Samsung Qn90b Firmware 1710 Hot

The QN90B uses mini-LED backlight with thousands of zones. Firmware 1710 may have changed zone switching frequency or peak current limits, increasing heat from the LED driver boards.

Firmware 1710 began rolling out in late 2024 as an over-the-air (OTA) and USB-installable update. Officially, the patch notes were vague—typical for Samsung—listing only:

However, the unofficial changelog (derived from user teardowns of the firmware binary) reveals deeper changes. Version 1710 modifies the T-con (timing controller) voltage tables and local dimming algorithm for the Mini-LED backlight. It appears Samsung increased the peak drive current to the LEDs to maintain brightness while reducing aggressive ABL (Auto Brightness Limiter) in Game Mode. samsung qn90b firmware 1710 hot

That last part is critical. Prior firmware (160x, 150x) aggressively dimmed the screen in bright HDR game scenes to keep the power supply and LEDs cool. Firmware 1710 loosens those restraints. The result: brighter, punchier HDR—but at the cost of higher thermal output.

Samsung received criticism that the QN90B dimmed too aggressively during long gaming sessions. In 1710, they appear to have raised the thermal throttling threshold from 65°C to 75°C on the LED driver board. This means the TV will let itself run hotter before reducing backlight brightness. The QN90B uses mini-LED backlight with thousands of zones

The QN90B uses ~720-1,100 local dimming zones depending on size. Firmware 1710 appears to have raised the peak current to these LEDs from 1.8A to ~2.0A per zone. That’s an 11% increase in electrical power. Since LEDs are inefficient (roughly 60-70% efficient at high drive currents), the extra 0.2A translates directly into waste heat.

The most immediate positive reported by users regards the QN90B’s strongest asset: its Mini LED backlight. samsung qn90b firmware 1710 hot

Prior to 1710, some users noted occasional "blooming"—the halo effect seen around bright objects on dark backgrounds—especially when using game mode or watching lower-resolution content. Early reports on the 1710 update suggest that Samsung has aggressively tweaked the local dimming algorithm. Users are reporting deeper blacks and a noticeable reduction in blooming around subtitles and specular highlights (like stars or streetlights).

For movie purists watching in a dark room, this seems to be a net positive, bringing the processing closer to the step-up QN95B model.

If your TV stays warm while off: