Is 8K resolution worth it? Hands on with Samsung's stunning new QN900D smart TV

With so many technological advancements now integrated into the 2024 editions of 4K TVs by Samsung, is it worth the extra cost to upgrade to 8K resolution?

The folks at Samsung sent over one of its latest 65-inch Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN900D TVs for me to review. It turns out that the Samsung QN900D offers a tremendous leap forward in picture quality than what even the highest-end 4K TVs can provide. Especially for sports fans and movie buffs, an 8K television dramatically enhances the viewing experience by offering visuals that are incredibly lifelike and detailed -- the likes of which have never before been possible on lower-resolution TVs.

If you're thinking about investing in an 8K TV, keep reading to learn about my experience using the Samsung QN900D, and what you can expect from a television that offers a 7,680 x 4,320 pixel resolution with up to a 240Hz refresh rate.

Here's why you need an 8K TV

None of the broadcast networks, cable channels, premium networks or video streaming services currently offer native 8K programming, so what's the point of investing in an 8K TV right now? The answer can be summarized in just one word: upscaling. The latest 8K TVs, such as the Samsung QN900D, use AI-based upscaling features that transform 1080p and 4K content into as close to native 8K as possible. With this Samsung 8K TV I tested, the result is eye-popping.

I discovered that when watching live sports, movies and TV shows with intricate special effects and action, the AI-based upscaling offered by an 8K TV makes content look more realistic and detailed than what even the best 4K TVs are capable of. The colors are more vibrant and accurate, while all action appears fluid. Pixelation and screen tearing is a thing of the past.

Reflections from ambient light are greatly reduced (or eliminated) and HDR 8K Pro technology allows for brighter colors, darker blacks and more vivid whites with plenty of contrast. And beyond just the better color and detail, the depth, shading and texture of content draws a viewer's eyes into what's being displayed.

Samsung's 65-inch QN900D 8K TV: At a glance

Display type: QLED (Mini-LED) | Resolution: 8K (7,680 x 4,320 pixels) | Refresh rate: Up to 240Hz (4K), 120Hz (8K) | Operating System: Tizen | Processor: Samsung NQ8 AI Gen 3 | Max. Brightness: 2,000 nits | HDR Support: HDR 8K+, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Ports: 4x HDMI, 3x USB Type-A, 1x HDMI eARC, 1x USB Type-C, 1x digital audio | Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | Speakers: 6.2.4 channels, 90-watts | Other Key Features: Multi-view with up to 4 videos; Supports the SmartThings app; Anti-reflective display, Q-Symphony and Dolby Atmos audio support; FreeSync Premium Pro support for gaming | Overall dimensions: 56.4 x 32.1 x 0.5 inches (without stand) | Weight: 47.6 pounds (without stand) | Mount: VESA (400x300)

If you're shopping for an 8K resolution TV, you want a model (like the Samsung QN900D), that was introduced this year. The advancements in 8K technology from year to year are rather dramatic.

There's a noticeable upgrade to the picture and sound quality, AI-based upscaling and overall performance of the latest 8K TVs, compared to those released just one or two years ago. And the good news: Prices of 8K TVs are dropping and you can often find them on sale.

An 8K TV is still more expensive than even the highest-end 4K TVs, but for serious sports fans and movie fanatics, it's now easier than ever to justify the investment.

Samsung's 65" QN900D 8K TV: The display

An 8K television uses 33 million pixels to create a displayed image. This is almost four times as many pixels as a 4K resolution TV, which uses about 8.3 million pixels. Since 8K TVs use more advanced technology and AI-based upscaling, what you wind up seeing is far more detail, contrast, depth and color accuracy than what you get from any 4K TV. This is true when watching native 1080p or 4K content on an 8K television, like the Samsung QN900D. Plus, you can expect better overall performance, since the latest TVs use faster NPUs, more neural networks, a faster GPU and a more powerful CPU. This all translates to a better picture.

With the QN900D, the display's mini-LEDs provide 1.5 times more radiance than Samsung's higher-end 4K TVs. You also get 100% color volume with Quantum Dot technology and a Motion Xcelerator feature that can boost the TV's refresh rate up to 240Hz in certain situations.

And while the picture quality is stunning, the QN900D also provides what Samsung calls an Infinity Air Design, which means there's zero bezel around the picture. 

