This Samsung OLED TV from last year ruined the way I consume content — and it’s $1,000 off

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This Samsung OLED TV from last year ruined the way I consume content — and it's $1,000 off

ZDNET Highlights

  • The Samsung S95F OLED TV delivers an excellent viewing and gaming experience thanks to its stunning picture and sound quality, low latency, and the option to disable AI processing.
  • However, this TV is a very expensive investment, especially in the larger sizes, and its slim design makes it quite fragile.
  • One major problem with color accuracy is that the OLED panel runs too blue, which is a significant drawback for this otherwise high-performance TV.

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Save $1,000 on a 65-inch Samsung S95F OLED TV When you buy directly from Samsung.


Samsung S95F It’s an impressive update to the brand’s OLED TV offerings, with an improved glare-free display, ultra-thin build, and AI-assisted picture and audio processing.

With Samsung’s One Connect box, you can use a single cable to connect all your playback devices for an ultra-clean, almost completely wireless home theater setup. But since premium builds often come with premium price tags, is the S95F worth the upgrade?

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I tested the TV in ZDNET’s Louisville lab last year, and at the time suffice it to say that the Samsung S95F was and still is one of the best TVs on the market. This is a great option for those willing to spend and who are looking for a worthy TV deal, especially if the latest S95H model is not to your liking.

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Whether you’re looking to buy your first OLED TV or upgrade your existing TV, the Samsung S95F is one of the best screens you can buy right now. The Pantone-validated screen helps improve color accuracy across a variety of media, including classic black-and-white Hollywood movies.

While our Calman calibration test showed a noticeable blue shift in color, the AI-assisted picture mode, along with some standard picture settings, helps correct this. And if you don’t mind a little blue tint in your media, the S95F still looks amazing right out of the box, with a bright, clean picture that produces deep blacks for sharp contrast and handles fine details with ease.

Samsung S95F OLED TV

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

I set the S95F side-by-side with the 2025 refresh of the TCL QM8K, and while the TCL held its own, the difference between the two was almost night and day, with more accurate colors, cleaner text, and much better detail.

The S95F works not only with Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound+ technology for 3D audio, but also with Dolby Atmos for virtual surround sound and a fuller, richer-sounding audioscape in movies, music, and gaming.

Also: Changing these 6 settings on my Samsung TV significantly improved performance

I tested the TV with a few PS5 games, including Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, Ghost of Tsushima, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. The TV’s dedicated gaming dashboard lets you fine-tune settings like input latency, refresh rate, and HDR, and it also has some interesting (if not exactly practical) options like mini-map zoom.

Even with basic settings, the S95F handled rhythm games well, requiring only minor tweaks to match both the in-game visuals and music perfectly. The detail in triple-A titles like Ghost of Tsushima was astonishing, with distinct leaves on trees, blades of grass, and nice patterns visible on character costumes.

Samsung S95F OLED TV

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

And when it comes to movies and shows, the Samsung S95F does an incredible job of upgrading older media without making it feel as “crunchy” as some TVs are used to; The advanced, AI-assisted processor handles visual noise very well, upscaling very old films like Casablanca, Singin’ in the Rain, and the original 1998 pro-shot of CATS in 4K with no artifacts or visual “snow.”

Both AI-assisted and standard audio modes are great for boosting quiet dialogue in movies and shows, while Object Tracking Sound+ works with Dolby Atmos to create fuller-sounding audio. This is especially noticeable with music, as the AI ​​and music settings enhance bass tones while balancing mid- and high-range notes.

Also: How to Disable ACR on Your TV – and Why It Makes Such a Big Difference

The 3D virtual surround sound aspect of object tracking sounds is nice to experience, with dialogue, explosions and other environmental sounds alternating between the left and right audio channels. It’s not as robust as setting up a proper home audio system for true 5.1 or 7.1CH sound, but it still helps create a more immersive experience which I appreciated, especially for gaming.

Samsung S95F OLED One Connect Box

Taylor Clemons/ZDNET

The Samsung S95F has an impossibly thin screen, measuring less than a quarter-inch thick, which is great for wall mounting, but also nerve-wracking during setup. Since the screen is so thin, it becomes quite flexible when attaching pedestal feet or wall mounting brackets, as well as the One Connect box.

At times during my testing, I was really afraid that the screen would bend too much and break, especially during unboxing. Therefore, I highly recommend having at least one other person help you to avoid bending the OLED panel too much. You don’t want to spend $3,000 on a new TV just for wear and tear during setup.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

Samsung S95F It’s certainly a premium option, even among OLED TVs, running close to $3,000 (when not on sale) for the 65-inch model; And if you want the 83-inch version, its retail price is closer to $6,500. But if you’re looking to invest in a high-end TV that will not only kickstart a premium home theater but also last until it receives firmware updates, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything better than the S95F.

That’s why we’ve honored it with ZDNET’s Editors’ Choice Award. With both AI-supported and standard picture and audio settings, you can optimize your visuals and sound to get the most from your favorite movies, shows, games and music. The ultra-thin design and One Connect utility is ideal for anyone looking to create a sleek, nearly wireless home theater.

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