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Samsung TV model numbers explained: What you need to know about Samsung’s OLED, Mini LED, QLED and LCD televisions – Plus Black Friday deals

In-Depth

Here’s how to make sense of Samsung’s TV model numbers across the company’s extensive range of televisions

Samsung may be the biggest TV manufacturer in the world, but its model numbers are far from catchy. While its phones and earbuds get snappy names such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra or Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Samsung’s TV ranges are saddled with less-than-memorable model numbers such as QE55QN95CATXXU; model numbers which, on the face of it, provide very little information about the product. Unless that is, you know the secret to decoding the seemingly bewildering jumble of numbers and letters.

In this article, we’ll give you the lowdown on each of Samsung’s current TV lines and explain how to decipher their respective model numbers to help you make the right buying choice.

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The 55in Samsung QN95C TV has NEVER cost less

With very high peak brightness and colours that are both vivid and accurate, the 4K Neo QLED Samsung QN95C is an easy recommendation for your next TV. You can read more about it down below but considering it has never cost less, Black Friday is an excellent time to buy.

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Amazon knocks £70 off the Samsung Q65C

Samsung’s Q65C quantum dot LED TV is currently available for under £500. The 43in model will set you back £499 – over £80 cheaper than its average price since release. Be quick to have to snap up this offer as it’s only for a limited time.

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Black Friday Deal: Samsung CU7100 is cheaper than EVER

The budget-friendly CU7100 from Samsung’s Crystal UHD series has gained immense popularity since launching this year, particularly this 50-inch model which recently received a price reduction to £379 at many retailers. AO members (£40/yr) can enjoy an extra £50 off too, bringing the price down to a remarkable £329, meaning you’ll be saving £10 no matter if you are signing up today or not – and then have the chance to get further price reductions using that membership.

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Everything you need to know about Samsung’s 2023 TV lineup

Samsung typically announces its upcoming flagship TVs at the annual CES conference in Las Vegas in January. It then takes a few months for these to actually appear online and in shops.

The majority of the 2023 lineup, which includes Neo QLED, QLED, LED and QD-OLED models, is available to buy now from Samsung and various other retailers, though there may be a couple of additions to the range later in the year.

Samsung TVs 2023: What’s new this year?

Last year saw Samsung return to the OLED market for the first time in almost a decade and it has expanded its OLED range for 2023. There are now two quantum dot OLED options – the S90C and S95C – and both come in a new 77in screen size in addition to the 55in and 65in models available last year.

Elsewhere, there’s Samsung’s usual assortment of panel technologies. Its entry-level 4K TVs use basic LCD LED panels, with sets becoming increasingly expensive as you move up through QLED, 4K Neo QLED and 8K Neo QLED models.

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New to the Neo QLED range this year is Samsung’s proprietary “Auto HDR Remastering” technology. This seeks to improve the image quality of low-resolution content by automatically applying HDR effects to it on a scene-by-scene basis.

Samsung’s Game Bar has received an upgrade, too, with version 3.0 adding two new features: Minimap Sharing, which allows players to access their in-game map on any display, and Virtual Aim Point, which improves the visibility of crosshairs.

Multi-device integration and connectivity via its SmartThings platform is a big focus for Samsung this year and its 2023 TVs come with an in-built module that negates the need for a dongle to connect and control Zigbee and Thread smart devices. Two new features have been added to the SmartThings suite: ConnecTime and 3D Map View. These make it easier to take video calls from connected smart devices and conveniently monitor devices in your home.

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Samsung TV model numbers explained: The ranges and their product numbers

Samsung’s TV lineup is split into distinct ranges based on the type of panel being used. Its most advanced TV is called “The Wall” and uses Micro LEDs. This exceedingly expensive TV was only available in 89in, 101in and 110in models in 2022, but is set to come in a wider range of sizes this year.

The company’s Neo QLEDs are more affordable despite their highly advanced panel technology. These use Mini LEDs, which are larger than Micro LEDs but significantly smaller than regular LEDs, to light their panels, along with a quantum dot filter. They’re brighter and more energy-efficient than their standard LED counterparts and feature many more local dimming zones, which helps improve contrast and overall image quality.

Alongside the premium Neo QLED models, you have Samsung’s two QD-OLEDs, which combine the inherent benefits of OLED panel technology and quantum dot filters.

Further down the lineup, you have Samsung’s QLED range. These TVs use panels with bog standard LEDs but picture performance gets a boost from the same quantum dot filter that’s incorporated into Neo QLED and QD-OLED models.

