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LG QNED90 is the top model of LG’s 2021 4K LED TV lineup while the Samsung is also the top model of Samsung’s 2021 4K LED TV lineup. Although they come with different panel technology (QN90A uses VA panel and QNED90 use IPS panel), but they both use mini LED as the light source of their backlight. Both of them are the first TV of each of their manufactured that use mini LED as their backlight. As we have known, the use of mini LED backlight can significantly improve the brightness level of the TV. So, this can be ascertained that they both can get very bright in SDR and HDR.

Although they use different panel technology, but overall, they both are great TVs for mixed usage. As we have known, the TV that use VA panel usually have poor side viewing angle. But even so, with an antiglare optical layer called “Ultra Viewing Angle”, the Samsung QN90A has good side viewing angle coverage, rivaling many TVs with IPS panel. On the other hand, a TV with IPS panel usually has low contrast ratio. But combination of the mini LED backlight and great local dimming makes the QNED90 has good contrast ratio, rivaling many TVs with VA panel. In addition contrast ratio and viewing angle, they both also have great performance in handling motion, low native contrast ratio, bright peak brightness, low input lags, and also great Smart TV platform. So, whether you use them for watching movies in a dark room, sports or TV Shows in bright room, HDR content, or playing video games, their performance is equally great.

In the market, the LG QNED90 comes in 3 screen size variants only including 65 inches (65QNED90UPA), 75 inches (75QNED90UPA), and 86 inches (86QNED90UPA). On the other hand, the Samsung Q90A comes in many more screen sizes variants including 43 inches (QN43A90AAFXZA), 50 inches (QN50A90AAFXZA), 55 inches (QN55A90AAFXZA), 65 inches (QN65A90AAFXZA), 75 inches (QN75A90AAFXZA), and 85 inches (QN85A90AAFXZA). And with the same screen size (65QNED90UPA vs QN65QN90A, 75QNED90UPA vs QN75QN90A, 86QNED90UPA vs QN85QN90A) the Samsung QN90A is sold a bit more expensive than the LG QNED90. So, which TV is superior and a better choice?

LG QNED90 vs Samsung QN90A Side by Side Comparison

LG QNED90 vs Samsung Q90A Specification

Contrast Ratio

As we have known, a TV that uses IPS panel usually has low native contrast ratio. This also applies to the QNED90. Its native contrast ratio is only around 1100:1. Nevertheless, as we have mentioned above, the use of mini LED backlight and combined to its great local dimming feature is able to improve its contrast ratio significantly, this is around 6000:1. Its contrast ratio with local dimming is even the best ever on IPS panel, rivaling many TVs with VA panel. The result, with local dimming enable, it can produce deep black. Even if it is set in a dark room, black of images still looks really black instead of gray usually seen on IPS TV.

On the other hand, with an antiglare optical layer called “Ultra Viewing Angle”, native contrast ratio of the Samsung QN90A is relatively lower than conventional VA TVs, which is around 3500:1. But even so, it has great local dimming feature that can significantly improve its contrast ratio to around 26000:1. This is a LED TV with the highest contrast ratio. The result, black produced by the QN90A is extremely deep, close to what produced by OLED TV.

Winner: QN90A

Local Dimming Performance

Both of the LG QNED90 and Samsung QN90A have good local dimming performance. In improving contrast, local dimming of the QN90A is able to improve its native contrast ratio from around 3500:1 to around 26000:1. On the other hand, local dimming of the QNED90 is able to improve its native contrast ratio from around 1000:1 to around 6000:1. So, although their native contrast ratio is actually relative low, but with their local dimming, they both still can produce deep black. But unfortunately, in minimizing blooming, it is not so great. Although their dimming zone is relatively small, but there is still some blooming around bright object in a dark scene like subtitles in movies. Additionally, their local dimming algorithm also slightly crushes black.  But in general, their local dimming is good. Meanwhile, compare between them, local dimming of the QN90A is a bit better than the QNED90, whether in improving contrast or minimizing blooming.

