- 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
Complete the survey to find out the result
Panel type: WRGB OLED Odświeżanie: 144Hz Brand: SAMSUNG Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Tizen Model year: 2025
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Our verdict
8.1
Overall rating
The Samsung S90F is an excellent representative of the premium mid-range in the world of OLED televisions. Here we have an organic matrix that guarantees perfect contrast – and no matter how hard LCD manufacturers try with local dimming in Mini LEDs, this black simply cannot be replicated. The S90F showcases its class without any compromises. Compared to last year's model, we get a slightly brighter WOLED panel that, under favourable conditions, can achieve even 1200 nits. This is a result sufficient for comfortable viewing of HDR materials in reference quality for most scenes – especially on streaming platforms such as Netflix. The picture quality here is at a very high level, whether we're watching a film, gaming on a console, or streaming a sports event. In fact, versatility is one of the biggest advantages of this model. With a refresh rate of 144 Hz, very low input lag, and a full set of features for gamers (including working HGiG and the unique Game Motion Plus smoothing), it’s hard to find fault with anything here. The Tizen system performed really well on the S90F. It has its limitations – primarily a closed ecosystem and fewer app options than on Google TV – but if you mainly use the most popular services, this shouldn’t be an issue. A big plus is also the remote control, which can operate most connected devices – even without a numeric keypad. There are also downsides. The built-in media player occasionally has issues with certain formats, and the anti-reflective coating typical of WOLEDs does not handle strong light very well – reflections can be noticeable. We also lack support for DTS and Dolby Vision, but this has been the standard at Samsung that one could expect for years. So is the S90F with a WOLED panel the perfect television? No – but it really isn't missing much. It’s one of the most refined and complete OLEDs in this price range, capable of handling any content, from a series on Netflix, through gaming on a console, to a Sunday match.
Advantages
Remarkable black and contrast
High brightness for an OLED TV - 1200 nits peak brightness
Very good motion fluidity - OLED panel 144Hz
Low latency - input lag 5ms
Gaming features: 4x HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, Game Motion Plus, etc.
PiP function and excellent support for external devices with a solar remote
Extended operating system: Tizen
Pleasant sound with a slightly perceptible bass
Disadvantages
Issues with playback of certain formats from USB.
Subtle blending of tonal transitions (performs worse than its predecessor S90D)
Lack of support for DTS:X – an external amplifier is required for full support of this format
Movies and series in UHD quality8.3
Classic TV, YouTube8.7
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)8.5
Gaming on console9.6
TV as a computer monitor8.6
Watching in bright light6.1
Utility functions7.5
Apps8.2
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
Kolor ramki: Graphite
- Regulacja podstawy: stand-Fixed
- Montaż na płasko: Nie
- Akcesoria: accessories-Stand
At first glance, the Samsung S90F is not surprising – and that's not a criticism at all. The design has hardly changed compared to its predecessor, but it's understandable given that we're dealing with a successful, minimalist premium design. The television looks very modern – the almost invisible metal bezels surrounding the screen create the impression of a picture pane suspended in the air. The slim profile of the device is already a classic feature of OLED – thin as a smartphone (and even thinner), except for the characteristic "bum" at the back, which is a bulge for electronics and ports. This means it's impossible to flush the television perfectly against the wall, but in everyday use, it's hard to see this as a drawback. Moreover, with such a minimalist look, even this detail doesn’t spoil the overall impression. The set includes a central, metal stand that works well with the overall design. Its biggest advantage is that it allows a soundbar to be placed freely in front of the television without obstructing the lower part of the screen. It's worth adding that – like most Samsung televisions from 2025 – the S90F model is equipped with various screen dimming mechanisms, including Ambient Mode. This allows it to display graphics or photos that imitate the appearance of a wall, enabling the television to blend into its surroundings, especially when mounted on a wall.
