Is Samsung’s latest S95D OLED worth upgrading to?
For a long time, Samsung was known for their high-quality QLED TVs, leading the market in this technology. However, after the very positive reception of OLED TV models from competitors like LG and Sony, Samsung decided to dip their toe in the water with an OLED line. Today, Samsung has a full suite of impressive OLED TVs, including some of our favorites on the market.
The BestReviews Testing Lab extensively tested these TVs, evaluating their performance in picture quality, gaming, smart features and design. When comparing the S95C-OLED, S95D-OLED and S90C-OLED, they are all quality options for those looking to make the leap to OLED technology. The S95C and the S95D are higher-quality models meant for premium home theaters, while the S90C is more of a “starter” OLED at a cheaper price point.
Samsung S95C OLED vs. S95D OLED vs. S90C OLED
It’s hard to go wrong with any of these TVs, but we thoroughly tested them to identify some small differences.
Samsung S95C OLED specs
The S95D is the first OLED TV to feature anti-glare technology.
Product specifications
Display Type: OLED | Screen Size: 65” | Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 144 Hz | Connectivity: 4 HDMI ports, 3 USB ports, Wi-Fi and Ethernet enabled
The Samsung S95C is one of the premium options in Samsung’s OLED lineup. Whether you’re a dedicated gamer or a cinema enthusiast, the S95C delivers an unparalleled viewing experience. During testing, the S95C dazzled us with its exceptional brightness and crystal-clear clarity, making movies immersive with deep, rich blacks and vibrant hues. This OLED effortlessly breathes scenes into life.
For gamers, the S95C raises the bar with its 144-hertz refresh rate. Paired with remarkably low input lag, gaming on the S95C is smooth and responsive, offering a high level of immersion for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S users. While the absence of Dolby Vision may give pause to some, the S95C remains an excellent OLED TV, boasting a total package that elevates the OLED viewing experience to new heights.
Samsung S95D OLED specs
A big benefit of OLED TVs is their lack of picture degradation when viewing from an angle.
Product specifications
Screen Size: 65” | Resolution: 4K | Panel Type: OLED | Refresh Rate: 144 Hz VRR | Connectivity: 4 HDMI (1 eARC), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB, Optical Audio
The Samsung S95D is the flagship OLED offering in Samsung’s 2024 lineup and is the updated version of the S95C. Boasting stunning brightness, deep blacks and consistent viewing angles, it delivers a fantastic picture from every corner of your viewing room. Setting a new standard for OLED technology, Samsung has introduced its groundbreaking OLED glare-free technology for 2024, making the S95D the first OLED TV to feature anti-glare technology. Whether your room is dimly lit or full of light, the S95D ensures an exceptional viewing experience no matter the room — it left us very impressed.
Through rigorous testing, we observed flawless gaming performance, with the S95D effortlessly handling the demands of max settings on the PS5. Games like Fortnite ran seamlessly, while fast-paced sports showcased minimal motion blur, thanks to its 144 Hz VRR (variable refresh rate). For those in pursuit of OLED excellence, the S95D stands out as the ultimate choice and is a worthy upgrade from the S95C.
Samsung S90C OLED specs
Each of these TVs has a variable refresh rate (VRR) of up to 144 Hz.
Product specifications
Display Type: OLED | Screen Size: 77” | Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 144 Hz | Connectivity: 4 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, Wi-Fi and Ethernet enabled
The Samsung S90C is the more affordable option within Samsung’s OLED lineup compared to the S95C and S95D. While “cheap” is a relative term in the realm of OLED TVs, among the more budget-friendly choices in the OLED category, the S90C is one of the best. It boasts a breathtaking display, a high refresh rate and top-notch construction, making it an excellent option for anyone considering an OLED TV for their home theater.
In our testing of the 77-inch model, we found it to be overwhelming in our smaller apartment and its brightness proved to be a bit taxing on the eyes. For those with limited space, the 55- or 65-inch variants of the S90C would be more suitable. Nevertheless, even at close range, we couldn’t help but admire the exceptional picture quality — the colors were vivid, and the blacks were impeccable.
