Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our 1-year video update with our latest findings on temporary image retention, burn-in, and more!

Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.8
Review updated Feb 02, 2022 at 01:35 pm
Latest change: Retest Feb 13, 2024 at 11:44 am
Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED Picture
7.2
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.9
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.3
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.2
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.0
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.4
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.4
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Samsung Q60B [Q60, Q60BD] QLED

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED is an entry-level 4k TV in Samsung's 2021 QLED lineup, and it's the replacement of the 2020 Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED. As an entry-level TV, it offers good picture quality with a wide color gamut, great peak brightness, and excellent contrast. However, it lacks most advanced gaming and motion enhancement features found on Samsung's higher-end models. It has exceptional low input lag and an okay response time, but its HDMI ports are limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, disappointing for PS5 or Xbox Series X gamers. It runs a slightly simpler version of Samsung's proprietary Tizen OS smart interface, which has fewer animations overall. However, it's still very easy to use, and it has a huge selection of streaming apps available. Sadly, it has sub-par viewing angles, so it's not the best choice for a wide seating arrangement, and its HDR support is limited, as it has no local dimming feature and low peak brightness when watching HDR content.

Our Verdict

7.2 Mixed Usage

The Samsung Q60A is a decent TV overall. It provides good visibility in bright rooms, which is great for watching TV shows or sports. However, it has pretty narrow viewing angles, so it's not the best for watching with a big group in a wide seating arrangement. It has incredibly low input lag for gaming and use as a PC monitor, but its 60Hz refresh rate, somewhat slow response time, and lack of variable refresh rate support might disappoint some people. Unfortunately, while it has an excellent contrast ratio and a great color gamut, it doesn't have local dimming and doesn't get bright enough to deliver a true HDR movie experience.

Pros
  • Displays deep blacks.
  • Gets bright enough to combat glare in most lighting conditions.
  • Low resolution content is upscaled well.
Cons
  • No local dimming.
  • Sub-par viewing angles.
  • Some uniformity issues on our unit.
6.9 Movies

The Samsung Q60A is okay for watching movies. It displays native 4k content perfectly and upscales lower resolution movies without any issues. It removes judder from 24p sources and native apps, and it doesn't stutter much in low frame rate content. It has a high contrast ratio to produce deep blacks, making it well-suited for dark room viewing, but it lacks a local dimming feature to further improve the black level.

Pros
  • Displays deep blacks.
  • Doesn't stutter much in low frame rate content.
  • Low resolution content is upscaled well.
Cons
  • No local dimming.
  • Some uniformity issues on our unit.
7.7 TV Shows

The Samsung Q60A is good for watching TV shows. It handles reflections decently well and gets pretty bright, making it a great choice for well-lit rooms. However, its narrow viewing angles cause the image to appear washed out when viewed from the side, which isn't ideal if you like walking around while watching. Its VA panel is immune to permanent burn-in, so you can safely leave it on the news all day.

Pros
  • Displays deep blacks.
  • Gets bright enough to combat glare in most lighting conditions.
  • Tons of apps from Samsung store.
  • Low resolution content is upscaled well.
Cons
  • Sub-par viewing angles.
  • Doesn't handle direct reflections well.
7.3 Sports

The Samsung Q60A is decent for watching sports. It handles reflections decently well and gets bright enough to combat glare. However, it has narrow viewing angles, so it's not the best for watching with a big group of people. Unfortunately, the response time is just okay, so fast motion looks a bit blurry. There's also some noticeable dirty screen effect on our unit, which is distracting when watching sports.

Pros
  • Displays deep blacks.
  • Gets bright enough to combat glare in most lighting conditions.
  • Low resolution content is upscaled well.
Cons
  • Sub-par viewing angles.
  • Doesn't handle direct reflections well.
  • Some uniformity issues on our unit.
7.2 Video Games

The Samsung Q60A is decent for gaming. It has exceptionally low input lag, so gaming feels responsive, but it has a 60Hz refresh rate, and its response time is a bit slow, making fast motion appear blurry. Also, it doesn't support any variable refresh rate technology to reduce screen tearing. On the bright side, its excellent contrast ratio makes it well-suited for gaming in the dark.

