TVs SAMSUNG
Samsung has been the largest television manufacturer in the world for years and regularly introduces solutions that others later copy. In their range, we can find both simple models for everyday viewing and advanced designs with Mini-LEDs or QD-OLEDs. Additionally, there is the Tizen system, regarded as one of the most refined Smart TVs. Let’s take a look at Samsung's offering, what distinguishes the various series, and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
Technologies and Samsung's Approach to the RTV Industry
Samsung has been associated with televisions for years that can shine brightly and impress with their image clarity. This is one of the biggest advantages – models from this brand usually perform excellently in sunlit living rooms, and in HDR content, they can produce truly stunning scenes. On top of that, there are vibrant colours and an advanced Tizen system, which is one of the fastest and most refined Smart TV platforms available. However, not everything looks the same as with the competition. Samsung is the only major manufacturer that does not support Dolby Vision, the most popular HDR standard. Instead, it is developing its own format: HDR10+. Both formats work similarly – adjusting image parameters scene by scene – but Dolby Vision still enjoys broader support on streaming services and on Bluray discs. HDR10+ is catching up (especially on Amazon Prime Video, and recently on Netflix), so it's hard to speak of a serious shortfall, although in mid-range televisions where the panel brightness is not the highest, Dolby Vision can be particularly useful.
The second pillar of Samsung's philosophy is the expansion of the SmartThings ecosystem. Here, the television becomes more than just a screen – it is the control centre of the home. You can connect a washing machine, refrigerator, air conditioning, or air purifier to it, but at the same time, you don't have to limit yourself only to Samsung devices. Products from other brands are also supported, showing that the manufacturer has a broader vision and considers the television as part of a larger network of home devices.
What is the difference between QLED and Crystal UHD? Neo QLED vs OLED? Samsung's product lines in a nutshell!
Samsung offers several main series of televisions that look similar on paper, but differ significantly in practice. It’s worth knowing what lies behind the names, as often it is the details that make the difference.
Crystal UHD – The simplest models from Samsung's catalogue. These are regular LCD televisions that are primarily meant to be affordable and provide access to SmartTV. They are sufficient for watching TV, YouTube, or Netflix, but one shouldn’t expect fireworks when it comes to top-quality picture.
QLED – Still LCD, but with an additional layer of quantum dots (Quantum Dot). This solution allows for brighter colours and slightly better brightness. In cheaper models, the differences compared to Crystal UHD can be cosmetic, but in more expensive QLEDs, the colours are noticeably more vibrant and even brighter.
Neo QLED – Here we have another step forward. This is also LCD with quantum dots, but featuring new Mini-LED backlighting. As a result, the TV does not illuminate the entire screen uniformly; instead, it can dim and brighten selected parts of the image. The effect is better contrast, deeper blacks, and brighter highlights in HDR. Some halo effect around bright elements may still occur, but the difference compared to a regular QLED is significant.
OLED – Here, each pixel lights up individually and can be completely turned off. This provides true blacks and nearly infinite contrast. Samsung has its own QD-OLED panels, which, apart from black, offer a wider colour palette and greater brightness than classic OLEDs. In some models, the company also uses WOLED panels from LG. Both solutions are very good, though they differ in image characteristics – hence it's worth checking the tests of specific models.
Neo QLED 8K – The most “show-off” TVs in the range. These are Mini-LEDs with 8K resolution. They look impressive, especially in large sizes and at high brightness, but in everyday use, 8K doesn’t provide significant benefits – content in that resolution is virtually non-existent.
Final note: This division is only a general outline. Within a single series, there can be even five or six different models, and each can offer a different picture quality. Therefore, just the name “Neo QLED” or “QLED” or even “OLED” doesn’t tell you everything about how a particular TV will perform in practice. It’s best to refer to a dedicated product test, which you can find on our website!
Verdict:
Samsung S95F is an excellent continuation and an improvement on last year's S95D model. Thanks to the QD-OLED panel, we receive a picture that captivates from the first minutes of viewing. The blacks are deep and natural, without any traces of backlighting, and the brightness of the new generation panel reaches levels that not long ago seemed beyond the reach of OLEDs. These values are high enough...
Rating
8.7/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
9.3
Classic TV, YouTube
9.3
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
8.9
Gaming on console
9.9
TV as a computer monitor
8.8
Watching in bright light
7.1
Utility functions
7.9
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
8.0
Verdict:
In the case of the 83-inch version, Samsung took a different route than with smaller diagonals and opted for LG Display's Tandem WOLED panel. This move initially raised questions but has proven to be right on the money in practice. We have here an exceptionally successful mix: absolutely reference black, excellent brightness allowing enjoyment of HDR content even during the day, and overall pictur...
