The Q70 series from Samsung is one of the manufacturer’s most popular. It has traditionally been a well-equipped TV with many smart features, good picture quality and sleek design. The 2024 generation Q77D takes over the baton as one of the fastest and smartest screens in its class.
Samsung Q77D/Q74D
In terms of design, the Samsung screen is among the slimmest, and it’s also easy to set up. The centre-mounted stand screws into place quickly and there is room for the TV on most TV furniture. Connectivity is good and with all four HDMI inputs supporting HDMI 2.1 and 120 Hz video signals, you won’t run out of inputs. The TV also has a built-in “Smart Hub” with Matter support, which means it can remotely control almost any smart device in your home if you so desire.
Samsung’s own user interface (Tizen OS) is modern and up-to-date, and is also supposed to be extra protected against hacking and other unpleasantness through Knox Security. The Q77D has a wide range of apps, including Samsung TV+, which is Samsung’s ad-funded service with a wealth of channels. The small remote is solar (or USB-C) charged and we appreciate that the TV responds quickly when we press it. We’re sure you’ll experience and appreciate that too.
If you’re a gaming enthusiast, you’ll also like the fact that the Q77D supports VRR and can handle 120 fps video signals. However, the HDR format Dolby Vision is not supported, only the usual HDR10 and HDR10+.
Image quality
On the image side, the Q77D is equipped with a good quality LCD panel, but there haven’t been many advanced improvements since the previous generation Q77C. The screen has a QLED filter, which provides a wider colour gamut, but there’s no direct LED light or local dimming as some of the competitors boast. As a result, you can’t expect the same raw contrast as TCL and Sony.
Still, the Samsung monitor delivers a very sharp and detailed image, and the black level is actually among the best in the test. The Q77D can also handle signals of varying quality and makes them look really good. The upscaling is good and the movements very smooth, thanks to an advanced and efficient video processor. This makes this a great sports TV.
The colours are strong, nuanced and neutral thanks to the QLED filter. Light distribution is good across the entire screen without the unevenness we experienced with LG and Philips. Most TV content looks really good and the Q77 is also excellent for sports thanks to the above qualities. We were able to follow fast counter-attacks and ball games without annoying notches or flicker.
Where the Samsung display falls short is in the localised contrast in certain areas of the screen, and not least the level of detail in dark areas. Here it is noticeable that the competitors with local dimming and direct LED backlighting (TCL and Sony) shine a little brighter and with a greater sense of depth, especially on films.
Conclusion
For sports and varied TV entertainment, the Samsung Q77D is still a fine all-rounder that’s as fast and stylish as few in its class. Most of the competition looks downright clumsy in comparison!
Please note that the Samsung Q77D is a brand new 2024 model and therefore the price is slightly higher than for the 2023 models. At the time of writing, you can also buy the outgoing premium model and test winner Samsung QN85C (with miniLED, local dimming and higher contrast) for the same price as the Q77D.
We think
The Samsung Q70 series offers great connectivity and a highly efficient smart user interface. Brightness and contrast aren't quite up to par with the best in class.