Samsung S90C TV Review - The Best OLED Out There?!

Summary

The Samsung S90C is a top-tier OLED TV offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and impressive brightness, making it one of the best models tested in 2023. With a range of sizes, a 144Hz refresh rate, and full HDMI 2.1 support, it’s a dream for gamers. It excels in picture quality, HDR performance, and color accuracy, though it lacks Dolby Vision and DTS support. While its built-in sound isn’t impressive, it works best with a dedicated sound system. Compared to other models, like the LG C3 and Samsung S95C, the S90C offers great value for most users.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Samsung S90C is a top-rated TV in 2023, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks with its QD-OLED panel.
• 😀 Available in 55, 65, 77, and 83-inch models, the 65-inch variant was tested, but performance may vary slightly with the 83-inch model.
• 😀 The TV's design is sleek with thin bezels and a sturdy stand, providing space for a soundbar if needed.
• 😀 The S90C is gamer-friendly, supporting 4K at 144Hz and HDMI 2.1 ports, along with low input lag and variable refresh rate (VRR).
• 😀 The QD-OLED display delivers deep blacks, an excellent contrast ratio, and bright, vibrant HDR content, reaching up to 1,000 nits peak brightness.
• 😀 The TV has some issues with its aggressive auto-brightness feature, which can cause fluctuations in brightness during scenes with large bright areas.
• 😀 The S90C offers impressive color accuracy, covering nearly the entire P3 color space but has slight oversaturation of reds and greens in some instances.
• 😀 There are minor issues with SDR content, such as slightly inaccurate color tone mapping and clipping of extremely bright highlights.
• 😀 The built-in sound system is average and lacks depth in the bass range, making an external sound system or soundbar necessary for optimal audio quality.
• 😀 While the S90C does not support Dolby Vision, it does support HDR10+, offering good HDR content performance but lacks some of the processing power of competitors like the LG C3.

Q & A

What makes the Samsung S90C one of the best TVs tested in 2023?

The Samsung S90C stands out due to its QD-OLED panel, which delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a high peak brightness, especially with HDR content. It offers excellent performance across different use cases, including gaming and general viewing, making it a top pick for most users.

What is the main difference between the Samsung S90C and the flagship S95C?

The primary difference is the S95C's higher peak brightness and its inclusion of the One Connect box, which provides more flexibility for wall mounting and cable management. However, the S90C offers better value with full 48 Gbps HDMI bandwidth and similar performance at a lower price.

Does the Samsung S90C support Dolby Vision?

No, the Samsung S90C does not support Dolby Vision, but it does support HDR10+, which is an alternative HDR format. This is something to consider if you're particularly invested in Dolby Vision content.

What are the color performance and coverage like on the Samsung S90C?

The Samsung S90C covers nearly the entire P3 color space, offering vibrant and accurate colors in HDR content. However, its coverage of the Rec. 2020 color space is more limited, and some colors, especially reds and greens, can appear slightly oversaturated.

Is the Samsung S90C a good choice for gamers?

Yes, the S90C is an excellent choice for gamers. It supports 4K at 144Hz, has four HDMI 2.1 inputs, low input lag, and variable refresh rate (VRR), ensuring a smooth and responsive gaming experience with minimal blur or ghosting.

How does the Samsung S90C perform in bright rooms?

The S90C performs well in bright rooms, thanks to its anti-reflective coating that reduces the intensity of reflections. Additionally, it gets bright enough to maintain image clarity, even with ambient light in the room.

What are the audio capabilities of the Samsung S90C?

While the built-in speakers of the Samsung S90C are adequate, they lack deep bass and loud output, making it necessary to invest in an external sound system or soundbar for optimal audio performance. The TV supports Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, but not DTS formats.

What size options are available for the Samsung S90C?

The Samsung S90C is available in sizes ranging from 55 to 77 inches. There is also an 83-inch model with a 120Hz refresh rate, though the performance of this model may differ from the 65-inch variant tested.

How does the Samsung S90C handle low-resolution content?

The S90C does a good job of upscaling low-resolution content, such as DVDs, preserving detail and ensuring a sharp image. However, it may struggle with smoothing out content from low-quality sources like certain streaming apps, resulting in noticeable macro blocking in dark scenes.

How does the Samsung S90C compare to the LG C3?

The Samsung S90C excels in gaming performance with its higher refresh rate and vibrant HDR image, while the LG C3 offers better processing, Dolby Vision support, and DTS compatibility. The S90C is better suited for gamers, while the C3 might be preferred by those who value superior video processing or are Blu-ray collectors.