QLED 8K Q900R and Q950 TV tread (software/firmware updates, One Connect Box swap, HDMI 2.1, etc.)

[PeerNorway]

Hello everyone,

I have a QLED 8K Q900RA TV, bought in October 2019 (from Komplett.no - a shop in Norway), and got a new One Connect Box replacement to fix the lack of HDMI 2.1 (only in port 4) in May 2020 (shipped free of charge, after having to wait a few months). I got a free Galaxy S10E 128GB phone (no longer valid), plus 10 years burn-in screen guarantee (had to register online right after purchase).

As far as I know, there are three different models: Q900RA (2018), Q900RB (2019) and Q950R (2019) - all three came in different screen sizes.

Special mentioning of the HDMI 2.1 port upgrade promise of the Q900RA (2018) on its product page:

Reference: https://www.samsung.com/uk/tvs/qledtv-q900r/

RTings review: https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung/q900-q900r-8k-qled

Update download: https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/model/QE75Q900RATXXU/

The purpose of this tread is to keep track of problems and solutions our TV might have/get, One Connect Box swap, software- and firmware updates, etc.

Known problems (updated 12th. February 2020):

- The One Connect Box of the Q900RA (2018 models) lacks the HDMI 2.1 port - despite a complementary upgrade to HDMI 2.1 was promised in their presentation of Q900RA on the Samsung website, it was supposed to be fixed by the One Connect Box swap (contact Samsung), note the HDMI 2.1 was only in port 4. Later it turns out that the HDMI 2.1 port even on the new One Connect Box we got swap is still not HDMI 2.1. Despite countless attempts to get a propper answer from Samsung, they are still not transparent about what kind of a port is actually installed, but it is confirmed that it is not a HDMI 2.1 port. The 2019 models should have a proper HDMI 2.1 (no OCB swap needed).
- Lack of eARC
- Lack of AV1 codec (needed for YouTube 8K compressed play)
- Problems with the YouTube app on the TV when running 1440 and 4K videos (on the TV's web browser 4K on YouTube works flawlessly !) Even 1080p videos are often defaulting to 360p. 

[PeerNorway]

@Humorsopa I am not specifically saying that the update I referred to will help for the 4K120Hz (or the eARC or HDMI 2.1)... I am asking if the issue of the 4K120Hz. will be fixed (meaning: not excluded for a future fix) for the Q900RA TV, as he only mentioned the 2019 and 2020 models.

[Humorsopa]

Patrik, I don't own the 2018 Q900RA 8K model. I have the 2019 and 2020 8K:s. But no, not anyone in the group, and there are many, can make anything happen with HDMI 2.1 on the latest firmware. They are getting very frustrated, and rightfully so, since all of them have gotten a new OCB from Samsung in order to make HDMI 2.1 work.

And we are all very frustrated also of course since neither eARC works on any of the 2018-2019 models.

So, 2019 HDMI works fine. 2018, not at all. Not about flickering, it doesn't work in any way. 

[Gazhayes]

Hi Patrik, I have the problem with Xbox 120hz and 2018 q900rat in the uk. See attached photo I have latest firmware on tv from Samsung.comas of last week

 

[Gazhayes]

Hi Patrik my Q900ra is a 2018 model is the firmware fix available for this model yet? Thanks 

[ElinH]

Hey guys 👋 Thought I'd jump in here.

Sorry to hear that you're all having this issue. I have gone ahead and raised this with our Specialists for further investigation, and will get back to you with any updates as soon as I have any. Apologies for any inconvenience you have been caused. A tip is to head over to the TV section on the UK forum where we are encouraged to discuss anything product related and where there is more activity in regards to the subject.

[Benjhey39]

Hi ,

I’ve just bought a q900r a steal at £500 Samsung are sending me the updated ocb. Does anyone know how long delivery takes as it’s been a few weeks now ? 

[PeerNorway]

It can take a few weeks and even a few months. I assume you are  I waited three or four months for mine when I was promised it back in mid or late January 2020 (I think I got the new one in mid May 2020)... By the way, note that there is a Q900RA (2018) and Q900RB (2019), and the 2019 might already have a HDMI 2.1 port - however there is still a lot of uncertainties about what kind of a port they have in the upgraded OCB thy send you if you have the 2018...

[Benjhey39]

Hi PeerNorway

thanks for the quick response , wow that’s a long time! I spoke to Samsung they said it was with the dispatch team but I’ve no clue what that really means haha.  I think it’s the 2018 version , it’s a shame it can’t be updated with firmware.

[PeerNorway]

That is what they tried to pull on me too: to try a firmware update... Strange how they keep asking customers to do it when they should know it will not be fixed.

By the way, be aware that the 2018 (Q900RA) have had problems with the YouTube app (on the TV) since October in which it defaults 4K, 1440p, even 1080p to 360p. The 4K is not a problem when watching YouTube videos in the TV's internet browser or through an external media player device (for example a 4K Apple TV box)... Super annoying, and it takes a lot of efforts on us TV owners to even get this problem acknowledge (which we finally have gotten here in the Nordic forum, but nothing clear in the UK forum). I was stupid enough to go through the process of getting a new internet provider, faster internet subscription, new cables and router installed - which is money thrown right out of the window as it turns out this problem is located in the TV (2018 and older Samsung TV models).... the UK forum does not want to lift a finger, and tell TV owners that has this problem to contact YouTube to fix it - and of course YouTube tells us to go back to Samsung as it is the TVs software or hardware problem with 2018 and older TVs, and they are not "experts in what Samsung TVs' specs and not their problem.... However the moderator in this Nordic forum has ensured us that Samsung is working on a fix to this problem, but cannot give us a date (which can take more weeks, months.... - it has taken about 4-5 months now...) Further more I want to inform you with the problem of what "HDMI port" they have fixed in the port - when it might not be a HDMI 2.1 - might cause problems for us in the future for your non-functional 8K TV when/if for example Apple TV releases a 8K version................. If you can then I would have returned my TV and maybe look into another model. I know a few who have sold their TVs (Q900RA) with a loss and gotten another TV model. As mentioned in the first post, this TV model lacks the AV1 codec for 8K videos on YouTube, and the eARC.

[Gazhayes]

So as all of you on this thread I got conflicting info from Samsung depending on who I spoke to. So I emailed the uk ceo of Samsung. I got the following response, doesn’t seem good unfortunately........

Dear Mr Hayes

I am contacting in response to your communication to our CEO’s office and am sorry to read of the confusion that surrounds content capabilities on your Samsung Q900R series TV.

We apologise if there has been a lack of clarity over the capabilities of the TV and thus would like to address this in response.

Samsung has provided a ‘complementary upgrade’ has been provided that with the provision of a replacement One Connect Box one additional feature is available, support for 8K 60p via HDMI (an HDMI 2.1 feature).  If you would like to receive this new One Connect Box arrangements can be made to support this.

However, this was not advertised as 4K 120Hz compatible as this is not able to be supported on this model.

We hope that this clarifies and if you would like to receive the box so 8K 60p can be enjoyed do let me know.

Regards

Sean Archer

Presidential Escalations Team Manager| UK & Eire

Samsung Electronics

t: +44 (0)330 726 3932

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