First look: the exceptionally bright Samsung S95F

The Samsung S95F OLED TV: Many individuals have already got emotions about it, however I’d recommend placing these apart till you’ve learn this. Why? As a result of I’ve been to Samsung’s tremendous secret facility on the East Coast (one thing we’ve been doing for the previous 4 or 5 years) getting an early take a look at their flagship tv.

You’re would possibly already be accustomed to the flagship 8K NeoQLED (QN900F) outfitted with some anti-glare expertise and the flagship 4K NeoQLED TV (QN90F). Now we have now the flagship OLED TV: the Samsung S95F.

Not like the opposite two flagship TVs, the S95F occurs to be a Quantum Dot OLED (additionally know as QD-OLED). So, together with the anti-glare and anti-reflection, there’s additionally a panel that has a slight purplish tinge when plenty of gentle shines on the TV. Folks have emotions about this. Some wish to see one thing that represents more true black, at the least in sure circumstances. There may be additionally some dialogue round whether or not having an anti-glare or matte end on the display is a internet profit or internet damaging to these wanting the best possible image high quality.

For now I need to give attention to what this TV does exceptionally properly … as a result of there’s a lot.

Tremendous vibrant and sparkly

Whereas Samsung will not be speaking about what panels are being utilized in its OLED TVs – partially as a result of some use Quantum Dot OLED and a few use WRGB OLED, relying on the collection and TV measurement – the S95F seems to make use of the latest-generation Quantum Dot OLED panel manufactured by Samsung Show. As such, it’s now the brightest Quantum Dot OLED panel which you could get.

Utilizing our personal measurements and people offered by Samsung, we have been in a position to confirm that it’s doing anyplace from 2,100 to 2,250 nits peak brightness in a white 10% window. What does that imply? It’s conclusively one of many brightest OLED televisions which you could purchase. Whereas opponents are catching up, this TV does exceptionally properly on the subject of very excessive and really pure coloration brightness – the best and purest but.

So, sure, anticipate very vibrant peak highlights with this TV. (We didn’t have time to measure it full-field white and take a look at it whereas it was cool and scorching. Search for this within the full assessment coming quickly.)

Additionally, the highlights look exceptionally sparkly. Even simply wanting on the coloration tiles that we examined, the colour purity and coloration brightness on this TV is straight away evident. It is without doubt one of the most vibrant and colourful televisions which you could purchase right now.

Out-of-the-box magnificence

The S95F was exquisitely correct in Filmaker Mode (which you will discover in your Samsung TV settings). From the colour accuracy to the EOTF HDR monitoring to the grayscale measurements, it appears exceptionally good. Out-of-the-box, we acquired a delta E of 1.4 on common from the grayscale and coloration errors have been properly beneath two.

In Film Mode, nonetheless, it tracks very excessive on the EOTF. Which means it would elevate the typical brightness degree increased than it must be. That is technically not correct, however may be very useful for viewing darker content material in brighter environments – one thing that all of us want on occasion. For instance, should you’re watching Recreation of Thrones or Home of the Dragon in something aside from a pitch-black room, you will notice particulars in these darkish scenes that you just wouldn’t see in Filmmaker Mode.

Utilizing the footage that we take a look at so many TVs with, the S95F’s processing regarded strong (once more, we didn’t have a lot time to check this TV). Though I wasn’t in a position to take a look at a lot upscaling, I watched some free ad-supported streaming TV – quick TV stuff – with a really low decision and bitrate and it regarded fairly good. Movement additionally appeared nice, though I didn’t get the chance to observe any sports activities. (We’ll test into this extra deeply within the full assessment.)

Improved interface

I’m actually happy to report that Samsung has made some notable enhancements to a part of the One UI interface, which is predicated on Tizen. In case you use a Samsung Galaxy cellphone or pill, you’re seemingly already accustomed to it. The brand new Samsung TV interface is extra intently linked with these experiences; for the typical shopper it implies that there are extra controls to function the TV as you need.

It’s also possible to change how the house display operates, and that’s a giant deal for me. Within the settings, you possibly can cease the TV from launching instantly into Channels Plus – that free ad-supported streaming TV stuff. (Previously, once I turned on a Samsung TV, it instantly blared content material at me, whether or not I wished it or not. Possibly I wished to navigate to Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, or no matter and never have content material blasted at me – just like the outdated days while you turned in your TV and it was already on a channel. I loved getting away from that.) Now, it’s attainable to change the TV’s settings in order that it behaves the way you need it to behave. In fact, should you like that sort of expertise, it’s accessible. The essential factor is that it’s now an possibility.