Winner: QN90A

SDR Peak Brightness

The use of mini LED backlight makes them have great SDR peak brightness. With real content, the Samsung QN90A can get around 1400 nits while the LG QNED90 can get around 525 nits. With white window test, both of them get their highest peak brightness on 25% white window where the LG QNED90 gets around 870 nits while the QN90A gets around 1440 nits. Meanwhile, on 2%, 10%, 50%, and 100% white window, the QNED90 gets about 660 nits, 840 nits, 680 nits, and 570 nits while the QN90A gets around 1220 nits, 1430 nits, 1200 nits, and 690 nits. Although peak brightness of the QNED90 is not as bright as the QN90A, its peak brightness is bright enough to easily combat the glare in a bright room. But a bit unfortunately, its reflection handling is only decent. So, despite it has good SDR peak brightness, place it opposite window should be avoided. On the other hand, the SDR peak brightness of the QN90A is outstanding. That is not only that, it also has fantastic reflection handling. So, even if you set it in a bright room with a lot of lights or external lights, it can well handle the light, making the picture displayed on its screen still look obvious.

Winner: QN90A

HDR Peak Brightness

The Samsung QN90A also has much brighter HDR peak brightness than the LG QNED90. With real content, the QN90A can get about 1800 nits while the QNED90 get half, which is about 860 nits. But even so, just like other LED TV with local dimming, their peak brightness varies depending on content. They both get their highest HDR peak brightness on 25% white window where the QN90A gets around 1600 nits while the QNED90 gets around 1020 nits. Meanwhile, on 2%, 10%, 50%, and 100% white window, the QN90A gets about 1540 nits, 1560 nits, 1200 nits, and 760 nits while the QNED90 gets about 790 nits, 990 nits, 800 nits, and 675 nits. This means, HDR peak brightness of the QN90A is very impressive. Almost all content can be shown at brighter than 1000 nits, allowing you to enjoy true cinematic HDR experience like the content creator intended. On the other hand, HDR peak brightness of the QNED90 may be not as bright as the QN90A. But it is still bright enough to make highlight pops the way they should. In certain scene, it even can show highlight ay about 1000 nits, which means it is great.

Winner: QN90A

Color Gamut and Color Volume

For delivering wide color gamut, both of the LG QNED90 and Samsung QN90A use quantum dot technology. The result, they both have great color gamut. In DCI P3, the QN90A can cover about 95% of both uv and xy color space while the QNED90A can cover around 94 % of xy color space and around 97% of uv color space. This certainly is great for HDR content that mastered in DCI P3 like HDR10 content. Meanwhile, in Rec.2020 color space, their color coverage is also good where in xy and uv color space, the QN90A is able to cover around 71% and 76% while the QNED90 is able to cover around 71% and 77%.  While the QNED90 has a bit wider color gamut, its color volume is not as good as the QN90A. This is caused the QN90A can produce deep dark shades of colors due its deeper black. Additionally, at the top, the QN90A also can produce better very bright colors. But even so, in general, they have great color reproduction and can show their wide color gamut at their entire brightness range.

Winner: QN90A

Color Gradient

While the QN90A has better color volume, the LG QNED90 has better color gradient. On the screen of the QN90A, there is a bit little banding in almost all shades of colors, especially in reds and green. On the other hand, although on the screen of the LG QNED90, there is also still some little banding in almost all shades of colors, but it is not as much as on the QN90A. But even so, their color gradient is actually equally great and banding should not be noticed in normal content. But even so, if you feel that the banding still bother you, they both have a feature that can remove banding. On the QNED90, you can set “Smooth Gradation” to “Medium” or “High” while on the QN90A, you can enable “Noise Reduction” But keep in mind, enabling this feature may   be able to cause some lose of fine details.

Winner: QNED90

Black and Gray Uniformity

The Samsung QN90A also has better black uniformity than the LG QNED90. When showing darks scene with white cross line at the center, without local dimming enabled, its screen looks very cloudy. Along each edge, there are also signs of backlight bleed. Fortunately, once its local dimming is enabled, its black uniformity is much better. The screen looks very dark but around white cross line at the center, there is still little blooming. On the other hand, black uniformity of the Samsung QN90A is much better. With local dimming disabled, its screen may be look blue-ish and there is still a bit clouding. But with local dimming enable, its black uniformity is much better and there is only a little blooming around white cross line at the center, less than on the screen of the QNED90.

In addition has better black uniformity, the QN90A also has better gray uniformity. When showing throughout screen is gray, on the screen of QNED90, there is a bit of dirty screen effect at the center and the sides of the screen looks a bit darker than at the center. Meanwhile, on the screen of the QN90A, the edges of the screen also look a bit darker than the rest and there is also a bit dirty screen effect at the center.  But even so, the darker of the screen, their uniformity is much improved.

