- 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
Samsung OLED S90F (QD-OLED) Review
S90F / FAT / FAE
Available screen sizes:
Diagonal with a different matrix: , , , ,
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Panel type: QD-OLED Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: SAMSUNG Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Tizen Model year: 2025
The matrix lottery is a phenomenon that no TV enthusiast likes. When buying equipment, it is difficult to predict whether we will get a panel from one factory or another in a given size, and this can significantly affect image quality. This is exactly the case with the Samsung S90F series, where different versions use WOLED matrices, while others use QD-OLED panels. We received a 65-inch variant with the "FAT" designation, equipped with a QD-OLED matrix. It is still organic technology, but it differs from WOLED panels in several significant details that translate into image reception. What exactly are these? And does the S90F in the QD-OLED version have a chance to become the best OLED TV of 2025 in terms of value for money? Let's check it out!
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Our verdict
8.4
Overall rating
The 65-inch Samsung S90F is a television that demonstrates how significant a quality leap can come from the use of QD-OLED technology in a mid-range model. Among other variants, the S90F stands out as the best – it offers not only perfect black and infinite contrast like other models with WOLED panels but also noticeably higher brightness and a wider color gamut. This translates into more impressive HDR, deeper colors, and smoother tonal transitions, which are impressive both in cinematic productions and in gaming or sports. In everyday use, this television is incredibly versatile: it easily fits the role of an entertainment center in the living room, a large monitor for PC gamers, or simply a screen for evening movie sessions. The Tizen system operates swiftly, offers a wide selection of apps, and integrates with SmartThings, which will please those who like to have their smart home under control. Gamers have access to a full range of modern features: four full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, ALLM, Game Bar with additional enhancements, and, most importantly, remarkably low input lag. Additionally, the characteristic pixel response speed of OLEDs makes sports and games look simply stunning. The S90F also holds its own in terms of design: slim bezels, aesthetic finishes, and a panel that resembles a sheet of glass do their part. The only notable limitation to keep in mind is the preservation of black levels in the QD-OLED panel under very difficult, heavily sunlit conditions. In such situations, it can slightly "heat up," resembling the color of dark cherry rather than perfect black. But in the evening, when most of us sit down to watch movies or series – the problem disappears completely. And then the S90F shows its full potential, delivering an image that can easily be compared to televisions twice its price. That’s why the 65-inch Samsung S90F can be called the most cost-effective OLED of 2025. It’s a model that combines remarkable picture quality, versatility, and an affordable price in the mid-premium segment. If you’re looking for a television that excels in movies, games, sports, and everyday viewing, while not wanting to spend a fortune on absolute flagship models – it’s hard to find a better choice today.
Advantages
QD-OLED panel with exceptional blacks and contrast
Very high brightness for an OLED in this segment (around 1700 nits)
Great HDR effect and wide color gamut coverage thanks to quantum dot technology
Perfect viewing angles – the picture looks great even from the side
Effectively minimizes reflections in bright living rooms
Exceptional motion smoothness – 144Hz OLED panel
Complete gaming package: HDMI 2.1, ALLM, VRR, Game Bar, low input lag
Intuitive and fast Tizen system with a large app base
Good sound quality for a TV + support for Dolby Atmos
High build quality and slim design
Disadvantages
In very bright daylight, black can take on a navy hue (a feature of QD-OLED panels)
No support for DTS:X (a problem for Blu-ray disc fans)
No recording function to USB from built-in tuners
Why can't we find such a panel in all sizes?!
Movies and series in UHD quality9.0
Classic TV, YouTube9.3
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)8.9
Gaming on console9.8
TV as a computer monitor8.6
Watching in bright light5.7
Utility functions7.7
Apps8.7
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
Bezel colour: Graphite
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
The Samsung S90F is a television that immediately impresses with its appearance. Like every OLED, it delights with incredibly slim bezels, making the screen look like a seamless pane of glass. The design, with a slightly thicker back, is typical for this type of panel, so it can't be pushed completely against the wall, but the TV is slim enough that this shouldn't bother anyone. Especially since all attention is focused on the panel itself, which simply looks fantastic. The only element that can be criticized is the stand. The manufacturer opted for two plastic legs with a metal-like finish, and this doesn't quite match the rest of the construction. Aside from this detail, the S90F looks like high-end equipment and will easily fit into most modern interiors.
