Samsung QLED Q80D

Q80D

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Panel technology: LCD VA | Brand: SAMSUNG | Resolution: 3840x2160 | Operating system: Tizen | Model year: 2024

Our verdict

7.1

Overall rating

Samsung Q80D is a very versatile television. It’s definitely a piece of equipment that can easily adapt to the needs of both gamers and those looking for a device for everyday viewing. As for the former - namely gamers. Thanks to HDMI 2.1 support, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and low input lag, it makes playing on console or PC pure pleasure. Additionally, the Game Bar feature allows for quick adjustments without the need to exit the game – a small thing, but it makes a difference. It’s also worth mentioning a fantastic feature in the form of an efficient motion smoother that works well in games. It gives the impression that playing on such a television adds a few FPS, thus providing an advantage in the game. During everyday use, the Q80D performs very well too. The Tizen system offers access to popular apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+, so nothing is lacking here. The high brightness of the screen ensures that the television performs very well even in well-lit rooms. A nice and interesting addition is the solar remote, which not only does not require battery replacements but also allows control of other devices (e.g. set-top boxes, consoles, soundbars). When it comes to picture quality, the Q80D has a lot to offer. Although it lacks Dolby Vision support, after calibration, the colours look fantastic, and the contrast and black level thanks to FALD technology (full array local dimming) impressed us greatly, considering the television's segment. Thanks to the VA panel enhanced with quantum dots (QLED), the colours on the Q80D can look truly excellent. Watching movies or series in the evening is a real pleasure – especially if we care about good details. However, there are little things that might be bothersome. The lack of a recording feature is a certain limitation, although it may not be a problem for everyone. Another obvious issue will be its viewing angles. These are typical results for this type of panel, so one must reckon with the fact that at the cost of great blacks, the Q80D simply performs average when looked at from the side. Nevertheless, the Samsung Q80D is a great television that performs well in every situation. It offers excellent picture quality, many useful features, and solid build quality for its price range. A few minor shortcomings, however, do not take away its charm, as overall it’s a model that will comfortably meet the expectations of most users – both those who game on consoles and those who simply enjoy evening screenings with good visuals.

Advantages

Great choice for gamers - lots of functionality, low input lag, 120Hz
High brightness of the panel - good performance during the day
Good blacks and contrast - VA panel with local dimming
Excellent tonal transitions
Advanced "Tizen" smart system
Pleasant sound from the built-in speakers

Disadvantages

Average viewing angles

No recording function
No DTS (may hinder connection to home theatre)

Movies and series in UHD quality

6.7
Classic TV, YouTube

6.7
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

6.6
Gaming on console

8.7
TV as a computer monitor

7.6
Watching in bright light

6.0
Utility functions

7.7
Apps

9.3
Sound quality

6.6

TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Appearance of the TV

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Contrast and black detail

Viewing mode Game mode

6.7/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 100 (10 x 10)

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Contrast and black detail

Contrast between the black background and the bright spotlight illuminating Jack. Scene from the movie Oblivion (Universal Pictures).

Result

37,350:1

Contrast between the glare on the chameleon's skin and the black near the edge of the screen below. Scene from the Spears&Munsil test disc.

Result

8,850:1

Contrast between the reflection on the helmet and the black on the black film strip. Scene from the movie Arrival (Paramount Pictures).

Result

20,350:1

Contrast between the actress's face and the black film strip at the top edge of the TV. Scene from the movie Gravity (Warner Bros. Pictures).

Result

4,300:1

Contrast between the colorful balloon and the black slice between the falling objects. Scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc (2008).

