Samsung QLED Samsung Q8F 65" 4K HDR Smart QLED TV Review

The Samsung Q8F is a gaming and smart TV champ with a mediocre picture. Its Tizen platform scores in the 94th percentile and its 120Hz gaming features hit the 93rd, but overall picture quality languishes at the 43rd. Buy it for the slick interface and smooth gameplay, not as a home theater centerpiece.

The Samsung Q8F 65" QLED TV is a spec-sheet powerhouse that excels in a few key areas. Its smart features land in the 94th percentile, gaming performance hits the 93rd, and connectivity is in the 92nd. That means you're getting a TV that's incredibly responsive, packed with ports, and ready for high-frame-rate gaming right out of the box. But our data shows a split personality. While it's a top-tier performer for tech integration, its core picture quality sits at a surprisingly low 43rd percentile, and its display score is only in the 68th. So you're getting a brilliant smart TV and gaming monitor that, for pure image quality, gets outclassed by many competitors.

Let's talk about where this thing shines. That 120Hz native refresh rate, combined with FreeSync Premium and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), puts its gaming performance in the 93rd percentile. For console or PC gamers, that means buttery-smooth motion and minimal input lag. Its HDR support for HDR10+ and HLG also scores in the 93rd percentile, giving it great format compatibility for streaming. The Tizen-based smart platform is its real star, though, landing in the 94th percentile. It's fast, supports all the major voice assistants, and just works. The trade-off? The 20W audio system is merely okay at the 71st percentile, so you'll likely want a soundbar.

Priced between $698 and $700, the Q8F is in a weird spot. You're paying for high-end gaming and smart features, but you're getting mid-tier picture quality. If your priority is a slick, responsive smart TV that's fantastic for gaming, the price is justified. But if you care more about the absolute best contrast and color accuracy for movie watching, that same budget could get you a TV with a better picture score, even if it sacrifices some gaming specs.

Stacked against the competition, the Q8F's strengths and weaknesses become clear. Compared to an LG OLED like the G5, you'll get better gaming features and a brighter screen with the Samsung, but the LG will absolutely destroy it in picture quality and contrast (OLEDs typically rank in the high 90s for display). Next to a Hisense U6 Series Mini-LED, you might find similar smart features and gaming specs for less money, but the Hisense often punches above its weight in picture quality for the price. The Sony BRAVIA 5, with its cognitive processor, will likely offer a much more refined image and upscaling, though you might pay more for it. The Q8F is for the gamer who also wants the best smart TV interface, not the cinephile.

Skip the Q8F if your main goal is a breathtaking home theater experience. With a picture quality ranking in the 43rd percentile and a display score at the 68th, it's simply not competitive with OLEDs or high-end Mini-LEDs for movie watching. Also, if you hate software quirks, the low social proof score (48th percentile) suggests enough users have had issues that it's a legitimate concern. This TV is built for features, not fidelity.

We can recommend the Samsung Q8F, but with a very specific audience in mind. If you want the smoothest smart TV experience (94th percentile) and are serious about gaming on a 120Hz panel (93rd percentile), and you're okay with picture quality that's merely good, not great (43rd percentile), then this is a solid buy. The data is clear: it's a tech-lover's TV that prioritizes features and response over cinematic purity. For anyone who values deep blacks and stunning HDR above all else, look at an OLED or a higher-tier Mini-LED model instead.