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When it comes to high-end televisions in 2025, two technologies stand at the forefront of the premium market: Samsung's Neo QLED with Mini LED backlighting and LG's OLED evo panels. Today, we're comparing flagship models from each company: the brand-new Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV and the LG 65" G4 Series OLED evo 4K UHD Smart TV. These TVs represent the pinnacle of what's possible in home display technology, but they take fundamentally different approaches to creating an image—which leads to distinct viewing experiences and performance characteristics.
Before diving into specific models, it's worth understanding the core technologies that drive these displays.
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) and QLED (Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode) TVs create images in completely different ways. OLED panels use organic compounds that emit light when electricity passes through them. Each pixel creates its own light and can turn completely off, resulting in perfect blacks and infinite contrast.
Meanwhile, QLED TVs—particularly Neo QLED models with Mini LED backlighting—use a traditional LCD panel with quantum dots for color enhancement, but improve upon older LED TVs by using thousands of tiny LEDs as the backlight. This allows for much more precise dimming zones compared to traditional LED TVs, though not pixel-level precision like OLED.
The LG G4 OLED evo was released in early 2024 and represents the latest iteration of LG's premium OLED technology with brightness improvements, while the Samsung QN990F 8K is fresh to the market in 2025, showcasing the latest advancements in Mini LED technology combined with 8K resolution.
The Samsung QN990F uses Neo QLED technology, which combines Mini LED backlighting with quantum dot color enhancement. Mini LEDs are significantly smaller than traditional LEDs, allowing Samsung to pack thousands of them behind the screen. These are organized into dimming zones that can be controlled independently, creating better contrast than conventional LED TVs. Quantum dots are microscopic particles that, when hit with light, emit very pure colors, resulting in a wider and more accurate color gamut.
Since 2022, Samsung has continually refined its Mini LED implementation, with the 2025 QN990F featuring more dimming zones and improved algorithms to reduce blooming (the halo effect around bright objects on dark backgrounds) compared to previous generations.
The LG G4 employs OLED evo technology, which represents LG's latest advancement in OLED displays. Unlike LED/LCD TVs that require backlighting, each pixel in an OLED panel is self-illuminating and can be individually turned on or off. The "evo" designation indicates LG's higher-brightness OLED panel, addressing one of the traditional limitations of OLED technology.
LG's G4 represents a significant improvement over previous OLED models, with the evo technology offering approximately 30% increased brightness compared to standard OLED panels from just a few years ago.
Perhaps the most apparent difference between these models is resolution. The Samsung QN990F features 8K resolution (7680 × 4320), offering four times the pixel density of 4K displays. This translates to 33 million pixels compared to the 8.3 million pixels in a 4K display.
The LG G4 offers 4K resolution (3840 × 2160), which remains the current standard for premium content. While 8K content remains limited in 2025, Samsung has continued to develop its AI upscaling technology to make 4K and lower resolution content look better on its 8K displays.
This is perhaps the most fundamental difference between these technologies, and it significantly impacts the viewing experience.
The Samsung QN990F achieves excellent contrast with impressively deep blacks thanks to its advanced Mini LED local dimming system. With thousands of dimming zones, it can precisely control brightness across different areas of the screen. However, physics dictates that some blooming may still occur in challenging scenes, like white text on a black background, because multiple pixels share the same dimming zone.
Throughout my testing of recent Samsung Mini LED models, I've observed that blooming has been dramatically reduced compared to older LED technologies, but it's still occasionally noticeable in demanding content, especially when viewed off-angle.
The LG G4 delivers perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio as each pixel can be completely turned off. This creates unmatched shadow detail and depth, particularly noticeable in dark room viewing. OLED technology simply does not suffer from blooming or light bleed since there's no backlight to manage—pixels that should be black are truly off, emitting no light whatsoever.
In a home theater environment with controlled lighting, this OLED advantage becomes particularly pronounced. Watching films with letterbox bars or space scenes on the G4 demonstrates the technology's strength, as blacks appear truly black rather than dark gray, and stars against a night sky show no halo effect.
Brightness is where the Samsung QN990F takes a commanding lead. Its Mini LED system can push peak brightness likely exceeding 2,000 nits in highlights, making it superior for bright room viewing and HDR content with intense highlights. This means sunlight reflections, explosions, and other bright elements in HDR content can be rendered with stunning realism and impact.
