The Samsung S95B made a huge splash when it launched in 2022, being one of the first TVs to combine the exceptional contrast of OLED with the color and brightness of quantum dots. This cutting-edge QD-OLED technology delivers stunning picture quality that had AV enthusiasts rushing to open their wallets.
However, as more people have gotten their hands on the S95B, some concerning issues have come to light. While it‘s still an excellent TV overall, there are a few significant drawbacks you need to know about before taking the plunge on this pricey display.
As someone who closely follows the TV industry, I‘ve dug into user feedback, expert reviews, and official statements from Samsung to uncover the most prevalent problems plaguing the S95B. I‘ll break down the top five complaints, explain the underlying causes, and provide helpful tips to minimize the risk of encountering them yourself.
By the end, you‘ll have a comprehensive understanding of this TV‘s strengths and weaknesses so you can make an informed decision about whether it deserves a place in your living room. I‘ll also highlight some competing models that may be a better fit depending on your specific needs and budget. Let‘s dive in!
Complaint #1: The Specter of Burn-in Looms Large
Without a doubt, the number one concern with the S95B is its potential for permanent burn-in. As an OLED TV, it‘s inherently more susceptible to this dreaded issue than LED LCDs. Burn-in occurs when static elements, like a channel logo or game HUD, remain on screen for an extended period and get "stuck", leaving a ghost image behind even when watching other content.
Early adopters found the S95B to be worryingly prone to burn-in during normal use. Rtings.com, a highly respected outlet for TV reviews and testing, discovered that it only took a few hundred hours of watching CNNNFL, or gaming to start seeing permanent retention of logos and other graphics. To put that in perspective, most high-end TVs can go thousands of hours before burn-in becomes noticeable.
So what makes the S95B more vulnerable than other OLEDs? It seems to come down to the extra layer of quantum dots. While they allow for a wider color gamut and higher peak brightness compared to regular OLED material, those quantum dots are also more heat sensitive. The increased thermal energy from displaying bright static content accelerates the degradation process.
Samsung has acknowledged the issue and pushed out software updates aimed at mitigating burn-in risk. These include pixel refreshers, screen savers, and reducing peak brightness when static elements are detected. The latest firmware has improved things, but the risk is still higher than many people are comfortable with.
If you decide to go with the S95B, I strongly recommend taking precautions like using the built-in safety features, avoiding prolonged sessions with news channels/sports games, and varying your content. You may also want to purchase from a retailer that offers burn-in warranty coverage for added peace of mind. Best Buy, for instance, has burn-in protection plans available.
Complaint #2: Cloud Gaming Hampered by Low Resolution
Another frustrating discovery for some S95B owners was the limitations with cloud gaming performance. The TV has Samsung‘s Gaming Hub built-in, which provides easy access to popular services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce NOW. The inclusion of these cloud gaming apps was a major selling point, allowing you to enjoy AAA titles without needing a console or high-end PC.
Unfortunately, the reality didn‘t quite live up to the hype. Users quickly noticed that games were capped at a measly 720p resolution and 60 frames per second when streaming through the S95B‘s Gaming Hub. That‘s a far cry from the 4K 120fps gaming the TV is capable of with local hardware.
It‘s especially puzzling because the S95B has all the necessary specs for a top-tier cloud gaming experience. It packs HDMI 2.1 ports, ultra-low input lag, FreeSync Premium VRR support – the works. But when it comes to streaming games from the cloud, Samsung has dropped the ball.
To be fair, some of the blame lies with the cloud gaming platforms themselves. Xbox Cloud Gaming, for example, currently maxes out at 720p across all devices due to server-side limitations. But other services like GeForce NOW can reach up to 1440p 120fps on compatible hardware. It‘s not clear why Samsung has restricted the resolution at a system level.
The good news is that a fix may be on the horizon. Samsung has said it‘s working with partners to enable higher resolutions and frame rates for cloud gaming on the S95B and other 2022 models. But until that happens, you‘re stuck with a subpar experience that fails to showcase what this TV can really do.
If cloud gaming is a priority for you, I suggest connecting a PC or console to unlock the S95B‘s full potential. Alternatively, LG‘s 2022 and 2023 OLEDs offer GeForce NOW up to 1440p 120fps out of the box.
Complaint #3: Sluggish and Unintuitive Smart TV Platform
Aside from picture quality, the smart TV platform is one of the most important considerations when buying a new television. It‘s your gateway to streaming apps, settings, and other features, so you want something that‘s fast, intuitive, and reliable. Sadly, Samsung‘s Tizen OS on the S95B misses the mark.
A common refrain among S95B owners is that the user interface feels clunky and outdated compared to competitors like LG‘s webOS and Google TV. Navigating menus is a chore, with confusing layouts and buried options. Basic tasks like adjusting picture settings or searching for content take more steps than they should.
Performance is another sore spot. The TV has a high-end Neo Quantum Processor 4K under the hood, but you wouldn‘t know it from the sluggish response times. There‘s noticeable lag when opening apps, scrolling through lists, and even just waking the TV from standby mode. It‘s not unusable by any means, but feels like a step back from previous Samsung models.
To make matters worse, the S95B is plagued with stability issues and bugs. Many users have reported apps freezing or crashing, particularly when Dolby Vision or HDR10+ content is playing. Sometimes the TV will reboot itself in the middle of a show or require a hard reset to function properly again.
Samsung has been slow to address these software woes. While a few updates have trickled out, Tizen remains one of the least polished smart TV platforms on the market. It‘s especially disappointing given the premium price point of the S95B.
If you can live with the quirks, there are some redeeming qualities to Tizen. The app selection is solid, with all the major streaming services accounted for. And Samsung‘s multi-view feature, which lets you watch content in a small window while using other apps, can come in handy for multitasking.
