Samsung S95C Review: The QD-OLED King That Almost Has It All

In the relentless war for living room supremacy, the battle of the OLEDs has become the main event. Last year, Samsung threw a brilliant right hook with its first-ever QD-OLED, a technology that promised the perfect blacks of OLED with the vibrant color and brightness of QLED. Now, we have the follow-up. The Samsung S95C isn’t just an iterative update; it’s a statement piece. It’s Samsung’s second-generation QD-OLED, refined and weaponized with a staggering increase in brightness, aiming to definitively dethrone its rivals. But in its pursuit of visual perfection, has Samsung made the right compromises?

Performance: A Dazzling Display of Power

Let’s get straight to the point: the picture quality of the S95C is breathtaking. This is what second-generation panel technology looks like. By removing a color filter layer and refining its Quantum Dot materials, Samsung has unlocked a level of brightness that was, until recently, unheard of for an OLED. In HDR, specular highlights leap off the screen with an intensity that can genuinely make you squint. This isn’t just a numbers game; this luminance gives every scene a startling sense of depth and realism. Paired with the infinite contrast ratio inherent to OLED, where black is truly black, the result is a dynamic, punchy image that sets a new benchmark.

Color volume is the other side of the QD-OLED coin, and it’s equally impressive. Colors are not only accurate but maintain their saturation and vibrancy even at the highest brightness levels—an area where traditional WOLEDs can sometimes wash out. From the fiery explosions in a blockbuster movie to the lush landscapes of a nature documentary, the S95C renders everything with spectacular richness.

For gamers, this TV is an absolute dream. It boasts a native 144Hz refresh rate, a first for mainstream OLEDs, and all four of its HDMI ports support the full 2.1 feature set. This means you can hook up a PS5, Xbox Series X, and a high-end PC and get 4K/120Hz (or 144Hz) with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode on every single one. Input lag is vanishingly low, making for a hyper-responsive and fluid gaming experience. The only notable drawback in its otherwise stellar performance is the continued, and frankly baffling, omission of Dolby Vision support. While HDR10+ is a capable alternative, Dolby Vision is the more widely adopted format, and its absence on a flagship TV of this caliber is a significant weakness.

Design and Features: The Beauty and the Box

Samsung has leaned heavily into its minimalist “Infinity One Design.” The S95C features a uniform, impossibly thin profile from top to bottom, with micro-bezels that make the picture feel like it’s floating in mid-air. It’s a stunning piece of industrial design that looks incredible when wall-mounted.

The key to this svelte profile is the separate One Connect Box. This external box houses all the TV’s brains and inputs, connecting to the panel via a single, easily concealable fiber-optic cable. For anyone aiming for the ultimate clean, cable-free wall installation, it’s a game-changer. However, for those placing the TV on a stand, it introduces an extra piece of hardware that needs a home, adding a layer of complexity to an otherwise simple setup.

The Tizen smart TV platform is snappy and comprehensive, offering every streaming app you could possibly need. However, the user interface has become increasingly cluttered. The home screen is dominated by a full-screen layout that prioritizes sponsored content and advertisements, which can feel at odds with the TV’s premium price tag. On the plus side, the redesigned SolarCell remote is a small but welcome innovation, using both indoor light and a USB-C port to stay charged.

Value and Verdict: Who Should Buy the S95C?

The Samsung S95C is an unapologetically premium television with a price tag to match. It competes directly with the best flagships on the market, like LG’s G3 and Sony’s A95L. Its value proposition hinges on your priorities. If you are a hardcore gamer seeking the absolute best performance for both console and PC, the S95C’s 144Hz panel and four full-spec HDMI 2.1 ports make it an undisputed champion. Similarly, if you primarily watch TV in a bright room, the S95C’s exceptional brightness allows it to cut through ambient light in a way most OLEDs simply can’t.

However, for dedicated cinephiles, the lack of Dolby Vision is a persistent thorn. While its HDR10+ performance is outstanding, you’re missing out on the most popular dynamic HDR format available on streaming and 4K Blu-ray.

Ultimately, the Samsung S95C is a phenomenal piece of engineering. It pushes the boundaries of display technology, delivering a jaw-droppingly bright and colorful picture that excels in almost every scenario. It is a triumphant showcase of QD-OLED’s potential, delivering an experience that is as brilliant as it is beautiful. For gamers and brightness-seekers, this is the TV to beat. For everyone else, it’s a near-perfect display held back by a single, stubborn software choice.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon