Verdict
One of many brightest OLED TVs available on the market, however the Samsung’s image efficiency will not be as nuanced or expressive as its Dolby Imaginative and prescient appropriate rivals. Add in a middling sound system and there are higher alternate options if AV efficiency is the main focus.
Professionals
- Excessive peak brightness for HDR content material
- Loads of stay, free, and on-demand leisure choices
- Wonderful enter lag for gaming
- Assured upscaler
Cons
- Middling sound system
- Not essentially the most nuanced or expressive image
- Black crush evident
Availability
- UKRRP: £2699
- USARRP: $2499
- EuropeRRP: €2898.99
- CanadaRRP: CA$3099
- AustraliaRRP: AU$3999
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Infinity One DesignSlim design that’s ultimate for wall hanging -
Neural Quantum Processor 4KAI tech that powers image high quality -
AudioDolby Atmos compatibility
Introduction
Samsung returned to the OLED social gathering as a result of it believed the TV display tech hadn’t fulfilled its true potential.
One of many criticisms fielded in opposition to OLED has been its lack of brightness in comparison with LCD TVs, from not with the ability to provide the complete color gamut vary to solely performing their greatest in rooms that aren’t brightly lit.
That’s modified not too long ago, spurred partially due to Samsung’s new OLEDs, with the S95C OLED the newest fruit of its labours.
Trusted Evaluations has already reviewed the 65-inch mannequin, although I can’t say I share the identical degree of enthusiasm with the QE55S95C.
Design
- Slim, skinny design
- Vast viewing angles
- Attachable One Join field
Samsung’s want to make the thinnest TV show is clear with the S95C because it has a depth of simply 11mm.
I concern that’s had a adverse impression on the sound system, however extra on that later. The uniform flatness of the display, together with Samsung’s One Join Field, makes it ultimate for wall hanging. The One Join Field powers the show and feeds it video and audio alerts through a cable – two of that are provided briefly and lengthy variations.
With the stand hooked up, the One Join is affixed to its again. It’s a brand new meeting design for the stand that’s safer – much less liable to sliding off if the TV is ran into.
With a weight of 23.9kg with the stand, that’s heavier than the 65-inch LG C3. Take away the stand and it’s 13.8kg, which reveals how a lot weight the stand/field provides. It does, nevertheless, give steady assist to the display and is tall sufficient for a soundbar to fit beneath.
Viewing angles are glorious. OLED is inherently good at wider angles, however QD-OLED’s greater brightness (in comparison with ‘normal’ OLED screens) sees a lot better retention of brightness. There’s an Anti-Reflective coating on the display and, although it doesn’t rebuff all reflections, it offers with a great majority of them.
Just like the S90C, the S95C lacks a polarizer, so in shiny rooms the TV can flip a shade of gray. Flip off the lights and that is much less of a problem, however a part of QD-OLED’s enchantment is that it’s shiny sufficient to withstand the wash of ambient mild, nevertheless it appears the black ranges don’t at all times survive intact.
Tizen interface
- Sooner interface than 2022 version
- Wealth of leisure apps
- Voice management supported
Just like the S90C, the Tizen interface on the S95C is speedier than the 2022 version. There are nonetheless moments when it may get briefly ‘caught’, normally after I’ve exited an app. It additionally annoys that, on energy up, the interface returns to the supply final used, which frequently results in powering up a related gadget or opening an app I didn’t need it to.
The ‘Settings’ and ‘Linked Gadgets’ cabinets usually are not effectively highlighted inside the interface. Should you weren’t conscious of what the three horizontal traces on the left-hand aspect of the display did, which is to open this space of the interface, I doubt you’d assume twice about clicking on it.
The place Samsung’s Tizen interface has at all times been dependable is the wealth of apps it gives. All of the UK catch-up and on-demand apps are offered: there’s Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+, and YouTube as the large hitters on the video aspect; Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz, Apple Music, BBC Sounds on the audio aspect, in addition to over a thousand extra apps.
Samsung can be making a dent within the free-to-access streaming aspect with its TV Plus service. No sign-up is required (except you need to save and proceed watching content material throughout gadgets) and it gives stay and on-demand programming.
Search is thru the Common Information, with which you’ll browse content material throughout all apps, and there’s Bixby voice search.
And if voice management doesn’t float your boat, the S95C comes with two remotes. One is minimalist with just a few buttons – flip it over and it may cost itself by absorbing ambient mild or by being related to a USB-C port. The opposite is the extra normal distant with many extra buttons.
Options
- HDMI 2.1 throughout all inputs
- Class-leading enter lag
- Refresh charges as much as 144Hz
All 4 of the HDMI inputs are rated to HDMI 2.1 normal. That features auto low latency mode, eARC for related sound techniques, and as much as 4K/144Hz refresh charges for gaming.
