The Samsung Q65C is a remarkable addition to the QLED TV lineup, offering cutting-edge technology, stunning picture quality, and smart features that enhance the viewing experience. This 4K HDR Smart TV is designed to deliver vivid colors, deep contrast, and exceptional clarity, making it a top choice for home entertainment enthusiasts. This review will delve into the technology, features, design, picture quality, and sound quality of the Samsung Q65C.
Technology
Samsung has integrated its most advanced technologies into the Q65C to provide users with an outstanding viewing experience. The QLED technology stands out as one of the most crucial advancements in TV technology. It uses Quantum Dots to enhance color reproduction significantly, resulting in more accurate and vibrant colors compared to conventional LED TVs. This technology enables the Q65C to achieve a wider color gamut, better brightness levels, and higher contrast ratios.
Features
Quantum HDR Technology: The Samsung Q65C incorporates Quantum HDR technology, allowing it to deliver a broader range of brightness and contrast. This technology optimizes every scene, displaying dark and bright areas with remarkable detail.
Smart TV Capabilities: With its built-in Smart Hub, the Q65C lets users access popular streaming services, apps, and games directly from the TV. It also supports voice control through virtual assistants like Bixby, Alexa, or Google Assistant, providing convenient hands-free navigation.
One Remote Control: Samsung’s One Remote Control allows users to control the TV and other connected devices. This eliminates the need for multiple remotes, simplifying the overall entertainment experience.
Ambient Mode: When not used, the Q65C can blend seamlessly into its surroundings by displaying images, artwork or even matching the wall pattern. This feature adds an aesthetic touch to your living space.
Design
The Samsung Q65C boasts a sleek, modern design that complements any living room setup. Its slim profile and slim bezels maximize the screen real estate, offering an immersive viewing experience. The TV can be mounted on the wall or placed on a stand, allowing for flexible placement options. The overall build quality is sturdy, exuding a premium feel.
Picture Quality
The picture quality of the Samsung Q65C is nothing short of exceptional. The QLED technology brings out the best colors, resulting in vibrant and lifelike images. The Quantum HDR technology enhances contrast and brightness, making HDR content truly captivating. Whether watching a high-octane action movie or a nature documentary, the Q65C impresses with its detailed and realistic visuals.
The TV’s 4K resolution ensures sharpness and clarity, even in fast-paced scenes. Thanks to the TV’s powerful upscaling capabilities, even non-4K content looks better on this display. The Q65C also performs well in handling motion, reducing blur and judder during fast movements.
Sound Quality
While the Samsung Q65C excels in picture quality, the sound quality must improve. The TV features downward-firing speakers that deliver decent audio but may lack the depth and richness that audiophiles desire. The audio quality is adequate for everyday viewing, but for a more immersive experience, it’s recommended to invest in a separate soundbar or home theater system.
Remote Control
The Samsung Q65C comes with a sleek and user-friendly remote control. The One Remote Control is designed to simplify the user experience by eliminating the need for multiple remotes. With this smart remote, you can control the TV and other connected devices like a Blu-ray player or a soundbar. Its minimalistic design features a few essential buttons, making navigating through the TV’s functions easy.
The remote control also includes a dedicated voice control button, allowing users to interact with the TV through voice commands. This feature comes in handy when searching for content, adjusting settings, or launching apps. The voice recognition is generally accurate, providing a convenient hands-free experience.
Connectivity Options
The Samsung Q65C offers an array of connectivity options, ensuring seamless integration with various external devices. It includes multiple HDMI ports, USB ports, and an Ethernet port. The HDMI ports support the latest HDMI 2.1 standard, making the TV compatible with advanced gaming consoles and other high-bandwidth devices. Additionally, HDMI 2.1 allows for features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), enhancing the gaming experience (discussed later in the review).
The USB ports enable easy access to multimedia files stored on external drives, allowing users to enjoy their favorite content effortlessly. The Ethernet port provides a stable and fast internet connection for smooth streaming and browsing.
