Samsung 65" Q8F QLED AirSlim Smart TV (2025) Review 2026
Samsung's upper-mid QLED adds local dimming and better audio at 65". The upgrades are real — but Mini-LED competitors loom at the same price.
Samsung's Q8F adds meaningful upgrades over the Q7F: local dimming and dual HDMI 2.1. But at this price, you're knocking on Mini-LED's door where competitors deliver more zones and brightness.
Living in Mini-LED's Shadow
The 65" Q8F has a problem that is not its fault. At above average for its category pricing, it sits at a price point where Mini-LED TVs from TCL and Hisense offer more backlight zones, higher brightness, and Dolby Vision support. The TCL 65" QM6K costs modestly more expensive and packs roughly 500 Mini-LED zones with 144Hz.
On a spec sheet, the Q8F loses. But spec sheets do not capture the Samsung ownership experience: premium build quality, intuitive Tizen interface, Object Tracking Sound+ that reduces the need for a soundbar, and the AirSlim design that wall-mounts beautifully. For some buyers, these intangibles matter more than zone counts.
Full-Array Local Dimming at 65"
Stepping up from the Q7F, the 65" Q8F's local dimming is immediately noticeable. Movie credits that were surrounded by gray backlight glow on the Q7F now float on visibly darker backgrounds. Dark scenes in shows like House of the Dragon show more depth and detail. The improvement is not subtle.
Samsung's zone count is modest compared to Mini-LED competitors, and blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds is visible. A flashlight beam in a dark room, white text on black backgrounds, subtitles — all show some light halo. It is the expected trade-off of fewer, larger zones versus Mini-LED's hundreds of smaller ones.
Before buying a soundbar, live with the Q8F's 40W Object Tracking Sound+ for two weeks. It handles dialogue clarity, spatial effects, and moderate volume levels well enough that many households will not need external audio for daily use. Save the soundbar budget for a quality model later if you find the built-in speakers lacking.
Dual-Console Gaming Setup
Two HDMI 2.1 ports at 4K 120Hz with VRR and ALLM. PS5 in port 3, Xbox in port 4, both running at full capability. Samsung's Game Mode auto-activates per port, and the Gaming Hub adds cloud gaming from Xbox, GeForce NOW, and other services.
Local dimming during gaming improves atmospheric titles — dark caves in Elden Ring, night missions in Call of Duty — with more visible depth than the Q7F. The 40W speakers also hold up better during gaming sessions than most built-in TV speakers.
Strengths
- ✓Full-array local dimming improves HDR and dark scene performance
- ✓Two HDMI 2.1 ports for PS5 and Xbox simultaneously
- ✓Samsung Object Tracking Sound+ with Dolby Atmos
Cons
- ✗No Dolby Vision — Samsung HDR10+ only
- ✗At this price, Mini-LED competitors offer better contrast
- ✗Dimming zone count is modest compared to Hisense and TCL
Samsung Tax or Samsung Quality?
The honest answer: both. You pay more than Mini-LED competitors for the Samsung experience. The experience is noticeably better in fit-and-finish, software polish, and audio. The picture quality is not better — zone for zone and nit for nit, TCL and Hisense deliver more at this price.
The Q8F makes sense for Samsung households that value ecosystem integration, design, and built-in audio quality. It does not make sense for buyers who prioritize picture performance above all else. At $500–$800, Mini-LED is where the performance value lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Samsung 65" Q8F worth the premium over the 65" Q7F?
For dark room viewing and dual-console gaming, yes. Local dimming and the second HDMI 2.1 port are real upgrades. For bright content and casual streaming, the Q7F delivers a similar experience for noticeably less.
How does the Q8F compare to entry-level Mini-LED TVs?
At this price point, entry Mini-LEDs like the TCL 65" QM6K offer more backlighting zones, higher brightness, and Dolby Vision support for less money. The Q8F counters with Samsung build quality, Tizen, and Object Tracking Sound+. On picture quality alone, Mini-LED wins.
Is the 40W Object Tracking Sound+ really good enough without a soundbar?
For daily TV watching and moderate movie nights, yes — it is one of the few built-in speaker systems that creates a convincing sound field. For bass-heavy action movies, music listening, or larger rooms, a soundbar still improves the experience noticeably. But you can delay that purchase.
How many local dimming zones does the Q8F have?
Samsung does not publish exact zone counts. Independent testing suggests the 65" Q8F has fewer zones than competing QLED and Mini-LED models from TCL and Hisense. The dimming is effective for casual viewing but shows more blooming in challenging HDR content than zone-heavy competitors.
Can the Q8F match OLED black levels with local dimming?
No. Local dimming improves blacks significantly over the Q7F, but OLED self-emissive pixels produce per-pixel perfect black that no local-dimming LCD can match. The Q8F gets closer than edge-lit TVs, but the gap to OLED remains substantial.
Final Verdict
Rating: 4.4/5
Samsung's Q8F adds meaningful upgrades over the Q7F: local dimming and dual HDMI 2.1. But at this price, you're knocking on Mini-LED's door where competitors deliver more zones and brightness.
Buy it for Samsung's premium experience with local dimming and excellent built-in audio. Skip it if picture specs per dollar matter most — Mini-LED offers more for less.