Samsung QN990F vs Philips OLED950

The Samsung QN990F belongs to the bright televisions and this is immediately evident in the tests. In measurements, it achieved around 1300 nits, which in practice allows you to enjoy movies as their creators intended. Bright scenes have the right impact, lights shine, and the feeling is truly cinematic. In standard test patterns, sequences number 1, 3, and 5 performed the best – there the brightness remained around 800-1000 nits, and the image looked very natural. In more challenging segments, it could drop to about 600 nits, but still the level remained sufficient for details to be well visible. However, it should be added that with such highly contrasted shots, the halo effect returns – the same one we mentioned regarding the blacks. Bright elements can leave a glow on dark backgrounds, and this is immediately noticeable. Since we are dealing with a QLED, the color palette is expanded and the colors look impressive. The problem is that with such a flagship model, we expected better numbers. 91% coverage of DCI-P3 and about 67% BT.2020 are results that can be considered solid, but not outstanding. This results in a vibrant and attractive picture; however, competition in this and lower price segments can show even more.

OLED950 is a phenomenal TV for consuming HDR content, which is primarily due to the use of innovative Tandem OLED technology. With this technology, the screen is capable of generating astronomical brightness values, reaching over 2000 nits in movie scenes (on test screens). This is an outstanding result, placing the OLED950 model among the very top displays available on the market. However, it should be noted that there is a specific characteristic of this solution – at moments when full-screen bursts of light appear on the screen, the brightness can drop by as much as half. Nevertheless, it is worth emphasizing that values above 1000 nits on a full screen are still an outstanding result. This allows for HDR images to be displayed exactly as filmmakers would wish, maintaining the dynamics and impact of light scenes.

The use of Tandem OLED technology has also brought measurable benefits in terms of color reproduction, improving elements where traditional WOLED panels have had difficulties compared to QD-OLED competitors. In the case of the OLED950, the color gamut coverage is broader than in classic WOLED panels, reaching nearly 100% of the DCI-P3 space and a solid 82% of the demanding BT.2020 palette. Although these results still do not match the high achievements of QD-OLED panels, the difference diminishes during real-world usage. We cannot deny that in the vast majority of films, colors look simply fantastic on this model – they are saturated, vibrant, and full of depth.

We tested the QN990F in Filmmaker mode, which is the best available right out of the box. Right from the start, we noticed several significant errors. The biggest issue was with white balance. Due to too little blue and also incorrect proportions between red and blue, the image – especially in scenes with a lot of white – appeared too yellow and at times even orange. On the Color Checker palette, these errors didn't look dramatic as they hovered around a value of 4, but in everyday viewing, especially with strong whites, they were most noticeable. We also noticed issues with brightness management – the television had difficulty maintaining details in the smallest parts of the image, mainly due to the way it controls the backlight zones. Fortunately, Samsung offers a lot of room for adjustment when it comes to setting corrections. We know that with proper calibration, you can definitely get a lot more out of this screen.

We tested the OLED950 model in Movie mode. Although it is theoretically the best and most faithful preset on this television, in practice, it proved to be not without flaws. Interestingly, in the unit we tested, the biggest challenge wasn't the white balance itself – although it did have a slight tendency to give the image a pinkish tint. The main problem lay in the way the television managed brightness, both in everyday SDR content and in demanding HDR scenes. Analysis of the gamma chart and EOTF curve leads to one key conclusion: the television excessively highlights brightness in the lower registers. This results in the image appearing less contrasty than the panel technology would allow. Details in dark areas that should remain perfectly black (characteristic of "OLED black") are simply unnecessarily highlighted and brightened. Fortunately, these errors can be corrected using the appropriate tools, so – as always – we proceeded with professional calibration.

After performing calibration, we managed to bring the white balance into order and eliminate the previous deficiencies in blue tones. As a result, the image no longer appeared as if it had a slightly yellowish filter – whites are cleaner, and the overall presentation looks much more natural. We also managed to some extent to tame the brightness characteristic in HDR content. The television now handles maintaining details in blacks significantly better and does not lose them as much as before. However, when we look at the EOTF curve and how the QN990F reproduces brightness in films, it is evident that it still tends to emphasize details in dark scenes more strongly. This is a characteristic feature of Mini-LED technology, and more specifically, how it is managed by the QN990F, which is practically impossible to completely eliminate. Nevertheless, after calibration, the image looks much more natural, primarily due to the correct exposure of white light. The final effect is definitely more pleasant to receive and closer to what we expect from a flagship television.

As can be seen, the OLED950 transforms into an absolutely phenomenal display after a professional calibration process, which without a shadow of a doubt can be placed in the same category as the best televisions currently available in the world. This equipment only needed a professional touch to show its full potential and eliminate factory shortcomings. The minimal errors in reproduction in Color Checker tests and the fidelity of the color palette speak for themselves. We are dealing with an almost perfect device here. A true window to the world, offering top-notch image quality.

