(checked 2026-10-10)Very small sample (22 ratings) for a 2026 model; not a reliable signal yet.
Wirecutter's upgrade pick: an 11.1.4 system with a sub and wireless rears that gave the strongest overhead effect and clearest dialogue it has heard. It's pricey and 48.5 inches wide, the compact sub doesn't shake the couch, and RTINGS says last year's HW-Q990F performs about the same for less.
Top complaints
- Pricey, wide, and a modest subwoofer
Wirecutter calls it pricey and says the 48.5-inch bar may not fit between a TV's legs. Its compact sub measured 5.6 dB (mid-bass) and 4.2 dB (low-bass) less than the Vizio Elevate's and isn't likely to shake your couch. A 2-star Amazon reviewer found the sub basically useless.
- Annoying display and app-dependent controls
Wirecutter says the front display scrolls only four characters at a time, so you end up using the SmartThings app, which takes more time than grabbing a remote.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Little gain over the cheaper HW-Q990F
RTINGS found much of the performance unchanged from the HW-Q990F. It says the new Sound Elevation feature lifts dialogue at the cost of horizontal clarity, and it picks the discounted Q990F as the better value. A few early Amazon reviewers were disappointed with the sound and soundstage.
What owners love
- Most enveloping Atmos
Wirecutter heard the strongest overhead effect of any Atmos soundbar it has tested, approaching an AV receiver and speaker system with easier setup.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Exceptionally clear voices
Wirecutter says its voice clarity is the best it can remember from a soundbar, and Sound Elevation made dialogue seem to come from the screen without artifacts.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT) - Lots of inputs and streaming options
HDMI eARC plus two HDMI 2.1 inputs with 4K 120 Hz passthrough, optical, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, and Alexa and Google Home (Wirecutter).
Source: Wirecutter (NYT)
- Your TV stand is narrower than about 4 feet
- You want couch-shaking bass
- You can find the HW-Q990F on sale
- A near home-theater setup without an AV receiver
- Connecting a game console or Blu-ray player directly (two HDMI 2.1 inputs)
- Samsung TV owners
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Upgrade pick (updated 2026-09-14): the clearest, most enveloping sound, but pricey and wide, with a sub that measured 109.5 dB mid-bass and 98.9 dB low-bass.
- RTINGS: Its best-soundbar pick (updated 2026-08-21) is the older HW-Q990F, because the H model performs much the same and the F is deeply discounted.