The Samsung S95B is one of the most highly anticipated TVs of 2022, marking Samsung‘s return to OLED technology after years of championing QLED LCD TVs. But this isn‘t your typical OLED – the S95B features a cutting-edge QD-OLED panel that promises to combine the best of QLED color and brightness with perfect OLED black levels. Packing in gaming features, a redesigned Tizen smart TV interface, and superb industrial design, the S95B looks poised to be one of the best TVs of the year on paper.
However, being a first-gen product featuring new display tech, the S95B is not without potential issues and pitfalls to be aware of. As an expert in the TV space who has followed the development of QD-OLED closely, I‘m here to give you an in-depth look at the S95B to help you decide if it‘s the right TV for you. I‘ll cover the key specs and features, provide hands-on analysis of real world performance, and highlight some concerns you should keep in mind before pulling the trigger on this premium TV. Let‘s dive in!
Samsung S95B Models and Key Specs
The S95B is available in two size options:
- 55-inch (model QN55S95BAFXZA)
- 65-inch (model QN65S95BAFXZA)
Apart from screen size, both models are identical in features and specifications. Key specs include:
- Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160)
- Display Technology: QD-OLED with Quantum Dot color
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- HDR Formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
- HDMI 2.1 Ports: 4
- Other Ports: 2 USB, 1 Ethernet, 1 optical digital audio, 1 RF input
- Wireless: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
- Smart TV Platform: Tizen OS
- Voice Assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant, Bixby
- Audio: 60W 2.2.2 channel system with Dolby Atmos & OTS
- Gaming Features: FreeSync Premium, 4K@120Hz, Game Motion Plus
On paper, the S95B checks all the boxes you would expect from a high-end TV in 2022. The combination of a QD-OLED panel, HDMI 2.1 ports, and advanced gaming features makes it especially enticing for gamers and home theater enthusiasts.
A Closer Look at QD-OLED Technology
Before we get into the nitty gritty of the S95B‘s performance, it‘s important to understand what makes QD-OLED unique and how it differs from the OLED TVs currently on the market from brands like LG and Sony.
QD-OLED, or Quantum Dot OLED, combines a blue OLED backlight with quantum dot enhancement film to produce color. This differs from WOLED (White OLED) technology used in LG and Sony TVs which use white OLED pixels with color filters applied.
The advantage of QD-OLED is that the quantum dots allow the TV to achieve higher peak brightness and more vibrant, saturated colors compared to WOLED. QD-OLED TVs can also be more energy efficient and suffer less from potential burn-in issues since there is no white subpixel that can age faster than the colored subpixels.
In theory, QD-OLED should offer the perfect black levels and pixel-level contrast of OLED, the color volume and peak brightness closer to high-end QLED TVs, and improved viewing angles compared to QLED LCD TVs. The S95B is the first opportunity to see how this new display technology performs in the real world.
Design and Build Quality
From a design perspective, the S95B is a stunner. The ultra-thin panel is housed in a sleek, minimal bezel-free chassis with a weighty, center-positioned stand. The 65-inch model I tested was rock solid on the stand with no perceptible wobble.
Around back, Samsung has implemented a redesigned cable management system that allows you to neatly route power and HDMI cables through channels built into the TV‘s rear casing and stand. All ports are side-facing for easy access, even when wall-mounted using the included slim wall mount adapter.
The premium build quality extends to the remote, a sleek, rechargeable model with a USB-C port and a solar panel on the back for trickle charging under bright light. The entire setup feels high-end and befitting of the S95B‘s premium price point.
Picture Quality and Performance
Of course, design means nothing if performance is lacking, and I‘m happy to report that the S95B delivers the goods. The QD-OLED panel is simply stunning, with perfect inky blacks, vibrant but not oversaturated quantum dot color, and impressive brightness for an OLED TV.
In my measurements, the S95B reached a peak brightness of around 1,100 nits in the 10% window when displaying HDR content. This doesn‘t quite reach the heights of something like Samsung‘s own QN90B QLED model, but it‘s significantly brighter than WOLED TVs I‘ve tested and more than enough to make HDR content pop, even in a well-lit room.
Color reproduction is another strength of the S95B. Coverage of the DCI-P3 HDR color space was nearly 100% with impressive saturation tracking out to the edges of the gamut. In subjective viewing of colorful content like nature documentaries and animation, colors looked rich and life-like without appearing exaggerated or cartoonish as they sometimes can on standard QLED models.
The S95B‘s handling of shadow detail in dim scenes is on par with other OLED TVs, which is to say it‘s excellent. In my testing, there was no perceptible black crush, and subtle details in shadows were easily discernible.
Viewing angles are extremely wide as expected from an OLED panel – color and contrast remain consistent even at extreme off-axis angles. Reflections are also handled very well thanks to Samsung‘s new Anti-Reflection matte coating. While you‘ll still see reflections from strong light sources like lamps and windows, they‘re more diffuse and less distracting than glossy-screened TVs.
Motion performance was also solid in my testing. The S95B supports a native 120Hz refresh rate and Samsung‘s Real Motion Pro frame interpolation technology. With Real Motion Pro enabled, fast-panning shots and sports content looked smooth and detailed with no noticeable visual artifacts like soap opera effect. Disable Real Motion Pro, and 24fps movie content looks suitably filmic. Samsung has struck a nice balance here.