Result

3,800:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

The Samsung Q80D television is equipped with a VA panel, which immediately affects the difference in contrast and black reproduction compared to IPS panels. VA panels offer significantly better contrast and deeper blacks, while IPS panels have better viewing angles but poorer contrast. For the 55" model, the television has 100 local dimming zones, and it should be noted that this number may vary depending on the screen size. Thanks to local dimming, blacks look good, but it's worth mentioning that the algorithm of this technology, combined with a limited number of zones, can sometimes go a bit "haywire." Bright objects can be dimmed to achieve better blacks. During testing in a scene from the film Oblivion, the lights merged into one blot, regardless of the dimming settings, showing the limitations of this technology. In the movie Sicario 2, large dimming zones were particularly noticeable, for example, with small helicopter lights, indicating how large the areas controlled by a single dimming zone are. Despite these imperfections, the local dimming technology still offers significantly better picture quality than televisions without this feature or with edge lighting. With the ability to completely turn off individual zones, the television can provide a noticeable boost in brightness in selected areas, which can give the image a cinematic effect, especially in dark rooms.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

HDR effect quality

Viewing mode Game mode

5.6/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 93.0%, Bt.2020: 73.0%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Brightness measurement

The measured point is the setting sun against a bright sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).

Result

927 nit

The measured point is the moon against a dark, starry sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).

Result

423 nit

The measured point is the flashlight on the rifle, which shines directly at the camera. Scene from the movie Gemini Man (Paramount Pictures).

Result

612 nit

The measured point is the tail light of a helicopter flying at night. This is a very small light point, the essence of the HDR effect. Scene from the movie Sicario 2: Soldado (Lionsgate).

Result

242 nit

The measured point is the sun visible directly between the clouds. The scene is very bright and should blind the viewer as in nature. Scene from the movie The Meg (Warner Bros. Pictures).

Result

856 nit

In the context of HDR, the Samsung Q80D television, as expected, achieves very positive brightness results in the tested movie scenes, where the frame is filled with light, reaching values from 600 to 900 nits, allowing for a great juiciness of the image. Such results enable the user to feel the difference between HDR and SDR quality. Unfortunately, problems arise in situations where small light effects occur against a dark background. In such cases (e.g., the 4th test screen from the film Sicario 2), a noticeable drop in brightness is observed, which is caused by the large size of the dimming zones used here. This limitation, combined with the dimming algorithm, affects how the television handles small bright elements on a dark background. At that point, we may experience an undesired lack of brightness, and the HDR effect resembles that of SDR.

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

In terms of HDR performance, Samsung Q80D showcases its lighting capabilities, reaching up to 1100 nits, placing it among the top televisions. The TV is equipped with both dynamic and static tone mapping, while the "active" option artificially boosts the image and may produce undesirable effects. Therefore, we recommend setting this option to "static," which also responds to dynamic metadata, allowing the TV to handle the movie "Pat" exceptionally well. The Q80D is capable of reproducing the image accurately, although in some areas, such as clouds in the distance, details may be lost. Nevertheless, this isn’t too problematic considering the scene was mastered at around 2800 nits, a value that’s hard to find in any consumer television. Conversely, in "Billy Lynn," the TV presents significantly better image quality compared to the series from the same year, Q70D (Q74D/Q77D). The main character is depicted correctly, with no colour inaccuracies in skin tones, and the intense light effects, such as fireworks, are rendered fully, avoiding blending into a single bright spot.

HDR luminance chart:

The Samsung Q80D television offers a variety of HDR formats, including static HDR10 and dynamic HDR10+, unfortunately lacking support for Dolby Vision. In the case of static HDR, the television performs decently despite the absence of dynamic tone mapping. A good example is a scene with horses. Despite the lack of implementation of this feature, the television responds to metadata, allowing for image adaptation that reveals the background as a forest and details on very bright elements, such as blades of grass protruding from the snow. The situation changes dramatically when the same scene is presented using dynamic metadata (HDR 10+). In that case, the entire scene becomes substantially fuller, and previously lost details on the bright background are rendered better, which significantly improves image quality in challenging conditions.

