Expert review of the Samsung Neo QLED QN85C
Samsung Neo QLED 55QN85C (2023)
- Thanks to the Neo QLED technology, you can view high-contrast and colorful images.
- With the 10-bit HDR screen and high brightness, you see all color details clearly.
- Object Tracking Sound ensures a spatial audio.
- This TV doesn't have an anti-glare layer, so you'll notice more reflections on the screen in bright rooms.
First impression of the Samsung Neo QLED QN85C
When I look at the QN85C for the first time, I notice the modern-looking pentagonal stand. The stand looks stylish and has a high-quality feel. And the TV includes the compact Solar One Remote again.
High brightness and rich colors
The Neo QLED screen ensures the QN85C has a high brightness and powerful contrast. The 1500-nit peak brightness is the lowest of all Neo QLED TVs, but images still look very bright. It truly brings the colorful landscapes on the QLED screen come to life. And thanks to the 10-bit panel, I can differentiate many detailed color tones in the colorful landscape.
Strong contrast
The TV uses Mini-LED local dimming. This makes all pixels dimmable individually, so dark images are truly dark. As a result, you can easily distinguish details that aren't usually clearly visible in dark horror scenes in movies, for example. Thanks to the high brightness of the Neo QLED screen, this TV has a strong contrast. The white foamy water looks very bright compared to the dark mountains in the background.
Wide viewing angle
Unlike all other Neo QLED models, the QN85C doesn't have an anti-glare layer. This means that I sometimes notice daylight reflections on the screen, but the image is still clearly visible. Even when I stand in different spots of the room, the colors remain as bright as when I'm right in front of the TV.
Nice, thin design
The QN85C has a striking pentagonal stand and is only 17mm thick. If you mount the TV to the wall, the thin design looks particularly good. And thanks to the cutout on the back, you can mount the TV very close to the wall.
Pivoting sound
The QN85C has Object Tracking Sound. This ensures that the sound follows movements on the screen thanks to extra speakers. The television also has Dolby Atmos. This technology sends the sound to my listening position via the ceiling. So I can hear an airplane flying over me. For a truly immersive sound experience, I do recommend connecting an external soundbar.
Well-arranged smart menu
The screen-filling smart menu is the same as last year. It's a clear smart menu that allows you to navigate to popular apps like Netflix and Disney+. The home screen displays suggestions from the apps I use most. The smart menu really adds to the user-friendliness.
Compact remote
The useful Solar One Remote is a compact remote that's comfortable to hold. The remote has a minimalistic design with few buttons. This makes the remote look clear and is user-friendly. You have to push the volume buttons upwards in stead of pressing them, which gives the remote a luxurious feel
Conclusion
The Samsung QN85C is a starter model from the Neo QLED series from 2023. The difference compared to the QN90C is that it doesn't have an anti-glare layer, and it has a lower peak brightness. Still, this TV has a good image quality and strong contrast. Thanks to the wide viewing angle, you can always watch high-quality images with a large group of people. While the moving audio sounds lifelike, I do recommend connecting an external soundbar and subwoofer.