Pros
  • Displays deep blacks.
  • Low input lag.
  • Low resolution content is upscaled well.
Cons
  • No VRR support.
  • 60Hz refresh rate and no HDMI 2.1 support for new consoles.
  • No local dimming.
7.0 HDR Movies

The Samsung Q60A is okay for watching movies in HDR. It has an excellent contrast ratio and a great color gamut, but it lacks local dimming and doesn't get bright enough to make highlights stand out. On the upside, it removes judder from 24p sources and native apps, and it doesn't stutter much in lower frame rate content like movies.

Pros
  • Displays deep blacks.
  • Doesn't stutter much in low frame rate content.
Cons
  • No local dimming.
  • Not bright enough for a true cinematic HDR experience.
  • Some uniformity issues on our unit.
7.4 HDR Gaming

The Samsung Q60A is decent for gaming in HDR. It has low input lag, but the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, and the response time is only okay, so fast-moving scenes look a bit blurry. Additionally, it doesn't support VRR to reduce screen tearing. It has a high contrast ratio and great color gamut, but it doesn't have local dimming and only gets bright enough to bring out some highlights.

Pros
  • Displays deep blacks.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • No VRR support.
  • 60Hz refresh rate and no HDMI 2.1 support for new consoles.
  • No local dimming.
7.4 PC Monitor

The Samsung Q60A is good for use as a PC monitor. It has low input lag to provide a responsive desktop experience. It supports most common resolutions, except for 1440p, and it displays chroma 4:4:4 properly, which helps with text clarity. Visibility in bright rooms is good thanks to its decent reflection handling and great peak brightness, but the viewing angles are pretty narrow, so the image looks washed out at the sides if you sit up close.

Pros
  • Displays deep blacks.
  • Low input lag.
  • Gets bright enough to combat glare in most lighting conditions.
Cons
  • Doesn't support 1440p.
  • Sub-par viewing angles.
  • Doesn't handle direct reflections well.
  • 7.2 Mixed Usage
  • 6.9 Movies
  • 7.7 TV Shows
  • 7.3 Sports
  • 7.2 Video Games
  • 7.0 HDR Movies
  • 7.4 HDR Gaming
  • 7.4 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  3. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  5. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  6. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  7. Updated Feb 06, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  8. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  9. Updated Aug 04, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.8, adding a new box for PQ EOTF tracking and updating our Color Volume and Color Gamut tests to better reflect real world usage. You can see our full changelog here.
  10. Updated Jul 25, 2022: Changed the HDR result in the PS5 and Xbox Series X Compatibility sections because there was a mistake that listed it as not supporting HDR.
  11. Updated Jul 14, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.7 with an updated HDR Brightness test that better reflects real world usage. We've also split the console compatibility boxes into separate PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility tests. You can see our full changelog here.
  12. Updated Feb 02, 2022: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  13. Updated Apr 12, 2021: Review published.
  14. Updated Apr 07, 2021: Early access published.
  15. Updated Mar 29, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  16. Updated Mar 29, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  17. Updated Mar 15, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 55 inch Samsung Q60A (QN55Q60AAFXZA). Note that with Samsung TVs, the six letters after the short model code (AAFXZA in this case) vary between regions and even between different retailers. Two similar models are sold in some regions, the Q65A and the Q68A; however, we don't know how they perform. The Costco variant, known as the Q6DA, performs the same as the one we've tested.

Size US Model Short Model Code
32" QN32Q60AAFXZA  QN32Q60A
43" QN43Q60AAFXZA QN43Q60A
50" QN50Q60AAFXZA QN50Q60A
55" QN55Q60AAFXZA QN55Q60A
60" QN60Q60AAFXZA QN60Q60A
65" QN65Q60AAFXZA QN65Q60A
70" QN70Q60AAFXZA QN70Q60A
75" QN75Q60AAFXZA QN75Q60A
85" QN85Q60AAFXZA QN85Q60A

If you come across a different type of panel or your Samsung Q60A doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, like gray uniformity, vary between units.

