Compare Samsung QD-OLED S90D / S94D vs Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)

The Samsung S90D TV is a model full of pleasant surprises, offering excellent picture quality and modern technologies. It is worth noting that depending on the size, the TV may differ in the type of OLED panel used. The tested model, equipped with a QD-OLED panel, delivers flawless black levels and intense, vivid colours. Thanks to its exceptional brightness, HDR effects make a huge impression, and watching dynamic scenes full of detail can completely capture the viewer's attention. This is the ideal TV for those who want to enjoy cinema at the highest level in their own home. Although the factory colour settings may require adjustments, after proper calibration the Samsung S90D reveals its full potential, competing with the best in its price category. This version stands out with the best viewing angles, allowing for a vibrant and colourful picture from any spot in the room. As a result, even when watching from the side, we do not lose quality, and every detail remains equally impressive. As for the operating system, Tizen makes everyday use of the TV, including handling applications and streaming services, enjoyable and hassle-free. Additionally, the support for AirPlay and access to the rich SmartThings ecosystem elevate the multimedia capabilities of the TV to a very high level.

The Samsung S90D also excels in motion fluidity, thanks to the 120Hz panel, which handles fast scenes flawlessly, eliminating blurring. Watching sports or dynamic films on this TV is pure pleasure. For gamers, the TV offers full support for HDMI 2.1 and low input lag, making it a great choice for console gaming, providing smooth and responsive experiences. Although the Samsung S90D has many advantages, it is worth mentioning a few drawbacks. In bright rooms, the black levels on the QD-OLED panel do not look as perfect as in dark conditions – they lose depth, which may be noticeable when watching during the day. Additionally, the readability of fonts could be better – some text displayed on the screen is less sharp compared to competing models. Nonetheless, the 65" Samsung S90D is a TV that combines excellent picture quality, motion fluidity, and innovation. It is one of the best options in the premium segment, meeting the expectations of both cinema lovers and gamers.

Sony Bravia 5 is a continuation of the iconic model X90L, and you can see that the manufacturer wanted to take a step forward. A greater number of dimming zones have been used, which makes the contrast seem better in many scenes, and the blacks deeper than those in its predecessor. The 120 Hz matrix and MotionFlow system allow you to adjust the smoothness of the picture to your personal preferences – from a slight cinematic texture to crystal-smooth motion in sports and games. This is equipment that is not afraid of any content because whether we are watching a match, an action movie, or a concert, the picture retains clarity and character. However, the true strength of the Bravia 5 remains the XR processor. It is what makes older materials look better than they should – upscaling works here like magic, smoothing out noise, improving gradation, and giving consistency even to lower quality content. Thanks to this, in everyday use, the Bravia 5 can surprise because instead of fighting with signal imperfections, it pulls the maximum from it. Additionally, there is excellent color reproduction after calibration and dynamic tone mapping along with Dolby Vision mode, which allows you to enjoy details even in difficult, high-contrast scenes. However, it cannot be hidden that in a few moments, the Bravia 5 disappointed us very much. Despite the larger number of zones, brightness and contrast are not always better than in the X90L – sometimes they even perform worse. This raises a sense of wasted potential because we were counting on a greater qualitative leap. After all, we are talking about a true MINI-LED television here. Nevertheless, the Bravia 5 remains a great television for those who want to enjoy primarily picture quality. If you are looking for a model that can impress with motion smoothness, extracts details from difficult scenes, and works wonders with older materials, the Bravia 5 will easily meet these expectations. It’s a television that sometimes can't quite match the competition in certain respects, but it still holds its ground with what Sony does best – cinematic picture.

