Samsung started its Micro LED screens product line in 2021 with The Wall, measuring a whopping 120 inches. Since then, the company has launched many OLEDs and QLEDs in varying sizes.
At the recent CES 2023, Samsung revealed the Micro LED CX that starts from 50 inches and goes as big as 140 inches. How does this new TV stack up against the Samsung QN90B QLED?
While the QN90B is a QLED from 2022, the Micro LED CX will soon hit the market. The latter offers users a new display that seems similar to OLED, but it offers brighter, more precise and vibrant picture quality due to the minute, pixel-sized LEDs.
Unlike QLEDs or OLEDs, the Micro LED CX won’t have any burn-out risk, which is an impressive feat. According to Samsung, this latest release will be the most affordable and compact micro LED in its product line.
Let’s get to know everything about the Micro LED CX that Samsung has revealed today and compare it with the classic QN90B QLED.
Samsung QN90B vs. MicroLED CX: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Samsung QN90B QLED | Samsung Micro LED CX | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Release | 2022 | 2023 |
| Display | 4K HDR | 4K (or 8K, not confirmed) |
| Screen Size | 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″, 75″, 85″, and 98″ | 50″, 63″, 76″, 89″, 101″, 114″, and 140″ |
| Resolution | 3,840 x 2,160p | Not revealed yet |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz (Up to 144Hz) | 240Hz |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth (BT5.2) | Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth |
| HDR Compatibility | HDR and HDR 10+ | Micro HDR |
| Sound Output | 60W | 100W |
| Price | 43″: $1,199.99 50″: $1,599.99 55″: $1,899.99 65″: $2,599.99 75″: $3,499.99 85″: 4,999.99 98″: 14,999.99 | Not revealed yet |
- Samsung’s ultra-precise Quantum Mini LEDs
- Quantum HDR 32X
- Neo Quantum Processor 4K uses AI-based deep learning to analyze content and optimize it to full 4K
- Anti-glare
- Ultra viewing angle
Samsung QN90B vs. Micro LED CX: What’s the Difference?
The most notable difference between both Samsung products is their display. Evident from its name, the Micro LED CX consists of several pixel-sized micro LEDs for brighter and clearer picture quality. On the other hand, the QN90B QLED utilizes a Quantum Dot technology that also offers bright and clear images.
Remember that Samsung has revealed only limited information about the MicroLED CX for now, so let’s break down what we know so far.
Design
Samsung always introduces elegant, sleek televisions with thin bezels and stylish edges. The same is the case with the QN90B QLED with its metal accents, thin bezels, and slim stand. With the stand, the TV occupies less space. On the back, the TV is made of plastic with a brushed aluminum appearance.
The TV also comes with multiple channels for cable management. You’ll also see horizontal etched patterns on the QN90B’s back and the OneConnect Box connection ports. They’re easily visible and accessible when the TV is on the stand instead of mounted on the wall.
The Micro LED CX is believed to have top-mounted speakers like the previous 110-inch micro LED, which would be for Dolby Atmos Studio, but Samsung hasn’t confirmed it yet. Samsung’s micro LED TVs don’t have a definite shape or ratio, so you can customize them for your needs.
You can expect the Micro LED CX to come with a 99% screen-to-body ratio, meaning the TV may have a very thin or nearly absent bezel. So, there might be no apparent boundary between the TV screen and border, giving you a more immersive movie experience.
Display
The Samsung QN90B is made of a quantum dots display, which are nanocrystals that radiate vibrant colors when you connect the TV to a power source. Like other modern QLEDs, Samsung has offered the perfect balance of colors, contrast, and brightness in this TV for high-end picture quality.
You can enjoy movies in HDR10 and HDR10+ at a refresh rate of 120Hz. However, if you’re a Dolby Vision HDR fan, you may be disappointed that the QN90B QLED doesn’t support it. Regardless, you’ll have a smooth display with this TV’s features.
Micro LED works more or less the same way as OLEDs and QD-OLEDs, but it has one difference. As a self-emissive display, every pixel in micro LED TVs is an LED light, making the screen appear brighter and more vibrant.
Samsung has used sapphire-made LEDs in the current Micro LED CX, so you can expect something very luxurious coming up. Of course, the price will likely be quite high as well. Like the 110-inch micro LED, we can expect the CX to have a 4K panel. Samsung also revealed that this micro LED would have a 20-bit black-level depth.
So, display-wise, the winner is clearly the Micro LED CX as it is expected to be better performing than the QN90B.
Picture Quality
QLEDs and OLEDs both offer outstanding picture quality in different environments. Samsung used a Neo Quantum Processor 4K in its QN90B QLED, a modern picture processor that ensures the best quality regardless of the lighting. It offers the best color contrast with perfect blacks, even in darker rooms.
You’ll also have a wider viewing angle with this QLED. However, this layer may relate to low native contrast. You can always increase it from the picture settings menu if it is too low. Enable the high local dimming setting, and you’re good to go!
The QN90B QLED is perfect for brighter rooms but also doesn’t disappoint in darker rooms. Comparatively, OLEDs are ideal for darker rooms, but what about micro LED TVs? Well, Samsung claims that since the CX’s pixels will be made of sapphires, it will perform the best in all sorts of environments, dark or bright.
In fact, Samsung research explains the working of sapphire nano-membranes in the Micro LED CX. According to it, the sapphire layers will strengthen the TV’s picture quality, improve production efficiency, and make it easily commercialized.
