The Samsung NU6900 is an alright entry-level 4k TV. It's available in a wide range of sizes with budget-friendly prices, and it provides okay overall performance. It has a VA panel with an outstanding contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity, so it's an ideal choice for watching movies in a dark room. However, it's limited on extra features, as it lacks local dimming and can't remove judder from any source. HDR content doesn't look all that good either, as it doesn't display a wide color gamut and doesn't get bright enough to make highlights pop. It's a decent choice for casual gamers as it has low input lag, but its slow response time results in some motion blur.
Our Verdict
The Samsung NU6900 is an okay TV for mixed usage. It has an outstanding contrast ratio that makes blacks appear deep when viewed in a dark room. It's not suitable for watching shows or sports in bright rooms because it doesn't get very bright, but it has decent reflection handling. On the upside, the input lag is low, making it decent for gaming.
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Outstanding contrast ratio.
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Excellent black uniformity.
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Decent reflection handling.
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Narrow viewing angles.
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Doesn't get very bright.
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Fails to display wide color gamut.
The Samsung NU6900 is alright for watching movies. It has an outstanding contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity, making it a great choice for watching movies in dark rooms. However, it lacks a local dimming feature to further improve black scenes. It also can't remove 24p judder from any source.
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Outstanding contrast ratio.
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Excellent black uniformity.
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Doesn't remove judder.
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No local dimming feature.
The Samsung NU6900 is decent for watching TV shows. It has decent reflection handling, but it doesn't get bright enough to combat glare in well-lit rooms. It's very good at upscaling cable content and should keep most TV show enthusiasts happy. Unfortunately, it has narrow viewing angles, so you won't get an accurate image when viewing from the side.
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Decent reflection handling.
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Upscales lower-resolution content well.
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Narrow viewing angles.
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Doesn't get very bright.
The Samsung NU6900 is okay for sports. It has decent reflection handling so you can place it in an average-lit room, but it doesn't get bright enough to combat a lot of glare. Unfortunately, it has narrow viewing angles and it's not ideal for wide seating arrangements. Additionally, it has a slow response time, so fast-moving content may look blurry.
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Decent reflection handling.
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Upscales lower-resolution content well.
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Narrow viewing angles.
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Doesn't get very bright.
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Slow response time.
The Samsung NU6900 is decent for playing video games. It has a low input lag, which makes it very responsive, but it has a slow response time that makes motion look blurry. However, it has a Black Frame Insertion feature to improve the appearance of motion. Unfortunately, it doesn't have support for any variable refresh rate technology to improve the gaming experience further.
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Outstanding contrast ratio.
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Excellent black uniformity.
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Low input lag.
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Slow response time.
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No VRR support.
The Samsung NU6900 is mediocre for watching HDR movies. It has an outstanding native contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity but lacks local dimming to make blacks deeper. Furthermore, it doesn't have a wide color gamut and can't get very bright to make highlights pop and deliver HDR content as the director intended.
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Outstanding contrast ratio.
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Excellent black uniformity.
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No local dimming feature.
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Doesn't get very bright.
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Fails to display wide color gamut.
The Samsung NU6900 is okay for HDR gaming. It has a low input lag in HDR, but it has a slow response time that results in some motion blur. It also has an outstanding contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity. Unfortunately, the TV can't display HDR content as intended because it can't get very bright and doesn't have a wide color gamut.
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Outstanding contrast ratio.
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Excellent black uniformity.
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Low input lag.
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Doesn't get very bright.
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Slow response time.
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Fails to display wide color gamut.
The Samsung NU6900 is alright for use as a PC monitor. It has low input lag, and it can display most common resolutions and chroma 4:4:4, which is important for reading text. Unfortunately, the viewing angles are bad, so the edges of the screen appear darker if you sit too close. It doesn't get bright enough to combat glare, but it has decent reflection handling.
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Decent reflection handling.
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Low input lag.