Our unit was manufactured in February 2021; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other TVs

The Samsung Q60A is a decent TV overall. However, it isn't much of an improvement over the Samsung Q60/60T QLED, and there are better TVs in the same price range or cheaper, like the Hisense H9G.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best 4K TVs, the best 4k TVs for watching TV shows, and the best TVs for watching movies.

Sony X85J
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Sony X85J is better than the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED. The Sony has slightly better contrast, a much faster response time, and can remove judder from any source. The Sony is also better for gaming and more future-proof, as it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, a 120Hz refresh rate, and it has VRR support after a firmware update.

Sony X80J
43" 50" 55" 65" 75"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED and the Sony X80J are both basic entry-level models, but they use different panel types with different advantages and disadvantages. The Samsung is a VA panel, so it has a high contrast ratio that can deliver deep blacks, making it well-suited to watching movies or dark room gaming. The Sony uses an IPS panel with low contrast and wide viewing angles. It can't produce deep blacks like the Samsung, but it has a faster response time, so it may be a good budget option to use as a PC monitor.

Samsung Q60B [Q60, Q60BD] QLED
43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q60B QLED is extremely similar to its predecessor, the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED. The Q60B is slightly better in a few areas, like the contrast and black uniformity, so it's better for dark room viewing, and it has improved out-of-the-box accuracy. The updated version of Tizen on the Q60B has a few more features like the support for Google Assistant, Bixby, and Alexa voice assistant features. On the other hand, the Q60A has a quicker response time.

Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED
43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75" 82" 85"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED is the Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED's successor and is nearly identical in terms of performance and features. There are some minor improvements to the color gamut and response time on the Q60A, but it has a noticeably lower contrast ratio than the Q60T. Other than that, the Q60A is much thinner, and its remote control has changed slightly to include an internal battery, which you can charge via the solar panel on the back or through a USB-C connection.

Sony X80K/X80CK
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED is a bit better overall than the Sony X80K/X80CK. The Samsung performs better in dark rooms because it has a higher native contrast with much better black uniformity, and it also gets brighter if you want to use it in a well-lit room. However, the Sony has a wider viewing angle, making it a better choice for wide seating areas, and motion looks smoother thanks to its quicker response time.

Samsung AU8000
43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED and the Samsung AU8000 are decent TVs from Samsung's 2021 lineup. There's not much difference between the two, but since the Q60A sits in the higher-end QLED lineup, it performs better in a few areas. It has a much wider color gamut and gets brighter in HDR, making highlights pop more than the AU8000. On the other hand, the AU8000 has much better reflection handling.

LG C1 OLED
48" 55" 65" 77" 83"

The LG C1 OLED is much better overall than the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED. The LG is a high-end TV with an OLED panel that has a near-infinite contrast ratio, but the Samsung is an entry-level QLED with a brighter LED panel. The LG has many more gaming features like VRR support, HDMI 2.1 inputs, and a much quicker response time. On the other side, LED panels are immune to permanent burn-in, which OLEDs aren't.

Samsung Q70/Q70A QLED
55" 65" 75" 85"

The Samsung Q70/Q70A QLED is better overall than the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED. The Q70A offers better performance and more features. While they're both VA panels, the Q70A has a higher contrast ratio and similar viewing angles. It also has a faster response time, a 120Hz panel, and extra gaming features like VRR and ALLM, as well as an HDMI 2.1 port for advanced consoles. Meanwhile, the Q60A is limited to 60Hz and lacks most extra features. However, it's available in smaller sizes than the Q70A.

TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED
55" 65" 75"

The TCL 6 Series/R635 2020 QLED is much better than the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED. While they both use VA panels, the TCL has a higher contrast ratio and a full-array local dimming feature to further improve black level. It delivers a better HDR experience overall because it has a wider color gamut and gets significantly brighter, but its gradient handling is mediocre, much worse than the Samsung. The TCL has better response times but higher input lag, and even though it has a 120Hz panel, it lacks HDMI 2.1 ports and can only display a 4k @ 60Hz signal. That said, it supports VRR, whereas the Samsung doesn't.

