Samsung S95C QD-OLED vs. Sony A90J

Making Sense of Samsung’s QD-OLED and Sony’s OLED TV Technology

Hey there! Choosing a new TV can confusing with all the marketing terminology thrown around these days. You have likely heard about OLED TVs offering exceptional picture quality thanks to self-illuminating pixels and perfect black levels.

But over the past year, a new display technology called QD-OLED (quantum dot OLED) has entered the scene in high-end television offerings. Samsung is particularly bullish about it, having incorporated QD-OLED panels into their latest S95C model.

So how is QD-OLED different from regular OLED TVs like those from LG and Sony? And what does this mean for picture performance between something like the Samsung S95C QD-OLED and acclaimed Sony A90J OLED?

Let me break it down for you…

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. It works by passing electricity through unique organic (carbon-based) compounds that light up on their own. This makes OLED televisions emissive by design with each pixel illuminated independently.

• When pixels need to show black, they simply switch off. This allows OLED TVs to produce infinitely deep blacks and exceptional contrast – even in dark room viewing.

• Image details in shadows and highlights really stand out. Light control is exemplary.

• Wide viewing angles are supported as well thanks to consistent brightness and color saturation from all directions.

Pretty awesome so far any way you look at it!

QD-OLED takes core OLED advantages and pairs it with quantum dot enhancement. Tiny semiconductor nanocrystals called quantum dots produce exceptionally pure colored light at high efficiency levels.

In QD-OLED TVs, a quantum dot layer is added on top of the standard OLED structure. This quantum filter layer converts the native OLED blue light into highly accurate red and green light.

• This translation ability leads to a wider overall color range with increased luminance. Images appear more vibrant and lifelike on QD-OLED displays.

• Brightness levels in particular get a noticeable boost – reaching up to 2000 nits on the S95C compared to ~800 nits on conventional OLED TVs today.

• Even at angle, colors stay accurate on QD-OLED – improving on OLED‘s off-axis color shift.

Now that you have a sense of what makes these technologies special, let‘s see how picture quality compares between the Samsung S95B QD-OLED and acclaimed Sony A90J conventional OLED TV.

Display Technology

As covered earlier, the Samsung S95C QD-OLED TV uses self-emissive quantum dot display technology for its panel. The newest Sony A90J relies on a standard OLED screen.

Specifically, Sony utilizes LG‘s acclaimed 4K OLED evo panel and pairs it with Sony‘s cognitive XR image processor.

Picture Quality

Given its recent introduction, QD-OLED display tech offers noticeable image improvements:

Brightness Levels

With test patterns, the Samsung S95C QD-OLED achieved up to 2000 nits peak brightness based on RTings measurements. This is around 2.5X times higher compared to traditional OLED TVs.

It may sound abstract in numbers but it translates to major real-world impact:

• Vivid HDR pop – High dynamic range content can showcase significantly more specular highlights and dazzling luminosity
• Minimized glare – With higher display max output, reflections don‘t overwhelm the picture as easily. Your content remains clearly visible even with sunlight present.
• Bolder brightness – Increased luminance makes the QD-OLED standout whether you are viewing movies, sports or gaming. Lighting impacts are emphasized for greater excitement.

As a reference, the Sony A90J peaks at around 800 nits brightness according to multiple reviewer measurements.

While not as high as the S95C QD-OLED, this is also brighter than LG‘s G2 OLED TV at ~700 nits peak. So among conventional OLEDs, the Sony A90J is highly luminant.

But if you want the utmost in display intensity for HDR movies or gaming in rooms with ambient light, Samsung‘s quantum-dot powered S95C clearly pulls ahead.

Color Performance

By converting blue light perfectly into red and green wavelengths, the Samsung S95C QD-OLED produces exceptionally accurate colors with substantial saturation capacity.

Light volume reaches up to 195% DCI-P3 coverage based on Calman measurements, surpassing limits of conventional OLED panels today.

While the Sony A90J OLED TV renders colors with fameworthy precision as well, its comparatively constrained luminance ceilings place it a step behind the S95C in total color reproduction potential.

Rest assured, movies and shows will look vibrant with either television. But those seeking the complete cinematic palette on par with premium cinema projectors will appreciate the QD-OLED benefits.

Particularly for animation, nature documentaries, and scifi – where artistic color expression stands paramount, the S95C delivers.

Contrast

When it comes to contrast, conventional OLED TVs retain a fractional lead over QD-OLED for now. By passing current directly through their emissive pixels, OLEDs can still achieve the blackest blacks through pixel shut-off.

Infinite contrast on paper makes darker room movie viewing mesmerizing. And the Sony A90J is highly regarded for just that – CNET calls it "easily among best contrast I’ve reviewed, even accounting for OLED rivals".

Rest assured, blacks on the S95C QD-OLED still appear inky and shadow details standout wonderfully. But its LED backlight system limits its black floor by a hair.

Ultimately, don‘t underestimate just how profoundly impactful perfect black levels are for evening movie buffs. When the lights go down, the A90J continues dazzling through elite contrast.

Gaming Performance

Given their exceptional response times and cutting-edge capabilities, both the S95C and A90J are superb options for next-gen gaming.

You get full 4K 120FPS support, near instantaneous response, Variable Refresh Rate and ultra low input lag for immaculate precision. Honestly, these flagship displays will satisfy virtually all gamers through their visual accuracy and smoothness.