The Samsung S90D, thanks to the use of a QD-OLED panel, offers excellent contrast, which is one of its greatest advantages. In QD-OLED technology, each pixel emits its own light, allowing for perfect blacks and precise detail reproduction in dark scenes. Unlike traditional LCD panels with backlighting, where blacks often appear grayish, the turned-off pixels in QD-OLED remain completely black. This allows the television to offer a dynamic, realistic image with exceptionally deep contrast. For example, in scenes from "Oblivion," the Samsung S90D beautifully captures the intensity of the lantern lights, highlighting details in the bright parts of the image, and in "The Revenant," it perfectly portrays the figure against a deep black forest scene, which underscores the impressive contrast reproduction. It is worth noting that in the Samsung S90D model, only this specific size is equipped with a QD-OLED panel produced by Samsung Display, distinguishing it from other versions. Nevertheless, regardless of the type of panel used, the black in this television will always be perfectly black thanks to OLED technology, which turns off pixels to achieve absolute black. This means that in categories such as black and contrast, the S90D offers excellent picture quality regardless of the type of panel.

Bravia 5 is the entry-level television in Sony's Mini-LED series for 2025, so naturally, we start with the most important aspect – how it performs with black levels and contrast. After all, the term “Mini-LED” sounds almost like a magic spell today. In theory, it means thousands of tiny LEDs arranged in zones that are supposed to work in harmony, dimming and brightening the image so that the viewer's eye perceives more depth than in a classic LCD. In practice, we counted about 200 backlighting zones in the 65-inch Bravia 5. Is that a lot? Definitely more than in its predecessor, the legendary X90L model, but when looking at Chinese manufacturers who can pack hundreds, sometimes even thousands of zones, it comes off as fairly modest.

One would expect that combining a greater number of zones with refined dimming algorithms—something Sony has trained us to expect over the years—would result in a significant quality jump compared to the X90L. Meanwhile – and this is where a slight disappointment comes in – tests showed that the results are surprisingly similar to last year's model. Don’t take this the wrong way: the contrast for an LCD TV with local dimming is genuinely solid. In most scenes, bright elements are separated from dark ones with almost surgical precision, and the effect can be impressive. But when more demanding shots appear on the screen—those that ruthlessly test the backlighting capabilities—it becomes clear that the hardware has its limitations.

Therefore, one could say that in terms of black levels and contrast, the Bravia 5 does not so much disappoint as it rather fails to meet the hopes that the initial announcements raised. We were counting on at least slightly better performance than its predecessor, and we got “only” good contrast. And that “only” is the key word here—because good contrast in Sony’s version still means a level that most competitors could be proud of.

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.

Looking at similar results in terms of black levels and contrast, we expected the same stable performance as last year's model when it comes to HDR content. Unfortunately – and this must be said plainly – there has been a regression here that is hard to overlook. The paradox is that the peak brightness of the Bravia 5 can be impressive: in our synthetic tests, the television reached around 1000 nits in HDR. Sounds great, right? The problem is that this power does not always translate effectively to all movie scenes. When small, pinpoint elements appear on the screen, something that was usually refined with surgical precision in the case of Sony clearly falters this time. The algorithms try to maintain deep blacks around small objects, but the side effect is that details can be dimmed to the point of becoming barely visible. A case in point is the movie Sicario 2 – there, in some scenes, small light sources practically vanished as if someone had covered them with dark film.

Of course, not everything looks so dramatic. In simpler, brighter scenes, where the image is filled with a greater amount of light, the Bravia 5 shows that it can shine: literally and figuratively. At that point, the television achieves values in the range of 600–800 nits, which we observed in both synthetic tests and during movie screenings. The impression is truly positive; the brightness adds dynamism, and the colors appear vivid and fresh. However, there remains a certain dissonance. We feel a slight confusion because it is evident that something has gone the wrong way. Technological advancement – more zones, greater backlight power – has not been supported by the refined image management we usually associate with Sony. Fortunately, there are elements that have not been worsened and are instead at a very high level. We are talking about color reproduction. Thanks to the use of the PFS filter, the color gamut coverage is excellent – about 97% of DCI-P3 and 75% of BT.2020. These values allow for a truly wide color reproduction, giving films a natural and cinematic character.

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.

Sony Bravia 5 was of course tested in the best possible mode, which is the Cinema mode. Right out of the box, it offers the most natural colors, definitely better than anything provided by the "eco" or "dynamic" modes, which are more suitable for a store display than a living room. However, the Cinema mode itself does not guarantee that we can always expect cinematic image quality. In SDR content, we had practically no major complaints – the slightly warm white balance made the scenes take on a somewhat golden tone, but it was nothing that was glaringly obvious. However, the problem arose with HDR materials. Here, the color reproduction simply looked poor. The white balance was severely off – with an excess of blue and a noticeable lack of red. At times, it even resembled the store "super vivid image" mode, where everything is overexposed and artificially boosted.

