TechTvsSamsung QN90B vs QN90A: elite QLED 4K TVs comparedWhat has Samsung upgraded in this year’s QN90B 4K TV compared to the QN90A from last year? We break down the differencesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechTvsSamsung QN90B vs QN90A: elite QLED 4K TVs comparedWhat has Samsung upgraded in this year’s QN90B 4K TV compared to the QN90A from last year? We break down the differencesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What has Samsung upgraded in this year’s QN90B 4K TV compared to the QN90A from last year? We break down the differences
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Samsung)
(Image credit: Samsung)
If you’re looking at a killerSamsungTV upgrade, you might be wondering about the Samsung QN90B vs the Samsung QN90A – the QN90B is the 2022 version of Samsung’s high-end 4K TV, while the QN90A is the model from 2021.
At the time of writing, the Samsung QN90B has just launched, but the QN90A is also still on sale… and for a lot less money than the QN90B, due to price reductions over its life. Both rank extremely highly among thebest Samsung TVs, but if you’re looking to buy today, you probably want to know what upgrades the new version brings before you make your decision. And that’s what this guide is for.
This year, the QN90B does exactly the same thing – we’ve already said in ourSamsung QN95Breview that its image quality is effectively unparalleled, and the QN90B brings much of that tech at a lower price.
Both the QN90B and QN90A are among thebest TVsavailable today, but let’s go through all the differences, to help you decide which is best for you.
Samsung QN90B vs QN90A: Price and sizes
In 2021 Samsung launched no less than six QN90A models, ranging in size from just 43 inches all the way up to a monster 98 inches, and with 50, 55, 65 and 75 inch models filling in the gaps.
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The QN90B range also includes six models, but tops out at 85 inches rather than 98. The other five QN90B screen sizes match those of the QN90A range.
The official prices for the Samsung QN90B are: 43-inch £1,299 (US release TBC); 50-inch £1,499/$1,599; 55-inch $1,899/£1,899; 65-inch £2,699/$2,599; 75-inch £3999/$3,499; 85-inch £5,499/$4,999.
The official prices for the Samsung QN90A at the time of writing are: 43-inch £899/$899; 50-inch £999/$1,199/; 55-inch £1,199/$1,249/; 65-inch £1,599/$1,749; 75-inch £2,499/$2,599; 98-inch £17,999/$14,999.
So there’s a huge difference, but that’s normal when comparing a TV that’s been out for a year with one that’s just arriving – but it does mean that it’s certainly no slam dunk to choose the QN90B for its upgraded when the QN90A is fantastic and so much cheaper… while stocks last. You can find the current lowest prices for the Samsung QN90A below.
Today’s best prices on Samsung QN90ASamsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best prices on Samsung QN90ASamsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best prices on Samsung QN90ASamsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best prices on Samsung QN90A
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch
$897.95View
$897.95
$897.95
See all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch
$1,097.95View
$1,097.95
$1,097.95
See all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch
$1,447.95View
$1,447.95
$1,447.95
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Samsung QN90B vs QN90A: Picture quality
The QN90B and QN90A both feature Neo QLED mini-LED technology – and when it comes to the most fundamental elements of this technology, both screens use the same sort of mini-LED ‘structure’ and similar numbers of backlight local dimming zones.
So it gives the appearance of the extra lighting precision that people want from having more dimming zones, and as we’ve already seen in our Samsung QN95B review, it’s highly effective.
Backing the Shape Adaptive Light Control up on the QN90B is an upgrade (on the 55-inch and bigger models) from 12-bit to 14-bit management of the TVs’ backlight performance. While this doesn’t mean the screen can handle 14-bit sources (even if they existed), it does mean that the QN90B is able to deliver more subtle shading in dark areas and more finesse in HDR colour blends. It essentially means that the TV can more precisely control exactly what level of brightness or dimness is required from each backlight dimming zone.
The design of the QN90A and QN90B is pretty much identical – a thin overall frame, with a single stand in the centre.(Image credit: Samsung)
The design of the QN90A and QN90B is pretty much identical – a thin overall frame, with a single stand in the centre.
The design of the QN90A and QN90B is pretty much identical – a thin overall frame, with a single stand in the centre.
(Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung QN90B vs Samsung QN90A: Sound Quality
Both the QN90B and QN90A sport Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound (OTS) technology. This uses speakers ranged right around the TVs’ frames and clever processing to make sound effects appear to be emanating from the correct area of the screen.
The QN90B builds on this, though, with a new Human Tracking Sound element that utilises the image analysis abilities of its AI-based processing to detect where faces are appearing and then position the sound of anything those faces might say more accurately.
Both Samsung TVs offer great features for gamers.(Image credit: Samsung)
Both Samsung TVs offer great features for gamers.
Both Samsung TVs offer great features for gamers.
(Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung QN90B vs Samsung QN90A: Design and Features
With their robust, centrally mounted metal desktop stands, exceptionally slim screen frames, silver metallic outer trims and monolithic design approaches (where the rear sides look as flat as their screen sides) the QN90B and QN90A adopt a pretty similar design approach. Both ship with a cool solar-powered ‘smart’ remote control, too.
When it comes to new features beyond the picture and sound advances we’ve already covered, the headline grabbers are a new look for Samsung’s Tizen-based smart interface, and a few new tricks aimed at gamers.
The QN90B Tizen interface shifts to a full-screen presentation from the much more economical look of the QN90A, which only takes over around a third of the screen. The QN90A’s relatively minimal approach enables you to keep watching TV for the whole time you’re browsing the smart menus, whereas the new Tizen interface only lets you keep watching (in a fairly small box) what was on when you hit the Home menu button until you navigate away to a different area of the menus.
Full-screen smart interfaces can tend to look rather confusing and overwhelming compared with more compact systems, too – and that’s proved to be the case here, based on our experience. It’s the only thing in the QN90B that feels like a step back from its predecessor.
On the gaming front, the QN90B offers an improved version of the Game Bar interface that appeared on the QN90A. This will provide gamers with a fuller combination of information on the game graphics being received, and more options for enhancing the gaming experience. These include new Preset modes specifically designed to enhance FPS, RPG, RTS and Sports game genres, and options for sacrificing a little response time speed in return for improved picture quality with games that aren’t built around response speed.
Samsung QN90B vs Samsung QN90A: Conclusion
The shift in approach for the QN90B’s smart TV features don’t play out in the QN90B’s favour, but in every other way it’s a clear step up over its predecessor. However, it will all come down to price – it’s an undoubtedly expensive TV overall, and the QN90A is now something of a bargain, while it lasts. No one would pay the QN90A’s prices and come away unhappy – it’s just a question of whether you’d be even more happy investing in the QN90B’s upgrades.
Today’s best prices on Samsung QN90ASamsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best prices on Samsung QN90ASamsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best prices on Samsung QN90ASamsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best prices on Samsung QN90A
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all pricesSamsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch$897.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 43-inch
$897.95View
$897.95
$897.95
See all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch$1,097.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 50-inch
$1,097.95View
$1,097.95
$1,097.95
See all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch$1,447.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch
Samsung QN90A Neo QLED 65-inch
$1,447.95View
$1,447.95
$1,447.95
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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