By Chris Skeldon 
Just last year Samsung got on board with OLED screens: they were the last of the major manufacturers to do so. The focus of the South Korean giant was mainly on merging Quantum Dot technology on the LCD. Another recent suggestion is technology Micro LEDAnd at a very high price.
Samsung’s OLED panels, if it weren’t for a big bet by the manufacturer, use a layer of Quantum dots, resulting in a new hybrid technology, which can also be found in some Sony TVs. The goal is to maintain the likes OLED contrast And complement them with higher levels of brightness and more accurate color reproduction.
DECO PROTESTE took four Samsung OLED TVs from the series S90C that it 92 c, and found overall quality to range from 74% (good) to 79% (very good), slightly higher than models launched by the brand in 2022, but below the performance achieved by the competing LG C3 series, which the consumer organization also tested. Prices, from 2022 to 2023, are More expensive In the order of hundreds of euros, which seems to be expected in the case of models that are still very recent.
All things considered, anyone who wants an OLED panel is better served with one LG from C2 series or even A2, which offer high quality without claiming a very exorbitant price. Between LG’s C3 and C2 series it’s hundreds of euros more, without that translating into much higher quality. Only for gamers with consoles of the latest generation, the Series A will be less interesting, due to the absence of the FreeSync protocol, which makes it easier to connect to a TV, and the screen frequency, which is limited to 60 Hz. See all the options in the DECO PROTESTE TV comparison.
Samsung OLED with very high brightness levels
Samsung’s Quantum Dot OLED displays are ultra-thin with minimal bezels Aesthetically well done, although they have some volume in the lower part, where the connectors are located. The substrate is very strong and advanced good stability.
Samsung’s new OLED displays have a resolution of 4K and a native frequency of 144Hz. included Neural Quantum Processor 4K image processors, promising to outperform ordinary OLEDs in various technical parameters, such as brightness, color reproduction, power consumption and panel longevity. This image processor also promises good results in reproducing low-resolution videos (Upgrade) or details in dark areas of the images. Did Samsung’s Quantum Dot deliver on its promises in the lab?
Measurements made by DECO PROTESTE technicians are revealed Really very high brightness levels, above those found, as a rule, on OLED panels. This is an interesting ability for 4K content, with HDR (contrast enhancement) enabled. Guaranteed major format compatibility: HDR 10, HDR 10+ Gaming, HDR10 + Adaptive, and HLG.
To reproduce the sound, the OLED screens that Samsung launched in 2023 appeared Three columns On the back, with a total power of 40W. Compatibility with Dolby Atmos and object tracking audio protocols helps achieve some audio immersion. Despite the fact that this effect is always weak and imprecise on TVs, Samsung’s OLED screens with Quantum Dot technology stand out favorably when compared to the competition: there’s a clear separation between sound channels and there’s some perception of envelope effect.
Analyzed televisions also allow for Headphone connection bluetooth, while accepting two devices simultaneously. But there are more connectivity possibilities: four HDMI 2.1 inputs, two USB ports, network connectivity and Wi-Fi 5 are part of the range offered. For receiving content transmitted from mobile devices, Samsung OLED displays rely on protocols broadcast that it ejaculaterespectively, for iOS and Android devices.
Samsung’s new OLED screens haven’t forgotten about gaming
As is typical of high-end TVs, the possibilities for the games covered from scratch. These inputs support HDMI 2.1 Resolution up to 4K, at 120Hz. Compatibility with the FreeSync protocol facilitates communication between the TV and the game console. In turn, the presence of a certain picture mode reduces latency, that is, the time between a command and its actual execution. The TV automatically switches to game mode when the console starts up. All of these decisions can be entered in the game bar (game bar), which allows, for example, to zoom in on a specific area of an image, such as a game map.
In addition: Samsung Gaming Hub gives you access to flow of games, such as Xbox Game Pass or NVidia GeForce NOW. If you have one of these subscriptions, simply use a compatible console, such as the latest Xbox or PlayStation, to play titles with higher graphics capacity without the need for a console or computer.
Higher quality image after calibration
In the fire test, the S90C and 92C series models tested by DECO PROTESTE showed high performance. After calibration, the file Pictures showed great sharpness and vivid coloursnatural appearance and Good liquidity, although a loss of some detail was sometimes noticeable in the darker areas. There was also a slight trend towards an artificial representation of skin colour. Contrast is very high and well balanced.
When playing 4K videos and contrast-enhancing (HDR), these Quantum Dot OLED screens impressed a panel of reviewers. Quality dropped with stock image settings: color temperature a bit cool, brightness a bit too much. However, the uncalibrated image remains at a good level.
Clear, rich and detailed sound with powerful bass
Among Samsung’s OLED screens analyzed by DECO PROTESTE, 65 inches returns a Really excellent sound, well balanced, achieving the highest score on this criterion to date. Count on clarity, richness, detail, and punchy bass notes, a combination that results in a very pleasing sound. The vast majority of TVs do not need to be connected to an amplifier, as they already emit high quality sound by default.
The 55-inch panels also produce high-quality sound, even if it’s a bit lower-end. When exposed to higher volumes or more bass, there are scattered vibrations in the frame.
To evaluate the sound quality, the original parameters were used, that is, with the equalizer turned off.
Very moderate consumption
After calibrating the image, DECO PROTESTE technicians signed up consumption relatively mild, Between 75 watts for 55-inch screens and 80 watts for 65-inch models. With the original settings, the values increased slightly for 55- and 65-inch TVs, although they remained moderate.
For consumption measurement purposes, televisions are calibrated for use in a slightly darkened room with some indirect artificial lighting.
Very intuitive use
with OS – Tizen – Very well designed and widely compatible with apps flow (eg Netflix, YouTube, Spotify) and Samsung OLED Quantum Dot S90C and 92C series taken to lab by DECO PROTESTE easy to use, although the remote control may require an adjustment period. a design minimum, with a few direct access keys (missing, for example, the number keys), doesn’t help. But, after the initial period, the experience of using the console, which can be charged by sunlight, becomes enjoyable.
The smartTV platform is very quick to start and allows for smooth use. a Initial setup can be done by mobile phone, which greatly simplifies the process. Getting to manage privacy options is simple, and the manufacturer claims an eight-year software update period. The most frequently used apps can be accessed from the home page, without scrolling. That’s not the case with the video inputs and settings menu, which require some scrolling for the user to find. The App Store is also relatively slow to get started. Not practical, to install new applications, you need to register.
On the main screen there are recommendations for TV channels, but also for services flow paid. This is forced advertising, which steals space on the home screen for more useful options, but it’s not an exclusive Samsung practice. On the contrary, it has become a general trend.
Interesting is the sign it refers to devices connected to the home network (The Internet of things). Video surveillance cameras, smart lighting, networked washing machines or other equipment can thus be monitored by TV.
Very useful for searching for content without typing the name. Voice assistants are also available: on analyzed TVs this is the case Amazon Alexa he is from Bixbythe owner of Samsung.
Undisguised cable concealment solution
Shows the solution implemented to hide the cables it is not practical: It is true that fasteners can be used, but they do not provide great stability and do not allow to completely hide the wires. Samsung itself has a much better solution on some models: the One Connect Box, which is a box in which all connections are integrated, and connected by a single cable to the TV.
The positive is the access to connections, when the TV is mounted on a wall bracket. In many cases, this is a real nightmare: here, it’s easily done from the side.