LG NANO75 2021
43" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75" 86"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED and the LG NANO75 2021 use different panel types, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, but overall the Samsung is much better. The Samsung has much better contrast, better black uniformity, and it's significantly brighter. The only real advantage of the LG is that it has a wider viewing angle, so it might be a better choice if you have a wide seating arrangement, but only if you're not in a bright room.

LG NANO85 2021
50" 55" 65" 75" 86"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED and the LG NANO85 2021 are both decent TVs with different features. They have different panel types; the Samsung is better for dark room viewing because its VA panel has better contrast, while the IPS-type panel on the LG has wider viewing angles. The Samsung also gets brighter, meaning it performs better in a well-lit room. However, the LG is better for gaming because it has a 120Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, and it has better motion handling thanks to its quicker response time.

TCL 8 Series 2019/Q825 QLED
65" 75"

For most uses, the TCL 8 Series 2019/Q825 QLED is much better than the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED. The TCL has a higher native contrast ratio, and it has a full-array local dimming feature that improves the contrast significantly. It also gets a lot brighter, enough to deliver a true cinematic HDR experience. The TCL has a 120Hz refresh rate, whereas the Samsung's is 60Hz, but it lacks HDMI 2.1 ports, so it can only display a 4k @ 60Hz signal. Also, its input lag is much higher than the Samsung's, making it less ideal for gaming.

Sony X800D
43" 49"

Although the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED and the Sony X800D both have a VA panel, they're quite different. The Samsung is available in various sizes, while the Sony is only available in a 43 inch or 49 inch size, and the 49 inch uses an IPS panel instead of VA. The Samsung has a higher contrast ratio to produce deeper blacks, and it has lower input lag, making it more ideal for gaming. However, the Sony has better response times that result in a clearer image in fast-moving scenes. The Samsung runs on Tizen OS, and the Sony runs on Android TV. Both platforms have plenty of apps available through the app store.

Sony X750D
65"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED and the Sony X750D are very different. The Samsung is a VA panel TV available in various sizes, while the Sony is an IPS TV that's only available in a 65 inch size. The Samsung is better for dark room viewing because it has a much higher contrast ratio. It also gets a lot brighter to combat glare, though not quite enough to make highlights stand out the way they should in HDR content. The Sony has better viewing angles, which is expected of an IPS panel, and it has much better response times. That said, the Samsung is better for gaming mainly because it has much lower input lag than the Sony. The Sony has a 120Hz panel, but it can only display a 4k @ 60Hz signal since it doesn't have an HDMI 2.1 port.

Hisense H9G
55" 65"

The Hisense H9G is much better than the Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED for most uses. The Hisense delivers better picture quality because it has a significantly higher contrast ratio, full-array local dimming, and gets a lot brighter, especially in HDR. It has better response times to deliver a clearer image in fast-moving scenes; however, you may also notice more stuttering in lower frame rate content. It has a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, but since it lacks HDMI 2.1 ports, it can only accept a 4k @ 60Hz signal. Unfortunately, neither TV support VRR. As for the smart features, Samsung's Tizen OS is easier to use and runs smoother than Android TV on the Hisense, but the Google Play Store likely has a larger selection of apps.

LG NANO85 2020
49" 55" 65" 75"

The Samsung Q60/Q60A QLED and the LG NANO85 2020 score similarly overall but are quite different. The Samsung has a VA panel, while the LG has an IPS panel. The Samsung is better suited for dark rooms due to its higher contrast ratio, and it also gets brighter in SDR and HDR. However, it has worse reflection handling and narrower viewing angles. The LG has slightly higher input lag, but it has better response times, a 120Hz refresh rate, and VRR support to reduce screen tearing when gaming. It also has HDMI 2.1 ports, making it a better fit for the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The Samsung Q60A has a simple and minimalist design similar to its predecessor, the Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED. The most notable change is that it's much thinner, which means it doesn't stick out as much when wall-mounted. The feet are now height-adjustable so that you have the option to raise the TV higher if you need room to fit in a soundbar.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures
Design
Stand

The feet are very flat, so the TV sits close to the table in the default position. However, you now have the option to adjust the height of the feet and raise them enough to fit in most soundbars or a thin gaming console like the Xbox Series S. You don't need to screw them in; they are just inserted into the TV.