Static HDR10

Dynamic: HDR10+

Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.8/10

The tonal gradation on the Samsung Q80D television is excellent and can be considered one of its strong points. Even in the most demanding scenes from the films we tested, it performs superbly. Any potential issues with smoothing transitions in colours are minimal and subtle. The average viewer is unlikely to notice them, which translates to an overall positive visual experience in everyday use.

Review Samsung QLED Q80D Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7/10

Smooth transition function

Image without overscan on the SD signal

Samsung Q80D performs very well with low-quality materials. The noise reduction works on the principle of gentle gradation, making it very effective in smoothing out unwanted image disturbances. Unfortunately, this same effectiveness also causes it to blur elements that shouldn't be smoothed, such as film grain. For those who prioritise a plastic, smooth image, this can be seen as a significant advantage, especially with lower-quality content.

In terms of image scaling, Samsung Q80D stands out positively in this aspect, significantly enhancing the viewing comfort. The TV handles the conversion of lower-resolution materials, improving their quality and details. For example, in the attached image featuring a model, there are no visible artefacts or excessive fraying of branches, which demonstrates advanced image processing technology.

Blur and motion smoothness

7.3/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 120Hz

Film motion smoothing option: Yes

Blur reduction option: Yes

BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)

BFI function 120Hz: No

Brightness drop with BFI: 69%

The Samsung Q80D television stands out very positively in terms of motion fluidity and minimizing blur, mainly due to the 120Hz panel and above-average panel response time. Users have two options for adjusting fluidity: "Motion Smoothing," which allows for adjustments in a 10-step scale, and "Blur Reduction," particularly effective at higher refresh rates, improving the sharpness of fast-moving objects. In the UFO test, there is no blurring behind the moving object, and the image is not cloned forward, indicating the absence of an overshoot effect.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Image flickers in this mode

The BFI (Black Frame Insertion) feature, available on the Samsung Q80D, can improve perceived motion sharpness at 60 fps, which is particularly useful during dynamic scenes. It works by inserting black frames between images, reducing the blur effect. However, it should be noted that using this feature can be problematic due to noticeable image flicker or decreased brightness. Generally, it is not recommended for everyday use.

Console compatibility and gaming features

9.5/10

ALLM: Yes
VRR: Yes
VRR range: 48 - 120Hz
Dolby Vision Game Mode: No
Correct implementation of HGIG: Yes
1080p@120Hz: Yes
1440p@120Hz: Yes
4K@120Hz: Yes
Game bar: Yes

The Samsung Q80D TV is a real gem for gamers. It is equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports, which is a rarity, especially in this price range. This allows users to enjoy features such as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and 120Hz at 4K resolution. These features ensure smoothness and responsiveness of the image, which is a key aspect during dynamic gameplay. The TV also supports HGIG (HDR Gaming Interest Group), enabling optimal HDR content display in games. Additionally, it comes with a Game Bar, providing quick access to gaming settings. Users with Nvidia graphics cards will also be pleased with the implementation of G-Sync. This feature eliminates stuttering and screen tearing. The only downside is the lack of support for Dolby Vision, which may be disappointing for users looking for that HDR format. It's also worth mentioning that since 2022, thanks to the collaboration with Microsoft, Samsung TVs offer the Xbox Game Pass app, allowing for cloud gaming. This is an added bonus for gamers who want to take advantage of a wide library of games without needing a console.

Input lag

9.8/10

What more can I say, the input lag at this level is simply outstanding. It's hard to achieve a better result that will satisfy gamers! The television performed excellently at every tested resolution and refresh rate, both in SDR and HDR.

