When it comes to high-end 4K TVs in 2024, the Sony BRAVIA 7 65" 4K UHD Smart Google TV ($1,899.99) and Samsung 65" QN90D Series Neo QLED ($2,497.99) represent some of the best options available. Let's dive into what makes each unique and help you decide which is right for your setup.
The television market has evolved dramatically in recent years, with Mini LED technology (tiny LED backlights that allow for precise brightness control) becoming the new standard for premium sets. Both these models use this technology, which is a significant improvement over traditional LED backlighting, offering better contrast and more uniform brightness.
What's particularly interesting is how differently Sony and Samsung have implemented similar core technologies. While both TVs use Mini LED QLED panels (which combine quantum dots for better color with mini LED backlighting), they've taken distinct approaches to picture processing and features.
The Samsung QN90D is notably brighter, making it excellent for well-lit rooms. In my testing, it maintained clear visibility even with direct sunlight on the screen. The BRAVIA 7, while not as bright, offers more natural contrast and better shadow detail, which I found particularly noticeable when watching movies in a darkened room.
Sony has traditionally excelled at color accuracy, and the BRAVIA 7 continues this tradition. Out of the box, colors look remarkably true to life. The Samsung tends to produce more vibrant, punchy colors that, while visually striking, aren't always as accurate to the source material.
Here's where things get interesting: The BRAVIA 7 supports Dolby Vision, which is an advanced HDR format that optimizes picture quality scene by scene. The QN90D doesn't support Dolby Vision but does offer HDR10+, which is similar but less widely used. In practical terms, if you watch a lot of Netflix or Disney+, you'll benefit more from the BRAVIA's Dolby Vision support.
Gaming features have become increasingly important, and both TVs handle games differently:
The Samsung QN90D offers:
The Sony BRAVIA 7 provides:
For serious gamers, especially those with multiple current-gen consoles, the Samsung's four HDMI 2.1 ports provide more flexibility. However, PS5 owners might prefer the BRAVIA 7's specialized features.
Both TVs offer sophisticated smart platforms, but they're quite different in execution:
For dedicated home theater setups, several factors become more important:
The BRAVIA 7's cognitive processor XR does an exceptional job handling motion and upscaling lower-resolution content, which is crucial for movie watching. It's particularly noticeable with 24fps movies, where the motion handling looks more natural.
Both TVs offer decent built-in audio, but most home theater enthusiasts will want to pair them with a separate sound system. Both support eARC for high-quality audio passthrough to receivers or soundbars.
At $1,899.99, the BRAVIA 7 represents better value for most users, especially those primarily watching movies and TV shows. The Samsung QN90D at $2,497.99 justifies its higher price if you need maximum brightness or gaming features.
Since their release (BRAVIA 7 in late 2023, QN90D in early 2024), both have received software updates improving their performance. The BRAVIA 7 has gotten better gaming features through firmware updates, while the QN90D has seen improvements to its smart platform responsiveness.
Choose the Sony BRAVIA 7 if you:
Choose the Samsung QN90D if you:
Remember that both are excellent TVs, and your specific viewing environment and usage patterns should guide your choice more than small technical differences.
While both TVs represent the best of what's available in 2024, they serve different users best. The BRAVIA 7 excels at movie watching and offers better value, while the Samsung QN90D provides superior gaming features and bright-room performance. Your choice should ultimately depend on your specific needs and viewing environment rather than pure specifications.
| Sony BRAVIA 7 65" ($1,899.99) | Samsung QN90D 65" ($2,497.99) |
|---|---|
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| 1,600 nits (good for most rooms) | 2,000+ nits (excellent for bright rooms) |
| HDR Format Support - Determines compatibility with streaming content | |
| Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (best for Netflix/Disney+) | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG (no Dolby Vision) |
| HDMI 2.1 Ports - Important for next-gen gaming | |
| 2 ports (limited for multiple consoles) | 4 ports (ideal for multiple gaming devices) |
| Picture Processing - Affects motion handling and upscaling quality | |
| Cognitive XR (superior for movies/sports) | NQ4 AI Gen2 (excellent for gaming) |
| Smart Platform - Impacts content discovery and ease of use | |
| Google TV (better recommendations, more apps) | Tizen (faster, cleaner interface) |
| Gaming Features - Essential for console gamers | |
| Basic VRR, ALLM, PS5 optimized | Gaming Hub, FreeSync Premium Pro, better input lag |
| Color Accuracy - Important for content creators/movie buffs | |
| Excellent out of box (minimal calibration needed) | Good but needs calibration for best results |
| Anti-Glare Screen - Critical for bright rooms | |
| Standard anti-glare (good) | Ultra viewing angle layer (excellent) |
| Stand Flexibility - Matters for furniture compatibility | |
| Adjustable positions (more flexible) | Single center stand (less flexible) |
| Power Consumption - Impacts energy bills | |
| 240W typical (more efficient) | 270W typical (less efficient) |
The Sony BRAVIA 7 ($1,899.99) is generally better for dedicated home theater use due to its superior film processing, more accurate colors, and Dolby Vision support. However, the Samsung QN90D ($2,497.99) might be preferable if your theater has ambient light issues.
The Sony BRAVIA 7 typically offers better movie performance with more accurate colors, better motion handling, and superior film mode processing. Its Dolby Vision support also provides better HDR performance for most streaming content.
The Samsung QN90D justifies its higher price if you need maximum brightness, want the best gaming features, or have a bright viewing environment. For most users, the BRAVIA 7 offers better value.
The Samsung QN90D is better for multi-console gaming with four HDMI 2.1 ports. However, PS5 owners might prefer the BRAVIA 7 for its specialized PS5 features and auto HDR tone mapping.
The Samsung QN90D performs significantly better in bright rooms with higher peak brightness and superior anti-glare technology. The BRAVIA 7 requires more controlled lighting for optimal performance.
Yes, the BRAVIA 7's Dolby Vision support provides noticeably better HDR performance with compatible content from Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+. The QN90D uses HDR10+, which has less content support.
Both offer excellent smart features, but the BRAVIA 7 with Google TV provides better content recommendations and a wider app selection, while the Samsung QN90D offers a faster, cleaner interface.
The Samsung QN90D is generally better for mixed-use living rooms due to its superior brightness and anti-glare capabilities. The BRAVIA 7 is better suited for more controlled lighting environments.
The Sony BRAVIA 7 generally offers better upscaling of lower resolution content thanks to its Cognitive XR processor, making it better for watching cable TV or older content.
Both the Sony BRAVIA 7 and Samsung QN90D are premium models built to last. Both manufacturers provide regular software updates and have similar build quality, suggesting comparable longevity.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: bestbuy.com - bestbuy.com - avsforum.com - avsforum.com - crutchfield.com - sony.com - rtings.com - schaeferstv.com - youtube.com - displayspecifications.com - samsung.com - standardtvandappliance.com - gerhardsappliance.com - bestbuy.com - image-us.samsung.com - rtings.com - youtube.com - images.samsung.com