The Gaming Hub consists of cloud gaming apps similar to Xbox Sport Cross, Amazon Luna, Utomik, and GeForce Now. PC players get AMD FreeSync Premium VRR, and Tremendous Extremely Vast Sport View display ratios of 21:9 and 32:9. HDR10+ Gaming is supported with appropriate shows, and Nvidia G-Sync works with the S95C, however the TV will not be licensed for it.
You’ll be able to get pleasure from class-leading enter lag for gaming as I measured latency at 9.2ms, making certain a quick efficiency for all video games, and with HDMI VRR and excessive refresh charges you possibly can get pleasure from even decrease latency on the S95C.
The remainder of the connectivity provides as much as two USB ports: Ethernet, digital optical out, CI Slot, and antennae for terrestrial and satellite tv for pc suppliers cowl your bodily ports, with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2 to solid to and stream from the TV.
Together with Bixby voice management there’s built-in Amazon Alexa, and SmartThings assist locations the TV inside a wise house setup. You probably have a SmartThings account, it’s simpler to set the TV up by the app than the distant management.
Image High quality
- Excessive peak brightness
- Some black crush
- Spectacular upscaling
I used to be blended general with the S90C’s image efficiency, a TV able to shiny HDR photos however was much less deft when fed darker HDR content material. Colors misplaced a few of the lustre and got here throughout as cool and flat in look, black ranges (in a shiny room) erred in the direction of gray and with some settings there was clipping (lack of element) within the brightest areas.
The Samsung QE55S95C nonetheless suffers from these issues in my view, however to a lesser extent. Black ranges really feel stronger, attaining extra of an inky depth in Marvel’s Secret Invasion. Colors aren’t as coolly described as Fury and Talos head over to a common’s home, though the S95C lacks the identical punchy colors and wealthy complexions the Sony A80L’s Dolby Imaginative and prescient efficiency can present.
I do nonetheless have qualms about how the TV handles darkish scenes whether or not in HDR or SDR. The ‘Gom Jabbar’ scene from Dune (Prime Video) on the S95C fully ignores the inexperienced hue of Paul’s garments and the setting, whereas complexions are chilly and missing in color, and black ranges can look crushed in some scenes and gray in others. It’s a peculiar efficiency, particularly because the TV was in its Film mode (the Sony was in Customized mode).
The S95C’s tendency to crush blacks is seen in a Blu-ray of The Superb Spider-Man 2. In a comparatively dimly lit scene between an in poor health Norman Osborn and his son Harry, the TV smothers element within the darkest components, the place the identical scene on the Sony A80L reveals far more darkish element.
Except for that, the Neural Quantum Processor 4K does a really succesful job in upscaling less-than 4K content material. The colors in The Superb Spider-Man 2 (in Filmmaker mode) are wealthy; the crimson and blue of Spidey’s superhero costume seems spot on.
Ranges of readability and element are good; black ranges are deep, distinction is effectively conveyed, and pores and skin tones have color to them and keep away from trying washed out. The Sony conveys a extra pure and nuanced image, however the S95C nonetheless seems good.
Dropping all the way down to a DVD of The Bourne Ultimatum and it seems a lot better than anticipated. The 55-inch display measurement probably helps by way of the pixel depend, and whereas there’s nonetheless noise to deal with within the movie’s quick zooms and jittery digital camera work, the Samsung S95C copes with all of it in a strong method.
Colors seem pure, and the S95C’s processor can dig up a good degree of element in folks’s faces, garments, and objects. Edge definition is one other space the place the TV is first rate in, avoiding fuzziness with the outlines of characters’ faces and our bodies. It’s nonetheless an apparent step down from HD decision, notably by way of readability, however watchable all the identical.
4K HDR content material is the Samsung S95C’s bread and butter, bringing out its greatest efficiency. I measured peak brightness on a ten% HDR window within the Customary image mode at 1172 nits (in Dynamic it’s over 1200 nits). That’s higher than the LG C3 (832 nits) and Sony A80L (724 nits), which places the S95C in good standing by way of its HDR efficiency and dealing with shiny rooms.
The S95C reproduces the richness of High Gun: Maverick’s pictures with its ‘Golden hour’ look effectively, because the scene in Penny’s bar is stuffed with wealthy, heat oranges that distinction with lovely-looking, deep blacks. The orange of the characters’ skintones seems nice (in addition to correct to the filmmaker’s intent), and there’s none of that crimson push earlier QD-OLEDs have proven.
The IMAX scenes exhibit pin-sharp readability and element, with glorious distinction in each day and night time scenes. High Gun: Maverick seems nice on this TV.
And so does Avatar: The Manner of Water in a 4K HDR10 Disney+ stream. Watching it concurrently with the Sony A80L reveals just a few variations; one is the common brightness degree on the Samsung is best, white tones are brighter; specular highlights and even subtitles of the Na’vi language are extra intense on the S95C. The orange lick to explosions burns with extra power – the Samsung faucets into the potential of HDR extra.