This state of affairs made managing brightness seem too aggressive as well. The EOTF graph clearly showed that the television had issues with overexposing many scenes right out of the box. And while we know what Sony televisions are usually capable of, it was hard to remain indifferent here – which is why we quickly decided to go for calibration.

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.

After calibration, the situation changed drastically. We managed to tune the white balance so that entire scenes began to look more natural, and the image gained coherence and elegance. In HDR, we finally got rid of that unwanted blooming effect that had previously ruined some shots. Suddenly, it turned out that the Bravia 5 can extract much more from films than the first contact "straight out of the box" suggested. Yes, if we take a look at the graphs and compare them with the reference patterns, we can see that the start of the EOTF curve slightly deviates from the reference line. However, this is not so much a calibration error as a natural limitation of Mini-LED technology, which cannot be bypassed. Sony, instead of clinging to perfect black, prefers to prioritize the visibility of details – and in practice, it’s hard to disagree with that. We prefer to see the texture of the material on the screen rather than a pitch-black blob that obliterates all nuances.

The calibration itself made a significant difference. After about an hour spent on adjustments, we felt that the picture resembled that from the best cinema halls – of course on a home scale, but with the same sense of quality and refinement. And in such moments, we remember why we love Sony televisions: because once we fine-tune them, they can reward us with an image that captivates for long hours.

In the category of tonal transition fluidity, the S90D delivers significantly better results than its WOLED counterpart. Thanks to the QD-OLED panel, this model offers more consistent and natural transitions between colours. While some minor imperfections were observed during testing, they are subtle enough not to disrupt the viewing experience. When watching various video materials, the tonal transitions are smooth and harmonious, allowing viewers to enjoy the depth and details of the image without distracting interruptions. In scenes where colour changes are especially important, such as in landscapes or dynamic sequences, the S90D excels, accurately capturing subtle shade variations with impressive precision.

Gradient transitions are nothing more than the way a television handles the blending of colors and shades – from light to dark, from saturated to pastel. If the device has issues with this, characteristic "stepping" is visible instead of smooth transitions, and the image loses its naturalness. It is during these moments, when instead of getting immersed in a movie, we start glancing at the screen thinking: "hey, something is off." Fortunately, in the Sony Bravia 5, such situations are virtually non-existent. This is a huge advantage, as nothing detracts our attention from the plot or the excitement of sports. The television performs best in bright scenes, where color transitions are smooth, and color blends are almost invisible. The effect is so good that sometimes one might get the impression that the image was painted in one brushstroke. Of course, there were some minor hiccups. In darker scenes, certain imperfections can be noticed – slight stepping or minimal gradation issues. For that, the Bravia 5 received a few negative points from us. Nevertheless, in the vast majority of situations, the television performs excellently and emerges from this test with flying colors.

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.

Bravia 5 carries within it the genes of Sony, which remain intact – and thank goodness for that, because we are talking about absolutely remarkable digital image processing. There is a reason that for years it has been believed that it is this brand of television that sets the standard for how a screen should handle lower-quality materials. If someone is still watching classic television, old movies, or YouTube in lower resolution, here they get equipment that can turn such content into a surprisingly pleasant experience. On board, we find several tools worth activating. The first of these is "digital noise reduction." Set to a medium level, it works almost flawlessly – smoothing tonal transitions that usually pose the biggest challenge with low-quality materials, while not introducing any artificial artifacts. Importantly, it also does not remove the filmic character, or the natural grain that is an intentional element in many productions. Another advantage of Bravia 5 is the upscaling capabilities of the XR processor. The image presented after scaling is soft yet sharp and clear. The contours of characters are well-defined, and backgrounds retain their structure without excessive artificial sharpening. It’s hard to find a better television for watching lower-quality content – Bravia 5 only confirms why Sony is regarded as the benchmark in this field.