Samsung's 65-inch QN900D 8K TV: Watching TV

To see how TV series and movies streamed in native 4K resolution look on the QN900D, I launched Paramount+ with Showtime and watched the latest episode of "Star Trek: Discovery" and then an episode of "Tracker." I also checked out the movie 
"Transformers: Rise of the Beasts."

Note: Paramount+ and CBS News Essentials are both subsidiaries of Paramount.

Next, I watched clips from the 2024 NBA Playoffs and Super Bowl LVIII. I logged into YouTube to check out videos shot in native 8K resolution. And finally, I browsed through my cable TV lineup and found a handful of old "I Love Lucy" and "The Brady Bunch" episodes to see how well the QN900D handles upscaling much lower-resolution programming.

One fun feature the QN900D offers is a customizable multi-view display. You can watch two, three or four programs or video feeds at the same time. This includes using the television's integrated web browser to surf the web while watching three of your favorite shows. The multi-view feature is particularly useful to sports fans who want to watch multiple games, listen to the sound from one of them, and have their favorite sports website open to track scores from other games.

Shown below, a Nintendo Switch game, a TV program from Samsung TV Plus (which is accessible for free), the TV's web browser, and an 8K video from YouTube are displayed at the same time using one of the customizable patterns selectable from the multi-view menu.

While the TV comes with a handful of apps for popular streaming services preinstalled, downloading the apps for the additional service you subscribe to is very easy during the TV's initial setup (or anytime thereafter). Then, finding what to watch and watching live or on-demand programming is now easier and more intuitive, thanks to the upgraded version of the TV's Tizen operating system.

Since the TV is less than one inch thick, it looks great hanging on a wall using an optional mount. However, you can just as easily set it up on the flat surface of a media center, dresser or tabletop. To greatly reduce cable clutter, the QN900D is one of the Samsung TVs that use a One Connect Box.

The One Connect box is a thin, rectangular hub that must be connected to the TV using a supplied cable. This is the only cable that gets connected to the TV. The TV's power cable, and any other devices you want to connect to the TV -- such as a soundbar, surround sound system, cable TV box, or game console -- then connect to one of the HDMI, USB or other ports that are located on the back of the One Connect Box. This makes all of the ports readily accessible.

When watching native 8K TV streamed from YouTube, the picture quality looked almost three-dimensional, with incredible depth, high contrast, a fast refresh rate and exquisite colors. The TV does an incredible job upscaling the picture quality of live sports and action movies, but there's also a noticeable improvement in watching 4K content on the 8K screen when viewing regular TV shows or news programs that contain little or no action.

Where the AI-based upscaling falls short (which is the case with all 8K TVs at the moment) is when it attempts to enhance the picture quality of 720p or lower resolution content -- such as TV shows from the 60s, 70s and 80s, or classic movies. If you watch a lot of older content, an 8K TV is not a good investment, as any 4K or even 1080p TV will do a better job showcasing this content. You can, however, turn off the AI-based upscaling on the QN900D to watch older programming in a pinch.

Samsung's 65-inch QN900D 8K TV: AI-based upscaling

So what's AI-based upscaling and why is it an essential feature built into 8K TVs? Well, when you're watching native 4K (or lower) resolution content on a screen that's able to display far more detail than what a 4K TV is capable of, AI-based upscaling works behind the scenes and in real-time to make 4K resolution content appear as if its close to 8K quality. It does this using incredibly complex algorithms that analyze every existing pixel of every image, intelligently adding in the missing pixels. At the same time, it tweaks a picture's color, vibrancy, contrast, depth and color saturation, plus uses digital enhancements to make a picture sharper. When the TV performs as it's supposed to, 4K programming looks truly spectacular on an 8K television set.

During my experience watching a wide range of programming on the QN900D, I found the AI upscaling feature, combined with the TV's Neo Quantum HDR 8K Pro, AI Motion Enhancer Pro, Real Depth Enhancer Pro, Auto HDR Remastering and Motion Xcelerator 240Hz features -- all powered using the Samsung NQ AI Gen 3 processor -- work seamlessly together with no tinkering required by the viewer. These features all have fancy names, but each contributes to the overall picture quality in a slightly different way.

Samsung's 65-inch QN900D 8K TV: Playing video games

To see how video games performed on an 8K display, I connected my Nintendo Switch OLED Model to the QN900D and played Nintendo's new "Endless Ocean Luminous" game ($50), along with other popular games that push the limits in terms of graphics and animated action.