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Displays chroma 4:4:4.
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Narrow viewing angles.
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Doesn't get very bright.
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Slow response time.
- 6.8 Mixed Usage
- 6.5 Movies
- 7.2 TV Shows
- 6.9 Sports
- 7.0 Video Games
- 6.3 HDR Movies
- 6.7 HDR Gaming
- 6.9 PC Monitor
- Updated Nov 10, 2020: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated May 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Feb 28, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Aug 31, 2018: Review published.
- Updated Aug 29, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 29, 2018: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 27, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Aug 15, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 55 inch Samsung NU6900 (55NU6900) TV. For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 43 inch (UN43NU6900), 65 inch (UN65NU6900), 70 inch (UN70NU6900), and the 75 inch (UN75NU6900) models as well. Samsung released the Samsung NU6950, which appears to be very similar and is available in the same sizes except for a 70 inch model, but appears to have a local dimming feature, called UHD Dimming.
| Size | Model | US | VESA Mount |
| 43" | UN43NU6900 | UN43NU6900FXZA | 200x200 |
| 50" | UN50NU6900 | UN50NU6900BXZA | 200x200 |
| 55" | UN55NU6900 | UN55NU6900BXZA | 200x200 |
| 65" | UN65NU6900 | UN65NU6900FXZA | 400x400 |
| 70" | UN70NU6900 | UN70NU6900FXZA | Unknown |
| 75" | UN75NU6900 | UN75NU6900FXZA | 400x400 |
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Samsung NU6900 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we'll update the review. Note that some tests such as gray uniformity may vary between units.
Our unit of the NU6900 was manufactured in July 2018, and you can see the label here.
Compared To Other TVs
The Samsung NU6900 is an entry-level 4k TV. You can find better TVs in the same price range. See our recommendations for the best cheap TVs and the best TVs under $300.
The Samsung TU7000 and the Samsung NU6900 perform very similarly overall. The NU6900 gets a little brighter, but the TU7000 has a significantly lower input lag, making it a better option if you plan on using your TV for video games.
The Samsung NU8000 is much better than the Samsung NU6900. The Samsung NU8000 is a better TV for gaming thanks to the lower input lag, FreeSync support, and low input lag with motion interpolation. The Samsung NU8000 can get brighter both in SDR and in HDR and has a wide color gamut that enhances HDR performance. The Samsung NU8000 has a faster response time, and only a small blur trail is visible behind fast-moving content. Finally, the Samsung NU8000 is a better choice for use as a PC monitor.
The Samsung NU7100 and the Samsung NU6900 both have very similar performance. The Samsung NU7100 has better input lag that is important if you play video games, or, specifically, HDR video games. Also, the low input lag makes the NU7100 a slightly better choice for use as a PC monitor. On the other hand, the NU6900 has a marginally better response time, so fast action has less blur.
Although they use different panel types, each with their strengths and weaknesses, the Samsung NU6900 is better than the LG UM6900 overall. The Samsung looks much better in a dark room and is significantly brighter. The LG has better viewing angles though, and it can remove judder from 24p sources. The LG uses a less-accurate RGBW pixel structure, which isn't great for use as a PC monitor.
The LG UM7300 and the Samsung NU6900 has different panel technologies, each with advantages and disadvantages. The NU6900 can deliver deep blacks in a dark room thanks to its high native contrast ratio, whereas the UM7300 is a better choice if your room has a wide seating arrangement. Also, the LG can handle reflections better and can remover judder in most cases, whereas the Samsung can't remove judder at all.
Overall, the Samsung RU7100 is slightly better than the Samsung NU6900. The RU7100 has less input lag, but the NU6900 has a slightly better contrast ratio and slightly better black uniformity, although these could be due to panel variances. The RU7100 also supports a 1440p input, which is great for gaming.
