SAMSUNG OLED S90F (WOLED) vs Sony Bravia 8 MK2

Does the S90F handle not only dark scenes but also bright parts of the image? Definitely yes. Stories about OLEDs as "dark screens" can slowly be regarded as a myth. The Samsung S90F, similar to 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 images – both in movies and series. Most of the scenes we tested look stunning, with well-defined lights and high contrast. Of course, OLED technology still has its limitations – with very bright, full-screen sequences, such as the test card from the movie The Meg (5th image), the TV can noticeably dim the image. However, it's worth noting that such scenes are quite rare. One can say 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.

Thanks to the new QD-OLED panel, the Sony Bravia 8 II can achieve astronomically high brightness levels of around 2000 nits, translating to nearly reference quality in films and series recorded in HDR format. In test materials such as Life of Pi and Sicario 2, the effect is simply stunning – details in bright parts of the image remain perfectly visible, while night scenes captivate with depth and contrast. However, it's not perfect. Compared to the fiercest competitors, the Bravia 8 II shows a noticeable drop in brightness during full-screen, very bright scenes. When comparing peak luminance to 100% white brightness in HDR mode, the Bravia 8 II is even two or three times dimmer than the LG G5 or Samsung S95F models. This was particularly evident in a scene from the movie The Meg – the screen became noticeably darker than in competing televisions. Despite this drawback, the results of the Bravia 8 II still place it among the very top of the market. It deserves praise for its absolutely top-notch color gamut coverage – DCI-P3 at nearly 100%, and BT.2020 close to 90%. These parameters allow for fully extracting the potential of HDR content and providing a cinematic experience in the comfort of your home.

Samsung S90F, like most modern TVs, offers many picture modes, but – in line with our testing tradition – we checked it in its best one, which is the Filmmaker mode. As a result, the image looks much more natural than in the default, often oversaturated settings. It was neither overly saturated nor artificially subdued – just closer to what you should see. Of course, "more correct" doesn’t mean "perfect." Our S90F sample unfortunately had significant issues with white balance, particularly in the blue color range, resulting in a slightly yellowish filter applied to most scenes. Someone might say that it looks more "cinematic" – because it's warmer – but let's be honest, George Lucas didn't film Star Wars in sepia 😉 (you'll 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 distinct "spike" in brightness – the TV brightened the image more than it should have, making some effects look too intense and diverging from the reference. Thankfully, some of these issues can be eliminated with professional calibration – you can read about its effects later in the review.

Right out of the box, the Bravia 8 II performs really well. In the best IMAX® Enhanced mode, the television can reproduce colors in a pleasing and natural way, although “good” here does not mean “best in class.” The white balance definitely needs adjustment – skin tones tend to lean into slightly pink/cool hues, both in SDR and HDR materials. We also noticed that the EOTF curve characteristics show a tendency to brighten the darkest parts of the image. This is probably due to the manufacturer's desire to highlight as many details as possible, even in deep shadows. Is this a good approach? It's hard to say definitively, but we know one thing – it's not an ideal solution.

After calibration, we managed to eliminate almost all the aforementioned errors. Older movies in SDR quality finally look as they should – without the sepia effect or artificial aging of the image. The atmosphere of the classics is returning to its rightful place (you're welcome, Star Wars fans), and the colors 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 an almost reference way. Yes, the most demanding users may notice minimal deviations in brightness, but to be honest – most viewers won't even notice that. And it’s no wonder, because the vast majority of errors are below the ΔE 3 threshold, which is below the visibility threshold. After calibration, the S90F (WOLED) becomes a truly excellent display – one that you can enjoy nearly perfect image quality on.

After calibration, the excessive cooling of the image caused by the strong boost of blue color was eliminated. Reds became deeper, and skin tones took on a natural, healthy appearance. Actors who previously seemed "cold" now appear much livelier and more convincing on screen. However, one thing has not changed – the analysis of the EOTF curve still shows that the Bravia 8 II tends to lighten the darkest parts of the image. It's hard to say whether this is a deliberate choice by the manufacturer or a result of the panel design and software. In practice, this means that scenes the creators wanted to leave in deep darkness can reveal more details than intended. Nevertheless, the viewing experience after calibration is clearly better – warm, natural colors and realistic skin tones make watching on the Bravia 8 II simply more pleasant to the eye.

