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Samsung Q60R is the lowest model of Samsung’s 2019 QLED TVs lineup. Its presence was intended to replace Q6FN in the market. In the market, they both come with many screen sizes options including 49 inch (QN49Q60R vs QN49Q6FN), 55 Inch (QN55Q60R vs QN55Q6FN), 65 Inch (QN65Q60R vs QN65Q6FN), 75 inch (QN75Q60R vs QN75Q6FN), and the largest is 82 inch (QN82Q60R vs QN82Q6FN). Special for Q60R, there is an additional smaller screen size that is 43 inch (QN43Q60R). As is typical of Samsung QLED TV lineup, quantum dot panel technology becomes their major mainstay that allows them can produce excellent wide color gamut. So, what are the differences between them and is Q60R as the newer model better than the Q6FN predecessor?
Samsung Q60R vs Q6FN Key Specs
Technology and Features | Samsung Q60R | Samsung Q6FN |
---|---|---|
Screen Size Available | 43 inch (QN43Q50RAFXZA), 49 Inch (QN45Q50RAFXZA), 55 inch (QN55Q50RAFXZA, 65 inch (QN65Q50RAFXZA), 75 inch (QN75Q50RAFXZA), 82 inch (QN82Q50RAFXZA) | 49 inch (QN49Q6FNAFXZA), 55 inch (QN55Q6FNAFXZA), 65 inch (QN65Q6FNAFXZA), 75 inch (QN75Q6FNAFXZA), 82 Inch(QN82Q6FNAFXZA) |
Resolution | 4K (3840 x 2160) | 4K (3840 x 2160) |
Panel Technology | VA Panel | VA Panel |
Backlight Technology | Edge-Lit backlight | Edge-Lit Backlight |
Local Dimming Technology | No | Yes |
Dimming Technology | Supreme UHD Dimming | Supreme UHD Dimming |
Processor | Quantum Processor 4K | Q Engine |
HDR Enhancement | Quantum HDR 4X | Q HDR |
HDR Supports | HDR10, HLG, HDR10+ | HDR10, HLG, HDR10+ |
Color Technology | Quantum Dot | Quantum Dot |
Depth Enhancing Technology | Contrast Enhancer | Contrast Enhancer |
Up-Scaling Engine | UHD Up-Scaling | UHD Up-Scaling |
Motion Technology | Motion Rate 240 (49”,43”: Motion Rate 120) | Motion Rate 240 (49”: Motion Rate 120) |
Native Refresh Rate Panel | 120 Hz (49”, 43”: 60 Hz) | 120 Hz (49”:60 Hz) |
Smart TV Platform | Tizen 2019 with Bixby Voice Assistant | Tizen 2018 with Bixby Voice Assistant |
Processor | Quad Core | Quad Core |
Support Google Assistant | Yes | – |
Support Amazon Alexa | Yes | – |
Remote | TM1950C | TM1850A |
Speaker Channel | 2 | 2.1 |
Total Sound Output | 20 watts | 40 watts |
HDMI Ports | 4 | 4 |
HDMI Supports | HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth, CEC, HDCP 2.2 | HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth, CEC, HDCP 2.2 |
USB 2.0 | 2 | 2 |
USB 3.0 | No | No |
Price | See today’s price | See today’s price |
Technology and Features of Samsung Q6FN and Q60R
Coming as the entry level of Samsung QLED TV lineup, both Samsung Q60R and Q6FN lacks some main technologies offered by the series above them like Full Array Local Dimming or others. But even so, performance and picture quality produced by them is not disappointed. As is typical of Samsung TVs, they both use VA panel that allow them can produce deep black level, even though as a consequence, their side viewing angle coverage is poor. Still about contrast enhancement, the both are also powered by Supreme UHD Dimming and Contrast Enhancer Technology. Additionally, for delivering HDR images with vivid color, they both already use quantum dot panel technology. This allows them can produce wide color gamut and good color volume. Coming with HDR technology, the both support the number of HDR formats including HDR10, HLG and HDR10+.