The Vizio V Series 2019 and the Samsung NU6900 are both decent TVs for different uses. The Vizio has slightly better contrast, better black uniformity, and wider viewing angles. It also shows fewer reflections, making it better for moderately well-lit rooms, and has a slightly wider color gamut, though neither are wide enough to properly display HDR content. The motion handling of the Vizio is also better thanks to it's much better flicker-free performance. On the other hand, the Samsung has more accurate colors out-of-the-box, better gradient performance, an optional Black Frame Insertion feature, and better built-in speakers. While the Samsung can get marginally brighter with HDR, neither TVs are a great choice for watching a ton of HDR content as they can't get bright enough for highlights to pop.
The Samsung Q70/Q70R QLED is a much better TV than the Samsung NU6900. The Q70R feels more premium and better built, has local dimming, can get drastically brighter, has better reflection handling, a much wider color gamut, better motion handling, and a much smoother smart interface. On the other hand, the NU6900 has more accurate colors out-of-the-box.
The Samsung NU6900 is much better than the Insignia Fire TV. The Samsung NU6900 has lower input lag and better response time which is great if you play fast-action video games. The Samsung NU6900 also has better black uniformity, which is great for dark room performance, and better reflection handling, which makes it a better choice for a room with many light sources.
The LG UN6950 is slightly better than the Samsung NU6900. The LG we tested is the 50 inch model with a VA panel, while the other sizes have an IPS panel. It has a much quicker response time, it removes 24p judder, the input lag is much lower, and the interface is better. However, the Samsung has much better out-of-the-box color accuracy, it has a much better contrast ratio, and it has better uniformity.
Overall, the Samsung NU6900 is marginally better than the Toshiba Fire TV 2020. The Samsung has a much higher contrast ratio to deliver deep blacks, it has better screen uniformity and color accuracy, and its gradient handling is much better, so there's less banding. On the other hand, the Toshiba has faster response time, lower input lag, and it gets brighter in HDR.
The Samsung NU6900 and the TCL 4 Series 2019 are similar-performing TVs. The Samsung looks a bit more premium, can get brighter, has better gray and black uniformity, has a better black frame insertion feature, and has a motion interpolation feature. On the other hand, the TCL handles reflections better, has a wider color gamut, has a faster response time, and a better smart interface.
The Vizio D Series 4k 2018 and the Samsung NU6900 are both decent TVs, but the Vizio is marginally better for some uses. The Vizio can get slightly brighter, but the Samsung has better gray and black uniformity, as well as slightly more accurate colors out-of-the-box. The Vizio is quite a bit better with motion handling overall, but the Samsung has better built-in speakers.
The LG UK6570 is a bit better than the Samsung NU6900 unless dark room performance is important. The UK6570 has wider viewing angles than the NU6900 and better reflection handling, making it a better choice for bright rooms with lots of side seating. The UK6570 has a faster response time, so motion looks clearer with less blur trail. The NU6900 has a VA panel and is better suited for a dark room with no side seating.
The TCL 6 Series R617 is much better than the Samsung NU6900. The R617 is much brighter, has a slightly faster response time, and can remove judder from all sources. The TCL also has a full array local dimming feature, which helps improve dark room performance, although it isn't very effective.
If you've got a room with wide seating, then the LG UK6300 is a better choice due to the better viewing angles its IPS panel provides. If you're sitting directly in front of the TV, then the Samsung is a better choice. The Samsung NU6900 has better picture quality and is a better choice for movies in a dark room, as it displays deeper blacks due to the higher native contrast ratio and better black uniformity. The NU6900 can get brighter and is slightly better for watching TV shows. The LG UK6300, on the other hand, has better reflection handling for a room with many, but not too bright, lights.
The TCL 5 Series S517 and the Samsung NU6900 both have very similar performance. The TCL S517 is a better choice for watching movies as it has better motion handling and can remove 24p judder from movies. On the other hand, the Samsung NU6900 has better black frame insertion performance and can make the image crisper, which is important if you watch a lot of fast action sports.
