In the world of TVs, what used to be considered huge is now seen as small. The 40-43-inch category has become somewhat overlooked by manufacturers in recent years.

However, Samsung has stood out by offering impressive options. Last year, they introduced the Mini LED-backlit QN90A as a 43-inch model, which gained popularity, especially among gamers. Now, Samsung is back with the QN90B, a TV that retains much of what made its predecessor successful and aims to capture the same level of popularity.

There's just one notable change this time: Samsung's top 43-inch TV now faces competition from the new 42-inch OLEDs.

Price

The competition in the TV market is heating up, and it shows in the pricing of the QN90B. Originally launched at £1300 / AU$1995, you can now find it at a discounted rate of £999 / AU$1795 if you shop around in December 2022.

If you're looking for a top-tier TV in this size range, you might also be considering the new OLED models. The Sony XR-42A90K is a notable option, albeit at a higher price point of £1295 / AU$2495. On the other hand, the LG OLED42C2 matches the Samsung QN90B's pricing almost exactly at £999 / AU$1790.

Design

Our latest product boasts a design that's both sleek and functional. With clean lines and a modern aesthetic, it fits seamlessly into any contemporary setting. The thoughtful engineering behind this design ensures it isn't just about looks—it's highly functional too, with every detail meticulously crafted to enhance user experience. Whether you're using it at home or in the office, this product's design sets it apart from the competition. Plus, its durable build guarantees it will stand the test of time.

The design of the 43-inch QN90B has a charming old-school monitor feel, with proportions slightly differing from its larger siblings. Despite this, the QN90B remains an attractive TV in its own right. It's impressively slim at just 2.7cm (1.1 inches), and the frame around the display is so thin and black that it practically disappears.

The pedestal stand, although a bit awkward-looking, is very practical. It's narrow enough to fit on most furniture, has a low profile, and leaves a significant gap beneath the screen, perfect for placing a soundbar.

The included remote from last year makes a return, and it's an absolute pleasure. This compact, ergonomic remote features a streamlined button layout and is easy to use. Plus, it boasts a solar panel on the back for convenient charging with sunlight or indoor lights.

Features

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• Reliability: Our product is built to last, ensuring you get the best value for your money without any compromise on quality.

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It’s disappointing that the intelligence of the remote isn’t mirrored by the new version of the Tizen operating system. Samsung has followed LG's recent switch from a pop-up system to a full-screen home menu, which hasn’t been well-received. Unfortunately, this full-screen Tizen can be quite sluggish, especially just after turning on the TV, and the layout is rather confusing.

The app selection remains exceptional, featuring all major streaming services that function in full 4K HDR where available. The Apple TV app now complements Amazon Prime Video in delivering HDR10+ content, enhancing contrast and color. However, Samsung still doesn't support Dolby Vision on any of its TVs.

In terms of apps, Samsung is heavily investing in game streaming. Notably, its TVs uniquely offer an Xbox app for cloud gaming and an app for GeForce Now, enabling you to stream PC games purchased via Steam.

Traditional gamers are well-served by the QN90B, which features four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM. The HGiG mode ensures greater accuracy with HDR games, and the input lag is impressively low. Dolby Vision gaming isn’t supported, which only affects Xbox Series X users and probably not significantly.

The standout feature in terms of core TV technology is the Mini LED backlight, which comprises LEDs much smaller than those in standard backlit TVs. This helps pack more LEDs across the panel, allowing for more precise local dimming.

While Samsung doesn't specify numbers, it’s understood that the QN90B includes around 360 dimming zones. This is fewer than a 4K OLED TV, which offers around 8.3 million dimming zones due to its pixel-by-pixel control, but still significantly more than a typical LCD TV. Moreover, high-end backlit TVs like this generally achieve greater brightness than most OLED TVs. Samsung doesn't provide specifics, but the 43-inch QN90B is expected to hit peaks exceeding 1000 nits, compared to 700-800 nits for 42-inch OLEDs.

Picture

When it comes to visuals, the picture quality is simply stunning. Whether you're watching movies, sports, or playing video games, the clarity and vibrant colors will captivate you. This is accomplished through high dynamic range (HDR) technology, which enhances contrast and color accuracy, bringing every scene to life.

Color Accuracy

The display reproduces colors with remarkable precision, ensuring that what you see on the screen is true to life. This accuracy is particularly noticeable in nature documentaries and animated films, where bright, vivid colors are essential.

Contrast and Depth

The deep blacks and striking highlights further enhance the viewing experience, adding a sense of depth and realism. Even in darker scenes, details remain sharp and clear, preventing any loss of quality.

Motion Handling

Fast-moving scenes are handled effortlessly, thanks to advanced motion processing technology. This means you can enjoy action-packed sequences without any blurring or loss of detail, keeping you immersed in the action.