Furthermore, the Q65C comes equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling wireless access to the internet and seamless integration with compatible smart devices in your home network.
Compatibility
The Samsung Q65C is highly compatible with various devices and operating systems. It supports popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube, offering a wide range of entertainment options. The TV also supports audio and video formats, ensuring compatibility with diverse media sources.
For those invested in the Samsung ecosystem, the Q65C seamlessly integrates with other Samsung devices, such as smartphones and tablets. This allows for easy screen mirroring and content sharing, enhancing the overall user experience.
Smart Features
The Samsung Q65C is equipped with an array of smart features that make it a versatile and connected entertainment hub.
Smart Hub: The Smart Hub is the central interface for accessing all of the TV’s smart features. It provides a user-friendly layout with easy-to-navigate tiles for various apps, inputs, and settings. The Smart Hub can be customized, allowing users to organize their favorite apps and sources for quick access.
Voice Control: As mentioned earlier, the Q65C’s remote control includes a voice control feature, enabling users to control the TV and search for content using voice commands. This hands-free functionality enhances convenience and accessibility.
Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant: The TV is compatible with popular virtual assistants like Bixby, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Users can choose their preferred virtual assistant to control the TV and perform various tasks, such as adjusting the volume, changing channels, or searching for content.
App Store
The Samsung Q65C comes with its app store, offering a wide selection of applications and games. The app store includes popular streaming services, social media platforms, news apps, and more. While the app store may not have as extensive a selection as dedicated streaming devices, it covers the essentials for most users’ needs.
Additionally, the TV’s compatibility with the Google Play Store allows users to access a broader range of Android-based applications, further expanding the content options available on the Q65C.
Gaming Experience
The Samsung Q65C is an excellent choice for gamers, thanks to its high refresh rate and low input lag. The HDMI 2.1 ports support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). VRR helps reduce screen tearing and stuttering, ensuring a smoother gaming experience, while ALLM automatically switches the TV to its lowest input lag mode when a gaming console is detected.
Additionally, the Q65C’s fast response time reduces motion blur, providing clear and fluid visuals during fast-paced gaming sessions. The TV’s 4K resolution and HDR capabilities enhance the gaming experience, offering crisp details and vibrant colors.
Viewing Angle
One potential drawback of the Samsung Q65C is its limited viewing angle. Like most QLED TVs, the picture quality remains excellent when viewed from the front and center. However, the image may lose some color accuracy and contrast when viewed from an angle. This issue is common in LCD-based displays, and the Q65C is no exception. Therefore, it is essential to position the TV to maximize the viewing experience for everyone in the room.
Voice Control
The Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV incorporates advanced voice control technology, adding convenience and interactivity to the user experience. With its built-in virtual assistant, Bixby, users can easily control the TV and access various features using simple voice commands. The voice control functionality allows users to change channels, adjust volume, search for content, and even interact with connected smart devices in their homes.
Bixby is known for its reliable voice recognition and natural language processing capabilities, making it easy for users to communicate with the TV naturally. Additionally, the Q65C is compatible with other popular virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing users to choose their preferred assistant based on their existing smart ecosystem.
Input Ports
The Samsung Q65C comes equipped with a variety of input ports, offering extensive connectivity options to accommodate various external devices. It features multiple HDMI, USB, and legacy ports like component and composite inputs.
The HDMI ports connect modern devices such as gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices. It’s worth noting that the Q65C supports the HDMI 2.1 standard, which unlocks advanced features like High Frame Rate (HFR) support and enhanced gaming capabilities like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM).
The USB ports enable easy access to multimedia files stored on external storage devices, such as USB drives or hard drives. This feature allows users to view photos, videos and listen to music directly on the TV without additional media players.
Wall Mount Compatibility
For users who prefer wall-mounting their TVs, the Samsung Q65C offers excellent wall-mount compatibility. The TV is designed with a slim profile and a VESA-compatible mount, ensuring easy and secure installation on various wall brackets. The slim bezels around the display maximize the screen real estate and enhance the aesthetics when mounted on the wall.
