Review: Samsung S95D is an OLED TV that hardly reflects | Tweakers

This is a shortened version of a review that appeared on Tweakers.

The Samsung S95D is the first OLED television with a matte screen, which, according to the manufacturer, helps to minimize annoying reflections on the screen. Samsung also claims that the peak brightness is 20 percent higher than its predecessor from 2023: the S95C.

Although the latest QD OLED top model is otherwise very similar to last year’s version, the introductory price of the S95D is one hundred euros higher. The Samsung S95D is for sale in 55, 65 and 77 inches with starting prices from 2399 to 4149 euros, depending on the screen size. In this review we look at whether Samsung keeps its promises and whether the improvements can justify the hefty prices.

Just like its predecessor, the screen of the S95D is very thin with a thickness of 11 millimeters. This is due to the included One Connect Box. This contains all connections, as well as a large part of the chips and other technology. This also limits the tangle of cables behind the TV.

It’s not just the appearance of the television that leaves a beautiful impression. This also applies to the images that the device can display. Our measurements show that the image quality of this Samsung TV is very good with normal, standard dynamic range images. In HDR mode, for images that support high dynamic range technology, the quality is even excellent. In both cases, all colors are accurately reproduced and slight deviations are not visible to the human eye. There are several picture modes to choose from, but based on our measurements, Filmmaker mode delivers the most accurate display.

In the SDR display, the maximum brightness in the standard settings is almost the same as that of the S95C. If we increase the brightness to the maximum and also select the highest setting for the ‘Maximum brightness’ option, the maximum brightness becomes about 21 percent higher than with the predecessor. However, this does make the color reproduction less accurate.

With HDR images, the peak brightness is no less than 128 percent higher than with SDR images and more than 25 percent higher than the HDR brightness of the S95C. We tested this peak brightness by showing a 5 percent large white area on a pitch black background. If a larger part of the screen needs to be brightly illuminated, the image will be a lot less bright. Yet in both cases the S95D is the brightest OLED television we have measured so far.

The Samsung S95D is the first OLED television with a panel with a matte finish. This makes reflections from lamps or windows, for example, much less visible. To the extent that they are visible, they are much less disruptive to viewing. On ‘normal’ OLED televisions you can see a lamp shining on the screen very clearly in the reflection on the screen, but on the S95D it is at most a dull glow.

However, the matte screen also clearly has its weaknesses. Because the panel, as it were, spreads out incident light, the entire screen looks a lot brighter in a brightly lit room. In that case, black is not as pitch black as we are used to, but rather dark gray. In a strongly lit environment, the image therefore looks somewhat dull.

Like other Samsung TVs, the S95D uses the Tizen operating system for its smart TV functions. This makes it possible to download apps for all major international and Dutch streaming services. The platform works very smoothly and apps start smoothly.

The TV uses the same remote control as its predecessor. It is a compact stick with few buttons and no numbers at all. This makes operation a bit cumbersome, as you always have to select channel numbers and open the settings menu in an intermediate step, while this is normally done with one push of a button.

For gamers, the S95D offers many functions. There are various game modes in which the image is adjusted differently. The TV can use artificial intelligence to automatically choose the best mode based on the game you are playing. For games where it is important that your actions are seen on the screen as quickly as possible, such as shooters, limiting input lag can be a priority, while in racing games variable refresh rate can be enabled to display the fast images as smoothly as possible .

There are also four HDMI 2.1 connections that can refresh the image of game consoles up to 120 times per second. For PC games, a refresh rate of 144 hertz is even possible. It is a shame that Dolby Vision is not supported, because it allows more colors to be displayed in supported games.

QD OLED TVs are relatively inefficient compared to normal OLED and LCD televisions and the S95D is no exception. Samsung does manage to reduce energy consumption with each new model. We measured the average consumption, among other things, while playing a ten-minute test video in standard mode (SDR). At a brightness of 120 candelas per square meter, the Samsung consumes 97 watts. That is less than its predecessor, but LG’s C3 OLED television consumes, for example, 55 watts in the same test.

The slim design of the television, just like the S95C, has the disadvantage that the sound quality of the built-in speakers is mediocre. Although the midrange and high range are well taken care of, the bass reproduction is disappointing. Speech is clearly intelligible and music without bass sounds reasonable, but for an immersive viewing and listening experience we recommend a separate set of speakers or a soundbar.

The biggest advantages of the Samsung S95D compared to its predecessor are the higher peak brightness and the matte panel that excellently prevents reflections. The disadvantage of the latter is that images look duller in brightly lit rooms.

In other respects, the new top model is very similar to last year’s S95C. The same advantages are present, such as the handy One Connect Box, the beautiful, slim design and the excellent gaming functions. But a number of negatives of this TV are still present in the S95D, such as the mediocre built-in speakers and the lack of Dolby Vision support. The price is also on the high side.

Still, the S95D is a top-class TV. If you are looking for the best OLED television of the moment and price is not an issue, then this model is worth considering.

Want to know more about the Samsung S95D, such as specifications, user experiences and the stores with the best prices? Then view the overview in the Tweakers Pricewatch.