When gaming, the QN900D automatically activates its Auto Game Mode feature to enhance the quality of the graphics. You also get FreeSync Premium Pro support, which eliminates screen tearing and stuttering. And like all of Samsung's latest smart TVs, this one has a gaming hub built in. This allows you to play online games (with a subscription to a service like Xbox Game Pass or Nvidia GeForce Now) using just a compatible handheld wireless controller paired with the TV. 

Easily accessible from the QN900D's main menu is the Game Bar (which you can access whenever a game console or online game is being played). This menu allows you to tweak the display and sound options for the TV beyond the optimizations automatically made. 

10 things I like best about Samsung's 65-inch QN900D 8K TV

• The QN90D is extremely thin (0.5 inches) with an elegantly minimalist design. When hung on a wall next to a piece of artwork within a frame, that frame is typically thicker than the TV. 
• The TV offers an edge-to-edge picture with zero bezel.
• When watching any native 1080p or 4K content, the AI upscaling feature functions incredibly well to produce a lifelike image that's sharp, with plenty of depth and detail not seen when watching the same content on a 4K TV. This makes the QN900D hands down one of the very best TVs currently on the market.
• Even without a soundbar or surround sound system, the built-in 6.2.4 channel speaker setup does an excellent job producing room-filling and robust sound that takes advantage of Dolby Atmos to simulate 3D audio.

• The voice remote that comes with the QN900D is solar-powered, so you never need to replace its battery. 
• The TV's display reduces or eliminates glare from ambient light, which also allows the TV to offer a wide viewing angle. Someone sitting off to the side will enjoy the same clarity as someone sitting directly in front of the screen.
• Samsung's Tizen operating system features an intuitive interface that provides easy access to all of the streaming services you subscribe to, along with free Samsung TV Plus programming (more than 250 live TV channels and thousands of on-demand movies).
• To eliminate cable clutter when connecting multiple devices to the TV (such as a game console, surround sound system, cable box or DVR), the QN900D uses Samsung's One Connect Box. This device uses a single cable to plug into the TV. All other cables (including the power cable) then connect to the box which can be positioned in a convenient location up to 8.2 feet away from the TV.
• Using the TV's multi-view feature you can display two, three or four different video feeds or shows at once on the screen.
• Watching live sports, action movies or gaming are the types of content that the QN900D showcases best.

What I liked least about Samsung's 65-inch QN900D 8K TV

• The Samsung QN900D is expensive. The larger the screen size, the higher the premium you'll pay for the advanced technology. While the 65-inch version of the QN900D is more expensive than a high-end 4K TV, the higher price is worth it to those wanting a significantly better and more lifelike picture quality when watching the same native 4K content they're used to viewing on a 4K resolution TV.
• The only native 8K content that's readily available to watch right now is on YouTube. You can shoot your own 8K video using a camera like the Insta360 X4, Canon EOS R5 C, Nikon Z9 or Fujifilm X-H2 camera and play it back on any 8K TV, like the QN900D.
• The QN900D comes with a stand, but a compatible wall mount is sold separately. 

Is the Samsung's 65-inch QN900D 8K TV worth it?

After spending more than a week using the Samsung QN900D 8K TV, my conclusion is that if you can afford an 8K TV right now and you love watching live sports or programming that contains a lot of action and detail, you'll be amazed at the way this new TV uses AI-based upscaling to transform native 4K programming into something that's so much more immersive and visually stunning.

So yes, 8K technology is seriously worth the investment, especially for avid TV watchers and serious sports fans.

Since you'll probably want to connect a higher-end surround sound system to your new 8K TV, the overall investment isn't a small one. However, you can finance the 65-inch version of the QN900D through Samsung for $208.35 per month for 24 months or $537.48 per month for 12 months. And if you purchase a Samsung surround sound system at the same time, you can get the Samsung HW-Q900D Q-Series sound system for $1,450 (which is $550 off), or add the less expensive Samsung HW-Q910D sound system for just $900 (a savings of $400).

If you're shopping for any type of TV, we recommend checking out our coverage of the six best TVs for 2024, the five best TVs for video gamers and LG's gorgeous new Evo G4 and C4 OLED TVs. We've also compiled a curated collection of the five best home projectors for 2024 and the six best TV soundbars for 2024. All of our latest tech coverage, which is continuously updated, is here to help you.