Choosing your next television can be an overwhelming experience with the wide range of display technologies and models available today. Two premium options that stand out are Samsung‘s brand new QN95C QLED TV and their impressive S95B OLED model. But which provides the better viewing experience for different needs?
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll compare these top-tier Samsung displays across critical factors like picture quality, gaming performance, features and design to determine the right fit for you.
Overview of QLED and OLED Display Technology
Before diving into the specifics of the QN95C and S95B, it‘s helpful to understand what makes QLED and OLED TVs unique at a technological level.
QLED, which stands for Quantum Dot LED, utilizes an advanced variant of traditional LCD/LED technology. An LCD panel is combined with a quantum dot film and full array local dimming (FALD) backlight. This combination enables superior control of backlight precision for better contrast and peak brightness.
Comparatively, Organic LED TVs utilize independent self-emissive pixels that individually turn on and off to display image. This enables essentially infinite contrast since true blacks are displayed by powering off individual pixels completely.
Strengths and Weaknesses
QLED strengths include exceptional brightness, saturated colors, stability over time and affordability. However, the underlying LCD panel can limit viewing angles and complicates achieving true blacks.
OLED strengths lie in perfect blacks, wide viewing angles and thin/sleek designs. But peak brightness is lower than QLED and OLED panels can show image retention over time. Lifespan and pricing are also considerations.
Understanding these core advantages and disadvantages provides helpful context as we pit Samsung‘s latest head-to-head.
Picture Quality Showdown: QN95C vs. S95B
Picture quality is pivotal to any television buying decision. Samsung‘s QN95C and S95B represent the pinnacle of what both QLED and OLED technologies can achieve, but which comes out on top?
Black Levels and Contrast
Inky blacks are essential for a premium image. Here, OLED holds a fundamental advantage with its per pixel lighting control. The S95B delivers effectively perfect blacks for jaw-dropping contrast. Even bright scenes show shadow detail thanks to the self-emissive design.
The QN95C must work harder to achieve darker blacks through FALD dimming and anti-reflective layers. This helps improve black levels significantly from older QLED models, but some light blooming can still occur around bright objects. Overall contrast is very strong, but not quite on par with OLED.
Winner: Samsung S95B OLED
Peak Brightness and HDR
When it comes to showcasing vibrant, eye-popping HDR content, QLED‘s higher peak brightness gives it the edge.
The QN95C achieves searing brightness exceeding 2000 nits. This allows HDR material to deliver closer to its full dynamic range impact. Explosions, daylight scenes and other bright imagery appear closer to real-world levels.
While no slouch, the S95B caps out at around 800 nits brightness. Still impressive, but not enough to make the most of HDR‘s expanded luminance range.
Winner: Samsung QN95C QLED
Color Accuracy
QLED quantum dots and OLED materials both provide extremely wide color gamuts. Each can display over 99% of the cinema DCI-P3 standard for rich, saturated hues.
Both TVs offer extensive calibration options to fine tune color accuracy. The QN95C excels slightly thanks to Samsung‘s updated warm/cool white balance controls. Its quantum dots seem to require less adjustment overall as well.
That said, color differences between the sets are quite subtle. Real-world content looks beautiful and nuanced on both models.
Winner: Samsung QN95C QLED
Viewing Angles
OLED‘s per pixel lighting affords it virtually perfect viewing angles with no distortion or color shifting. Images look consistent regardless of your seat position.
With an LCD panel, QLED viewing angles fall behind somewhat. Colors can shift mildly when viewed significantly off-center. It‘s less of an issue with modern VA panel improvements, but still can‘t match OLED.
Winner: Samsung S95B OLED
Motion Handling
Fast moving sports and action scenes require solid motion performance to avoid blurring. Here the QN95C‘s higher 144Hz refresh rate gives it better fluidity and clarity with motion.
The S95B‘s 120Hz refresh capably smooths motion as well, but can exhibit slight stutter with exceptionally fast content. OLED‘s instant pixel response helps minimize overall blur though.
Those sensitive to motion jitter may still prefer the cleaner, sharper movement the QN95C showcases particularly for gaming or sports.
Winner: Samsung QN95C QLED
Upscaling Quality
Both TVs do an excellent job upscaling lower resolution content like cable TV or older media. Improved processing effectively simulates additional detail and sharpness.
