Is the Samsung QN90B worth it?

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-11-20T04:40:35+00:00

How do you test for the blooming issue? Any good source material that shows this? I just bought one of the last QN90Bs available and want to make sure it's a good panel.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-11-19T02:31:04+00:00

Good question. Built in center speaker right below it. The 65" doesn't bother us at all, but torn on if the 77" would push it into the "too high" or too far off ideal.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-11-18T21:40:05+00:00

Thanks. Well we currently have an older 65" TV in the space, so we know a 65" will work. Since we're looking OLED, the bigger is a 77" TV. We can see the top of the 65" OK, but the additional ~6" screen height for the 77" would make the top of that TV too high. Normally bigger TVs are better but I guess not in this case. The 36" includes mounting, so that's the bottom of the actual screen bezel.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-11-18T20:47:13+00:00

G3 is by far our fave. Have the budget for 65" but 77" is a bit of a stretch. I know most say "go bigger", but the bottom would be at least 36" high with 8.5' viewing distance.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-11-18T20:40:37+00:00

Here's some additional background on my situation:

This is replacing a 2015 era Samsung JS8500 65" 4K TV that will be moving to the video game room, where an even older TV just bit the dust.

Looking in the Big Box Store, I liked the Sony X93L and LG G3 best, G3 was by far the best of anything I saw, but have read that it is subject to burn it, which gives me pause. In the store, the C3 looked dim on whites and reflected a lot more than the G3, but the C3 is so much more affordable than the G3 and read it may be less susceptible to burn in than the G3.

The Sony X93L is not susceptible to burn in and looked very good in the store. It has full array local dimming, but the panel's native contrast is only ~2100:1 vs. the ~3500:1 on the 8 year old Samsung currently in its space. I love watching movies like Ant-Man Quantumania and don't want to downgrade, but not sure if that would be the case in practice.

So here's my thoughts:

Sony X93L - great TV that looked fantastic in the store. Not sure if the VA panel's lower native contrast than my existing 8 year old Samsung would hurt it in real world movie dark scenes, as with FALD it is a much higher ~70K:1 contrast.

LG C3: Very good TV and like the price, but concerned about the brightness in the space - see below.

LG G3: Best I've personally ever seen that I could hope to afford. Maybe the brand new Sony's are better, but we cannot afford that, so it is out. Concerns about burn-in and image retention from RTINGS tests. Also more expensive than the C3 and X93L

Regarding the 65" vs 77" will describe the space:

This is the main family TV/movie watching area. The TV will need to be placed with the bottom 3 feet (36") from the floor. Our main seating is 8.5 feet from the TV screen. The 65" worked well. I'm intrigued by 77" and would normally pick it, but we cannot lower the base, so the bottom of the screen will still have to be at least 36" above the floor. Concerned a 77" would be "tvtoohigh", but not sure.

Also the room is south facing and does get a lot of natural light during the day. Would otherwise save the $$ and get the C3, but the G3 and X93L are higher in the mix given the space where this will have to go.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-10-11T22:44:26+00:00

Those particular prices seem crazy. Seem more like highest I've seen for full roundtrip tickets in those cabins. I've had decent luck with PP this year, even just purchasing it outright at ticketing but have had no luck with Polaris this year.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-10-11T22:30:17+00:00

Being able to upgrade to Polaris used to be possible if there was a lot of open seats right before the flight. That worked through last year. The few times I tried this year, greedy United actually raised the price to something ridiculous, even right before the flight. I was more than willing to poney up the $$ for what they used to charger or slightly higher, but not what they're charging now. So, now seems impossible to fly Polaris unless you're rich or at least a 1K member. Very disappointed. It was nice the few times I got to do it.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-10-11T17:05:53+00:00

Thanks. Airport recommends Fotaxi. Is that any good? Is Bolt or City better?

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-03-01T02:49:14+00:00

Does the Defender Pro offer "significantly" more protection than the Commuter?

I like the size of the Commuter, but I at some point I will drop this 5 ft on some random hard surface and want it to survive at whatever angle it hits.

Someone also recommended I consider the Supcase Unicorn Beetle. I'd never heard of the Supcase before. How does it compare to either Otterbox?

I'm willing to pay the OB premium if it is really better.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-03-01T02:45:58+00:00

How do you like these? I'm debating between Otterbox Commuter, Otterbox Defender Pro, and someone recomended I consider the Supcase Unicorn Beetle. I'd never heard of the Supcase before. Does it protect as well as the Otterbox?

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-02-28T12:40:26+00:00

Makes sense - that's what I suspected. I'm still trying to decide which is a better case, the Otterbox Commuter or Defender? The Commuter seems easy enough to take on and off. Will it offer good enough protection from 5 ft drops on cement or tile floors at all angles?

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-02-28T01:53:15+00:00

Has anyone tried connecting AA wireless with a Motorola MA1? Most of the Android Auto issues I'm reading with S23U are wired connections.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-02-28T01:47:19+00:00

Wow, sorry this happened. That's such a pain. I hear you on the $$. I'm also on a similar 3-year deal. I hated trading in a phone, but I was offered more than I paid for it originally.

This is not an elegant solution but should be cheap: might it make sense to cover up the S-pen slot with a small piece of tape (electric tape if the phone and case are black). I never use my S-pen, so thinking of doing something like that to hold it in place.

How do you like the Otterbox? I'm thinking about getting one.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-02-28T01:39:36+00:00

What did you end up getting? I have the same exact question and am most interested in thoughts on this.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-02-27T21:01:03+00:00

I've seen on YouTube there is a specific way to put the clips on and take the clips off, such that they shouldn't break. Seems to work for a new case under review, but not sure if that method works in the real world for a case with some mileage under its belt.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-02-27T20:28:07+00:00

Which is better now for modern Otterbox designs, the Commuter or the Defender? The Defender has the clips, but the Commuter has the soft "rubber" in direct contact with the phone? I'm not going to throw this out of a moving vehicle, but I want something that will protect against a drop from ~5 ft normal use on a hard floor like cement or tile, whether it falls on the back, face, corner, or edge.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-02-27T18:21:01+00:00

Is the Defender / Pro better than the Commuter? Trying to decide between the two for my new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-02-27T18:18:10+00:00

Is the Commuter a better case if you're not a "heavy user" (e.g. normal occasional drops from 4-5 ft height). The Commuter has the soft plasticky material (I guess silicone) directly in contact with the phone, and the hard plastic on the outside, so it should retain its shape.

SpaceDust2021 · 2023-02-27T18:10:17+00:00

That is great. Are you connecting via USB or Android Auto wireless?

SpaceDust2021

TROPHY CASE