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.

Bravia 5 has a 120 Hz panel, which in itself sounds like an invitation to watch sports, fast matches, or spectacular action movies. However, the real magic begins only when MotionFlow comes into play – Sony's proprietary smoothing technology. Thanks to it, we can adjust the character of the image to our own preferences. The “smoothness” slider allows us to transition from a cinematic vibe with a slight “jitter” of the film frame to an almost theatrical fluidity, where every ball in the game glides across the screen like on a string. The higher the value, the smoother and more fluid it is; the lower – the more cinematic and natural. In the options, we also find an additional setting that Sony has called “clearness.” This is nothing more than the BFI function (which stands for black frame insertion), which aims to improve motion clarity. It sounds great in theory, but in practice, you need to use it with great caution. Why? Because all higher settings cause brightness drops of up to half, and in some cases, there can also be contour doubling. Therefore, if we want to use it, we recommend the lowest possible level – “1” out of the available ten. This way, we gain a little better motion clarity without risking a loss of half the image brightness.

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.

In the Bravia 5, there is significant progress compared to the X90L model from two years ago. The television offers literally everything that its predecessor had, but this time the issues that could irritate gamers have been fixed. The problems with setting up variable refresh rate (VRR) have disappeared, and there are no longer any issues with configuring HDR content in HGiG mode. In short: we get a device that simply works as it should without any fuss. The Bravia 5 thus has everything one could expect from a modern gaming television – and it could be advertised with the slogan "ready for PS5" without exaggeration. This is a statement we couldn't make about the X90L model. Hats off, Sony!

It's just a shame that in such a relatively high-priced model, a complete set of four HDMI 2.1 ports is missing. In everyday use, this won't be a problem for most people, but if someone has a console, soundbar, and additional equipment connected via HDMI, at some point there will be a need to either choose or juggle cables.

QD-OLED from Samsung stands out with an incredibly low input lag, making it an excellent choice for gamers. Regardless of resolution or refresh rate, both in SDR and HDR modes, results around 10 ms are truly impressive. Such a low input lag ensures immediate response to actions on the screen, which is crucial in fast-paced games where every millisecond counts. Users can enjoy smoothness and precision, making the S90D TV with QD OLED panel a great choice for those prioritizing gaming performance.

When it comes to input lag, the Bravia 5 deserves a round of applause. Results around 7 ms at 120 Hz content are simply outstanding – it's hard to imagine a player complaining about such responsiveness. Even at 60 Hz, where the delay increases to around 15 ms, we're still talking about values that absolutely do not spoil the fun and can't be felt in practice. Moreover, Sony has finally tamed the Dolby Vision mode. In the X90L, it was practically unplayable – delays rose to levels as high as 150 ms. Meanwhile, in the Bravia 5, input lag remains at the same low level as with other content. This is a huge improvement and further proof that this TV can truly be called "gamer-friendly."

The S90D television works great as a monitor for PC computers. Fonts appear clearly, making it easier to read and use various applications. Support for chroma 4:4:4 at a resolution of 4K and a refresh rate of 144 Hz ensures full color reproduction and excellent image sharpness. Moreover, the impressive input lag of just 5 ms is a significant advantage, especially for gamers and professionals engaged in graphics. However, it should be noted that points were deducted in this category compared to the version with a WOLED panel due to a different, diamond-shaped sub-pixel arrangement, which can lead to the visibility of individual sub-pixels when displaying fonts on a dark background. This issue only affects the 65-inch version, so users who plan to use the television on a desk will not encounter these difficulties in the smaller variants.

In this category, the Bravia 5 deserves an exemplary rating. The ideal clarity of fonts thanks to 4:4:4 chroma support makes working with a computer on this television a pure pleasure. Whether we're opening Excel, browsing documents, or simply surfing the web – the text is sharp, clear, and free from that characteristic “haze” that can effectively diminish the joy of use in many televisions. The letters look just as they should: clear, sharp, and readable even up close.

