Samsung continues to push the boundaries of TV technology with their newly announced Micro LED CX TV, revealed at CES 2023. Using next-generation Micro LED self-emissive technology instead of traditional LCD or OLED, the Micro LED CX promises improvements across the board – increased brightness, longer lifespan, better viewing angles and more.
But with the top-of-the-line Micro LED CX expected to cost over 10 times more than Samsung‘s existing flagship consumer OLED TV, the S95B, is this gigantic price premium actually justified for most buyers? In this in-depth comparison review, we analyze how the S95B and Micro LED CX stack up across all metrics to determine which is the better choice for varying buyer needs and budgets.
OLED vs Micro LED Technology Overview
Before diving into Samsung‘s specific models, it‘s important to understand the core differences between OLED and Micro LED displays in general.
OLED uses organic light-emitting diodes made of thin-film organic semiconductor material sandwiched between two conductors that emits its own light when electricity passes through. Key advantages of OLED technology include:
- Self-emissive pixels with infinite contrast ratios and perfect black levels
- Wide viewing angles with reduced color shifting
- Very fast response time and motion clarity
- Thin, lightweight and flexible panel designs
Downsides of OLED can include:
- Possible temporary image retention and permanent burn-in over time
- Peak brightness typically lower than LED/LCD displays
- Color accuracy can degrade over lifespan as blue OLEDs wear out faster
Micro LED also uses self-emissive technology, but instead utilizes tiny non-organic LEDs as the light source for each individual pixel. Benefits of Micro LED include:
- Doesn‘t suffer from OLED burn-in as inorganic LEDs last much longer
- Significantly higher peak brightness reaching over 2000 nits
- Longer overall lifespan with less color degradation over time
- Easy to manufacture very large screen sizes over 100 inches
The main limitation currently is very high production costs, leading to astronomical pricing. Manufacturing challenges also constrain how small Micro LED pixels can get versus OLED resolution.
Winner: Draw – Both are self-emissive technologies capable of exceptional picture quality, but OLED is more affordable while Micro LED promises higher durability and brightness.
Image Quality Comparison
Analyzing technical measurements and real-world performance is crucial to judging true image quality between the S95B and Micro LED CX.
Black Levels & Contrast
With both TVs using self-emissive technology where each pixel generates its own light, they‘re capable of essentially infinite contrast for perfectly deep, inky blacks. This leads to outstanding shadow detail in dark scenes andadds major depth to images.
Winner: Draw – Contrast should be equally impressive on both Samsung displays.
Peak Brightness
The Micro LED CX‘s inorganic LEDs can reach much higher brightness than any OLED panel. Samsung lists peak brightness up to 4000 nits for the Micro LED, whereas the S95B OLED is limited to around 1300 nits peak.
The far higher peak luminosity allows the CX to deliver much better HDR pop and picture accuracy in bright viewing environments.
Winner: Micro LED – Far superior peak brightness gives CX the edge.
Local Dimming & Backlight Uniformity
Both TVs have pixel-level local dimming rather than zones, thanks to self-emissive technology. This allows perfect black level and precision contrast control across the entire screen.
Winner: Draw – Excellent local dimming and backlight uniformity on both.
Viewing Angles
OLED is renowned for its near 180-degree viewing angles with no color shifting or loss of contrast at wide angles. Samsung has not released official viewing angle stats for their Micro LED, but its likely in-between OLED and traditional LED/LCD TVs.
Winner: OLED – Expect better viewing angles on S95B panel.
Motion Handling
The Micro LED CX boosts its native refresh rate up to 240Hz versus 120Hz on the S95B. Coupled with fast response times, this promises outstanding motion resolution and clarity for sports, gaming and movies.
Winner: Micro LED – Smoother, sharper motion handling.
Color Accuracy
Samsung claims "true-to-life" color accuracy on the Micro LED CX, but hasn‘t confirmed if it matches the S95B‘s Pantone Validated certification yet. Expect superb, highly realistic color on both though.