Samsung has additionally loaded this TV with all types of AI options. (We are going to dig into what meaning each within the full assessment and in a devoted video about the entire AI stuff that Samsung is bringing to not simply its TVs, however its complete electronics ecosystem – it’s expansive and deserves its personal clarification.) Suffice to say that there are all types of options, bells and whistles, and safety measures. It’s a completely loaded TV – what you’d anticipate from Samsung as of late and one of many explanation why you would possibly need to select considered one of their units.

Anti-glare and anti-reflection tech: Good or unhealthy?

Now, there’s additionally the divisive subject of the anti-glare and anti-reflection remedy on this TV: Is it a internet profit or a internet harm?

This completely depends upon your use case state of affairs and preferences. I’ve been accused of being a fanboy of this expertise, and it’s simply not true. If I had a darkish room and I used to be choosing an OLED TV, I may not decide the S95F – I would desire a glossier display for instance. Nonetheless, I feel that for lots of oldsters who should not placing this TV in a dimly lit room, the anti-glare and anti-reflection expertise can be a internet profit.

Earlier than I clarify why, a reminder: Sony has a aggressive Quantum Dot OLED TV that doesn’t have the anti-glare and anti-reflection expertise. If you’d like a top-tier, high-performance Quantum Dot OLED TV, contemplate the brand new Sony Bravia 8 Mark II.

LG has the G5 OLED, which is constructed on a brand new sort of WRGB OLED expertise known as “4 stack” or “Tandem OLED,” that’s able to extraordinarily excessive brightness and intensely high-color brightness. If you’d like a shiny display with out the elevated black ranges that come from the Quantum Dot OLED panel – which is often not a significant situation for most individuals – you’ve got that possibility as properly.

Samsung, nonetheless, is betting on reaching a mass market with this TV that possibly a few of these different producers should not. That’s wager as a result of Samsung remains to be the primary promoting TV model in the US. It’s shifting extra models than anybody else. Many individuals are simply going to purchase a premium Samsung TV as a result of they know they will depend on it to be a extremely nice TV. They’re not doing a ton of analysis to search out out what’s the greatest OLED TV; they simply need to get a extremely nice TV that they will really feel comfy with. In the event that they’re placing it in a lounge with home windows and light-weight pouring in, the anti-glare and anti-reflection expertise might be going to be a internet profit for them.

Finest TV of the yr?

I and different press members have not too long ago seen demonstrations by competing corporations attempting to “out” the anti-glare and the QD-OLED panel as having poor blacks beneath sure circumstances. These demonstrations weren’t precisely honest. The sunshine was positioned a lot decrease and far nearer to the Quantum Dot OLED TV, meant to exacerbate the problem.

In an surroundings the place there’s some gentle occurring, the display appears very black. That’s as a result of our eyes and mind might be very accommodating. You possibly can truly settle for the next black ground as good black as you begin to accommodate it. That is how the human visible system works. In a side-by-side comparability? You’ll see it simply. Is it one thing you’ll be cognizant of on a regular basis in most eventualities? No. It’s fairly black.

I feel that a lot hay is being made about this divisive anti-glare expertise and the character of the QD-OLED panel, and I perceive why: people who’re excessive lovers about these TVs actually need to get precisely what they need. I perceive if they need the flagship Samsung Quantum Dot OLED TV with a shiny display. Sadly, if you need that shiny display, you’re going to want to step all the way down to the S90F. If you’d like the QD-OLED panel, stick with the 55-, 65-, or 75-inch variants that do certainly have the Quantum Dot OLED panel.

Trying on the TV market at giant, having selection is extraordinarily essential. Samsung wished to discover a area of interest, and I feel it positively did. This selection might alienate a few of us, however from Samsung’s enterprise standpoint it’s in all probability a sensible transfer. It’s in all probability going to promote plenty of these TVs as a result of they give the impression of being completely stellar – they’re going to look superb in showrooms the place different TVs wrestle to look nearly as good until they’re of their most excruciating Vivid or Dynamic image modes.

By and huge, the S95F is a completely glorious TV. Some questions stay and these can solely be answered as soon as I can do my factor and put it by its paces. Then we will take a look at a few of the different touchpoints simply to ensure that the TV is straightforward to make use of and user-friendly generally. Does it have any annoying quirks that we have to learn about? I can’t wait to search out out.

In the meantime, the Samsung S95F is one to observe and can be within the operating for the very best TV of the yr, little question about it.