Winner: QN90A

Side Viewing Angle

As we have known, the use of anti glare optical layer called “Ultra Viewing Angle” may make the Samsung QN90A have good viewing angle coverage, but it is still not as good as the QNED90 that uses IPS panel, particularly in maintaining color reproduction. They both may be able to maintain black level from degradation up to 70 degrees off center and front. So, when you watching TVs from the side, black of images look very deep.  A bit advantage of the QN90A is that it can maintain brightness from degradation wider. Its brightness just start to degrade started at around 45 degrees, while on the screen of the QNED90A, its brightness level will start to degrade at around 35 degrees off center. But even so, in maintaining color accuracy, the QNED90 is much better. On the screen of the QN90A, color just start to shift at around 70 degrees and looks washed-out started at around 35 degrees. Meanwhile on the screen of the QN90A, colors will start to shift at around 50 degrees off center and looks washed started at around 25 degrees off center. Ignoring the superiority of the QNED90, they both have good side viewing angle coverage, making them are good TVS for you who have wide seating arrangements for watching TV.

Winner: QNED90

Motion Handling

The Samsung QN90A has lower pixel response time than the LG QNED90. If the pixel response time of the QN90A is about 9 ms, pixel response time of the QNED90 is about 14 ms. Nevertheless, ignoring their difference, their response time is equally low enough to make motion looks clearly and smoothly on their screen. When showing fast paced images like sports or video games, the picture displayed on their screen looks clear with almost no motion blur. There may be still a short ghosting trail following fast moving object, but this should not be noticeable for most people. Blur that may be visible is more caused by persistence than response time. With lower pixel response time, motion may look smoother on the screen of the QN90A than QNED90. However, the lower response time makes low frame rate content like 24p movies appears to more stutter. This means, when they are showing fast paced images of 24p movies, motion looks more stutter on the screen of the QN90A than on the screen of QNED90. But even so, this can be solved easily by enabling their BFI or Motion Interpolation.

Just like most LED TVs with local dimming, to dim its backlight, the Samsung QN90A uses PWM dimming system and its dimming frequency is depending on the picture setting. The highest possible of its dimming frequency is 960 Hz, high enough to make flicker is not noticeable. But even so, its dimming frequency will drop to 120 Hz when its picture setting is set to “Dynamic”, Natural”, “Standard”, or “FilmMaker”. Additionally, enabling “Picture Clarity” or “Game Mode” also makes its dimming frequency drops to 120 Hz. Furthermore, when you enabling “LED Clear Motion” in the “Picture Clarity” menu, its dimming frequency will further drop to 60 Hz. This can help to remove persistence blur, making motion looks smoother on its screen.

On the other hand, unlike most LED TVs, to dim its backlight, the QNED90 doesn’t use PWM dimming system.  This certainly makes its screen is flicker-free, which means it is great. But even so, in certain scene, flicker is required to remove persistence blur especially that matches to the frame rate of content. For this case, the QNED90 has an optional BFI mode that can help to improve its motion appearance. But even so, unlike the QN90A that can flicker a both 60 Hz and 120 Hz, the QNED90 can only flicker at 60 Hz.  This is very helpful to improve motion appearance, especially when playing 60 fps content like sports. Fortunately, it doesn’t support 120 Hz BFI, so when it is playing 120 fps content, its BFI is not too effective in reducing persistence blur.

Basically both of them have native 120 Hz refresh rate panel. This allows them can play any content with native frame rate of 120 Hz or interpolate low frame rate content up to 120 Hz. Additionally, they both also already supports VRR Technology (Variable Refresh Rate).  No matter the resolution, its VRR can range between 20 Hz to 120 Hz. Additionally, its VRR technology also supports most of gaming features like AMD FreeSync, NVidia GSync, and HDMI Forum VRR. As we have known, VRR technology can improve its gaming experience.

Both of the Samsung QN90A and LG QNED90 can also do a great job in handling 24p movies. Regardless the source, whether it is native 24p movies like DVD or Blu-Ray movies, movies via native apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc, movies via 60i signal like movies from satellite TV, or via 60p signal like movies from streaming devices, you can enjoy them with judder-free. But as we have mentioned above, since they have low pixel response time, especially the QN90A, movies may appears to stutter. You must enabling its motion interpolation or BFI mode if you feel image stuttering bother you.

