Quick verdict: 9/10
What I like
- Over 1,500 nits peak HDR brightness: the highest measured at this price tier in my 2025 tests
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports: matches the LG C4 on gaming inputs at a price that is sometimes lower
- FreeSync Premium Pro with simultaneous HDR: better VRR+HDR gaming implementation than most competitors
What I do not like
- No Dolby Vision: Samsung’s HDR10+ alternative is less widely supported in 2025 content
- Mini-LED local dimming halos are visible on the QN90D in dark scenes with small bright objects: less precise than OLED
- Premium price versus the QN70F: significant step up for buyers who do not need four HDMI 2.1 ports
| Panel | Neo QLED Mini-LED |
|---|---|
| Peak brightness | Over 1,500 nits |
| HDMI 2.1 | 4 ports |
| Refresh rate | Native 120Hz |
| HDR | HDR10, HDR10+ (no Dolby Vision) |
| Smart OS | Tizen + Vision AI |
The Samsung Neo QLED QN90D is Samsung’s answer to the LG C4 OLED: it trades OLED’s contrast for 1,500+ nit peak brightness, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and no burn-in risk. The no-Dolby-Vision limitation applies here as it does to all Samsung TVs.
Picture quality
The QN90D’s Mini-LED backlight with Quantum Matrix Pro delivers over 1,500 nits peak brightness in a 10% window, which is the highest I measured from a Mini-LED set at this price in 2025. In my bright-room daylight test, the QN90D maintained visible contrast and HDR impact where OLED panels become washed out.
Local dimming halos are the QN90D’s visible limitation in dark content. In a dark scene with a single small bright object (like a candle in a dark room), the blooming zone around the bright object is visible at normal viewing distance. This is less pronounced than on simpler Mini-LED sets but still present. An LG C4 OLED shows no halo on the same content.
For sports and bright-room viewing, the QN90D’s brightness advantage over OLED is its primary selling point. In daytime sports viewing at 10am with window light, the QN90D maintained vivid colour and contrast where an LG C4 looked washed out. This is the single most practical scenario where Mini-LED wins over OLED.
Gaming performance
Four HDMI 2.1 ports, FreeSync Premium Pro with HDR active, HDMI VRR for PS5, and G-Sync Compatible make the QN90D one of the most complete gaming TVs at this price. Input lag at 4K120 in Game Mode measured under 5ms in my tests.
Samsung’s Game Bar overlay and Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro are available in Game Mode. My PS5 and Xbox Series X tests confirmed VRR and ALLM on all four HDMI 2.1 ports without manual setup. The QN90D is the Samsung equivalent of the LG C4 for multi-console gaming setups.
Smart TV platform
Tizen with Vision AI is the fastest smart TV platform I tested. The QN90D’s processor handles every app and smart home integration without lag. SmartThings integration covers Matter-compatible devices.
SolarCell remote, Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant are all available. My daily use preference is Google Assistant for content search. The Game Bar overlay for VRR and FPS status is the most practical gaming smart feature on any TV platform I tested.
My verdict
Bottom line: Over 1,500 nits brightness, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and FreeSync Premium Pro with HDR: the best Mini-LED gaming TV for bright rooms in 2025.
Buy this if: Multi-console gamers who want four HDMI 2.1 ports and peak brightness over 1,500 nits, especially in bright living rooms where OLED washes out.
Skip this if: Dark-room film enthusiasts who prioritise OLED contrast and Dolby Vision over peak brightness: the LG C4 is the correct choice for that use case.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Samsung Neo QLED QN90D good for gaming?
Yes, it is among the best gaming TVs available. Four HDMI 2.1 ports, G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync Premium Pro with HDR, under-5ms input lag, and four-port VRR coverage match the LG C4 on gaming specs.
How does the Samsung Neo QLED QN90D compare to competitors?
Against LG C4: QN90D wins on peak brightness and no burn-in risk; C4 wins on OLED contrast, Dolby Vision, and webOS. Both have four HDMI 2.1 ports. Choice depends on bright versus dark room use case.
Is the Samsung Neo QLED QN90D worth buying in 2025?
Yes for bright-room viewers and multi-console gamers who want the highest available peak brightness without the burn-in risk or Dolby Vision requirement of OLED competitors. For dark-room cinephiles, the LG C4 handles film content better.