Samsung S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV

CNET’s David Katzmaier and Bella Czajkowski highlight the Samsung S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV as delivering the best overall image quality they’ve tested, particularly praising its innovative matte screen finish that dramatically reduces reflections and glare in bright rooms—a first for OLED TVs. This unique feature makes the S95D stand out by offering superior viewing in well-lit environments, though it comes with a slight trade-off in contrast and black level depth under bright lighting. The TV also impresses with exceptional brightness, color accuracy in Filmmaker mode, and excellent off-angle viewing typical of OLED technology. Additional strengths include an ultrathin panel design enabled by the external One Connect box, and strong gaming performance with low input lag and support for 4K/120Hz and VRR. While the interface has minor usability quirks and the price is high, the review conveys genuine enthusiasm for the S95D’s combination of cutting-edge display tech and practical design, making it a top choice for both bright and dark room viewing.

Nick Pino from Tom’s Guide highlights the Samsung S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV as a standout OLED that effectively tackles the long-standing glare issue, making it ideal for bright rooms without sacrificing brightness or color vibrancy. Praising its exceptional color saturation, contrast, and innovative anti-glare coating, Pino emphasizes the TV’s flexible customization options powered by Samsung’s NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, which enhances both picture and audio quality. However, he notes some drawbacks, including motion processing artifacts, occasional overprocessing that can distract purists, and the absence of Dolby Vision support. Setup can be tricky due to the fragile screen and stand alignment, and the requirement of a Samsung account to download apps may annoy some users. Despite a premium price tag, the S95D’s design, performance, and features position it among the best OLEDs of 2024, though competition from LG and Sony offers more consistent picture quality. Overall, the S95D is an impressive engineering achievement that sets a new standard for QD-OLED TVs.

James Davidson from TechRadar highlights the Samsung S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV as a flagship OLED model that pushes the boundaries of picture quality and gaming performance in 2024. Praising its stunning QD-OLED panel combined with AI-driven enhancements and innovative OLED Glare Free technology, Davidson emphasizes the TV’s ultra-realistic textures, bold yet natural colors, and deep contrast, though he notes minor black crush issues that require some user tweaking. The S95D’s design impresses with a sleek, floating aesthetic and a practical One Connect Box for tidy cable management. Gaming features are robust, including a 144Hz refresh rate, low input lag, and a comprehensive Gaming Hub, making it ideal for serious gamers. While the built-in sound is powerful and clear, it falls short of some competitors, suggesting an external soundbar for audiophiles. The Tizen smart platform is solid but somewhat dated. Overall, Davidson regards the S95D as a premium, well-rounded OLED TV that justifies its price with cutting-edge tech and exceptional performance, setting a high bar for 2024 OLEDs.

What Hi-Fi? highlights the Samsung S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV as a groundbreaking leap forward in OLED technology, delivering phenomenal brightness, contrast, and color accuracy that surpasses its predecessors and most competitors. The review praises its ultra-slim design, effective anti-reflection filter, and advanced Neo Quantum 4K AI Gen 2 processor, which enhances upscaling, color mapping, and depth perception. Gaming features are robust, with low input lag and high refresh rates, though Dolby Vision support is absent. While the picture quality impresses with vivid HDR highlights and excellent viewing angles, minor issues include slight shadow detail loss, occasional brightness shifts in Standard mode, and subtle blooming caused by the anti-reflection filter. The sound system, despite accurate object tracking, is described as underwhelming, lacking power, dynamic range, and immersive depth. Overall, the S95D is celebrated as a new benchmark in OLED TVs, setting a high bar for 2024 models with its exceptional picture performance and innovative features.

