Samsung QD-OLED S90D / S94D vs Hisense U7NQ

In the HDR effect category, the Samsung S90D delivers remarkable performance. On the luminance graph for up to 10% of the window, the television surpasses the 1000 nits mark, which is a notable achievement. However, in the film scenes we tested, these values were slightly lower. In scenes with fullscreen sun glare the brightness drops to about 500 nits, but this is still considered a very good result. It is also worth noting that this model stands out due to its very high colour gamut coverage, thanks to the QD-OLED panel, giving it an edge over televisions with WOLED panels, which cannot achieve such a wide spectrum of colours.

The Hisense U7NQ 65 television demonstrated significant capabilities on the luminance chart, exceeding the 1000-nit barrier and achieving very high brightness results without issue in the first, third, and fifth test scenes. However, as before, in the second and fourth test scenes, for example from the film Sicario 2, there are significant problems with maintaining brightness, and the results around 200 nits are very disappointing. Despite a large number of dimming zones, the algorithm in the television responsible for controlling these zones is unable to react appropriately — in this case, it significantly dims small elements like the moon or the light from a helicopter. The bright light that should blind us is too dim to be called an HDR effect. Nevertheless, it is worth praising the television for its high coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut at 96%, which allows it to accurately reproduce most film scenes.

The Samsung 65" S90D with a QD-OLED panel has been tested in Filmmaker Mode, which the manufacturer has used for years to deliver optimal picture settings. In this mode, the TV offers a very good image, but there are some shortcomings worth noting.

In terms of white balance, viewers may notice a red dominance in HD content, which can make skin tones appear unnatural and create a warm overall scene, potentially affecting immersion. This issue becomes more apparent in scenes where subtle colour differences are important. The same effect can be observed in 4K HDR content, though the red shift is less pronounced. This shift can prevent certain details and colours from being fully realised, diminishing the naturalness of the image.

As for contrast, the gamma performance is decent but still has some issues. The gamma values fall short of the reference level of 2.4, resulting in bright areas of the image appearing washed out and dark areas lacking detail. This limitation can make certain scenes feel less dynamic and impact the depth and richness of the picture. However, the EOTF curve for contrast in 4K HDR content performs well, showing the TV's ability to handle differences in brightness. That said, these values still fall slightly below the ideal range, indicating room for further optimisation.

Overall, the Samsung S90D in Filmmaker Mode offers solid colour reproduction, but some adjustments are needed to fully unlock its potential, particularly with different types of content.

The Chinese manufacturer offers various picture settings with its televisions, but the best mode in this model is undoubtedly the Filmmaker Mode. Despite its name, this mode has its issues: the white balance, although roughly correct, is characterized by a strong dominance of warm tones due to the kick of red colour, both in 4K and HD materials. The Colour Checker test confirms these errors — deviations in samples are visible in inappropriate shades. As for the brightness characteristics, the gamma responsible for HD materials shows values below 2.4, leading to some brightening of the screen. Meanwhile, the EOTF curve shows the television's problems with displaying small light elements, as confirmed by the previously described paragraphs.

The quality improves more than anticipated after calibrating the S90D television in movie mode. The white balance for HD and 4K HDR content has been fine-tuned to near perfection. While minor imperfections are still noticeable, they are subtle enough not to significantly impact the overall picture quality. Colours have become more cohesive, promoting a natural reproduction of details, particularly in scenes where precise colour representation is essential. It’s important to note that this particular model, in this size, uses a QD-OLED panel, which offers a broader colour gamut compared to other versions of this model equipped with a WOLED panel.

The contrast has also seen a marked improvement. After calibration, the gamma chart is much closer to the expected curve, resulting in a better balance between the bright and dark areas of the image. The EOTF curve, which previously indicated issues with overexposed scenes, now shows significantly better results. This improvement allows for greater preservation of details in the brighter parts of the image, particularly in HDR content.

Hisense televisions offer many tools for image correction, allowing users to adjust settings to their preferences. Therefore, we decided to utilize these capabilities to bring the image quality closer to reference standards. In the case of white balance, we managed to eliminate the dominance of red, resulting in more neutral colours, which allowed for a more realistic image in both 4K and HD materials. A similar improvement was noticed in the brightness characteristics. Gamma, which previously led to excessive screen brightness, was corrected, contributing to better detail representation in the darker areas of the image while maintaining a natural tonal balance.

However, the biggest challenge was the calibration of the EOTF curve, which is responsible for brightness in 4K materials. At first glance, the EOTF value appeared almost perfect, but detailed tests showed a slightly different outcome. Upon closer inspection—especially using the filter on the right side of the EOTF chart—we noticed how the television manipulated 4K film materials, often significantly boosting brightness. This effect was particularly noticeable in scenes from films such as Pan and Billy Lynn, where the television attempted to artificially increase the brightness of elements, affecting their naturalness. Despite these imperfections, the calibration yielded positive results, especially in terms of tonal improvement. For most users, the final effect should be satisfactory, especially if they aim to bring image quality closer to professional reference standards.

