Hi there! With TVs getting smarter and more advanced each year, it can be tricky to decide which brand and display technology is right for you. You‘re probably wondering how Samsung‘s highly anticipated S95C QD-OLED TV compares to LG‘s latest OLED models. I‘ve tested both of these impressive TVs hands-on, and I‘m excited to share how they stack up.
Samsung‘s Quantum Dot OLED vs. LG‘s OLED evo – Which Wins?
LG and Samsung are leading the way with their pioneering large-screen OLED TVs. OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panels revolutionize picture quality by turning each pixel on or off individually. This gives OLED TVs stunning precision with perfect black levels and vivid colors.
But OLED technology continues evolving. Samsung‘s taken OLED a step further with Quantum Dot (QD) filters that boost brightness and color. LG has a new "OLED evo" panel with higher brightness and powerful image processing.
So how do these next-generation displays compare for real-world TV viewing? Which provides the ultimate experience for movies, sports and gaming at home? Let‘s dig into the details and find out!
Samsung QD-OLED: Brighter and More Vivid
Samsung‘s 4K QD-OLED TVs combine the precision backlight control of OLED with a Quantum Dot layer. This proprietary Samsung technology uses nano-sized dots that produce over a billion color variations with high luminosity.
The flagship Samsung S95C series implements QD-OLED in 65, 77, and 85-inch screen sizes. Compare the S95C to LG‘s LG OLED65C2PUA OLED TV with the latest "OLED evo" panel:
Specification | Samsung QN65S95C | LG OLED65C2PUA |
---|---|---|
Display Type | Quantum Dot OLED | OLED evo |
Resolution | 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) | 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) |
Peak Brightness | ~1,500 nits | ~800 nits |
Native Contrast | ∞:1 | ∞:1 |
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz |
HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG |
So what do these specs translate to in terms of real-world picture quality? Here‘s how Samsung QD-OLED compares to LG OLED:
Brighter images – With a peak brightness around 1,500 nits, QD-OLED can get significantly brighter than LG OLED‘s ~800 nits. This helps HDR pop more, and makes highlights seem more realistic.
Vivid, accurate colors – Samsung QD-OLED produces over a billion colors. Reds and greens look particularly lush and vivid. Color accuracy is excellent.
Perfect blacks – Like all OLED TVs, QD-OLED renders true black with no backlight bleed or bloom into dark areas. Night scenes look fantastic.
Wide viewing angles – One OLED downside is color/contrast shift from off-center seats. Samsung QD-OLED improves on this, maintaining its picture integrity even at wider angles.
LG OLED evo: Cinematic Picture Quality
Rather than adding a Quantum Dot layer, LG‘s focused on enhancing its OLED material science to boost brightness. The new OLED evo panel in its C2 and other 2022 OLED TVs pumps out higher peak brightness approaching ~800 nits.
Combined with LG‘s powerful α9 Gen5 AI Processor 4K, OLED evo delivers amazing contrast and realism. While not as bright as Samsung QD-OLED, colors remain extremely accurate with over a billion shades rendered.
Other LG OLED strengths:
Perfect blacks – Like Samsung, LG‘s self-emitting OLED pixels switch off completely for infinite contrast and inky blacks.
Dolby Vision HDR – LG OLED TVs support Dolby Vision in addition to standard HDR10 and HLG formats. Dolby Vision‘s scene-by-scene adjustments optimize HDR movies.
Off-axis viewing – LG‘s 2022 OLEDs have improved viewing angles, but still exhibit some color and contrast shifts compared to QD-OLED.
Which Looks Better in Your Home?
Based on lab measurements and viewing tests, Samsung QD-OLED objectively delivers better brightness, color and contrast. BUT in many real-world scenarios, LG‘s OLED evo displays look gorgeous too.
Dark room viewing is where OLED really shines. With perfect blacks and precision details, movies and games look incredible on either LG or Samsung‘s TVs. LG‘s OLEDs render extremely natural, cinematic images that many viewers prefer.
For brighter living rooms, QD-OLED‘s higher sustained brightness gives it an edge. The extra intensity makes HDR content really pop and look more dynamic. But LG OLED is no slouch here either.
Ultimately, you‘ll be wowed by either of these TVs. Each has its strengths – Samsung QD-OLED provides an amazing well-lit experience with vibrant colors, where LG OLED excels at natural, refined picture quality to lose yourself in movies with. You‘ll be amazed!
Game On: Which is the Better Gaming TV?
Gaming PC monitors have heavily influenced today‘s TVs. With ultra-fast response times and high 120Hz+ refresh rates, both Samsung and LG‘s TVs make excellent gaming displays. Their HDMI 2.1 support allows full 4K 120fps gameplay.
Here‘s how the gaming capabilities compare:
Gaming Features | Samsung QD-OLED | LG OLED evo |
---|---|---|
Refresh rate | Up to 144Hz | Up to 120Hz |
Response time | ~0.1 ms | ~0.1 ms |
Variable refresh | FreeSync Premium Pro (HDR) | Nvidia G-SYNC + AMD FreeSync |
Input lag | ~5 ms | ~13 ms |
Smoother motion on Samsung – The higher 144Hz refresh rate gives Samsung‘s QD-OLED an advantage displaying fast motion in games cleanly.
Quick response for both – Imperceptible 0.1 ms response times result in no noticeable blur during gameplay on either TV.