We also have good news for PC gamers. The Bravia 5 has no problems handling 120 Hz; it works with both Nvidia and AMD cards, supporting G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro technologies. The result is that the image is not only smooth but also free from tearing or micro-stutters that can spoil the experience even in the best-optimized games. So you can confidently connect a powerful computer and enjoy gaming on a large screen – without compromises, without frustration, and with full comfort. The only thing we can nitpick about is the lack of additional modes for gamers with higher refresh rates.

In the category of viewing angles, the S90D television stands out as one of the best models on the market. While traditional OLED televisions already offer strong performance, a QD-OLED panel in the S90D takes image quality to an even higher level. With Quantum Dot technology and self-emissive pixels, users can enjoy exceptional colour reproduction and detail, even when viewing the television from a wide angle. This ensures that the picture remains vivid and accurate, making it ideal for group viewing or any situation where the seating isn't directly in front of the screen.

Bravia 5 uses a classic VA panel, which means one thing – viewing angles are not its strongest point. For owners of smaller sizes, this will not be a problem, as sitting directly in front, the picture looks great. However, with larger sizes, especially 85 inches, the situation becomes less comfortable. It’s enough to sit slightly off-center on the sofa to notice small imperfections: the image starts to lose saturation, contrast weakens, and blacks take on unwanted grays. It’s a pity that Sony did not decide to use additional coatings that can bring the capabilities of VA panels closer to those of IPS panels. Such solutions exist, and some competitors use them. Here they are missing, so one must consider that Bravia 5 best showcases its strengths when viewed directly.

For TV performance during the day, the S90D model ranks the lowest among the tested variants. While the glossy screen and good reflection handling suggest some efficiency in bright conditions, the quality of black levels during sunny days is the biggest issue. This is due to the close placement of quantum dots to the outer layer of the screen. Under external light, these dots can become activated, leading to a more cherry-like black on the screen. This effect causes the image to lose depth and intensity, particularly in darker scenes. As a result, users who plan to use the TV in bright rooms or areas with high sunlight may encounter challenges in achieving satisfactory image quality. However, when watching films with a lot of black content in the evenings, when sunlight is less intense, the S90D performs significantly better, offering a more enjoyable visual experience. During the day, for regular television viewing, the TV still performs reasonably well, meaning it is not a complete dealbreaker for this model.

Bravia 5 is a device that performs really well in challenging lighting conditions. The high brightness ensures that even in the middle of the day, with the blinds wide open and sunlight streaming through the windows, the picture remains clear and sharp. There’s no sensation that we’re watching a “washed-out” screen. The satin coating of the panel also plays a significant role in effectively reducing light reflections. Yes, some reflections do appear, but they are not strong enough to interfere with viewing. They are more like subtle glows that can be noticed when we deliberately look for them, rather than a real problem on a daily basis. This means that the Bravia 5 will perform well not only in the evening in a dimly lit room but also in bright living rooms where other televisions can falter. Therefore, it can be said that it is a “universal light model” – suitable for both evening screenings and for watching news or sports in full sunlight.

The Samsung S90D television offers a range of features that significantly enhance user comfort, making it an ideal device for home entertainment. The Tizen operating system provides a modern and intuitive platform, ensuring users enjoy a smooth and efficient experience. The user-friendly interface makes navigation through apps and settings quick and easy, even for those less familiar with technology. Tizen supports a wide range of applications, including all major streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. A notable addition for 2024 is the availability of voice search in Polish, enhancing accessibility.

Additionally, the S90D features an eco-friendly solar remote that reduces environmental impact and serves as a practical tool for everyday use. It can control multiple devices connected to the TV, eliminating the need for separate remotes. The TV also supports AirPlay, allowing seamless streaming from Apple devices like iPhones and iPads. Bluetooth connectivity is another strength, with support for various devices such as mice, keyboards, and headphones, enhancing the TV's versatility and personalising the user experience.

The SmartThings app further enhances the TV’s functionality by enabling integration with other smart home devices. This allows users to control aspects like lighting and security remotely. Additionally, the Philips Hue app enables lighting synchronization with the TV's visuals, providing a more immersive viewing experience.

