Samsung Q8C vs Q7C Review (QN55Q8C vs QN55Q7C, QN65Q8C vs QN65Q7C)

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Samsung Q8C and Q7C are the curved model of Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV lineup, Q7C is part of Series 7 while Q8C is part of Series 8. In the market, Q8C comes with 3 screen sizes available including 55 Inch (QN55Q8C), 65 Inch (QN65Q8C), and 75 Inch (QN75Q8C), while Q7C comes with just 2 screen size options including 55 Inch (QN55Q7C) and 65 Inch (QN65Q7C). Since the screen sizes which available on both are only 55 inch and 65 Inch, this comparison certainly is as true to these sizes, 55 Inch (QN55Q7C vs QN55Q8C) and 65 Inch (QN65Q7C vs QN65Q8C). In the marketplace, with the same screen size, Q8C is sold about hundreds dollar more expensive than Q7C. So, what are their differences and which is a better choice between them?

The Similarities and Differences Technologies between Samsung Q7C and Q8C

The Similarities

Overall, Samsung Q8C and Q7C are supported by the same technology and also have similar features. One of the major advantages that offered, both of them are supported by Samsung’s advanced quantum technology where combined to Q 4K Color Drive Elite technology behind them, this makes their renditions of color is including the best in 2017. Meanwhile, for processing images, both of Samsung Q7C and Q8C are powered by Q Engine as their picture processor. Come with HDR technology, they are equally powered by Q 4K HDR Elite as their HDR processor. Nevertheless, unlike premium TV from other manufacturers where they are already support most of HDR formats, Samsung Q8C and Q7C Supports HDR 10 format only and might also HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) via an upcoming software update. Additionally, on their panel, both of them also equally have curved panel and use VA panel technology with edge LED Lit backlight. Meanwhile, for maximizing their contrast and black level, they have local dimming technology and powered by the number Samsung’s advanced technologies like Q 4K Elite Black, Ultra Black, Supreme UHD Dimming, and Auto Depth Enhancer technology. Otherwise, for maximizing its peak brightness and its performance when used in a very bright room, there are Ultra Clear Panel and Peak Illuminator Pro technology behind them. Combination of all of these technologies behind them makes the picture displayed on their screen looks very good, no matter the light condition of the room where they are used. But unfortunately, since they use VA panel technology, this certainly makes its side viewing angle coverage is limited.

For handling motion blur when they are playing fast moving images, both of them are equally powered by Motion Rate 240 based on native 120 Hz refresh rate panel. Additionally, both of Samsung Q8C and Q7C are also equally equipped with 4 HDMI port with low input lags and 3 USB ports as their major connectivity. And for providing simple, attractive, and responsive smart TV platform, both of them feature Tizen OS 2017 as their smart TV platform.

The difference

Although Samsung Q8C is sold hundreds dollar more expensive than Q7C but there are not many differences in technology between them, particularly for the technologies which have impact on their picture quality. Meanwhile, the difference between them is about their sound output. Although both of them equally have a 4.2 channel speaker but they have difference in sound output. For this case, Q8C has 60 watts of sound output, while Q7C has 40 watts of sound output. The impact, sound quality of Q8C is more steady than Q7C. The other differences between them is about the material that used for their back panel where the back panel of Q7C is made of plastic, while the back panel of Q8C, there is a thin metal cover over the plastic rear, makes its appearance looks more elegant than Q7C.

>> Please click here to see the price of Q7C on Amazon.com <<

>> Please click here to see the price of Q8C on Amazon.com <<

Samsung Q8C vs Q7C Key Specification

Samsung Q8C vs Q7C Performance

Picture Quality

Overall, Samsung Q7C and Q8V have a good picture quality. This is due almost all of the as aspect of their visual spec are great. Both of them equally have excellent native contrast ratio, make black level produced is very deep. This certainly allows both of Q7C and Q8C can show dark scene of images excellently with a lot of details, even when they are set in a dark room where the effect of high contrast ratio is very sensitive. Additionally, when inputted by HDR signal, their black level is also quite dark to reveal details images in dark scene, makes shadow details of images looks excellently like what intended. As we know, to show shadow details of HDR 10 images like what intended, an HDR TV must have 0.05 nits of black level or darker. Meanwhile, with about 4700 of native contrast ratio, both of them can reach about 0.021 nits that mean it is good and far darker than the recommendation set by UHD alliance. But unfortunately, their local dimming is not so great and doesn’t work as effective as Full Array Local Dimming when boosting the contrast, so their contrast is not improved significantly when their local dimming is set top maximum, even tend to similar when their local dimming is set to minimum. Nevertheless, since their native contrast ratio is already strong, this should not be a problem for them.