Additionally, the TV comes with clear instructions and a wall-mount template to simplify the installation process. This attention to detail ensures a hassle-free wall-mounting experience, making it an attractive option for those seeking to save space or achieve a cleaner, modern look in their living room.
Calibration
The Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV provides several calibration options, allowing users to fine-tune the picture settings according to their preferences and viewing environment. The TV offers pre-set picture modes like Standard, Movie, and Game, each optimized for specific content types. Users can manually adjust brightness, contrast, color temperature, and sharpness to achieve the desired picture quality.
The Q65C supports advanced calibration tools via its service menu for those seeking a more professional calibration. However, it’s essential to note that accessing the service menu requires technical knowledge and may void the TV’s warranty if done improperly.
Samsung also provides calibration guides and recommendations for the Q65C on its website, making it easier for users to achieve the best picture quality without needing advanced calibration equipment.
Software Updates
Samsung is known for its commitment to providing software updates and improving the user experience for its TVs. The Q65C benefits from regular firmware updates introducing new features, enhancing performance, and fixing bugs or issues users report.
The TV’s smart platform automatically checks for updates when connected to the internet, ensuring that users stay up-to-date with the latest software improvements. Software updates are delivered over-the-air (OTA), so users can easily update their TVs without manual intervention.
The consistent software support ensures that the Q65C remains relevant and capable of handling new technologies and content formats that may emerge.
In The Box
The Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV has a comprehensive set of accessories, making it easy for users to set up and enjoy their new TV.
Typically, the box includes the following items:
Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV unit
One Remote Control with batteries
Power cable
User manual and quick setup guide
Wall-mounting template and screws (if wall-mount compatible)
Stand and stand screws (if not wall-mounted)
Samsung ensures that all essential components are included, making the users’ unboxing and setup process straightforward.
Warranty
The Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV comes with a standard manufacturer’s warranty covering a specified period to protect against manufacturing defects and malfunctions. The warranty duration can vary depending on the region and country of purchase, but it is typically one to two years.
During the warranty period, Samsung offers free repair services and parts replacement if any issues arise that are covered under the warranty terms. It is essential to read and understand the warranty documentation provided with the TV to be aware of the coverage and any specific conditions that may apply.
Samsung’s reputation for quality and customer service makes its warranty coverage reassuring for buyers, providing confidence in the product’s reliability.
VS Other Brands
Comparing the Samsung Q65C with other brands’ offerings in the QLED TV market reveals some key differentiators:
Picture Quality: Samsung’s QLED technology is renowned for its vibrant colors and excellent brightness levels, resulting in impressive picture quality. When compared to some OLED TVs, the Q65C may have a slight advantage in brightness and color accuracy, particularly in brightly lit rooms.
Price: Samsung QLED TVs tend to be competitively priced compared to premium OLED TVs, making them an attractive option for those seeking high-quality visuals without breaking the bank.
Burn-in Risk: Unlike OLED TVs, QLED TVs, including the Q65C, do not suffer from burn-in issues. This makes them a preferred choice for users who watch static images or play video games for extended periods.
Viewing Angle: OLED TVs typically have better-viewing angles than QLED TVs, meaning the picture quality remains consistent even when viewed from off-center positions. However, the Q65C’s viewing angles are still decent and suitable for most living room setups.
Overall, the Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV competes well with other brands, offering a compelling package of picture quality, features, and price.
Value for Money
The Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV offers excellent value for money. Its combination of QLED technology, vibrant 4K HDR picture quality, and smart features make it a top-performing TV in its price range. Users can enjoy immersive and lifelike visuals while benefiting from the convenience of the built-in smart platform.
The TV’s compatibility with voice control and multiple virtual assistants further enhances its value, providing users with a seamless and interactive experience. Additionally, the TV’s gaming capabilities, including HDMI 2.1 support and low input lag, make it an excellent choice for gaming enthusiasts.
