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The S95D is without doubt one of the finest Samsung TVs you should purchase and one of the spectacular high-end shows from any model this yr. It is Samsung’s newest flagship OLED, bettering upon final yr’s already wonderful S95C. Most notably, it delivers the best peak brightness I’ve ever recorded on an OLED show.Â
It additionally provides top-notch colour efficiency and incorporates a brand new anti-glare filter that cuts down reflections higher than any show of this kind. The matte display screen does harm black-level efficiency in shiny rooms, however the S95D is the one OLED I’ve seen that may deal with glare this nicely.
Opponents on this class, just like the LG G4 and Sony A95L, carry out a bit higher in sure areas (and worse in others), however there isn’t any doubt the Samsung S95D is a prime contender within the premium TV market.
Samsung 65-inch S95D 4K OLED TV
This distinctive high-end TV is the brightest OLED we’ve ever examined. It includes a new matte display screen that almost eliminates reflections, making it a super choose for shiny rooms. Nevertheless, the matte design does give black ranges a considerably pale look in direct gentle.
A brand new benchmark for OLED TV brightness
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The Samsung S95D is an image efficiency champ with all of the bells and whistles that patrons ought to anticipate from a TV on this value vary. Because of its QD-OLED panel (OLED with quantum dots), the show provides pixel-level distinction and a variety of vibrant colours, which ends up in distinctive high-dynamic-range (HDR) photographs. And on prime of that, the S95D is the brightest OLED I’ve ever measured.
I put the TV in Filmmaker mode for testing functions, which provides essentially the most correct image settings. Utilizing an X-Ceremony colorimeter, I measured a peak brightness of round 1,700 nits on a ten% HDR check sample (a white field that takes up 10% of the display screen). That is about 350 nits greater than final yr’s model of this TV, the Samsung S95C, and about 200 nits greater than the S95D’s prime rivals, together with the LG G4.Â
Nevertheless, the S95D can solely hit 1,700 nits in brief bursts earlier than dimming considerably. On the ten% check sample, the TV steadily fell to round 750 nits and dropped extra over time. I’ve seen this type of habits on just a few different OLED TVs, but it surely’s extra excessive on this mannequin than on rivals. However whereas that may sound like a significant downside, it really is not that large of a deal. It is uncommon for HDR movies to name for sustained brightness that top. Most highlights that really have to get very shiny (like a gunshot or an explosion in a film) solely flash on the display screen rapidly, and the S95D can deal with these situations nicely.
Because it stands, the S95D’s brightness capabilities assist the TV produce a vibrant picture and offer you loads of headroom to pump up luminance and regulate settings to go well with areas that allow in a number of gentle. It additionally helps the TV show high-brightness HDR movies nearer to how filmmakers meant them to look. And the outcomes are incredible.
The S95D delivers spectacular picture high quality when watching precise motion pictures and TV exhibits. Throughout my testing session, I sampled varied movie sequences I exploit throughout all of the TVs I consider, together with scenes from 4K Blu-ray discs like “The Matrix,” “Aquaman,” “Ex Machina,” “Blade Runner,” “Recreation of Thrones,” and “La La Land,” in addition to HDR streaming demos from YouTube.
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With high-quality 4K materials, the TV merely stuns. High-quality particulars are sharp, distinction is excessive, and saturation is wealthy with daring hues that pop from the display screen when known as for. That stated, whereas most demo materials got here by with the type of shiny saturation I anticipate from a QD-OLED with such excessive colour quantity, the climactic battle in “Aquaman” seemed a bit extra subdued than I used to be anticipating. I’ve a hunch one thing wonky was happening with the settings, so I will revisit that sequence after I conduct prolonged testing and replace this part with extra findings.Â
The opening scene from “The Matrix” is a superb showcase for the S95D’s distinction efficiency in a darkish room. Vibrant specular highlights, like a police officer’s flashlight, pop off the display screen whereas black ranges stay deep. And since every pixel on the TV’s OLED panel can dim and brighten independently, the S95D is totally free from the type of backlight blooming points you’d see on competing QLED TVs. With the lights on, nonetheless, this scene reveals a number of the drawbacks related to the S95D’s matte-screen end (extra on that within the subsequent part).