Samsung S95C OLED vs. S95D OLED vs. S90C OLED: What they do well
We noticed essentially zero input lag in all of these TVs.
All of these TVs are excellent performers in several categories — par for the course for OLED TVs.
S95C benefits
- Overall picture quality: The S95C offers exceptional picture quality, capturing vivid details and vibrant colors with impressive clarity
- Brightness: We were very impressed with the S95C’s brightness, showcasing that OLEDs can indeed be as bright as QLEDs.
- Gaming performance: With 144 Hz VRR and minimal motion blur and input lag, the S95C is a great gaming TV.
- Viewing angle: No picture degradation no matter the angle.
- OneConnect Box: The convenience of Samsung’s OneConnect Box makes it easy to wall mount your TV and keep connections separate.
S95D benefits
- Saturation and contrast: The contrast and saturation of the S95D is stunning, making blacks deep and small details shine.
- Anti-glare: The first OLED TV to offer anti-glare technology, the S95D features a matte screen that performs well in all light environments.
- OneConnect Box: Similar to the S95C, the OneConnect Box is a very useful convenience feature.
- Refresh rate: With a VRR of 144 Hz, the S95D is a fantastic gaming TV.
- Viewing angle: Like the S95C, the S95D’s picture doesn’t degrade when viewed from an angle.
S90C benefits
- Cost: While it doesn’t have the top-tier features of the S95D and S95C, the S90C is an excellent value proposition for those looking to buy their first OLED TV.
- Color accuracy: The S90C delivers outstanding color accuracy, making pictures pop with vibrancy.
- Brightness: While it’s not as bright as the S95D and S95C, the S90C still performs well in this category.
What they could improve
While these are all quality OLED TVs, there are a few drawbacks with each.
S95C drawbacks
- Cost: Make no mistake, the S95C is a significant investment, especially compared to the S90C.
- No anti-glare: Anti-glare technology is a brand-new feature on the S95D and isn’t included on the S95C.
S95D drawbacks
- Cost: Like the S95C, the S95D is a very expensive TV.
- No Dolby Vision: An issue with all Samsung TVs, the S95D doesn’t have Dolby Vision HDR, only HDR 10 and HDR10+. This is a minor quibble for most consumers.
S90C drawbacks
- No OneConnect Box: If you like to wall-mount your TV, the S90C doesn’t include a OneConnect Box, making it more difficult to reach connections like HDMI plugs.
- Design: The S90C has a bulkier design than the S95C and the S95D, but it is still slimmer than most TVs on the market.
Testing
Picture quality
To assess the picture quality of these three TVs, we evaluated the saturation, brightness, sharpness, color accuracy, anti-glare functionality and how it performed at various viewing angles (from both sides at 45 degrees, 90 degrees and 135 degrees).
Gaming performance
To assess gaming performance, we tested the S95D with a PS5 running Fortnite at max settings. For the S90C and the S95C, we used an Xbox Series X with various games, including Call of Duty and Red Dead Redemption 2. We evaluated the TV’s motion-handling capabilities, including refresh rate motion blur, and the TV’s input lag.
Samsung S95C OLED vs. S95D OLED vs. S90C OLED functionality
All three of these TVs offer exceptional performance in several categories including gaming, design and picture quality. The differences are minute but important.
Gaming performance comparison
Gaming enthusiasts are buying OLED TVs for their impressive next-gen features, including high refresh rates, top-notch graphics processing and minimal input lag.
The S95D model exceeds expectations in all these areas and more. During our tests, playing Fortnite on max settings with a PS5, left us impressed. The S95D is a gaming powerhouse, effortlessly handling next-gen gaming demands. What sets the S95D apart is its 144 Hz VRR, ensuring motion blur is virtually nonexistent and input lag is minimized to almost zero. This makes it the perfect choice for gamers seeking to upgrade their home-theater setup for competitive gaming.
The S95C is no slouch either, boasting the same VRR at 144 Hz. In fact, we didn’t find too much difference between the two. Motion blur performance was the exact same, and it had super low input lag. Like the S95D, it has four 2.1 HDMI ports that all run at 144 Hz while gaming. It’s a smooth, tear-free gaming experience.
