Samsung’s QLED TVs bridge the gap between LCDs and OLED TVs, as they don’t fall into either category. They have many OLED features but come at a noticeably lower price point than TVs with this type of panel technology. Samsung’s Q70 and Q80 are perfect examples of this, as they offer premium features at reasonable prices.
Staying close to this post’s specific topic, the two TVs we’re comparing come with above-average characteristics and perform almost identically across all essential criteria. But, when comparing your options, which of the two is the better choice? Our detailed Samsung Q70 vs Q80 comparison covers everything you should know about both TVs.
Samsung Q70 vs Q80 – Quick Comparison
Samsung Q70R QLED
An excellent all-around TV, the Q70 QLED performs well in dark and bright rooms displaying deep and rich colors. It’s full of outstanding features in a complete overall package for every average TV enthusiast.
Pros:
- First-rate motion technology and low lag
- Phenomenal HDR performance
- Great Smart TV platform
- Full of advanced features
Cons:
- Image significantly degrades with wider viewing angles
- No Dolby Vision
Samsung Q80R QLED
The Q80 is undoubtedly a tremendous alternative TV for users who are looking for a premium option but can’t afford to spend several thousand dollars. It ticks all of the boxes a mid-range QLED TV should include and provides a fantastic 4K UHD performance.
Pros:
- First-rate motion technology and low lag
- Superb uniform and deep black color in a dark setting
- Great Smart TV platform
- Impressive peak brightness
Cons:
- Has some difficulty maintaining gray uniformity at the edges
- No Dolby Vision
Features Face to Face
Panel Technology
As you can assume from the names of both TVs, the Q70 and Q80 utilize the so-called “QLED Technology”. It’s Samsung’s proprietary technology that’s primarily used for Samsung TVs and licensed to a few other TV manufacturers.
QLED panels work through a precisely controlled quantum dot filter. Although we won’t delve into the complexities of this technology, it’s essential to highlight the most significant benefits of QLED panel technology. This includes the ability to produce incredibly bright screens, powerful upscaling features, and quick Operating System speeds.
Image Processor
The Q70 and the Q80 might have a similar exterior design, but what matters are the image processing capabilities on the inside. And, in terms of this, the two TVs are even more alike than they are on the outside. This is because both the Q70 and the Q80 have the same image processor – Samsung’s 4K Quantum Processor.
The 4K Quantum Processor is an intelligently powered processor capable of instantly upscaling any content. The way this processor works is that it uses machine learning and AI to improve lower definition content. Its performance is most visible when streaming, especially in UHD.
Motion Technology
Many buyers often overlook motion technology when comparing potential options. However, it can be a difference-maker in today’s modern TV sets. In the particular case of the two TVs we’re comparing, both the Q70 and the Q80 come with advanced motion technology features and have great response times.
The Q70’s full-screen response time is just over 13.5 ms. The Q80 boasts an even more impressive response time of under 12 ms. As a point of reference, all response times under 14 ms are great.
The two TVs use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to provide a flicker-free experience when viewing fast motion. This is particularly advantageous for quick on-screen movements, such as watching sports or gaming. For TVs closer to LED than OLED panels, the motion technology is equally impressive on both models, but the Q80 gets a slight edge.
Picture Quality
Both the Q70 and the Q80 are very versatile and can provide very good picture quality. More importantly, both TVs can support a wide array of resolution settings. Here’s a complete run-through of all of the supported resolutions for both models:
| Resolution | Q70R QLED | Q80R QLED |
| 4K/120Hz | No | No |
| 4K/60Hz/4:4:4 | Yes | Yes |
| 4K/60Hz | Yes | Yes |
| 1440p/120Hz | Yes (Native Support) | Yes (Native Support) |
| 1440p/60Hz | Yes (Native Support) | Yes (Native Support) |
| 1080p/120Hz | Yes (Native Support) | Yes (Native Support) |
| 1080p/60Hz/4:4:4 | Yes | Yes |
Contrast ratio / Black level
Samsung TVs are generally known to have some of the highest native contrast ratios, and these two models perfectly fit the mold. That said, the Q70 has a higher native contrast ratio, as the Q80 sacrifices numbers on this front in replacement for better viewing angles, which we’ll get to in a bit.
In terms of black uniformity, both TVs record excellent performances. Weighing in both the black levels and contrast ratios, the Q70 has a slight edge. This is because it has almost no blooming around the test cross and doesn’t give out any blacklight in a uniformly black picture.
Local Dimming
The Q70 provides full-array local dimming with relatively smooth transitions between areas. That said, it can struggle with fast-moving objects, which can be noticeable and distracting at times.
The Q80 has solid local dimming features, albeit with minor disadvantages as well. This model is also great with transitions between zones, but it doesn’t do a great job dimming small objects.
Neither TV allows you to completely disable the local dimming features through the normal settings menu. Considering all of this, the Q70 and the Q80 have a similar level of local dimming capabilities.
Peak brightness
Looking at peak brightness capabilities, the Q80 is a much better performer than the Q70. It offers a peak brightness of around 960 nits. In comparison, the Q70 can only reach two-thirds of this, measuring a peak brightness between 640 and 690 nits.
Of course, it’s crucial to highlight that this is peak brightness that only measures a small portion of the screen for a limited time. That said, the Q80 still has the edge even when we measure peak brightness across the entire screen. From this perspective, the Q80 measures around 550 nits. This is still noticeably higher than the Q70s 430 nits.