Samsung has continued to push brightness levels higher with each Neo QLED generation, with the 2025 models offering approximately 20% higher peak brightness compared to 2023 models.
The LG G4 has made significant strides in brightness with its evo panel, reaching around 1,000 nits in small highlights—impressive for OLED technology and a huge improvement over OLEDs from just a few years ago that struggled to break 700 nits. However, it still can't match the raw luminance output of the Samsung.
What's interesting is that despite lower peak brightness, many viewers (myself included) find that HDR content often appears more impactful on OLED displays. This is because the perfect blacks create a perception of greater contrast, even with lower absolute brightness. In a dark room, this OLED advantage is particularly noticeable.
The Samsung QN990F produces exceptionally vibrant, saturated colors with excellent volume thanks to its quantum dot technology. These microscopic particles are precisely tuned to emit specific wavelengths of light, resulting in purer reds, greens, and blues than traditional LED/LCD displays can achieve. Samsung's 2025 models have expanded the color volume even further compared to previous generations.
In my experience testing Samsung's quantum dot displays, they particularly excel with bright, colorful content like animated films, sports, and nature documentaries, where the combination of high brightness and vivid colors creates a stunning visual impact.
The LG G4 offers more natural color reproduction with exceptional accuracy, particularly after calibration. OLED's pixel-level light control allows for nuanced gradations in color that can make skin tones and subtle color shifts appear more realistic. While colors might not appear as vibrant as the Samsung in bright rooms, they often look more natural and balanced, especially in a controlled lighting environment.
For film enthusiasts seeking to see content exactly as directors intended, the G4's color accuracy in Filmmaker Mode provides a reference-quality experience that's hard to beat.
This is another area where the underlying panel technology creates a significant difference.
The Samsung QN990F has improved viewing angles compared to traditional LED/LCD TVs thanks to advanced panel design, but color and contrast degradation is still visible at extreme angles. If you have a wide seating arrangement or frequently watch TV from the kitchen or other off-axis positions, this is worth considering.
The LG G4 maintains nearly perfect image consistency at all viewing angles. Colors, contrast, and brightness remain virtually unchanged even at extreme angles, making it ideal for wide seating arrangements. This is an inherent advantage of OLED technology, as each pixel emits light directly toward the viewer rather than through multiple layers that can cause shifting at angles.
Modern premium TVs have become incredible gaming displays, and both of these models excel in different ways.
The Samsung QN990F supports up to 4K at 240Hz through its Motion Xcelerator 240Hz technology and 8K at 60Hz, with good response times. This is a notable improvement over previous generations that typically maxed out at 4K 120Hz. For PC gamers with high-end hardware or next-gen console owners, this provides incredibly smooth motion with compatible games.
The LG G4 offers up to 4K at 144Hz with virtually instantaneous pixel response times (0.1ms), resulting in exceptional motion clarity with no ghosting or smearing. While the maximum refresh rate is lower than the Samsung, the pixel response time—how quickly each pixel can change from one state to another—is significantly faster due to the nature of OLED technology.
In practical gaming sessions on both types of displays, I've found that the OLED's instant response time often creates a more noticeable improvement in clarity during fast motion than higher refresh rates on LCD-based displays that have inherently slower pixel transitions.
Both TVs are well-equipped for modern gaming needs.
The Samsung QN990F includes VRR (Variable Refresh Rate, which synchronizes the TV's refresh rate with the console/PC's output to prevent screen tearing), ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode, which automatically switches to game mode when a gaming device is detected), and FreeSync Premium Pro support for smooth gameplay with compatible AMD graphics cards.
The LG G4 features a comprehensive gaming package with VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium, G-Sync compatibility (for NVIDIA graphics cards), and the Game Optimizer dashboard that provides quick access to all gaming-related settings. LG has been particularly aggressive in supporting gaming features, making their OLED TVs favorites among serious gamers.
Input lag—the delay between pressing a button and seeing the result on screen—is crucial for responsive gaming.
The Samsung QN990F delivers very low input lag, particularly in Game Mode, likely around 5-10ms based on performance of recent models.
The LG G4 offers industry-leading input lag performance (under 10ms at 4K/120Hz), making it a favorite among competitive gamers where split-second reactions matter.