Meanwhile, in addition they both already have excellent pixel response time, both Samsung Q6FN and Q60R are also powered by Motion Rate 240 technology that can maximize their performance in handling motion. They both also have native 120 Hz refresh rate panel. But for this case, for their 49 inch model or smaller (QN43Q60R, QN49Q60R, QN49Q6FN), they are powered by Motion Rate 120 based on native60 Hz refresh rate panel. For connecting with other devices, both of Q60R and Q6FN have 4 HDMI ports and 3 USB ports. And as their smart TV platform, the both are featuring Tizen OS that powered by a quad core processor.
The Difference between Samsung Q60R and Q6FN
Image Processor
As we see on comparison table above, as their image processor, Samsung Q6FN is powered by Q Engine while Q60R is powered the newer processor called Quantum Processor 4K. But even so, since there is nothing new ability offered by Q60R over Q6FN, there is a high probability that these image processors are the same or this is just rebranding. For this case, we don’t know a lot about their difference.
Local Dimming Technology
Samsung Q60R and Q6FN both may be use edge-lit LED backlight technology and also have Supreme UHD Dimming Technology, but about local dimming technology, they are different. For this case, Samsung Q6FN has real local dimming technology. On the other hand, Samsung Q60R as a newer model precisely lacks local dimming technology. And for dimming their backlight, Q60R only relies on its Supreme UHD Dimming that can also be said virtual local dimming.
Audio System
As we see on comparison table above, Samsung Q6FN is equipped with 2.1 channel speaker system with built in sub-woofer and 40 watts of total sound output. Meanwhile, Q60R as a newer model precisely is only equipped with 2.0 channel speaker with 20 watts of total sound output. The impact, Q6FN certainly can deliver better sound quality than Q60R, particularly in producing low frequency or bass.
Smart TV Platform
Samsung Q60R and Q6FN may be featuring the same smart TV platform that is Tizen OS. But their version is different. Samsung Q6FN is featuring 2018 version while Q60R featuring 2019 version. At a glance, their interface looks same without major changes. But in term of performance, the interface of Q60R is much smoother and faster than Q6FN. If in the interface of 2018 version, there are dropped frames and lags in animation, in 2019 version, this issue can be minimized.
Remote
Just like their smart TV platform, at a glance, the remote of Samsung Q60R is similar to Q6FN. Their remote is small and only has few buttons. Their buttons layout is also not far different. But the differences, in the remote of Q60R, there are addition 3 dedicated buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. So for accessing these apps, you don’t need entering the menu like on 2018 version.
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung Q6FN <<
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung Q60R <<
Samsung Q60R vs Q6FN Performance
Picture Quality
Contrast and Black Level
Samsung Q60R and Q6FN both have excellent native contrast ratio. They can produce black level deeper than 0.02 nits that means it is great for a pitch dark room. The result, black appears really black that certainly makes dark scenes looks excellent. With HDR images, black level produced is also dark enough to show shadow details excellently. Special for Q6FN, although it has local dimming technology, but its local dimming cannot do a lot in boosting their contrast. Additionally, its local dimming also cannot do a lot in reducing blooming when it is showing highlight in a dark scene. This means, the unwanted adjacent light is still visible around bright object. This can be noticeable when you are watching movies with subtitle where the blooming will be noticeable around subtitle. On the other hand, without local dimming, performance of Q60R in reducing blooming is even worse than Q6FN. Nevertheless, overall, their performance in a dark room is great due deep black level and excellent black uniformity produced by them. For you who like watch thriller of horror movies, both Q6FN and Q60R are great TVs for you.
Winner: Q6FN
Brightness Level
While they have similar native contrast ratio, the brightness level of the Samsung Q6FN as newer model is not as good as the Q6FN. With real SDR content, peak brightness reached by the Q6FN is brighter than 500 bits. Meanwhile, the highest peak brightness is reached when it showing very small highlight that is about 2% window where the peak brightness reached is close to 700 nits. Additionally, although its peak brightness drops when showing thorough window is bright, but it can still show it brighter than 550 nits. This means, the brightness level reached by Q6FN is bright enough to overcome the glare when it set in a bright room, makes the picture produced looks fairly bright in a bright room. On the other hand, although Q60R is the successor of Q6FN, its peak brightness is precisely worse than Q6FN. With real content, peak brightness reached is even lower than 350 nits. Meanwhile, since it doesn’t have local dimming technology, its peak brightness is almost similar at almost all windows sizes. This means, now matter it is showing small highlight or large bright object, their peak brightness is similar that is a bit brighter than 350 nits. But even so, although peak brightness of Q60R is not as bright as Q6FN, but it is still acceptable for a bright room. Keep in mind, this result is obtained by set the picture mode on the “Movie”, while on other mode, the result may be different.
