Samsung Q70T QLED TV review

Our Verdict

Samsung's Q70T delivers skillful colour and sharp images at a decent price.

For

Crisp picture and vivid colors
Deep blackness levels
Multiple voice administration

Against

Some dimming at edges
Weak audio

Tom's Guide Verdict

Samsung's Q70T delivers good colour and precipitous images at a decent price.

Pros

+
Well-baked picture and brilliant colors
+
Deep black levels
+
Multiple voice administration

Cons

-
Some dimming at edges
-
Weak audio
-

Samsung Q70T QLED TV review: Specs

Toll: $899
Screen size: 55 inches
Resolution: 3,840 ten 2,160
HDR: HDR10+
Refresh rate: 120Hz
Ports: 4 HDMI (ane HDMI 2.one, i with ARC), two USB
Audio: 20 Watt 2 Channel
Smart TV software: Samsung Smart TV (Tizen)
Size: 48.four x 27.8 x 2.3 inches [w/o stand]
Weight: 35.vii pounds [due west/o stand]

The Samsung Q70T QLED Tv set embodies Samsung's strategy for its low and midrange TVs in 2020: make it cheaper, cut some corners to do so and hope that the savings makes up for lower operation. Its everyman cost QLED model, seen in our Samsung Q60T QLED Boob tube review, suffered from this approach. The next pace up, the Q70T, finds a better residual, though it faces stiff contest from models that are cheaper.

Our Samsung Q70T QLED TV review makes it clear that this is i of the best Samsung TVs bachelor, even among the sets on our listing of the best TVs. The nigh significant change in the 55-inch model we tested is the cost: It's $500 less than 2019'south Q70R – but yet more than expensive that the TCL six-Serial Roku TV (R635). One tradeoff for that price cutting is the move to dual LED backlight compared to the full array backlight on last year's Q70R. You also get weaker sound. Merely unlike the Q60T, Samsung didn't downgrade the processor on the Q70T, which helps keep the overall flick quality high.

Editor's Annotation: We have updated the pricing and availability section of this review to reflect electric current information. The rating and overall recommendations of our review remain unchanged from when it ran in October of 2020.

Samsung Q70T QLED Tv review: Price and availability

We reviewed the 55-inch Q70T, which sells for about $900 as of this writing at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers. That cost puts it squarely in the middle of our picks for the best TVs under $1,000.

Samsung also offers the model in 65, 75, 82 and 85 inches. All models have the same blueprint and features.

55-inch QN55Q70TAFXZA: $899
65-inch QN65Q70TAFXZA: $1,299
75-inch QN75Q70TAFXZA: $1,799
82-inch QN82Q70TAFXZA: $2,599
85-inch QN85Q70TAFXZA: $2,799

Beyond these models, the Samsung Q70T QLED TV line is virtually identical, offer the same number of ports, the same 4K resolution and HDR back up, and the same QLED display. All the sets apply a dual backlight and feature the same processor. As a effect, we await the performance for all sizes to have the same strengths and weaknesses every bit the 65-inch model we used for this review.

Samsung Q70T QLED TV review: Design

The Q70T'due south simple, elegant look matches Samsung's other QLED TVs. The 48.4 x 27.viii x 2.iii-inch unit doesn't take up much space on a TV stand up and doesn't beetle far from the wall if you hang information technology. It has a thin bezel around the QLED screen and the dark grey plastic enclosure doesn't expect inexpensive or fragile.

The Q70T comes with boomerang-manner anxiety that prune hands and securely into the lesser of the unit. The width of the TV with the stand is 10.iv inches. Y'all tin can also utilise a standard 400 x 400-millimeter VESA mount or Samsung's mini wall mountain (user-friendly if you want to minimize how far the Television is separated from the wall).

Like the Q60T, the Q70T has switched to a dual LED backlight from a full assortment backlight in the Q70R. The dual backlight is equanimous of two sets of LEDs that offer different color temperatures. College-stop Samsung QLED TVs use total array LED backlights, as does the Vizio P-Series.

The dual LED backlight produced slightly less brightness than its full assortment competitors — 549 nits for the Q70T versus 567 nits for the Vizio P-Series — but the Q70T was much brighter than the Q60T (414 nits). I had no problem seeing the pic in total daylight.

Samsung Q70T QLED Tv review: Ports

The Q70T has four HDMI ports, including one that supports eARC (sound return aqueduct) and ane that supports HDMI 2.1, which will be included on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. In addition, information technology has an RF antenna input, simply it lacks connections for older technologies such equally composite video. It includes Wi-fi for wireless Net connectedness and has an Ethernet connectedness if you prefer wired. Y'all tin connect a soundbar via optical digital audio and it also has Bluetooth for connecting headphones wirelessly.

The ports are located on the back of the TV, which means you lot have to move the set abroad from the wall to access them — not an issue for most people, only if y'all find yourself frequently changing what'due south connected to your TV, information technology may be a business organisation.

Samsung Q70T QLED Boob tube review: Functioning

The Q70T delivers a sharp picture with vivid colors overall. I was peculiarly impressed with the well-baked detail — while watching Avengers Infinity War on 4K Blu-ray, the lightning coming from Thor's fingertips when forging Stormbreaker was more noticeable than I'd seen information technology before.

Similarly, the tumultuous crashing waves and underwater scenes in My Octopus Instructor came through in excellent detail. The Q70T also produced deep blacks, contrasted by bright colors, such as when Ryan Gosling brooded in dark downtown Los Angeles amid the bright holographic ads in Blade Runner 2049.

