Samsung 55" QN70H vs Samsung 55" QN70F: Upgrade or Downgrade?
The QN70H is Samsung's 2026 replacement for the QN70F, its entry Neo QLED. Normally a new model year means a small step up. This time it is a step down in the areas gamers care about: Samsung's spec sheets and RTINGS' tests show the QN70H dropping from 120Hz to 60Hz, from four HDMI 2.1 ports to three without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and losing VRR. Colour accuracy, Tizen and the edge-lit design carry over. The 55-inch QN70F has now sold out.
The Samsung 55" QN70F is no longer sold. This comparison stays here as a record for owners and anyone weighing up these models.
- Current model replacing the Samsung 55" QN70F: Samsung 55" QN70H Neo QLED 4K Smart TV (2026) (check price on Amazon)
Verdict: The Samsung 55" QN70F was the better TV, especially for gaming, but it has sold out at 55 inches. Buy the Samsung 55" QN70H only if you mainly stream and watch TV on Samsung's Tizen in a moderately lit room; it keeps accurate colour but cannot do 4K/120. If you wanted the QN70F for its gaming features, a true Mini-LED like the TCL 55" QM6K (144Hz, two HDMI 2.1 ports) is the closer match.
The Samsung 55" QN70F is no longer sold, so the right-hand option above is the TCL 55" QM6K, the closest current match for its gaming features. Facts about the QM6K are on its review page.
Specs Compared
| Feature | Samsung 55" QN70H Neo QLED 4K Smart TV (2026) | Editor's Pick Samsung 55" QN70F Neo QLED Mini-LED Smart TV (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Model Year | 2026 | 2025 (sold out at 55") |
| Native Refresh | 60Hz (DLG 120Hz at 1080p) | 120Hz (up to 144Hz PC) |
| HDMI | 3 ports, none HDMI 2.1 (4K/60) | 4 ports, all HDMI 2.1 (4K/144) |
| VRR | No (RTINGS) | Yes, FreeSync Premium Pro |
| Backlight | Edge-lit, weak dimming | Edge-lit, very limited dimming |
| HDR Formats | HDR10+ (no Dolby Vision) | HDR10+, HLG (no Dolby Vision) |
| Processor | NQ4 AI | NQ4 AI Gen2 |
| Screen | Glossy | Glossy, no anti-reflection layer |
| Check Price | See the Samsung 55" QN70H |
RTINGS tested the 55-inch QN70F and the 65-inch QN70H; Samsung lists the QN70F's 120Hz and HDMI specs for all sizes, and retail listings confirm the 55-inch QN70H is 60Hz with three HDMI ports.
What Changed
Refresh Rate and Gaming QN70F Wins
Samsung's QN70F spec sheet lists a 120Hz panel (up to 144Hz with a PC) and 4K at up to 144Hz on all four HDMI ports, with VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro and ALLM; RTINGS measured 144Hz on the 55-inch it bought. The QN70H is a 60Hz TV with three HDMI ports limited to 4K at 60Hz, and RTINGS found no VRR. Samsung adds a "DLG" mode that runs 1080p at 120Hz instead. Both have low input lag, so 60fps gaming feels responsive on either, but only the QN70F could run a PS5 or Xbox Series X at 4K/120.
Colour and Accuracy Tie
This is what carries over. RTINGS praised the QN70F's colour accuracy before calibration, and it found the QN70H's HDR colour accurate out of the box; Netzwelt measured an average colour error (Delta E) of 2.0 on the European 65-inch QN70H. Samsung sells both as quantum-dot Neo QLEDs.
Contrast and Local Dimming Tie
Neither is a real Mini-LED in practice. RTINGS describes both as edge-lit, calling the QN70F's local dimming "incredibly ineffective" and saying the QN70H's "barely does anything to deepen blacks"; Netzwelt saw the QN70H dimming in only a few vertical stripes. Expect low contrast in a dark room on either.
Brightness Tie
RTINGS says the QN70H is too dim for impactful HDR, and Netzwelt measured about 484 nits on the European 65-inch model. RTINGS found the QN70F bright enough to overcome glare in a moderately lit room. Neither has an anti-reflection layer: Samsung's QN70F spec sheet lists it as "N/A", and RTINGS found both screens glossy.
Processor and Sizes Small Changes
Samsung lists the QN70F with the NQ4 AI Gen2 processor and the QN70H with the NQ4 AI Processor. The QN70H adds 43- and 50-inch sizes to the range, which started at 55 inches on the QN70F.
Who Should Get What?
Get the Samsung 55" QN70H if...
- You mainly stream and watch TV in a moderately lit room
- You want Samsung's Tizen and its promise of up to seven years of OS updates
- You game at 60fps or not at all
Look at the TCL 55" QM6K instead if...
- You wanted the QN70F for 4K/120 console gaming with VRR (see our best TVs for PS5 and Xbox)
- You want real Mini-LED local dimming and Dolby Vision (see is Mini-LED worth it?)
Keep your QN70F if...
- You already own one: the QN70H is not an upgrade on any measured feature that matters for gaming
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Samsung QN70H better than the QN70F?
No, not overall. The 2026 QN70H drops to a 60Hz panel, three HDMI ports with no HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and, per RTINGS, no VRR, where the 2025 QN70F had a 120Hz panel (up to 144Hz from a PC) and four HDMI 2.1 ports with VRR. Tom's Guide called the QN70H "a considerable downgrade". Both are edge-lit with weak local dimming and glossy screens, and both have accurate colour.
Can the QN70H do 4K/120Hz for PS5 or Xbox Series X?
No. Its HDMI ports top out at 4K/60Hz. Samsung's "DLG" mode gives 120Hz only at 1080p (RTINGS, US 65-inch). The QN70F accepted 4K/120 from consoles on all four ports, and up to 144Hz from a PC.
Is the QN70H a Mini-LED TV?
Samsung markets it as "Quantum Mini LED", but RTINGS (65-inch), Germany's Netzwelt (European 65-inch) and the calibrator TV Calibration with Darko (55-inch) all found it edge-lit, and RTINGS says its local dimming "barely does anything to deepen blacks". Samsung told Tom's Guide the dimming is software-based. The QN70F was also edge-lit with very limited dimming.
Which has the better screen for a bright room?
Neither is a bright-room specialist. Samsung's QN70F spec sheet lists anti-reflection as "N/A", and RTINGS found both screens glossy, with direct reflections that are hard to reduce. Both suit a moderately lit room best. For a bright room, see our bright-room guide, which favours TVs with matte screens.
The 55-inch QN70F is sold out. What should I buy instead?
It depends why you wanted it. For streaming and everyday TV on Samsung's Tizen, the QN70H is its replacement and keeps accurate colour. If you wanted the QN70F for gaming (120Hz, HDMI 2.1, VRR), the QN70H cannot do that; a true Mini-LED such as the TCL 55-inch QM6K has a 144Hz panel and two HDMI 2.1 ports.
Ready to Buy?
Also Compare
Sources
This comparison is based on Samsung's published specifications and on lab measurements and reviews by the outlets below. We have not tested either TV ourselves; where a figure comes from a specific reviewer, it says so.
- Samsung USA, QN70F spec sheet (2025, all sizes)
- Samsung USA, QN70H spec sheet (2026)
- RTINGS, Samsung QN70F review (55")
- RTINGS, Samsung QN70H review (65")
- Netzwelt, Samsung QN70H test (European 65" GQ65QN70H)
- Tom's Guide, Samsung 2026 Mini-LED lineup ("a considerable downgrade")
- TV Calibration with Darko, QN70H 55" video review