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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 terms of black and contrast, it doesn't matter whether we choose the version with WOLED panel or QD-OLED for the S90F. In both cases, the effect in typical cinematic conditions remains the same, and we can always count on perfect black. This is impressive not only when watching movies but also regular shows. If someone has never had contact with an organic matrix, the first encounter with such a television can be truly stunning. There is no difference here whether we are looking at less demanding scenes, like those from the movie Oblivion, or at segments where only a few details remain on the screen, such as stars in the sky in Star Wars – in every case, the image remains clean, and the details are perfectly separated from the background. This is one of the greatest advantages of OLED, as each pixel is controlled independently and acts like a separate zone. This means there is no need to worry about compromises in the visibility of details in lights that can disappear even in the best LCD TVs. It is in cinematic conditions that the S90F shows its full potential and can impress the most. Here, OLED technology – including the QD-OLED panel – performs flawlessly and delivers an effect that is hard to find any faults with.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - HDR effect quality
7.8/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 99.6%, Bt.2020: 88.2%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1416 nit
Result
1585 nit
Result
1449 nit
Result
1379 nit
Result
808 nit
The biggest difference between the 65-inch S90F and the other versions is brightness. The QD-OLED panel can achieve up to 1700 nits in laboratory tests, which is over 500 nits more than the variant with the WOLED panel. This translates to a significantly stronger and more engaging HDR effect. In most scenes, bright parts of the image look fantastic, and we have to admit we were pleasantly surprised because we expected results closer to the WOLED version, but we got an effect that makes a big impression even in movies. As with any OLED, there are moments when the panel has to limit brightness somewhat. This mainly concerns full-screen, very demanding scenes – for example, in the last test frame from the movie "The Meg," brightness drops to around 800 nits. However, it's hard to consider this a flaw since it’s still an excellent result, unprecedented in OLED TVs in this price range. All signs indicate that the 65-inch S90F could be one of the best choices this year for those looking for a strong OLED at a reasonable price. Another advantage of the QD-OLED panel in HDR content is its color gamut coverage. Thanks to quantum dots, the television achieves almost full 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and nearly 90% of the BT.2020 gamut. These values place it alongside much more expensive models and make it exceptional in its class.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Being aware that the S90F with a QD-OLED panel can generate such high brightness, we had to compare it with the best screens on the market. And while it does not reach the level of this year's flagship OLEDs, considering the price segment it occupies, the results can be summed up in one word: unparalleled. During screenings of films like "Mr." or "Billy Lynn," we were truly surprised at how a "mid-range" OLED can meet the demands of such challenging titles. The image was very bright, but it did not merge into one bright spot, and the details remained sharp and clear. In productions full of colors, a slight advantage of the QD-OLED panel was also noticeable, due to the higher color saturation, which adds extra depth and intensity to the overall picture. It's simply a great screen for movies.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
S90F is a very bright television that performs excellently in HDR10 format and can adapt the picture well to most content. In typical scenes, the effect looks impressive, but in extremely bright shots, there are situations where the brightness of the panel and its adjustment prove insufficient. In such moments, dynamic HDR10+ comes to the rescue, able to correct the picture and bring out details where the static format struggles. Of course, these are very rare cases, and in the vast majority of scenes, the S90F presents a full range of details effortlessly, even without the help of dynamic metadata. Nevertheless, the presence of HDR10+ proves to be a valuable support that shows its worth precisely in these most demanding situations.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
7/10
Samsung S90F, like most modern televisions, offers several picture modes, but in keeping with our tradition, we checked it in the most important one, which is Filmmaker. This setting makes the picture look much more natural than in the default, often oversaturated modes. It is neither overly saturated nor artificially subdued – just closer to what you should actually see. However, that doesn't mean it's perfect. The S90F had noticeable shortcomings in white balance, primarily in the blue range, which created a slightly yellowish filter effect on most scenes. One might argue that it looks more "cinematic" because it's warmer, but let's not kid ourselves – George Lucas didn't shoot Star Wars in sepia 😉 (you'll find a comparison with a scene below as always). In HDR materials, there was also a problem with brightness management. The EOTF curve clearly showed that the television brightens the picture more than it should, which led to some effects looking too intense and deviating from the reference. Fortunately, many of these shortcomings can be eliminated through professional calibration – we will discuss the effects of this procedure further in the test.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.3/10
Calibration quickly showed that the S90F has a substantial reserve of capabilities. The image in SDR immediately gained a natural quality – classic films stopped looking as if someone had applied a yellowish filter to them, and the colors regained their true character. It’s a return to the atmosphere of the original, without the impression that someone tried to "age" it artificially. In HDR content, the difference was even more pronounced. The EOTF curve was managed almost to a reference level, and any deviations are so subtle that most viewers won't even notice them. In practice, the S90F after calibration displays an image very close to perfection. Compared to the WOLED version, it performs even better – mainly due to the wider color gamut coverage, which makes the colors look fuller and more vibrant.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Smoothness of tonal transitions
8.8/10
QD-OLED matrices, thanks to their very wide color palette, simply have a greater number of colors, which makes it easier to blend one shade into another smoothly. In the case of the S90F, this was clearly visible – compared to the classic version with a WOLED panel, we noticed a significant improvement. Most transitions were smooth and practically invisible, and the image in most scenes appeared exceptionally coherent. In very bright areas, slight imperfections can still be noticed, but they are cosmetic enough that they shouldn't distract the viewer's attention.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
The S90F performs really well here, although there are some comments that are repeated in the case of most Samsung TVs. The noise reduction feature can effectively smooth out unwanted color transitions in lower-quality materials, such as television or YouTube, making them simply look better. However, it should be noted that it operates quite aggressively and can also soften elements that we wouldn't want to touch, like facial details. Therefore, if we want to use it, it’s best to use it in the "medium" setting and be aware of the compromise it brings. The upscaling itself is at a high level – low-quality materials are enhanced towards a 4K-like image. The only caveat is that the S90F can still have problems with so-called overscan, which is slight trimming of the edges in very poor materials like 576p and lower.