With an exceptional variable refresh rate and response time, we can expect the MicroLED CX’s picture quality to be brighter and better than OLEDs and QLEDs due to its high brightness level.
Refresh Rate
The Samsung QN90B has a refresh rate similar to what other QLEDs offer. It supports various content at 120Hz, but can also reach the maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. However, the variable refresh rate is only available in the 43 and 53-inch options.
The best part? The QN90B QLED is compatible with the three major formats, including 4K, 1080p, and 1440p. This means you can enjoy your favorite movies, TV shows, and games with minimal stutters in the finest picture quality. This TV also features low-frame rate compensation (LFC) that enables streaming content at low refresh rates.
Comparatively, the Samsung Micro LED CX is expected to offer a 240Hz refresh rate with only 2ns (nanoseconds) of response time. This is enough for many games and movies, even the most complex ones. The input lag rate will also be lower, so be prepared to enjoy high-end games on this TV.
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Smart Features
The Samsung QN90B QLED has a Tizen OS, which is a relatively fast and easy-to-use interface. Unlike previous QLEDs, Samsung has made the Tizen interface cover every bit of the TV’s screen to allow the users easy access to the features they want to enjoy.
This QLED has many apps installed, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. You can also see the Samsung App Store option on the TV. If you want any smart app that’s not available already, you can download it from the app store.
In fact, you can also use the QN90B QLED for office purposes. It’s compatible with Google Duo, meaning you can video call many people simultaneously (up to 32) by adding an external camera. The Samsung App Store will surely be available on the new Micro LED CX, but that’s just the beginning.
For gamers, Samsung launched the Samsung Gaming Hub in 2022 to facilitate playing games without consoles. Yes, you read that right! Now, you don’t have to worry about downloads, storage limits, or even the gaming consoles to play your favorite Xbox, Amazon Luna, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Utomik games. This feature will surely be available on the MicroLED CX. Simply switch on your TV and play!
You can also stream different content simultaneously on the CX. So, did Samsung introduce any new smart gaming features in 2023? Yes, the recent TVs now have GameBar 3.0, consisting of Virtual AimPoint and MiniMap Sharing.
The Virtual AimPoint is specially designed for FPS games to give players a better crosshair for precise shooting. The MiniMap Sharing gives players a quick minimap of their gaming process on any display. In short, expect a more immersive gaming experience on the CX.
Samsung QN90B vs. MicroLED CX: 5 Must-Know Facts
- The Samsung QN90B QLED has a Quantum Dot display. Meanwhile, the MicroLED CX has a self-emitting display in which each pixel is actually a micro LED.
- The MicroLED CX will have a brighter display than the QN90B QLED since Samsung has used sapphire-made LEDs in it.
- The MicroLED CX will offer an impressive refresh rate of 240Hz, almost double the original and maximum refresh rates in the QN90B QLED.
- Samsung claims the CX will have a response rate of only two nanoseconds, making it ideal for gaming and non-stop video streaming.
- The CX will have more advanced gaming features than the QN90B QLED, such as Mini Mapping, Virtual AimPoint, and more. It also has an impressive response time of just two nanoseconds.
- Samsung’s ultra-precise Quantum Mini LEDs
- Quantum HDR 32X
- Neo Quantum Processor 4K uses AI-based deep learning to analyze content and optimize it to full 4K
- Anti-glare
- Ultra viewing angle
Samsung QN90B vs. MicroLED CX: Which One is Better?
The Samsung MicroLED CX hasn’t been launched yet for customers, but the details we have now make this TV a better choice than QN90B QLED. This doesn’t mean that the QN90B is a bad TV by any stretch. Instead, the MicroLED CX has more advanced, futuristic features that the QN90B lacks.
However, remember that the CX will be priced much higher than the QLED, mostly due to its sapphire-made display and huge screen size, as high as 140 inches. This microLED is also way brighter and sharper than the QLED.
The CX will also have a 240Hz refresh rate and only 2ns of response time, making it an ideal gaming TV. So, if you’re willing to spend thousands of dollars on your TV setup, wait for the CX to release and go for it.
Samsung QN90B and MicroLED CX: Recent Updates
Since the beginning of 2023, Samsung has introduced a number of technology advancements for these two models of TV, including:
- Brightness: New material technology has raised the peak brightness of both TVs to 2,000 nits, ensuring HDR content is more vivid and vibrant than ever before.
- Refresh rate: While the MicroLED CX’s refresh rate remains unchanged from 240Hz, the QN90B now has a standard refresh rate of 144Hz.
- Gaming Features: Features like AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility now make these TVs great options for serious gamers.
- Overall Picture Quality: Improvements in image technology mean that both TVs now boast better color, contrast, and motion handling.
Samsung QN90B and MicroLED CX: What’s Coming Next?
Though Samsung hasn’t made specific announcements about the future of its QN90B and MicroLED CX TVs, you might see the following technology advancements in the next six to 18 months:
- Improved image processing: More sophisticated imaging algorithms for motion handling and color quality are currently being developed.
- New display technology: Quantum dots, mini-LEDs, and other cutting-edge technology will become a feature of Samsung’s displays.
- More advanced gaming features: These two models of TV already include robust gaming features, but the future is expected to bring exciting additions like variable refresh rates (VRR) and automatic low latency mode (ALLM).
- New software updates: Look out for software enhancements that improve performance, add new features, and boost image quality.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Iryna Dincer/Shutterstock.com.