With HDR Content, its peak brightness reached by Samsung Q6FN is not far different to with SDR content. With real content, peak brightness reached is a bit brighter than 500 nits. Meanwhile, the highest peak brightness is reached when it is showing small highlight, that is a brighter than 700 nits. Meanwhile, when showing throughout screen is bright, peak brightness reached is around 550 nits. Although it cannot still show HDR images brighter than 1000 nits intended by movie creator, but its peak brightness actually is bright enough to makes HDR images looks fairly bright. Just like Q6FN, peak brightness of Q60R with HDR mode is almost similar with SDR mode. Its peak brightness is similar in any content. But with less than 400 nits, this actually is not ideal for HDR content, still far from required to show HDR content at 1000-4000 nits of brightness range intended by content creator.
Winner: Q6FN
Color Reproduction
In term color reproduction, performance of Samsung Q6FN is also a bit worse than the Q6FN predecessor. Instead of better than Q6FN, color gamut of Q60R precisely is similar to NU8000 last year model. If the Samsung Q6FN can cover close to 95% of DCI P3, the color gamut produced of Q60R can only cover less than 93% of DCI P3. Additionally, color volume of Q60R is not also as good as Q6FN. But even so, they both can produce bright colors and dark colors across most of their color gamut coverage. This means, the superiority of Q6FN in color volume is caused more by its superiority in color gamut than other factors. But despite their difference in color gamut and color volume, their color reproduction is good. Although some certain color cannot be shown fairly saturated, but their color gamut and color volume is wide and good enough to show colors of HDR images accurately.
Meanwhile, talking about their color gradient, overall their color gradient is good and their performance is similar. Some fine imperfections may be still visible in all dark colors, but for untrained eyes, this should not be noticeable. Overall, color gradient of HDR images displayed on their screen looks smooth. But if you are bothered with color banding that may be visible, you can set “Digital Clean View” to Auto. This will reduce most banding that may visible, but on the other hand, this will make the picture loss some fine details.
Winner: Q6FN
Motion Handling
When handling motion, Samsung Q60R can do better job than Q6FN the predecessor. This is due the pixel response time of Q60R is lower than Q6FN. But actually, their difference is not too significant. Overall, the both have excellent pixel response time that makes their performance in handling motion is also great. When they are used for playing fast moving images such as sports, fast movies, or fast games, the picture produced looks very smooth and clear with almost no motion trail visible. Following fast moving object, there is only a short faint trail where most people may not notice this much. Some duplication that may visible is more caused the backlight flicker.
Meanwhile, to dim their backlight, in most modes, Samsung Q6FN and Q60R both use PWM dimming system with 240 Hz dimming frequency. Its dimming frequency actually is fairly high, but for some people, backlight flicker that caused is still noticeable, especially at low backlight level. Meanwhile, when the mode is change to “Movie” or “Game”, its dimming frequency automatically change to 120 Hz. This certainly makes backlight flicker is more noticeable. In addition to change to Movie and Game Mode, enabling Auto Motion Plus also makes its dimming frequency change to 120 HZ. And its backlight even changes to 60 Hz when you set on the “LED Clear Motion”. By activating Auto Motion Plus and LED Motion Clear simultaneously, this will makes some duplication that caused by persistence or backlight flicker can be minimized, but on the other hand, this will makes the backlight flicker will be more noticeable.
Additionally, both Samsung Q60R and Q6FN can do a great job when playing 24p movies. No matter the frame rate of the source, they can display them clearly with judder-free. This means, whether you are playing native 24p movies like Blu-Ray or DVD movies, via 60i signals like movies from satellite TV, via 60p signal like movies from streaming device, or even from native app like Netflix, Amazon TV or others, you can enjoy them with smooth and clear picture quality without judder.
