potential of the content. A lot of this
remarkable show of strength is down
to the work Samsung has done with
AI and machine learning, and it’s
complemented no end by the quality
of the TV’s backlighting. Because it’s
a full-array screen, with lighting
behind its pixels across the entirety of
the screen rather than just around the
edges (as some less capable, and less
expensive, screens deploy), the
Samsung is able to exhibit real
dexterity when it comes to the light
and shade of the pictures it produces.
There are 480 discrete zones where
it can dim the backlight to make
blacks in that part of the image look
truly black. That’s a lot of dimming
zones, and to be able to control each of
them individually is notable.
What it means for the viewer is
that the screen can generate intense
peak brightness levels far, far beyond
what any OLED TV can achieve,
keeping white tones bright, clean and
detailed while avoiding bleaching.
It also means black tones are deep
and glossy, yet alive with nuance and
detail. And it means the Q950TS can
do this even when the blacks and the
whites are sharing the same screen.
Allied to a gratifying lack ofreflectiveness from the screen itself,
plus excellent off-axis viewing
quality, it means the Samsung looks
accomplished right from the off.
And in every other aspect of
picture-making too, the Q950TS just
flat-out impresses. It can provide a
remarkably extensive colour palette,
so no nuance of shade is too fine to
escape it. It serves up skin-tones and
textures confidently. It handles
motion, both rapid and leisurely, with
complete authority.
Step down in quality to some
bog-standard Full HD via BBC iPlayer
or a 1920x1080 Blu-ray disc and theSAMSUNG Q90R
The top 2019 4K QLED TV has almost as good
processing smarts, and similarly spectacular
HDR performance, for several thousands less.
This TV is on its way out, though – grab one
while you can!
From £1,399, samsung.com/ukSAMSUNG Q800T
There’s a cheaper 8K Samsung TV coming in- This one has the same great QLED panel
and processing, but a less advanced backlight
- not as bright, and with fewer dimming zones.
Still great for bigger sizes, still dazzling.
From £3,999, samsung.com/uk
SONY MASTER SERIES ZG9
Sony’s equivalent of this TV – mixing its best
LCD tech with supreme backlighting for
astounding HDR, is a beast. 85 inches is its
smallest size – you can go for a 98-inch model
too. It’s an incredible TV, though.
From £9,999, sony.co.uk62 T3 MAY 2020
Te s te d
THE ALTERNATIVES
Given Samsung has
removed as many
of the ports from
the back of the tv
as possible, there’s
no OLED-style
bulge hereBLACK MAGIC
With 480 discrete zones for its
backlighting, the screen can
generate both intense peak
brightness levels and black tones
are that are deep and glossyTHE REAL THIN
The Q950TS is a
consistent 15mm
deep across
the whole of
its chassis – so
slimmer than a
laptop