Meanwhile, when set in a bright room, the picture displayed on their screen also still look fairly good. Their peak brightness is quite bright to show bright scenes looks excellently. Additionally, although not as good as brighter TV like Sony X930E, their peak brightness is also quite bright to fight the glare, even in a room with very bright indoor light. On other hand, their local dimming is also very effective brightens the small area, makes highlights of images looks very bright. Additionally, their peak brightness is also quite bright to show highlights of HDR images brighter than 1000 nits like what intended. As we know, UHD Alliance has set 1000 nits as the minimum recommendation to show highlight of HDR images like what intended. On the other hand, their peak brightness is more than 1000 nits in 10 % windows that means this is good. Meanwhile, compare between them, Samsung Q8C has a bit brighter peak brightness than Q7C, no matter it is inputted by SDR or HDR signals. This means when set in a bright room, Q8C can fight the glare a bit better than Q7C.

One of the major advantages of Samsung Q7C and Q8C is about their renditions of colors. Both of them can almost perfectly cover colors in DCI P3 color space and fairly well reproduces colors in Rec.2020 color space. This means when they are displaying HDR videos, almost all colors of HDR images can be shown properly, makes the color of the picture displayed on their screen looks very accurate. And when showing colors in Rec.709 of SDR images where its color gamut coverage is not as wide as DCI P3 color space, both of Samsung Q7C and Q8C certainly is able to do an excellent job. Meanwhile, their color volume is also fairly good. Both of them might not be able to show darker colors as saturated as OLED TV, but overall, their color gamut can be shown properly at its entire brightness range and still better than OLED TV. In term of color gamut and color volume, what offered by Q8C and Q7C is even including the best in 2017. On the other hand, although not the best, the color gradient of Samsung Q8C and Q7C is also excellent. Color gradient of the HDR images displayed on their screen looks very smooth with almost no major color banding. Some little color banding might be still visible in darker color, but this issue is not causing real problem.

Overall, with great display specs that offered by Samsung Q8C and Q7C like strong native contrast ratio, very deep black level and good black uniformity, bright peak brightness and excellent renditions of colors, this certainly makes the picture displayed on their screen looks absolutely amazing and their HDR performance is great. All of their display specs even meet the minimum standardizations have been set by UHD alliance that means they can show HDR images fully like what intended. But compare between them, since Q8C has a bit brighter peak luminance, this certainly makes it has a bit better bright room performance than Q7C.

But unfortunately, their side viewing coverage is limited due it uses VA panel. As we know, poor side viewing angle is the major drawback of VA panel and of course, this is not their own problem because all TVs with VA panel also have the same problem. This means when the picture is viewed from an angle, it doesn’t looks as good when viewed from center and the front. Nevertheless, as long as you don’t often watch TV from side viewing angle, this should not be a problem for you. So, you should avoid watch TV from an angle if you don’t want to lose the amazing picture quality offered by them.

Motion Handling and 24p Playback

For a LED TV, both of Samsung Q7C and Q8C have excellent performance when handling motion blur. Combination of Motion Rate 240 based on native 120 Hz refresh rate panel and their extremely low pixel response time make the picture displayed looks very clear and smooth with almost no motion blur visible when they are used for watching fast moving images like sport or fast movies. This might not as great as what offered by OLED TV, but for a LED TV, what offered by them can be said the best. Meanwhile, when used for playing 24p movies, both of Samsung Q8C and Q7C also do an excellent job. No matter the source, whether it is 24p videos like Blu-Ray movies, 24p videos via 60i signals like movies from satellite TV or even 24p videos via 60p signals like movies from streaming device, both of them are shown clearly and smoothly with judder-free. This certainly makes them very comfortable when used for watching movies. Additionally, since both of them has native 120 Hz refresh rate panel, both of them already support both of 30 fps and 60 fps motion interpolation. This means, both of them are able to interpolate lower frame rate videos fairly well.

