- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- TV appearance
- Where to buy
- Contrast and black detail
- HDR effect quality
- Factory color reproduction
- Color reproduction after calibration
- Smoothness of tonal transitions
- Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
- Blur and motion smoothness
- Console compatibility and gaming features
- Input lag
- Compatibility with PC
- Viewing angles
- TV efficiency during daytime
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Details about the matrix
Samsung OLED S90F (QD-OLED) Review
S90F / FAT / FAE
Available screen sizes:
Diagonal with a different matrix: , , , ,
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Panel type: QD-OLED Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: SAMSUNG Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Tizen Model year: 2025
The matrix lottery is a phenomenon that no TV enthusiast likes. When buying equipment, it’s hard to predict whether we will get a panel from one factory or another in a given size, and this can significantly affect image quality. This is exactly the case with the Samsung S90F series, where other versions use WOLED matrices, while others use QD-OLED panels. We got our hands on the 65-inch variant with the "FAT" suffix in the designation, equipped with a QD-OLED matrix. It’s still organic technology, but it differs from WOLED panels in several important details that translate to image perception. What exactly are these? And does the S90F in the QD-OLED version have a chance of becoming the best OLED TV of 2025 in terms of value for money? Let’s find out!
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Our verdict
8.4
Overall rating
The Samsung S90F in the 65-inch version is a television that demonstrates the significant quality leap that can come from using a QD-OLED panel in a mid-range model. Compared to other variants, the S90F stands out as the best – it offers not only perfect blacks and infinite contrast like other versions with WOLED panels, but also noticeably higher brightness and a wider colour gamut. This translates to more impressive HDR, deeper colours, and smoother tonal transitions, making a strong impression in both cinematic productions and in gaming or sports. In everyday use, this television is incredibly versatile: it seamlessly takes on the role of an entertainment centre in the living room, a large monitor for PC gamers, or simply a screen for evening movie sessions. The Tizen system operates instantaneously, providing a wide selection of applications and integration with SmartThings, which will please those who enjoy having a smart home under control. Gamers receive a full set of modern solutions: four full HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, ALLM, Game Bar with additional enhancements and, most importantly, remarkably low input lag. Moreover, the characteristic pixel response speed of OLEDs ensures that sports and games look absolutely stunning. The S90F also impresses in terms of design: slim bezels, aesthetic finishing and a panel that looks like a glass sheet do their job. The only significant limitation to keep in mind is the retention of blacks in difficult, heavily sunlit conditions. In such situations, it can slightly “heat up,” resembling a dark cherry colour rather than true black. However, in the evening, when most of us settle down for movies or series – the problem disappears entirely. It is then that the S90F showcases its full potential, delivering an image that can confidently be compared to televisions twice its price. That’s why the Samsung S90F in the 65-inch version can be called the most cost-effective OLED of 2025. It’s a model that combines outstanding picture quality, versatility, and an affordable price point in the upper mid-range segment. If you’re looking for a television that performs well in movies, gaming, sports, and everyday viewing, while not wanting to spend a fortune on top-tier models – it’s hard to find a better choice today.
Advantages
QD-OLED panel with exceptional black levels and contrast
Very high brightness for an OLED in this segment (around 1700 nits)
Great HDR effect and wide colour gamut coverage thanks to the use of quantum dots
Perfect viewing angles – the picture looks great even from the side
Effectively reduces reflections in bright living rooms
Outstanding motion smoothness – OLED panel at 144Hz
Complete set for gamers: HDMI 2.1, ALLM, VRR, Game Bar, low input lag
Intuitive and fast Tizen system with a large app base
Good sound quality for a TV + support for Dolby Atmos
High build quality and slim design
Disadvantages
In very bright daylight, black can take on a navy tint (characteristic of QD-OLED panels)
No support for DTS:X (a problem for Blu-ray disc fans)
No USB recording functionality from built-in tuners
Why can't we find such a panel in all sizes?!
