Samsung’s 65-inch Q60T 4K HDTV: The Top QLED for Under a Grand?

September 30, 2020 Topic: Technology Blog Brand: Techland Tags: QLEDSamsungQ60THDTVTechnology4KHDR

Samsung’s 65-inch Q60T 4K HDTV: The Top QLED for Under a Grand?

Is this the top HDTV for the cash? Take a look. 

If you’ve had your eyes set on a Samsung QLED 4K HDTV for a while, now might be the perfect time to pounce on one.

For under a grand at Best Buy, you can grab the 65-inch Q60T Series QLED, and this high-end HDTV has the potential to be the centerpiece of your living room for years to come.

If you do decide to splurge on this wonderful panel, you will quickly discover that the Q60T offers a premium viewing experience, thanks largely to its next-generation QLED technology and excellent overall image quality that boasts plenty-deep black levels.

The set’s quantum dots let you experience images bursting with a dazzling range of more than a billion colors, each upscaled to incredible clarity driven by an intelligent 4K processor.

The high light output—a major strength of QLEDs—works extremely well with HDR, and you’ll surely enjoy the accurate colors and robust video processing, which will be a boon for gamers waiting for the newest consoles from PlayStation and Xbox and lovers of intense action films.

However, the full-array local dimming of Samsung’s flagship QLED line no longer comes with this set, and that is replaced by a dual LED backlight that promises to give contrast and color a noticeable boost over its single LED predecessor. The dual backlight features two sets of LEDs that have the ability to produce different color temperatures.

The Q60T’s only real downside is its smart TV platform, which is powered by Tizen. First introduced in 2015 after years of development, the Tizen OS, much like Korean archrival LG’s webOS, has a pleasant stripped-down interface but it really lacks any real punch that is needed for today’s data-heavy streaming TV world.

Yes, Tizen offers access to popular run-of-the-mill apps like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, but a platform like Android TV or Roku will surely give you much more bang for your buck. Moreover, Tizen really isn’t that flexible when it comes to sideloading apps, which could affect the TV’s use in different markets and regions.

Despite these shortcomings, know that you no longer have to rely solely on the virtual assistant Bixby for voice control, as industry heavyweights Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are now built in.

The Q60T is fully compatible with the SmartThings App, which enables you to control and monitor your TV and connected devices via your smartphone. The wand-style, thoughtfully designed remote also feels comfortable in your hand and makes it simple to control basic functions.

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.