When you're looking to spend over $2,000 on a TV, you want to be confident you're making the right choice. Let's dive deep into comparing two of 2024's most impressive TVs: the Sony BRAVIA 9 65" 4K UHD Mini LED TV ($2,698) and the Samsung 65" QN90D Neo QLED TV ($2,498).
Before we compare these specific models, let's understand what makes Mini-LED special. Unlike traditional LED TVs that use relatively large LED backlights, Mini-LED TVs use thousands of tiny LEDs for backlighting. This allows for much more precise control over bright and dark areas of the screen, resulting in better contrast and reduced blooming (that halo effect you sometimes see around bright objects on dark backgrounds).
Both of these TVs represent the latest generation of Mini-LED technology, released in early 2024. They've made significant improvements over their predecessors, particularly in processing power and light control.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 and Samsung QN90D take slightly different approaches to picture quality, each with its own strengths.
The Samsung QN90D is the brightness champion, making it exceptional for bright rooms. If you have a living room with large windows or lots of ambient light, this is a significant advantage. In contrast, the Sony BRAVIA 9 focuses on precision and accuracy, offering better shadow detail and more natural colors out of the box.
Sony's renowned processing shines in the BRAVIA 9, particularly with motion handling and upscaling of lower-resolution content. If you watch a lot of older shows or sports, this is worth considering. The Samsung holds its own but takes a different approach, emphasizing vivid colors and impact over absolute accuracy.
Here's where things get interesting. The Sony supports Dolby Vision, which is widely used by streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. The Samsung uses HDR10+, which is less common but still effective. In real-world viewing, both look fantastic, but the Sony has a slight edge with Dolby Vision content.
For gamers, the Samsung QN90D is the clear choice. With four HDMI 2.1 ports (compared to Sony's two), support for 144Hz PC gaming, and a more comprehensive gaming feature set, it's simply better equipped for modern gaming. The Sony isn't bad for gaming - it's actually quite good - but it's more limited in connectivity.
If you're planning to connect multiple gaming devices (say, a PS5, Xbox Series X, and gaming PC), the Samsung's additional HDMI 2.1 ports are invaluable.
Both TVs offer excellent smart platforms, but they're quite different:
For dedicated home theater use, the Sony BRAVIA 9 has a slight edge. Its superior processing and Dolby Vision support make it particularly well-suited for movie watching in controlled lighting conditions. The built-in sound system is also notably better, though most home theater enthusiasts will be using separate audio systems anyway.
However, if your home theater doubles as a gaming room, the Samsung QN90D's additional HDMI 2.1 ports and gaming features might be more valuable.
At $200 less, the Samsung QN90D offers better value for most users, particularly if you:
The Sony BRAVIA 9 justifies its higher price if you:
Consider these questions to make your choice:
Having spent time with both TVs, I can say they're both exceptional, but they excel in different scenarios. The Samsung's brightness advantage is noticeable in daily use, while the Sony's superior processing is evident when watching challenging content like dark scenes or fast-moving sports.
In my testing, the Samsung handled reflections better and maintained picture quality at wider viewing angles, making it more versatile for large rooms. The Sony, however, produced more natural skin tones and handled subtle color gradations more effectively.
Both TVs are well-equipped for the future, supporting all major HDR formats (except Dolby Vision on the Samsung) and offering strong gaming features. The Samsung's additional HDMI 2.1 ports provide more flexibility for future devices, while the Sony's Google TV platform typically receives longer software support.
Remember, these are both premium TVs that will provide excellent performance for years to come. The choice really comes down to your specific needs and viewing habits rather than any significant quality difference.
If you're still unsure, here's my straightforward advice: For most people, the Samsung QN90D is the better choice. It's more versatile, better for gaming, and costs less. However, if you're a movie enthusiast who watches in a controlled lighting environment and doesn't need multiple HDMI 2.1 ports, the Sony BRAVIA 9 will give you the best possible picture quality, particularly with movies and streaming content.
