The Samsung QN90D represents a significant step forward in the Neo QLED lineup, delivering exceptional HDR performance with peak brightness reaching over 2,000 nits and excellent local dimming control. This upper mid-range 4K television excels in bright room viewing while maintaining deep blacks in dark environments, making it versatile for varied lighting conditions. Powered by Samsung's NQ4 AI Gen2 processor and equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting up to 144Hz refresh rates, the QN90D targets enthusiasts who demand high performance for both content consumption and gaming. Despite its impressive technical capabilities, the television faces criticism for omitting Dolby Vision support and an ATSC 3.0 tuner, features increasingly expected at this price point. The TV also exhibits noticeable brightness reduction when switching to Game Mode and suffers from slower pixel response times compared to competing models. Available in seven sizes ranging from 43 to 98 inches, the QN90D offers flexibility for different room configurations, though consumers should weigh its premium positioning against more affordable alternatives that deliver comparable or superior performance in specific areas.^[1][2]

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung QN90D maintains the minimalist aesthetic established by its predecessor, featuring an ultra-thin metal bezel measuring just one-eighth inch on three sides and a slightly wider one-third inch along the bottom edge. The NeoSlim design philosophy prioritizes clean lines and reduced visual footprint, with most models offering four-sided bezelless construction, though the massive 98-inch variant employs a three-sided approach. The central hexagonal stand constructed from metal provides stable support while occupying minimal table space, lifting the display approximately 3.07 inches to accommodate most soundbars underneath. However, the stand extends significantly forward, requiring adequate depth on entertainment centers.^[6][1][2]

Build quality presents a mixed picture according to both professional reviewers and consumers. The metal frame and stand convey premium construction, yet the plastic rear panel exhibits noticeable flex, particularly around the VESA mounting points where the body bulges outward. Several consumer reviews note visible screws along the bottom frame, an aesthetic compromise that undermines the otherwise polished appearance. At over 100 pounds for larger models, the television requires two people for safe unboxing and installation. The textured back panel incorporates cable management grooves that route wires into the stand, though port accessibility suffers when wall-mounting due to recessed positioning.^[10][1][2]

Performance in Real Use

The QN90D delivers exceptional visual performance anchored by Samsung's Quantum Matrix Technology, which employs thousands of Mini LEDs for precise local dimming control. Professional testing reveals outstanding HDR peak brightness reaching 2,024 nits in Filmmaker Mode, ensuring specular highlights punch through even in well-lit environments. RTINGS measurements confirm superb SDR brightness as well, making the television particularly effective at overcoming ambient glare during daytime viewing. This brightness advantage proves especially valuable for sports enthusiasts, where the QN90D maintains color saturation and detail visibility under challenging lighting conditions.^[8][3][1][2]

Contrast performance impresses through effective full-array local dimming that produces deep blacks with minimal blooming, though the television cannot match OLED-level black purity. The native contrast ratio measures as mediocre, but the local dimming system compensates effectively in real-world viewing. Testing with demanding content like Dune and Oppenheimer demonstrates the QN90D's ability to handle both bright desert scenes and shadowy interiors with equal competence, maintaining detail in highlights and shadows simultaneously. Zone transitions show decent performance overall, though fast-moving bright objects exhibit visible haloing and dimmer leading edges.^[1][2]

Color reproduction benefits from 100% color volume with Quantum Dot technology, delivering vibrant and accurate hues across the spectrum. The television covers 99.6% of the Rec. 709 SDR gamut and 94.3% of the UHDA-P3 HDR gamut, though Rec. 2020 coverage at 72.5% falls short of reference standards. Pre-calibration accuracy proves only passable with a Delta-E of 2.6, requiring calibration for color-critical work, but post-calibration results achieve near-perfect accuracy. The NQ4 AI Gen2 processor drives impressive 4K upscaling that transforms 1080p content into sharp images with well-preserved detail, making the television suitable for legacy content and lower-resolution streaming.^[8][1][2]

