The all-new Samsung Q70T QLED TV has much of the arsenal of features found in Samsung’s more expensive 4K QLED displays, but doesn’t come at such a high price point – making it a great buy for people who can’t reasonably spend a couple. thousand on the flagship Samsung Q95T.
Despite using an edge-lit design, its images are bold and bright, the connected platform is top-notch, and if you’re planning to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X, this just might be yours. cheapest route to high frame rate 4K gameplay.
Gamers are gearing up, this could be the 2020 QLED TV you’ve been waiting for.
Price and release date
The Samsung Q70T QLED TV is the lower to mid-range model in Samsung’s 2020 QLED TV line that starts with the Samsung Q60T and reaches the 8K Q950TS.
This series is available in screen sizes of 55, 65, 75 and 85 inches called QE55Q70T, QE65Q70T, QE75Q70T and QE85Q70T respectively in the UK, or QE55Q70T, QE65Q70T, QE75Q70T and QE85Q70T respectively in the US. The sample sent to TechRadar, the baby of the group, sells for around £ 1,099 / $ 999.
Above it is the Samsung Q80T, which it shares a lot with, but there are some key differences that make the Samsung Q80T a slightly better buy.
Design
- Ultra-thin bezel
- Four HDMIs with eARC support
- Central T-leg (UK) or traditional legs (USA)
The Q70T is cut from a fabric similar in design to the Q80T: everything is case and small bezel. It sports a micro-thin bezel, here on three sides, the panel balancing in a stork shape on a central T-bracket if you buy a UK model, or four legs if you buy one in the US.
Rear connectivity includes four HDMI inputs, the third of which is eARC compatible. The fourth input is 4K / 120fps ready, which makes the TV one of the presets if you want to maximize the performance of your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X console. The remaining HDMIs are enabled at 4K / 60fps.
Providing a 120 fps HDMI input is a welcome bonus for this mid-ranger, making the set an obvious competitor for next-gen gamers.
There’s also Ethernet, two USB ports, and optical digital audio out, as well as wireless dual-band Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Finally, the Q70T comes with two remotes, one with a button wand, the other a streamlined and slimmer zapper. The choice of two remote controls is neat, but one is really chic, the other not so much …
Smart TV (Tizen)
- Tizen TV OS with voice control support
- Full streaming services and catch-up TV
- Ambient mode
Samsung’s Tizen is a true Tardis of a smart connected TV platform. It sounds like simplicity itself, but packed with features.
Overall, it’s sleek and intuitive, Samsung’s Tizen smart platform doesn’t just cover the basics of streaming, it adds some unique features, like Ambient and Multi-View mode.
There is no Freeview Play support for UK buyers, although the set comes preloaded with all of the major catch-up TV channels. There is also a full range of streaming apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney +, Rakuten TV, Apple TV, and YouTube.
Additional features include Mobile Multi View with Casting, which allows simultaneous viewing of two screens, the image of the TV and your smartphone, and Samsung’s Ambient Mode, which turns the whole into a large JPEG gallery, able to blend with the wallpaper of your herd.
For Samsung mobile phone owners only, there’s also Tap View for easy pairing – just tap the back of your phone against the top or side of the TV, and voila, the two are paired.
The ensemble offers a full chorus of vocal support. Samsung’s Bixby company remains Alexa and the Google Assistant – although appropriate devices are needed.
HD / SDR performance
- Brilliant colors
- Excellent scaling
- Auto Motion Plus
The sublime and naturalistic HD upscaling, coupled with a high overall picture level, ensures a consistently enjoyable viewing experience, even when 4K content is not available.
Picture presets include Standard, Dynamic, Natural, and Film, but if you want to get your hands dirty you can always explore Expert Settings, where you’ll find fun features like adjustable gamma. The set also supports Filmmaker mode, which can be selected from the picture mode menu.
The Q70T benefits from the same artificial intelligence as the other 2020 QLED 4K models, and that’s a real strength. Samsung hits the proverbial target when it comes to adding naturalistic detail and nuance to sub-4K images.
So how does the scaling work here? The processor correlates image content with an on-chip database and intelligently extrapolates false details and texture.
When watching HD SDR content stick to Standard, and maybe Natural when you want a little more contrast. Broadcast in the studio, documentaries, cartoons for the former, more cinematographic television programs for the latter. Dynamic and Movie play at opposite ends of the spectrum, never quite satisfying either way.
Filmmaker mode effectively disables all processing intricacies, emulating a Hollywood mastering monitor. As for HD content, it’s a hair shirt.