The final LED TVs in the lineup form the Crystal UHD range. There’s no quantum dot filter applied here, and these budget options only use basic LEDs to illuminate their panels. As a result, they’re not able to deliver the same level of picture performance as QLED or Neo QLED models but do cost a fair bit less than their stablemates.

The model numbers for 8K Neo QLEDs take the following format: QE65QN900CTXXU, while 4K options add one additional letter – QE55QN95CATXXU, for example.

Basic LCD sets like those in the Crystal UHD range typically use the former naming convention, while QLED alternatives use the latter.

To make sense of exactly what these numbers and letters mean, let’s look at each component of this year’s QN95C (QE55QN95CATXXU).

Q: This reflects the panel type, with Q covering both Neo and basic QLEDs. S, meanwhile, refers to QD-OLED panels, while U denotes basic LED panels.

E: This refers to the market the TV is on sale in, in this case, Europe. N signifies it’s a TV produced for the North American market, while A is for Asia and the Middle East.

55: The first pair of numbers simply indicate the screen size of the television in question.

QN: This relates to the range – QN being the company’s Neo QLED range. S represents the QD-OLED range.

95: The second set of numbers indicates the model series. The higher the number, the more premium the TV is. Three digits refer to 8K models, while two digits relate to 4K models.

C: This refers to the year of manufacture. Samsung has skipped a number of letters in recent years but A indicates 2021, B 2022, and C 2023.

A: The release code or generation of the TV in question, in this case, it’s a first-gen model.

T: This letter represents the type of tuner. Here, T indicates it’s a twin DVB tuner; you may also see U being used, which represents a single DVB tuner.

X: After the tuner type, we have the “design code” but what this actually represents is unclear.

XU: The final two letters are more straightforward and relate to the country code for the TV. XU is used for the UK and EU – you’ll want to think twice about buying a Samsung TV that didn’t end in those two letters.

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Samsung TV model numbers explained: The models

Now we’ve broken down the product numbers of Samsung’s various TV ranges, let’s take a look at the models currently available.

Neo QLEDs

Samsung QN900C: Leading the way for Samsung’s 8K TVs in 2023 is the QN900C. It’s a direct replacement for last year’s QN900B and comes in the same 65in, 75in and 85in screen sizes. It features Samsung’s practically bezel-less Infinity Screen, is powered by the Neural Quantum Processor 8K and gets all the advanced tech you’d expect from an expensive flagship. There’s Object Tracking Sound Pro delivered via 12 in-built speakers, and support for 4K@120Hz and FreeSync Premium Pro, too. The TV comes bundled with the One Connect box and the screen is designed to absorb reflections to improve your viewing experience.

Read our full Samsung QN900C review for more details

Samsung QN800C: The QN800C is similarly specced to the QN900C but can’t hit the same levels of HDR brightness. It also only has eight in-built speakers as opposed to 12 and runs Object Tracking Sound+ rather than Pro so won’t offer quite as immersive an audio experience.

Samsung QN700C: The final 8K entry in the lineup is the only one available in 55in. It uses “Lite” versions of the Neural Quantum Processor 8K and Object Tracking Sound and has to make do with Motion Xcelerator Turbo – Samsung’s dynamic refresh technology – rather than the Plus iteration found on the QN800C and QN900C. It also misses out on “Super Surround Sound” powered by Dolby Atmos, though basic Atmos is supported.

Samsung QN95C: Samsung’s priciest 4K Neo QLED this year is the QN95C, which received our Recommended award on review. It’s powered by the Neural Quantum Processor 4K, sports the gorgeous Infinity One design and offers great next-gen gaming support along with top-notch audio courtesy of eight Object Tracking Sound Plus speakers. Sadly, this year Samsung has decided to drop the One Connect box from its flagship 4K Neo QLED, which makes cable management a little messier than it was with the 2022 model.

Read our full Samsung QN95C review for more details

Samsung QN90C: The QN90C is available in a wider range of sizes than the QN95C (43in and 50in options join the 55in, 65in, 75in and 85in models) but is powered by the same Neural Quantum Processor 4K. The smaller options have slightly different specs, however, with stripped-back audio systems and Object Tracking Sound Lite.

Samsung QN85C: Samsung’s cheapest Neo QLED is powered by the same Neural Quantum Processor 4K that’s in the QN90C but isn’t as capable of an HDR performer and only has the most basic version of Object Tracking Sound.

Last year’s Neo QLEDs

QLED TVs

Below the Neo QLED lineup, you have Samsung’s regular QLEDs. These again use that quantum dot filter (hence the Q in their moniker) but make do with regular-sized LEDs.

