Samsung’s latest OLED is the best we’ve seen yet
LED-backlit LCDs usually get much brighter than OLED TVs, but OLEDs are typically better at displaying perfect black levels and wider color ranges. The Samsung S95C OLED TV ($4,499.99 for 77 inches), a replacement to last year’s S95B, is resetting those expectations as the brightest OLED model we’ve tested. Its digital cinema-worthy color range, low input lag, and excellent feature set help it unseat the LG C2 ($3,499.99 for the 77-inch model) as our Editors’ Choice winner for OLED TVs even though it only comes in one gigantic size. Just be ready to spend for it.Thin and Minimal
The S95C’s design looks almost identical to that of the QN95C, though it’s slightly thinner. It has a nearly bezel-free appearance, with only a slim metallic band running along the sides and top of the screen. A narrow strip anchors the bottom edge visually, while a small plastic rectangle with the Samsung logo protrudes from the lower right corner. The whole unit sits atop a sturdy gunmetal base, but you can opt for a VESA mount if you prefer.
Instead of ports on the back of the screen, the S96C uses a separate OneConnect control box that attaches via a single thin wire. This is handy if you want to create the illusion of a floating screen, but it means all your video sources plug into the box and not the TV itself. It offers all of the same input options as the 8K Samsung QN900C, including four HDMI ports (one eARC), two USB ports, one ethernet port, an optical audio output, a 3.5mm RS-232C port, an antenna/cable connector, and the proprietary port for the OneConnect cable.
The S95C uses the same Eco Remote as Samsung’s other current flagship TVs. It’s a slim wand with a built-in rechargeable battery. You can flip it over and allow the solar panel to charge it or plug it in via a USB-C port on the bottom. It features a large circular navigation pad near the top, with power, voice, and settings buttons above it surrounding a pinhole microphone. Back, home, and playback buttons, volume and channel rockers, and dedicated service buttons for Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, and Samsung TV Plus reside further down.All the Features
Samsung’s Tizen-based Smart TV interface has lots of powerful features, but it continues to rely on a somewhat frustrating menu design.
On the plus side, you get access to most major video streaming services including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Netflix. The TV also supports Apple AirPlay 2 for streaming from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Additionally, a far-field mic in the TV enables hands-free interface control via the Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby voice assistants, but not Google Assistant.
Despite these desirable features, Samsung Smart TV has an irritating tendency to place important settings a layer or two deeper in the menu system than on competing platforms. This is particularly annoying if you ever need to switch the input source, for instance. The remote lacks an input button, which means you need to wade into the TV’s main menu for this basic task.
