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Samsung QN90B vs Sony A90J: Which Cutting-Edge 4K TV Should You Buy?

You there. Yes, you — the one looking to upgrade your television viewing from basic HD to a truly immersive 4K experience packed with today‘s most scintillating display advancements. I understand the lure. Like a moth to a flame, the vivid colors these sets produce can entrance even the most frugal shoppers.

But before throwing down a stack of Benjamins, let‘s chat Samsung and Sony‘s latest and greatest models — the QN90B QLED and A90J OLED — so you can decide which technology magic to let into your living room. Grab a snack, settle into your favorite chair, and let my uniquely qualified insight enlighten you…

Blazing Black Levels or Brightness That‘s Blinding?

First, what makes these specific televisions so spectacular? Why do reviewers consistently hail them as cream-of-the-crop contenders year after year? In short — their self-illuminating displays, powered by either quantum or organic LEDs, achieve unparalleled control over both dimming and brightness. Translated, that means unlimited contrast and radiant luminosity previous generations of mere mortal televisions couldn‘t fathom!

OLEDs like the Sony A90J render true, inky black levels against vibrant color and detail by directly toggling individual diodes on or off. This pixel-perfect precision yields infinite contrast ratios and awe-inspiring accuracy across subtly rendered shadows.

QLEDs like the Samsung QN90B utilize precision-controlled backlights with tiny quantum dots producing supercharged color volume and brightness. By manipulating full array local dimming zones (over a thousand on the QN90B!), these panels cast aspersions on conventional LED TV‘s contrast abilities.

Let‘s explore how these bleeding-edge yet distinctive display technologies translate into real-world performance…

Samsung QN90B QLED Overview

Samsung dominates the QLED space, evolving what began as "souped-up LCD TVs" into serious big-screen contenders capable of fighting OLED toe-to-toe on color and brightness for less money. For 2022, Samsung has amped up the dimming zones in it‘s Mini LED powered “Neo QLED” lineup while adding welcome gaming amenities.

The QN90B series represents Samsung’s 4K flagship, flaunting upgraded Quantum Matrix Technology Pro backlighting with mini LEDs and precision dimming zones deliveringetagere HDR peak brightness nearing 2000 nits! This transforms the viewing experience — specular highlights sparkle, shadows harbor new detail, sunlight strobe across the screen with realism only matched outside your window.

Samsung further leverages it‘s heavy investments into machine learning and AI, endowing their NeoQuantum processor 4K brains to optimize contrast and color scenes by scene via intelligent analysis. All this visual virtuosity gets issued an instantaneous, lag-free gaming pedigree thanks to AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compliance and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility.

Let’s explore precisely why the 2022 Neo QLED QN90B deserves a spot on your Best Of list before even discussing alternatives…

Quantum Mini LED Backlighting

  • Smaller LED diodes with pinpoint precision brightness control
  • Over a thousand local dimming zones on 65" and larger models
  • Finer lighting nuance between bright and dark areas
  • Peak HDR brightness hits nearly 2000 nits!

Quantum HDR 32X

  • Optimizes contrast across 32 distinct brightness zones
  • Scene-by-scene adaptive HDR amplifies highlights
  • Detail enriched shadows add depth without black crush

Neo Quantum Processor 4K w/ AI Upscaling

  • Leverages machine learning to analyze and optimize content
  • Neural networks continually improve upscaling of HD/FHD video
  • Object depth enhancer adds cinematic realism

Gaming Reaction Times Under 5ms

  • Nearly instantaneous response competitive gamers demand
  • Variable refresh rate (VRR) support from 48Hz up to 144Hz
  • AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility

Have I won you over yet? Keep an open mind as we explore whether Sony‘s organic LED powered A90J OLED can still warrant consideration…

Sony A90J OLED Overview

Sony produces arguably the pinnacle of OLED television technology in it‘s Master series models, which refine key areas like processing and brightness which previously disadvantaged OLEDs versus traditional LED/LCD‘s.

The cognitive processor XR representing the brains behind Sony’s OLED panels leverages a unique human centric approach for analysis, applying intelligent algorithms to optimize color, contrast and clarity to match our eyes.

XR Motion Clarity technology also ensures fast action such as sports and video games plays smoothly without blurring or distortion. Best of all, Acoustic Surface Audio+ enables the entire screen to emanate sound, eliminating ugly speaker grills marring the clean aesthetics.

