If you are a Samsung fan but not keen on spending top-shelf money for the award-winning flagship TV, the Samsung QN90A, there’s a series of Samsung QLED TVs that cost well below the flagship tier that will surely excite you. The Samsung Q70A series includes a range of TVs that sit between the lower-end Samsung Q60A and the Samsung Q80A.
For all its worth, TVs in this lineup offer excellent features, but if you’re not cast on Samsung branded models, less expensive competitors like the Hisense U8G and the TCL 6-Series offer better picture and wider viewing angles, but the Samsung Q70A’s low lag and Game Mode feature make it a perfect choice for anybody looking for a serious gaming display.
The Samsung Q70A offers incredible contrast, rich colors, and a horde of other useful features, especially if you’re a gamer. Perhaps its most notable downside is the lack of full-array local dimming, a feature that’s available in most competing TVs. Without local dimming, pictures can look washed out and cloudy, especially during dark scenes. Also, the Q70A doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR, which might give A/V diehards a pause, but it applies to every Samsung TV right now.
The only reprieve is that Samsung is offering the Q70A at a very reasonable price – it doesn’t feel overpriced for the performance and features, and I’m convinced that most folks – particularly Samsung fans – will find more value in what it brings to the table. However, if you don’t count yourself as not married to Samsung and need to save a few bucks, feel free to explore more affordable alternatives from competitors like Vizio, TCL, and Hisense.
About the Samsung Q70A
The Samsung Q70A is available in four sizes, ranging from 55 inches to 85 inches. Our review unit is the 65-inch model – the QN65Q70AAFXZA, but all models in this range share features, so we believe the recommendations for (or against) the 65-inch model will apply across the line.
Here are the different models
- 55-inch (Samsung QN55Q70AAFXZA)
- 65-inch (Samsung QN65Q70AAFXZA)
- 75-inch (Samsung QN75Q70AAFXZA)
- 85-inch (Samsung QN85Q70AAFXZA)
Since all four models pack the same hardware and bad software features, we don’t expect any major performance differences between the sizes.
Here are the key specs shared by every size in the Samsung Q70A series:
- Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
- Display Type: Edge-lit LED with quantum-dot color
- HDR support: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
- Dolby Atmos: Passthrough via HDMI ARC/eARC (no onboard decoding)
- eARC support: Yes (HDMI 3)
- Native refresh rate: 120Hz
- Smart platform: Tizen Smart TV
- Color: DCI-P3 color space/10-bit chroma resolution
- Variable Refresh Rate (VRR): Yes
- Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM): Yes
- Other features: FreeSync, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Bixby, Samsung Health, Q-Symphony
The Samsung QN65Q70AAFXZA ships with Samsung’s new Eco Remote that’s fairly sleek stylish and comfortable to use. This remote is powered by a lithium-ion battery that charges itself via sunlight or USB-C on those days when you don’t want to go outside. You can always check the remote’s battery status in the TV settings menu, and the Solar Cell remote also comes with a microphone for various voice commands.
Samsung Q70A Review: Design
The Samsung Q70A is slim and beautiful, which is rather surprising for an LED-backlit LCD TV. It measures just an inch deep at the widest edge and has very thin, flat bezels around the screen that give it a sleek yet simple look. The bottom bezel is slightly wider to accommodate the physical multifunction power/input/volume button beneath it.
The TV sits on two feet fixed together to the center of the display, and while you can opt to keep it hooked to the wall, there’s an included square-shaped slab that snaps into the feet to hide their appearance. The result is a short, fine-looking pedestal that you can use to support a soundbar.
The power port is located at the back of the TV – slightly left of the center; all other connections are placed to the right edge, facing right. They include four HDMI ports, two USB ports, an Ethernet port, an optical audio output, an Ethernet port, an antenna/cable connector, and a 3.5mm EX-link port for pairing with RS-232 control systems.
On the Samsung Q70A, we’re pleased to see an HDMI 2.1 port which is great for 4K gaming at 120fps.
Here’s what you’ll find at the back of the panel:
- 3x HDMI 2.0 (1x eARC)
- 1x HDMI 2.1 (HDMI 4)
- 2x USB 2.0
- RF connection (cable/antenna)
- Ethernet (LAN) Input
- Digital audio output (optical)
Samsung Smart TV Features
Unlike the affordable competitors from Hisense and Vizio mentioned above that use third-party systems like Android TV, Fire TV, or Roku TV, Samsung uses its own TV platform, Samsung Tizen OS. This means that the QN65Q70AAFXZA is lean on third-party apps than most of those TVs, but it still gets the job done and boasts a solid selection of built-in features. Most streaming platforms are supported, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix, and YouTube among several other apps and video streaming services.
On its own, Samsun’s Tizen platform features lots of functions, too. You have access to a web browser, an Ambient mode that lets you explore art and photos at low brightness thereby saving on power. There’s also a Multi-View mode that you can use to display multiple sources on the same screen. Screen mirroring is also supported from mobile devices and PCs with Miracast/WiDi, and you can also mirror from iOS devices and Macs with Apple AirPlay.
It’s also possible to control your PC or Mac via the Easy connection apps for Windows 10 and Remote Desktop on macOS, as well as access Microsoft 365 cloud services and use supported Samsung phones as computers using Samsung Dex. However, it doesn’t support Google Cast, meaning you’ll have to use a third-party Android app to mirror non-Samsung Android phone screens. But the Q70A supports various voice assistants – Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung’s own Bixby.
