This is one seriously competent gaming TV.
Samsung’s Q9FN Credit: Samsung
Last year, I reviewed one of Samsung’s 2017 edge-lit QLEDs, and this year I’m lucky enough to review the Q9FN, a breathtaking 65-inch flagship display outfitted with full-array local dimming (FALD) and some great gaming features. It retails for a significant $3,800, and despite a few nagging flaws, this is, hands-down, the best gaming TV I’ve ever used. Read on to find out why.
Getting Started
First things first: This TV is an absolute beast. And that makes sense, since it’s 65 inches of LED technology rather than OLED, so at the most fundamental level, that means more bulk and more weight. Just getting the Q9FN out of the box is a two-person job, as is laying it down on a table or bed in order to attach the stand. This said, keep in mind that, because of the display’s size, you’ll need an equally sizable flat surface to rest it on, preferably something that can accomodate the screen’s considerable mass (I used a queen-size bed and it worked out just fine).
Once you have the TV flat and facedown, attaching the stand is extremely simple and straightforward. It comes in three pieces: Two legs and a linking bar that screw together and onto the display with a few easy clicks and some tightening with a screwdriver. The stand itself is minimalistic and boasts a nice, subdued aesthetic. It doesn’t take up too much room in front of or behind the screen, though it doesn’t raise the screen up very high, so placing a large soundbar up front can block a small portion of the screen.
Once the stand is attached, you and another person can carefully lift up the Q9FN and place it wherever you see fit. Like I previously mentioned, this is one heavy television, and so it demands a sturdy entertainment stand. That is, unless you’re planning on mounting it to the wall, in which case you can dismiss the previous requirement.
This is one of the drawbacks of QLED compared to LG’s current line of OLEDs. Once placed in a room, it’s just not very easy to move a QLED, especially if stairs are involved. That’s not to say the Q9FN’s display is thick; we’re only talking around 3 inches deep at the most. But still, it’s multiple inches compared to an inch or less with competitors’ thin displays, and those few extra inches pack quite an increase in weight. So decide where you want your QLED, because once it’s there, you probably won’t want to move it unless you have help.
Plugging In
Like previous QLEDs, the Q9FN makes use of the excellent One Connect Box, a central hub that acts as a computer brain, source splitter and all-around convenience center. All of your devices—PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Blu-ray player, etc.—plug directly into this rectangular block and feed to the screen via a thin, translucent cable. The box also has other inputs like three USB ports and optical TOSLINK.
This year’s One Connect model is slightly bulkier than last year’s (box and cable), and that seems to be because both AV and now power signals are being handled through this single connection. There’s only one wire coming from the TV itself, and that’s the cable going straight to the One Connect Box.
