This TV has a really good picture, and it does not lag when choosing between apps, inputs, or the Home screen. However, this TV has some frustrating issues. I have had this TV for 17 days before initially writing this partial review on 12/14/23.
Update as of 12/22/23, I ultimately had to exchange the TV for a replacement. The replacement had the film still on the screen and all 4 HDMI ports accepted the game consoles.
Remote:
Take note, If you have to point the remote directly at the TV for it to respond, don’t worry this is not normal. You should be able to point the remote toward the floor or ceiling and have the TV respond. What you have to do is unpair the remote from the TV by holding both the play/pause button (on the right of the remote) and the back button (on the left with the U-turn looking arrow) at the same time until it unpairs (about 5 seconds or so). Then, push any button on the remote (preferably the directional pad or the button in the center to avoid unnecessary menu pop-ups). Ignore the TV saying a remote is already paired to the TV. If the TV does not show the remote pairing, then press and hold both play/pause and the back button again until you see the pairing process on the screen. Now your remote should work from any distance and angle you choose. This might work for any other remote glitches as well.
Game Console:
(Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, etc.): Despite the specs saying all 4 HDMI ports are 2.1 (4k @ 120Hz), I could only get port 2 on the one-connect box to play the Xbox. Even then the picture would flicker in and out for a few minutes. If any other port was used, I would get an HDMI error of no signal on the TV. However, I also noticed when I unplugged the HDMI from the port, it would then change from a no signal to a no power error (see pictures). This was for ports 1, 3, and 4. So, it seems the TV kind of reads the Xbox signal from the other ports, but it won’t allow the signal to come through. Sad to say, but two Samsung online support reps said working on only port 2 was normal (I have the online rep names and chat IDs). They are wrong, all 4 ports are 2.1 not just port 2. The specs and new replacement TV proves it.
Note: Getting out of the Game Hub after playing on a console is not intuitive either. If you press the Home button on the remote, it won’t take you out of Game Hub to view your Home screen where all your apps are. You have to either hit the return button and select Media from the options on the left or go into Netflix or some other App, then back out with the Home button. This is after an hour chat online with Samsung.
Picture settings:
One of the first issues is the auto-brightness (Brightness Optimization). It will fluctuate and go dull or blinding bright even while in something like Netflix. The setting is not in the picture settings, but rather in General & Privacy > Power and Energy Saving.
There is some minor blooming to the TV. It can be seen from the screen saver against the black screen (see picture with the screensaver dots from the newer TV).
Sound:
The sound is ok, however there are no front firing speakers. The sound goes out from the back of the TV towards the wall. While it can produce a spacious sound, voices can be difficult to hear at times. Setting the sound mode to Amplify enhances the voices more and lessens the spacious sound. There is also a vibration from the rear plastic panel at certain frequencies when the volume is above 30 (newer replacement TV does not have the issue until volume 45).
Soundbar:
Finally, a positive! Adding a Samsung soundbar to the TV is easy. There was no setup or settings to go through. The TV picked it up as soon as I turned it on, and it set the Q-Symphony automatically. From that point both the TV and soundbar work together and can be controlled by the TV remote. I bought the Q600C and then upgraded it to the Q990C soundbar.
Side note, if you own the TV and get tired of it constantly turning on connected devices as soon as the TV powers on, remove the devices from the “universal remote” setting (not the TV remote, but rather it’s what Samsung calls its auto-on feature). Go over an App then press the direction pad up. If it does not say it there then go to connected devices and look to remove them from universal remote.
There is more, but this semi-review is long enough. Do I recommend the TV? I would have to say yes, if you get a good one. However, the QN95C is probably the best TV (although 4K) that Samsung currently makes.