Considering the overall performance, build quality, and brand reputation, the Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV is a solid investment that delivers exceptional value for the price.
Size Options
The Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV is available in a range of size options to accommodate different room sizes and user preferences. The most common size options include:
55 inches: Ideal for smaller living rooms or bedrooms, offering a balanced combination of screen real estate and space-saving design.
65 inches: A popular size choice for many households, providing a larger, manageable display for average-sized living rooms.
75 inches: Suitable for larger living rooms or home theater setups, offering an immersive viewing experience for movie enthusiasts and sports fans.
Various size options ensure that users can find the perfect fit for their entertainment needs and room dimensions.
4K Resolution
The Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV boasts a 4K resolution, which translates to a pixel count of 3840×2160. This resolution provides four times the number of pixels compared to a Full HD (1080p) TV, resulting in incredibly sharp and detailed images. The increased pixel density delivers enhanced clarity, making it possible to sit closer to the TV without experiencing pixelation or loss of detail.
4K content is becoming increasingly prevalent, with streaming services, Blu-ray discs, and gaming consoles offering a wide selection of 4K-compatible media. The Q65C’s ability to display content in 4K ensures that users can take full advantage of high-resolution content and experience stunning visuals.
8K Resolution
As of this review, the Samsung Q65C is a 4K TV with no 8K resolution. However, it’s worth mentioning that Samsung offers separate 8K QLED TVs for those seeking a higher level of picture detail and resolution.
8K TVs offer four times the resolution of 4K TVs, resulting in an astounding pixel count of 7680×4320. While 8K content is still limited, these TVs use advanced upscaling technology to enhance the quality of lower-resolution content and provide a more immersive viewing experience.
For users interested in future-proofing their investment and staying at the forefront of display technology, Samsung’s 8K QLED TVs may be a compelling option. However, they generally cost more than their 4K counterparts.
HDR Technology
High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology is a crucial feature of the Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV, enhancing the viewing experience by delivering improved contrast, brightness, and a wider range of colors. HDR content contains more significant details in dark and bright areas, resulting in more realistic and lifelike images.
The Q65C supports multiple HDR formats, including HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), ensuring compatibility with a wide range of HDR content from various sources. HDR10+ takes HDR to the next level by offering dynamic metadata, allowing the TV to adjust the HDR tone mapping scene-by-scene, providing more accurate and precise HDR reproduction.
With HDR content becoming increasingly prevalent on streaming platforms, Blu-ray discs, and gaming consoles, the Q65C’s HDR technology ensures that users enjoy a more immersive and engaging entertainment experience.
OLED Technology
It’s important to note that the Samsung Q65C is a QLED TV, not an OLED one. OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology is a different display technology employed by some TV manufacturers, including LG. OLED TVs use organic compounds that emit light when an electric current is applied, allowing each pixel to produce its light independently. This enables OLED TVs to achieve perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratios, as each pixel can turn off completely in dark scenes.
While OLED technology offers remarkable picture quality, the Samsung Q65C utilizes QLED technology, which is Samsung’s proprietary display technology.
MicroLED Technology
As of the time of this review, the Samsung Q65C is a QLED TV and not a MicroLED TV. MicroLED technology is an emerging display technology that offers several advantages, including self-emissive properties like OLED while avoiding OLED’s potential burn-in issues.
MicroLED TVs use tiny LEDs to create individual pixels, offering greater control over brightness and contrast. Moreover, MicroLED displays are modular, allowing users to customize the size and shape of their TV screens by adding or removing MicroLED panels. This flexibility makes MicroLED technology an exciting prospect for the future of television displays.
While MicroLED TVs are not available in the Q65C’s product range, Samsung offers MicroLED TVs in their premium lineup for those seeking the latest advancements in display technology.
