Samsung S95B (QE55S95B) QD-OLED Review

The Samsung S95B is an excellent 4K flat screen and an impressive debut for QD-OLED technology. It effectively combines the brightness of high-end QLED with the black level performance expected from OLED. Despite its slim design, it delivers decent sound.

Obviously, the lack of Dolby Vision will be a deal-breaker for many home cinema fans, but the competitive price is well worth the price. If so, this 55-inch QD-OLED is very attractive.

prologue

With class-leading HDR brightness and an ultra-thin design, could Samsung secure a leading position in the increasingly competitive world of OLED TVs?

With its first 55-inch S95B QD-OLED, the brand can do just about anything…

When it first launched, this QD-OLED was positioned as a premium display at a reasonable price, but now it’s settled into a more competitive level. The 55-inch model reviewed here is £1199 and the 65-inch model is £1799.

In the US, the QE55S95B sells for $1,599.

design

• laser slim design
• HDMI2.1×4
• Integrated OTS sound system
• solar remote control

Sleek and slim, the S95B aims to turn heads with its impeccable build quality and finish. It may be very slim, but it’s a little tough to lift out of its packaging, but thankfully, it’s proven to be tougher than it looks.

The panel has very thin bezels, a silver color to match the back panel, and sits on a central square pedestal stand, making it easy to store in any piece of furniture.

No separate One Connect box, all ports are self-contained. All four HDMI inputs are HDMI 2.1 compliant and support 4K 120fps playback. There’s VRR with AMD FreeSync support and (not certified) Nvidia G-Sync, ALLM for console connections, and eARC if you want to pass Dolby Atmos to an external soundbar or system.

It doesn’t have to be added right away. The S95B features a formidable object tracking sound system. Height and side drivers are hidden in the back and support the soundstage in a forward-facing array.

Additionally, the S95B comes with a solar-powered remote control in addition to the usual IR zapper, which will help save battery in the long run.

Features

• Tizen smart platform
• samsung tv plus

Smart connectivity is provided by Samsung’s proven Tizen platform. There was a minor update to simplify navigation. Welcome given the amount of content available, but not drastic. The sidebar has tabs for Search, Ambient, Games, Media, and Menu.

Press the ambient button to open a variety of digital art and relaxing videos. Media shortcuts take you to streaming and catch-up services. Samsung does not support Freeview Play, but it can perfectly complement mainstream catch-up apps and premium SVOD services.

There is also Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s own IP distribution channel bouquet. There seems to be an endless amount of free linear content to pursue.

A dedicated game hub interface showcases connected consoles and associated streaming services. Automatically put your TV into game mode. Latency is very good. With Game Mode selected, I measured the input lag to be just 9.6ms (1080/60).

Ultimately, the S95B’s most novel feature is hidden in plain sight: the QD-OLED panel itself. Unlike his WOLED (White OLED) panels popularized by LG Display, Samsung utilizes a quantum dot layer to draw hues from a single blue OLED source.

The result is a brighter overall image and better color fidelity without sacrificing black level performance or viewing angles. Let’s take a closer look…

image quality

• Outstanding HDR peak brightness
• vibrant color performance
• expansive sound

Rival OLED makers may have been improving their performance over time, but Samsung’s QD-OLED panel design is overwhelming the competition. The QD-OLED hype is real.

The S95B is especially effective for viewing in bright rooms. Content remains dynamic and richly colored, even when viewed in a room lit by the afternoon sun. Note that APL (Average Picture Level) can be a bit tiring in dark room environments.

HDR performance on set is amazing. HDR peak luminance was measured at 1415 nits using a 5% window (standard image mode). At the 10% patch, this drops to a still-strong 962 nits.

Despite the high image levels, this set still reveals shadow detail that is close to true black. Gradations are smooth and overall tones are cinematic.

One of the things I love about the S95B is the intelligent AI optimized AV mode. It eliminates the need to select the image menu, at least in most cases.

AI optimization autopilots both sound and vision, analyzing content along with your viewing environment and adjusting settings accordingly. Seamless and efficient.

Disabling intelligent mode will make the traditional image presets available. These consist of Dynamic, Standard, Movie, and Filmmaker modes.

As expected, the dynamic settings for this screen are too saturated. The skin tone is nothing short of incredible.

Both Movie and Filmmaker modes tame the panel’s funnier excesses. Good news when dimming the lights for movie night, but when it comes to watching movies, I’ve never been completely satisfied with either. You may feel that there is a lot, but then you are in a world of constant tinkering.

If you don’t want AI to manage your settings, we recommend choosing Standard. This is generally the best balance of looks.

Of course, TV’s praiseworthy luminosity doesn’t work with all content. The game modes automatically triggered by the PS5 were a little too cartoony for my comfort, and playing Call of Duty: Warzone in low light made my eyeballs numb. On the plus side, the ubiquity of 4K 120HZ is welcomed, and HFR gameplay is remarkably smooth.

sound quality

• Dolby Atmos support
• OTS+ tracks sound across the screen
• Q Symphony Compatibility with Samsung Soundbars

Acoustically, the S95B presents a total power output of 40W thanks to its height, width and front array drivers.

The speaker configuration doesn’t offer 360-degree immersion, but it’s quite a trick given this Terry’s form factor.

Enabling Intelligent Mode gives you access to a range of acoustic features, including Active Voice Amplifier, Adaptive Sound, and Adaptive Volume. Voice Amplifier monitors the noise in your listening room to ensure your conversations are always clear. Adaptive Sound monitors and compensates for environmental noise.

If you want to stay within Samsung’s ecosystem and improve your audio performance, you have a few options. The S95B supports Samsung’s Q-Symphony system. All available drivers sing in harmony when paired with a compatible soundbar. For a full surround sound cinema effect, the S95B can be paired with Wi-Fi surround speakers, but this has not been tested.

latest deals