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 S22 Ultra or Galaxy Buds Pro, Samsung’s TV ranges are saddled with less-than-memorable model numbers such as QE55QN90BATXXU; 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.
Everything you need to know about Samsung’s 2022 TV line-up
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.
Most of the lineup, including Samsung’s premium Neo QLEDs and OLED, are now available to buy direct from the South Korean manufacturer and other retailers, though we expect it to a couple of additional options to its LCD LED range later in the year.
Samsung TVs 2022: What’s new this year?
This year heralds the arrival of a Samsung OLED, the Samsung S95B. It’s powered by the new Neural Quantum Processor, which is an updated version of the Neo Quantum Processor found in last year’s flagship Neo QLEDs.
The Neural Quantum Processor also makes its way into the trio of new 8K Neo QLEDs and the flagship 4K Neo QLED – the QN95B – though the processors differ slightly in the 4K and 8K models.
Mini LED backlit Quantum Dot TVs (the Neo QLEDs) incorporating the Neural processor will benefit from a number of upgrades. Certain models will support refresh rates of up to 144Hz (up from 120Hz) while seeing a bump from 12-bit to 14-bit colour gradation.
They’ll also benefit from improved contrast thanks to Samsung’s “Quantum Matrix” technology, increased brightness and image accuracy courtesy of “Shape Adaptive Light” technology, and an increased sense of depth from what Samsung is calling its “Object Depth Enhancer” algorithm.
Improvements have been made on the audio front too, with Samsung introducing the latest version of its Object Tracking Sound tech – “Object Tracking Sound Pro” – into some of its pricier models. This sees multiple built-in speakers (up to 12 in the case of the flagship 8K QN900B) projecting sound from various locations around the screen and tracking the movement of on-screen objects.
The QN900B features upfiring speakers to give a taller soundstage and provide the height effects from Dolby Atmos soundtracks. It’s the first time we’ve seen Samsung TVs feature onboard support for Atmos, though sadly the manufacturer continues to eschew the Dolby Vision HDR format in favour of HDR10+.
Samsung’s Tizen operating system has undergone a makeover for 2022. The company has now joined its rivals by incorporating a homepage that fills the entire screen rather than a launcher bar running along the bottom of it. This new “Smart Hub” features a sidebar that lets you switch between three core categories – Media, Game and Ambient – and introduces new functionality across a range of areas.
This functionality includes “Watch Together” – a platform via which you can interact with friends or family virtually while streaming content – an NFT platform and the Samsung Gaming Hub, which serves as a portal to services such as Google Stadia and Nvidia’s GeForce Now. Samsung has also tweaked its Game Bar, and the 2.0 version will be present on its flagship Neo QLED models.
Samsung TV model numbers explained: The ranges and their product numbers
Samsung’s TV line-up is split up into distinct ranges based on the type of panel being used. Its most advanced TV uses Micro LEDs and will only be available in three huge screen sizes: 89in, 101in and 110in. The Micro LED TV doesn’t have a name or model number as yet but all three models are expected to cost in excess of £100,000.
The company’s Neo QLEDs are rather 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 vastly more local dimming zones, which helps improve contrast and overall image quality.
The model numbers for 8K Neo QLEDs take the following format: QE65QN900BTXXU, while 4K options one additional letter – QE55QN95BATXXU, 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 QN95B (QE55QN95BATXXU).
Q: This reflects the panel type, with Q covering both Neo and basic QLEDs.
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.
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.
B: This refers to the year of manufacture. Samsung has skipped a number of letters in recent years but A indicates 2021 and B 2022.
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.
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 QN900B: Leading the way for Samsung’s 8K TVs in 2022 is the QN900B. It’s a direct replacement for last year’s QN900A 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.
Samsung QN800B: The QN800B is similarly specced to the QN900B but can’t hit the same levels of HDR brightness. It also only has eight in-built speakers and runs Object Tracking Sound+ rather than Pro so won’t offer quite as immersive an audio experience.
Samsung QN700B: The final 8K entry in the line-up 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 QN800B and QN900B. It also misses out on “Super Surround Sound” powered by Dolby Atmos, though basic Atmos is supported.
Samsung QN95B: Samsung’s priciest 4K Neo QLED this year is the QN95B, 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.
Samsung QN90B: The QN90B is available in a wider range of sizes than the QN95B (43in and 50in options join the 55in, 65in, 75in and 85in models) but they’re all powered by last year’s Neo Quantum Processor 4K rather than the more advanced Neural processor. They also only get Samsung’s Neo Slim design rather than the Infinity One design and don’t come with the One Connect box.
Further concessions are made by the 43in and 50in models, namely lower peak HDR brightness and the use of Object Tracking Sound Lite in place of OTS Plus. They do, however, get Motion Xcelerator Pro in place of the Plus iteration, and can deliver 4K at 144Hz as a result.
- QE43QN90BATXXU: £1,199
- QE50QN90BATXXU: £1,199
- QE55QN90BATXXU: £1,599
- QE65QN90BATXXU: £2,399
- QE75QN90BATXXU: £3,299
- QE85QN90BATXXU: £5,299
Samsung QN85B: Samsung’s cheapest Neo QLED is powered by the same Neo Quantum Processor 4K that’s in the QN90B but isn’t as capable an HDR performer and only has the most basic version of Object Tracking Sound.
