recommended for you’ section and a ‘Recent’ window for easy access to recently viewed content.

Samsung QN800D: An Examination of Image Quality

The Samsung QN800D delivers an exceptional viewing experience. It offers remarkable detail and effective 8K upscaling, with only minor reflections and backlight blooming.

Brightness and Contrast In its default settings, the 65-inch QN800D’s peak brightness measured 1,045 nits on a 10% HDR window in Standard mode, and 1,126 nits in Filmmaker Mode. While these results don’t match up to the flagship Samsung QN900D or the Samsung S95D QD-OLED, the QN800D still offers excellent full-screen brightness, making it ideal for daytime viewing and sports.

Reflections and Picture Presets In varying lighting conditions, some mirror-like reflections were observed on the QN800D’s screen, but they weren’t too distracting. After cycling through picture presets, Filmmaker Mode was found to be the most accurate.

Upscaling and Color Rendition The QN800D’s upscaling is incredibly effective, delivering crisp and clean images. When streaming 4K content, such as Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Disney Plus, the characters’ facial features were incredibly detailed. The QN800D displayed bold, vibrant colors, with lightsabers taking on a shimmering brightness.

Detail and Local Dimming Demo footage revealed the QN800D’s strengths, with outstanding detail and realistic images. Close-up studio images with fully black backgrounds demonstrated the QN800D’s superb contrast and black levels. Scenes of a Ferris wheel and city skyscape at night also showcased the QN800D’s excellent local dimming.

Motion Handling and Adaptive Picture Motion handling on the QN800D was effective, showing minimal judder even with motion controls turned off. The QN800D’s intelligence mode settings, and its Adaptive Picture, which adjusts brightness and color based on lighting conditions, were also tested.

Despite some minor issues, the QN800D delivers an impressive picture overall, with outstanding detail, incredible 8K upscaling, and spectacular color and contrast.

Samsung QN800D: An Assessment of Audio Performance

The Samsung QN800D is equipped with a 70W, 4.2.2 channel speaker system that supports Dolby Atmos. This configuration ensures clear dialogue across all sources, from broadcast TV news to action-packed movie sequences.

Object Tracking Sound Plus The TV’s Object Tracking Sound Plus feature is highly effective, enabling the sound to closely follow the on-screen action. This was evident during the batmobile chase in The Batman, where each screeching tire, explosion, or crunch was naturally placed. Similarly, in Top Gun: Maverick, the sound of jets soaring in all directions was easy to follow.

Bass and Sound Presets The bass on the QN800D was solid, though it sounded thinner than the surround effects and dialogue. The TV offers two sound presets: Standard and Amplify. Amplify, which provided the most accurate sound profile, was used for testing. In some instances, Atmos reproduction wasn’t the most effective, but in Top Gun: Maverick, there was a sense of spaciousness during flight sequences.

Adaptive Sound Mode The QN800D’s Adaptive Sound mode was more trebly and surround-focused, sacrificing the already lean bass. Adaptive Voice Pro prioritized speech above all else and, while effective in some scenarios, it wasn’t the best for movies.

In conclusion, the sound on the QN800D will be perfectly fine for most and is impressive in some areas. However, to complement its fantastic picture quality, this TV could benefit from one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.

Samsung QN800D: A Glimpse at Its Design

The Samsung QN800D boasts a premium ‘Infinity One’ design. It features a sturdy, silver, metal frame and a slim bezel, allowing the picture to take center stage without any distractions. The TV itself is remarkably thin, measuring just 0.7 inches (17.2mm) without its stand.

Connectivity The QN800D includes an external One Connect Box, which houses all inputs and connects to the TV with a single cable. This design keeps cables tidy, making it particularly beneficial for those who wish to mount their TV on the wall.

Stand The QN800D comes with a robust, black metal stand that gives the TV a floating appearance when viewed from the front. However, it’s worth noting that the stand installation can be a bit tricky, requiring two people to hold the stand in place while aligning and tightening the screws.

Remote Control Samsung’s SolarCell remote, which powers itself from ambient light and can also be charged via USB-C, is included with the QN800D. This makes it significantly more environmentally friendly than remotes that use disposable batteries. Despite its minimalist design, with buttons for settings, volume, and app shortcuts for Netflix, Disney Plus, and Prime Video, it should meet the needs of most users.

Samsung QN800D: An Overview of Smart TV Features and Gaming Performance

The Samsung QN800D utilizes the Tizen system as its smart TV platform. While the overall design remains largely unchanged from 2023, there have been updates for 2024.

Smart TV Platform

The home menu is now divided into three categories: ‘For You’, which provides recommendations based on apps and viewing history; ‘Live’, which displays live TV; and ‘Apps’, which shows your installed apps. Navigation across these menus is straightforward, with ‘For You’ likely being the most frequently used.

Several ‘portals’ can be accessed, each containing a different category. ‘Daily+’ serves as a day-to-day portal, featuring apps such as Samsung Health, workout tracking, and a video calling app. Other portals include ‘Ambient’, for displaying artworks and images, and ‘Gaming Hub’, for all things gaming.

There are numerous picture settings available for those who enjoy tweaking and experimenting, all of which are easily accessible, allowing for high levels of customization. A fair number of sound settings are also provided, with ‘Standard’ and ‘Amplify’ being the only sound presets.

Gaming Performance

The QN800D is equipped with all the necessary gaming features, including 4K 165Hz and 8K 60Hz refresh rate, VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and ALLM across all four HDMI 2.1 ports. The ‘Gaming Hub’ portal houses everything gaming-related in one convenient location, including links to popular live Twitch streams and cloud-based gaming apps such as Xbox, Luna, Nvidia GeForce Now, and more.

With Battlefield V on Xbox Series X, the gameplay was incredibly smooth and free of any screen judder or tearing. This is likely due in part to the QN800D’s ultra-low input lag, which was measured at 9.8ms.

Graphically, the QN800D is extremely impressive. Using the same phenomenal 8K upscaling it does for movies, every detail in Battlefield V was amplified. The QN800D added depth to every aspect of the game, and game-related settings could be adjusted on the fly to enhance things even further by calling up the onscreen game menu.

Samsung QN800D: A Look at Its Value Proposition

The Samsung QN800D, an 8K TV, even by mid-range 8K standards, carries a hefty price tag. The 65-inch model I reviewed is priced at $3,499 / £3,499 / AU$4,799. To provide some context, the Samsung QN90D, Samsung’s upper mid-range 4K Neo QLED TV, which shares many gaming and smart features with the QN800D, is available in a 65-inch size for $2,699 / £2,399 / AU$3,995.

The QN800D does offer unique features not found in 4K models, most notably the 8K AI upscaling and the NQ8 Gen2 AI Processor. However, there are limited 8K sources outside of YouTube to fully utilize the QN800D’s native 8K display. If your budget allows for the 8K upscaling and processing capabilities of the QN800D, it could be a worthwhile investment. However, bear in mind that you could purchase a mid-range 4K OLED TV like Samsung’s own S90C and one of the top Dolby Atmos soundbars for significantly less.