But if you prioritize a slick, snappy smart TV experience, you may want to consider other options. LG‘s webOS and Sony‘s Google TV are two of the best platforms right now, with intuitive designs and robust app support. They also tend to receive more frequent updates to squash bugs and introduce new features.
Complaint #4: Bloatware Hogs Precious Storage
The S95B offers a generous 64GB of internal storage for apps and media files. At least, that‘s what the spec sheet claims. In reality, you only have access to a fraction of that space due to the massive amount of pre-installed bloatware.
From the moment you boot up the TV for the first time, you‘re bombarded with apps and services you likely have no interest in using. Samsung packs in everything from its own free streaming channels to third-party software like Facebook Watch and BBC News. There are even stub apps that prompt you to install other apps when launched.
All this bloatware quickly eats into the available storage, leaving little room for the apps and games you actually want. Some users have reported running out of space with just a handful of their favorite streaming services installed. It‘s a frustrating situation that feels like a bait and switch.
Making matters worse, most of the pre-loaded apps cannot be fully uninstalled. At best, you can delete their data and disable auto-updates, but the app icons will still clutter your home screen. Samsung does not provide an official way to root the TV and remove unwanted software.
The one silver lining is that the S95B supports USB storage expansion. You can plug in an external hard drive or flash drive and move some apps there to free up the internal memory. But that‘s more of a band-aid solution than a proper fix.
It‘s worth noting that bloatware is a common complaint with smart TVs from all brands, not just Samsung. However, the S95B‘s limited storage makes it a more pressing concern than on some competing models. The LG C2, for instance, has a smaller 40GB SSD but also a lighter OS image. Sony‘s A95K has a cavernous 128GB SSD, so bloatware is less of an issue.
Ultimately, the S95B‘s bloated software is a frustrating drawback that you‘ll have to work around. Be prepared to do some app management and potentially invest in external storage to keep things running smoothly.
Complaint #5: Display Defects Mar the Visual Experience
Last but certainly not least, some S95B owners have run into a manufacturing defect that can severely impact picture quality. There have been numerous reports of bright red or green vertical lines appearing on the screen, typically along the edges or near the center.
These colored lines are not a normal part of the viewing experience and indicate a hardware fault. They‘re most noticeable when displaying light or white backgrounds, but can be seen in any content. Once the lines appear, they usually remain on screen permanently.
The exact cause of the defect is unknown, but it seems to be related to the delicate QD-OLED panel. The combination of quantum dots and OLED material is cutting-edge and may be more prone to manufacturing irregularities than traditional LED LCD screens. It‘s also possible that the QD-OLED panel is more sensitive to physical damage during shipping and handling.
To its credit, Samsung has been responsive to complaints about this issue. Affected customers have been able to get their S95B replaced or repaired under warranty. However, some have reported difficulty getting timely service or have had to go through multiple repair attempts before receiving a working unit.
The prevalence of the red/green line defect is hard to gauge, as unhappy customers are often more vocal than satisfied ones. But the fact that it‘s a known issue is concerning for a TV at this price tier. When you‘re spending $2500+ on a display, you shouldn‘t have to worry about playing the panel lottery.
For what it‘s worth, LG‘s 2022 G2 and C2 OLEDs also suffered from abnormal vertical banding to some degree. So the S95B is not alone in this regard. But it does seem to be more widespread and severe than other OLEDs based on user feedback.
If you decide to purchase the S95B, I recommend thoroughly inspecting the screen right away for any defects so you can exchange or return it within the retailer‘s window. You may also want to consider professional calibration, as some users have reported that tweaking the uniformity settings can make vertical lines less noticeable.
The Verdict: An Excellent TV With Some Notable Caveats
There‘s no question that the Samsung S95B is a groundbreaking TV with best-in-class picture quality. The QD-OLED panel achieves unprecedented color volume and brightness for an OLED, resulting in breathtaking HDR highlights and vibrant hues. It‘s also a fantastic choice for gaming thanks to HDMI 2.1, FreeSync Premium, and low input lag.
However, the S95B is not without its flaws. The risk of permanent burn-in is higher than many people are comfortable with, especially at this price point. The sluggish smart TV platform and glut of pre-installed bloatware are also frustrating to deal with. And then there‘s the potential for display defects like red/green vertical lines.
Ultimately, whether the S95B is right for you depends on your priorities and tolerance for these drawbacks. If you‘re willing to baby the screen a bit and work around the software quirks, the image quality is truly top-notch. But if you want a hassle-free experience with low maintenance, you may be better off with a traditional LED LCD or waiting for QD-OLED technology to mature.
If you‘re not sold on the S95B, there are some great alternatives to consider. The Samsung S95C is the 2023 successor that iterates on the QD-OLED formula with brighter highlights and a more robust anti-burn-in system. It also features a 144Hz refresh rate for even smoother gaming.
LG‘s C3 OLED is another strong contender, with a well-rounded feature set that includes four HDMI 2.1 ports, FreeSync and G-SYNC compatibility, and a fast and intuitive webOS platform. It lacks the color volume and brightness of QD-OLED, but still delivers a stunning picture with perfect black levels.
If money is no object, Sony‘s A95L is shaping up to be a worthy rival to the S95C. It packs all the gaming features you could want, plus Sony‘s excellent image processing and acoustic surface audio technology. But it also costs significantly more than the competition.
Whichever TV you choose, do your research and buy from a retailer with a good return policy in case you run into any issues. OLED and QD-OLED are incredible display technologies, but they‘re not perfect. As long as you go in with realistic expectations, you‘ll be rewarded with a jaw-dropping viewing experience.
