Samsung 65" Q80D QLED 4K Smart TV
The Samsung Q80D is the highest-end QLED in Samsung's non-Mini-LED range -- which means it punches well above its price. At current sale pricing around $698 CAD, it's one of the few large TVs that combines genuine brightness, local dimming, Quantum Dot colour, and 4K 120Hz gaming into one affordable package.
✅ What Works
- Outstanding brightness for a 65-inch LCD: 1,000+ nits peak HDR means highlights visibly pop in dark scenes, outperforming most competitors at this price
- Direct Full Array backlight with local dimming produces noticeably better black levels than edge-lit or budget QLED panels -- no washed-out dark scenes
- Excellent gaming credentials: 4K 120Hz with VRR and ALLM delivers smooth, low-lag gameplay on PS5 and Xbox Series X; PS5 owners consistently report impressive results
- Quantum Dot color is accurate and vibrant out of the box -- wide color gamut reproduces reds, greens, and blues that more affordable TVs can't match
⚠️ Worth Knowing
- No Dolby Vision: Samsung uses HDR10+ instead -- Dolby Vision content (Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+) falls back to HDR10, losing scene-by-scene metadata; not a dealbreaker but noticeable on A/B comparison
- LCD local dimming creates visible blooming (halo glow) around bright objects on dark backgrounds -- nowhere near as bad as budget TVs, but OLED owners will notice it
- Tizen OS has become ad-heavy: Samsung now displays sponsored content and recommendations prominently on the home screen; it still works well but feels commercial
- Tops out at 120Hz: newer competitors (LG C5, some TCLs) offer 144Hz -- not a meaningful difference for console gaming, but relevant for PC gamers
What Real Buyers Are Saying
What buyers love
“"Picked this up on sale and couldn't believe the picture quality. PS5 gaming on this is stunning -- colours pop and response is instant."”
Source: Amazon.ca reviewer
“"No Dolby Vision is a bummer but you honestly barely notice unless you're specifically testing it side by side. The brightness makes up for it in a bright room."”
Source: Best Buy customer review
“"Six months daily gaming use, zero complaints. Way brighter than my old LG IPS and the colours are beautiful. Wouldn't buy anything else at this price."”
Source: r/Televisions
At $698 CAD, the Samsung Q80D is one of the most compelling 65-inch TVs available. The combination of high brightness, Quantum Dot color, local dimming, and 4K 120Hz gaming performance is genuinely hard to beat at this price. If you want the absolute best picture -- particularly black levels and viewing angles -- spend the extra $1,300 CAD for the LG C5 OLED. But for a bright living room, casual gaming, and strong value, the Q80D is the smart buy.