Footprint of the 55 inch stand: 35.1" x 9.1".

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 200x200

The back is plastic with a brushed horizontal texture. All the inputs are side-facing, except for HDMI 3 and the Digital Optical Audio Out port, which is disappointing, as they're hard to reach if you wall-mount the TV. For cable management, there are tracks to guide the cables towards the feet, where you can secure them with the included clips.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.35" (0.9 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 1.57" (4.0 cm)
7.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is decent. Its all-plastic construction doesn't feel premium, but it's relatively sturdy overall and doesn't wobble much. There's a small gap between the border and the screen at the bottom left corner, but this could just be our unit, and it isn't bad enough to be a dealbreaker.

Picture Quality
8.6
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
4,653 : 1
Contrast with local dimming
N/A

As expected of a VA panel, the Samsung Q60A has excellent contrast, so blacks look black in a dark room. However, it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve black level further. Note that contrast varies a bit between individual units.

8.1
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
436 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
448 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
455 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
455 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
455 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
454 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
446 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
453 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
453 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
453 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
453 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001

This TV has great peak brightness when displaying SDR content, and it's bright enough to overcome glare in most viewing environments. There's almost no variation in brightness with different scenes, and unlike most Samsung TVs, small windows aren't dimmed by the TV's frame dimming (also known as CE dimming) feature.

We measured the SDR peak brightness after calibration in the 'Movie' Picture Mode with the Color Tone set to 'Warm 2', Gamma set to '2.2', Brightness set to max, and all other processing disabled.

If you want a brighter image and don't mind losing a bit of image accuracy, set the Picture Mode to 'Movie', Color Tone to 'Standard, and Contrast Enhancer to 'High'.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

There's no local dimming feature. We still film these videos on the TV to show you how the backlight performs and make it easy to compare it with a TV that has local dimming.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming In Game Mode
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

There's no local dimming feature. We still film these videos on the TV to show you how the backlight performs and make it easy to compare it with a TV that has local dimming.

6.8
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
364 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
352 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
160 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
494 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
501 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
502 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
501 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
501 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
492 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
500 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
500 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
500 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
499 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001

The HDR peak brightness is okay. Like in SDR, it maintains the brightness consistently across different content without any frame dimming in the 2% windows, but it isn't bright enough to deliver a true cinematic HDR experience. The EOTF follows the PQ curve almost perfectly before rolling off gradually near the TV's peak brightness. If you find HDR content too dim, set Contrast Enhancer to 'High' and ST.2084 to max. These settings result in a noticeably brighter image, as you can see in this EOTF plot.

We measured the HDR peak brightness in the 'Movie HDR' Picture Mode with Contrast set to max, Brightness set to max, and all other processing disabled.

We managed to reach 511 cd/m² in the 10% windows using the 'Standard' Picture Mode with Contrast Enhancer set to 'High', but these settings result in a less accurate image.

6.5
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Hallway Lights (~1950 cd/m²)
362 cd/m²
Yellow Skyscraper (~700 cd/m²)
332 cd/m²
Landscape Pool (~300 cd/m²)
149 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
218 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
503 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
502 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
502 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
501 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
216 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
502 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
501 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
501 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
500 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.054

The HDR peak brightness in Game Mode is almost the same as when it's out of Game Mode, except that there's frame dimming in the 2% windows, similar to the Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED. This means small highlights in dark scenes don't pop as much. The EOTF doesn't follow the target curve very well; most scenes appear darker than the content creator intended. If you want a brighter image when gaming in HDR, set Contrast Enhancer to 'High' and ST.2084 to max.

