Samsung’s $12,699 QN900C TV gives cinemas a run for their money

This new Samsung TV costing more than $12,500 might make you never want to leave home again with it delivering an experience that gives the cinema a run for its money.

Samsung's new Neo QLED 8K Smart TV QN900C puts most cinemas to shame.,

If it wasn’t for access to early blockbuster films, Samsung’s newest TV leaves little reason for anyone to go to the cinema.

The 2023 Neo QLED 8K Smart TV QN900C is brighter and darker, sharper and smarter than any TV we’ve reviewed before. And the viewing experience certainly gives Australia’s old cinemas a run for their money.

The Australian got to review the new TV ahead of its release on Tuesday, taking an 85-inch model, with a $12,699 price tag, for a spin across different streaming services, television channels and music apps.

As you might imagine, there was little not to like. The new model sports the company’s quantum mini-LED technology powering more than 33 million pixels which can, according to Samsung, deliver billions of shades of colour.

The TV is powered by an advanced neural quantum processor which, in the 8K model, allows content to be automatically upgraded to 8K resolution.

The device itself is just 15mm thick, which plays into the whole picture frame-like market Samsung has been pushing since 2017. And the bezel around the device is just 0.8mm, which Samsung says makes the TV feel larger than it is. The 85-inch mounted on the wall does appear much larger.

Samsung's new TV being used as a gaming device.

Samsung said it knew that 43 per cent of consumers who bought a 65-inch TV or smaller regretted not buying a big screen TV. Big screens are, according to Samsung, 75-inch or larger, with 75-inch the largest growth category last year.

In line with the push to get TVs mounted flush to the wall there are no ports on the back of the TV. Instead there’s a One Connect Box, much like a USB hub, which allows users to connect via HDMI, ethernet, three USB ports and an audio port. Ethernet connectivity is another plus as Wi-Fi isn’t always the most reliable.

On the sound front, Samsung is playing with similar technology to that of Apple.

Each time the QN900C turns on, it measures sound reflections in real-time and will adjust the way it distributes sound to fit around the furniture and items within a room – which Samsung calls SpaceFit technology.

The TV comes with 12 built-in speakers, some of which are positioned to disperse sound up, down and to the side.

The speakers on the back of the QN900C.

For those after a more cinematic experience, the QN900C can be paired with a sound bar and use the TV’s and the sound bar’s speakers. This is different to other brands which often mute the TV’s speakers.

The Neo QLD 8K comes in three sizes, including 65-inch and 75-inch models, and the 4K models has several sizes spanning 43 to 98-inches.

Bright lighting and strong sunshine are no longer a real problem for the TV which has improved antiglare technology and increased brightness which should be able to counter any opposing light.

One quirky feature we enjoyed is the solar cell remote, which can be charged via indoor and outdoor lighting. Better yet, it can use RF harvesting technology to charge itself from the energy coming from Wi-Fi, 4G and 5G networks around the home. Never having to replace the batteries of a remote control is definitely a plus in our books.

The solar cell remote.

The verdict? We loved it. If you can afford it, you probably wouldn’t regret it, but remember to still get outside now and again.