SDR	HDR	Dolby Vision
1080p60: 18 ms	2160p60: 16 ms
1080p120: 9 ms	2160p120: 8 ms
2160p60: 18 ms
2160p120: 9 ms

Compatibility with PC

7.6/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Very Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Average

Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 9ms

Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR

Max refresh rate: 120Hz

G-Sync: Yes

Samsung Q80D performs well as a computer monitor. With support for chroma 4:4:4 (only works in "Game" mode), text on the screen is sharp and readable, which is very important for those who want to work on such a TV with text documents or spreadsheets. One of the biggest advantages of this model is its exceptionally low input lag in “PC” mode, which is only 9 ms. This is a reference-level result that ensures smoothness and responsiveness, which is crucial for both gamers and video editing professionals. The only thing we can nitpick is that there is a certain issue with font rendering on dark backgrounds. When we zoom in on the tested font image, we notice that the horizontal lines are darker compared to the vertical ones. This means that the sub-pixels in the TV do not fully illuminate in this case. This could be due to an oversight by the manufacturer regarding the optimisation of the algorithm responsible for displaying thin lines, which affects the quality of details in text rendering on dark backgrounds. Nevertheless, Samsung Q80D is a very good choice as a PC monitor.

Viewing angles

3/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 82%

Samsung Q80D, equipped with a VA panel, unfortunately doesn't perform well with viewing angles. When we watch the screen at a 45-degree angle, there is a noticeable loss of brightness. The image becomes less sharp, which can be problematic if we plan to watch TV from different spots in the room. However, the VA panel has its advantages. When we look directly at the screen, black is deep and well-saturated. Moreover, even at an angle, dark colours retain their depth, which is rare for this type of panel.

TV efficiency during daytime

6/10

Matrix coating: Satin

Reflection suppression: Average

Black levels during daytime: Good

The Samsung Q80D television stands out with very good brightness, averaging 550 nits, which is an impressive result, especially as it maintains this brightness across the entire surface of the screen. As a result, the picture is sharp and clearly visible even in bright rooms, which is a big plus when watching television during the day. However, despite the matte coating on the panel, the television struggles somewhat with glare suppression. In bright lighting conditions, unwanted reflections can occur, which may disrupt viewing comfort. This is particularly noticeable when there are light sources in the room that directly hit the screen.

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

Samsung QLED Q80D: 550 cd/m2

Details about the matrix

Software version during testing: 1106

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity:

Backlight Type: QLED

TV features

7.7/10

System operacyjny: Tizen
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No
Recording programming: No
Picture in Picture (PiP): Yes
Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
AirPlay: Yes
Voice search in native language: Yes
Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV: Yes
Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker: Yes
Audio only mode: Yes
RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
Backlit remote control: No
Teletext: Yes

The Samsung Q80D television offers a range of features that significantly enhance user comfort. The Tizen system is an advanced platform that provides users with an intuitive and smooth experience. Thanks to its user-friendly interface, navigating through apps and settings is quick and easy. Tizen supports a rich set of applications, including popular streaming services, allowing access to a wide range of entertainment content without the need for additional devices, and a new feature for 2024 is support for the Polish language. It's also worth mentioning the solar remote control, which is not only eco-friendly but also convenient for everyday use. The solar cell remote can easily control other devices such as home theatres, set-top boxes (e.g., Canal+), or gaming consoles, which is quite a challenge for other manufacturers. Returning to the console, Samsung Q80D offers several features that gamers may appreciate. Firstly, the television supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology, which enables smoother game display, eliminating issues like tearing and stuttering. Additionally, with low input lag, reactions in games are quick and precise. The Samsung Q80D is also equipped with a Game Bar feature, which allows quick access to key gaming settings without the need to exit the game. From this interface, we can check and adjust parameters like VRR, input lag, frames per second (FPS), as well as screen ratios and sound settings. This means gamers can continuously optimise their experience by adjusting settings according to their current gaming needs. The television supports AirPlay, allowing easy content sharing from Apple devices, and enables connection to various Bluetooth devices such as mice or headphones, increasing its versatility. The only downside is the lack of USB recording support and the fact that the Q80D unfortunately does not support the DTS sound format. This means that if we have content encoded in this format, the device will not be able to properly play back the audio track. This could pose a problem for those using Blu-ray discs or media files that often utilise DTS to provide high-quality surround sound. To achieve complete audio experiences, it may be necessary to use an external player or soundbar that supports this format.

