Samsung S95F vs S90F vs S85F Review

At CES 2022, the Sony A95K 4K with hybrid QD-OLED panel from Samsung Display opened a new direction for the development of TVs. Today, Samsung and Sony dominate this segment. The Japanese company’s lineup has expanded due to the Sony A95L (2023). The South Korean giant has already created several series, including Samsung S95B (2022), Samsung S95C (2023), Samsung S90D (2024), and the new Samsung S95F/90F/85F.

The success of the new technology is due to the improvement of the price-quality ratio. In fact, Samsung has created a slightly cheaper TV with a hybrid QD-OLED panel, the image quality of which is almost identical to the QN Neo series. As known, it uses quantum dot (QD) technology, which provides accurate bright colors, and mini LED backlight, which increases the contrast by increasing the efficiency of local dimming technology. The price difference between them varies within a few hundred dollars, which is ~ 10%. At the same time, the prospects for improving hybrid panels look much more attractive compared to traditional LED and OLED technologies.

In fact, the display panels and, accordingly, their peak brightness are the main difference between the new Samsung S95F, S90F and S85F series. Other differences between the flagship S95F and the following S90F & S85F series are typical. All TVs have 4K resolution, 4x HDMI 2.1 ports, including HDMI eARC for connecting to an external soundbar, run Tizen 9.0 OS, support HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ / HDR10+ Adaptive instead of Dolby Vision, Filmmaker Mode,
HgiG, AirPlay 2 and voice assistants, including Bixby, Copilot and Alexa.

For reference, the HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGIG) optimizes visual effects settings in games on compatible consoles.

Unfortunately, there is no 3D, Chromecast and HomeKit.

Difference list

All models support Dolby Audio, including Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital / Digital Plus and Dolby AC-4. For reference, Dolby Digital Plus or Enhanced AC-3 and AC-4 are a digital audio compression schemes. This list does not contain multi-channel Dolby TrueHD audio codec, which is mainly used in Blu-ray Disc. The new series also do not support DTS Audio.

S95F and S90F use the new NQ4 AI Gen3 video processor, S85F is equipped with NQ4 AI Gen2. New NQ4 uses 128 neural networks vs 20 in last year’s S95D.

The flagship has Infinity One ‘floating screen’ design, OLED Glare Free 2.0 tech and comes with One Connect box.

Other series have a glossy screen. As the name suggests, Glare Free 2.0 is an improved version of Glare Free, which was first implemented in last year’s Samsung S95D.

It increases detail in bright lighting while eliminating screen glare. Unfortunately, the first Glare Free version also increased the image light levels, lowering the black depth, and therefore the contrast. According to the company, the new version has significantly reduced this negative side effect.

In addition, the S95F series uses new AI Gamma feature, which automatically adapts picture gamma in bright lighting conditions. In fact, it highlights shadow detail, which deteriorates when exposed to light.

For gamers, S95F series offers 165Hz display support and FreeSync Premium Pro. Refresh rate of S90F and S85F is 144Hz and 100/120Hz, respectively. Of course, all support VRR, FreeSync and G-Sync.

The flagship has a built-in 4.2.2ch 70W speaker system with OTS+ and up-firing speakers. S90F also uses Object Tracking Sound, a version of which is not yet known. The S85F gets Object Tracking Sound Lite with 2.0ch 20W built-in audio system.

Display panel

So the display type used is the main difference between the series. With the exception of the 83-inches model, all S95F TVs use the new 4th gen QD-OLED hybrid panel from Samsung Display. The S85F is equipped with LG Display’s WOLED panels.

In the S90F series, the company will mix QD-OLED or WOLED panels depending on the screen size and possibly the region. Unfortunately, more detailed information is not yet available. To be fair, a similar situation has already arisen in its popular Samsung QN90 range, which uses medium-contrast VA LCD panels or low-contrast IPS LCD panels, without indicating the panel type in specs.

