Is this the best OLED on the market? Samsung S95C raises the bar again [TEST]

For years, Samsung has refrained from using OLED screens in its TVs. This was mainly due to the fact that it is the largest producer of organic matrices for TVs was LG Display, which is part of the LG concern – Samsung’s main rival in this industry.

So the Koreans focused on development LCD/LED technology and introduced subsequent generations of QLED TVs to the market, the distinguishing feature of which was the use of the so-called quantum dots. The problem is that LCD has its limitations. The very fact that TVs with such matrices must have an additional layer of backlight negatively affects the obtained black and contrast.

Samsung was aware of this and had been quietly working on its own for years OLED matrices, which would become the basis for a new series of TVs. Last year, the first models from the flagship S95 series went on sale and almost immediately joined the group of the best OLEDs on the market.

This year’s Samsung S95 series TV models, equipped with the second generation QD-OLED panel and the AI ​​Quantum 4K processor, were to offer even better image quality, higher brightness in HDR mode, better content scaling to 4K and smoother gameplay in the case of new generation consoles.

It came into my hands a few weeks ago 55-inch Samsung QE55S95C model with module One Connect Pro. I had the opportunity to thoroughly test this device and check whether – as it claims EISA (one of the most prestigious associations of experts specializing in the field of consumer electronics) – we are indeed dealing here with the best TV for 2023.

QD-OLED vs WRGB-OLED. How do they differ?

However, before we move on to the test itself, it is worth recalling once again how the QD-OLED technology used by Samsung differs from “traditional OLED matrices”. Here, of course, we will use the example of LG, i.e. – as I mentioned earlier – a real tycoon on the OLED TV market.

LG uses a WRGB-OLED matrix in its TVs. In addition to its advantages, such as great viewing angles, perfect black and almost infinite contrast, However, this solution has some limitations. The biggest of them is the relatively low energy efficiency of the panel and, consequently, lower maximum brightness (of course, compared to the best QLED LCD screens).

QD-OLED matrix – in principle – was supposed to eliminate the problem of poorer brightness. This is due to the fact that instead of a white OLED emission layer and an RGBW color filter, Samsung Display used a blue OLED layer and an additional layer of quantum dots (QD).

This combination is intended to ensure high brightness (also in HDR mode), but while maintaining the high contrast and infinite blacks known from OLEDs. An additional advantage is the longer life of such a panel, better coverage of a wide range of colors, and a lower risk of burn-in.

Samsung OLED S95C – APPEARANCE

The tested TV is characterized by: minimalist design and very slim frames around the screen. They are still visible, but it is clear that from year to year we are slowly approaching the era of completely frameless TVs.

It also attracts attention extremely slim silhouette of the devicewhose depthć is only 11 mm. This is without a doubt the “thinniest” TV I’ve ever tested. Obtaining such dimensions was possible both thanks to the use QD-OLED technology (no additional backlight layer) and thanks to the transfer all connectors and ports to external One Connect Pro module, which is connected to the TV itself using one narrow cable.

Importantly, people who prefer all cables and wires to be close to the TV and not in a separate box can easily attach One Connect module to the back of the TV stand.

And speaking of the stand, I must admit that although it is very solid and stabilizes the screen well, assembly to It’s not the easiest thing to do. Suffice it to say that it consists of three elements that are attached to each other (and the TV itself) using a combination of screws, clamps and hinges. Fortunately, 99 percent of users will go through this process only once (I installed it twice, because during the first installation it turned out that my test unit did not come with screws – well, at least I have become a real specialist in Samsung TV stands).

But let’s go back to the One Connect module for a moment. It has been equipped with 4 connectors HDMI in standard 2.1., 2 USB-A ports, Ethernet connector and ports antenna. There is also my favorite (and often absent – for example in last year’s S95B model) optical audio output (TOSLINK).

However, the pilot remained unchanged OneRemote. There is a joystick, function buttons and shortcuts to the Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video applications. The remote control is also equipped with a battery that can be charged via the port USB-C or using sunlight – there is a small solar panel on the back of the device.

Samsung OLED S95C – SCREEN AND IMAGE

Samsung S95C is equipped with a 55-inch screen with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels with a matrix Second generation QD-OLED and 120 Hz refresh rate. As befits an organic panel, it is characterized by its characteristics deep black and infinite contrast. This is what they come up with excellent viewing angles.