The Samsung QN990F uses Samsung's Tizen OS with the NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor, offering smooth navigation and AI-enhanced features. Samsung has continued to refine Tizen over the years, and the 2025 version includes improved voice control functionality and a more intuitive interface compared to earlier iterations.
The LG G4 runs WebOS 24 powered by the α11 AI Processor, known for its intuitive card-based interface and comprehensive app support. LG has revamped WebOS several times since its introduction, with the 2024 version focusing on personalization and faster navigation.
Both operating systems support all major streaming platforms and offer voice control, but they differ in layout and navigation philosophy. In my experience, WebOS tends to be more straightforward, while Tizen offers more customization options.
Modern premium TVs rely heavily on AI processing to improve image quality, particularly when displaying content at lower than native resolution.
The Samsung QN990F implements 8K AI Upscaling Pro with 768 neural networks to enhance lower-resolution content. This is particularly important for an 8K TV since native 8K content remains scarce. The system analyzes content in real-time, adding appropriate detail and reducing noise without creating artifacts. Samsung Vision AI also optimizes picture and sound settings automatically based on what you're watching.
The LG G4 features AI Super Upscaling and AI Picture Wizard to improve non-4K content and automatically adjust picture settings for optimal quality. The α11 processor represents a 30% improvement in processing power over its predecessor, allowing for more sophisticated real-time analysis.
The Samsung QN990F features a nearly edgeless design with a premium metal frame and the innovative Wireless One Connect box for cable management. This external box houses most of the TV's ports and processors, connecting to the display wirelessly (up to 30 feet away). This allows for a cleaner installation with minimal visible cables near the TV itself.
The LG G4 employs a minimalist "gallery" design that sits flush against the wall when mounted, with no gap, ideal for a clean aesthetic. The TV is designed to look like a picture frame when wall-mounted, making it an attractive option for design-conscious consumers.
The Samsung QN990F generally requires more power due to its bright Mini LED backlight system. In particular, HDR content at high brightness settings can draw significant power.
The LG G4 is typically more energy-efficient as OLED technology only illuminates the necessary pixels. When displaying darker content, power consumption drops dramatically since many pixels may be completely off.
The Samsung QN990F has no significant risk of permanent image retention, which has traditionally been an advantage of LED/LCD technology over OLED.
The LG G4 carries a small risk of burn-in with static content displayed for extended periods, though greatly reduced with modern OLED panels and protective features. LG has implemented numerous safeguards including logo detection, pixel shifting, and panel refreshing features to minimize this risk. In normal viewing conditions with varied content, burn-in is increasingly rare with modern OLED panels.
The Samsung QN990F is priced at $5,499.99, representing a significant premium over most TVs on the market, including high-end models.
The LG G4 is available for $1,897.14, less than half the cost of the Samsung. This dramatic price difference represents one of the most critical factors in the decision-making process for most consumers.
The Samsung QN990F offers 8K resolution as its primary future-proofing feature. While native 8K content remains limited in 2025, the higher resolution could potentially provide value over a longer ownership period as content standards evolve. The TV also supports cutting-edge gaming features like 4K at 240Hz that might become more relevant as console and PC hardware advances.
The LG G4 with 4K resolution remains aligned with current content standards, with 8K adoption likely years away for mainstream use. That said, its 4K/144Hz capability and comprehensive gaming features ensure compatibility with high-end gaming systems for the foreseeable future.
The Samsung QN990F represents cutting-edge technology with the highest specifications available, but at a substantial price premium that many users may find difficult to justify given current content limitations. For those with unlimited budgets who want the absolute latest technology regardless of price-to-performance ratio, it's an impressive showcase.
The LG G4 offers exceptional picture quality and premium features at a much more accessible price point, representing better immediate value for most consumers. The dramatic price difference could allow buyers to pair the G4 with a high-quality sound system and still spend less than the cost of the Samsung alone.
Choose the Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV if:
Choose the LG 65" G4 Series OLED evo 4K UHD Smart TV if:
For most consumers, the LG G4 represents the better value, delivering exceptional picture quality at less than half the price of the Samsung QN990F. The 8K resolution of the Samsung, while impressive, offers limited practical benefits with current content. However, if budget is not a concern and you want the absolute cutting edge of television technology with maximum brightness for a well-lit room, the Samsung QN990F delivers the most advanced features available today.
