Samsung Q70 Vs Q80: Which QLED Should You Buy?

Q80 wins for picture and sound; Q70 saves money and still games great.

You want a sharp 4K TV that plays nice with movies and games. I’ve spent weeks with the Samsung Q70 and the Samsung Q80 in my living room, swapping them back and forth. In short, both are excellent, but one is built for punchy HDR and better sound, and the other is a smart value play. If you’re weighing samsung q70 vs q80, I’ll share what stood out in real use so you can pick the best fit.

Is Samsung Q70 Good?

Yes—for many buyers. It’s ideal if you want a fast 120Hz panel, smooth gaming, and bright, clean SDR in a well-lit room. It is slim, simple, and far cheaper than higher-tier models. If you want the best movie night blacks and HDR punch, it depends. The Q70 can do it, but it will not match the Q80’s control in dark scenes.

I used the Q70 in a bright open-plan room. Afternoon sports looked crisp and clean. Fast camera pans held fine. The TV’s Gaming Hub loaded my Xbox cloud saves fast, and VRR kept frames tight. At night, I noticed some raised blacks in dim scenes, but for the price, the overall package still felt quick and fun.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• 120Hz panel with VRR/ALLM for smooth, low-lag gaming
• Quantum Dot color for rich, vivid tones
• Bright SDR performance for daylight viewing
• Tizen OS with Samsung Gaming Hub and popular apps
• Slim design that looks clean on a wall

What I Like

• Great motion for sports and fast games
• Low input lag and quick HDMI switching
• Color pop without looking cartoony
• Simple setup; the SolarCell remote is handy
• Strong value in mid-size and big sizes

What Could Be Better

• No full array local dimming, so blacks lift in dark rooms
• HDR lacks the same punch as higher tiers
• Basic speakers; you’ll want a soundbar

My Recommendation

If you game a lot and watch TV in a bright room, the Samsung Q70 is a sweet spot. It’s available in many sizes and often goes on sale.

Best For	Why
Gamers on a budget	120Hz, VRR, low lag without the price jump
Bright living rooms	Good SDR brightness and vivid color
Minimalist setups	Very slim design and easy wall-mount

Is Samsung Q80 Good?

Yes—this is the step-up that most people actually notice. It uses a direct full array backlight with local dimming, so movies look deeper, and HDR pops more. If you love dark-room viewing and want better sound out of the box, the Q80 makes a strong case over the Q70.

I watched a few moody thrillers on the Q80 and saw the difference at once. Dark streets looked dark. Lamps and neon glowed without washing out the blacks. The built-in speakers with Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite made dialog clearer. When I switched to gaming, the 120Hz panel stayed smooth, and the brighter highlights gave visuals more depth.

What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features

• Direct Full Array with local dimming for deeper blacks
• Higher peak brightness for better HDR pop
• Object Tracking Sound Lite with Dolby Atmos
• 120Hz panel with VRR/ALLM and Gaming Hub
• Advanced processing for cleaner upscaling

What I Like

• Excellent contrast control in dark scenes
• Stronger HDR highlights and color volume
• Better speakers than most thin TVs
• Good off-angle consistency for group viewing
• Solid anti-reflection handling

What Could Be Better

• Thicker profile due to the full array backlight
• Costs more than the Q70
• Local dimming can sometimes clip very fine shadow detail

My Recommendation

If you value movie-night contrast and better built-in sound, the Samsung Q80 is worth the extra cost, especially in mid to large sizes.

Best For	Why
Home theater lovers	Local dimming and brightness boost HDR and blacks
Mixed use rooms	Improved off-angle and anti-reflection
Sound without a bar	Better speakers with Atmos support

samsung q70 vs q80: Side-by-Side Test

I set both up on the same stand and ran the same content. I checked sports, games, and moody films. Here is how samsung q70 vs q80 shook out for me in real use.

Picture Quality & HDR: Which Looks Better?

Both look sharp. The Q80’s local dimming and brightness give it the edge in dark scenes and HDR.

Feature	Samsung Q70	Samsung Q80
Backlight/Dimming	Edge-lit, no local dimming	Direct Full Array with local dimming
Peak Brightness (HDR)	Good	Very good
Black Levels	Decent in bright rooms	Deeper blacks in dark rooms
Color Volume	Vivid	Richer, more controlled

Rating: Q70 – 7.5/10 | Q80 – 9/10
> Summary: Q80 wins for movies and HDR thanks to local dimming and higher brightness.

Gaming Performance: Who Handles Frames Better?

Both are fast. The samsung q70 vs q80 each support 120Hz and VRR.