Upscaling and motion handling go hand-in-hand here. The QN95C again outperforms with its faster refresh rate preserving clarity with moving HD footage. Diagonal lines and small text appear cleaner upscaled to 4K by the QN95C.
Winner: Samsung QN95C QLED
Gaming Performance Face-Off
Gaming is better than ever on modern televisions, but subtle performance differences still impact play. Here‘s how the QN95C and S95B gaming prowess compares.
HDMI 2.1 Support
Great news – both TVs include full HDMI 2.1 inputs enabling 4K/120Hz gaming and variable refresh rate (VRR). This allows ultra smooth visuals when paired with a PS5, Xbox Series X or high-end gaming PC.
Input Lag
Minimizing input lag is vital for responsive controls, and both displays clock in at very fast speeds. In its lower latency Game Mode, the QN95C posts impressive 5.3ms input lag while the S95B follows just behind at 8.7ms. Either option leaves virtually no perceptible controller delay.
VRR Implementation
VRR support enables dynamic syncing of the screen‘s refresh rate to the game‘s frame rate for smooth, tear-free visuals. Both Samsung sets support AMD FreeSync and HDMI Forum VRR.
For newer Nvidia cards, only the QN95C has official G-Sync certification ensuring full compatibility. The S95B lacks this formal verification, though users report G-Sync still works fairly well.
Dedicated Gaming Features
Unique gaming options provide additional advantages. The QN95C includes Samsung Gaming Hub – an integrated cloud gaming portal for services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now. This allows convenient streaming access without a console.
Meanwhile, the S95B uniquely supports Dolby Vision gaming at 4K 120Hz. For titles mastered in Dolby Vision, this enables superior HDR picture quality.
Ultimately for gaming, the QN95C delivers very slightly better all-around performance, but both sets are excellent choices to pair with the latest consoles or gaming PCs.
Winner: Samsung QN95C QLED
Sound Design and Audio Support
While most home theater enthusiasts utilize dedicated surround sound setups, the built-in speakers still impact everyday viewing. And both QN95C and S95B sets produce impressive spatial audio given their slim form factors.
The QN95C‘s audio seems to carry more volume and weight thanks to built-in woofers housed inside the chassis. Side-firing speakers then distribute sound clearly and evenly throughout your space. The S95B comparably has less low-end punch to its audio profile leading to occasional thinness.
In terms of surround format support, each television can decode leading Dolby and DTS formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. This ensures external systems can deliver convincing 3D spaciousness. The QN95C does add DTS Virtual:X processing for virtual height effects from its own speakers – a nice bonus.
While minor differences, the more impactful acoustic presence gives the QN95C another close win.
Winner: Samsung QN95C QLED
Smart TV & Special Features
Samsung packs both the QN95C and S95B with its latest smart TV platform: Tizen OS. This intuitive operating system makes navigating apps and inputs simple while putting numerous streaming services front and center.
The interface experience feels practically identical between both models with smooth navigation and robust app support. Unique to the QN95C is Samsung Gaming Hub – a novel cloud streaming portal built right into Tizen.
Both TVs can connect wirelessly with other smart home devices as part of Samsung‘s SmartThings ecosystem. This enables TV integration with home security cameras, video doorbells and more. You can even control compatible IoT gear through the TV‘s interface.
In terms of special display modes, both models feature built-in Art Mode – perfect for customizing the wall-art aesthetic while the TV is idle. Ambient Mode offers likewise to display attractive backdrops, notifications and widgets.
One tiny perk of the S95B lies in its integrated smart remote which includes point, click and voice control support. By comparison, the QN95C packaging lacks Samsung‘s newest remote – an odd omission.
For software and smart connectivity, Samsung maintains excellent feature parity between both premium displays. The QN95C pulls ahead slightly thanks to its novel Game Hub.
Winner: Samsung QN95C QLED
Design and Build Quality
With both TVs positioned as luxury offerings, you expect superb construction and aesthetics. In these areas, the sets share many comparable design cues but still hold subtle differences.
The QN95C sports a traditional flat panel form factor with excellent material quality throughout. Sturdy metal stands and bezel styling project durability while detachable connection panels enable tidy cable routing. Visible vents are positioned discretely along the backside as well.
By adopting a new anti-reflective coating dubbed ‘Matte Display‘, the QN95C significantly cuts down on glare and fingerprints across its screen. This helps the image stand out in brighter rooms.