Winner: Draw – Too early to declare winner here, but color should be excellent on both.
Resolution
Both TVs offer 4K resolution with AI upscaling for lower resolution content. So no meaningful difference here.
Winner: Draw
Real-World Picture Quality
Based on their technology and specs, both TVs are capable of exceptional overall image quality that‘s extremely realistic with vibrant colors and textures. The Micro LED CX pulls ahead primarily thanks to its far higher peak brightness, allowing it to truly shine in well-lit living rooms.
The S95B lacks the same HDR punch but is still able to deliver gorgeous contrast and color at all but the brightest light levels. It represents outstanding real-world picture performance for OLED technology.
Winner: Micro LED – Better overall picture quality expected thanks to increased brightness.
Audio Comparison
Beyond pure visuals, sound quality greatly impacts the overall viewing experience. Both Samsung TVs are packed with premium audio hardware and processing.
Sound System
Samsung has equipped the premium Micro LED CX with a high-end integrated Arena Sound system co-developed with luxury audio experts Steinway Lyngdorf. It uses elaborate processing to create a surround sound experience using just the TV‘s built-in speakers alone.
Meanwhile, the S95B integrates the step-down Object Tracking Sound system which analyzes image locations to convincingly match audio directionality – albeit without the same immersive spatial effect.
Winner: Micro LED – Significantly more advanced and impressive internal audio system.
Sound Format Support
For home theater audio buffs, both TVs include full support for advanced Dolby Atmos surround sound. This allows you to connect external systems and get fully immersive spatial 3D audio effects.
Winner: Draw – Dolby Atmos support is table stakes on premium TVs nowadays.
Sound Quality
With advanced processing and amplifier systems plus large speakers built into the slender display frame, both models promise impressive sound quality for flatscreen TVs.
But with more speaker units and more powerful hardware, the bespoke Arena Sound system on the Micro LED CX is engineered to reach another level of lifelike spatial audio realism using just the integrated TV speakers alone.
Winner: Micro LED – Higher-end audio hardware expected to deliver noticeably better sound.
Smart Features
Samsung is renowned for packing its TVs with extensive smart platforms – and both models here are equipped with advanced processors and OS.
Operating System
Interestingly, the Micro LED CX will run webOS rather than Samsung‘s own Tizen OS. Both platforms offer intuitive navigation and access to popular streaming apps. webOS is arguably faster while Tizen offers deeper customization.
Winner: Draw – Little between the two platforms for most users.
Interface & Apps
Expect similar interfaces and app selection on both Tizen and webOS. All major 4K streaming services like Netflix and Youtube are present alongside Samsung apps like SmartThings ecosystem integration.
Winner: Draw – Nearly identical OTT streaming app and services access.
Gaming Features
For gamers, both TVs include auto low latency modes and 4K 120Hz support for next-gen gaming. Variable Refresh Rate and AMD FreeSync Premium are also supported to prevent screen tearing.
Winner: Draw – Great gaming features available on both Samsungs.
Smart Assistant Integration
Native support for popular smart assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant grace both models, allowing handy voice control. Apple HomeKit and Samsung Bixby round out the options on these highly connected TVs.
Winner: Draw – Full smart home ecosystem integration across the board.
Advanced Features
Unique to the Micro LED CX is the ability to divide the expansive display into four separate screens at once. This allows viewing or interacting with up to four input sources simultaneously. Other innovative features will be added over time via firmware updates to this future-ready Micro LED platform.
Winner: Micro LED – Multi-view and future firmware expandability provides functionality lead over S95B.
Design Comparison
Aesthetics, build quality and ergonomic design all factor into evaluating these flagship televisions.
Screen Sizes
One key advantage Micro LED technology holds over any OLED is the ability to manufacture much larger screen sizes without yield drops or massive pricing increases. As a result, the Micro LED CX will be offered from 50 to 140 inches diagonally – ready to fill a home theater or boardroom wall.