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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 the case of the Samsung S90F, we have an interesting situation: almost all size variants are equipped with WOLED panels, except for the 65-inch version, which has a QD-OLED panel. In this test, we analyse the version with the WOLED panel produced by LG Display, but the question remains; does this affect the quality of black levels and contrast in this part of the test? In practice – it does not. Regardless of the technology used, both panels can generate perfect black and infinite contrast. This is exactly what we expect from any top-tier television. Watching a series in the evening, in a completely dark room, is pure pleasure. The television easily separates bright elements – such as reflections or background lights – from deep, dark parts of the picture, without creating any halos or brightening effects, which top-of-the-line LCD televisions still struggle with. This is where OLED technology shows its strength – and the S90F is no exception. In terms of black levels and contrast, we cannot fault it at all.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - HDR effect quality
7.2/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 95.2%, Bt.2020: 70.1%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1099 nit
Result
1177 nit
Result
1252 nit
Result
1183 nit
Result
577 nit
Does the S90F handle not only black, but also bright parts of the image? Definitely yes. Tales of OLEDs as “dark screens” can slowly be regarded as a myth. The Samsung S90F, like the LG C5 based on a very similar panel, achieves brightness exceeding 1000 nits. This is a value entirely sufficient to enjoy impressive and dynamic HDR imagery – both in films and series. Most of the scenes we tested look superb, with well-defined highlights and high contrast. Of course, OLED technology still has its limitations – in very bright, full-screen sequences, such as the test pattern from the film The Meg (picture 5), the television may noticeably dim the image. However, it should be emphasized that such scenes are rare. It can be considered that the HDR effect is good enough that even mid-range OLED models like the S90F can provide a cinematic experience in the home living room.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
The next part of the test only confirms what we have written above. In the case of demanding content, such as Billy Lynn, the television has absolutely no problems reproducing the scene with nearly reference-level brightness. Fireworks in the background, the amount of detail, tonal range – everything is in its place, exactly as the director would surely wish. Of course, we did not stop at the easy sequences and also checked how the S90F handles more challenging content, such as the film Pan. Such scenes – very bright, dynamic, and yet full of contrast – are still rare, but they are becoming increasingly frequent, which is why it is worth knowing if the television is ready for them.
And here is another pleasant surprise. The S90F effortlessly rendered the most challenging fragments of the scene – the sunlight maintained the appropriate intensity without losing detail. The glare effect was pronounced; we can only nitpick that at times the brightness of the sun was slightly too boosted compared to the reference, but such an effect will be noticed only by the most demanding enthusiasts with a specific point of reference. Theoretically, the S90F could handle these extremes better thanks to the dynamic tone mapping feature; however – as is often the case with Samsung televisions – the "active" option tends to harm the S90F more than it helps, completely brightening the image and washing out the contrast. We definitely recommend leaving this function off – even without it, the television manages excellently with most HDR content.
HDR luminance chart:
Luminancja HDR
Luminance of RGB colors
There are also films where the S90F does not have to adapt anything by itself or guess what the author meant. All thanks to dynamic metadata formats such as Dolby Vision and HDR10+. In the case of Samsung, we are dealing with the latter. Although it is still a less popular standard than Dolby Vision, year after year more and more platforms and manufacturers are beginning to support it. And that's a good thing because thanks to HDR10+, the television can extract significantly more from the image – especially in those challenging scenes where a lot is happening, the lighting changes dynamically, and the contrast reaches extremes. The S90F performs really well in such moments. Importantly, HDR10+ is no longer an exotic addition; it can be found on Amazon Prime Video, and recently also on Netflix. It is a format that truly makes a difference, and it is great that the S90F has it on board. Although Dolby Vision wouldn't be such a "bad" addition either.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
7/10
The Samsung S90F, like most modern televisions, offers many picture modes, but – in line with our testing tradition – we assessed it in the best one, which is the Filmmaker mode. This way, the image looks significantly more natural than in the default, often oversaturated settings. It was neither overly saturated nor artificially muted – just closer to what should be seen. Of course, "more correct" does not mean "ideal". Unfortunately, our S90F unit had considerable issues with white balance, especially in the blue range, resulting in a slightly yellowish filter being applied to most scenes. Someone might say it looks more "cinematic" – because it is warmer – but let's not kid ourselves, George Lucas did not film Star Wars in sepia 😉 (you will find the comparison with the scene as always below).
Additionally, in HDR materials, there was a noticeable issue with brightness management. The EOTF curve showed a clear "spike" in brightness – the television brightened the image more than it should have, which made some effects look overly intense and diverged from the reference. Fortunately, some of these problems can be eliminated through professional calibration – you will read about its effects later in the review.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.2/10
After calibration, we managed to eliminate practically all the previously mentioned errors. Older films in SDR quality finally look as they should – without the sepia effect or artificial aging of the image. The atmosphere of the classics returns to its rightful place (you’re welcome, Star Wars fans), and the colours no longer resemble an Instagram filter.
