- 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 |
- Daytime performance |
- TV features |
- Apps |
- Playing files from USB |
- Sound |
- Panel details
Samsung OLED S95H (S99H) (QD-OLED) Review
S99H / S95H
Available screen sizes:
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Panel type: QD-OLED Refresh rate: 165Hz Brand: SAMSUNG Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Tizen Model year: 2026
Samsung S99H (known in the United States as the S95H) is one of the most distinctive premium OLED TVs. It's mainly because of its looks: the wide metal bezel definitely sets it apart from the competition and is likely to divide users' opinions. For us, however, what matters more is how the TV performs during everyday viewing. So we're checking whether the latest QD-OLED panel has allowed Samsung to create one of the best TVs of 2026.
SAMSUNG S99H - Our verdict
9.0
Overall rating
The Samsung S99H is probably the best OLED TV we've tested so far, and certainly Samsung's best OLED in many years. In terms of picture quality it's genuinely hard to find a weak point. Blacks are perfect, as befits an organic panel, and the HDR effect impresses with its brightness and colour saturation. The use of a QD-OLED panel delivers an image that in many scenes looks almost reference-grade. Virtually every parameter related to display quality performs excellently here. It's also hard to deny that the S99H is simply a device that's a pleasure to use every day. Tizen runs quickly, has access to all the major apps and is covered by seven years of update support. On top of that there are brilliant features for gamers, which translated into one of the highest scores in this category on our site. The S99H will therefore perform well in practically any conditions, whether we're watching films in the evening, following regular TV in a bright living room, or spending several hours playing on a console.
So is it the perfect TV? Not entirely. The design is, of course, the most controversial aspect. The unique look with its wide bezel means this TV is something you'll either love straight away or completely dislike, and that's purely a matter of personal taste. We can, however, judge the equipment, and in that respect Samsung has left something to be desired. In a model designed primarily for wall mounting there is no dedicated mounting bracket, nor a One Connect module. Granted, Samsung allows you to buy its wireless version, the Wireless One Connect, but for a product at this price point both items should, in our opinion, be included.
However, these are not flaws that should rule this model out. The Samsung S99H's main defence is its picture, and it is simply phenomenal. If we like its appearance and are looking for the best possible TV, it's hard to point to a better choice today. At the moment the Samsung S99H is the strongest contender for the title of best TV of 2026.
Advantages
Perfect OLED black levels
Reference HDR picture quality (after calibration)
Very high brightness (over 2800 nits in HDR!)
Richly saturated QD-OLED colours
Outstanding reflection suppression (matte coating)
Very good motion clarity (no smearing, up to 165Hz refresh rate)
Brilliant for gamers (4x HDMI 2.1, low input lag, Game Motion Plus)
Fast Tizen system with 7 years of support
Outstanding viewing angles
High build quality
Disadvantages
No wall mount or One Connect included
Black takes on a cherry tint under strong light (a characteristic of QD-OLED panels)
No DTS:X (for Blu-ray fans)
Unusual design 😉
Movies and series in UHD quality9.7
Classic TV, YouTube9.5
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)9.0
Gaming on console9.9
TV as a computer monitor8.8
Watching in bright light8.0
Utility functions7.8
Apps9.3
Sound quality8.7
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SAMSUNG S99H - Competing TVs in this price range
SAMSUNG S99H - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Super Premium
Stand type: Legs
Bezel color: Silver
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: Yes
Accessories: Stand
The Samsung S99H certainly does not look like another dull OLED on the market. That is mainly thanks to the wide metal frame around the screen. In photos it looks quite hefty, but in person it makes a great impression. It is very solidly made, and when the TV is hung on the wall it creates a nice effect — the screen appears to float slightly above the edge of the frame. We really like this style; it makes the TV stand out from the crowd, although we recognise it is a distinctive design. All the more so because the frame cannot be removed or swapped for another.