Movies and series in UHD quality9.0
Classic TV, YouTube9.3
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)8.9
Gaming on console9.8
TV as a computer monitor8.6
Watching in bright light5.7
Utility functions7.7
Apps8.7
Sound quality7.4
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SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Competing TVs in this price range
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Other inputs: Toslink (Optical audio), IR (remote) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Premium
Stand type: Central
Bezel colour: Graphite
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
Samsung S90F is a television that immediately impresses with its appearance. Like every OLED, it delights with its incredibly slim bezels, making the screen look like a seamless sheet of glass. The design with a slightly thicker back is typical for this type of panel, so it can't be pushed all the way against the wall, but the television is sleek enough that it shouldn't bother anyone. Especially since all attention is focused on the panel itself, which simply looks fantastic. The only element that can be critiqued is the stand. The manufacturer opted for two plastic legs with a metal-like overlay, which doesn't quite match the rest of the design. Aside from that detail, the S90F looks like top-class equipment and will easily fit into most modern interiors.
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SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Contrast and black detail
10/10
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
In terms of black levels and contrast, the S90F makes no difference whether we choose the version with a WOLED panel or QD-OLED. In both cases, the effect in typical cinema conditions remains the same, and we can always count on perfect black levels. This impresses not only when watching movies but also ordinary TV shows. For someone who has never experienced an organic panel, the first encounter with such a television can be truly stunning. It makes no difference whether we are watching less demanding scenes, like those from the movie Oblivion, or segments where only a few details remain on screen, such as stars in the sky in the film Star Wars – in every case, the image remains clear, and details are perfectly separated from the background. This is one of the biggest advantages of OLED, as each pixel is controlled independently and functions like a separate zone. This means there's no need to worry about compromises in the visibility of details in bright areas, which can disappear even in the best LCD TVs. It is in cinematic conditions that the S90F shows its full potential and can truly amaze. Here, OLED technology – including the QD-OLED panel – performs flawlessly and delivers an effect that is hard to fault.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - HDR effect quality
7.8/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 99.6%, Bt.2020: 88.2%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1416 nit
Result
1585 nit
Result
1449 nit
Result
1379 nit
Result
808 nit
The biggest difference between the 65-inch S90F and the other versions is brightness. The QD-OLED panel can reach up to 1700 nits in laboratory tests, which is over 500 nits more than the version with a WOLED matrix. This translates to a significantly stronger and more immersive HDR effect. In most scenes, the bright parts of the image look stunning, and we must admit that we were positively surprised, as we expected results closer to the WOLED version, but what we got is an effect that impresses even in films. As with every OLED, there are moments when the panel must reduce brightness a bit. This mainly concerns full-screen, very demanding scenes – for instance, in the last test scene from the movie “The Meg,” brightness drops to around 800 nits. However, it's hard to consider this a flaw because it's still an excellent result, unprecedented in OLED TVs in this price range. Everything suggests that the 65-inch S90F could be one of the best choices this year for those looking for a strong OLED at a reasonable price. Another advantage of the QD-OLED matrix in HDR content is its colour gamut coverage. Thanks to quantum dots, the television achieves nearly 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut and almost 90% of the BT.2020 gamut. These are values that place it alongside much more expensive models and make it exceptional in its class.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Knowing that the S90F with QD-OLED technology can generate such high brightness, we had to compare it with the best screens on the market. And while it does not reach the level of this year's flagship OLEDs, considering the price segment it is in, the results can be summed up in one word: unparalleled. During screenings of films like The Father and Billy Lynn, we were truly surprised at how a "mid-range" OLED could meet the demands of such challenging titles. The picture was very bright but did not merge into a single luminous spot, and the details remained clear and readable. In productions full of colours, there was also a slight advantage of the QD-OLED panel, resulting from the higher saturation of colours, which adds extra depth and intensity to the overall picture. It's simply a fantastic screen for movies.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