I do discover the blue/turquoise skintones of the completely different Na’vi clans strike a greater tone on the A80L. The Samsung S95C offers with complexions with a barely lighter, much less agency tone, and I choose the stronger, deeper tones on the A80L, which really feel extra like how the Na’vi ought to look.
There’s a barely wider vary of colors on the Samsung; it’s just a little brighter in some locations, just a little darker in others, however the variations are largely delicate than obviously apparent. Shadow element is once more higher on the Sony, with Dolby Imaginative and prescient giving the A80L a greater peek into the movie’s darker components.
Set the Distinction Enhancer setting to ‘Excessive’ and there’s extra punch to colors in addition to a substantial improve to brightness that stands out, however skintones can look too shiny – nearly bleached – and in pictures of the sky there may be clipping.
Like with the S90C, there’s a selection of Customary and Energetic HDR tone mapping. Customary is extra correct whereas Energetic will increase brightness. With the latter, content material seems too shiny however I can’t deny the visible pop it offers, and it’ll work greatest in brightly-lit room environments.
Physician Sleep will not be essentially the most visually alluring movie – a variety of its scenes are extra in regards to the subtlety and darkness – and the S95C offers a great exhibiting on this respect. The HDR10+ playback accentuates black ranges and provides just a few extra shades of inexperienced and blue within the movie’s night-time scenes.
Complexions do err in the direction of the cooler aspect of the spectrum and it’s an identical take watching Captain Marvel on Disney+. The Sony A80L gives a hotter, extra expressive look, although it may be argued the S95C pulls extra element from the actors’ faces.
If there’s one factor I might stress about Samsung’s 2023 OLEDs, it’s the dearth of punch and heat general to colors and folks’s complexions. There’s a flatness to some colors that doesn’t make the most of the QD-OLED’s strengths.
One final facet of the Samsung S95C’s image efficiency is its movement processing. Fortunately, it’s higher out of the field than the S90C, smoother and clearer with the Customized readability setting when watching 1917, although it suffers from a lower than steady picture with the Auto setting as judder, jerky motion, slowdown, and stutter grow to be very intrusive.
With The English (iPlayer) there’s noise across the legs of a horse because it gallops throughout display with the Customized setting. Should you intend to make use of movement processing, follow the Customized setting, and edit it the way you need, as artefacts are much less egregious.
Sound High quality
- Lacks power and dynamism
- Buzzing with bass frequencies
- Dolby Atmos assist
The S95C’s sound system, like its image high quality, is best than the S90C but it surely’s essentially the most disappointing facet in regards to the TV. Each Samsung’s 2023 OLEDs are a step again from the 2022 S95B.
In a straight combat between the Samsung S95C and Sony A80L, the Sony is definitely the victor. Whereas dialogue on the Samsung is clearly relayed, it’s not as audible neither is it projected from the display as strongly regardless that it has 70W of energy at its disposal in its 4.2.2 channel set-up.
On the identical quantity ranges, the S95C sounds reserved in comparison with the power and dynamism the Sony can summon. Background particulars and music rating on the Samsung are much less outstanding, and even in its Amplify mode there’s much less element to know on the S95C. Notably, it performs higher with non-Dolby audio tracks with extra punch and readability.
A minimum of with its OTS (Object Monitoring Sound) system there’s a greater sense of top than the S90C provided as biplanes fly over No Man’s Land in 1917, however in the case of bass it’s stricken with the identical issues because the entry-level OLED. Any time the audio system are careworn there’s gentle buzzing current.
I really feel it’s as a result of S95C’s slim chassis that doesn’t enable the audio system to shift a lot air to generate punch, energy, or heft. The Sony A80L and Panasonic MZ1500 are miles forward of the S95C, and the general impression I get is Samsung would like you add one among its personal soundbars to this TV. I might not disagree with that notion.
Newest offers
Must you purchase it?
If you would like an OLED that may stand as much as shiny rooms: A peak brightness of as much as 1200 nits makes the Samsung S95C a powerful selection for HDR and viewing in a brightly lit room.
Should you’re after the perfect AV efficiency: Higher than the S90C, however the S95C nonetheless suffers from the identical points however to a barely lesser extent. There are OLED TVs from LG, Sony, and Panasonic which can be extra expressive in each image and sound.
Remaining Ideas
To lump in a soccer associated metaphor, the Samsung QE55S95C is a younger participant with loads of potential that it hasn’t totally realised.
It’s higher than the entry-level S90C QD-OLED: improved colors, higher black ranges, and a excessive brightness efficiency makes it a great possibility for shiny rooms. Nevertheless, it’s arguably sacrificed its audio efficiency for aesthetics, with the sound so reserved that I might advocate budgeting for a soundbar to go together with this display.
The worth has dropped considerably since launch, however nonetheless its image efficiency is neither as nuanced nor as expressive as OLED TVs from LG, Sony, and Panasonic. The S95C can hit spectacular highs however the competitors is best.
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FAQs
There’s no Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR assist for the Samsung S95C. It helps HDR10+ dynamic metadata as an alternative.