We measured the HDR peak brightness in Game Mode, with Color Gamut set to 'Auto', Color Tone set to 'Warm 2', Backlight set to max, Contrast set to max, and all other processing disabled.

7.0
Picture Quality
PQ EOTF Tracking
600 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0292
1000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0292
4000 Nit Tracking Delta
0.0107
7.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
Red (Std. Dev.)
0.121
Green (Std. Dev.)
0.125
Blue (Std. Dev.)
0.106
Gray (Std. Dev.)
0.111

This TV has good gradient handling. There's some noticeable banding in every color, and it's especially noticeable in dark shades. There's a Noise Reduction feature to improve picture clarity, but we found it to be ineffective with both test patterns and real content.

7.4
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.655%
50% DSE
0.173%
5% Std. Dev.
1.244%
5% DSE
0.114%

Gray uniformity is decent, although this varies between individual units. The edges of the screen are noticeably darker on ours, and there's also some dirty screen effect in the center, which is distracting when watching sports or wide panning shots. Uniformity is better in near-dark scenes, but it still looks blotchy, as most of the screen is a lighter shade of gray than at the center.

8.9
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
0.669%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

This TV has excellent black uniformity, but this varies between individual units. There are a few brighter patches throughout the screen on our unit, but they're not very noticeable with regular content.

5.7
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
25°
Color Shift
27°
Brightness Loss
33°
Black Level Raise
24°
Gamma Shift
24°

The viewing angles are sub-par, which is expected of most VA panels. Images look washed out when viewed from the side, so it isn't ideal for wide seating areas. If you want something with wider viewing angles, then check out the Samsung Q80/Q80A QLED.

7.4
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
5.2%
Indirect Reflections
0.4%
Calculated Direct Reflections
4.8%

The Samsung Q60A QLED has decent reflection handling. Glare is still noticeable in bright rooms, but it's bright enough that you can just increase the brightness to overcome it.

8.4
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
2.06
Color dE
1.67
Gamma
2.12
Color Temperature
7,012 K
Picture Mode
Movie
Color Temp Setting
Warm 2
Gamma Setting
2.2

The Samsung Q60A that we bought has great accuracy out of the box. The white balance is great, and color accuracy is excellent, with very few noticeable issues. Gamma isn't flat, though, as bright scenes are brighter than they're supposed to be. The color temperature is cold, so pure whites have a bluish tint. If you want even better accuracy, the newer Samsung Q60B QLED is better.

9.5
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.33
Color dE
0.75
Gamma
2.20
Color Temperature
6,732 K
White Balance Calibration
20 point
Color Calibration
Yes

Like most TVs, the Samsung Q60A QLED has exceptional accuracy after calibration. White balance and gamma are nearly perfect, and the remaining color inaccuracies aren't noticeable, except for pure blues, which are still a bit off. The color temperature is closer to our target but still on the cooler side.

You can see our recommended settings here.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

There are no issues with the upscaling of 480p content, like DVDs.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

This TV upscales 720p content like cable TV well.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

This TV displays 1080p content well without any issues, nearly as good as native 4k.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

This TV displays native 4k content perfectly, with no visible artifacts.

0
Picture Quality
8k Input

The TV can't display an 8k signal.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
BGR
Type LED
Sub-Type
VA

This TV uses a BGR subpixel layout. It doesn't affect image quality, but it causes blurry text in Windows applications that don't support ClearType when using the TV as a PC monitor. You can read more about it here.

8.2
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
91.16%
DCI P3 uv
94.31%
Rec 2020 xy
67.44%
Rec 2020 uv
74.42%

The Samsung Q60A has a great color gamut in HDR. It can display most of the DCI P3 color space used by most current HDR content, including commercial UHD Blu-rays, but it can't display much of the wider Rec. 2020 color space. It isn't an issue with most current content, but it's not future-proof.