Otherwise, just leave the on-board AI of the set for the judgment to be fine with you.
4K / HDR performance
- Lower peak brightness than other QLEDs
- Good off-axis viewing angles
- HDR10 + support
When it comes to HDR, the Q70T turns its nose to Dolby Vision, but happily sniffs around its open-standard rival HDR10 +. Granted, there are few signs that the HDR10 + is gaining traction, but it’s the HDR card we’re dealing with. This means that when you connect the Netflix app to the TV, you will be able to watch Umbrella Academy in regulation 4K HDR – although to be honest it looks just fine.
Peak HDR reflections were measured at 600 nits. That’s lower than the higher flying QLEDs, but a good result considering the class of the set. It is certainly glossy enough to add sparkle and depth to HDR content.
The panel is edge-lit, unlike its superior QLEDs which offer direct full range with local dimming. For improved contrast, there is a dual LED layout. The combination of two different color temperature LED light modules gives better subjective contrast and black level performance. The images have real dynamics and a compelling black level, at least when viewed in a room with ambient light.
Off-axis viewing suffers from sagging color intensity and contrast, and if you are viewing in entirely dark room conditions, deep blacks and letterbox bars tend to gray out.
The whole automatic motion management image interpolation is first rate. On autopilot, it improves the sharpness of the image depending on the content.
If you prefer, the Auto Motion Plus setting can be configured manually, with adjustable blur and jerk reduction. Typically we would set the blur reduction to 9 or 10, with the stutter reduction to 3 or 4. There is also an option of clear LED movement, but if that succeeds in cleaning up the image, the overall brightness decreases. considerably.
Michael Bay’s frenzied opening car chase 6 Underground (Netflix) is a real challenge when it comes to maintaining clarity during fast-paced action, but when this Samsung flexes its tween muscles it there is no obvious vagueness.
A lime-green Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio looks delicious, as it dodges the bright red vans on the winding streets of Florence. The accompanying sparks and explosive effects benefit from brilliant HDR gradation, while the sunlight streaming through the interstices of narrow streets remains utterly compelling.
The Q70T’s ability to showcase deep colors and dynamics is impressive. The Amazon Grand Tour is another stimulating showcase for HDR vibrancy. In the Season 1 episode, Morroccan Roll, the deep red of Hammond’s Mazda MX-5 shows no hint of orange (a failure of the LED LCD screen), spectacular reflections that glisten across the bodywork.
Sound and games
- No object tracking sound
- Has a Dolby Atmos relay
- Game mode input is only 9.1ms
Unlike its cousin Q80T, the Q70T does not have OTS (Object Tracking Sound) and is content with a two-channel stereo, thanks to downlink drivers.
They’re perfectly suited for everyday use, and there’s an Adaptive Sound mode to combat the noise in your listening room, but it makes sense to provide a Dolby Atmos soundbar (Samsung naturally has a range that also supports eARC) or accommodate a home theater system, taking advantage of the Dolby Atmos pass-through functionality of the set.
When it comes to gaming, the screen is a star performer, boasting impressive low latency. You can choose to use the TV with Game Motion Plus turned on, which adds processing subtleties like reduced blur and stuttering, or turn everything off to get the best input lag possible.
With Game Motion on, we measured the input lag at 19.8ms, which is certainly a good thing – but in hardcore gaming mode, it drops to just 9.1ms (1080/60).
Other panels to ponder …
The closest competitor to the Q70T is the 58-inch Panasonic HX800. Like the Q70T, it’s edge-lit and comes with Filmmaker mode as well as a well-connected smart platform. It also offers Dolby Vision support for movie fans and low input lag.
The Panasonic has Local Dimming Intelligent Pro, which mimics the operation of thousands of virtual local dimming areas to improve contrast, but its peak HDR brightness is significantly lower than that of the Samsung.
The other recommendation for a premium display at this price point is the Philips 65OLED7654. This high value OLED has universal HDR support (Dolby Vision and HDR10 +) and Ambilight living room lighting.
Final verdict
It might not be a full QLED, but Samsung’s Q70T is a pretty darn good 4K TV nonetheless. Ideal for viewing bright rooms, it offers superb detail and color performance, has a full connected platform, and offers excellent image interpolation.
For gamers, the Q70T is a great proposition. Not only is the frame shift low, with and without processing, but a 4K 120fps HDMI is just waiting for your next game console. It’s also confusing when it comes to black level performance and screen uniformity … as long as you keep the lights on.