In the end, both TVs represent the pinnacle of their respective technologies. Your specific viewing environment, content preferences, and budget will ultimately determine which is the better fit for your home.
| Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV | LG 65" G4 Series OLED evo 4K UHD Smart TV |
|---|---|
| Price - The most significant factor for most buyers | |
| $5,499.99 (premium pricing for cutting-edge technology) | $1,897.14 (significantly better value while still offering premium performance) |
| Display Technology - Determines fundamental viewing characteristics | |
| Neo QLED with Mini LED backlight (high brightness with very good contrast) | OLED evo (perfect blacks with infinite contrast but lower peak brightness) |
| Resolution - Determines image detail and future-proofing | |
| 8K (7680 × 4320) - Limited native content available but excellent upscaling | 4K (3840 × 2160) - Current standard for premium content |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR performance and bright room viewing | |
| 2,000+ nits (exceptional for bright rooms and HDR highlights) | ~1,000 nits (good for most environments but may struggle in very bright rooms) |
| Black Level Performance - Crucial for movie viewing in dark rooms | |
| Very good blacks with minimal blooming (but not perfect) | Perfect blacks with no blooming (each pixel can turn completely off) |
| Viewing Angles - Important for wide seating arrangements | |
| Good but degrades at extreme angles | Excellent at all viewing angles with no color or contrast shift |
| Gaming Features - Critical for console and PC gamers | |
| 4K@240Hz, 8K@60Hz, VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium Pro | 4K@144Hz, VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium, G-Sync Compatible, 0.1ms response time |
| Smart Platform - Determines user interface and app availability | |
| Tizen OS with NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor | WebOS 24 with α11 AI Processor |
| Design and Installation - Affects aesthetics and setup flexibility | |
| Nearly edgeless design with Wireless One Connect box for clean installation | Gallery design sits flush against wall when mounted, no gap |
| Risk of Burn-in - Long-term durability consideration | |
| No risk of permanent image retention | Low risk with modern OLED protections, but still possible with static content |
| Power Efficiency - Impacts long-term operating costs | |
| Higher power consumption, especially at high brightness | More efficient, particularly with darker content |
| Best Use Case - When each TV shines brightest | |
| Bright rooms, future-proofing, maximum HDR impact | Home theaters, movie enthusiasts, wide seating arrangements, serious gaming |
For dedicated home theater use, the LG G4 OLED evo 4K UHD Smart TV generally performs better due to its perfect black levels and infinite contrast ratio. These characteristics create a more cinematic experience in controlled lighting, which is typical for home theaters. The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV offers higher brightness, but in a darkened home theater room, the LG G4's superior contrast becomes more apparent and important. For the ultimate movie-watching experience in a dedicated space, the LG G4 is typically the preferred choice among home theater enthusiasts.
For most consumers in 2025, 8K resolution as found in the Samsung QN990F 8K Smart TV isn't yet worth the substantial price premium over 4K TVs like the LG G4 OLED. Native 8K content remains limited, and at typical viewing distances with a 65" screen, most viewers cannot discern the difference between 4K and 8K resolution. While the Samsung QN990F does offer excellent 8K AI upscaling for lower-resolution content, paying nearly three times the price of the LG G4 4K TV primarily for resolution is difficult to justify for most households.
The Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F significantly outperforms the LG G4 OLED in bright rooms. With peak brightness exceeding 2,000 nits and an anti-glare screen, the Samsung maintains vibrant images even with sunlight or bright indoor lighting. While the LG G4 OLED has improved brightness compared to older OLED models, reaching approximately 1,000 nits, it still can't match the Samsung's light output. If your TV will be placed in a sun-filled room or you typically watch during daytime with blinds open, the Samsung QN990F would be the better choice.
Both TVs offer excellent gaming features, but they excel in different ways. The LG G4 OLED provides nearly instantaneous response time (0.1ms), 4K/144Hz support, and comprehensive variable refresh rate compatibility (including G-Sync and FreeSync), making it exceptional for fast-paced, competitive gaming. The Samsung QN990F supports higher refresh rates (up to 4K/240Hz), which can benefit PC gamers with high-end hardware, though current consoles max out at 4K/120Hz. For console gaming specifically, the LG G4 offers the better overall experience considering its performance and significantly lower price.
