The Samsung QN990F is a bright, upscale-capable 8K TV whose separate Wireless One Connect box can make a cleaner installation—but it is not an automatic upgrade over a premium 4K television. RTINGS’ review of the 75-inch U.S. model found picture-quality and motion drawbacks, and the wireless box adds considerable input latency for gaming. Whether it is worth considering depends on the screen size, your room, how you connect devices and whether you value the box’s cable-placement flexibility enough to pay for it.
What the QN990F is—and what was tested
Samsung introduced the QN990F as its 2025 8K flagship in the Neo QLED range. It is sold in the U.S. in 65-, 75-, 85- and 98-inch sizes, with an NQ8 AI Gen3 processor, 8K AI Upscaling Pro and Wireless One Connect. Samsung’s 2025 launch announcement describes the range as spanning 65 to 98 inches.
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RTINGS purchased and tested the 75-inch QN75QN990FFXZA. Its findings are considered mostly applicable to the other sizes, but it identifies two notable exceptions: the 98-inch model is limited to 120Hz, and the 65-inch model is expected to be somewhat dimmer because it has a different advertised HDR tier. The review was first published June 11, 2025, and its test bench was updated October 2, 2026. Read the full RTINGS QN990F review for its test details.
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U.S. model sizes, launch prices and differences
Samsung’s U.S. launch announcement listed the prices below. They are historical launch prices, not a live quote; current prices and stock can differ.
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| Screen size | U.S. model code | U.S. launch price | Size-specific note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 inches | QN65QN990FFXZA | $5,499 | Different advertised HDR tier; RTINGS expects somewhat lower brightness than the tested 75-inch model. |
| 75 inches | QN75QN990FFXZA | $6,499 | Size purchased and tested by RTINGS. |
| 85 inches | QN85QN990FFXZA | $8,499 | RTINGS considers the 75-inch findings mostly applicable. |
| 98 inches | QN98QN990FFXZA | $39,999 | Limited to 120Hz; lacks the 4K-at-240Hz mode available on smaller sizes. RTINGS notes better speakers. |
All launch prices and variant distinctions in the table come from Samsung’s 2025 U.S. announcement and RTINGS’ model comparison. The Samsung U.S. 98-inch product page showed $34,999.99 and an out-of-stock state in a search result accessed October 5, 2026; that volatile listing is not a reliable statement of today’s price or availability.
Picture quality: bright-room strength, with visible compromises
Brightness, dimming and black levels
RTINGS found the QN990F well suited to bright-room SDR and HDR viewing. Its Mini LED local dimming can deliver good black levels with limited blooming under the review’s reference conditions. The qualification matters: RTINGS also observed raised blacks in bright conditions and some blooming, so the set does not preserve dark-scene contrast equally well in every room or image.
Accuracy and screen uniformity
Out-of-box picture accuracy disappointed RTINGS, which also reported a noticeable dirty-screen effect and severe color artifacts. Those issues matter for viewers who prioritize even fields, natural color and a clean, accurate image over headline brightness or resolution. The review’s findings do not support treating the QN990F as a reference-accurate display straight from the box.
Upscaling is useful, but does not restore missing detail
Native 8K material is scarce, and RTINGS does not provide a numeric count or share of available content. The set’s sharpness processing and upscaling were strong in the review, which is useful when watching lower-resolution sources on a very large 8K screen. Upscaling can sharpen and adapt an image to the panel; it cannot recover detail that was never captured or make low-bitrate footage free of artifacts. RTINGS found that the TV can struggle to remove artifacts in low-quality streams.
Motion and gaming: choose the connection path carefully
Wireless One Connect trades cable convenience for gaming latency
The separate Wireless One Connect box moves most inputs away from the display, which can make device placement and cable routing easier. That convenience has a meaningful gaming cost: RTINGS reports considerable input latency when gaming through the wireless box. Where your setup allows it, connecting a console or PC directly to an HDMI port on the TV provides the better gaming experience. The two connection paths should not be assumed to perform identically.
Refresh rate and gaming features vary by size
RTINGS reports VRR and ALLM support, with smaller models supporting up to 8K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz. The 98-inch model is limited to 120Hz and does not support 4K at 240Hz. A player choosing the largest screen should not assume it shares the smaller models’ maximum refresh-rate mode.
Fast response is not the whole motion story. RTINGS found sluggish pixel transitions at the maximum refresh rate, blur behind fast-moving objects, judder in slow pans and unwanted intermediate colors during transitions. These are relevant drawbacks for sports, films with slow camera movement and fast games, even though the set offers high refresh-rate modes on the smaller sizes.
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Films and home theater: check HDR and audio formats
The QN990F offers good local dimming and effective upscaling, but it lacks Dolby Vision HDR and DTS audio support, according to RTINGS. Samsung highlights HDR10+ in its official range announcement; HDR10+ is not a substitute for Dolby Vision when a viewer’s streaming service or discs depend on Dolby Vision. Likewise, buyers whose home-theater setup needs DTS passthrough should account for the missing support before choosing this television.
How to decide which size—or whether to buy it at all
Choose by room and installation, not resolution alone
- Consider the 65-inch model if its size suits your viewing distance, but account for RTINGS’ expectation of somewhat lower brightness than the tested 75-inch set.
- Consider the 75- or 85-inch model if you want a large screen and are comfortable applying the 75-inch review findings to the other size, as RTINGS does with the qualification that its test was of the 75-inch model.
- Choose the 98-inch model only with its refresh-rate ceiling in mind. It is limited to 120Hz, though RTINGS notes that it has better speakers than the smaller variants.
- Value Wireless One Connect for the installation it enables. If you need to game through the box, its added latency undercuts one of the main uses of a high-refresh-rate screen.
Compare it with the QN900F and premium 4K TVs
RTINGS says the QN990F and QN900F have similar overall picture quality; the key distinctions are design and the wireless input box. The QN900F keeps inputs on the TV and is the better choice for low-latency gaming, according to RTINGS. For a broader purchase decision, compare brightness, black levels and blooming, image accuracy, motion artifacts, upscaling, connection-path latency, HDR and audio format support, and total price—not just resolution.
RTINGS’ overall assessment is that the QN990F is a good TV, but its value is weakened by its tradeoffs and price; it says most buyers are better off saving for a premium 4K TV. The 8K panel and upscaling are most compelling if you specifically want a very large, bright screen and Wireless One Connect’s cleaner cable arrangement. Buyers who are price-sensitive, need low latency through the box, or rely on Dolby Vision or DTS have clear reasons to look elsewhere.
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