7.6
Picture Quality
Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
68.0%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
30.6%
White Luminance
480 cd/m²
Red Luminance
95 cd/m²
Green Luminance
355 cd/m²
Blue Luminance
31 cd/m²
Cyan Luminance
385 cd/m²
Magenta Luminance
122 cd/m²
Yellow Luminance
450 cd/m²

The Samsung Q60A QLED has good color volume. It's limited by its incomplete coverage of the DCI P3 and Rec. 2020 color spaces. Colors are as bright as pure white, and it can display saturated colors at low brightness levels well.

10
Picture Quality
Temporary Image Retention
IR after 0 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 2 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 4 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 6 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 8 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 10 min recovery
0.00%

There are no signs of image retention after displaying a high-contrast image for ten minutes. However, this varies between individual units.

10
Picture Quality
Permanent Burn-In Risk
Permanent Burn-In Risk
No

We don't expect VA panels to experience burn-in, as the VA panel in our long-term test appears to be immune.

Motion
6.5
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
7.2 ms
100% Response Time
17.3 ms

This TV has an okay response time, but it's not ideal for gaming. There's a long blur trail behind fast-moving objects, and like most TVs with VA panels, it's worse behind dark objects. If you want an entry-level TV with better motion handling, then consider the Sony X80K/X80CK.

7.9
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
480 Hz

This TV uses pulse width modulation, also known as PWM, to dim the backlight, and there's noticeable flicker at all backlight levels. It flickers at 480Hz in the 'Movie' Picture Mode, but it drops to 120Hz in the 'Dynamic', 'Standard', and 'Natural' modes. Enabling Picture Clarity also makes it flicker at 120Hz, and the backlight-strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion, drops the frequency further to 60Hz. The 480Hz flicker isn't very noticeable, but 120Hz flicker bothers some people, and it causes duplication in motion.

10
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker For 60 fps
60 Hz
60Hz For 60 fps
Yes
120Hz For 120 fps
N/A
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
60 Hz

There's an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion, to improve motion clarity. When enabled, it causes the backlight to flicker at 60Hz, regardless of which picture mode you're using. Unfortunately, the timing is quite bad, which results in visible crosstalk. Note that the BFI score is based on the flicker frequency, not the BFI's performance.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
No

This TV has a feature that interpolates lower frame rate content to make motion appear smoother, otherwise known as the 'Soap Opera Effect'. It looks okay in quiet scenes, but there are noticeable artifacts when there's a lot of movement, and it stops interpolating altogether if it gets too intense. This causes a sudden change in frame rate, which is distracting in some cases.

8.1
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
24.4 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
0.0 ms

Due to the slower response times, the Samsung Q60A doesn't stutter much in low frame rate content. If you notice stuttering and it bothers you, enabling motion interpolation reduces the amount of stutter.

7.8
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
No
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
No
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
Yes

This TV can remove judder from 24p content and native apps, but not from 60p/i sources like a cable box. It's important for smooth motion when watching movies.

0
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
HDMI Forum VRR
No
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC Compatible
No
4k VRR Maximum
N/A
4k VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1080p VRR Maximum
N/A
1080p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1440p VRR Maximum
N/A
1440p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
VRR Supported Connectors
No VRR support

This TV doesn't support any variable refresh rate technology. If you want a similar TV with VRR support, check out the Samsung Q70/Q70A QLED.

Inputs
9.7
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
10.1 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
76.3 ms
1080p @ 120Hz
N/A
1080p @ 144Hz
N/A
1440p @ 60Hz
N/A
1440p @ 120Hz
N/A
1440p @ 144Hz
N/A
4k @ 60Hz
10.2 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
10.0 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
10.0 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
59.7 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
26.3 ms
4k @ 120Hz
N/A
4k @ 144Hz
N/A
8k @ 60Hz
N/A

Input lag is exceptionally low, which results in an incredibly responsive gaming and desktop experience. You can use motion interpolation to make lower frame rate games appear smoother, but it increases latency significantly and isn't recommended. To get the lowest input lag, enable Game Mode. To use motion interpolation, set Game Motion Plus to 'On' and Judder Reduction to max.