Overall, the picture quality is top-notch, making this a perfect choice for anyone looking to enhance their viewing experience. With vibrant colors, excellent contrast, and smooth motion handling, it delivers a truly exceptional performance.

Starting with the super-challenging 4K Blu-ray of The Batman, the Samsung provides more insight into the dark corners of grimy Gotham than any other TV in its class. Shadow detail has nowhere to hide, even when the least processed Filmmaker Mode is selected. Bold highlights such as the neon billboards of Gotham Square are also much brighter than they are from OLED rivals such as the LG C2 and Sony A90K, thanks to the Mini LED backlight.

The QN90B is capable of reproducing very deep blacks by LCD TV standards but often raises the black floor to enhance fine shadow details. While this results in great visuals at times, it can appear a little grey and flat, especially when compared side-by-side with new OLEDs.

In dark scenes, some highlights stand out boldly, while others are more subdued. This variation seems to depend on their size and the surrounding darkness, with the QN90B cautiously balancing small, bright highlights to prevent blooming.

With 4K HDR content like No Time To Die, the QN90B excels, leveraging its strengths for the largely bright presentation. Scenes like the sunlight glinting off the Mediterranean as Bond and Madeleine drive the coastal road to Matera showcase lovely vibrancy and superb sharpness. The rocky outcrops and the stunning town itself look solid and detailed. Avoid the TV’s Dynamic and Standard modes to prevent exaggerated sharpness; detail remains exceptional.

The QN90B’s colours are thrillingly vibrant, although they lean slightly towards red. This slight preponderance enhances image pop without making movies look unrealistic. The TV maintains subtle and nuanced shades, blending them calmly.

Motion handling is another strength of the QN90B. The pan across the cemetery in No Time To Die is smooth and clear using the default settings in the Custom Picture Clarity preset. These settings usually avoid adding shimmer or unrealism to faster movements. Samsung now rivals Sony in motion handling with LG not far behind.

However, the QN90B struggles with viewing angles compared to its OLED rivals. The picture loses some colour and contrast off-axis, unlike OLED TVs such as the LG C2 and Sony A90K, which remain consistent regardless of viewing position.

The QN90B’s backlight shows issues with scene-setting white text on a black screen, as in the start of Blade Runner 2049. The text appears brighter at the center and dimmer at the edges, giving a convex appearance. This is likely due to the TV adjusting backlight zones based on bright and dark content ratios. OLEDs like the LG C2 and Sony A90K don’t have these backlight issues, displaying consistent intensity.

Sound

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The QN90B's sound is an area where it shows some relative weakness. Smaller TVs often struggle with delivering convincing audio, and this Samsung performs even lighter than expected. While there's a noticeable lack of bass, an audible rattle is present when challenged by deep bass scenes in movies like Blade Runner 2049 and the cemetery explosion aftermath in No Time To Die. The dynamic range is also limited, which isn't surprising for small TV speakers.

More surprising is the TV's inability to project sound beyond its chassis, affecting its left, right, and forward projection into the room. The result is an audio delivery that's neither atmospheric nor engaging. In comparison, the LG C2, although not great-sounding, offers a more spacious, exciting, and weighty delivery.

What redeems the QN90B's audio performance is its clarity. It may not project sound into the room or thrill with its delivery, but its midrange is clear and fairly detailed. This ensures that most of what you watch will be easy to follow, even if it isn't particularly exciting.

Verdict

This product offers exceptional value for those seeking high-quality performance without breaking the bank. The audio quality is robust, delivering an immersive experience whether you are listening to music or watching movies. Overall, it strikes a perfect balance between price and performance, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of consumers.

Putting the poor sound to one side – after all, you should really budget for a dedicated sound system with any TV – the 43-inch QN90B is a standout television amidst a new wave of fierce competition. This new wave includes 42-inch OLEDs from Sony and LG, which highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of this Samsung QLED.

As anticipated, it faces some challenges when it comes to viewing angles. Additionally, the contrast can be somewhat limited - while the set can achieve both very bright and very dark visuals, it often struggles to do so simultaneously. It also falls short in delivering the authenticity that the top-tier TVs provide.

However, it remains a truly delightful watch. With most content, it’s brighter, punchier, and more vibrant than its competitors, without straying into obvious exaggeration. It’s fun, exciting, and controlled in its delivery, with impressive motion-handling. To add to its appeal, it boasts superb gaming specs, second only to the LG C2, and even then, the difference is minimal.

In summary, those seeking premium performance in a compact size should give serious thought to the QN90B. If you’re after a bright, vibrant, and exciting visual experience, particularly in a well-lit room, this Samsung QLED could be a better choice than its new OLED counterparts.