Gaming represents a strong suit for the QN90D, which equips all four HDMI ports with full 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 bandwidth supporting 4K at 144Hz refresh rates. Variable refresh rate support spans AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, HDMI Forum VRR, and works across a wide range from 20Hz to 144Hz with Low-Frame-Compensation for tear-free gaming even during frame rate drops. Input lag measurements confirm excellent responsiveness at 9.9ms according to TechRadar and 9.6ms per RTINGS testing, well below the threshold for competitive gaming. However, the QN90D suffers from slow pixel response times that create noticeable motion blur particularly at 60Hz and 144Hz refresh rates. The television also loses substantial HDR brightness when switching to Game Mode, dropping from over 2,000 nits to considerably dimmer levels that diminish visual impact during HDR gaming sessions.^[4][3][1][2]

Ease of Use

The 2024 iteration of Samsung's Tizen operating system brings meaningful improvements to usability and organization. The redesigned interface maintains the familiar aesthetic while implementing tighter design and clearer navigation that prioritizes frequently accessed content, recent activity, and popular searches. Apps launch quickly thanks to the NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, and the overall experience feels more refined than previous generations, though it still lacks the polish and feature richness of Google TV or LG's webOS.^[1]

Voice control operates through Bixby and Alexa integration, accessible via the remote's integrated microphone or the television's far-field microphone array. Users can launch applications, switch inputs, adjust settings, and query weather and time through voice commands. Consumer reviews consistently praise the ease of initial setup, with most users reporting straightforward unboxing, stand assembly, and configuration processes. The AI-assisted picture setup receives positive feedback for simplifying calibration, though some users find the AI features overly aggressive.^{[5][9][10][2]}

The SolarCell Remote continues from previous generations, featuring a rear-mounted solar panel that eliminates battery replacement needs. While environmentally conscious, the remote's minimalist button layout with combined functions draws criticism for being too sparse and occasionally confusing, particularly when basic operations require multi-step navigation. Consumer feedback echoes this sentiment, with several reviewers noting the remote as a weak point in an otherwise strong package.^[10][1]

Reliability

Long-term reliability feedback remains limited given the television's 2024 release, but early ownership experiences prove largely positive. Consumer reviews spanning six months of use report stable performance with minimal technical issues, though some users note occasional software quirks. The most commonly reported problem involves input label switching, where the label changes but the television remains configured for the previous input type, requiring toggling or power cycling to resolve. Less frequently, users encounter random color oversaturation that similarly requires a power cycle to correct.^{[9][5][10][2]}

Panel uniformity shows some variance in consumer reports, with RTINGS testing identifying darker corners and noticeable dirty screen effect in the center that becomes visible during sports and content with large uniform areas, though most consumers do not find this distracting. The television's BGR subpixel layout creates potential text clarity issues when used as a PC monitor, though this affects only desktop computing applications rather than video or gaming content. PWM dimming flicker varies by picture mode and brightness level, potentially affecting viewers sensitive to this phenomenon, with 120Hz flicker present in Standard, Eco, and Dynamic modes across all brightness levels.^[2]

Use Cases

The QN90D excels across multiple viewing scenarios, with particular strength in bright room environments where its exceptional SDR brightness and decent anti-glare properties overcome challenging lighting. Sports enthusiasts benefit from this brightness advantage combined with good motion handling for fast-paced action, making it ideal for daytime football, basketball, and soccer viewing. Consumer reviews consistently highlight sports performance as a standout capability, with users praising the crisp, detailed image that maintains clarity even during rapid camera pans.^[3][5][2]

Movie watching in controlled lighting reveals the television's impressive contrast and HDR capabilities, with deep blacks and bright highlights creating cinematic impact. The lack of Dolby Vision support disadvantages users whose streaming libraries emphasize this format, though HDR10+ provides similar dynamic metadata capabilities for compatible content. Gaming applications span casual console gaming to competitive PC gaming, with the television's comprehensive HDMI 2.1 implementation and low input lag delivering responsive gameplay.^[4][1][2]

Long Term Ownership Feedback

Early adopters report high satisfaction levels overall, with most users indicating they would recommend the television to others. The primary long-term consideration centers on value proposition rather than performance concerns, with some reviewers noting that competing models offer similar or superior capabilities at lower price points. The SolarCell Remote's rechargeable battery eliminates long-term battery replacement costs and environmental waste, with the solar panel providing passive charging during normal use. Users can monitor charge levels through the television's menu system and employ USB-C charging for faster replenishment when needed. The absence of an ATSC 3.0 tuner represents a future-proofing concern for cord-cutters relying on over-the-air broadcasts, as this omission limits broadcast reception to 1080p maximum resolution.^{[5][9][10][1][2]}