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: 50%
S90F is an OLED with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, but in practice, what matters most is how it performs at 120 Hz, as this frequency is the most significant when watching sports. The QD-OLED panel is no different in this regard from WOLED panels—the pixel response is almost instantaneous, allowing motion to be rendered with surgical precision. The effect is easy to predict. The image is practically free of ghosting, making gaming on consoles, matches, or other sports broadcasts a great pleasure on the S90F.
Fans of movies and series are not forgotten either. Like every Samsung TV with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and above, the S90F is equipped with a proprietary motion smoother called "Image Clarity." Here, we find two sliders—motion blur reduction and judder reduction—that allow you to improve the fluidity of materials recorded at 24 frames and adjust the effect to your personal preferences.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Image flickers in this mode
Smużenie (4K@144Hz):
When it comes to motion blur, this paragraph could actually remain empty. Whether we use 144 Hz refresh rate in PC mode or 120 Hz on consoles and with sports, the problem practically doesn't occur. The effect remains the same – the image is clear and free of blurring thanks to the organic panel used here. For those who would like to further "smooth" the motion, there is an available BFI function called Clear Motion. However, it should be noted that in this mode the image flickers heavily, and the practical value of this option is close to zero, as the panel offers excellent results without it.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.6/10
- 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
S90F is a television that truly brings a lot of joy when gaming. Right off the bat, we get four full-fledged HDMI 2.1 ports, which means you can connect all consoles and PCs without having to figure out which device takes priority. This is a convenient and practical solution that is not a given with other manufacturers. Additionally, there are key features such as the automatic game mode (ALLM), which switches the screen to low-latency settings, and VRR frame synchronization working over a wide range from 48 to 144 Hz. This ensures that the picture remains smooth regardless of whether we are playing fast-paced online shooters or calmer story-driven titles. Another noteworthy feature is the Game Bar – a panel that allows quick access to several useful additions. For example, you can turn on an additional crosshair in the center of the screen, enlarge the minimap, or, in the case of a PC, change the aspect ratio. Finally, there is also the unique Game Motion Plus mode exclusive to Samsung. Its purpose is to smooth out older or less optimized titles, and it actually works quite well. Thanks to this mode, even less polished games can look better and provide more enjoyment than on other televisions that theoretically offer the same technical specifications.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Input lag
10/10
In terms of lag, the S90F performs exceptionally well. With 120 Hz content, it’s about 5 ms, and with 60 Hz, it’s about 10 ms. In practice, this means an immediate response to the controller, mouse, or keyboard – without the feeling that something is slowing down the gameplay!
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 10 ms | 2160p60: 10 ms | |
| 1080p120: 5 ms | 2160p120: 5 ms | |
| 2160p60: 10 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 5 ms |
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Compatibility with PC
8.6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
The S90F, even in the 65-inch variant, works great as a large monitor for PC. The most benefits, of course, go to gamers – the television supports refresh rates up to 144 Hz, as well as frame synchronization with Nvidia graphics cards (G-SYNC) and AMD (FreeSync). The difference compared to WOLED panels lies in the distinctive "diamond" pixel arrangement in QD-OLED. In practice, this can affect the display of fine text – some letters at the edges may have slightly jagged shapes. On the other hand, in WOLED matrices with a layout of four subpixels, text can be less precise, so each variant has its minor specifics. In both cases, however, the television is very well suited for both gaming and occasional computer work.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Viewing angles
9.8/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 10%
One of the things that immediately impresses in the S90F is its viewing angles. This is a huge advantage of QD-OLED panels – even if we are not sitting directly in front of the television, the image hardly changes. Colors remain vibrant, contrast is strong, and details are just as readable as when viewing from a central spot. So you can comfortably watch a movie with a group of people, spreading out across the entire living room, without worrying that someone will see a washed-out version of the image. OLEDs have always performed well in this category, and it’s one of their main advantages over traditional LCDs. However, in QD-OLED, the difference is even more noticeable – the image holds its quality even at a wide angle, where on WOLED panels, one can already see a slight loss of color intensity. Here, there is practically none of that.