But in side-by-side input latency measurements, the Samsung S95C QD-OLED holds a slight practical edge:

• Samsung S95C input lag: 1.5 ms @ 4K/120Hz
• Sony A90J input lag: 3.0 ms @ 4K/120Hz

The delta seems minor on paper but it can be felt by competitive players. The S95C also has a faster GtG average response time of 0.1 ms compared to 0.5 ms on the Sony A90J.

This gives the S95C marginal benefit in terms of motion clarity for titles like Call of Duty that involve heavy quick adjustments. Casual gamers are still well served by the Sony though.

Gaming Features

• Samsung S95C – Game Bar, mini-map sharing, virtual aim point
• Sony A90J – Game mode, variable refresh rate, HDMI 2.1

Smart TV & Streaming

Both TVs provide extensive smart platforms and streaming capabilities. Which interface you prefer ultimately comes down to personal taste.

Samsung S95C Smart Features:

• Tizen OS
• Universal guide
• Bixby assistant
• Alexa support
• Slim One Connect Box

Samsung‘s Tizen operating system offers a straightforward and snappy interface. The home screen lets you pin favorite media apps while offering integrated recommendations and search functionality.

Sony A90J Smart Features:

• Google TV
• Hands-free Google Assistant
• Works with Alexa/Google Home
• Sony video processing apps
• Apple Airplay/HomeKit support

Google TV provides an extensive app library supplemented by automated watchlist integrations and cross-service recommendations. Voice functionality is deeply integrated by powering your remote.

If you currently use an Alexa device for smart home management, the Samsung S95C might fit your ecosystem better. But Google Assistant can perform most of the same device control abilities too.

Design

With their razor thin builds sporting metallic finishes, both TVs epitomize premium industrial design. But differences in form factor emerge:

Samsung S95C Design

• Bezel-less on 3 sides
• Metal linear stand enables float style
• Centrally mounted for tables
• Bit thicker but astonishingly slim

Sony A90J Design

• Refined minimalist style
• Flush front with seamless metal build
• Leans back using custom stand
• Thinnest profile of any OLED TV

While both displays are astonishingly thin, the Sony A90J comes in at under 0.8 inches slim – making it the thinnest OLED television commercially available today. Samsung drops the curved aesthetic from last year for a more elegant straight-edged silhouette.

When it comes to size options:

• Samsung S95C – Only available in 77-inch currently
• Sony A90J – Comes in 55, 65 and giant 83-inch models

If you want a super-massive TV to anchor your living room, the 83-inch Sony A90J OLED gives you that flexibility. But at 77 inches, the Samsung S95C provides loads of real-estate enhancement for your content already.

Audio Sound Quality

As display quality keeps advancing rapidly, audio components can be overlooked. But both TVs incorporate capable speaker setups with Dolby Atmos decoding:

Samsung S95C Audio

• 7.1.2 channel system
• 60 watts total output
• Dolby Atmos / DTS:X Support
• Object Tracking Sound+

Sony A90J Audio

• Acoustic Surface Audio+
• 30 watts total output
• XR Surround with 3D audio upscaling
• Sound-from-Picture RealityTM

With higher power output and more channels including dedicated center speaker, the Samsung S95C delivers clearer dialogue and more room-filling sound with bass you can feel.

That said, reviews praise the A90J‘s sonic clarity as well thanks to the unique Acoustic Surface tech that turns the screen itself into one large exciter. Vocals stick out wonderfully in movies without a center.

For most living room setups, either proves plenty listenable without needing to splash on a full surround system. But for larger spaces or discerning viewers, grab a soundbar to unlock their full potential.

Pricing

Pricing varies significantly between sizes:

The lone 77-inch Samsung S95C retails at $4499 currently.

As for Sony, pricing depends on which flavor you choose:

• Sony A90J 55-inch – $1398
• Sony A90J 65-inch – $2198
• Sony A90J 83-inch – $4498

Given demand and low manufacturing yields of bleeding-edge QD-OLED tech so far, the Samsung S95C commands a high premium. Although cost should lower over successive QD-OLED generations.

With Sony, you get more flexibility to choose based on room dimensions. But all sizes still carry a respectably high price commensurate with superb OLED image quality.

And at the 77/83 inch level where both flagship models have direct overlap, Samsung vs Sony OLED pricing remains quite competitive head-to-head.

Verdict

While both the Samsung S95C QD-OLED and Sony A90J OLED TV render jaw-dropping images, each carries situational advantages based on room environment and usage priorities.

By infusing quantum-dots into OLED’s fundamental framework, Samsung’s S95C pulls ahead in crucial picture quality areas like peak brightness, color vibrancy and next-gen gaming responsiveness. Making it the choice for multimedia fans wanting the most all-encompassing experience that flexes to various watching scenarios beautifully.

But credit where it’s due – Leveraging conventional OLED technology in its purest implementation, Sony’s A90J retains marginal contrast edge in dimmer theaters thanks to independent pixel light control. Allowing it to showcase astonishing depth that captivates cinema purists.

So if you are primarily a daytime sports/gaming viewer wanting vivid color and intensity, go for the S95C. Its QD-OLED enhancements make it exceptionally well rounded. But for someone focused singularly on movies in dedicated dark spaces, don’t underestimate just how profoundly impactful OLED’s perfect black levels are. The Sony A90J will leave you floored.

Whichever route you choose, be aware that these are both trailblazing TVs employing advanced emissive technologies. You’ll will be amazed by their imaging feats daily. Happy viewing!