Winner: QN90A

Inputs

As their major connectivity, both of the LG QNED90 and Samsung QN90A are equipped with 4 HDMI ports. All of their HDMI ports already support HDMI 2.0 full bandwidth, HDCP 2.2, CEC, and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). Additionally, one of their HDMI ports also already supports ARC and eARC (HDMI3 on both). Until here, their ability is similar. That makes them different is about the support of HDMI 2.1. THE QNED90 has 2 HDMI 2.1 (HDMI 3 and 4) while the QN90A only has 1 HDMI port (HDMI 4). Although their HDMI 2.1 is not full bandwidth and only have bandwidth of 40 Gbps, but it is wide enough to cover HFR content that cannot be covered by HDMI 2.0. Fortunately, QN90A only has 1 HDMI 2.1 where this may be disappointing if you want to connect more than HDMI 2.1 device. On the other hand, although the QNED90 has 2 HDMI 2.1 but one of them is on HDMI 3 that can be also functioned as HDMI ARC. So, when you use it as HDMI ARC, there is only 1 HDMI 2.1 left.

While they have the same number of HDMI ports, the LG QNED90 has one more USB ports than the QN90A. As we see on comparison table above, the QN90A has 2 USB ports while the QNED90 has 3 USB ports. But even so, none of their USB ports is USB 3.0. In addition USB and HDMI ports, they both also have 1 RF In (Tuner in), 1 Digital Audio Out (optical), and 1 Ethernet port. Additionally, they both also have built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to other device or internet wirelessly.

The Samsung QN90A has a bit lower input lags in Game Mode than the LG QNED90A, especially with 60 Hz content. With 60 Hz content, regardless the resolution, input lags of the Samsung QN90A is about 10 ms while the QNED90 is about 14 ms.  Additionally, with 120 fps content, input lags of the QN90A in Game Mode is about 6 ms while the QNED90 is about 5 ms. But even so, ignoring their difference, their input lags is equally low enough to play any game responsively. And although the QN90A has lower input lags, but the impact that caused is not too significant.

Winner: QN90A

Smart TV Platform

As their smart TV platform, the Samsung QN90A runs the newest version of Tizen OS, which is 2021 version while the QNED90A also runs the newest version of WebOS, which is 6.1 WebOS. Both of these platforms have interactive interface and are equally easy to use. Additionally, both of these platforms also have great selection of Apps. In addition a lot of pre-installed apps, you can also download tons of apps and streaming provided by their apps store, Samsung Apps store for the QN90A or LG’s apps store for the QNED90. That is not only that, both of them also have built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Home, so, when you want to use this feature, you don’t need to buy its learning machine separately. Their platform also comes with AI algorithm. If the Samsung QN90A has Samsung Bixby and SmartThing, the LG QNED90 has LG ThinQ AI and Home Screen. Additionally, they both also already support some Apple Apps like Apple Air play for casting, Apple Siri, etc. Overall, both of them are great Smart TV with a lot of smart features.

As their controller, the Samsung QN90A comes with Samsung Smart Controller while the LG QNED90 comes with new models of LG’s magic remote. If the remote of the Samsung is small and only has few buttons, the remote of the QNED90 is large and has a lot of buttons. But even so, they both have built-in microphone for voice command and some dedicated buttons for accessing certain apps directly. If the remote of LG has 4 dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and LG TV plus, the remote of QN90A has 3 dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus. Both of them also can act as universal remote, allowing you to control some basic function of other deices connected on your TV, even if they are not support HDMI CEC. The advantage of the LG remote is that it has clickable scroll wheel and point and click feature, give you more option to navigate.

Winner: QNED90

LG QNED90 vs Samsung QN90A Performance

Movies

The Samsung QN90A is better than the LG QNED90 when used for watching movies in a dark room. This is caused the QN90A can produce deeper black and has better local dimming performance and black uniformity than the QNED90. On the other hand, although not as good as QN90A, performance of the QNED90A is also great for watching movies in a dark room and it is surprised for the TV with IPS panel. As we have known, since IPS TVs usually have low native contrast ratio and poor black uniformity, they are not ideal TV for a dark room. But even so, this doesn’t apply to the QNED90. Despite it ahs low native contrast ratio, but It has good local dimming feature that can improve its contrast ratio, allowing it can produce deep black.  But unfortunately, its black uniformity is not so good and this is caused its performance is not as good as the QN90A, in addition its contrast ratio is also not as high as the QN90A.

Except what influenced by their contrast and black uniformity, their performance is not much different. They both have good motion handling and support BFI mode, allowing you to watch fast action movies smoothly and clearly. Additionally, they also can do a great job in handling judder, allowing you to watch movies with judder-free, regardless the source. Their low pixel response time may cause movies appears to stutter, but this should not be a serious problem since it can be solved easily by enabling their motion interpolation or BFI mode. Overall, Samsung QN90A is better when used for watching movies in a dark room, but performance of the QNED90 can be also said great.