The Samsung NU6900 is marginally better than the TCL S Series S405. The Samsung NU6900 has slightly better dark room performance thanks to the higher contrast ratio and better black uniformity. The Samsung NU6900 has a motion interpolation feature to improve motion. The TCL S405 has a lower input lag, which is great for playing video games. The TCL can display judder-free movies from many sources and has slightly crisper motion thanks to the faster response time.
The Vizio M Series 2018 is better than the Samsung NU6900. The M Series 2018 has a local dimming feature that makes blacks look deeper in a dark room and is a better choice for watching movies. The Vizio M Series 2018 is also more suitable for a bright room as it has better reflection handling and can get much brighter, and has a faster response time making it better for watching fast action such as sports or playing video games. On the other hand, the Samsung NU6900 is equipped with better smart features.
Test Results
The Samsung NU6900 is the entry-level 4k TV in Samsung's 2018 lineup. It sits below the Samsung NU7100 and replaces the Samsung MU6100. It competes with other entry-level TVs, such as the Sony X750F, LG UK6300, and the Vizio E Series 2018.
The Samsung NU6900 has an excellent design, which is similar to the higher-end model, the Samsung NU7100. The stand holds up the TV well, and the thin design means that it doesn't bulge out too much when wall-mounted. Also, the TV casing is made out of plastic, but it doesn't look too bad. The overall build quality is okay.
The stand is plastic and supports the TV well. It's slightly different from the Samsung NU7100's stand. Unfortunately, it isn't very tall and you may block a small part of the bottom edge of your screen if you place a soundbar in front of it.
Footprint of the 55" TV stand: 39.75" x 9.5"
The back is made out of plain plastic. There's an opening at the bottom edge for cable management.
Unfortunately, there are only two HDMI inputs, so you can only connect two devices at once. However, all inputs are side-facing, so they're easier to reach if you mount wall-mount the TV.
This TV has fairly thick bezels, but they shouldn't be too distracting.
It's fairly thin and shouldn't stick out much when wall-mounted.
The build quality is okay. There aren't any gaps and you shouldn't have issues with it, but the cheap, plastic feeling is apparent everywhere with this TV.
The Samsung NU6900's contrast ratio is outstanding, which is expected from a VA panel. It displays deep blacks when viewed in the dark, but it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve it. Note that contrast may vary between units.
This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature. The above video is provided for reference only. However, there appears to be a variant, the Samsung NU6950, that has local dimming.
The peak brightness isn't bad. It can't get very bright in SDR to overcome glare. It's more suitable for dimmer rooms, very similar to 2018's Samsung NU7100, but less bright than the 2017's Samsung MU6100 or Samsung MU6300. Even though the brightness is mostly consistent, small highlights aren't as bright, as we can see from our 2% window. This is due to Samsung's CE (frame) dimming.
The HDR peak brightness is disappointing. Although it's fairly consistent across most input windows, it's just not bright enough to deliver the director's intent. Small highlights in dark scenes get crushed.
The Samsung NU6900's gray uniformity is decent, but this may vary between units. The edges of the screen are visibly darker, and there's some dirty screen effect in the center. The uniformity is much better in near-dark scenes.
This TV has narrow viewing angles, which is expected from VA panels. You quickly lose image accuracy when moving off-center.
This TV has excellent black uniformity, but this may vary between units. There's some backlight bleed in the corners, but there's no blooming around the center cross.
This TV has decent reflection handling. It performs well in moderately-lit rooms, but reflections may become an issue in a well-lit environment.
The Samsung NU6900 has impressive out-of-the-box color accuracy, but this may vary between units. Setting the Picture Mode to 'Movie' delivers the best performance, and it's hard to detect any inaccuracies with the white balance dE and color dE. Gamma doesn't follow the target curve all that well and most scenes are brighter than they should be. Color temperature is slightly colder than our 6500K target, giving the image a blueish tint.