Playing files from USB

Video Photos Audio

9.1/10

Video Photos Audio

Maximum photo resolution:	Supported photo formats:
4 Mpix	JPEG
6 Mpix	HEIC
8 Mpix	PNG
10 Mpix	GIF
12 Mpix	WebP
16 Mpix	TIFF
20 Mpix	BMP
24 Mpix	SVG
28 Mpix
32 Mpix

The built-in player in the Samsung Q80D television is definitely one of its strong points. It handles almost all video and audio files that we tested exceptionally well. The only exceptions are the Dolby Vision format, which is not surprising, and less common codecs. On the plus side, it supports Polish characters and offers the ability to customise font colours. On the downside, the TV struggles a bit with photo formats, as it only supports JPEG among the popular ones, while lacking support for formats like PNG or Apple HEIC.

Apps

9.3/10

Sound

6.6/10

Subjective sound quality

Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Dolby True HD 7.1

Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)

Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD

DTS:X in DTS-HD MA

DTS-HD Master Audio

The Samsung Q80D television is equipped with a decent audio system with a power of 40W in a 2.2 configuration, providing quite good sound experiences. This system supports all popular Dolby codecs, allowing for the use of advanced audio formats during movie watching or gaming. However, it is worth noting one drawback: the television does not support DTS functionality. Nonetheless, the lack of this feature can be bypassed by connecting an external audio system, which can significantly improve sound quality and provide a more immersive audio experience. Additionally, Samsung offers a wide portfolio of soundbars that can be integrated with the television, as well as the Q-Symphony system, which allows for sound synchronization between the television and soundbar.

AI Processor NQ4 Gen2: An advanced processor supported by artificial intelligence optimises both image and sound, delivering top-quality visual and audio experiences.
4K AI Upscaling: Technology that transforms lower resolution content to near 4K quality, ensuring even older materials look better on the big screen.
Direct Zone Dimming: Technology that provides deep blacks and pure whites through precise backlight control in different areas of the screen, enhancing contrast and detail in the image.
120 Hz Refresh Rate: A high refresh rate ensures smooth motion that is ideal for dynamic content such as gaming or sports broadcasts, eliminating blurring and stuttering of the image.
Quantum HDR Technology: Support for high dynamic range that adjusts brightness and contrast depending on the content being displayed, offering more realistic and detailed images.
Tizen Operating System: An intuitive and fast Smart TV system offering access to a wide range of apps and streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and TVP Sport.
Dolby Atmos Technology: A built-in surround sound system delivers immersive audio experiences, making sound surround the viewer from all sides.
Gaming Features: Support for VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and low input lag ensures smooth and responsive gameplay without delays and stuttering.
Frameless Design: A modern look with minimal bezels around the screen, increasing the display surface and the aesthetics of the device.

What particularly distinguishes this device in TV tests is the advanced contrast-enhancing technologies that perform excellently in dynamic action scenes. The Samsung Q80D test shows that colours are vibrant, and the image is clear even under strong external lighting.

In the Samsung Q80D test, it was noted that the Smart TV platform is intuitive and easy to use, allowing even less tech-savvy users to fully utilise its potential. The system runs smoothly, and apps launch without delays. Additionally, the QE65Q80D test indicates voice control capability, which greatly facilitates navigation through the menu and content search. The QE65Q80D test shows that the sound on this model is decent but does not stand out against the competition. To fully enjoy excellent picture quality, it's worth considering the purchase of an additional audio system. The Samsung Q80D test noted that the sound is well balanced and does not distort even at higher volumes, which is a significant advantage.

Samsung QLED Q80D

Our verdict

Advantages

Disadvantages

Competing TVs in this price range

TV appearance

Buy in the best price

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound