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Samsung’s 2023 S95C OLED stays one of many greatest 4K TVs you should purchase. With a QD-OLED panel that delivers an infinite distinction ratio, quantum dots that present wealthy colours, a super-thin design, and a refresh fee of as much as 144Hz, the TV checks almost each field it is best to search for in a premium show, particularly if you need a prime OLED for gaming.
In comparison with Samsung’s cheaper S90C, the S95C gives a number of design perks and a 30% improve in brightness, which ought to enchantment to huge videophiles. Nevertheless, there’s additionally a brand-new 2024 version of this TV, known as the S95D, to contemplate. The 2024 mannequin is costlier, nevertheless it’s even brighter and has a brand new anti-glare display screen.
The S95C will get tougher to search out in inventory because the 12 months progresses and retailers begin to part out stock in favor of the newer S95D. However whereas it stays out there, the S95C is a stable in-between possibility for fans prepared to pay for one thing a bit extra superior than the S90 sequence however who do not need to shell out prime greenback for the brand new flagship S95D.
Samsung 65-inch S95C 4K OLED TV
The S95C is one among Samsung’s prime OLED TVs. It has a sleeker design and a brighter image than step-down fashions, however it could actually’t fairly attain the height brightness of Samsung’s newer S95D.
One of many brightest OLED TVs you should purchase
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The S95C delivers high-end image efficiency, with specs that maintain their very own in opposition to many prime rivals, just like the LG G sequence and the Sony A95L. The QD-OLED panel offers pixel-level distinction and the TV’s use of quantum dots helps it obtain top-of-the-line shade vary and quantity.
Although total picture efficiency is similar to the inexpensive S90C, the S95C does supply an enchancment in a single notable space: brightness. The S90C can attain round 1,050 nits in its Filmmaker image mode (probably the most correct out-of-box setting), however the S95C peaks at round 1,360 nits. That is a couple of 30% improve, which is spectacular however not fairly as excessive because the 1,700 nits that the costlier 2024 S95D can hit. Colours additionally preserve brightness nicely, with excessive shade quantity that surpasses the efficiency of OLED panels that do not use quantum dots (like LG’s).
This implies the TV can do a wonderful job of hitting the meant distinction ranges of most high-dynamic-range (HDR) content material, with highlights that basically pop from the display screen. It additionally delivers good efficiency in rooms that allow in additional exterior mild so you’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from wonderful picture high quality throughout the day. Nevertheless, whereas the S95C’s display screen does a good job of lowering reflections, its shiny coating cannot fight glare in addition to the matte coating used on Samsung’s new S95D. That mentioned, the S95C does preserve black ranges higher with the lights on.
When watching motion pictures and exhibits, the S95C’s spectacular specs ship attractive image efficiency. The opening scene of “The Matrix” on 4K Blu-ray comes by means of with inky black ranges and stable shadow element. The cops’ flashlights supply punchy specular highlights that basically exhibit the advantages of the OLED panel’s exact distinction.
“Aquaman” can also be a stunner on the S95C. The film’s vibrant shade palette appears to be like wealthy with out changing into oversaturated, and the movie’s climactic underwater battle is shiny and full of intricate element. The show’s quantum dots and elevated shade quantity assist it ship an depth in smaller highlights that dimmer OLED fashions merely cannot obtain.
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Gradients are clean, with solely a faint trace of vertical banding in grey check patterns. The TV handles our banding check scene in “Ex Machina” nicely, too, with background colours that stay clean in sequences that characteristic harsh pink mild. And like all OLED TVs, viewing angles are very good.
Concerning gaming, the S95C is a powerhouse with all of the bells and whistles patrons ought to search for, together with variable refresh fee (FreeSync and G-Sync suitable), auto low latency mode, and 4K/120Hz help for PS5 and Xbox Sequence X. The S95C additionally helps a better 4K/144Hz refresh fee when related to a suitable PC. Related 2023 LG and Sony OLEDs do not have this characteristic, so the S95C has a slight edge as a prime gaming OLED.
On the draw back, Samsung nonetheless would not help Dolby Imaginative and prescient, which is a complicated HDR format that tells a TV how one can render colours and brightness on a scene-by-scene foundation. Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material will as an alternative play in customary HDR10, which is not fairly as exact, however the S95C’s HDR10 efficiency is so robust that most individuals will not discover a distinction exterior a side-by-side comparability with a high-end Dolby Imaginative and prescient TV.
HDR10+ can also be supported, which delivers lots of the similar advantages as Dolby Imaginative and prescient, however that format is not used on almost as many 4K Blu-ray discs or streaming titles. Take a look at our information to HDR to study extra in regards to the professionals and cons of various excessive dynamic vary codecs.