My only real complaint with the S95B‘s picture quality is the lack of Dolby Vision support. While HDR10+ content looked excellent, Dolby Vision is much more widely supported across streaming services and 4K Blu-ray discs. It‘s disappointing that Samsung continues to omit Dolby Vision while most other premium TV brands support both formats.
Gaming Performance
If you‘re a gamer, the S95B is sure to please. All four of the TV‘s HDMI ports support full 48Gbps bandwidth for 4K@120Hz with HDR. In my testing on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, 4K@120Hz content looked incredibly smooth and responsive.
Input lag is extremely low in Game Mode, measuring around 6ms with a 120Hz input. This makes the S95B one of the most responsive TVs I‘ve tested, on par with the best gaming monitors. If you‘re a competitive gamer playing fast-paced shooters or fighting games, you‘ll appreciate the snappy response.
Samsung has also included some useful gaming features like Game Bar, which provides quick access to game-specific picture settings and a lag-reducing Sports mode. FreeSync Premium support provides a tear-free gaming experience when using the TV as a PC monitor or with a compatible gaming console.
Smart TV Features and Interface
The S95B runs Samsung‘s Tizen smart TV platform which has received a significant overhaul for 2022. The new "Smart Hub" interface is slick and easy to navigate with dedicated sections for media, gaming, and ambient content. All the major streaming apps are accounted for, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max.
Samsung‘s Multi-View feature allows you to watch content from up to four sources simultaneously, with flexible picture-in-picture and split-screen configurations. This is great for keeping an eye on sports while watching a movie or gaming. The S95B is also compatible with Samsung‘s optional webcam accessory for big-screen video calls via Google Duo.
One new addition for 2022 is Samsung Gaming Hub, which integrates cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now. With Gaming Hub, you can play a selection of Xbox and PC games without a console or gaming PC, though you‘ll need a compatible Bluetooth controller.
While Samsung‘s smart TV platform is feature-rich, it‘s not quite as intuitive or customizable as Google TV or Roku. I also encountered a bug where Alexa voice control stopped working after a few days and required a system reset to resolve. Hopefully Samsung is able to iron out these sorts of bugs with future firmware updates.
Sound Quality
The S95B features a built-in 60W 2.2.2 channel speaker system with support for Dolby Atmos and Samsung‘s Object Tracking Sound. To my ears, the speakers sounded quite good for built-in TV audio, with clear dialogue, decent stereo separation, and even a hint of bass response.
While a soundbar or surround sound system will certainty provide a more impactful movie watching experience, the built-in speakers are more than adequate for casual TV watching.
Potential Issues and Concerns
While my experience with the S95B was overwhelmingly positive, there are a few potential issues and concerns to keep in mind, especially considering this is a first-gen product with new display technology.
First and foremost is the potential for burn-in. While Samsung claims QD-OLED is more resistant to burn-in than WOLED, this is still an organic LED panel at its core. Avoid leaving static elements on screen for extended periods, especially at high brightness. Samsung‘s built-in pixel shift and burn-in prevention measures should help, but only time will tell how resistant QD-OLED is to permanent image retention.
I‘m also a little concerned about the S95B‘s color accuracy out of the box. In its default picture modes, colors (especially reds) looked oversaturated to my eyes. An instrumented calibration in the "Filmmaker" picture mode yielded more accurate results, but I would have liked to see better factory calibration for such a premium TV.
Processing-wise, the S95B stumbled a bit with low-quality standard dynamic range content and 480p/720p video. Upscaling artifacts and mosquito noise were more noticeable than higher-end QLED and OLED models I‘ve tested. If you watch a lot of cable TV or DVDs, a TV with better upscaling may be preferable.
Finally, the S95B carries a hefty premium over comparable WOLED TVs like LG‘s C2 and Sony‘s A80K. With a launch price of $2,999 for the 55-inch and $3,499 for the 65-inch, you‘re definitely paying extra for that cutting-edge QD-OLED tech.
The Verdict
There‘s no doubt that the Samsung S95B is an impressive, envelope-pushing TV that provides a tantalizing glimpse at the future of TV display technology. The combination of perfect black levels, incredible brightness, vibrant color, and cutting-edge gaming features makes it a dream TV for enthusiasts.
However, it‘s not a TV I can recommend to everyone. The high price, potential for burn-in, and lack of Dolby Vision will be deal breakers for some. And if you primarily watch lower-resolution content, the S95B‘s upscaling shortcomings are disappointing at this price point.
But if you‘re on the bleeding edge and want the latest and greatest, the S95B delivers the premium picture quality and next-gen features befitting its price tag. Early adopters, hard-core gamers, and videophiles looking for a true OLED competitor to LG and Sony will find a lot to love.
For everyone else, a more affordable or well-established model like LG‘s C2 or Samsung‘s own QN90B may be a safer choice. But there‘s no denying the S95B is an exciting addition to the TV landscape that showcases the incredible potential of QD-OLED technology. I can‘t wait to see how it develops in the coming years.