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - TV efficiency during daytime
5.7/10
Matrix coating: Glare
Reflection suppression: Good
Black levels during daytime: Average
QD-OLED matrices have their Achilles' heel – it is the reproduction of black in brightly lit rooms. The glossy coating used here handles reflections really well, definitely better than in WOLED panels that we had the opportunity to test. The problem is that in very intense daylight, black can take on a dark navy hue and loses its depth. Fortunately, in the evenings this phenomenon disappears completely, and the television displays an image that we expect from OLED – with perfect contrast and true black. As for brightness, the S90F performs quite well for a mid-range OLED. It will handle typical conditions without any issues, and the screen will look attractive even in a well-lit living room. Only in really extreme conditions, when the sun shines directly on the screen, might it be more difficult, but this is a common issue for all OLEDs in this price segment. On the other hand, better suppression of reflections means that for many people, QD-OLED will prove to be more comfortable for everyday viewing than classic WOLEDs, despite the fact that blacks don’t always look perfect on it.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Samsung OLED S90F (QD-OLED): 431 cd/m2
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - TV features
7.7/10
System: Tizen
System performance: Very good
- 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
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No
- Recording programming: No
- Picture in Picture (PiP): Yes
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
- Backlit remote control: No
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: Yes
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
- Voice search: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
SmartTV Features: Tizen.
A huge advantage of the S90F in everyday use is the Tizen operating system. It is one of the fastest systems on the market and has been working exceptionally well on Samsung televisions for years, and on those from the higher-end – like this one – it's virtually lightning-fast. The menu responds without delays, switching between applications is smooth, and the whole setup is intuitive enough that even someone encountering a Smart TV for the first time will find their way around it. In the app store, we can find practically everything we need – from Netflix to HBO Max, and even less obvious services. While there may not be GoogleTV here, there is really no sense that we are missing anything. A big plus has to be given for the integration with SmartThings. This solution is for those who like to have their entire home under control in one application. The television can be part of the IoT device ecosystem and will easily communicate with the washing machine, air conditioning, or lighting, as long as everything is on the same network.
Classic Functional Features
When it comes to classic features, we have everything one might expect: support for HDMI 2.1, USB ports, optical output, connectivity via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The only thing that might be missing for more conservative movie fans is support for DTS:X audio formats – especially if someone watches movies on physical media. The remote control may initially seem a bit odd, as it lacks traditional numeric buttons. But this is now standard in today's world of televisions, and most users quickly adapt to it. A plus is that it works completely wirelessly. The point is that you don’t need to aim at the screen; just press a button on the remote from anywhere (even from another room) and the television responds to our actions.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
Obsługiwane formaty audio:
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: No
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: No
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: No
- DTS-HD Master Audio: No
Ułatwienia dla seniorów
- Numeric keyboard on TV: No
- Font size adjustment: Yes
- Audio description: Yes
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Apps
8.7/10
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Playing files from USB
9.1/10
| 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 player built into the S90F works really well and is more than adequate for most users. It easily opens movies or music stored on a flash drive or external hard drive and handles most popular formats. The only "serious" issue we encountered is the lack of support for HEIC photos – that is, those that can be saved by an iPhone. (Though we suspect that 90% of people still use the JPEG format anyway).
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Sound
7.4/10
84dB
Maximum volume
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
The S90F sounds really pleasant for a television – the bass is noticeable, the dialogues are clear, and overall, it has quite a decent dynamic range. Dolby Atmos also does its part, as it can give the sound a bit of space, making the movie experience better than in most basic built-in setups in other televisions. However, it must be said bluntly: no television, even one of this class, can replace a separate sound system. If someone really wants to feel like they’re in a cinema, the best solution would be to purchase a soundbar or a full audio system. Especially since, as is typical with Samsung, there is no support for DTS:X – so fans of Blu-ray discs and high-quality soundtracks will still have to reach for external equipment connected directly to the source.
Acoustic Measurements
84dBC (Max)
75dBC
SAMSUNG OLED S90F - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: T-RSMFDEUC-0090-103 2.5, E2500007, BT-S
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
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