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Samsung’s new 85-inch beast is the most gorgeous TV you can’t possibly afford

Published Oct 10th, 2018 4:40PM EDT
Samsung 85 inch TV
Image: Samsung

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Everything about the new 85-inch 8K TV in Samsung’s Q900 series just seems like a beast. Larger-than-life. From the specs to the crazy-high price tag (a mere $15,000). And, well, to the reviews, early examples of which are starting to trickle out and seem to be mostly praising the TV in pretty glowing terms.

From Wired, “An Amazing Glimpse of 8K’s potential.” Pocket-Lint.com calls it an “HDR Supernova,” and, via Forbes, we get this bit of breathless hype about the TV: “The future is now.”

The TV’s reason to exist at all, he continues, is its 8K upscaling ability. Samsung’s 8K Quantum A.I. is what the company is betting on here — that’s the chip that uses artificial intelligence to analyze an image in real time and then dip into an image database to present a “much more accurate and precise digital guess at how to plug in missing picture information.”

Some other things worth noting: The TV has a depth of almost 1.5 inches. It comes with 4 HDMI ports, and 4K support goes up to 60 FPS. The biggest con, no doubt, is the price tag. The DT reviewer also points out that it produces “tons of heat.”

“However,” that review concludes, “this is a first-generation product and Samsung has no competition – at least for the next few months. We’re not surprised to see such a lofty number, and we should point out that it is $5,000 less than the first 4K TVs at similar screen sizes … When we talk about 8K and feel that urge to poo-poo the tech as too far ahead of its time, I think it is important to remember that the display has always led the way. With Samsung’s Q900, we’re just seeing that happen again. We’re looking at the future of TV, and it’s glorious.”

Andy Meek Trending News Editor

Andy Meek is a reporter based in Memphis who has covered media, entertainment, and culture for over 20 years. His work has appeared in outlets including The Guardian, Forbes, and The Financial Times, and he’s written for BGR since 2015. Andy's coverage includes technology and entertainment, and he has a particular interest in all things streaming.

Over the years, he’s interviewed legendary figures in entertainment and tech that range from Stan Lee to John McAfee, Peter Thiel, and Reed Hastings.