Feature	Samsung Q70	Samsung Q80
Refresh Rate	120Hz	120Hz
VRR/ALLM	Yes	Yes
Input Lag	Very low	Very low
HDR in Games	Good pop	Better pop

Rating: Q70 – 8.5/10 | Q80 – 9/10
> Summary: Tie on speed; Q80 has nicer HDR in games, so it edges out.

Motion & Sports: Which Looks Smoother?

I tested soccer and F1. The samsung q70 vs q80 both held pans well.

Aspect	Samsung Q70	Samsung Q80
Fast Motion Handling	Smooth at 120Hz	Smooth with fewer artifacts
Judder Reduction	Good	Very good
Upscaling for HD Sports	Clean	Cleaner, sharper edges

Rating: Q70 – 8/10 | Q80 – 8.5/10
> Summary: Q80 looks a touch cleaner in fast pans and lower-res feeds.

Sound & Speakers: Which Sounds Better?

Here the samsung q70 vs q80 gap is clear.

Feature	Samsung Q70	Samsung Q80
Speaker System	Basic 2CH	Object Tracking Sound Lite
Dolby Atmos	Limited/Pass-through	Yes (better built-in presence)
Dialog Clarity	Okay	Clear and fuller
Bass/Impact	Light	Noticeably stronger

Rating: Q70 – 6.5/10 | Q80 – 8/10
> Summary: Q80 sounds better out of the box; fewer people will need a soundbar.

Viewing Angles & Reflections: Who Handles Rooms Better?

For family rooms, the samsung q70 vs q80 differ in off-angle and glare control.

Aspect	Samsung Q70	Samsung Q80
Off-Angle Color	Fades sooner	Holds color better
Contrast Off-Axis	Drops faster	More stable
Anti-Reflection	Good	Better

Rating: Q70 – 7/10 | Q80 – 8.5/10
> Summary: Q80 is the safer pick for wide seating and sunny rooms.

Smart TV & Connectivity: Which Is Easier?

Both run Tizen with the same core apps and features.

Feature	Samsung Q70	Samsung Q80
Tizen OS & Apps	Yes	Yes
Gaming Hub	Yes	Yes
HDMI 2.1	Multiple ports	Multiple ports
Voice Assistants	Alexa/Google/Samsung	Alexa/Google/Samsung

Rating: Q70 – 8.5/10 | Q80 – 8.5/10
> Summary: Tie. The samsung q70 vs q80 share the same smart platform and key extras.

Design & Build: Slim vs Solid

The samsung q70 vs q80 differ in thickness and stand feel.

Aspect	Samsung Q70	Samsung Q80
Profile	Very slim	Thicker (full array)
Stand Stability	Good	Very good
Wall Mount	Clean, close to wall	Sits out a bit more

Rating: Q70 – 8.5/10 | Q80 – 8/10
> Summary: Q70 looks sleeker; Q80 trades slimness for better picture tech.

Value for Money: Which Is the Better Buy?

Price swings matter. I watched sales across sizes for weeks.

Aspect	Samsung Q70	Samsung Q80
Typical Street Price	Lower	Higher
Price-to-Performance	Strong for gamers and bright rooms	Strong for movie lovers
Upgrade Worth It?	If you do not watch in the dark	If you love HDR and dark films

Rating: Q70 – 9/10 | Q80 – 8/10
> Summary: Q70 is the value pick; Q80 is the quality pick for cinephiles.

Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

If your priority is gaming, sports, and daytime TV, the Samsung Q70 nails the basics and saves money. It is slim, fast, and bright enough for most rooms. In the samsung q70 vs q80 debate, the Q70 makes sense for budget-minded buyers.

If you want deeper blacks, stronger HDR, better sound, and wider seating comfort, the Samsung Q80 is worth the extra spend. For movie nights and mixed use in tougher rooms, the samsung q70 vs q80 choice tilts to Q80.

FAQs Of samsung q70 vs q80

What is the main difference in samsung q70 vs q80?

The Q80 has a direct full array with local dimming and higher brightness. That means better blacks and HDR. The Q70 is edge-lit, slimmer, and cheaper.

Is the Q80 worth the upgrade over the Q70?

If you watch lots of movies in a dark room or want better built-in sound, yes. If you game more and watch in daylight, the Q70 is often enough.

Which is better for gaming, samsung q70 vs q80?

Both offer 120Hz, VRR, and low input lag. The Q80 looks a bit better in HDR games. The Q70 offers great performance per dollar.

Do both support the same smart features?

Yes. Both run Tizen, have the Samsung Gaming Hub, major apps, and voice assistants. In samsung q70 vs q80, smart features are a tie.

Which handles wide seating and glare better?

The Q80. It maintains color and contrast better off-angle and deals with reflections more effectively than the Q70 in the samsung q70 vs q80 matchup.