70" Samsung UN70TU6980FXZA 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV (2020 Model) Expired

This is a 2020 model since it has a T. (T = 2020, R = 2019, N = 2018..)

Here's the breakdown by Model:

UN70TU6980FXZA

U - LED TV (Product ID)
N - North America (Manufacturing country)
70 - Size
T - 2020 (Release year)
U - UHD (Screen type)
6 - Series Number
9 - Series Model
80 - Design code
F - USA/CA (Tuner Type)
X - Design Code
ZA - USA (Manufacturing country)

Edit: I bought this and am super happy either way but almost positive this is a TU7000 for following reasons:

1) bottom of the box it came in has "70TU7/8000" written so all signs point to this just being a slightly reduced feature TU7000 model exclusively for Best Buy
2) Samsung representative is answering questions on Best Buy's website and specifically stated the difference between the 6 (TU6980) and 7 (TU7000) series is "the cheaper model doesn't have the same size selections or cable management clips" and "6 Series are typically temporary models which have limited sizes and features".
3) If you compare specs of the TU6980 vs. TU7000 on BestBuy.com, they have exact same dimensions, weight, HDMI ports, speaker wattage, usb ports etc. The only key difference i can see is that the TU6980 supposedly uses 182 vs. 144 kwH but i think that's just a BestBuy calculated figure not provided by the mfg'er.
4) I would be shocked if this is actually using a cheaper quality panel than the TU7000 because 70" TVs aren't a common SKU for Samsung, so it wouldn't be worth the manufacturing trouble to create an entirely new panel for one retailer

I ordered this TV regardless since I was waiting on a 70-75" TV to go on sale and it's much better than the TCL 4 series. Below is comparison of TVs I was contemplating purchasing:

Samsung 65" or 70" TU7000 (2020)
- $500 @ Costco for 65" / ~$530 for 70" at Best Buy (previous 70" deals were ~$600)
- 5110 native contrast ratio
- 248 cd/m² peak HDR brightness
- 6.9 gray uniformity
- 6.3ms response time
- 10.2ms 1080p / 10.3ms 4K
- Has eARC
- 60Hz panel, no local dimming/FALD, old-style remote
- Note: TU7000 is 2020 variant vs. 2018's NU6900, key differences are better design/smaller bezels, worse contrast (5110 vs. 6107), worse peak HDR (248 vs. 270), worse gray uniformity (6.9 vs. 7.4), better response rate (6.3 vs. 7.7), better input lag (10.2 vs. 22.8), better operating system (Tizen 2020 vs. 2018)

Samsung 70" NU6900 (2018)
- $540 @ Best Buy
- 6107 native contrast ratio
- 270 cd/m² peak HDR brightness
- 7.4 gray uniformity
- 7.7ms response time
- 22.8ms 1080p / 22.5ms 4K
- 60Hz panel, no local dimming/FALD, No eARC, old-style remote, considered lower end vs. 7100 (reduced Tizen features for example, slightly worse design)

Samsung 65" RU8000 (2019)
- $600 @ BestBuy
- 5756 native contrast ratio
- 345 cd/m² peak HDR brightness
- 7.8 gray uniformity
- 4.0ms response time
- 15.0ms 1080p / 15.1ms 4K
- QLED style remote, no local dimming/FALD, no eARC
- Note: Better than both TU8000 (2020 edition with only 60Hz panel) and RU9000 (upgraded version with worse contrast / brightness but better viewing angles)

Samsung 65" NU7100 (2018)
- $500 @ Costco
- 5397 native contrast ratio
- 261 cd/m² peak HDR brightness
- 7.6 gray uniformity
- 9.5ms response time
- 13.7ms 1080p / 13.4ms 4K
- 60Hz panel, no local dimming/FALD, No eARC, old-style remote
- Note: NU7300 is curved variant with slightly better contrast (5583 vs 5397), better peak HDR (299 vs. 261), better response rate (7.3 vs. 9.5)

TCL 65" 6 Series R635 (2020)
- Not on sale often, $900 MSRP
- 5560 native contrast ratio / 10537 with local dimming (FALD)
- 869 cd/m² peak HDR brightness
- 7.1 gray uniformity
- 3.8ms response time
- 18.4ms 1080p / 17.8ms 4K
- 120Hz panel, VRR, eARC, better speakers than 2019

TCL 65" 6 Series R625 (2019)
- ~$700 on sale but not often, $800 MSRP
- R613/615/617 is the 2018 version
- 4699 native contrast ratio / 8196 with local dimming (FALD)
- 667 cd/m² peak HDR brightness
- 6.7 gray uniformity
- 7.4ms response time
- 11.3ms 1080p / 10.8ms 4K

Vizio 65" M7 Series Quantum M657 (2019)
- $600 @ Costco
- 5935 native contrast ratio / 7193 with local dimming (FALD)
- 324 cd/m² peak HDR brightness
- 7.3 gray uniformity
- 5.2ms response time
- 20.5ms 1080p / 20.4ms 4K
- No eARC

Vizio 65" M8 Series Quantum M658 (2019)
- 7000 native contrast ratio / 9815 with local dimming (FALD)
- 387 cd/m² peak HDR brightness
- 7.0 gray uniformity
- 4.9ms response time
- 20.6ms 1080p / 20.7ms 4K

Vizio 65" V Series V655 (2019)
- 65" for $460 @ Costco / 75" for $750 @ Costco
- 7395 native contrast ratio (no FALD)
236 cd/m² peak HDR brightness
- 6.8 gray uniformity
- 6.3ms response time
- 24.6ms 1080p / 24.7ms 4K

It's a 70" TV for $530.