Last year’s Neo QLEDs
- Samsung QN900A (65/75/85in): From £2,499
- Samsung QN800A (75/85in): From £2,499
- Samsung QN700A (55/65/75in): From £1,199
- Samsung QN95A (55/65/75/85in): From £1,299
- Samsung QN90A (43/50/55/65/75/98in): From £749
- Samsung QN85A (55/65/75/85in): From £899
QLED TVs
Below the Neo QLED line-up, 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.
Q80B: The Q80B 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 Quantum Processor 4K, runs basic Object Tracking Sound tech and makes use of Motion Xcelerator Turbo+.
- QE50Q80BATXXU: £1,199
- QE55Q80BATXXU: £1,499
- QE65Q80BATXXU: £1,999
- QE75Q80BATXXU: £2,799
- QE85Q80BATXXU: £3,999
Q70B: This QLED delivers a similar experience to its more expensive stablemate but there are a few key differences to note. The Q70B’s HDR peak brightness is inferior, there’s no 50in model and it uses the less immersive Lite version of OTS.
Q60B: With screen sizes ranging from 43in to 85in, there’s a Q60B for just about any living space. The Q60B sports the same AirSlim design as the Q70B but uses a less advanced processor (Quantum Processor 4K Lite) and only features the most basic version of Samsung’s Motion Xcelerator technology.
- QE43Q60BATXXU: £649
- QE50Q60BATXXU: £749
- QE55Q60BATXXU: £819
- QE65Q60BATXXU: £1,049
- QE75Q60BATXXU: £1,619
- QE85Q70BATXXU: £2,799
Last year’s QLEDs
- Samsung Q80A (50/55/65/75/85in): From £649
- Samsung Q70A (55/65in): £749
- Samsung Q65A (50/55/65/75in): From £549
- Samsung Q60A (50/55/65/70/75/85in): From £549
- Samsung Q50A (32in): £399
OLED TVs
Samsung S95B: Samsung’s new OLED will come in 55in and 65in screen sizes and is powered by the Neural Quantum Processor 4K. It’s technically a QD-OLED as it incorporates a Quantum Dot filter, but is simply being marketed as an OLED. It features an brightness booster and what Samsung has described as “perceptional colour mapping” to generate brighter, more accurate and more realistic images.
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 S95B uses a “LaserSlim” design to remain as low profile as possible. It houses four HDMI 2.1 ports and can support refresh rates of up to 144Hz, so will be a top pick for next-gen gamers that own both a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
4K LCD LED TVs
Propping up Samsung’s 4K TV offering is its basic LCD LED range. The manufacturer has currently only revealed three 2022 models, so we’ve listed the key options from last year, too.
Samsung BU8510/BU8500 (2022): These models both make use of Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K, sports an AirSlim design and use 10-bit 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 soundar. The differences between the two models are twofold: the BU8510 has a white stand rather than a black one, and is only available in 43in and 50in sizes, while the BU8000 adds 55in, 65in and 75in sizes to the list of options.
- UE43BU8500KXXU: £549
- UE50BU8500KXXU: £649
- UE55BU8500KXXU: £729
- UE65BU8500KXXU: £979
- UE75BU8500KXXU: £1,429
Samsung BU8000: The BU8000 is a very similar offering to the BU8510/BU8500 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.
- UE43BU8000KXXU: £529
- UE50BU8000KXXU: £629
- UE55BU8000KXXU: £699
- UE60BU8000KXXU: £849
- UE65BU8000KXXU: £949
- UE70BU8000KXXU: £1,199
- UE75BU8000KXXU: £1,379
- UE85BU8000KXXU: £1,899
Samsung AU9000 (2021): The AU9000 is our favourite affordable 4K TV. It’s powered by Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K and offers a host of features and picture and sound enhancement technologies, including Object Tracking Sound Lite, Motion Xcelerator Turbo and Q-Symphony Lite.
Samsung AU8000 (2021): The AU8000 is available in a wider selection of sizes than the AU9000 but isn’t as impressively specced. There’s no OTS Lite and it only supports the most basic Motion Xcelerator technology.
- UE43AU8000KXXU: £339
- UE50AU8000KXXU: £329
- UE55AU8000KXXU: £449
- UE65AU8000KXXU: £599
- UE75AU8000KXXU: £799
- UE85AU8000KXXU: £1,399
Samsung AU7100 (2021): Samsung’s cheapest 4K smart TV, the AU7100, sits on a different style stand to the AU8000 and offers a slightly inferior colour palette but is otherwise a very similar proposition. It also adds a 58in option to the sizes the AU8000 is available in.
- UE43AU7100KXXU: £429
- UE50AU7100KXXU: £499
- UE55AU7100KXXU: £579
- UE58AU7100KXXU: £629
- UE65AU7100KXXU: £749
- UE70AU7100KXXU: £899
- UE75AU7100KXXU: £1,099
- UE85AU7100KXXU: £1,599
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 (2022): 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 LS in the model numbers below stands for lifestyle, while the B signifies this is the second-generation Frame. The panel has been updated from last year’s model and now features a matte display to reduce glare.
- QE43LS03BAUXXU: £1,299
- QE50LS03BAUXXU: £1,399
- QE55LS03BAUXXU: £1,499
- QE65LS03BAUXXU: £1,999
- QE75LS03BAUXXU: £2,999
- QE85LS03BAUXXU: £4,299
The Sero: Like The Frame, The Sero features a QLED display but this time, it’s capable of being rotating 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.
- QE43LS05BBKXXM: £1,599
The Serif: The final lifestyle TV in Samsung’s line-up 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.