The S90F is a very bright TV that performs exceptionally well in HDR10 format and can adapt the picture beautifully to most content. In typical scenes, the effect looks impressive, but in extremely bright shots, there are instances where the panel's brightness and its adaptation prove to be insufficient. In such moments, dynamic HDR10+ comes to the rescue, being able to correct the picture and enhance details where the static format struggles. Of course, these are very rare cases, and in the vast majority of scenes, the S90F presents the full range of details effortlessly, even without the help of dynamic metadata. Nevertheless, the presence of HDR10+ proves to be a valuable support that showcases its worth precisely in these most demanding situations.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
7/10
Samsung S90F, like most modern televisions, offers several picture modes, but in keeping with our tradition, we checked it in the most important one, which is Filmmaker. This setting makes the picture look much more natural than in the default, often oversaturated modes. It is neither overly vivid nor artificially dimmed – just closer to what you should actually see. However, this doesn’t mean it’s perfect. The S90F had noticeable shortcomings in white balance, particularly in the blue range, which created a slightly yellowish filter effect on most scenes. One might argue that it looks more “cinematic” because it’s warmer, but let’s not kid ourselves – George Lucas didn’t shoot Star Wars in sepia 😉 (you’ll find a comparison with a scene as always below). In HDR materials, there was also an issue with brightness management. The EOTF curve clearly showed that the television brightens the image more than it should, which led to some effects looking too intense and deviating from the reference. Fortunately, many of these flaws can be eliminated through professional calibration – we will discuss the effects of this procedure later in the test.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.3/10
Calibration quickly revealed that the S90F has a significant reserve of capabilities. The image in SDR immediately gained a natural quality – classic films no longer looked like someone was applying a yellowish filter, and the colours regained their proper character. It's a return to the atmosphere of the original, without the impression that someone tried to "age" it forcefully. In HDR content, the difference was even more pronounced. The EOTF curve was managed to nearly reference level, and any deviations are so subtle that most viewers wouldn't even notice them. In practice, the S90F shows an image very close to ideal post-calibration. Compared to the WOLED version, it even performs better – mainly due to a wider coverage of the colour palette, which makes the colours look fuller and more vibrant.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Smoothness of tonal transitions
8.8/10
QD-OLED panels, thanks to their very wide colour gamut, simply have a greater number of colours, making it easier to seamlessly blend one shade into another. This was clearly evident in the S90F – compared to the classic version with the WOLED panel, we noticed a distinct improvement. Most transitions were smooth and practically invisible, and the image in most scenes felt exceptionally cohesive. In very bright sections, some minor imperfections can still be perceived, but they are cosmetic enough not to distract the viewer.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
S90F performs really well here, although there are some points that are common across most Samsung TVs. The noise reduction feature can effectively smooth out unwanted colour transitions in lower-quality materials like television or YouTube, making them look simply better. However, it should be noted that it works quite aggressively and can also soften elements that we wouldn’t want to alter, such as facial details. Therefore, if we want to use it, it’s best to use it in the "medium" setting and be aware of the compromise it brings. The upscaling itself is of a high standard – low-quality materials are pulled towards an image resembling 4K. The only caveat is that the S90F can still have issues with so-called overscan, meaning slight trimming of the edges in very low-quality materials such as 576p and lower.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Blur and motion smoothness
8.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
BFI function 120Hz: No
Brightness drop with BFI: 50%
S90F is an OLED with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, but in practice, what matters most is how it performs at 120 Hz, as this frequency is the most important when watching sports. The QD-OLED panel is no different in this regard from WOLED panels – the pixel response is nearly instantaneous, so motion is rendered with surgical precision. The effect is easy to predict. The image is practically free of motion blur, making gaming on consoles, matches, or other sports broadcasts a tremendous pleasure on the S90F.