After calibration, the color accuracy is remarkable. The calibration used a 100% sized window instead of 18%. The white balance calibration used the 10-point grayscale, and there weren't any problems with performance. As with most Samsung TVs, most of the correction of the color dE came from the correction of white balance, because changing the values through the color space management didn't make the results any better. Even professionals will have a hard time finding the color inaccuracies post-calibration, and it's nearly impossible to see any gray inaccuracies as well. The temperature hit our target of 6500K and the gamma curve was corrected.
Check out our recommended settings here.
Lower resolution 480p content like DVDs is upscaled well, with no obvious artifacts or quality issues.
This TV has an okay color gamut, but it's not considered a wide color gamut for HDR content. In the 'Movie' Picture Mode, the EOTF curve follows the target curve fairly well until it rolls off. The PC and Game mode EOTFs are very similar to 'Movie'.
If you find HDR content too dim, you can set Contrast Enhancer to 'High' and raise the Gamma to '+3'. This results in a brighter image, as you can see in this EOTF.
The Samsung NU6900's color volume is disappointing. With a limited color gamut, the TV can't display bright colors in a varied range of brightness levels.
This TV has great gradient handling. There's some banding noticeable in the darker shades, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem with real content.
There's some very minor image retention immediately after displaying our high-contrast static image. However, it disappears quickly, and this varies between units.
We don't expect VA panels to experience permanent image retention, as the VA panel in our long-term test appears immune.
The Samsung UN55NU6900 has an unremarkable response time, resulting in some motion blur with fast-moving content.
This TV uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to dims its backlight. It's flicker-free at any backlight level above 24/50, but below that, it flickers at 120Hz and may cause some image duplication.
There's a Black Frame Insertion feature to improve the appearance of motion. It flickers at 60Hz when enabled. To activate it, enable LED Clear Motion. You can't use the BFI feature in 'Game' mode, but you can make it flicker at 120Hz if you set the Backlight at '24' or below.
This TV can interpolate 30fps content up to 60fps. Motion appears more fluid but it introduces some 'Soap Opera Effect' that some people do not like. To enable interpolation, set Auto Motion Plus to 'Custom', and adjust the Judder Reduction slider to your preference.
The TV stops interpolating when the motion gets too intense, just like Samsung NU7100.
Due to the TV's slow response time, lower-frame rate content doesn't appear to stutter much.
There isn't any option to remove 24p judder.
The Samsung NU6900 doesn't support any variable refresh rate technology.
This TV has a low input lag, but it may be too high for competitive gamers. You must be in 'Game' mode to achieve the lowest input lag possible.
This TV displays 1080p and 4k content at @ 60Hz, but it can't display a 1440p resolution. It also displays chroma 4:4:4 when you set the input you're using to 'PC'. For full-bandwidth signals, enable HDMI UHD Color.
Unfortunately, this TV doesn't support DTS formats.
This TV has an okay frequency response. It has a decent Low-Frequency Extension and has some punch in the bass, but it doesn't get low enough for some rumble or thump. It has a fairly well-balanced sound profile, but it doesn't get very loud, and there are some compression artifacts at its max volume.
This TV has decent distortion performance. There's only minor distortion at moderate listening levels, but it gets more noticeable at its max volume. However, this depends on the content and not everyone may hear it.
The Samsung NU6900's interface is similar to the Samsung NU7100 but without some more advanced features. It's easy to navigate but the interface isn't smooth and doesn't react to your commands immediately.
There are ads and there aren't any ways to disable or opt-out of them.
The Samsung TV app store has tons of options. Popular apps like Netflix, YouTube, or Amazon Prime Video are already installed, and you can download almost any other app that you need.
The Samsung NU6900's remote control is simple and gives access to the basic functions of the TV, but there isn't quick access to any apps. However, there's a button for upscaling options when lower-resolution content is being played.
There's one button underneath the TV. It can change volume, channels, and inputs.