Speaking of wall mounting, we should mention a rather puzzling decision by Samsung. The dedicated wall mount (designation WMN-B50EB/XC) is not included in the box and must be purchased separately. For a TV designed to resemble a painting, this seems poorly thought out in our view. You can assume that the vast majority of people choosing the S99H because of its looks will want to hang it on the wall straight away. The box does include the standard feet, though. They do the job, but feel quite plasticky and simply do not match the rest of the design. We would treat them more as a temporary solution than the final way to position such a TV. The casing itself is very slim, and the back houses all the ports and cable guides to help keep wires tidy. Unfortunately, there is no One Connect module, known from some of Samsung’s pricier models. You can, however, buy its wireless version, the Wireless One Connect, which reduces the number of cables running directly to the screen. But again, that is another additional cost.
In terms of build quality the Samsung S99H definitely looks like a top‑end device. It is a shame that for such an expensive television the manufacturer did not include either the wall mount or the One Connect module, especially since both elements would have perfectly suited the whole concept of this model.
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SAMSUNG S99H - Contrast and black detail
10/10
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
As befits an OLED TV, the Samsung S99H delivers perfect black and virtually infinite contrast. Each pixel can switch off independently, so bright elements cause no blooming or halos, and black stays black even in the most demanding scenes. This gives the picture excellent depth and it looks great in films, series and games. Compared with Mini LED LCD TVs, the advantage is especially noticeable in dark shots with small bright details. Subtitles, stars, spotlights and tiny light sources retain full clarity and do not blend into the background. There is also none of the halo effect typical of local dimming, nor any dimming of bright elements just to preserve deep blacks. Importantly, in this respect it makes little difference whether we are talking about the QD-OLED panel or the Tandem WOLED version. In both cases we can count on the same fundamental advantages of organic display technology: perfect control of every pixel and excellent contrast regardless of the scene.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
SAMSUNG S99H - HDR effect quality
9.4/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
2837 nit
Result
2795 nit
Result
2592 nit
Result
2811 nit
Result
2271 nit
When it comes to brightness alone, the S99H is an astronomically bright TV. Its peak brightness in film scenes can exceed 2800 nits. Whatever the scene, you can count on powerful HDR effects that are almost blinding, exactly what you expect from a top-tier screen. It is the nature of OLED panels that they cannot sustain the same extreme brightness in very bright, full‑screen frames as they can with small highlights, but the results are still excellent. In a bright scene from the film The Meg, the sun still exceeded 2200 nits. That means the S99H managed to sustain higher brightness than most Mini LED displays on the market. In terms of brightness, the S99H is currently the best OLED TV we have tested.
Colour gamut coverage
The S99H also handles colour extremely well, which is a direct result of the QD-OLED panel used here. Whether the test scenarios were synthetic test patterns or measurements taken with film material playing in the background, the results remained at a very high level. The S99H easily covers almost 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut, and for the more demanding BT.2020 colour space it reaches nearly 90%. That is absolute top-tier performance. These results match what we have seen in the new SQD-Mini-LED screens, and in real film scenes even outperform RGB Mini LED displays.
BT.2020 color gamut coverage and primary color luminance
| Data set | BT.2020 | P3 | R | G | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic patterns | 89.0% | 99.9% | 65% | 81% | 79% |
| Film measurements | 89.1% | 99.9% | 66% | 83% | 81% |
BT.2020 BT.2020 and P3 – average color gamut coverage (percent of the target gamut).
R, G, B – average primary color luminance relative to target (percent).
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Measurements and dry numbers are one thing, but what ultimately matters is what we actually see on screen. For that reason we put the Samsung S99H through its paces and analysed its behaviour on vivid, demanding movie scenes. The result? Need I say more... they simply look stunning. Regardless of the nature of the material being played, whether we tackle productions mastered for extremely high peak brightness or the much more common titles graded to around 1000 nits, the TV delivers an almost reference-quality rendering of the content. Tonal balance is virtually flawless, without distorting the director's intent or artificially pumping up the picture. Every, even the smallest, nuance in the deepest shadows and the brightest parts of the frame remains perfectly legible and is presented to the viewer with the greatest precision. The S99H doesn't clip whites, doesn't lose detail in dark areas and faithfully conveys the dynamics of the source material. So if you're looking for the best possible HDR picture, the Samsung S99H is the answer.