Fans of movies and series have not been forgotten either. Like every Samsung television with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and above, the S90F is equipped with a proprietary motion smoother called “Picture Clarity.” Here, we find two sliders – blur reduction and judder reduction – which allow you to improve the smoothness of content recorded at 24 frames and tailor the effect to your own preferences.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Image flickers in this mode
Smużenie (4K@144Hz):
When it comes to motion blur, this paragraph could actually remain empty. Regardless of whether we use 144 Hz refresh rate in PC mode or 120 Hz on consoles and with sports, the problem hardly occurs. The effect remains the same – the image is clear and free of blurring thanks to the organic panel used here. For those who would like to further „smooth” the motion, there is a BFI feature called Clear Motion. However, it’s important to know that in this mode the image flickers significantly, and the practical value of this option is close to zero, as the panel already offers excellent results without it.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.6/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 144Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
No
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
The S90F is a television that genuinely brings a lot of joy when gaming. To start with, we get four proper HDMI 2.1 ports, which means you can connect all consoles and PCs without having to figure out which device takes priority. This is a convenient and practical solution, which is not at all a given with other manufacturers. Additionally, there are key features such as: automatic game mode (ALLM), which automatically switches the screen to low latency settings, and VRR frame synchronization that operates over a wide range from 48 to 144 Hz. This ensures the picture remains smooth, whether we're playing fast-paced online shooters or more relaxed narrative titles. The Game Bar also deserves attention – a panel that allows quick access to several handy extras. For example, you can turn on an extra crosshair in the middle of the screen, enlarge the minimap, or, in the case of PC, change the aspect ratio. Finally, there's also Samsung's unique Game Motion Plus mode. Its task is to smooth out older or poorly optimized titles, and it actually works quite well. With this mode, even less polished games can look better and provide more enjoyment than on other televisions that theoretically offer the same technical parameters.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Input lag
10/10
In terms of delay, the S90F performs exceptionally well. With content at 120 Hz, it’s around 5 ms, and at 60 Hz, it’s about 10 ms. In practice, this means an immediate response to the gamepad, mouse, or keyboard – without the feeling that anything is slowing down the gameplay!
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 10 ms | 2160p60: 10 ms | |
| 1080p120: 5 ms | 2160p120: 5 ms | |
| 2160p60: 10 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 5 ms |
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Compatibility with PC
8.6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
S90F, even in the 65-inch variant, performs excellently as a large PC monitor. The most user-friendly features are, of course, for gamers – the television supports refresh rates of up to 144 Hz, as well as frame synchronisation with Nvidia (G-SYNC) and AMD (FreeSync) graphics cards. The difference compared to WOLED panels lies in the characteristic 'diamond' pixel arrangement in QD-OLED. In practice, this may affect the display of fine text – some letters at the edges may have slightly jagged shapes. On the other hand, in WOLED matrices with a four subpixel arrangement, text can be less precise, so each variant has its specific nuances. In both cases, however, the television is very well suited for both gaming and occasional computer work.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Viewing angles
9.8/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 10%
One of the things that immediately impresses in the S90F is its viewing angles. This is the huge advantage of QD-OLED matrices – even if we're not sitting directly in front of the television, the image hardly changes. Colours remain vibrant, contrast is strong, and details are just as clear as when we're looking from a central position. So you can comfortably watch a film with several people, spreading out across the living room, without worrying that someone will get a washed-out version of the image. OLEDs have always performed well in this category, and this is one of their main advantages over classic LCDs. However, with QD-OLED, the difference is even more noticeable – the image holds its quality even at a steep angle, where on WOLED panels you can already notice a slight loss of colour intensity. Here, that's practically non-existent.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - TV efficiency during daytime
5.7/10
Matrix coating: Glare
Reflection suppression: Good
Black levels during daytime: Average
QD-OLED displays have their Achilles' heel – it's the reproduction of black in brightly lit rooms. The glossy coating used here handles reflections really well, definitely better than in the WOLED panels we had the opportunity to test. The problem is that in very intense daylight, blacks can take on a dark navy hue and lose their depth. Fortunately, in the evenings this phenomenon disappears completely and the television shows an image that we expect from an OLED – with perfect contrast and true blacks. As for the brightness itself, the S90F performs quite well for a mid-range OLED. In typical conditions, it will handle without any issues, and the screen will look attractive even in a well-lit lounge. Only in really extreme conditions, when the sun is shining directly on the screen, can it be more difficult, but this is a common issue for all OLEDs in this price segment. On the other hand, better reflection suppression means that for many people, QD-OLED will prove more convenient for everyday viewing than classic WOLEDs, even though blacks don’t always look perfect on it.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Samsung OLED S90F (QD-OLED): 431 cd/m2
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - TV features
7.7/10
System: Tizen
System performance: Very good
- HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- Other inputs: Toslink (Optical audio), IR (remote)
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No
- Recording programming: No
- Picture in Picture (PiP): Yes
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
- Backlit remote control: No
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: Yes
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
- Voice search: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
SmartTV Features: Tizen.
