Samsung QN90B QLED vs Sony A95K: What’s the Better TV?

Choosing between televisions that use different display technologies can be quite a daunting task. When you’re considering such an expensive purchase as a television, you want the best that your dollar can get you. Samsung’s QN90B QLED display delivers a stunning picture, but how does it stack up against the BRAVIA range; in particular, the Sony A95K?

Purchasing your next television shouldn’t be a difficult task. These are devices meant for entertainment, after all, so removing some doubt is beneficial. There are a number of factors to consider.

Let’s take a look at the tech, specs, and other key factors and decide which of these stellar televisions is the better choice for your household.

Samsung QN90B QLED vs Sony A95K: Side-by-Side Comparison

Samsung QN90B QLED vs Sony A95K: What’s the Difference?

Both of these televisions occupy a similar price range and represent a flagship model of sorts for both devices. There are some noteworthy differences, but these are both rock-solid televisions that could greatly serve your household if you feel so inclined.

Picture Quality

Right off the bat, you can easily tell the QN90B has been made with a stellar image in mind. It doesn’t have an infinite contrast ratio like you might see on an OLED panel, but it has quite a deep one.

Blacks are deep, whites are bright, and grays don’t take on any sort of funny hues. The image itself has minimal blooming. There are some issues that arise when considering crushed blacks, but only wash out slightly depending on the video or ambient lighting.

Great Brightness

SAMSUNG QN90B 65-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K

$1,697.99

• 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

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05/31/2023 09:41 pm GMT

The image quality of the Sony A95K is befitting of its status, and the colors are especially vibrant. Sony’s television has a near-infinite contrast ratio, which allows for quite vivid colors.

There are some downsides when it comes to blacks being displayed. Nominally, it produces true blacks, but depending on what else is on the screen, the crushing and discoloration can make blacks appear almost purple.

Both televisions have identical refresh rates, and boast support for VRR for use with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Input latency on both is quite good, with the Sony having a slightly slower response time. This isn’t slow enough to be noticeable during intense gaming sessions, thankfully.

If you’re a video game addict, both of these televisions will do the trick. Both also have support for NVIDIA G-SYNC, a welcome addition for those folks who are running home theater PCs.

Audio Quality

Both of these televisions fare quite well with general audio quality. Samsung’s QN90 QLED doesn’t have much in the way of response but is fairly balanced otherwise.

A pointed critique can be pointed at the quality of the speakers, however, which do little to control the distortion at the treble end of the sound when at higher than moderate volumes. This is of, course, mitigated when using external sound sources. For folks after a minimalist setup, it might be a sticking point, however.

Sony’s A95K is likewise lacking in bass response. Overall frequency response is somewhat balanced. At higher volumes, these same distortion issues seen in the QN90 arise, meaning both of these televisions are going to sound somewhat awful at higher volumes.

If you’re purchasing either of these, it may very well be worth investing in a soundbar or external sound system. You’ll get the best audio quality and proper bass response. Additionally, powered external speakers aren’t going to be nearly as prone to distortion at higher volumes.

User Experience

Both of these televisions function as smart TVs. As such, you can expect the requisite amenities and included apps you’d find on other smart TVs.

Samsung’s QN90B QLED uses an operating system called Tizen OS, which is unique solely to this brand. Tizen is remarkably easy to navigate, and quick for even beginners to get used to. A plethora of streaming apps is available with all major providers being accounted for. Tizen might not be as familiar to some as iOS or Android, but works just as well.

Best Splurge

Sony A95K 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV

$2,798.00

• Cognitive Processor XR
• Quantum Dot color with QD-OLED panel and XR Triluminos Max
• XR OLED Contrast Pro technology
• Great for PlayStation 5
• HDMI 2. features

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06/03/2023 02:36 pm GMT

Sony’s A95K uses Google TV, which is extremely similar to the Android operating system. Overall, Google TV has a bit more of a learning curve, but is snappy after a small adjustment period. A plethora of apps is also present for Sony’s television, with all major streaming providers equally being accounted for. Google TV does provide a familiar interface for those who use Android smartphones.

Where both of these televisions falter is in the inclusion of advertisements on the main interfaces. Personalization for these advertisements can be switched off, but you cannot fully opt out. This is just a reality for smart TVs, unfortunately.

Build Quality

Solid and well-thought-out construction is shared between these televisions. The Samsung QN90B QLED is a solidly constructed television. It is a little on the heavier side, but that comes with a well-constructed frame.

The stand is by far the heaviest element of the television and is the weak point of the design. Samsung’s mounting and stand aren’t the most stable, so looking into a compatible mount might be paramount.

Overall, Sony’s A95K is better when it comes to construction. The back panel on both televisions flexes, but the Sony boasts a more stable stand. The borders of the panel’s frame are made of metal, giving some rigidity and dependability to the overall design.

Both televisions are compatible with VESA mounts, meaning you have a plethora of options for mounting. It is a far better option than proprietary mounts because you can more expertly design your viewing space with multiple mounts in mind.

Samsung QN90B QLED vs Sony A95K: 6 Must-Know Facts

1. QN90B QLED uses LCD with multiple LEDs as the primary image emitter.
2. QN90B QLED has no support for Dolby Vision but supports specialized modes for Netflix and YouTube.
3. QN90B QLED is bright enough to readily watch in well-lit rooms.
4. Sony A95K is exceptionally bright when using HDR modes.
5. Sony A95K has support for Dolby Vision but lacks HDR10+ support.
6. Sony A95K’s auto-dimming for game mode can wash out the image.

Samsung QN90B QLED vs Sony A95K: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Choose?

As the MSRP is exactly the same for these two televisions, it makes the comparison a lot easier. The QN90B is a solid television, and could readily serve your household, but the A95K is the clear winner.

Sony’s A95K has better colors and snappier response times. On the whole, it’s also more solidly built. It does falter in audio quality, as it lacks bass and distorts at more moderate volumes. That aside, it is a great choice and is well worth the investment.

The QN90B is a great television, but the image quality does falter a bit in comparison to the A95K in areas like response time. For those watching action-packed sports or participating in marathon gaming sessions, it’ll be noticeable, however.

This is especially pronounced with the occasional stutter present, which may just be a design flaw inherent to the display type used by the QN90B. At any rate, the best television for your home is the Sony A95K.