The QN990F deserves the highest praise for its upscaling. The processor responsible for "pulling up" classic TV to 8K resolution performs quite well. While watching content in a 576p signal, we had no illusions that we would suddenly see a marketing-style miracle where the image magically transforms into crystal-clear 8K. Nevertheless, the final effect was surprisingly good; the image looked clean and clear. It's just unfortunate that the TV, like most Samsung models, has an overscan issue, which slightly cuts off the edges of the screen on the left side.

Regarding image processing, Samsung provides a feature called "noise reduction," which in theory should improve tonal transitions in older materials, where they are usually more noticeable. Unfortunately, we felt quite disappointed here. The feature works poorly – it struggles with unwanted bands and can even introduce its own artifacts. On the plus side, the TV does not eliminate film grain when using this feature, but in practice, that's little consolation since the noise reduction itself proves to be practically useless.

Upscaling

In terms of image scaling, the proprietary P5 processor performs just as well as in most models from this manufacturer. Lower resolution content takes on a very soft and plastic character. Such a presentation will certainly appeal to many. However, if you prefer sharper contours, you can gently enhance them with the appropriate slider in the TV menu. In this aspect, it's really hard to pick on anything. The image simply looks very good and additionally there is no problem with the phenomenon of overscan.

Smoothing and Distortion Reduction

The tonal transition smoothing feature fares a bit worse. In the settings, we find an option called “Distortion Reduction.” This allows for three levels of processor intervention adjustment. Unfortunately, the Minimum setting works poorly and the smoothing effects are negligible. The Medium level gives a decent result, but it also starts to smooth out the skin details of actors. On the other hand, the Maximum setting works too aggressively. It removes definitely too many details from the face and background elements or can even take away the film grain. To achieve the optimal effect, it's worth playing around with these settings at home and adjusting them to your preferences. It might seem that the Medium option represents the best compromise here.

The QN990F can easily be called one of the fastest televisions in the world. In 4K mode, it can display images at a frequency of up to 240 Hz, which until now has been more associated with gaming monitors than with televisions in the living room. However, in everyday viewing, what matters more is how it handles 8K signals at 120 Hz – and it performs very well here too. Motion remains smooth, and the television manages without a hitch even with the most demanding content. Additionally, there is a motion smoother, called "Picture Clarity." With it, you can adjust the image to your own preferences – leave a slight cinematic stutter or switch to maximum smoothness, which works great, for instance, in sports broadcasts.

The motion representation in the OLED950 model is virtually perfect. This is typical for screens of this type (OLED 120Hz+), as the matrix shows no blurring at all. Thanks to this, we can enjoy flawless sharpness in practically any conditions. A big part of this is not only due to the specifics of organic technology. Equally important work is done by the smoothing systems implemented by the manufacturer.

It must be said directly – the QN990F is one of those TVs that screams it was designed with gamers in mind. Samsung has been developing its gaming solutions for years, but here we have a true package. Sure, the lack of Dolby Vision support in games is a downside that will always come up in discussions. However, apart from that, the list of features is truly impressive. To start, we have Game Bar – a handy menu that allows you to quickly check and change game-related settings. You can see, for example, VRR is turned on, the frame rate, or the aspect ratio settings. It's like a small "dashboard," allowing you not to dig deep into the menu to make adjustments. Speaking of VRR: yes, variable refresh rate is present here and works flawlessly. Additionally, there's ALLM, which automatically switches the TV to game mode as soon as the console is turned on. These may seem like small details, but together they make using the QN990F simply convenient and hassle-free.

However, the number of ports makes the biggest impression. Four wireless HDMI 2.1 ports are already great news because you don't have to choose whether to connect the console, the receiver, or maybe even the PC. There's plenty of room here for everything. And if we add an additional micro HDMI (which we recommend connecting directly to consoles), hidden in the housing, we practically have five inputs in full 2.1 standard. Add to that support for high refresh rates – 120 Hz in 8K or even 240 Hz in 4K – and we get a TV that not only keeps up with the new consoles but also feels ready for consoles that are yet to come.

OLED950 is almost the perfect TV for gamers. This is not only due to the unique atmosphere that the Ambilight system creates during gameplay. The most important aspect here is the solid hardware support. We find literally everything that one should expect from a modern gaming screen today. The manufacturer has implemented two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s. This gives us access to gaming in 4K resolution at 120 frames per second. Of course, support for VRR technology and the ALLM automatic game mode is also included. The device handles any HDR signal effortlessly, whether we are using Dolby Vision or the HGiG standard.

Access to all settings is available from one place thanks to the special Game Bar overlay. Although this interface may not be the most graphically attractive on the market, it fully serves its purpose. It displays all the most important signal parameters and offers useful additions. Gamers can take advantage of the mini-map zoom function or add a permanent crosshair on the screen, which can be seen as a small aid in online competition. Adjusting the contrast range also proves useful. It allows for brightening shadows and achieving better visibility of enemies hidden in the dark corners of the map.