A major advantage of the S90F in everyday use is the Tizen operating system. It is one of the fastest systems on the market and has been exceptionally efficient on Samsung televisions for years, and on higher-end models like this one, it responds almost instantaneously. The menu reacts without delays, switching between applications is smooth, and the whole experience is intuitive enough that even someone encountering a Smart TV for the first time will find their way around it. In the app store, we can find practically everything we need – from Netflix to HBO Max and even less obvious services. While it may not have GoogleTV, there is really no sense of missing anything. A big plus is the integration with SmartThings. This is a solution for those who like to have their entire home controlled from one app. The television can be part of the IoT device ecosystem and will seamlessly communicate with the washing machine, air conditioning, or lighting if everything is on the same network.
Classic Functional Features
When it comes to classic features, it has everything one might expect: support for HDMI 2.1, USB inputs, optical output, and connectivity via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The only thing that more conservative cinema fans might find lacking is support for DTS:X audio formats – especially if someone watches films on physical media. The remote control may initially seem a bit strange, as it lacks traditional number buttons. But this is already standard in today's television world, and most users get used to it very quickly. A plus is that it works entirely wirelessly. The point is that you don't need to aim at the screen; simply pressing a button on the remote from anywhere (even in another room) will make the television respond to our actions.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
Obsługiwane formaty audio:
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: No
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: No
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: No
- DTS-HD Master Audio: No
Ułatwienia dla seniorów
- Numeric keyboard on TV: No
- Font size adjustment: Yes
- Audio description: Yes
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Apps
8.7/10
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Playing files from USB
9.1/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
The built-in player in the S90F works really well and is more than sufficient for most users. It easily opens movies or music loaded onto a USB drive or portable hard drive and handles most popular formats. The only "more serious" issue we encountered was the lack of support for HEIC photos – the ones that can be saved by an iPhone. (Although we suspect that 90% of people use the JPEG format anyway).
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Sound
7.4/10
84dB
Maximum volume
Supported codecs
(TV speakers)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
The S90F really plays nicely for a TV – the bass is noticeable, the dialogues sound clear, and the overall dynamic is quite good. Dolby Atmos also does its job well, as it can give the sound some space, making the movie experience better than with most basic built-in setups in other TVs. However, it must be said plainly: no TV, even one of this class, can replace a separate sound system. If someone truly wants to feel like they're in a cinema, the best solution would be to buy a soundbar or a full audio set. Especially since, as is typical with Samsung, there's a lack of support for DTS:X – so fans of Blu-ray discs and high-quality soundtracks will still need to reach for external equipment connected directly to the source.
Acoustic Measurements
84dBC (Max)
75dBC
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: T-RSMFDEUC-0090-103 2.5, E2500007, BT-S
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
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4/3/2025