The risk of burn-in with modern OLED TVs like the LG G4 has been substantially reduced compared to earlier generations, but it's not completely eliminated. LG has implemented numerous protections including pixel shifting, logo detection, and automatic brightness limiting for static elements. For most users with varied viewing habits, burn-in is unlikely to occur with the LG G4. However, if you primarily watch content with static elements (like news channels with persistent logos or play the same video game for extended periods daily), the Samsung QN990F Neo QLED would eliminate this concern entirely as LCD-based displays don't suffer from burn-in.
Both the Samsung QN990F with Tizen OS and the LG G4 with WebOS 24 offer comprehensive smart platforms with access to all major streaming services. Samsung's interface tends to have more customization options and deeper integration with Samsung ecosystem devices, while LG's WebOS is generally considered more intuitive and user-friendly. The Samsung QN990F features the innovative Wireless One Connect box for cleaner installation, while the LG G4 offers better integration with various smart home systems. Personal preference plays a significant role here, as both platforms are mature and feature-rich.
For movie viewing, the LG G4 OLED typically delivers superior overall picture quality with perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and more accurate colors, creating a more cinematic experience. The Samsung Neo QLED QN990F offers higher brightness and more vibrant colors, which can make HDR highlights more impactful, but it can't match the OLED's precision in dark scenes and shadow detail. In a controlled lighting environment, most film enthusiasts and videophiles prefer the LG G4 OLED's rendering of movies, particularly for content with dark scenes or letterbox bars, where the perfect black levels are most noticeable.
The LG G4 OLED at $1,897.14 offers significantly better value than the Samsung QN990F at $5,499.99. While the Samsung provides 8K resolution and higher peak brightness, the nearly $3,600 price difference is difficult to justify for most consumers. The LG G4 delivers reference-quality 4K picture performance, excellent gaming capabilities, and a premium smart TV experience at about one-third the cost. Unless 8K resolution and maximum brightness are absolutely essential for your specific needs, the LG G4 represents the more sensible investment.
The LG G4 OLED offers superior viewing angles compared to the Samsung QN990F Neo QLED. With OLED technology, the G4 maintains consistent color accuracy, contrast, and brightness even when viewed from extreme side angles. The Samsung QN990F, while improved over traditional LCD TVs, still shows some degradation in picture quality when viewed off-axis. If you have a wide seating arrangement or frequently watch TV from different positions in the room, the LG G4 would provide a more consistent viewing experience for everyone.
For sports viewing, the choice depends on your typical viewing environment. In brighter rooms, the Samsung QN990F performs better with its higher brightness and anti-glare screen, ensuring clear visibility of fast action even in daylight. For evening viewing or in controlled lighting, the LG G4 OLED might be preferred due to its superior motion handling with near-instantaneous pixel response times, which reduces motion blur during fast-paced action. If you primarily watch sports during daytime in a bright room, the Samsung QN990F would be the better choice, while the LG G4 excels in more controlled environments.
Both TVs should remain relevant for many years, but in different ways. The Samsung QN990F 8K offers future-proofing with its 8K resolution, which may become more valuable as 8K content becomes more widely available over the next 5-7 years. The LG G4 4K aligns with current content standards, which are likely to remain dominant for at least the next 3-5 years. Both TVs support HDMI 2.1 features important for gaming and future content delivery. While the Samsung might have a slight edge in longevity due to its higher resolution, the significant price difference makes the LG G4 the more practical choice for most consumers, as you could potentially replace it with a future model and still spend less than the initial cost of the Samsung QN990F.
For casual, everyday TV watching, most viewers would not notice a dramatic difference between these TVs that justifies the price gap. Both the Samsung QN990F and LG G4 deliver exceptional picture quality with standard content like news, talk shows, and episodic television. The main noticeable differences would be the Samsung's higher brightness in well-lit rooms and the LG's better black levels in darker environments. For typical mixed-use viewing in average living room conditions, the LG G4 OLED provides outstanding performance at a much more reasonable price point, making it the more sensible choice for everyday TV watching.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: samsung.com - abt.com - bestbuy.com - pcnation.com - samsung.com - videoandaudiocenter.com - exertisalmo.com - displayspecifications.com - theapplianceplug.com - news.samsung.com - tomsguide.com - crutchfield.com - visions.ca - youtube.com - cnet.com - schaeferstv.com - rtings.com - costco.com - bhphotovideo.com - techradar.com - youtube.com - abcwarehouse.com - youtube.com