The S95B OLED comes in far more mainstream sizes of only 55, 65 and 75 inches. This works well for home spaces but can‘t compete for sheer scale.
Winner: Micro LED – Enormous size range up to giant 140-inch screens available.
Display Frame & Bezels
Both TVs sport minuscule bezels just a few millimeters wide for a striking near borderless appearance when viewed front-on. This helps images seemingly float beautifully when wall mounted.
Winner: Draw – Almost edge-to-edge screens on both models.
Stand & Wall Mounting
The S95B uses a fairly conventional centralized stand that still manages to look slick and keep the screen profile slim despite hiding internal electronics. Optional wall mounting connects via standard VESA brackets.
Meanwhile, the Micro LED CX uses a discrete rectangular stand fitting flushed to the wall or custom mounts for a floating appearance. The screen itself is also ultra-slim since it doesn‘t require an onboard control system.
Winner: Micro LED – More advanced stand and flush wall-mounting options enabling stunning floating visuals.
Build Quality
With the Micro LED CX positioned as an ultra-luxury product and priced accordingly, expect meticulous build quality with metal construction and premium finishes.
But the S95B also sports a high-end glass and metal unibody chassis with lovely attention to detail. Both feel worthy of their flagship statuses from a hardware perspective.
Winner: Draw – Expect excellent refined build quality on both pricey models.
Pricing Comparison
Pound-for-pound pricing and overall value is where these two TVs differ most radically.
The 75-inch S95B launched at $3,500 but can already be found 15% cheaper six months later at major retailers. Competing 75-inch OLED models sell for similar amounts between $2,500 to $4,000 for the latest generation.
In comparison, Samsung hasn‘t officially priced the Micro LED CX range yet but expect stratospheric amounts. Industry analysts predict the 50-inch model alone will sell for around $50,000 – more than 10 times dearer than the S95B. And the massive 140-inch Micro LED? Over $150,000…
Clearly pricing alone puts the Micro LED CX completely out of reach for average consumers. You need serious cash to afford this future-forward display technology in its early days until manufacturing costs eventually decrease.
Winner: OLED – Over 10 times cheaper than the Micro LED makes S95B a bargain in relative terms.
Verdict: Best TV Overall for Most Buyers
When balancing all factors of picture quality, sound, smart features, design and value for money against each other – along with considering what matters most to typical household television usage – the Samsung S95B OLED still reigns supreme for the vast majority of buyers.
There‘s no doubt the technology behind Samsung‘s upcoming Micro LED CX television signals an exciting future. It manages to improve nearly every metric over already exceptional OLED televisions today – pushing brightness, longevity and screen sizes far beyond what organic materials can muster.
But the question is – how many households truly require such overkill specs when contemporary OLED TVs like the S95B already deliver spectacular 4K high dynamic range images with intense contrast and rich colors at all normal ambient lighting levels?
And let‘s not gloss over the gigantic price premium Samsung will be charging to enjoy the fruits of their R&D investments bringing Micro LED panels to market many years ahead of rivals. Expect to pay at least 10 times more for Micro LED over a similarly sized OLED screen to gain advantages that frankly make little real-world viewing difference for most people.
The Samsung S95B represents the current sweet spot balancing exceptional picture quality, gorgeous design and smarter features than ever – all packed into a far more reasonable price point under $4,000 even for the large 75-inch screen.
As fantastic as the technology inside the Micro LED CX may be – it makes zero financial sense for anyone not budgeting over $50,000 on a television to skip past what remains the best display technology wideley available for premium home theaters. OLED continues to advance each year as well, with Samsung‘s own QD-OLED S95C successor delivering better brightness and color for 2023.
So for practically all buyers besides the uber-wealthy, the answer remains a resounding OLED still provides the greatest overall picture performance and value. The Samsung S95B delivers world class images and a premium experience that will satisfy even discerning home theater owners without completely destroying your savings account like the cutting-edge Micro LED CX.