Winner: QN90A

Sports

Both of these LG QNED90 and Samsung QN90A are also great TVs for watching sports in a bright room. But even so, the QN90A is still better than the QNED90. This is caused the QN90A has brighter SDR peak brightness and better reflection handling, so in a very bright room with a lot of lights, the picture displayed on the screen of the QN90A will look more obvious than QNED90A. Additionally, the QN90A also has a bit better motion handling, making fast sports looks slightly smoother and clearly with less blur than on the screen of the QNED90. The advantage of the QNED90 is that it has better side viewing angle coverage, so when you watch a big game with a group of your family or friend, some of you may get better viewing with QNED90 than QN90A, especially who sits on the edge.

Ignoring the superiority of the QN90A, overall, both of them are great TVs for watching sports. In addition have good picture quality, they have good motion handling. Combination of their low pixel response time and BFI mode lets you to watch fast sports clearly and smoothly without a lot of noticeable blur. Additionally, combination of their SDR peak brightness and reflection handling also lets you to watch sports in most bright rooms obviously without distracting by the glare. That is not only that, their good gray uniformity lets you to watch sports without a lot of dirty screen effect. And their wide side viewing angle ensure all of you to get the best viewing when you watch a big game with a group of you family.

Winner: QN90A

Video Games

Both of them are also great TVs for gaming. Combination of their good picture quality and good motion handling allows you to play any fast game with excellent and smooth picture quality. They also have low input lags in any frame rate. So, no matter you play 60 fps games, 120 fps games, or in VRR mode, they allow you to play any games responsively. Meanwhile, for improving your gaming experience, they both also support VRR technology that compatible with some gaming features like FreeSync, GSync, and HDMI Forum VRR. This allows you to play any games without any screen tearing effect, especially with a compatible game console. The support of HDMI 2.1 also allows you to play high quality content that supported by modern games console. And the support of ALLM mode makes them can automatically switch to low latency mode once there is a signal form a game console.

Meanwhile, compare between them, the QN90A is a bit better. In addition it has a bit better motion handling that makes fast games looks slightly smoother on its screen, it also has lower input lags in any frame rate games, and making any games feel more responsive with QN90A than QNED90.

Winner: QN90A

HDR Performance

Actually, both of these premium TVs are also have great HDR performance. Black produce by them is dark enough to show shadow details of HDR images excellently without a lot of crushed black. Additionally, they both also have good HDR peak brightness and bright enough to make highlights of HDR images pops the way they should be. That is not only that, they also have good color reproduction and color volume, allowing you to watch HDR images with vibrant color like the expected.

Meanwhile, compare between them, the Samsung QN90A is still better than the LG QNED90.  Its deeper black and better black uniformity makes it can show shadow details of HDR images better with less crushed black than the QN90A. Additionally, they may be able to produce wide color gamut and in general, the QNED90A can produce a bit wider color gamut than the QN90A, but the QN90A has better color volume, especially in deep, dark colors and very bright colors. So, when showing darker color, the QN90A can do a better job. On the other hand, the LG QNED90A has a bit better color gradient, allowing you to watch HDR image with less banding than the QN90A. Additionally, their HDR peak brightness may be equally bright enough to make highlights of HDR images pop, but for this case, the QN90A has much brighter HDR peak brightness.  So, highlights will look more standout on its screen than on the screen of the QNED90.

Winner: QN90A

Conclusion

Overall, both of the Samsung QN90A and LG QNED90 are great TVS for mixed usage. Although they use different panel technology, their performance is equally great. No matter you use them for watching movies in a dark room, sports in a bright room with a group of your family or friend, playing any game, and watching HDR content, they will please you. But even so, as we have discussed above, the QN90A is better than the QNED90 overall. The advantage of the QN90A is that it has better contrast ratio, better black uniformity, lower response time, lower input lags, etc. On the other hand, the advantage of the QNED90 is that it has better side viewing angle coverage and color gradient.

So, which is a better choice among them? The decision certainly comes back to you according to your preferences. If you often watch TV with a group of your family or friend, the QNED90 is certainly better for you. But even so, if you want a TV with better contrast ratio and can get brighter, the QN90A is better. But keep in mind, with the same screen size (65QNED90UPA vs QN65QN90A, 75QNED90UPA vs QN75QN90A, 86QNED90UPA vs QN85QN90A), in the market, the Samsung QN90A is sold more expensive than the QNED90.