Samsung has outdone themselves with the QN85D, using a panel with a vastly superior native contrast ratio to the QN85C and virtually every other TV they put out since 2018—this is something they haven’t done since the 2018 Q9FN. This is a game-changer because Samsung has been neglecting native contrast for years, and it's crucial. Why? Native contrast sets your baseline black level, which is essential for creating deep, inky blacks. Local dimming algorithms, no matter how advanced, are not infallible. They can struggle in high-contrast scenes, leading to dreaded blooming, which is why models like the QN90B—despite using over 700 dimming zones—still had very noticeable blooming.
In fact, over the past six years, Samsung's QLED lineup has been plagued by poor native contrast ratios, ranging from 1000:1 to 3400:1. But the QN85D? It breaks the mold with an impressive 5600:1 contrast ratio. This leap means Samsung can now use far fewer dimming zones, supported by a superior algorithm, and still achieve better overall black levels than their previous TVs with hundreds more zones. The result? Less blooming and dramatically improved black performance.
This isn’t just about black levels, though. The superior native contrast on the QN85D also significantly enhances color reproduction. I used to own the Samsung QN90B and recently the Hisense U8N and the TCL QM851, both of which have thousands of dimming zones, but the QN85D still outperforms them in black level performance. It also vastly outperforms the QN85C in black level performance. Samsung’s secret sauce on their high native contrast / lower zone count TV's has always been in its amazing dimming algorithms. You don’t need thousands of zones for great black level when you have a powerful algorithm and good baseline at work.
You’ve got a rare gem in the QN85D. Be proud—it’s likely the best mini-LED on the market right now in terms of pure picture quality, outperforming even Samsung's current flagship, the QN90D, in key areas.