Samsung Q70A Review: Image Quality
When it comes to picture quality, contrast is critical. The Samsung QN65Q70AAFXZA is a 4K TV with a native 120Hz refresh rate and supports high dynamic range (HDR) content in HDR10, HDR10+, and hybrid log gamma (HLG). However, Dolby Vision is not supported on the Samsung Q70A.
The Q70A pairs terrific and consistent black levels with better-than-average brightness. The results show fantastic contrast across all types of content, which elevates the overall picture. SDR content is like most streaming shows and over-the-air broadcasts. The Q70A averages 300 nits of brightness, which is more than enough luminance for regular videos.
On newer content mastered for High Dynamic Range (HDR), the QN65Q70AAFXZA averages between 550 and 600 nits, which while much lower than most high-end LED TVs like Samsung’s own QN90A Neo QLED (which is capable of 1,500 nits during HDR), is still enough horsepower to make a noticeable difference for this type of content. Again, not everything is mastered for HDR, but high-profile streaming shows, the latest Blu-ray releases, and lots of video games support HDR format.
Overall, for a standard LED TV with an edge-lit display, and apart from a few panel issues, the Samsung Q70A’s contrast is easily one of the most impressive aspects of its performance. The ability for the Samsung Q70A to get dark, alongside the above-average brightness makes for a picture that pops with lots of detail, even when you’re not watching HDR content.
Samsung Q70A Review: Gaming performance
The Samsung QN65Q70AAFXZA is an upper-mid-range TV, so we all expect it to load up a fair share of extras, and it does exactly that. While this TV may not be kitted out as Samsung’s high-end flagships, it still packs enough features that put it in line with what we expect from a TV at this price range – especially if you’re a gamer.
Among the Q70A’s exciting gaming credentials is support for both Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) – two most recent, game-enhancing features. ALLM optimizes the TV’s settings whenever it detects a console, and VRR ensures that gameplay remains smooth by synchronizing the frames on the screen with whatever the console is running. If you own or plan on investing in a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, the Samsung Q70A is one of the best TVs to pair with your console.
When you pair the Samsung Q70A’s gaming enhancements with its 120Hz native refresh rate, its unbridled potential as a gaming TV comes into focus. While gaming at 120fps is limited to one of the TV’s four HDMI ports, but if you’re shopping in this price range and don’t want to splurge for a higher-end TV, the Samsung QN65Q70AAFXZA has great features to get you into gameplay without spending too much.
Elsewhere, the Q70A’s motion handling is quite solid. That’s thanks to Samsung’s top-notch motion enhancement suite which offers a wide range of customization options, especially for those who want to tweak the look and feel of the motion handling on an input-by-input basis.
That said, the lack of local dimming can spell trouble in some viewing instances. Since the TV isn’t equipped with full-array local dimming, it doesn’t stack well against TVs with such hardware, and light generated by the panel can’t be allotted and controlled across several zones sitting behind the picture. Simply put, instead of several zones of adjustable LEDs carefully adjusting the contrast in real-time, the Q70A is stuck with a less versatile source of illumination and some light software dimming.
Also, it doesn’t support Dolby Vision, which is recently considered the gold standard due to its strict criteria compared to the open-source HDR10 format. Dolby Vision is essential in that it seeks to maintain a higher standard for its HDR stamp of approval, and many people feel that Dolby Vision is the best version of HDR you can currently experience as a result of this higher bar of entry.
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Samsung Q70A (QN65Q70AAFXZA) Review | Verdict
The Samsung QN65Q70AAFXZA is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to invest in a new Samsung TV but doesn’t want to spend lots of money on the company’s top-tier flagship models, like the Samsung QN90A Neo QLED. The Q70A offers better performance than the Q60A, but it isn’t as impressive as the Samsung Q80A, especially when it comes to brightness. More importantly, the Samsung Q70A feels appropriately priced for the feature set, especially now that the prices for these models are coming down this season.
On the other hand, if you’re not married to Samsung branded models, I’d also recommend you step outside the Samsung lineup for a moment and consider some of the alternatives. For instance, the Hisense U8G and the Vizio P-Series Quantum are excellent alternatives, which, while costing a little less and don’t offer as many size options, tend to offer better color production, they get much brighter than the Q70A, and both models feature comparable sets of gaming enhancements.
Should you buy the Samsung Q70A?
If you want unbridled gaming performance on a TV, the Samsung Q70A is an excellent choice. Otherwise, both the Hisense U8G and the TCL 6-Series (2022) will set you back much less than the Samsung, but they offer much higher contrast with wide colors. And, if you have the money to spend on a top-tier TV with even more gaming features (specifically Nvidia G-Sync in addition to AMD FreeSync), the LG C1 OLED gets better than most.
Still, the Samsung Q70A (QN65Q70AAFXZA) does precisely what it needs to do given its price and place in the Samsung lineup, and other than the lack of local dimming and Dolby Vision, it remains a great option, especially if you’re upgrading from an older, lesser TV. Still, it’s worth taking a few minutes to explore the competition mentioned above. There are some forward-looking, value-forward options in this price range.
The Review
Samsung Q70A
The Samsung Q70A (QN55Q70AAFXZA/QN65Q70AAFXZA) lineup delivers the bold and punchy HDR you’d ever want from a QLED TV, all at a great price. A robust smart platform and cutting-edge features complete what’s a fantastic overall package.
Recommended Configuration
SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class QLED Q70A Series - 4K UHD Quantum HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (QN65Q70AAFXZA)
1 used from $877.95
PROS
- Excellent picture quality
- Great HDR performance
- ALLM and VRR
- Impressive contrast
CONS
- No Dolby Vision
- No local dimming
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
Last update on 2025-01-02 at 05:36 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