Inputs/Outputs

Samsung One Connect Box

As their major connectivity, both of Samsung Q7C and Q8C are equipped with 4 HDMI ports support HDCP 2.2 and 3 USB ports. Additionally, there are also 1 RF In (Terrestrial), 1 Ethernet, and Digital Audio Out (Optical). But unfortunately, they are not equipped with Component In and Composite In (RF In), so if you have old device where AV In or Component IN are their major connectivity, you need an external adapter. That distinguishes to most of TVs from other manufacturers, all of their inputs/outputs are not located on their back panel but they are located on separated box called “One Connect Box”. The advantage, if there is an update of their hardware or software of their ports in future, you just need replace the box without changing the TV. Meanwhile, talking about their input lag, overall, both of Q8C and Q7C have low inputs lags. With about 20 ms – 25 ms of input lags, this might not be the best, but it is quite low to play any kind of games feels responsively without laggy, even for fast paced games that require fast reflexes.

Smart TV

As their smart TV platform, both of Samsung Q8C and Q7C features smart TV platform, that is Tizen OS 2017 that powered by a fast quad core processor. Its performance is fast and responsive. Compared to last year version, Tizen OS has been overhauled where in this version, it comes with white theme and nice animation, make its appearance is nicer. Nevertheless, the navigation is still simple and easy. On their home screen, there is a ribbon across the bottom of the screen contains quick access to many apps and features. This allows you to launch them without leaving the home screen. Meanwhile, with the support of a fast quad core processor, this makes its performance is fast and responsive. Once you launch an app, the apps will open quickly. Additionally, switching between opened apps also feels very responsively. Talking about apps provided, there are also a lot of most popular apps installed as their preinstalled apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Videos, Web browser, Live TV, Cloud Games, and many more. Still less satisfied with the apps available? Don’t worry. There is also Samsung apps Store that provides tons of useful and interesting apps, games, and contents where you can directly download them from your TV.

As their controller, both of Samsung Q8C and Q7C are equipped with Samsung Smart Controller.AS functionality, it is similar to last year model or what used by lower model like MU8000 or MU9000. The difference, it is made of metal, makes its appearance looks more elegant. This remote is very simple and only has few buttons. It lacks “number button” and the number of user common setting button. Fortunately, it is equipped excellent voice command, where the functionality of the missing user common setting button can be replaced by voice command. The remote is also can be functioned as universal remote where you can control some functions of other device connected on your TV via HDMI ports with this remote.

>> Please click here to check the latest price of Q7C on Amazon <<

>> Please click here to check the latest price of Q8C on Amazon <<

Summary

Conclusion

As we have discussion a lot above, although Q8C have brighter peak brightness than Q7C, but overall, they have similar picture quality. Their picture quality is very good, particularly for their rendition of color. Meanwhile, their HDR performance is also great, it even can display HDR10 videos fully like what intended due their display specs meet the minimum standardization of HDR 10 set by UHD alliance. In addition very good picture quality and great HDR performance, some features that offered by them also have great performance. Their motion handling is very good, make them very comfortable when used for watching fast moving images or sports. Additionally, both of them are also a great TV when used for watching movies due their ability in removing the judder. Although not the lowest, their input lag is also quite low to play any kind of games so feels responsively. The other interesting that offered is about their smart TV where with Tizen OS 2017, they offer simple, responsive, and attractive smart TV experience. The major drawback is about their limited side viewing angle coverage, where the picture will look degraded if viewed from an angle. Additionally, the excepting of the aesthetic of curved panel, the use of curved panel also doesn’t give a significantly improvement in picture quality over flat panel.

So, which is a better choice between them? As we have mentioned above, in term of picture quality, they don’t have significant difference. Additionally, the excepting of the material of their back panel and their sound output, what offered by Samsung Q7C and Q8C are similar. Nevertheless, in the market, Samsung Q8C is sold hundreds dollar more expensive than Q7C. Now the decision comes back to you according to your preferences. If you don’t mind to spend hundreds dollar more to get a bit advantage that offered by Q8C, it might be a better option for you. Otherwise, if the budget becomes one of your main considerations, Samsung Q7C certainly is a better choice for you. Meanwhile, if you don’t like curved TV and want a TV that has similar performance to Q8C or Q7C, there is Samsung Q7F that comes with flat panel and has similar performance, but sold cheaper.

>> Please click here to buy Samsung Q7C on Amazon <<

>> Please click here to buy Samsung Q8C on Amazon <<