Deciding between the Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H for your next Smart TV? This guide will help you make the right decision. The Samsung Q80T and the Sony X900H are outstanding 4K TVs with future proof.
But which one has a faster response time, lower input lag. Which is more suitable for streaming videos and/or gaming? We’ve highlighted everything you need to know before choosing between the Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H.
Now, the Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H: Which should you buy? Find out.
Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H: Display
A massive win for the Sony X900H is its display. Sony nailed it. Images look sharp and, overall, the panel’s picture quality is impressive. Much of that dazzling display is thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate, which smooths out the animations and motion. Similarly, one of the Samsung Q80T’s strong points is its display.
Images on the Q80T’s panel look blisteringly sharp and detailed. Contrast is excellent, and colours are real. The excellent colour accuracy is an A+ in our book. Brightness is pretty good, and black levels are just OK.
The Samsung Q80T has good viewing angles thanks to its Ultra Viewing Angle layer, so you get excellent pictures irrespective of your sitting position. Just know: You won’t find the Ultra Viewing Angle layer on the 49-inch model.
With the Samsung Q80T, you need not worry about screen glare in bright rooms, because the 4K TV handles reflections very well.
Overall, the Q80T’s image quality is better than the Sony X900H’s by a very small margin. In truth, you’d be hard pressed to notice a difference between them.
Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H: Key Specs
Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H: Design
From a design standpoint, the Samsung Q80T has a simple, clean, no nonsense design with thin bezels on all four sides. The 4K TV features a unique stand which is located at the centre unlike the Sony X900H which has one support each, near the far end. The Q80T’s 55 inch model has a stand with a 15.4 x 10.3-inch footprint.
Even with the Q80T’s central stand, placing a soundbar near the bottom plate isn’t a problem. The Q80T’s build is pretty solid, however, the performance (more on that in a bit) is the star. Like the Samsung Q80T, the Sony X900H has a sleek, simple and minimalist design. The X900H has 55-, 65-, 75- and 85-inch models. The Q80T has models with these sizes, in addition to smaller screen variants with 49- and 50-inch displays.
Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H: Connectivity
The selection of connections on the Samsung Q80T is top-notch. There are four HDMI ports, two USB ports, Ethernet (LAN), optical digital audio output, RF (antenna) input, and remote (RS-232) port. These connections are on the left-hand side of the TV.
One aspect that won’t bother everybody, but still bears mentioning, is that the Samsung Q80T lacks at least an analog input, audio or video. Connections on the Sony X900H are plentiful and well specified – especially when it comes to HDMIs. In fact, every port you could reasonably expect is on the X900H.
The TV has four HDMI ports, three USB ports, a composite video input, an Ethernet port, one optical digital audio output, one headphone/subwoofer audio output, one RF (antenna) input, and an RS-232 port.
Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H: Performance
The Samsung Q80T ranks very high for its gaming features. The TV supports variable refresh rate (VRR), FreeSync and G-synch. The VRR technology reduces screen tearing. Plus, there’s Auto Game Mode which reduces input lag and enhances your gaming experience. Out-of-the-box, the Q80T has a very low input lag.
Like most 4K TVs on the market, the Samsung Q80T’s HDMI 4 port supports 4K gaming at 120Hz refresh rate. This is good news for gamers who need high frame rates from their consoles. It is also worth adding that the 4K gaming at 120Hz input as well as the variable refresh rate (VRR) is not available on the 49- and 50-inch models.
The 49- and 50-inch variants have a 60Hz refresh rate. Elsewhere, the Q80T supports high dynamic range (HDR) content in HDR10, HDR10+, and HGL broadcast. How about Dolby Vision? Well, there isn’t one really. Nonetheless, the X900H has Dolby Vision support.
If you feel less thrilled by the Samsung Q80T, but still need an excellent 4K TV made by Samsung, your best bet is to get the Samsung Q90T QLED TV, which is a newer model with the same specs, but with better peak brightness and higher contrast ratio.
At the time of writing, the Sony X900H now has VRR and auto low latency mode (ALLM) support. These features were not there from the get-go. Be sure to update your TV software to enjoy these features. For some, the absence of VRR and ALLM when the X900H launched made the 4K TV a less attractive proposition for gaming. Thankfully, Sony has fixed this via an over-the-air update.
So the X900H is well-suited for streaming movies, and good for gaming because it works well with Xbox, PS4, PS5, and more gaming consoles. The HDMI 2.1 port on Sony’s X900H makes 4K gaming at 120Hz seamless.
Elsewhere, the X900H’s HDR performance is top-notch. Upscaling is good, as well. Samsung and Sony preload the Q80T and X900H respectively with numerous apps you might like, including Bixby, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.
Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H: Sound
The Q80T’s audio quality is pretty good thanks to its object-tracking sound system. Similarly, the X900H’s integrated speakers are not your typical tin cans. Audio quality from the speakers is very good. Expect good audio quality when streaming videos or playing games.
Every variant of the X900H (excluding the 55-inch model) has Sony’s impressive Acoustic Multi Audio system which enhances audio experience. Overall, both TVs produce audio that is loud, clean and rich.
Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H: Drawbacks
The Samsung Q80T and Sony X900H have all the bells and whistles of outstanding Smart TVs. They easily compete with top end blowers, like the LG CX OLED TV, TCL 6-Series, and Vizio P-Series. Having said that, the Samsung Q80T and Sony X900H aren’t without faults (what Smart TV is?).
We begin with the Samsung Q80T. If there is an Achilles’ heel here, it’s the screen edges, which appear slightly darker. Similar to most high-end 4K TVs, price is often the problem. The Q80T is quite expensive, however it delivers.
Our only qualm with the Sony X900H, and this remains minor, is mostly to do with the Android interface. The Sony X900H’s Android interface could use some improvements. Then, there’s the absence of HDR10+ feature. The minor drawbacks aside, both TVs are impressive.
Samsung Q80T vs Sony X900H: Which should you buy?
It’s impossible to argue that the Samsung Q80T and Sony X900H aren’t among the best TVs in the world. Now which should you buy? It’s a very close contest, really. However, for gaming, we recommend the Q80T because it has a lower input lag, and faster response time.
If money is no object, and you want the best 4K gaming experience with consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, the Samsung Q80T is the way to go. Finally, if you’d like a TV mainly for watching movies, the X900H is your best bet.
Remember, the X900H has good specs for gaming without problems, but the Samsung Q80T is our absolute choice.