Rating
8.7/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
9.0
Classic TV, YouTube
9.0
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
8.6
Gaming on console
9.8
TV as a computer monitor
8.8
Watching in bright light
7.7
Utility functions
7.9
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
8.0
Verdict:
Samsung S95D is definitely our favourite among the TVs from this brand for 2024. We were impressed by its innovative matte screen, which sets it apart from the competition. Its brightness is outstanding, one of the highest values in the OLED segment. This makes it perform excellently in both low light rooms and full sunlight. The motion smoothness in this model is superb. When watching dynamic con...
Rating
8.5/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
8.9
Classic TV, YouTube
9.2
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
8.9
Gaming on console
9.8
TV as a computer monitor
8.6
Watching in bright light
6.2
Utility functions
7.9
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
7.9
Verdict:
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 translat...
Rating
8.4/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
9.0
Classic TV, YouTube
9.3
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
8.9
Gaming on console
9.8
TV as a computer monitor
8.6
Watching in bright light
5.7
Utility functions
7.7
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
7.4
Verdict:
Samsung S90D or otherwise S94D has pleasantly surprised us in many ways. It offers excellent picture quality as befits a TV with an organic matrix. Depending on the size, the television can have different types of OLED panels. In the model we tested, the 65' version with a QD-OLED panel, the blacks are deep, and the colours are vivid and intense. The brightness of the screen, thanks to quantum dot...
Rating
8.2/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
8.5
Classic TV, YouTube
9.2
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
8.9
Gaming on console
9.6
TV as a computer monitor
8.6
Watching in bright light
5.3
Utility functions
7.4
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
7.4
Verdict:
Samsung S90F is an excellent representative of the premium mid-range in the world of OLED TVs. We have an organic matrix here that guarantees perfect contrast – and no matter how much LCD manufacturers try with local dimming in Mini LEDs, this black simply cannot be replicated. The S90F shows its class without any compromises. Compared to last year's model, we get a slightly brighter WOLED panel, ...
Rating
8.2/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
8.3
Classic TV, YouTube
8.7
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
8.5
Gaming on console
9.6
TV as a computer monitor
8.6
Watching in bright light
6.1
Utility functions
7.7
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
7.4
Verdict:
The SAMSUNG S90D, also known as the S94D, is equipment that repeatedly surprised us positively during our tests. It’s worth mentioning at the outset that depending on the selected size, differences may concern the applied OLED panel. However, regardless of which variant we encounter, one can count on excellent blacks and HDR effects that, thanks to high brightness, make a huge impression. This is ...
Rating
8.1/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
8.2
Classic TV, YouTube
8.7
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
8.5
Gaming on console
9.5
TV as a computer monitor
8.6
Watching in bright light
6.0
Utility functions
7.4
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
7.4
Verdict:
The Samsung S85F with a QD-OLED panel is capable of surprising – and in a very positive way. Even before the tests, we did not think that in the case of TVs often referred to in the context of "panel lotteries", one could come across something that would benefit the user. Yet, in this case, particularly with the 55-inch version, it has fully succeeded. The QD-OLED panel, as expected from organic t...
Rating
8.0/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
8.3
Classic TV, YouTube
9.0
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
8.8
Gaming on console
9.3
TV as a computer monitor
7.6
Watching in bright light
5.1
Utility functions
7.3
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
7.2
Verdict:
Samsung OLED 48 S90D or S94D is the smallest model in this series and we had the opportunity to check out what it can do. At first glance, it’s clear that it handles details in dark scenes excellently, as expected from an OLED. It’s worth mentioning that the 48-inch version differs from the larger models. The brightness is slightly lower, and the panel has a satin finish instead of a glossy one. D...
Rating
7.9/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
8.0
Classic TV, YouTube
8.6
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
8.4
Gaming on console
9.4
TV as a computer monitor
8.6
Watching in bright light
5.4
Utility functions
7.4
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
6.8
Available screen sizes: 43”, 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 85”
Technology: LCD VA, Mini-LED QLED
Brand: SAMSUNG
Verdict:
Samsung QN90F is a television that demonstrates how maturely miniLED technology can be developed in many respects. We have excellent contrast and black levels, very high HDR brightness that works well for both movies and games, and a matte screen that makes a significant difference in everyday use. It is precisely this feature that makes the QN90F one of the best TVs for watching in sunny living r...
Rating
7.8/10
Movies and series in UHD quality
7.8
Classic TV, YouTube
7.6
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)
7.2
Gaming on console
8.8
TV as a computer monitor
8.8
Watching in bright light
7.2
Utility functions
7.7
Apps
8.7
Sound quality
7.8