The S95B delivers an exceptionally trim profile courtesy of OLED technology. It forgoes the need for large backlights enabling a perfectly flat rear that hug walls snugly. This ultra-thin aesthetic makes an impressive statement. The S95B includes the same refined metal stands and detachable ports as the QN95C too.
Both models support standard VESA mounting for versatile placement. All in all, build quality and construction feel similarly premium across these top-shelf Samsung 4K TVs. The S95B‘s svelte form factor gives it a hair‘s edge in attractiveness. But the QN95C‘s anti-glare display provides better usability perks.
Winner: Tie
The S95B OLED (right) delivers sleeker styling while the QN95C QLED (left) cuts reflection and glare. © Samsung
Pricing Showdown: Which Provides Better Value?
With dazzling performance across the board, neither of these television comes cheap. But just looking at MSRP the QN95C holds a significant price advantage over the S95B.
A 65-inch Samsung QN95C is listed at $3,299 – a premium price reserved for high-end gear. Comparatively, the 65-inch S95B clocks in at a lofty $4,000. And going even bigger sees that price delta increase further.
Of course, real world deals and bundles can change the math. Currently, both sets are discounted by 30% or more at many retailers. That takes the 65-inch QN95C to around $2,200 while the S95B sits just under $3,000.
Considering the QN95C matches or outperforms the S95B across most picture, gaming, sound and feature metrics, this makes the newer QLED the undisputed value choice pound for pound. Yes the S95B still delivers superior contrast and viewing angles. But for the hundreds saved opting for QN95C instead, its well worth those minimal trade-offs for most buyers.
Winner: Samsung QN95C QLED
Bottom Line: QN95C Triumphs with Performance and Value
After tallying up their talents across all relevant television metrics, the innovative Samsung QN95C QLED proves itself as this year‘s flagship display to beat.
Boasting brightness, color and contrast that competes head to head with OLED, the QN95C minimizes the technology‘s typical weaknesses for a stellar all-around viewing experience. Gamers will appreciate its cutting-edge optimizations as well including a silky smooth 144Hz variable refresh rate. And Samsung‘s brand new anti-glare tech helps the picture shine in any room.
The S95B OLED remains an outstanding performer as well – potentially the better choice for videophiles wanting perfect blacks and off-angle viewing. Cost-no-object home theater aficionados may also prefer the S95B‘s slim aesthetic design. But for under $3,000, the QN95C delivers near equal virtues while saving hundreds over its OLED rival.
So while both televisions earn our strong recommendations, the wider value proposition of Samsung‘s 2023 QLED flagship ultimately tips the scales in its favor. The QN95C stands tall as Samsung‘s most spectacular television package releasing this year.
FAQs About the Samsung QN95C QLED and S95B OLED TVs
Q: Which TV model has better sound quality?
A: The Samsung QN95C QLED TV offers slightly better overall audio performance thanks to dedicated built-in woofers and DTS Virtual:X spatial processing.
Q: Can the S95B OLED TV get bright enough for well-lit rooms?
A: While the QN95C QLED may be better suited for very bright rooms, the S95B OLED still produces ample brightness for most environments, achieving nearly 800 nits peak.
Q: Do these TVs come with Samsung‘s smart remote?
A: Unfortunately the QN95C packaging lacks Samsung‘s latest smart remote. But the S95B OLED model does ship with the voice-enabled point and click remote included.
Q: What size options are available for these displays?
A: For 2023, Samsung is releasing the QN95C in 55, 65, 75, 85 and 98-inch variants. The S95B comes in 42, 48, 55, 65 and 77-inch options catering to a range of room sizes.
Q: Which TV is the better pick for gaming – the QN95C or S95B?
A: With superior input lag measures, 144Hz VRR support and exclusive cloud gaming features, the QN95C QLED is the superior platform for gaming. But the S95B remains highly capable as well.
Ready to Upgrade to an Superb Samsung Television?
Hopefully this detailed comparison breakdown gives you the information needed to evaluate which advanced Samsung TV fits best for your budget. While awesome across the board, I personally think the QN95C QLED offers the most complete package with impressive picture fidelity to rival OLED and far-reaching gaming support. Value shoppers in particular unlock unbeatable performance for the price.
But whichever display you choose, upgrading to one of these state-of-the-art televisions is sure to kickstart countless nights of premium entertainment. Happy shopping!