One of the key changes was also the improvement of brightness characteristics in HDR content. We managed to control the EOTF curve in almost a reference manner. Yes, the most demanding users may spot minimal deviations in brightness, but honestly – most viewers won’t even notice that. And it's no wonder, because the vast majority of errors are below a ΔE value of 3, which is below the threshold of visibility. After calibration, the S90F (WOLED) truly becomes an excellent display – one that provides nearly perfect picture quality.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.3/10
And here we must honestly admit – the S90F has somewhat let us down. Compared to last year's S90D model with a WOLED panel (very similar to the one used this year), this year's Samsung has performed worse. This is not only in comparison to its main competitor, the LG C5, but even when put alongside its older sibling. The biggest problems arise in dark scenes, where difficulties with smoothly blending colours are evident – the screen slightly stepped the tonal transitions, causing some parts to lose their naturalness. We don’t know exactly what went wrong – perhaps it’s a matter of software or a different processing algorithm. It's a pity, as we were hoping that the level from last year would be at least maintained. Unfortunately, it is a step backwards.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Digital Image Processing in the S90F:
Fortunately, Samsung, as in most of its models, effectively manages the unwanted posterisation effect in the S90F. The feature responsible for this aspect is noise reduction, which does a decent job of smoothing tonal transitions and eliminating unnatural colour connections – of course, within its limitations. Unfortunately, it operates rather aggressively, so using it comes with compromises. In addition to improving gradation, it can also remove film grain or gently soften facial features. In this case, the choice is yours – do you prefer a more "clean" image, or do you want to preserve the original texture of the material?
Image Scaling in the S90F:
In this year's model, Samsung implemented its own AI processor – NQ4 Gen3, which does quite well with upscaling. In our test scenes, the television effectively "pulled up" lower quality towards artificial 4K – the image was more pleasant to view, and the differences in sharpness between native and scaled content were minimal. Unfortunately, behind all this AI marketing facade lies a certain shortcoming. The S90F struggles with overscan. If you reach for truly archival materials – e.g. a VHS tape of your parents' wedding – you must expect that the lower part of the image may be cut off. The image adaptation function to resolution simply does not work here as it should.
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: 49%
The S90F really handles motion excellently – after all, it’s an OLED with a 144 Hz panel, so sports and games look absolutely stunning on it. The image is fluid, clear, and there’s no room for any ghosting or blurring that sometimes plagues cheaper LCDs.
The television is also equipped with motion smoothness settings, allowing you to customise everything to your preference. We have motion blur reduction and judder reduction – you can set it so that the image is super smooth (even to that soap opera effect), or more cinematic, with the classic 24-frame 'choppiness'. The choice is yours; Samsung doesn’t impose anything.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
When it comes to smudging – there's no need to elaborate here. It's OLED, so the response time is instantaneous. In our test with the little green man, the image was sharp, regardless of the background. LCD televisions can only dream of something like that.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.5/10
- 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
When it comes to gaming features – the S90F has absolutely nothing to fault. Aside from the lack of Dolby Vision, which is already the norm for Samsung. The television operates at 144 Hz, has four HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can easily connect more than one console or PC. Onboard, we also find the Game Bar – a practical tool that allows you to quickly glance at picture settings, VRR status, ALLM mode, and other useful options. Game Motion Plus also deserves a mention – Samsung's proprietary motion enhancer that is the only one truly functioning sensibly in games. The image appears smoother, but without any artificial effects or slowdowns.