While lacking the searing luminosity QLED‘s achieve, the self illuminating OLED panel renders imagery with such fidelity many reviewers deem the contrast & inky blacks a fair trade off. Let‘s examine specifics explaining why home theater enthusiasts revere Sony‘s OLED offerings…

Cognitive Processor XR

  • Revolutionay analysis considers human visual perception
  • Cross analysis boosts color, contrast & precision sharpness
  • Tensor processing refines sound position & quality

XR Motion Clarity

  • Reduces blur in fast action sports & video sequences
  • Fluid clarity maintained even in dark scenes
  • No distorted artifacts or jutter with panning

XR OLED Contrast Pro

  • Pixel level brightness control yields infinite contrast
  • Deepest blacks adjacent to peak highlights
  • No blooming or halo artifacts around bright objects

Acoustic Surface Audio+

  • Entire screen becomes speaker for immersive sound
  • Harmonizes positions of sound & visual elements
  • Dolby Atmos signal processed for 3D spacial realism

Have you switched allegiances? Many home theater purists worship at the alter of OLED despite QLED‘s brighter qualities. Let‘s directly compare display performance and features now…

Samsung QN90B vs Sony A90J — Direct Comparison

With both television‘s strengths fresh in your mind, let‘s examine display qualities, smart platforms, sound and more. I‘ll declare winners in individual categories, ultimately judging which becomes the better buy considering performance per price across the lineup.

Display Technology

Specs Samsung QN90B Sony A90J
Screen Sizes 43” – 98" 55” – 83”
Display Type QLED – Quantum dot LED backlit LCD OLED – Self illuminating pixels
Resolution 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) 3,840 x 2,160 (4K)
Refresh Rate 120Hz (48Hz-144Hz VRR) 120Hz (40Hz-120Hz VRR)
HDR Format Support HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Dolby Vision,HDR10, HLG

Verdict: Tie — Bothfantastic, but differing display technologies optimized for particular viewing environments.

Picture Quality

Specs Samsung QN90B Sony A90J
True Black Pixel Level Very Good Excellent
Contrast Ratio 30,000:1 Infinite
Peak Brightness ~2000 nits ~850 nits
Local Dimming Zones 720 zones 288 zones

Verdict: Sony A90J wins on contrast and black level while Samsung QN90B dominates brightness

Viewing Angles

Specs Samsung QN90B Sony A90J
Viewing Angle (Contrast Loss) Very Good up to ~30° Excellent up to ~44°
Anti-Reflective Filter Polarized Ultra Viewing Angle layer NA

Verdict: Sony A90J maintains color accuracy and clarity from wider off-center seating positions

Gaming Performance

Specs Samsung QN90B Sony A90J
Input Lag @ 4K/120Hz 3.6 ms 4.8 ms
VRR Format Support AMD Freesync Premium Pro & Nvidia G-Sync Standard VRR & Nvidia G-Sync
Features ALLM auto low latency mode ALLM auto low latency mode

Verdict: Samsung Q90B offers faster response but Sony also excels for gaming.

Smart TV & Audio

Specs Samsung QN90B Sony A90J
Smart Platform Tizen OS Google TV
Voice Assistant Integration Bixby, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
Audio System 60W 2.2.2 Channel 60W 2.2 Channel
Object Tracking Sound
Acoustic Surface Audio

Verdict: Tie — both simple yet robust smart platforms. Audio accolades to Sony for the cinematic screen sound.

Final Verdict: Samsung QN90B Brings Better Value Overall

Scoring categories above, Sony‘s OLED panel clearly bests Samsung‘s QLED-lit LCD on contrast and viewing angles while maintaining gaming responsive with premium calibration.

However, the brighter QN90B admirably holds its own on color and clarity while ramping up screen size options dramatically. Considering street prices run $500+ lower across identical sizing plus the extra dimensional latitude, Samsung ultimately presents the smarter value equation.

But formulas don‘t tell the whole story. While I‘d choose the QN90B‘s luminous virtues to light up my living room both day and night, your ideal television soulmate comes down to personal taste. Maybe losing yourself in inky blacks across occasional movies merits the Sony‘s cinema devotion. Or perhaps the whole family craves Samsung‘s frisky gaming reaction times and blinding daytime clarity for sports.

Either way, home entertainment bliss awaits thanks to theenta stunning display technologies pushing performance boundaries to spectacular new heights. But I hope my guide above steers you toward the best flatscreen mate meeting both your needs AND budget!

Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy TV hunting out there!