Caleb Denison from Digital Trends highlights the Samsung S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV as an exceptionally bright and vibrant flagship OLED, ideal for bright-room viewing. He praises its outstanding color accuracy, impressive peak brightness, and the innovative One Connect box that reduces cable clutter. The TV’s built-in sound system also surprised him with solid performance, especially when wall-mounted. While Denison appreciates the snappy Tizen OS and useful gaming features, he remains critical of the anti-glare technology, which disperses reflections across the screen and slightly lifts black levels—polarizing among enthusiasts but ultimately beneficial for most users in well-lit environments. He notes some brightness throttling under extreme test conditions but finds it negligible in real-world use. Though not a reference-grade OLED, the S95D delivers a stunning picture that impresses both casual viewers and professionals alike. Denison concludes it’s a well-rounded, premium TV likely to appeal to a broad audience despite minor trade-offs.

FlatpanelsHD highlights the Samsung S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV as a significant evolution in QD-OLED technology, delivering outstanding HDR picture quality with peak brightness reaching 1600 nits and a notable matte coating that reduces reflections, making it suitable for bright rooms. The review praises the TV’s elegant design, external One Connect box, and excellent color saturation that surpasses traditional WOLED panels. However, it also points out drawbacks such as the matte coating’s impact on black levels and vibrancy, a problematic Game picture mode that distorts gaming visuals, and the absence of Dolby Vision support. The Tizen platform is described as visually polished but increasingly cluttered with ads and occasional sluggishness, though Samsung’s new promise of extended OS upgrades is welcomed. Overall, the S95D is lauded for its picture quality and brightness improvements but tempered by software quirks and some user experience compromises, making it a strong contender though not quite dethroning Sony’s A95L as the reference QD-OLED TV.

Will Greenwald from PCMag highlights the Samsung S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV as a standout in OLED technology, particularly praising its exceptional brightness that rivals many high-end LED models—a notable breakthrough for OLED’s traditional weakness. The review enthusiastically commends the TV’s stunning picture quality, with vivid colors, deep contrast, and impressive shadow detail, supported by detailed brightness and color accuracy measurements. The sleek, minimalist design and innovative OneConnect box further enhance its premium appeal. However, Greenwald also points out some drawbacks, including the high price tag and a somewhat cumbersome Tizen OS interface that complicates navigation and picture adjustments. While the TV lacks Dolby Vision support and uses Wi-Fi 5 instead of newer standards, its gaming performance and cloud gaming support are strong positives. Overall, the S95D earns an Editors’ Choice award for its picture quality, though more budget-conscious buyers might consider last year’s models or alternatives like the Hisense U8K.

Stephen Withers from T3 highlights the Samsung S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV as a remarkable evolution in OLED technology, pushing brightness and color accuracy to new heights. The review expresses clear enthusiasm for the TV’s exceptional HDR performance, wide color gamut, and innovative “Glare Free” screen filter that effectively eliminates reflections while preserving deep blacks. Withers praises the AI-enhanced processing for delivering stunning 4K images across all content types, alongside excellent motion handling and a sleek, premium design featuring the convenient One Connect box. The sound system impresses given the TV’s slim profile, and the comprehensive smart platform and advanced gaming features add to its appeal. While the absence of Dolby Vision support is noted as a drawback, it does not significantly detract from the overall experience. The review conveys a confident, positive tone, positioning the S95D as a top-tier OLED TV that redefines performance standards in its class.

Ryan Waniata from WIRED highlights Samsung’s S95D QD-OLED 4K Smart TV as a bold flagship that excels in picture quality and innovative anti-glare technology. The review conveys a very positive and enthusiastic tone, praising the TV’s exceptional brightness, vibrant quantum dot colors, and stunning detail that rivals top competitors like Sony’s A95L. The standout feature is the new matte screen, which dramatically reduces reflections even in brightly lit rooms, though it introduces a subtle trade-off with slightly elevated black levels and some loss of shadow detail—an effect the reviewer frames as a matter of personal preference rather than a flaw. While the TV impresses visually and stylistically, the review also notes frustrations with Samsung’s Tizen smart interface, citing unintuitive navigation and occasional glitches. The sound system and gaming features receive commendation, though the absence of Dolby Vision and Chromecast support is a minor drawback. Overall, the S95D is celebrated as a premium, innovative OLED that caters especially well to viewers troubled by glare, making it a compelling but costly choice.