The television excels at smoothing tonal transitions, allowing colours to blend seamlessly, resulting in a natural and fluid image. The built-in noise reduction feature can further enhance these transitions, useful in certain situations. However, it is important to note that activating this option may overly smooth out the desired film grain structure, potentially compromising the authenticity and atmosphere of the image. Therefore, caution is advised when using this feature, to maintain the character and depth of the content.

The S90D model handles lower-resolution materials effectively, as demonstrated in the displayed image. The model's silhouette remains sharp and naturally reproduced, with fine details preserved. Additionally, the branches of the trees are well-defined, free from any visible jagged edges that might otherwise degrade the image quality. Thanks to efficient scaling, even lower-resolution content appears attractive on the screen, which is sure to please users who rely on a variety of content sources, such as standard cable or antenna television.

When it comes to smoothing tonal transitions, despite the presence of the "Smooth and Gradient Image" feature in the test sequence, we did not notice that the feature added anything — we recommend turning it off. As for upscaling, the television handled our model well, and the branches in the background are not excessively jagged — the image seems quite plastic. However, it was slightly cropped by the so-called overscan.

The S90D TV, featuring a 120 Hz refresh rate matrix and up to 144 Hz in the appropriate PC configuration, delivers excellent motion fluidity. Samsung highlights a range of sharpness settings on a ten-point scale, allowing users to fine-tune the display to their preferences. In UFO tests, the OLED matrix showcases its strengths by eliminating any blurring. The ultra-fast pixel response ensures dynamic movements are faithfully reproduced.

Similar results can be seen in other sizes of this model with a WOLED matrix, which also offer outstanding image fluidity. Organic technology, in this case, is considered among the best on the market. The S90D image, regardless of the matrix type, is exceptionally sharp and detailed, making this television perfect for dynamic scenes, whether for gaming or sports broadcasts. Additionally, its refresh rate and sharpness capabilities guarantee that every movement is smooth and natural, satisfying even the most discerning users.

Hisense U7NQ has a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which definitely contributes to smooth motion. For movie enthusiasts, there are two features available: judder reduction and motion blur reduction. The judder reduction feature minimizes the effect of so-called judder, which is the unpleasant stuttering of the image, particularly noticeable at lower frame rates. On the other hand, motion blur reduction helps sharpen fast-moving objects, which is useful when watching dynamic action scenes.

As for motion blur, the TV has a decent response time, so excessive blurriness is not visible, except in specific situations, such as the test with the little green alien on a dark background. In such cases, slight artifacts may appear, but overall, the TV handles dynamic images well, providing satisfactory motion quality.

The S90D television is an excellent solution for gamers, offering a range of advanced features that elevate gaming quality to a new level. Equipped with HDMI 2.1 standard, the model supports modern technologies such as VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). Thanks to these solutions, the image is incredibly smooth, and the response to commands is instantaneous, which is crucial in dynamic titles. Additionally, the S90D supports HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) as well as G-Sync and FreeSync image synchronisation. This enables a perfect connection with Xbox, PlayStation, or PC, eliminating issues with tearing and stuttering. The built-in operating system offers the Xbox Game Pass app, providing access to a vast library of games directly from the television. This solution makes gaming even more convenient and accessible. The Game Bar feature provides quick access to essential information, such as current settings, performance statistics, and the ability to adjust image options. This allows for on-the-fly display parameter modification, which is extremely useful during intense gameplay. Despite lacking support for Dolby Vision, the S90D still offers excellent HDR image quality, allowing for full utilization of the potential of games and movies. As a result, the S90D represents a unique combination of modern technologies, outstanding image quality, and intuitive features, perfect for any gaming enthusiast.

Hisense U7NQ offers everything a gamer might need for comfortable gameplay. The TV supports a refresh rate of 144 Hz, providing an incredibly smooth image, especially in dynamic action games. The VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) feature ensures that the image adapts to changing frames per second, eliminating stuttering and tearing. Additionally, there is an ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) feature that automatically switches the TV to game mode, minimizing input lag.

The TV also supports Dolby Vision, which is particularly important for gamers who value high contrast and vivid colors in games that support this format. The Hisense U7NQ also has a Game Bar feature that allows quick access to essential settings during gameplay, as well as support for G-Sync technology, which further reduces image tearing.

Unfortunately, despite the wide range of features, support for the most popular HDR format in gaming — HGiG — is lacking. This may be disappointing for gamers who expect optimal detail representation in HDR scenes. Nevertheless, the remaining features make the Hisense U7NQ a solid choice for any console gaming enthusiast.