itunes on tv
Samsung’s super-smart telly on test
It pretty much looks and works exactly like it does on Apple’s own hardware
£3,799 FROM samsung, samsung.co.uk FeatuRes 65-inch QLeD display with 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) and HDr, smart TV features inc. Apple TV and Airplay 2
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hen Apple revealed the new Apple TV app in May, it did so with a flourish. Not only would the app appear on Mac, iOS and Apple TV hardware – but also on smart TVs made by LG, Samsung and Sony. That list looks set to grow.
One of the first Apple TV-enabled sets you can buy is this: the Samsung QE65Q90R, a 65-inch 4K HDR QLED flagship that has AirPlay 2 onboard too. It’s also achingly expensive at £3,799 – but that’s a small price to pay given its picture and sound quality, and the sheer range of smart TV features it offers.
The QE65Q90R itself is a sight to behold: incredibly thin (33.9mm at its thickest point) with narrow bezels around the edges of the display and a single central foot – from the front it looks like an iMac on steroids. One of the reasons the TV is so skinny is that it also comes with a separate media box, which houses almost all of the connectivity options you’re likely to need including four HDMI ports, three USB ports, aerial and satellite sockets, and an Ethernet port for direct connection to your broadband router. Or you can use the built-in Wi-Fi, of course.
Inside, the QE65Q90R is stuffed with Samsung’s latest TV tech, including a Quantum Processor 4K for the very best picture quality, 4K AI upscaling for lower-res sources (such as DVD or sandard definition TV broadcasts), plus Quantum HDR – Samsung’s proprietary High Dynamic Range technology. It also crams downward-firing speakers in there – although home cinema fans will probably want to go the whole shebang and team the TV with a full-on surround sound system, or, at the very least, a dedicated soundbar such as the Sonos Beam (see the Apple TV accessories round-up on p86).
The QE65Q90R also comes with a stylish Smart Remote which has a central 4-way cursor control (resembling the one on the old Apple TV remote) for navigating the smart TV’s menu options, as well as up/down volume controls, a dedicated Netflix button and more. You’ll also find more conventional buttons for changing TV channels, swapping sources and so on under the metallised cover.
One of the things that makes this TV such a delight to use is its slick operating system, which can not only be controlled via the remote but also by using Bixby, Samsung’s answer to Siri. The QE65Q90R also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and offers integration with Samsung’s own range of SmartThings smart home accessories.
Whichever method you use to control the TV, getting to the Apple TV app is quick and easy – it sits alongside all the other smart TV apps you’d expect, such as BBC iPlayer, Now TV and Google Play Movies & TV and it pretty much looks and works exactly like it does on Apple’s own Apple TV hardware –
except its focuses entirely on TV and movie purchases/rentals available via the iTunes Store, plus the new Apple TV channel, rather than present its own array of third-party apps, games and the like.
The Apple TV app is split across seven tabs that run along the top of the screen: Watch Now, Movies, TV Shows, Kids, Library, Search and Settings, with posters for each type of content displayed in a colourful grid below.
AirPlay and iTunes
Sign in with your Apple ID via Settings and all your existing purchases and rentals will appear under Library.
You can choose to buy or rent more content via the Samsung TV, too, with your purchases appearing on your other Apple devices for download or streaming in the usual way. And because the QE65Q90R supports AirPlay 2, you can also stream content from your Mac, iPhone or iPad, with the TV appearing as an option in both iTunes on Mac, and via the Control Centre in iOS.
When it comes to picture and sound quality, the Samsung QE65Q90R really delivers, bringing a new level of richness and colour accuracy to your favourite movies and TV shows, especially when you watch them in 4K HDR via the Apple TV app interface. And having a screen this big really makes a difference – it’s the closest most of us will ever get to having our own private cinema. Sound quality is very respectable, too.
So, what’s the verdict? If you already own an Apple TV or an Apple TV 4K, there’s no need to buy this set, especially if you have a 4K set already. If you’re thinking that Apple TV would be a nice-to-have, plump for Apple’s existing hardware instead – it’s cheaper and arguably offers more functionality.
However, if you’re in the market for a new TV and want to upgrade your Apple TV viewing experience at the same time, and have the budget, the QE65Q90R is compelling – it’s gorgeous, easy to use and Apple TV-friendly. What’s not to like? ROb Mead-gReen