Not sure which Samsung TV you should buy in 2023? We take a closer look at both the SamsungS95C OLED TV and QN95C Neo QLED TV to see how they stack up in terms of design, performance and more.
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00:00 This is the new Samsung QN95C Neo QLED TV.
00:04 And this is the S95C OLED TV.
00:06 I'm here to get an early look at both sets to see how Samsung's flagship OLED
00:11 and flagship QLED TV technologies compare for 2023.
00:15 Let's go take a closer look.
00:16 Having reviewed the previous gen QN95B not that long ago,
00:25 I can instantly see some big changes in design.
00:28 While it still has the same uniform chassis,
00:32 the big difference now is that all the ports are actually built right into the TV back here.
00:38 You might remember the QN95B had the Samsung One Connect box.
00:43 So even though they've gotten rid of the One Connect box,
00:45 there's still a solution to keep your cables tidy.
00:48 There are these little divots here that you could feed the cords through,
00:51 and then you can feed them through the stand.
00:52 They'll come out here, and that way you have a nice clean look for your entertainment setup.
00:57 You're looking at a pretty big difference in terms of design for the S95C and QN95C.
01:03 For one, this panel is a lot thinner.
01:06 This is OLED. This is what you'd expect.
01:08 This really sleek, thin profile.
01:10 And why this is the case is the One Connect box.
01:13 If you have this TV mounted up on the wall,
01:15 you could put the One Connect box somewhere that's a bit more easy to access.
01:19 Right here, we're looking at the 65-inch configuration of the QN95C.
01:24 That is a very popular configuration, but it does also go up to 75 and 85 inches
01:29 with the same panel technology.
01:31 Another major difference is that the S95C only comes in a 77-inch configuration.
01:36 Samsung is keeping the previous gen S95B on the market in the 65 and 55-inch options,
01:43 but if you want the latest OLED technology from Samsung,
01:47 your option is the 77-inch configuration.
01:50 If you are shopping for a new TV, those size limitations are something to be aware of.
01:54 Samsung has doubled the number of local dimming zones in its flagship mini-LED TV.
01:59 And what that means is that in these high-contrast scenes,
02:02 the light shouldn't be spilling so much into the dark.
02:04 That was a little bit of a nitpicky problem that I had with the last gen model.
02:08 I have to say I do really see an improvement.
02:11 Even here, you get these crisp lines.
02:12 There's no question of the definition around the different shapes,
02:17 again, in these high-contrast scenes.
02:19 And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that right now,
02:22 we're talking about this TV in a lit room with overhead fluorescent lights,
02:27 and the picture in color is still holding up.
02:29 Now, if I were to turn the lights off, the colors are going to pop a lot more.
02:34 That's really the ideal setting for watching this TV.
02:38 This has come the closest to rivaling OLED's off-angle viewing from any TV I think I've ever seen.
02:43 You will lose a little bit of the vibrancy of the blacks when you go off-angle,
02:47 which is something you won't see from OLED.
02:49 But overall, very good.
02:51 The color isn't skewing.
02:52 You're still getting a nice vibrant color, especially on these greens and yellows.
02:56 They're not skewing in any way, which is something that
02:59 I would definitely notice from standing at this angle on a lot of other TVs.
03:02 Two upgrades in terms of performance that are worth pointing out for the S95C.
03:08 The first is a promised improvement to brightness.
03:10 That was a bit lackluster last year.
03:13 I am seeing a bit better brightness for sure,
03:15 although this TV is still not truly made to be watched under these lights.
03:20 If you want those perfect inky blacks, the OLED is the way to go over QLED.
03:24 You're going to get much more refinement in these darker spots.
03:28 Oh my god, it's so huge!
03:32 Oh my god.
03:33 See, there is so much detail right here in the fur.
03:37 So many different shades of black and gray.
03:42 What you expect from OLED, of course, but glad to know that it's holding up here.
03:45 The other key performance upgrade is the 144Hz panel.
03:50 Yes, that's also on the QN95C.
03:53 But why it's so exciting for the S95C in particular is that last year's S95B
03:59 had the lowest measured lag time of any premium TV we've tested.
04:03 So assuming Samsung hasn't made any big changes there,
04:06 we could be looking at one of the top gaming TV options for 2023.
04:10 In terms of sound, you're getting Samsung's object tracking sound technology,
04:15 which basically uses speakers on different sides of the TV
04:18 to help create the effect of following sound as it moves across the scene.
04:22 But Samsung's taking it one step further with its Q-Symphony feature.
04:25 Now that's been around, that's when the speakers actually work with
04:28 a sound bar to create a full soundscape.
04:31 The upgraded version, Q-Symphony 3.0, now uses neural networks to determine
04:36 the layering of the sound between the sound bar and the TV,
04:39 so you should get a more balanced soundscape overall.
04:42 Like the QN95C, the S95C OLED TV is loaded with Samsung's premium audio technologies.
04:49 That said, listening to the two TVs in the same space,
04:52 the S95C is a bit more flat than the QN95C.
04:57 I think that has to do with the sides of the panels and how much speaker hardware
05:00 can actually be fitted into a TV's back panel.
05:03 If you're going to opt for this TV, I definitely recommend considering a sound bar to go with it,
05:08 especially because it has Samsung's Q-Symphony feature,
05:11 although it doesn't have the Q-Symphony 3.0 that has that advanced computing.
05:15 That one is on the QN95C.
05:17 In terms of smart features, QN95C, S95C, they're the same.
05:24 Samsung's 2023 platform looks like this.
05:27 There really weren't a lot of changes introduced this year,
05:29 but you should get a feel for it.
05:31 The only change that I would like to point out is the remote.
05:34 Same remote for the S95C and QN95C, but it's different than years past.
05:39 It's a bit slimmer. It kind of reminds me of the Apple TV remote.
05:42 You still have some dedicated launchers, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video,
05:46 Samsung TV+, if you use these apps. It's obviously very convenient.
05:49 The final factor to consider between the two TVs is price.
05:54 The 77-inch S95C is a little bit more expensive than the QN95C.
05:59 The 77-inch S95C costs $4,500, while the 75-inch QN95C costs $4,200.
06:09 So not a huge price difference for the comparable screen sizes.
06:12 Instead, you're going to think about what you're looking for out of your TV.
06:16 If you have that room with a lot of ambient lighting,
06:18 you want more screen options, off-angle viewing,
06:21 the QN95C is probably going to be the right choice for you.
06:25 But if you care a lot about gaming and getting those deep blacks,
06:28 you're probably going to want the QN95C.
06:31 And if you're looking for a more comfortable gaming movie room,
06:34 Samsung's OLED technology is really upping its game.
06:37 So let me know in the comments which one of these two TVs you'd want to get your hands on.
06:42 You can also let us know on social, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @tomsguy.
06:46 And as always, I'm @kaycosage. Thanks for watching. I'll catch you next time.
06:50 (upbeat music)