HDR luminance chart:
Can you get even more out of HDR on the S99H? In theory yes, thanks to support for dynamic metadata in HDR10+, in which the TV receives precise frame-by-frame instructions on how to behave when displaying a given scene. In practice, however, it looks completely different. Good factory tone mapping, with the set to static mode, and the screen's powerful, extremely high brightness mean that the difference between basic HDR10 and dynamic HDR10+ is almost imperceptible. This is clearly shown by the comparison on the shot of the horses: both scenes retain virtually identical amounts of detail, in both the brightest and the darkest areas. Therefore, the lack of Dolby Vision support on the S99H is hard to regard as a real drawback. This TV simply does not need it to fully demonstrate its capabilities in films.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
7.5/10
Samsung offers a whole host of picture modes and features, but as usual we recommend choosing Filmmaker Mode, especially if you want the most faithful rendering of the filmmakers' intent. Out of the box the TV is tuned very well, although it has minor shortcomings. These are mainly a slight drift in the white balance in SDR content and a slightly low gamma. As a result, in darker viewing conditions the picture can be a little too bright compared with the reference gamma of 2.4, which is the standard for watching films with the lights off. These are, of course, minor points, because overall colour reproduction remains at a very good level and the errors in the ColorChecker measurements are not large. However, we know that with a screen of the S99H's class you can, and arguably should, expect even more, which is why we carried out a professional calibration.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.6/10
After professional calibration, FILMMAKER mode looks practically perfect. Because Samsung offers a rich set of advanced calibration features, we were able to fine-tune the colours to an almost perfect level. Above all, we managed to even out the white balance and the gamma curve, which resulted in noticeably improved contrast and proper image modelling. In this tuned picture profile there really isn't a single thing to criticise or call a flaw. After calibration, the S99H can deliver an essentially reference-quality image.
SAMSUNG S99H - Smoothness of tonal transitions
9.6/10
The smoothness of tonal transitions on the Samsung S99H is very good. It performs best in bright scenes, where successive shades blend very smoothly with no visible banding. In darker sections it is also good, although you can occasionally notice minor imperfections. In everyday viewing they are, however, practically unnoticeable. It is worth adding that this is one of the strengths of QD-OLED panels. Compared with WOLED panels, they handle near-black transitions much more easily, where competing panels from LG Display more often show posterization and uneven tonal gradation.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
The proprietary Samsung NQ4 Gen3 processor is responsible for upscaling and digital image processing. It handles upscaling lower-resolution material to 4K very well. The picture is clear without looking artificial or overly sharp. The only rather specific drawback appears with very old material recorded at 480p or below. In such cases the TV can slightly crop the edges of the picture.
The processor also copes quite well with artefacts visible in lower bit-rate material, for example heavily compressed YouTube videos. The noise reduction function effectively smooths the image and reduces posterisation, but it operates quite aggressively. It can remove not only unwanted artefacts but also some fine detail, and even natural film grain. Wanting to preserve the source material as faithfully as possible, we decided not to use it. However, if someone prefers a clean, as-smooth-as-possible picture over retaining every detail, it may prove useful.
