Okay, so let’s be honest. But there’s a catch.
When Samsung announced the S90F, I was skeptical.
We just got the S90B last year, right? Did we really need a refresh already? I spent about two weeks living with the QD-OLED S90F in my living room—watching everything from gritty action movies to competitive Valorant matches—to see if this refresh actually matters or if it’s just a cash grab. Here’s the interesting part.
Spoiler alert: It’s not just a refresh.
This thing is actually a beast, especially if you know how to tweak it.
What is the Samsung QD-OLED S90F?
The S90F is essentially the heir to the Samsung S90B throne.
It keeps that signature glass bezel-less design that looks so clean sitting on a media console.
It’s not just pretty, though.
This model uses Samsung’s QD-OLED panel, which mixes quantum dots with organic light-emitting diodes.
Basically, you get the deep blacks of OLED with the bright, punchy colors of Samsung’s QLED tech.
It’s a hybrid approach, and honestly, it works really well.
The Picture Quality Deep Dive
First off, the blacks.
Like, actual black.
If you watch a lot of sci-fi or movies with dark scenes, the S90F handles them perfectly.
The contrast is insane.
But here is the part most people miss: the brightness.
Standard OLEDs can struggle in direct sunlight.
The QD-OLED tech in the S90F pushes way more nits of brightness than older models.
I noticed that even when the sun was glaring through the curtains in my office, the TV held its own without looking washed out.
However, from what I’ve seen in user forums, a lot of folks complain about the default settings.
Samsung ships these TVs with a ‘Motion Plus’ or ‘Enhance’ mode turned on that washes out the contrast.
If you turn that stuff off, you get that ‘Cinematic Mode’ look that reviewers rave about. And this is where things get interesting.
It took me a bit of tinkering to get it right, but the result is stunning.
Smart Features and One UI 6
Speaking of smart features, the S90F runs on Samsung’s Tizen OS, updated to the latest One UI 6.
It feels snappy.
Opening apps like Netflix or Disney+ is almost instant.
The interface is familiar, which is a good thing if you’ve owned a Samsung before.
I did notice that the voice search is surprisingly accurate, even when talking over the TV noise.
One thing I wish Samsung would fix is the app interface.
It’s cluttered.
There are too many ads for other services inside the Netflix or Prime Video apps sometimes.
But for general browsing and casting from your phone, it’s solid.
Gaming Performance: The 144Hz Reality
If you are a gamer, this is where the S90F shines.
It supports 4K at 144Hz with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
Connecting my PS5 and Xbox Series X was plug-and-play.
I had to enable ‘Game Mode Plus’ in the settings, but after that, the input lag was virtually non-existent. And this is where things get interesting.
Watching the motion smoothing in high-frame-rate games like Cyberpunk 2077 looked incredibly smooth without that ‘soap opera effect’ you get on cheap TVs.
One small gripe I have is the stand.
It’s adjustable, sure, but it doesn’t swivel much.
You have to physically move the TV if you want to change the viewing angle.
It’s not a dealbreaker, just annoying when you are setting up the room.
Is There Any Downsides?
Nothing is perfect, obviously.
The biggest issue people face is backlight bleeding.
Sometimes, when there is a completely black screen with no content, you can see a tiny glow around the edges.
It’s more common on 55-inch models than the 65-inch or 77-inch ones.
It’s annoying, sure, but it doesn’t ruin the movie experience.
- Backlight bleeding is noticeable on 55″ models.
- The web browser is outdated and slow.
- Price can be steep if you want the 77″ version.
Price and Value
Here is the tricky part.
The S90F is pricey.
When I bought mine, the price tag was around $1,800 for the 65-inch model. Oddly enough,
Is it worth it? If you compare it to the LG C3 or C4, the Samsung feels a bit more expensive for similar panel tech.
But, you get the smart features and the design language that many people prefer.
If you can find a deal—sometimes retailers like have it for $100 less—it becomes a much easier recommendation.
Speaking of deals, if you aren’t tied to Samsung, the LG C3 is still a fierce competitor, but the S90F has a slightly warmer color tone that some people find more natural for movies.
Final Verdict
So, is the Samsung S90F still the king? Well, it’s definitely the king of design and the user interface experience. Now think about that for a second.
If you want a TV that looks amazing out of the box and handles gaming perfectly, it’s hard to beat.
The picture quality is top-tier, especially once you disable all those extra processing settings.
Just make sure you check the screen for dead pixels before you leave the store, and maybe grab a soundbar if you want to hear the explosions.
It’s a fantastic TV, but buyer beware of the price fluctuations.
Image source: pexels.com
Image source credit: pexels.com