The S90D is also a great option for gamers. It has the same VRR as the S95C and S95D at 144 Hz, thus it handles motion very well. With minimal input lag, the S90D will get the most out of your next-gen console. However, the input lag was slightly worse than the S95C and the S95D.
All three of these TVs feature Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which adds another layer of convenience, providing direct access to Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation, Origin and Steam games. The Gaming Hub simplifies the gaming experience, appealing to those looking to streamline their setup with fewer wires and consoles.
Design and build comparison
The S95D has a stunning design with an impossibly thin 11-millimeter screen. It’s very sophisticated. With a sleek bezel measuring just about a centimeter, the S95D seamlessly fits into any home-theater space with its single dark gray stand in the center.
The S95C has a similar, ultra-thin design. This is a big benefit of OLED TVs over QLED and LED TVs; the nature of their technology means they don’t need a backlight, creating a significantly slimmer design. Both of these TVs include the OneConnect Box, further contributing to the minimalist design and flexibility.
The S90D is a great-looking TV as well, but it’s slightly thicker and doesn’t include a OneConnect Box. It’s heavier and sturdier but still looks like a cutting-edge TV — just not at the level of the S95D and the S95C.
Picture quality comparison
If you’re buying a premium OLED TV, you expect premium picture quality, and the S95D delivers it in spades. Powered by Samsung’s NQ4 AI Gen 2 processor, the S95D has striking brightness levels that contribute to its vibrant imagery. Additionally, the S95D features OLED HDR Pro, enhancing the richness of images when viewing HDR content. During our testing, we were particularly impressed by the S95D’s deep, rich blacks and bright whites. The color accuracy is exceptional, even subtle contrasts exhibit a remarkable level of clarity. The S95D delivers an outstanding viewing experience in every aspect.
The S95C has similarly excellent picture quality, boasting vibrant colors, excellent brightness and fantastic picture uniformity when viewing from an angle. Under the hood, the S95C features a previous version of Samsung’s AI processor, but few people will notice the difference unless the S95D and the S95C are side by side. HDR content pops with the S95C.
Though the S90C performs below the S95D and the S95C, it’s still fantastic. During testing, we thought 4K and HDR content looked amazing, taking full advantage of the S90C’s 4K capabilities. However, low-quality content did suffer a bit, creating a grainy image. Sports look sharp and clear, as do dark scenes. Viewing angles are terrific for wide rooms. Overall, the S90C is a great OLED screen.
Smart features comparison
When it comes to smart features, all these OLED TVs are on par with each other. They use the latest iteration of Samsung’s proprietary operating system, Tizen OS. Our experience with Tizen revealed a seamless and user-friendly interface, accompanied by a comprehensive array of apps essential for a smart TV experience. Anybody who has used a dedicated streaming device will be right at home with Tizen.
Pricing
The S95D, which ranges in size from 55 to 77 inches, starts at $2,599 and is available at Best Buy. The S95C ranges in size from 55 to 77 inches and starts at $2,499 at Best Buy. And the S90C ranges in size from 55 to 83 inches and starts at $1,899; it’s also available at Best Buy.
How do they compare to other TVs we tested?
Also new in Samsung’s 2024 lineup are the QN90D and the QN900D, the company’s flagship QLED offerings. While these are great products for their category, we would pick any one of these OLED TVs over either the QN90D or the QN900D. One advantage the QN900D has is the ability to display 8K resolution content. However, because of the limited application and the other downsides of QLED TVs, we don’t think it’s worth the extra cost. We still prefer the picture quality of all of these OLEDs, even the S90C.
Bottom line: Should you get the S95C OLED, the S95D OLED or the S90C OLED?
The best value is to be had with the S90C. If you can deal with a little worse picture quality and a bulkier design, the S90C is a fantastic OLED performer and most consumers will be happy with their purchase.
If you want to go for the higher-end models, we think the S95D is worth the upgrade over the S95C. Its anti-glare technology and matte screen are truly impressive, taking the S95D over the top. If you’re worried about an OLED TV’s performance in bright rooms, then the S95D will alleviate those concerns.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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