And what about brightness, which has been the Achilles heel of OLED screens for years? Last year, I praised the S95B model for its constant and stable 1000-1100 nits in HDR mode, which was quite an achievement (taking into account the fact that older OLED matrices rarely exceed 700-800 nits). This year’s model sets the bar even higher – it offers permanent 1200-1300 nits in HDR mode. It’s still not the 1,500 nits that Samsung likes to boast about in promotional materials, but we’re slowly getting closer.

In SDR mode, the S95C model broke the 600 nits barrier (last year’s model had just over 500 nits). In practice, this means that we no longer have to talk about OLED TVs as screens created for “cinema conditions”, i.e. a darkened room. I tested the Samsung device in a very sunny room, in the summer, and it emerged victorious.

When it comes to color reproduction, it is also excellent. The S95C offers close 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color palette and above 90% coverage of the Rec 2020 palette.

And speaking of colors, there was of course also support for HDR10+ standard. Samsung still hasn’t apologized Dolby Vision. For reasons I don’t understand, Koreans are reluctant to implement this standard, which is the loss of people who watch some movies and series on Netflix or play games with Dolby Vision support.

I also can’t help but mention how well this screen handled upscaling content from lower resolutions to 4K, which was, of course, helped by the built-in Quantum 4K AI processor. I still remember the times when TVs were completely unable to cope with upscaling. Samsung (but also other manufacturers – including LG) has made a quantum leap in this matter.

Samsung OLED S95C – FUNCTIONS FOR GAMERS

The tested TV is equipped with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, and this is a key parameter that we should pay attention to when looking for a screen for new generation consoles, i.e. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X Without HDMI 2.1. we can forget about playing in 4K resolution and 120 FPS.

The S95C also supports technology Variable Refresh Rate, which improves the synchronization of the screen refresh rate with the frames per second (FPS) and makes the image smoother. There is also support for Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM) – this technology reduces input lag, which in “Game” mode is now only 5 ms (4K@120 Hz).

Samsung OLED S95C – SOUND

I personally pay the least attention to this aspect. This is because the first thing I do when I connect a new TV is connect it to my receiver and external stereo speakers. However, out of journalistic obligation, I decided to give I took a chance on the built-in audio in the S95C model and was positively surprised.

The TV is equipped with system 4.2.2 with a total power of 70 watts (in last year’s S95B model it was 60 watts). I like both the naturalness and neutrality of its sound. The speakers can also hit with quite solid bass, and the real challenge for their range comes only from loud battle scenes and the famous French horns from Christopher Nolan’s films.

Samsung Neo QLED QN95A – TIZEN

Samsung’s flagship TVs have been running the Tizen system for many years now. At first I wasn’t a big admirer of him, but over time we grew to like each other. Unfortunately Last year’s changes at Tizen put this friendship to the test.

I will not hide – I’m not a fan of the new home screen, which now takes up almost the entire screen space, which means that the access path to some functions and settings has been extended with additional remote clicks.

However, I must appreciate the smooth operation of this system. For years, WebOS was my ideal in this aspect. Tizen not only equaled it, but even surpassed its capabilities. We are also happy that all popular SVOD service applications are now available on the Samsung platform, which was a problem in the recent past.

Samsung OLED S95C – SUMMARY

Already last year’s Samsung models from the S95 series were among the best OLED TVs on the market, This year the bar has been raised even higher. In terms of image quality and smoothness, as well as the brightness achieved in HDR mode, the S95C is currently an almost unrivaled TV.

Of course, there are even brighter TVs on the market (including the top QLEDs from Samsung) and with even deeper blacks (Sony and Panasonic still have a lot to say here), but the S95C is the most universal screen with virtually no weak points. .

Its biggest problem is, of course, the price. The 55-inch variant currently costs PLN 9.5 thousand, and the 65-inch model will cost as much as PLN 13,000. However, it is worth remembering that last year’s S95B model also debuted at a similar price, and after a few months it dropped by about PLN 1,000-1,500. Therefore, it seems that this year it is worth waiting until the first promotions to make a purchase.