SAMSUNG S99H - Blur and motion smoothness
8.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 165Hz
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%
Another major advantage of organic OLED panels is their excellent motion handling. Thanks to the pixels' virtually instantaneous response time, the Samsung S99H exhibits virtually no motion blur. Fast-moving objects do not produce visible halos or trailing outlines, so the television performs very well for both watching sport and gaming. One characteristic of OLED screens compared with LCDs, however, is the way they render low-frame-rate material. With very slow camera movement the image can appear noticeably more 'choppy'. This can, however, be fairly effectively mitigated using a frame-interpolation system. Samsung lets you adjust judder reduction and blur reduction separately, so it's easy to find a compromise between smoother motion and preserving the cinematic character of the content.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Image flickers in this mode
Blur (4K@165Hz):
In the settings you’ll also find a BFI feature called 'Clear LED Motion', which works with content displayed up to 60 Hz. It improves motion clarity by inserting black frames, but the screen then starts to flicker quite noticeably. For that reason we wouldn’t recommend using it every day. Interestingly, it also supports refresh rates up to 165 Hz when connected to a computer. It may not be a feature everyone needs, but for those planning to use the S99H as a large screen for PC gaming it will be a very welcome addition.
SAMSUNG S99H - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.6/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 165Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
No
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
The Samsung S99H is also a great TV for gamers. It offers almost every possible and useful feature... well, except for the obvious lack of Dolby Vision for the Xbox console. It's equipped with four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports that offer the full 48 Gbps. This lets you use VRR frame-rate synchronization and the automatic game mode (ALLM) without any problems. This year Samsung also has no issues properly supporting HGiG, so HDR setup on a console is quick and straightforward. Samsung's TVs are also known for interesting extras. In the Game Bar menu you'll find options to add an on-screen crosshair, enlarge the minimap or change the displayed image's aspect ratio (PC).
Particularly noteworthy is Samsung's Game Motion Plus feature. It's Samsung's proprietary motion-smoothing system that uses interpolation to increase smoothness in games. Input lag then rises to around 40 to 50 ms (depending on the strength of the setting), which is an excellent result compared with the competition. The system makes gameplay noticeably smoother. So if someone has their eye on a demanding game (e.g. GTA 6 😉) that runs on a console at only 30 frames per second, the S99H can display it much more smoothly than competing models.
SAMSUNG S99H - Input lag
10/10
Input lag is very low regardless of the selected refresh rate. At 120 Hz we measured about 5 ms, and at 60 Hz roughly 10 ms. When connected to a PC and set to 165 Hz, the values were even lower. The response to controller or mouse movement is almost instantaneous, so in this respect the Samsung S99H is suitable even for very fast-paced, demanding games.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 10 ms | 2160p60: 10 ms | |
| 1080p120: 5 ms | 2160p120: 5 ms | |
| 2160p60: 10 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 5 ms |
SAMSUNG S99H - Compatibility with PC
8.8/10
Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate): 5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB (QD-OLED)
Max refresh rate: 165Hz
G-Sync: Yes
The S99H also works very well as a large monitor connected to a computer. This is mainly due to full support for frame synchronization: it offers both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and seamless G-Sync compatibility for NVIDIA cards. In addition, the TV supports refresh rates up to 165 Hz, which is a very welcome touch for PC gamers. The only specific trait of QD-OLED panels remains the characteristic triangular subpixel arrangement. For that reason, the sharpness of very small text viewed from extremely close up is not perfect. However, given the size of the S99H, this TV is unlikely to end up sitting directly on anyone’s desk. When working or gaming from more than a metre away, the issue ceases to matter.
SAMSUNG S99H - Viewing angles
9.9/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 12%
The viewing angles on the S99H are simply outstanding, thanks to the QD-OLED panel used. In this respect it is among the very best on the market. Even when looking at the screen from an extremely oblique angle, the picture remains perfectly clear, and the drop in brightness or colour saturation is negligible. This is a characteristic feature of QD-OLED panels and an advantage over traditional WOLED screens, whose viewing angles are a little worse.
