Exploring the Samsung S95F OLED: A Week's Journey

Samsung S95F OLED Experience

Samsung’s new S95F OLED stands out with its updated display, sizzling thin build, AI-enhanced visuals, and audio that offer a top-of-the-line entertainment experience.

Equipped with Samsung's One Connect Box, the S95F streamlines all device connections through a single cable, allowing for a minimalistic, nearly wireless setup. While an elegant design comes with a high price tag, is this sleek television worth your money?

Over the past week, I've put the Samsung S95F through its paces at ZDNET's Louisville lab, and it’s clear this model ranks among the leading televisions available today. For those prepared to invest or hunt for a special holiday season deal, this TV offers substantial value.

Samsung S95F OLED Insights

Samsung's S95F brings forth an improved OLED display with enhanced color accuracy, contrast, and detail, alongside AI-driven picture and sound adjustments that bring older content to life.

Whether you’re considering your inaugural OLED purchase or seeking to enhance your current setup, the S95F stands out as one of the finest choices at present. Its Pantone-certified screen significantly elevates color fidelity across various media, including classic cinematic masterpieces.

Our calibration tests found a minor blue tint in the color spectrum, but the AI adjustment mode and conventional settings easily rectify this. Even if the slight blue tint is left unaltered, the TV provides vivid visuals and deep blacks that heighten contrast and detail.

When juxtaposed with the 2025 edition of the TCL model, the S95F demonstrated superior color precision, clearer text, and remarkable detailing, marking a noticeable enhancement.

The S95F integrates Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound+ technology for immersive 3D audio, coupled with Dolby Atmos for virtual surround sound, enriching the auditory experience across films, music, and games.

Testing various PS5 titles like Persona 5, Ghost of Tsushima, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 revealed the TV’s gaming enhancements. The gaming dashboard optimizes settings like input latency and refresh rates, complete with intriguing features like mini-map zoom.

In rhythm games, the S95F’s performance was commendable, needing minimal adjustments to sync visuals and audio flawlessly. The intricate rendering of games like Ghost of Tsushima showcased the TV’s capacity to highlight minute details like foliage and textiles.

For films and shows, the Samsung S95F excels at refining older content, avoiding the dreaded 'crunchy' effect seen in others. Its AI processor skillfully handles image enhancement, bringing classic films like Casablanca and Singin' in the Rain to 4K splendor without excessive noise or interruptions.

The TV's AI and audio modes excel at boosting dialogue clarity, while Object Tracking Sound+ combined with Dolby Atmos delivers richer soundscapes. Music benefits from balanced bass and clear mid and high tones.

The 3D audio feature brings dynamic sound positioning for elements like dialogue and environmental effects, enhancing immersion even if true surround sound is not achieved. This enriches the audiovisual experience, especially for gamers.

With a screen thickness of under a quarter of an inch, the S95F is ideal for wall mounting though it requires careful handling due to its flexibility. It bends noticeably during setup, necessitating an extra pair of hands to prevent damage. Breaking a costly $3,000 device during setup would be unfortunate.

ZDNET’s Advice on Purchasing

As a luxury option within the OLED market, the S95F’s 65-inch model is priced near $3,000, with the 83-inch escalating to $6,500. If your goal is to elevate your home theater experience with a state-of-the-art display that retains value over time with software updates, few options compare to the S95F.

Awarded ZDNET’s stamp of approval, this model’s versatile AI and audio settings can be finely tuned for all kinds of content. Its svelte design and connectivity features make it perfect for constructing an almost wire-free modern entertainment area.