Color
The Samsung Q80 offers a slightly better color gamut than the Q70. However, the difference isn’t so significant that you should use this as one of your criteria when deciding between the two options.
The case is the same when talking about color volumes. Both TVs offer average performance and suffer from the same issues. They can produce strong and consistent black colors but struggle with producing brighter blue colors. Overall, the Q70 and the Q80 perform equally in this category.
Viewing angle
Before we discuss the details of both TV’s viewing angles, let’s just say that neither is anything you should write home about. The Q80 has decent viewing angles, while the Q70 has subpar viewing angles compared to the TVs in the same class.
The Q80 comes with an “Ultra Viewing Angle” feature that works similarly to Sony’s “X-Wide Angle” technology. As we’ve mentioned above, it improves the viewing experience at wide angles at the expense of contrast ratios.
The Q70 is an inferior performer at wide viewing angles. It quickly loses image occurrence as you move off-center and starts to lose colors. With this in mind, although both TVs could be much better in this category, the Q80 is a better choice, simply because it’s less bad.
Sound Quality
The two TVs both come with a decent set of downward-facing speakers. The TVs offer an acceptable midrange and clear treble. However, the bass is relatively limited compared to other TVs in a similar price range.
Samsung has also released updated features called Adaptive Sound and Adaptive Volume, which you can use to optimize and adjust the sound with more control and precision. Overall, it’s safe to say that the sound quality on both TVs is equally adequate, but nothing too impressive.
Smart TV Platform (Operating System)
The Q70 and the Q80 both use the same operating system, meaning that they are equally capable performers in this category. In other words, in a direct Smart TV feature comparison, it’s impossible to find a difference between these two TVs. To make these similarities completely clear, we’ll let the comparison table do the talking:
| OS Features | Q70R QLED | Q80R QLED |
|---|---|---|
| OS Version | Tizen OS (2019 Version) | Tizen OS (2019 Version) |
| Time to Change Backlight | 6 seconds | 6 seconds |
| Time to Load YouTube | 2 seconds | 2 seconds |
| HDR Netflix/Youtube | Yes | Yes |
| App Selection/Variety | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| App Smoothness | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Ease of Use | 9/10 | 9/10 |
The similarities don’t stop at the table above. The two TVs also use the same remotes, so you can count on the same control options no matter which of the two you choose. Samsung’s remote from this series comes with many intuitive and convenient options. This includes quick access buttons to Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
Connectivity
Like the Smart TV comparison above, a direct comparison of the two TV’s connectivity features won’t get us far. This is because both TVs offer a long list of identical connectivity characteristics, ranging from supported inputs, voice assistants, and even the same wireless technology.
With that in mind, the Q70 and Q80 are equally terrific in terms of connectivity traits. So, in this section, we’ll primarily focus on the specifics of these features and cover all of the essential ones you should know about when buying a new TV.
Inputs
Both TVs offer equally great input support. From this perspective, neither the Q70 nor the Q80 has the edge. That said, for some of these input features, the focus is more on quantity than on quality. For example, while both TVs come with four HDMI ports, neither TV supports HDMI 2.1. That said, let’s take a closer look at the table for a detailed rundown:
| Input Ports | Q70R QLED | Q80R QLED |
| HDMI Ports | 4 HDMI 2.0 Ports | 4 HDMI 2.0 Ports |
| USB Ports | 2 USB 2.0 Ports | 2 USB 2.0 Ports |
| Digital Optical Audio Out | 1 Port | 1 Port |
| Ethernet Port | Yes | Yes |
Voice Assistants
As both TVs come with the same type of remote, you can expect identical performance in terms of voice assistant functionality. The Smart TV remote features a built-in mic. You can use it to summon Bixby, Samsung’s virtual assistant.
Bixby can be very useful for simple tasks but has its limitations compared to other smart voice assistants. It can change the volume or launch apps. However, it doesn’t work directly in any app once you open it. For example, you can tell Bixby to open up YouTube, but you’ll need to manually look up the content once the app loads up.
Wireless technologies
The Q70 and Q80 support high-quality wireless technology that usually comes with a TV in the medium to premium price range. Both TVs come with the same Wi-Fi support features (2.4GHz and 5GHz).
Standout features
As the two TVs are nearly identical in most fundamental aspects, neither one has any significantly better features than the other. That said, both TVs share one standout feature, native FreeSync support. This gaming-specific feature provides nearly tear-free gaming with low lag and minimal latency.
Speaking of standout features, it’s crucial to highlight the glaring lack of one critical component. Neither the Q70 nor the Q80 has Dolby Vision support. This is a significant disadvantage you should keep in mind when choosing a new TV. It’s unclear why Samsung still refuses to implement this in its TVs. Still, from a viewer’s perspective, it’s a great shame.
Conclusion
Overall, both TVs have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. After performing the Samsung Q70 vs Q80 comparison in great detail, we conclude that the Q70 is a good choice for all-around use. Thanks to its excellent ability to display deep black levels and solid picture quality, it’s great for watching movies, especially in HDR.
On the other hand, the Q80 performs equally well for movies and TV shows but outperforms the Q70 in several key categories. Due to its excellent motion handling features and excellent response time, it’s a fantastic TV for watching sports and gaming. Speaking of gaming, the Q80 also superbly works as a PC monitor.