Digital image processing in the S90F:

Fortunately, Samsung, as in most of its models, can effectively deal with the unwanted posterization effect in the S90F. The function responsible for this element is noise reduction, which quite nicely smooths out tonal transitions and eliminates unnatural color joins – of course, within its capabilities. Unfortunately, it works quite aggressively, so using it comes with compromises. In addition to improving gradation, it may 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 care about preserving the original texture of the material.

Image scaling in the S90F:

In this year's model, Samsung has implemented its own AI processor – NQ4 Gen3, which really manages quite well with upscaling. In our test scenes, the television effectively "pulled up" lower-quality content towards artificial 4K – the image was more pleasant to view, and the differences in sharpness between native and scaled content were minimal. Unfortunately, behind this entire AI marketing façade lies a certain shortcoming. The S90F does not handle overscan well. If you reach for truly archival materials – like a VHS tape of your parents' wedding – you must reckon with the fact that the lower part of the image may be cut off. The image adaptation function to the resolution simply does not work here as it should.

Upscaling and digital image processing are a true showcase of the capabilities of Bravia 8 II. Sony has long been regarded as a master in this field, and here it only confirms its reputation. The proprietary XR processor can extract nearly maximum quality from lower resolution materials—whether it's television or an old DVD movie, the image looks sharper, with more details and better depth. Sure, if we feed it exceptionally low-quality material (like our archival photo with the Model), it won't work miracles, but in everyday viewing, it's hard to find anything to complain about.

The soft gradation feature also performs excellently. In the "Medium" setting, it effectively smooths tonal transitions, eliminating banding on colored and gray gradients, while simultaneously preserving film grain and fine image details. It is this balance between delicacy and effectiveness that keeps Sony TVs among the best on the market in this category.

S90F really handles motion great – after all, it's an OLED with a 144 Hz panel, so sports and games look simply amazing on it. The picture is smooth, clear, and there's no room for ghosting or blurring that sometimes plagues cheaper LCDs.

The TV is also equipped with motion smoothing settings that allow you to tailor everything to your liking. We have motion blur reduction and judder reduction – you can set it up to make the picture super smooth (even to that soap opera effect), or more cinematic, with the classic "choppiness" of 24 frames. The choice is yours; Samsung doesn't impose anything.

Motion smoothness is practically a closed topic in the case of Bravia 8 II. The OLED with 120 Hz refresh rate naturally provides a very clean, clear image in dynamic scenes, so there is little to complain about. However, particular praise is due to one of the best motion smoothing systems on the market. They allow for precise adjustment of film smoothness according to one's preferences – from gentle smoothing to an almost "theatrical" effect – without the risk of artificial jumps, tearing of the image, or annoying artifacts. This is one of those features that will be appreciated both during movie screenings and while watching sports.

When it comes to gaming features – we have absolutely no complaints about the S90F. Aside from the lack of Dolby Vision, which is already the norm for Samsung. The TV operates at 144 Hz, has four HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can easily connect more than one console or PC. It also includes Game Bar – a practical tool that allows you to quickly preview picture settings, VRR status, ALLM mode, and other useful options. Game Motion Plus is also noteworthy – Samsung’s proprietary motion smoother, which uniquely works well in games. The image feels smoother without any artificial effects or slowdowns.

It’s also worth mentioning the HGiG feature, which – surprisingly – works correctly. We mention this because Samsung clearly broke something in one of its recent updates, and in some models, the option responsible for HGiG simply... disappears from the menu. Setting it becomes virtually 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 new software versions and information from the manufacturer.

Sony really learned its lesson from previous years and in the Bravia 8 II prepared a package of features for gamers that is difficult to describe as anything other than "almost perfect." We have everything expected in equipment of this class – VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision Gaming mode, HGiG, and even a convenient Game Bar that allows you to quickly preview parameters and change settings without leaving the game. Additionally, it's worth noting how smoothly and flawlessly these features work – no delays, no strange stutters. You simply turn on the game and everything looks as it should. Unfortunately, there are a few "buts." The manufacturer still gives us only two full-bandwidth HDMI ports, so if someone has a console, a PC, and another device like a Soundbar connected via eARC, it starts a game of cable swapping. It's also surprising that there is no support for 1440p resolution at 120 Hz – particularly important for Xbox gamers. Overall, however – this is one of those TVs that can comfortably be placed in the center of a gaming lounge, allowing you to enjoy gameplay without significant compromises.