The S95D handles gradients easily with minimal situations of banding. Our go-to real-world check scene from “Ex Machina” solely revealed tiny hints of banding within the excessive purple shades round one character’s shoulder, which is about equal to what I’ve seen on different high-end units.  Â
I additionally sampled just a few common HD movies in commonplace dynamic vary and a few lower-quality streams from Samsung’s free stay TV service, Samsung TV Plus, and the S95D dealt with them nicely. That stated, upscaling is not fairly nearly as good as you will see on Sony’s flagship TVs, so you will get a barely softer picture with extra source-related flaws seen. Â
Be aware: The S95D is offered in 55-, 65-, and 77-inch display screen sizes, they usually all provide the identical show specs. Samsung says all S95D fashions being shipped to retailers within the US proper now use QD-OLED panels. Nevertheless, there may be hypothesis that the model may promote variations of its 2024 OLED TVs with WRGB panels as an alternative. WRGB OLED panels do not incorporate quantum dots, so any S95D TV with that panel kind would provide lowered colour and brightness capabilities. Once more, this should not be a priority for anybody looking for an S95D now, however I will replace this overview if WRGB variants find yourself being launched within the US.Â
The matte display screen practically eliminates reflections, however black ranges undergo
Steven Cohen/Enterprise Insider
One of many S95D’s most hanging options is its new glare-free display screen filter. Nearly each different TV bought proper now (together with final yr’s S95C) makes use of a shiny end that causes a reflective high quality once you watch TV in a shiny room. However, the S95D has a matte end that considerably reduces glare and reflections. In reality, it nearly eliminates them completely.Â
Significantly, this is without doubt one of the finest screens I’ve seen for dealing with glare. The one different notable TV with the same matte coating is Samsung’s personal Body, however that mannequin cannot match the S95D’s total picture high quality. And once you add within the TV’s excessive brightness capabilities, the S95D cements itself as an excellent possibility for rooms that allow in a number of gentle. Nevertheless, the TV’s glare-free display screen does have a unfavorable impact on black-level efficiency.
As an alternative of getting the deep, inky high quality that OLED black ranges are recognized for, blacks look a bit elevated, hazy, and grey when watching TV with the lights on. This was very evident when viewing darkish scenes, just like the opening sequence of “The Matrix,” in a shiny room.Â
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I am a bit torn about this facet impact, and whereas I do know that many patrons will love the perks of the S95D’s matte display screen, I lean towards preferring a glossier look that preserves black ranges. I studied filmmaking and am an enormous film buff, so image accuracy is without doubt one of the most necessary elements of a TV to me. Deep black ranges are an enormous a part of preserving the meant look of a film, so the matte display screen’s unfavorable affect on distinction is disappointing. That stated, there isn’t any denying how nicely the filter works at lowering reflections, so when you’ve got an enormous problem with glare in your room, the professionals right here will outweigh the cons.Â
Outdoors the matte display screen, the S95D’s design appears quite a bit just like the 2023 S95C, and that is not a nasty factor. This 2024 mannequin carries over its predecessor’s uniformly skinny profile and has the same pedestal stand, in addition to a One Join field, which homes the entire TV’s video and audio ports as an alternative of getting them constructed into the panel. Construct high quality can also be sturdy and a transparent step up from cheaper designs used on units from extra budget-friendly manufacturers.Â
The sensible TV interface is strong, and you may stream Xbox video games with a subscription
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Samsung’s sensible TV interface, which runs on the Tizen working system, has acquired just a few minor design tweaks for a barely extra streamlined look, however by and huge, it provides the same expertise in comparison with final yr’s providing.Â
Navigation by menus was snappy throughout my preliminary time with the TV and appeared a bit extra constant than final yr’s mannequin. Some apps can nonetheless take a bit longer to load than they do on devoted streaming units I’ve examined, however I like how there’s now a loading bar that seems when opening apps.Â
As with final yr’s mannequin, the interface includes a devoted Gaming Hub part, and Samsung continues to be the one TV model to supply built-in assist for the Xbox app. This implies you may stream Xbox video games on to the TV with out a console, as long as you might have an Xbox Recreation Go Final membership and a Bluetooth controller.Â
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Xbox streaming efficiency depends closely in your web connection and is restricted to HD decision in commonplace dynamic vary with two-channel sound, however the function will get the job carried out. It isn’t how I might advocate enjoying top-tier releases, but it surely’s strong for extra informal titles.
In the meantime, when enjoying video video games by way of a linked console or PC, the S95D has all of the premium options it is best to search for, together with a variable refresh charge and assist for as much as 4K/144Hz to allow easy gameplay. Â
Must you purchase it?
Steven Cohen/Enterprise Insider
Primarily based on my preliminary testing, the Samsung S95D is a superb possibility for anybody who desires a high-end OLED TV. It delivers incredible picture high quality with the best peak brightness I’ve seen on a show of this kind, and its matte-screen filter is a sport changer for patrons who wrestle with glare and reflections of their residing rooms.Â
Nevertheless, that glare-free display screen does harm black-level efficiency with the lights on, so there is a particular tradeoff. In case your room does not have points with reflections, I like to recommend contemplating final yr’s S95C as an alternative. It is cheaper and makes use of a shiny coating. And although the S95C’s peak brightness is about 30% dimmer than the S95D’s, it nonetheless will get shiny sufficient for many wants.Â
On this class, you also needs to take into account the LG G4 and Sony A95L as options. They each use shiny screens and have another professionals and cons in comparison with the S95D. Neither can get fairly as shiny as Samsung’s flagship, however the G4 can maintain excessive brightness ranges for an extended time frame, and the A95L advantages from Sony’s superior image processing to offer a barely extra correct picture. They usually each assist Dolby Imaginative and prescient, whereas the S95D doesn’t. Try our information to HDR and Dolby Imaginative and prescient for particulars on why that function may very well be a worthwhile perk.Â
In the end, patrons searching for a premium viewing expertise cannot go flawed with any high-end OLED TV. However, the S95D’s matte display screen and exceptionally excessive brightness do give it an edge for viewers who need an OLED that is uniquely suited to combating glare and reflections in rooms that allow in a number of gentle.
