We tried the 55-inch Samsung S95B, the first QD-OLED TV produced by the South Korean company that promises excellent brightness. Samsung S95B is the very first OLED TV produced by the South Korean company, which for years insisted first on the QLED models and then on the Neo QLEDs, advanced products but still LCD televisions with backlighting.
However, purists have always preferred images resulting from OLED panels. Therefore, with perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and decidedly more realistic colors, Samsung has finally satisfied them. In reality, it would be more accurate to define the S95B panel as QD-OLED, among other things, one of the first on the market with the Sony A95K.
It is an evolution of OLED displays that promises even more brightness, historically the true Achilles heel of these panels. Is this new challenge from Samsung, a high-end OLED Smart TV capable of beating the increasingly fierce competition from LG and Sony? We tried the 55-inch Samsung S95B to answer this question by hand. Let’s find out in this detailed review.
Samsung S95B: Design, Connections, And Build Quality
Rating: 9/10
There is little to say; the Samsung S95B TV is beautiful. The construction materials are valuable, and the screen is fragile (only a few millimeters); consequently, it can become a piece of furniture for amazing guests. The front bezel of the screen is also skinny, framed by a small metal border. The base of the TV is elegant and very similar to what has been seen in other QLED models from Samsung, characterized by a finish that recalls brushed aluminum.
On the back, you can see a camber containing all the electronics of the TV: Samsung has made it beautiful and compact in this case, too, to leave the possibility of hanging this S95B on the wall using the four VESA holes on the rear area. Unfortunately, it is impossible to rotate the television, unlike the LG C2 subject of our review.
Assembly is quite simple if carried out by at least two people. With the help of only four screws, the base easily attaches to the screen, which remains somewhat fragile. Therefore, a premium TV must be handled with great care, especially during installation, so as not to flex and damage the panel.
As LG did with its C2, Samsung has been generous towards users with this S95B. The rounded part on the back also encloses all the available ports, fortunately, placed on the side, therefore more comfortable to handle if you fix the Smart TV to the wall. These are the connections available:
- 4 HDMI 2.1 ports with 48Gbps transmission rate, compatible with 4K 120Hz signals, including one with eARC support for connecting an external soundbar
- 2 USB ports
- One LAN port for wired internet
- Coaxial connectors for terrestrial and satellite antennas with DVB-T2 and DVB-S2 tuners are also equipped with the latest certifications for access to HbbTV services.
- Digital audio out
There is no headphone jack hole, so only Bluetooth headphones can be used. Finally, there is full support for Wi-Fi 5, Miracast, Apple Airplay 2, and the voice assistants Bixby, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa, which can also be used via the microphone integrated into the remote control to search for content.
Samsung S95B: The QD-OLED Screen And Specifications
Rating: 9/10
However, the most significant novelty of this TV is the QD-OLED panel, the latest generation technology that allows OLED screens to take a big step forward. But how does it work? The Samsung S95B QD-OLED panel comprises various “layers”: the manufacturer has added a Quantum Dot layer to the OLED panel, allowing for brighter colors.
Technically, the S95B OLED panel emits blue light, which is absorbed by the Quantum Dot nanocrystals to be re-emitted in red and green. The result is a higher maximum brightness, which exceeds 1000 nits in HDR.
On the other hand, the OLED panels of LG TVs feature yellow and blue OLEDs instead that create white light. This is treated by a color filter that transforms the white light into the result you see on the screen. Samsung’s QD-OLED screen, on the other hand, has no color filters.
Therefore efficiency is not lost in the slightest: the result is exceptional images when watching movies, TV series or while playing a video game, especially in HDR. The 4K images have superb definition and are certainly enhanced by the Neural Quantum 4K processor, which can increase sharpness thanks to its algorithms. The upscaling of pictures with a lower purpose is also excellent, for example, the contents offered by TV channels.
It is certainly not a TV recommended for inexperienced users or for those who like to install the product and use it. Samsung S95B offers a menu with many features and customizations. It is necessary to arm yourself with patience and navigate in depth in the various items to set the perfect image based on the room in which the product is positioned.
However, some pre-set image functions ensure excellent viewing quality. Among these is the Filmmaker Mode, which allows you to view video content on Netflix, Apple TV +, Prime Video, or Disney + with the most excellent possible accuracy and close to the creators’ original intent.
The panel has full compatibility with HDR10+, but there is a critical flaw: it does not support Dolby Vision, a standard content use. Among these, for example, are those on Disney+, which predominantly use Dolby Vision. With HDR10+, the vision is still excellent; the QD-OLED screen is brighter than the competition.
Samsung S95B: Features For Gaming
Rating: 8/10
This OLED TV is also an excellent product for gamers. Unlike the LG C2, which is compatible with any format and standard, it’s close. Users can first unlock almost the full potential of PS5 and Xbox Series X by playing games in 4K at 120Hz.
Full compatibility with AMD FreeSync Premium, a technology that improves image rendering. Thanks to the HDMI 2.1 ports, there is also complete compatibility with the Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which reduce latency and make a variable refresh rate possible. Absent support for NVIDIA G-Sync, too bad
We have tested this TV with various video games, from Horizon Forbidden WesttoSpider-Man Miles Morales. The result is excellent: perfect colors, dazzling brightness, and almost instant response times to commands under ten milliseconds. It’s not the ultimate gaming TV, but it comes close.
Samsung S95B: Software And Features
Rating: 7/10
The Tizen operating system offers a new interface that may disappoint many users. Most of the space is relegated to advertising or recommended content; therefore, it is impossible to choose to give more space to apps.
The software is relatively fast and responsive, even if we have occasionally noticed minor slowdowns, and offers a large selection of applications for streaming, games, and much more. In short, it is complete but improvable.
The remote control is small and easy to use, with function keys that directly call up the most popular streaming apps, i.e., Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Samsung TV Plus: it’s a pity that the keys aren’t in color, sometimes it’s challenging to recognize which one app is being accessed. The remote is recharged via its USB-C port or thanks to the small solar panel on the back: an ingenious solution.
Samsung S95B: Sound
Rating: 9/10
As well as the excellent images reproduced by this TV, the audio is also of high quality. Samsung has decided to include a 60-watt 2.2.2 system, decidedly superior to the competition, with an audio performance that is surprising at times.
The basses are full-bodied and enveloping, and the highs and the dialogues of the contents are always understandable, given the compatibility with Dolby Atmos. You almost feel the need to give up an external audio soundbar. Also interesting is the mode that sets the audio according to the room, further improving the final result.
Samsung S95B Verdict
Final Grade: 9/10
Samsung S95B is an OLED TV in sizes 55 and 65 inches at list prices of 2,499 and 3,499 euros, respectively. It is a high-end TV, even if the price between offers, discounts, and cashback from Samsung has significantly dropped.
The images reproduced by the innovative QD-OLED panel are unrivaled, and the audio is powerful and crystalline. A highly recommended product for those who want to enjoy video content and video games at the highest quality.
Pro
- Exceptional image quality, perfect blacks, and high brightness
- Smart TV suitable for new generation video games
- Small remote control with solar charging
Versus
- High price
- Tizen software can be improved
- Dolby Vision is missing
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