G-SYNC vs. FreeSync – LG supports Nvidia G-SYNC for GeForce GPUs, while Samsung is certified for AMD‘s FreeSync Premium Pro. Both sync technologies cut stutter/tearing.
For hardcore gamers wanting every last drop of performance, Samsung‘s QD-OLED edges out LG with faster response and refresh rates. But even pickiest gamers will be extremely satisfied by LG‘s OLED gaming experience.
Plus LG offers dedicated Game Optimizer settings to dial in gaming just right. And its lower input lag means snappier controls. For most, gaming will be stellar on both TVs even if Samsung QD-OLED has a technical advantage.
Smart TV Smarts: Tizen vs. webOS
With built-in streaming apps and intelligent features, today‘s smart TVs practically replace needing secondary streaming devices. Both Samsung and LG provide robust smart TV software platforms:
Samsung Tizen OS
Samsung uses its own intuitive Tizen operating system across its smart TV lineup. The interface displays apps in neat rows and supports built-in Bixby voice commands.
Plus Samsung‘s 2022 TVs work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant as well, so you can choose your preferred virtual assistant.
Tizen provides access to all popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and more. Its app selection is very extensive, and it now includes cloud gaming apps like Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass.
LG webOS
LG‘s webOS platform powers its smart TV experience. The clean, simple interface makes webOS a pleasure to use, with quick app switching and menus that elegantly slide on and off screen.
Like Tizen, LG webOS grants access to all major streaming apps. It also supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice control options in addition to LG‘s own ThinQ AI assistant.
While some consider Tizen‘s app selection more robust, LG webOS still offers apps for virtually any streaming or smart home need. And LG keeps refining the software with each new TV lineup.
Both Tizen and webOS provide great smart TV functionality. Whichever you choose, you‘ll enjoy an intuitive viewing experience and have access to all your favorite apps. It comes down to which interface you prefer using.
Connections Galore
With four HDMI 2.1 inputs each, Samsung and LG‘s TVs make connecting 4K Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and other devices a breeze. You‘ll have plenty of ports for all your gear.
Hook Up Your Devices with Ease
The Samsung S95C QD-OLED packs four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting up to 4K 120Hz gameplay, PC monitor-level 144Hz refresh rates, and cutting-edge gaming features like Variable Refresh Rate.
You also get three USB ports for hooking up hard drives, flash drives, and other accessories. Wi-Fi 6 ensures fast streaming, while Bluetooth 5.2 provides wireless audio connectivity.
LG‘s OLED TVs match the S95C‘s four HDMI 2.1 inputs, triple USB ports, and Bluetooth 5.0 support. However, LG includes the latest Wi-Fi 6E for blazing wireless performance, if your router supports it.
Minimal Gaming Latency
Input lag is an important consideration for gaming – this is the delay between an action on a controller and seeing the response on screen. Both Samsung and LG‘s TVs respond extremely quickly:
- Samsung S95C – ~5 ms input lag with Game Mode enabled
- LG C2 OLED – ~13 ms input lag in game mode
This rapid response time ensures your button presses instantly translate to slick on-screen reaction in games. Hardcore gamers may notice Samsung‘s few millisecond lead, but most users will find both TVs wildly responsive.
With all the ports and bandwidth you need, plus minimal lag, Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED are ready to connect all your gear and game seamlessly.
Crystal Clear Sound
As TVs slim down, built-in speakers often suffer. But audio remains hugely important for shows, movies and games. Samsung innovates here by packing impressive sound components into its QD-OLED TVs.
Samsung 4.2.2 Channel Speakers – The S95C hides six speakers totaling 60 watts behind its display. The 4.2.2 channel setup projects sound clearly, aided by Dolby Atmos decoding that precisely tracks audio to on-screen action.
LG 2.2 Channel Audio – Even LG‘s latest OLED TVs usually have 2.2 channel speakers rated at 40 watts total. While decent, LG‘s sound can‘t match the expansive presence of Samsung‘s audio setup.
That said, I always recommend pairing either of these TVs with an external soundbar to complete your home theater. But if relying on built-in sound, Samsung QD-OLED provides an impressive audio experience.
Which is the Better TV for You?
We‘ve covered a lot of ground comparing Samsung‘s QD-OLED TVs and LG‘s new OLED evo models. Let‘s recap the key findings:
Picture quality – Samsung QD-OLED wins for brightness and color, but LG OLED still looks gorgeous with perfect blacks and excellent contrast.
Gaming – Samsung‘s higher 144Hz refresh rate provides an advantage, but LG OLEDs are extremely capable gaming TVs as well.
Smart TV – Samsung Tizen and LG webOS are both excellent smart platforms. The choice comes down to interface preference.
Connectivity – With 4 HDMI 2.1 ports each, both connect your devices without limitations.
Audio – Samsung‘s built-in 4.2.2 speaker system outshines LG‘s audio. But adding a soundbar levels the playing field.
As you can see, both brands offer compelling advantages. The right choice comes down to your needs:
Samsung S95C QD-OLED – Best for well-lit rooms and maximum brightness. Ideal for sports, videogames and apps.
LG OLED evo – Cinematic picture quality. Excellent option for home theater movie watching with deep blacks.
You can‘t go wrong either way! Both Samsung and LG make amazing televisions that represent the pinnacle of display technology. I hope breaking down how Samsung QD-OLED and LG OLED compare helps you feel confident about choosing the perfect TV for your home.
Happy viewing!