Winner: Draw
Inputs
In PC and Game Mode, Samsung Q60R may have a bit lower input lags than Q6FN but their difference is not too significant don’t have any significant impact. But in general, they both have excellent input lags. In both 4K and 1080p resolution at 60 Hz, they input lags are around 15 ms that means it is great for any games. Their input lag in 1080p and 1440p at 120 Hz is even more excellent, that is lower than 10 ms. With Variable Refresh Rate, their input lags at 1080p and 1440p resolution is even lower, that is about 6 ms. Although its input at 4K with VRR is not as low as at 1080p and 1440p, but it is still fairly low. Additionally, both of them also already support Auto Low Latency. What offered by Q60R and Q6FN is almost as good as the input lags of high-end monitor that certainly makes them as a great TV for PC gaming or game consoles like Xbox One. But a bit unfortunate, they both don’t support 4K at 120 Hz. A bit improvement offered by Q60R, It now already support 1440p at 60 Hz while Q6FN doesn’t support yet.
Winner: Q60R
Smart TV Experience
Samsung Q60R runs the 2019 version of Tizen OS while Q6FN runs 2018 version. There are not major improvements offered by 2019 version over 2018 version. But even so, in 2019, the interface is smoother and faster than 2018 version. If in the 2018 version, there is performance issue in animations and the interface freeze occasionally for a few seconds, in the 2019 version, the issue can be minimized. Meanwhile, talking about their apps provided, there are also not many changes. There are a lot of preinstalled apps provided like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Videos, Hulu, Web browser, Games, and many more. The both also already support Samsung’s Bixby Voice Assistant that makes its navigation is better. Additionally, you can also download tons of apps, games, contents from its apps store called Samsung Apps Store. A bit improvement in the 2019 version, now it already supports Amazon Alexa and Google home while the 2018 version doesn’t support.
As their controller, Samsung Q6FN comes with the 1850A controller, the 2018 model of Samsung’s smart controller while Q60R comes with TM1950C, the 2019 model. At a glance, these remote are similar. They both are small and only have few buttons, so, for accessing things, you must navigate through the home menu. Both of these remote are also have built-in microphone for voice navigation. These remote also have universal ability that allow you to control your other devices connected on your TV with a single Samsung remote, even for your devices that don’t support HDMI CEC. A bit additional on the 2019 model, there are quick access buttons to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. This allows you to access these apps directly without entering the menu.
Winner: Q60R
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung Q6FN <<
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung Q60R <<
Summary
Performance | Samsung Q60R | Samsung Q6FN |
---|---|---|
Picture Quality | (3.6/5) | (4/5) |
HDR | (3.9/5) | (4.1/5) |
Motion Handling | (4.4/5) | (4.3/5) |
Inputs | (4.9/5) | (4.8/5) |
Sound Quality | (3.2/5) | (3.2/5) |
Smart TV | (4/5) | (3.9/5) |
Conclusion
Although Samsung Q60R is the successor of Q6FN, but its picture quality and performance is not better than the Samsung Q6FN or is even worse. It lacks local dimming technology. Additionally, its peak brightness and color performance is also not as good as the Q6FN the predecessor. This certainly makes its picture quality and HDR performance offered by the Q60R is not as good as the Q6FN. Nevertheless, considering their price when they were first launched where the Q60R is priced cheaper than Q6FN, it is understandable. Meanwhile, a bit improvement offered by Q60R is in outside picture quality like input lags and smart TV experience. In general, despite their difference, the both are good TVs for any usage. They both can produce deep black that make their performance in a dark room is good. They both also have good motion handling that makes them con do a good job when used for watching fast moving images. And the excellence, they have low input lags and also support Auto Low Latency Mode and FreeSync Variable Refresh Rate that makes them as excellent TVs for gaming. But even so, just like other VA TVS, they both have poor side viewing angle coverage that certainly makes them are not suitable when used in a wide room with viewers watch TV from multiple angles.
So, which is a better choice between them? Considering performance that offered, Q6FN is better than Q60R. For this times, as long as Q60R still has a full price, the Samsung Q6FN is still better choice due its price is similar or even cheaper than Q60R. But with the passage of the time, usually, the price of Q60R will drop. Now the decision comes back to you according to your need and preferences. If you choose the Q6FN, you should buy it immediately due it has been discontinued by the manufacturer. On the other hand, if you want Samsung Q60R, waiting for few months until its price drops may be better.
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung Q6FN <<
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung Q60R <<
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