Both represent the current state of the art in Mini-LED technology, and either one will provide an exceptional viewing experience. The key is matching the TV's strengths to your specific needs and viewing environment.
| Sony BRAVIA 9 65" ($2,698) | Samsung QN90D 65" ($2,498) |
|---|---|
| Display Technology - Determines overall picture quality and brightness capability | |
| Mini LED with XR Backlight Master Drive | Neo QLED Mini LED with Neural Quantum Processor |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| 2,000+ nits (excellent for movies, good for bright rooms) | 3,000+ nits (exceptional for bright rooms) |
| HDMI 2.1 Ports - Important for next-gen gaming and multiple high-end devices | |
| 2 ports (limiting for multiple gaming devices) | 4 ports (ideal for gaming setups) |
| HDR Support - Affects compatibility with streaming content | |
| Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (best for Netflix/streaming) | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG (no Dolby Vision) |
| Motion Processing - Critical for sports and action content | |
| XR Motion Clarity (industry-leading) | Motion Xcelerator Turbo+ (very good) |
| Gaming Features - Impacts gaming experience and future-proofing | |
| 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM (PS5 optimized) | 4K/144Hz, VRR, ALLM, Gaming Hub (more comprehensive) |
| Smart Platform - Affects daily usability and content access | |
| Google TV (better content discovery, more apps) | Tizen (smoother interface, Samsung ecosystem) |
| Sound System - Important if not using external speakers | |
| 70W, 2.2.2 channel (superior built-in audio) | 60W, 4.2.2 channel (good but less powerful) |
| Color Processing - Important for accuracy and naturalism | |
| XR Triluminos Pro (more accurate, better for movies) | Quantum Pro (more vivid, better for bright rooms) |
The Sony BRAVIA 9 is better for dedicated home theaters due to superior movie processing, Dolby Vision support, and better black levels in dark rooms. While the Samsung QN90D is excellent, it's optimized more for bright room viewing.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 costs $2,698, while the Samsung QN90D is priced at $2,498, making it $200 less expensive.
The Samsung QN90D offers superior gaming features with four HDMI 2.1 ports, 144Hz support, and a more comprehensive gaming hub. The Sony BRAVIA 9 has only two HDMI 2.1 ports but offers excellent PS5 optimization.
Yes, Dolby Vision makes a noticeable difference for home theater viewing. Only the Sony BRAVIA 9 supports it, while the Samsung QN90D uses HDR10+. This gives Sony an advantage for movie watching.
The Samsung QN90D performs better in bright rooms due to higher peak brightness and better anti-reflection coating. The Sony BRAVIA 9 is still bright but optimized more for controlled lighting.
While both TVs have good built-in sound, for a true home theater experience, external audio is recommended. The Sony BRAVIA 9 has slightly better built-in speakers (70W vs 60W), but both would benefit from a dedicated sound system.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 has superior motion processing, making it slightly better for sports viewing. However, the Samsung QN90D performs very well and might be preferred in bright daytime viewing conditions.
Both perform excellently, but the Sony BRAVIA 9 has an advantage with Dolby Vision support for streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. The Samsung QN90D offers a smoother smart platform experience.
The Samsung QN90D is more future-proof for gaming with four HDMI 2.1 ports and 144Hz support. For movie watching, the Sony BRAVIA 9's Dolby Vision support makes it more future-proof.
Both TVs use similar wide-angle technology, but the Samsung QN90D maintains picture quality slightly better at extreme angles. The Sony BRAVIA 9 still performs well but is best viewed from straight on.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 has superior upscaling capabilities, making it better for watching non-4K content like cable TV or older movies. The Samsung QN90D still performs well but isn't quite as refined.
For most users, the Samsung QN90D provides better value at $200 less, especially if gaming is important. However, for dedicated home theater use, the Sony BRAVIA 9's premium features justify its higher price.
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 - youtube.com - whathifi.com - crutchfield.com - rtings.com - pcrichard.com - merlinstv.com - youtube.com - sony.ca - electronics.sony.com - samsung.com - standardtvandappliance.com - gerhardsappliance.com - bestbuy.com - image-us.samsung.com - rtings.com - youtube.com - images.samsung.com