6.4
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 144Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 144Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
Resolution 4k
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 120Hz @ 4:4:4
No
4k @ 144Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

This TV supports most common resolutions, but it doesn't support 1440p, natively or forced. It doesn't appear as a native resolution on Windows, and when forced, it results in a 3840 x 1600 ultrawide format. Chroma 4:4:4 is displayed properly in 'PC' mode, which is important for clear text when using it as a PC monitor.

Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
No
HDR
Yes
VRR
No

Unfortunately, this TV doesn't support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and only supports up to 4k @ 60Hz on the Xbox Series X and PS5. It has an 'Auto Low Latency Mode' that enables Game Mode automatically when a game is launched from a compatible device.

Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
No
HDR
Yes
VRR
No
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
HDR10+
Yes
Dolby Vision
No
HLG
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
ATSC Tuner
1.0
USB 3.0
No
Variable Analog Audio Out No
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)
Inputs
Input Photos
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 3
USB 2
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 0
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 0
Composite In 0
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
SD/SDHC 0
Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC
Yes (HDMI 2)
eARC support
Yes
Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
Yes
DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
No
5.1 Dolby Digital via ARC
Yes
5.1 DTS via ARC
No
5.1 Dolby Digital via Optical
Yes
5.1 DTS via Optical
No

This TV supports eARC, which lets you pass high-quality, uncompressed audio like Dolby Atmos via TrueHD to an external sound system over an HDMI connection.

Sound Quality
6.1
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
126.99 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
3.61 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
4.16 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
6.20 dB
Max
88.9 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
4.90 dB

The built-in speakers are mediocre. They're reasonably well-balanced but lack the bass extension to produce a deep, rumbling sound. They get pretty loud, which is good for large or noisy environments; however, there's a fair amount of compression artifacts at higher volume levels.

4.7
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
1.316
Weighted THD @ Max
1.781
IMD @ 80
39.00%
IMD @ Max
58.85%

Distortion performance is bad. The amount of harmonic distortion is already quite high at moderate volume levels, and it gets worse as the volume increases.

Smart Features
8.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Tizen
Version 2021 (with reduced features)
Ease of Use
Easy
Smoothness
Very Smooth
Time Taken to Select YouTube
2 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
5 s
Advanced Options
Many

The Samsung Q60A runs on a somewhat scaled-down version of Tizen OS that has fewer animations. That said, it still has a good number of features and functionalities, and it feels smoother and more responsive than its predecessor.

0
Smart Features
Ad-Free
Ads
Yes
Opt-out
No
Suggested Content in Home
Yes
Opt-out of Suggested Content
No

Although we couldn't take a photo, there are some ads and suggested content on the home screen and in the app store. There's no way to disable them.

8.5
Smart Features
Apps and Features
App Selection
Great
App Smoothness
Average
Cast Capable
Yes
USB Drive Playback
Yes
USB Drive HDR Playback
Yes
HDR in Netflix
Yes
HDR in YouTube
Yes

There are plenty of apps in Samsung's app store, and they run relatively smoothly for the most part. The built-in media player supports most common audio and video formats.

8.5
Smart Features
Remote
Size
Small
Voice Control
Many Features
CEC Menu Control
Yes
Other Smart Features
Yes
Remote App Samsung SmartThings

The remote has changed from the 2020 Samsung TVs. It no longer uses disposable batteries; instead, it has an internal battery that you can charge via the solar panel on the back of the remote or through the USB-C port at the bottom. The 'Ambient Mode' button has been replaced with the 'Multi View' function, essentially a Picture-in-Picture mode.

There's still a built-in microphone for voice control, and you can choose your preferred digital assistant: Bixby, Alexa, or Google. Most commands work, like starting an app, changing some settings, or asking for general info. However, you can't search for content within a specific app, like Netflix. The OneRemote feature lets you use the remote to control other external devices, even if they don't support CEC.

Smart Features
TV Controls

There's a single button at the bottom right corner of the screen, below the Samsung branding. It lets you power the TV On/Off, change the input and channel, and adjust the volume.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • User guide
  • Remote control
  • Cable management clips (not shown)

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 37 W
Power Consumption (Max) 97 W
Firmware 1051