It is also worth mentioning the HGiG feature, which – much to our slight surprise – works correctly. We're mentioning this because Samsung clearly broke something in one of the last updates, and in some models, the option responsible for HGiG simply... disappears from the menu. Setting it up becomes practically impossible. Fortunately, our S90F unit did not have this issue, but the situation is dynamic, so it's worth keeping this in mind and regularly checking for updates and information from the manufacturer.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Input lag
10/10
The input lag on the S90F is at a level akin to that of a monitor. In optimal conditions, a result of 5 ms was achieved, which is an absolutely stunning outcome – even a benchmark for the most demanding players. Whether you are playing fast-paced shooters, fighting games, or simply value instant response – the S90F does not disappoint in this regard at all.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 11 ms | 2160p60: 10 ms | |
| 1080p120: 6 ms | 2160p120: 5 ms | |
| 2160p60: 11 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 6 ms |
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Compatibility with PC
8.6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RWBG
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
The S90F is a great tool for both gaming on PC and everyday work. Gamers can rest assured – the television effortlessly supports image synchronisation with NVIDIA graphics cards thanks to G-Sync, and the 144 Hz refresh rate combined with very low input lag only confirms this. The S90F will also serve well as a monitor for text work. Of course, the readability of fonts may be slightly compromised by the characteristic pixel structure in the RWGB layout, but this is a topic well known mainly to those who work with large amounts of text, code, or spreadsheets in Excel. For most users, this will be perfectly acceptable.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Viewing angles
7.4/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 31%
The viewing angles on the S90F are very good, although it must be admitted that they are slightly inferior to the 65" version with a QD-OLED panel. Nevertheless, the picture quality at wide angles is excellent – colours remain vivid, and brightness does not drop drastically when viewed from the side. There is no need to move the television towards you to see a clear image. For most users, this level is more than sufficient.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - TV efficiency during daytime
6.1/10
Matrix coating: Glare
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
S90F is really a bright television for an OLED. Of course, it is not worth comparing it to Mini-LED televisions or the brightest high-end OLEDs, but under normal lighting conditions, it is quite easy to watch something during the day. The brightness is high enough that you don't need to cover the windows every time you turn on a film or series. However, it is important to remember that the anti-reflective coating on WOLED panels is not among the best. Reflections can be visible, especially with bright light coming in from the window. In such a case, it's best to reach for curtains.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
SAMSUNG S90F (WOLED): 405 cd/m2
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - TV features
7.5/10
System: Tizen
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV):
No
- Recording programming:
No
- Picture in Picture (PiP):
Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast):
Yes
- AirPlay:
Yes
- Voice search in native language:
Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse:
Yes
- Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV:
Yes
- Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker:
Yes
- Audio only mode:
Yes
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen):
RF
- Backlit remote control:
No
- Teletext:
Yes
The Samsung S90F is equipped with many classic television features, such as EPG, CI module, and headphone support, but there's also more to it. Thanks to the presence of several tuners, the television offers a picture-in-picture (PiP) function – very useful, for example, when we are watching one match but want to take a glance at the score of another one happening simultaneously. It's a shame that Samsung has completely eliminated the USB recording function for some time now, but this is partly compensated by good integration with set-top boxes and other devices. The remote control – although small and lacking a numeric keypad – allows for the control of many devices connected to the television. We can easily operate a set-top box, amplifier, console, or other equipment with it – and all without the need to reach for multiple remotes.
As for the Smart TV system – Tizen on the S90F operates very smoothly, which is not always the case with cheaper models featuring this system. The system itself is comprehensive and offers a lot of functions – we have screen mirroring, AirPlay, Bluetooth device support, as well as many options related to smart home integration, such as controlling light bulbs or other smart devices directly from the television. However, it is important to remember that Tizen is a closed system, so when it comes to apps – we are limited to what we find in the Samsung store. And while this is quite extensive, it does not match the flexibility of the Google TV platform. It's worth keeping this in mind if you have specific needs for niche applications.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Apps
8.2/10
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Playing files from USB
7.5/10
| 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 in the S90F is adequate and supports a fair number of popular formats. Unfortunately, during testing – once again – we encountered issues, despite the manufacturer's claims. The television did not play some formats that are supposedly supported, such as HEIC format photos (the Apple version), or SRT and SUB subtitles. In everyday use for most people, such a player is sufficient to play a movie from a USB drive, but it's worth keeping in mind that surprises may occur. Perhaps the situation will improve in future updates, but at the time of writing this review – it works as it works.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Sound
7.4/10
7.4/10
Subjective sound quality
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
Supported codecs
(external HDMI eARC audio)
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 plays really quite pleasantly, with noticeable bass and quite good dynamics. A definite plus is the support for Dolby Atmos, which allows the television to deliver a slightly more "spatial" sound – of course, to the extent allowed by the built-in 2.1 system 😉. Unfortunately, as is often the case with Samsung, there is a lack of support for the DTS:X format. So, if you want to take advantage of its capabilities, you need to connect the audio equipment directly to the receiver, rather than to the television itself – otherwise, it simply won't work.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: T-RSMFDEUC-0090-103 2.5, E2500007, BT-S
Panel uniformity:
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