SAMSUNG S99H - Daytime performance
8/10
Panel finish: Matte
Reflection suppression: Very Good
Black levels during daytime: Average
One of the key and most distinctive features of Samsung's OLEDs, including the S99H under review, is the matte screen coating. It is currently one of the best solutions on the market if you want to minimise reflections as much as possible. Whether the room has large windows or the lamps are on, any light glare is dispersed very effectively. This does, however, come at a price. Because of the matte finish and the characteristics of QD-OLED panels (which in bright surroundings can take on a slightly cherry tint), blacks lose some of their depth and richness during the day. It's worth noting, however, that this mainly occurs when very harsh light falls directly on the panel. Fortunately, the S99H is an extremely bright OLED TV, in this respect comparable with the best Mini LED screens on the market. Its average brightness in everyday SDR content reaches nearly 850 to 900 nits, so the TV will have no trouble coping even in a heavily sunlit living room.
Panel brightness
Samsung OLED S95H (S99H) (QD-OLED): 851 cd/m2
SAMSUNG S99H - TV features
7.8/10
System: Tizen
System performance: Very good
- HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- 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): 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
Smart features: Tizen
The Tizen system on the S99H runs exceptionally quickly and reliably. The wide support for wireless protocols deserves praise, with both Apple AirPlay and the recently added support for Chromecast included. It's hard to fault Tizen today when it comes to app availability. The catalogue covers all the most popular streaming services and in that respect is on a par with Google TV.
Art Mode
The S99H is Samsung's first OLED TV to be equipped with a dedicated Art Mode, previously known mainly from Samsung's The Frame series. This is quite a surprise, as most manufacturers of OLED TVs generally advise against long-term display of static images. Here the feature is officially promoted, which suggests Samsung is confident in the panel's resistance to permanent image retention. Unfortunately, access to the full library of artwork requires a paid subscription. However, there is a simple workaround: favourite pieces or personal photos can be uploaded to the TV's internal memory for free and set as the background in the dedicated app. It's worth adding that the device is fitted with an ambient light sensor that adjusts brightness and colour temperature so the displayed image most faithfully mimics a real canvas or print.
Daily use and the remote
All the classic TV functions perform well on the S99H, although the interface may not appeal to older users. That's down to the minimalist remote, which lacks a traditional numeric keypad. An advantage of the Solar controller, however, is its universal remote function; it can be paired easily and used to control virtually any device connected to the TV, such as satellite set-top boxes, consoles and players.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Samsung Q-Symphony (Speaker extension): Yes
Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: Yes
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: No
- DTS-HD Master Audio: No
Senior accessibility
- Numeric keyboard on TV: No
- Font size adjustment: Yes
- Audio description: Yes
SAMSUNG S99H - Apps
9.3/10
SAMSUNG S99H - Playing files from USB
8.8/10
| 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 media player on the S99H works smoothly and quickly. The TV easily handles most popular video and audio formats, delivering smooth playback without stutters. The only real caveat is support for certain image formats stored on removable drives. The TV behaves rather oddly with files in Apple's HEIC format... although thumbnails in the browser display correctly, attempting to open an image at full size causes the interface to freeze. This appears to be a software bug that Samsung will likely fix in an upcoming update.
SAMSUNG S99H - Sound
8.7/10
95dB
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
For such a slim design, the Samsung S99H sounds surprisingly good. At first we were surprised that such a flat screen could produce such a resonant sound. Importantly, there is even some bass, of course bearing in mind that we are talking about built-in TV speakers, not a dedicated home theatre. 😉 The TV easily supports Dolby Atmos decoding and Samsung’s own Q-Symphony system. This makes it simple to pair the screen with a Samsung soundbar (or the new speakers from the Studio series), so the built-in speakers work together with external audio. For everyday viewing and typical use, however, external audio equipment won’t be needed straight away. As is traditional for Samsung, there is no support for the DTS format. For people who rely solely on streaming that may not be a major loss, but for fans of physical media and Blu-ray discs it will be a noticeable drawback.
Sound Quality Test:
Acoustic Measurements
95dBC (Max)
75dBC
SAMSUNG S99H - Panel details
Software version during testing: 1204
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: QD-OLED
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