Some advanced consumers even coined the term ‘panel lottery’, where the display panel type can only be determined after purchase.

In fact, peak brightness is the main and only difference between them. The company claims up to 4,000 / 1,500 / 1,300 nits for S95F / S90F / S80F, respectively. In addition, according to Samsung Display, the QD-OLED panel 4th gen provides ~440 nits of full-screen brightness.

In fairness, even 1,300 nits of peak brightness is clearly excessive for playing SDR content, which is used in all cable and satellite TV today. Of course, high brightness is useful for playing, for example, HDR content. But it’s really only available in expensive Netxlix subscriptions or on Blu-ray discs. In addition, brightness compensates for ambient lighting. Perhaps this is important for daytime viewing, for example, in a living room with a huge window in sunny California. Of course, it improves the image quality of some scenes in HDR mode, such as the starry sky or a night metropolis (small and bright objects on a dark background). But its value is slightly exaggerated. Nevertheless, general information about these technologies can be useful.

QD-OLED vs WOLED

Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology was primarily developed to improve contrast. It uses self-emitting ‘organic’ carbon-based LEDs, which are essentially analogs of pixels and do not require additional backlight. As known, the light flow in LCD LED TVs from backlight partially passes through an RGB filter, reducing the black depth and, accordingly, the contrast. Therefore, manufacturers of OLED models proudly indicate ‘conrast – inf’ in their specs. Indeed, any brightness when trying to divide it by ‘0’ gives infinity. But to be honest, this thesis contains a bit of marketing.

Unfortunately, the brightness of an OLED panel is limited by the burnout of blue diodes, which is one of its main problems. Of course, manufacturers effectively and successfully solve it. For example, OLED Evo panels increased peak brightness to 1,000 nits by replacing hydrogen with deuterium and using additional stacks. Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology increases brightness by a layer of tiny convex microlenses between the glass and the OLED panel.

White Organic Light-Emitting Diode (WOLED) panel with an additional 4th white pixel also has become one of the successful ways to increase brightness.

Hybrid QD-OLED panels use a layer of blue organic LEDs and a layer of quantum dots, combining the advantages of QD technology and OLED panels.

In particular, they provide peak brightness of up to 1,500 nits with superb contrast.

QD-OLED pros:

– color accuracy and saturation with their narrow emission spectrum;

– higher brightness and luminous efficiency;

– better stability against degradation.

WOLED pros:

– cheaper to produce due to a simpler structure.

But honestly, even in a side-by-side comparison the difference is very small.

Even a slight reduction in price for models with a WOLED panel will be sufficient compensation.

Conclusion

The updated Samsung OLED 2025 series confidently continues the success of the S series with a hybrid QD-OLED panel. Many models of the new line deservedly claim a place in the top lists. But of course, their marketing prospects will depend on the price, which ultimately determines the price-quality ratio.

The flagship S95F promises QD-OLED panels in all TVs except the 83-inches model. The S90F series will include several sizes with a less bright WOLED display. All TVs of the budget-friendly S85F line use WOLED panels. Other differences are insignificant. However, according to the company, even the S85F provides a peak brightness of up to 1,300 nits, which is clearly excessive for SDR content.

But, of course, competitors are unlikely to allow the new series to prosper quietly. In particular, TCL QM6K with quantum dot technology, mini LED backlighting and a huge number of innovations has already become a sensation. Its price ranges from $ 800 for a 55-inches model to $ 3,500 for a huge 98-inches TV. The updated LG OLED lineup, including the wireless M5, the flagship G5 and the traditionally ultra-popular C5 are also impressive. Finally, Hisense has yet to show off a new version of last year’s U8N with QD and mini LED. Ironically, the S series is also doomed to compete with the superb Samsung Neo series, which also uses QD and mini LED.

The video announces promising concepts of display technology from Samsung at ISE 2025 (Integrated Systems Europe).