Like all OLED TVs, there may be technically some danger of burn-in on the S95C. Burn-in can happen when you go away a static picture on the display screen for hours on finish, inflicting a faint shadow picture to get caught on the display screen. Although OLED house owners needs to be aware of this, it is not going to have an effect on customers with common viewing habits.
A uniformly skinny design, nevertheless it makes use of an exterior field for inputs
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As a premium TV, the S95C actually appears to be like the half. The show has a sublime construct with an almost bezel-less body. And in contrast to the cheaper S90C, this mannequin maintains a skinny profile of 0.4 inches all the best way round.
To attain this glossy design, the TV homes all its ports and processing parts in a separate “One Join Field.” The field plugs into the show, and you then plug all of your video gadgets into the field.
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On the one hand, this design provides the S95C’s panel a strikingly slender construct, nevertheless it does imply that you must cope with an additional element. Fortunately, the field can connect proper to the again of the TV’s included pedestal stand, which makes it straightforward to cover out of view. It will probably additionally connect to the again of the TV when you wall mount it.
A stable good TV expertise
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Samsung’s Tizen OS works nicely with quick access to the entire greatest streaming companies, and the TV helps Bixby and Alexa built-in. Google Assistant can also be supported however requires a separate machine.
There’s additionally a devoted Gaming Hub part, the place you may discover help for cloud companies like Xbox Recreation Cross. This implies Recreation Cross Final subscribers can stream Xbox video games instantly on the TV with out a console. As famous in my S95B 4K TV evaluation, this characteristic is a cool perk you will not at the moment discover on good TVs from different manufacturers, however efficiency depends closely in your web connection. Because it stands, enjoying on an precise console nonetheless delivers a significantly better expertise.
Samsung’s compact distant will get the job accomplished, and its SolarCell design means you by no means have to fret about batteries. As an alternative, the distant can frequently recharge itself by means of the lights in your room. All you must do is flip it over. USB-C charging can also be supported.
On the draw back, I nonetheless hate that Samsung reduce a devoted settings button from the distant. Because it stands, you must navigate by means of the information display screen first to get to image changes.
How does the 2023 S95C examine to the 2024 S95D?
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When it was launched in 2023, the S95C was Samsung’s flagship OLED TV. Nevertheless, now that new 2024 fashions have hit shops, the S95C has been usurped by Samsung’s brand-new S95D, which is costlier however gives a number of efficiency upgrades. Like different 2023 TVs, the S95C will stay in the stores whereas provides final, however inventory will get tougher to search out because the 12 months goes on.
The S95D and S95C have comparable designs, however the S95D can get brighter and makes use of a brand new glare-free display screen coating. Throughout our assessments, the S95D delivered a peak brightness of round 1,700 nits versus the S95C’s 1,360 nits. That is a powerful improve and the very best measurement we have ever recorded on an OLED, nevertheless it needs to be famous that the S95D can solely hit that quantity briefly bursts. Likewise, solely sure HDR movies will profit from such excessive brightness capabilities, so the S95C’s efficiency stays ample for many motion pictures and TV exhibits you may watch.
The S95D’s new glare-free coating is likely to be an much more notable, albeit divisive, change from the S95C. This matte filter considerably reduces glare and reflections versus the S95C and another OLED we have seen. This makes the S95D uniquely fitted to shiny rooms the place glare is a matter. Nevertheless, the matte display screen does give black ranges an elevated and flat look when displaying dim scenes with the lights on.
We’re a bit torn in regards to the professionals and cons of the filter, so the S95C stays a superb various for patrons who favor preserving black-level efficiency over slicing down glare. However you probably have issues with reflections in your room otherwise you need absolutely the brightest HDR efficiency you may get on an OLED, we predict the S95D is value the additional cash.
With that in thoughts, the S95D has changed the S95C as our prime premium OLED advice in our information to the greatest Samsung TVs. However the S95C stays a worthwhile buy when you do not just like the S95D’s glare-free coating otherwise you need to snag a high-end Samsung OLED for much less cash.
Do you have to purchase the Samsung S95C?
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The Samsung S95C is a superb high-end show, and it is nonetheless one of many greatest OLED TVs you should purchase, particularly if you need a premium gaming set. Nevertheless, we predict Samsung’s cheaper S90C 4K TV gives a greater total worth for many viewers. And the costlier 2024 S95D has some efficiency perks that is likely to be value the additional cash for large dwelling theater fans or individuals who want a TV that reduces glare.
Then again, some patrons could choose the S95C’s shiny display screen over the S95D’s matte coating, and the S95D’s increased peak brightness will solely profit some HDR titles. Because it stands, the S95C offers a stable center floor between Samsung’s costliest and most reasonably priced OLEDs with efficiency that ought to enchantment to videophiles who need a high-end QD-OLED that prices underneath $3,000.