QLED Technology
The Samsung Q65C is a QLED TV for Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode. QLED technology utilizes Quantum Dots, tiny semiconductor particles that emit light when illuminated by a backlight. These Quantum Dots enable the QLED TV to produce a wider color gamut and improved color accuracy compared to conventional LED TVs.
One of the key advantages of QLED technology is its ability to achieve higher brightness levels. This results in vibrant and vivid images, even in brightly lit rooms. QLED TVs are also known for their excellent color volume, meaning they can maintain their colors accurately at various brightness levels, providing a more dynamic and captivating picture.
Moreover, QLED TVs, including the Q65C, do not suffer from burn-in issues like OLED TVs, making them suitable for users who watch static content or play video games with persistent on-screen elements.
Ambient Mode
The Samsung Q65C features Ambient Mode, a unique and innovative feature that enhances the TV’s aesthetics when it’s not in use. In Ambient Mode, the TV can blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment by displaying images, artwork, or even matching the wall pattern.
Users can choose from various ambient designs or use their pictures to create a personalized background. This feature transforms the TV into a stylish piece of art, adding an aesthetic touch to the living space and preventing the screen from becoming an intrusive black rectangle when not actively watching content.
Ambient Mode also offers useful information, such as weather updates and time, making it a practical and visually pleasing addition to any room.
One Connect Box
The Samsung Q65C comes with the One Connect Box, an external module that simplifies connectivity and cable management. The One Connect Box houses most of the TV’s inputs and outputs, including HDMI ports, USB ports, and audio connections.
The primary advantage of the One Connect Box is that it reduces cable clutter around the TV, making the installation and setup process neater and more organized. Instead of connecting all the devices directly to the TV, users can connect them to the One Connect Box, which then connects to the TV through a single, nearly invisible cable.
This setup enhances the aesthetics of the TV setup and makes it easier to access and switch between different devices. Additionally, future-proofing the TV becomes more straightforward, as users can upgrade to newer devices without needing to reach behind the TV or replace the entire unit.
Future
The Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV is a feature-packed television that promises an immersive and engaging entertainment experience. However, it’s essential to consider how this TV will fare in the future, especially as technology continues to advance rapidly. Here are some aspects to consider regarding the future of the Q65C:
Technology Advancements: While the Q65C’s QLED technology offers vibrant colors and excellent picture quality, it’s worth noting that display technologies are continually evolving. We may see further advancements in display technology, such as MiniLED or MicroLED, which could provide even better picture quality and performance.
Resolution and Content: 4K content is now widely available on various streaming platforms, Blu-ray discs, and gaming consoles. As more content is produced in 4K, the Q65C’s 4K resolution will remain relevant and continue to deliver stunning visuals for the foreseeable future. However, how quickly 8K content will become mainstream is still being determined. Investing in an 8K TV, if that’s what you’re looking for, might be more beneficial for those who plan to keep their TV for several years.
Smart Features: The Q65C’s built-in smart platform is well-equipped to handle current apps and services. However, as app developers introduce new features and technologies, older smart TV models may see reduced app support over time. Samsung’s commitment to providing software updates helps alleviate this concern, but it’s essential to be mindful of future app compatibility.
Final Verdict and Recommendation
The Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV is a strong contender in the 4K TV market, offering impressive picture quality, smart features, and gaming capabilities. Its QLED technology provides vibrant colors and brightness levels, making it an excellent choice for movie enthusiasts and gamers. The inclusion of HDR technology enhances the overall viewing experience, especially when enjoying HDR content.
While the Q65C’s viewing angles and sound quality may not be its strongest suits, these drawbacks are common in most QLED TVs. They can be remedied by proper positioning and external audio solutions.
Overall, the Samsung Q65C QLED HDR 4K Smart TV delivers excellent value for its price, offering a captivating entertainment experience and a feature-rich package. For users seeking a well-rounded and future-proof 4K TV, the Q65C is a solid choice.
However, for those who prioritize cutting-edge technology and are willing to invest in the latest advancements, exploring Samsung’s MicroLED or 8K QLED TVs might be worth considering.