Samsung made a surprisingly bold decision with the new S90H series. Instead of continuing with the flashy QD-OLED technology that helped earlier S90 models stand out, the company has moved entirely to traditional WOLED panels across the range. On paper, that sounds like a downgrade. In practice, the story is far more interesting.
The 65-inch Samsung QE65S90H arrives as a direct challenger to the latest OLED heavyweights from LG and Sony, offering flagship-level brightness, gaming features that border on overkill, and one of the most refined picture-processing systems Samsung has delivered in years. It may no longer have the exotic color punch of QD-OLED, but the S90H proves that raw panel technology is only part of the equation.
For many viewers, this could actually be the smarter OLED to buy.
Design
Samsung continues to refine its ultra-thin OLED aesthetic, and the S90H looks every bit like a premium television. From the front, the screen appears almost impossibly slim, framed by tiny bezels that disappear once content starts playing.
The rear section is thicker than the edges because it houses the speakers, processing hardware, and connectivity, but the TV still looks elegant overall. Build quality feels reassuringly solid despite the thin chassis.
Samsung also deserves credit for the stand design. The feet are positioned close enough together that the TV can comfortably sit on smaller furniture, something many large OLEDs struggle with today.
Wall mounting looks sleek from the side profile, though the rear bulge prevents the screen from sitting perfectly flush against the wall.
Picture Quality
This is where the S90H becomes genuinely impressive.
Yes, the move away from QD-OLED means the TV loses some of the ultra-vivid color intensity Samsung’s previous generation was known for. The difference is measurable, especially in highly saturated HDR scenes. But outside of side-by-side comparisons, most viewers are unlikely to feel short-changed.
Instead, Samsung focused on improving overall balance.
The S90H delivers a cleaner, more controlled image than many aggressively tuned OLED TVs. Blacks remain beautifully deep, contrast is exceptional, and the new panel can hit extremely high brightness levels for an OLED in this class. HDR highlights explode with intensity, especially in Standard mode, where sunlight reflections, neon signs, and explosions carry serious visual impact.
What stands out most is how refined the image feels.
Filmmaker Mode is outstanding here. Samsung has toned down the over-processing that often affects its televisions, resulting in a picture that feels cinematic, detailed, and surprisingly natural. Skin tones look convincing, textures remain intact, and darker scenes avoid the crushed-black look that sometimes affects OLED displays.
Even upscaled HD content looks excellent. Samsung’s latest AI-powered processor does a remarkable job sharpening lower-resolution material without making it appear artificial.
The anti-glare coating is another major win. Bright rooms that would normally ruin OLED performance become far less problematic on the S90H. Reflections are dramatically reduced, helping the screen maintain contrast even during daytime viewing.
There are still a few compromises. Standard mode can occasionally exaggerate film grain, and motion processing requires some manual tuning to avoid the dreaded soap-opera effect. Thankfully, once adjusted properly, motion looks smooth and cinematic.
Overall, this is one of Samsung’s most polished OLED picture performances to date.
Gaming Performance
Samsung clearly designed the S90H with gamers in mind.
All four HDMI ports support full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, including 4K at up to 165Hz, Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support.
Input lag is incredibly low, making the TV feel razor-sharp during fast-paced gameplay.
OLED already excels at motion clarity thanks to its near-instant pixel response times, but Samsung’s gaming enhancements push things even further. Whether you play competitive shooters, racing games, or cinematic RPGs, the S90H feels responsive, fluid, and immersive.
The combination of OLED contrast and extreme HDR brightness also gives games tremendous visual depth.
Simply put, this is one of the best gaming TVs available in its price range.
Sound Quality
Considering how thin the TV is, the onboard sound performs surprisingly well.
In its default Standard audio mode, the presentation feels restrained and somewhat flat. Switching to Amplify mode transforms the experience almost immediately. Dialogue becomes clearer, effects gain more impact, and the soundstage opens up considerably.
Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound system also works better than expected, helping effects move across the screen with decent positional accuracy.
Bass performance is naturally limited by the slim chassis, but it remains tighter and more controlled than many competing OLED TVs. Explosive movie scenes can still push the speakers slightly beyond their comfort zone, though overall performance is impressive for integrated TV audio.
A dedicated soundbar will still improve the experience significantly, but the built-in speakers are absolutely usable for everyday viewing.
Smart Features and AI Enhancements
Samsung continues to evolve its Tizen platform, and the newest version feels faster and more intelligent than previous generations.
The updated AI features are heavily integrated throughout the interface. Samsung now includes both Copilot and Perplexity AI support directly inside the TV ecosystem, alongside enhanced voice controls and smarter content recommendations.
The new AI picture optimization tools also appear more useful this year rather than purely gimmicky. Upscaling, contrast handling, and motion clarity all benefit from the improved processing power.
Gamers also gain access to enhanced HDR10+ Gaming support and more advanced VRR handling.
One notable omission remains Dolby Vision support. Samsung continues to back HDR10+ instead, which may frustrate home theater enthusiasts heavily invested in Dolby Vision content.
Conclusion
The Samsung QE65S90H proves that great OLED performance is about far more than panel technology alone.
Even without QD-OLED, Samsung has created a television that delivers stunning contrast, superb HDR brightness, elite gaming performance, and genuinely refined image processing. The anti-glare coating makes it especially appealing for brighter living rooms where many OLEDs struggle.
Filmmaker Mode alone makes this TV easy to recommend for movie enthusiasts, while gamers will love the 165Hz support and extensive HDMI 2.1 features.
The lack of Dolby Vision remains frustrating, and some viewers may still prefer the extra color intensity of Samsung’s older QD-OLED models. But taken as a complete package, the S90H feels more mature, balanced, and versatile than many of its rivals.
Samsung didn’t just replace QD-OLED here.
It proved it could build a brilliant OLED TV without it.