The only drawback is the lack of USB recording support, which may be a limitation for some users. Despite this, the Samsung S90D offers many advanced features, making it an excellent choice for anyone seeking high-quality entertainment and wishing to integrate their home devices into a convenient, unified system.

GoogleTV and SmartTV features

Sony Bravia 5 runs on Google TV, and it must be admitted that it is one of the best-optimized systems specifically for this brand. The interface runs smoothly, there are no annoying bugs or strange translations, and navigating the menu does not feel like walking through a minefield. Indeed, there are moments when the system stutters a bit—as if it has its “weaker moments”—but these are so rare that they do not spoil the overall impression. We have full support for AirPlay, voice search with the help of Google AI assistant, and the possibility of downloading virtually any app we can think of. The only downside in testing turned out to be the screen mirroring feature, which theoretically should work with laptops and phones, but in practice proved to be almost useless—on Windows and Android, it was impossible to obtain a stable image.

User features

On the side of classic features, Bravia 5 stands solidly and practically. A big plus is the presence of two remotes—one is a slim, modern smart remote, while the other, although working via infrared, has a traditional numeric keypad. This way, we can always choose which one fits the situation better. The EPG, or electronic program guide, is clear and allows you to program recordings to a USB drive—a seemingly simple solution, but extremely useful. Additionally, the television supports the connection of various devices: from an amplifier or soundbar via HDMI eARC, to headphones and other wireless accessories via Bluetooth. This is a setup that makes the television not just a screen, but a well-thought-out home entertainment center.

The Samsung S90D offers a solid set of features for media playback, including a built-in player that supports a wide range of popular video formats. This makes it convenient for users to enjoy movies from various sources without external devices. The TV also provides customisation options for the subtitle font colour, enhancing readability and viewer comfort.

In terms of photo formats, the S90D handles most common formats well. However, it does have a limitation in that it cannot play the popular PNG format, which might be disappointing for users who work with images in that format. Despite this minor drawback, the overall media playback capabilities of the S90D remain excellent, ensuring a high-quality experience for most users.

Bravia 5 handles multimedia playback from USB quite efficiently. In practice, almost everything works – movies, music, photos – although we did encounter some minor issues. Some subtitles can cause problems, as can exotic photo formats, which were not always recognized correctly. However, this is standard in the world of TVs, and it's hard to take offense at it seriously. A significant advantage is the fact that thanks to Android, we are not limited to the system's player. Simply installing an external app, like VLC, eliminates all restrictions. This is the advantage of this system – the manufacturer does not confine us to their ecosystem, but rather gives us the freedom of choice.

The Samsung S90D is equipped with an advanced 2.1 audio system, delivering a total power output of 40W, ensuring clear and dynamic sound. The built-in subwoofer, positioned at the bottom of the cabinet, enhances the bass, providing deep and powerful low-end frequencies that enrich the audio experience. This makes the sound more immersive when watching movies, listening to music, or playing games. The mid and high tones are well-balanced, ensuring that all aspects of the audio spectrum are well-represented.

Although the TV lacks DTS support, it compensates with other advanced audio technologies such as Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus, offering a spatial and immersive sound experience. Additionally, Samsung's Q-Symphony feature enables seamless synchronisation between the TV's speakers and a Samsung soundbar, creating an even more enhanced and cohesive audio environment.

Bravia 5 positively surprises in terms of audio. The sound is pleasant, with a slightly noticeable bass thanks to the proprietary Bass Reflex speakers. The overall output is loud, clear, and decidedly above average for a television – 40 W of power in a 2.2 configuration is an impressive result in this class. The placement of the speakers on the sides of the housing also plays a significant role here, allowing the sound to spread across the room and providing a sense of space. However, one shouldn't get carried away with optimism. It is still not at the level of even the simplest soundbar. The Bravia 5 performs excellently in everyday use, but for those who enjoy powerful sound and a cinematic effect, additional audio equipment will be a must – just like with nine out of ten televisions available on the market today.

Samsung QD-OLED S90D / S94D vs Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5)

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

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

Panel details

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

Sound connection options

Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):

Senior accessibility

GoogleTV and SmartTV features

User features

Apps

Playing files from USB

Sound

Acoustic Measurements