It supports HDR10+ (merely not Dolby Vision), which helped it produce those vibrant hues. The Q70T mostly maintained proficient color consistency from a diversity of angles — something the less premium Samsung Q60T QLED TV couldn't do — though I did find dimming at the edges of the screen (likely a consequence of the dual backlight).

Our lab testing showed a color gamut of 99.74, which is merely a little better than the Q60T'south 99.71, only below the Vizio P-Series Quantum X (99.95) and the TCL half-dozen-Serial Roku Television (R635) (99.92). Information technology had decent color accuracy, with the Q70T scoring a Delta-E of ii.4, while the Q60T came in at 2.7 and the TCL 6-Series notched a 2.8.

The screen handled activeness scenes, similar the battle in Wakanda in Infinity War, without blurring. During gameplay on an Xbox Ane S, the Television receiver switched to game mode and handled racing at 200 MPH in Forza Horizons well, although the background lacked crispness. Similarly, while playing Telephone call of Duty the focus of the activity was sharp but the background wasn't. In our lab tests, the Q70T produced a lag time of 27.vi ms — adept enough for virtually games, only not as good equally the TCL half dozen-Series'south 21.five ms.

Y'all can choose from several preset motion-picture show settings, including Dynamic, Standard, Natural, Movie and Filmmaker Mode, to change the brightness and color to all-time friction match your preferences. I turned on Intelligent Mode, which adapts the picture to your environment, and found it to exist a good match.

Samsung Q70T QLED Television receiver review: Sound

The Q70T has two speakers inside to produce stereo audio. They are adequate but don't come about matching the quality of picture. If you want a complete experience, you'll need to add a soundbar.

The internal speakers work best for dialog — the voices are like shooting fish in a barrel to hear, whether it was the babbling of announcers during the MLB playoffs or Ted Lasso'southward overly optimistic sayings. But the system lacks bass, which leaves action scenes feeling apartment. When Thor arrives in Wakanda in Infinity War and unleashes a lightning strike, I missed the deep rumble that should have accompanied the scene. The encompassing, haunting soundtrack that supports Blade Runner 2049 was mostly missing without the bass, hurting the overall viewing experience.

The Q70T offers 2 sound modes: Standard and Dilate (which boosts the dialog). You tin also engage Samsung'due south Intelligent Fashion adaptive sound, which tries to create the best sound for the environment. I didn't notice much departure with Intelligent Mode on.

The 2020 version of the Q70 has 20 watts of power — half the corporeality of the 2019 model. Information technology produced nearly 85 decibels at max book, which is all the same plenty loud enough for nigh situations. The Q70T supports Dolby Sound merely can't handle Dolby Atmos — which may be an issue if yous choice a soundbar that can take advantage of information technology.

Samsung Q70T QLED TV review: Smart features

The Q70T runs the aforementioned Tizen platform as other Samsung QLEDs. With information technology comes a big variety of apps. Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and Apple tree TV come preinstalled; you can also add Disney+, HBO Max and most other popular services including live TV such as Sling and YouTube TV.

You can set up the Boob tube past walking through the process on screen, or download the SmartThings app to brand it easier. Yous'll demand to create a SmartThings account either way to use all the features available.

1 area the Q70T excels over the 2019 model is in its vox assistant options. The Q70T comes with Samsung's Bixby, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant every bit options, where the older Q70R only had Bixby. This allows you to match your TV with your other smart devices.

The Q70T includes a hands-gratis selection that allows you to use a wake word instead of pushing the microphone button on the remote (very handy when the remote is non within achieve). Say "Hello Bixby" or "Alexa" to activate; the characteristic isn't available with Google Assistant.

I tested all three options. In general Alexa understood me improve and was faster to react than the other two, though Bixby worked ameliorate than Google Banana. All iii could open Netflix; Bixby and Alexa could also open voice settings and plough off the Television set, merely Google Assistant couldn't.

Samsung Q70T QLED TV review: Remote control

The Q70T uses Samsung's standard wand-manner remote, which is comfortable in the paw and gives like shooting fish in a barrel access to things you'll want to do most, like adjust the volume and get to the habitation screen. In that location's likewise a play/pause button, channel changer, microphone for the voice assistant and a shortcut to Ambient Manner. This version of the remote likewise includes shortcut buttons for Netflix, Prime Video and Samsung Goggle box Plus, a set up of free live channels.

Instead of Ambience Mode and Samsung Television receiver Plus, I would have liked to have quick access to settings and inputs, which you either have to go to the habitation screen for or use the voice assistant to access.

Samsung Q70T QLED Idiot box review: Verdict

The Samsung Q70T QLED Idiot box is a solid QLED with vivid colors and nice black levels. It produces crisp 4K images, is brilliant enough to watch during the daytime and is fast enough for gaming. With a significant price drop from the 2019 model, the Q70T should be in consideration if you're looking for a midrange QLED Goggle box.

But the competition is vehement. The TCL 6-Series Roku Television set (R635) is cheaper and performs better in colour accurateness and lag time and remains our height pick in this price range; the Vizio P-Series Quantum 10 (PX65-G1) is comparably priced and has ameliorate colour functioning. Merely sometimes big brand names affair, and if y'all adopt the look of Samsung's TVs and want the cachet of its name, the Q70T is a fairly affordable option that will meet about of your needs.

Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Tom'southward Guide. He'southward written about music and technology for more than 20 years for a raft of publications including Wired, Men's Journal, PC World and Macworld. When he'due south not reviewing speakers, he's probably listening to one anyway.