Note that this is a different TV to the 2017 QLEDs such as the Q7F and Q8C. The 2018 Q8FN is also called Q8F or Q8.
Our Verdict
Great TV for a wide range of usages. The Samsung Q8F can produce deep and uniform dark scenes when viewed in a dark room. Local dimming is also decent at reducing blooming and producing bright highlights. Motion handling is great, and the response time is fast so motion is clear. It isn't perfect though, as the image loses accuracy when viewed at an angle and some dirty screen is visible, especially when watching sports.
- Excellent wide color gamut
- Feels responsive due to low input lag
- Great motion handling
- Picture quality degrades at an angle
Excellent for watching movies in a dark room. Picture quality is great due to the high native contrast ratio and decent local dimming. Blacks also appear uniform, which is great. 24p movies from most sources are also shown without any judder, which is great.
Great for watching TV in a bright room. The whole screen can get bright, which combined with the reflection handling is excellent for overcoming glare even in very bright rooms. The smart platform is also very good for browsing Netflix or watching content on YouTube. Unfortunately, the picture loses accuracy at an angle.
Great TV for sports fans. The Samsung Q8 can get bright to overcome glare in a bright room, and reflection handling is excellent. Motion handling is great, so fast-paced content remains clear and detailed. Unfortunately, the best picture quality is reserved for those directly in front of the TV, so those with wide seating may be disappointed.
Excellent for gamers. Input lag is low, so the TV feels responsive regardless of the input signal. Motion handling is also great due to the fast response time and ability to flicker the backlight to clear up motion. The TV also supports motion interpolation with low input lag in game mode, which is great for a smooth gaming experience.
Excellent TV for HDR movies in a dark room. Picture quality is great, and the TV can produce deep dark scenes with the high native contrast ratio and decent local dimming. It can also produce very bright and vivid highlights due to the wide color gamut.
Excellent choice for HDR gaming. The Samsung Q8 has a low input lag and fast response time, so the TV feels responsive and fast motion is clear. Also, the TV supports HDR well with a high peak brightness and can produce bright highlights. The TV can also interpolate games while keeping a low input lag, which is great for smooth play.
Great choice for a PC monitor. Picture quality is good. The TV supports chroma 4:4:4 for clear text across all backgrounds, and it has low input lag so the TV feels very responsive. It also has a low response time, so fast motion is clear. Unfortunately, the viewing angles are poor so the sides of the screen lose accuracy when viewed from up-close.
Changelog
- Updated May 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Feb 28, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jun 11, 2018: 1440p @ 120 Hz input lag has decreased as of firmware 1103. The review has been updated.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 55" (QN55Q8FN) version FA02. For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 65" version (QN65Q8FN) and 75" version (QN75Q8FN).
| Size | Model | Model Short | US | Canada | UK |
| 55" | QN55Q8FN | QN55Q8 | QN55Q8FNBFXZA | QN55Q8FNBFXZC | QE55Q8FNA |
| 65" | QN65Q8FN | QN65Q8 | QN65Q8FNBFXZA | QN65Q8FNBFXZC | QE65Q8FNA |
| 75" | QN75Q8FN | QN75Q8 | QN75Q8FNBFXZA | QN75Q8FNBFXZC | N/A |
| 82" | QN82Q8FN | QN82Q8 | QN82Q8FNBFXZA | QN82Q8FNBFXZC | N/A |
In the EU, Samsung has released both a curved variant and the flat version of the Q8FN. Both of these are edge-lit TVs and will not feature Full-Array Local Dimming. While we will not be reviewing the EU variant, we expect the performance to more closely match that of the Q7FN.
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Samsung Q8FN doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.
Update 07/06/2018: We estimate our 55" model to have 40 local dimming zones. There was initially a rumor that the 65" model has many more (240) however this doesn't appear to be true, so we do expect these larger sizes to offer similar dark scene performance.
Update 08/01/2018: Samsung has announced that they will begin selling the Q8DN in Europe. The Q8DN is the European equivalent of the U.S. model, including Full-Array Local Dimming.
Update 08/20/2018: Samsung has announced that they will be releasing an 82" model.
Popular TV Comparisons
The Samsung Q8FN is a strong performer in both dark and bright rooms. It is great for any usage but comes at a very high price. See some of our comparisons below for how it compares to other TVs on the market. See our recommendations for the best TVs and the best smart TVs.
The Samsung Q8FN/Q8/Q8F QLED 2018 is better than the Samsung Q7F 2025. The Q8FN is brighter, so it's more suitable for a well-lit room and delivers brighter highlights in HDR. The Q8FN also displays more vibrant colors, has better upscaling, and supports VRR as well as 1080p @ 120Hz, making it the more complete package overall.
The Samsung Q8FN/Q8/Q8F QLED 2018 is a bit better than the Samsung Q7FN/Q7/Q7F QLED 2018 for most users, unless you want a cleaner wall mount installation with the One Connect box. The two TVs offer nearly identical picture quality, but the Samsung Q8FN has a better local dimming feature.
The Samsung Q8FN/Q8/Q8F QLED 2018 is better than the Samsung Q6FN/Q6/Q6F QLED 2018. The Q8FN has better local dimming and can produce better blacks, which is great for movies in a dark room. It also has better reflection handling, so you can place it in a bright room with no issues. The Samsung Q8FN handles fast action and sports slightly better as it has a better response time.
The Samsung Q8FN/Q8/Q8F QLED 2018 is better than the Samsung NU8000. The Samsung Q8FN has full-array local dimming and can deliver a better dark room performance. Also, the Samsung Q8FN can handle reflections better, thus minimizing distractions.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
Test Results
Older Test Bench: This product has been tested using an older TV test methodology, before a major update. Some of the test results below aren't directly comparable with other TVs. Learn more
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