Q80C: The Q80C is Samsung’s top-of-the-range QLED and offers a more affordable 4K experience than the Neo QLEDs with their fancy Mini LED backlights. It’s powered by the Neural Quantum Processor 4K, runs Object Tracking Sound Lite tech and makes use of Motion Xcelerator Turbo+.

Q75C: The Q75C loses the Neural component of the Neural Quantum Processor 4K used by the Q80C and has a more basic in-built audio system but otherwise sports similar specs. It’s available in a smaller selection of screen sizes, however, and the design of the stand is slightly different, too.

Q70C: This QLED delivers a similar visual experience to the Q75C but uses less advanced dimming technology (Supreme UHD Dimming rather than Ultimate UHD Dimming). It also has a different stand and is available in 85in as well as 55in, 65in and 75in models.

Q65C: The Q65C runs the Quantum Processor 4K Lite, meaning it’s less powerful than its more expensive QLED stablemates. Audio comes courtesy of a two-channel speaker system that supports OTS Lite, while Motion Xcelerator technology is on hand to deliver a smooth gaming experience, despite the fact that the panel has a native refresh rate of 50Hz so isn’t ideal for next-gen gamers.

Q60C: With screen sizes ranging from 43in to 85in, there’s a Q60C for just about any living space. It’s identical to the Q65C above in terms of specs and price, but the bezel around the screen and feet that it stands on are a different colour and there’s an 85in model in addition to the five other size options.

Last year’s QLEDs

OLED TVs

Samsung S95C: The S95C is the more expensive of Samsung’s two 2023 OLED TVs, both of which use a quantum dot filter to improve their colour performance. It’s powered by the Neural Quantum Processor 4K, sports the Infinity One design, comes with a One Connect box for easy cable management and is the company’s brightest OLED. It houses four HDMI 2.1 ports and supports refresh rates of up to 144Hz, so is a top pick for next-gen gamers that own both a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Samsung S90C: Like the S95C, the S90C houses Samsung’s Neural Quantum Processor 4K chip. It’s largely the same as its 2022 predecessor, the S95B, in terms of design and features but has an upgraded screen filter and is able to hit higher peak brightness. There’s support for Object Tracking Sound, Dolby Atmos and Q-Symphony, which optimises audio when connected to a compatible Samsung soundbar. One of the advantages of OLED TVs is how incredibly thin their panels are, and the S95C uses a “LaserSlim” design to remain as low profile as possible.

Read our Samsung S90C review for more details

4K LCD LED TVs

Propping up Samsung’s 4K TV offering is its basic LCD LED range.

Samsung CU8510/CU8500: These models both make use of Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K, sport an AirSlim design and use 50Hz refresh rate panels capable of reproducing over a billion colours. OTS Lite and Motion Xcelerator technologies are both supported as is Samsung’s Q-Symphony when paired with a compatible soundbar. The differences between the two models are twofold: the CU8510 has a white stand rather than a black one, and is only available in 43in and 50in sizes, while the CU8500 adds 55in, 65in and 75in sizes to the list of options.

Samsung CU8000: The CU8000 is a very similar offering to the CU8510/CU8500 but features a slightly different style of stand and is available in the widest selection of sizes. It’s also slightly cheaper than the above options when bought in a comparable size.

Samsung CU7100: The cheapest Crystal UHD TV currently available, the CU7100 is available in a huge range of sizes and offers an affordable entry point into the world of 4K HDR televisions.

Last year’s Crystal UHD LED TVs

Lifestyle TVs

In addition to its tellies designed to take pride of place in your living room, Samsung produces a handful of TVs for a more creative crowd.

The Frame (2023): When turned off, this QLED TV transforms into a frame designed to show off artwork or photographs. As such, it’s best suited to wall mounting, and you can buy customisable bezels separately to personalise how your TV looks. The panel has been updated from last year’s model and now features a matte display to reduce glare.

The Sero: Like The Frame, The Sero features a QLED display but this time, it’s capable of being rotated into horizontal and vertical positions. Mobile Mirroring allows you to display whatever’s on your smartphone and a 60W 4.1-channel sound system ensures you get a satisfying audio experience to complement the versatile visual one.

Read our full Samsung The Sero review for more details

The Serif: The final lifestyle TV in Samsung’s lineup is The Serif, which is designed to look great from every angle. It can be placed on a flat surface but also comes with four legs that can be slotted into its base to elevate it off the ground. There’s support for NFC pairing, Apple AirPlay, Bixby, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, along with an Ambient Mode that can be customised to fulfil various roles when you’re not actively watching something.

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