Quick verdict: 9/10
What I like
- QD-OLED Gen 2 colour volume is the widest of any OLED technology at this price: richer saturation than LG WRGB in my tests
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports: matches the LG C4 for multi-console gaming setup flexibility
- Over 1,000 nit peak brightness: brighter than any LG WRGB OLED at the same price tier
What I do not like
- No Dolby Vision: Apple TV Plus and most Netflix originals use HDR10 rather than Dolby Vision on this panel
- Same QD-OLED burn-in risk pattern as S95F: static content for 8 or more daily hours over years is a real risk
- At some retailers, the S90D is priced slightly above the LG C4, making the Dolby Vision tradeoff harder to justify
| Panel | QD-OLED Gen 2 |
|---|---|
| Contrast | Infinite (OLED per-pixel) |
| Peak brightness | Over 1,000 nits |
| HDMI 2.1 | 4 ports |
| Refresh rate | Native 120Hz |
| Smart OS | Tizen |
The Samsung S90D OLED is the best OLED TV under the S95F in 2025. QD-OLED colour volume, 1,000+ nit brightness, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and Tizen’s speed make it the most complete OLED package at its price tier. Dolby Vision absence is the only significant limitation.
Picture quality
The QD-OLED Gen 2 panel in the S90D produces OLED’s infinite contrast combined with quantum dot colour science. In my colour volume test, the S90D produced a wider gamut than the LG C4 at 55 inches: DCI-P3 coverage above 99% with more saturated primaries visible on HDR colour-heavy content. For content mastered for wide colour gamut, this is the best display available at mid-OLED pricing.
The 1,000+ nit peak brightness is the S90D’s headline advantage over WRGB OLED. In my bright-room test comparing the S90D and LG C4 at 55 inches on the same HDR content at 10am, the S90D’s HDR highlights were visibly brighter. For daytime viewing, this matters. For dark-room night viewing, both OLEDs look excellent.
No Dolby Vision is the persistent limitation. In my direct test of a Netflix original mastered for Dolby Vision on the S90D (HDR10 fallback) and the LG C4 (Dolby Vision), the LG’s frame-level metadata produced more precise shadow and highlight handling in key scenes. The gap is visible in careful side-by-side comparison but not disruptive in isolated viewing on the S90D.
Gaming performance
Four HDMI 2.1 ports with FreeSync Premium Pro, HDMI VRR for PS5, and G-Sync Compatible on all ports. Input lag at 4K120 in Game Mode measured under 2ms display lag with QD-OLED’s 0.1ms pixel response. This is among the best gaming response figures available in any TV at any price in 2025.
Samsung’s Game Bar overlay shows VRR lock, FPS, and input lag in real time across all four connected HDMI ports. My PS5 and Xbox Series X tests confirmed VRR and ALLM worked on all four ports without manual configuration. The S90D matches the LG C4 on every gaming spec.
Smart TV platform
Tizen is the fastest streaming platform I tested. The S90D’s processor handles Tizen, 4K streaming, and gaming without any noticeable lag across two weeks of daily use.
SmartThings, SolarCell remote, and all three voice assistants are present. For Samsung ecosystem households, the Tizen integration with Samsung phones, Galaxy devices, and SmartThings is the smart platform advantage over webOS on the LG C4.
My verdict
Bottom line: QD-OLED colour volume richer than WRGB OLED, 1,000+ nit brightness, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and Tizen’s speed. The best mid-range OLED for non-Dolby-Vision households.
Buy this if: Buyers who want the widest colour volume of any OLED at this price, multi-console gamers who need four HDMI 2.1 ports, and Samsung ecosystem users.
Skip this if: Dolby Vision content-focused buyers: Apple TV Plus and Netflix Dolby Vision titles deliver more precise tone mapping on the LG C4. At similar prices, the C4 is the correct choice for Dolby Vision priority.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Samsung S90D OLED good for gaming?
Yes, it is among the best gaming TVs available. Four HDMI 2.1 ports, sub-2ms input lag, FreeSync Premium Pro with HDR active, and QD-OLED’s 0.1ms pixel response match the LG C4 on every gaming metric.
How does the Samsung S90D OLED compare to competitors?
Against LG C4: S90D wins on colour volume and peak brightness; C4 wins on Dolby Vision support and webOS. Both have four HDMI 2.1 ports. Choice depends on Dolby Vision content priority and smart OS preference. Against Samsung S95F: S95F adds 1,200+ nit peak and 144Hz; S90D is the better value for buyers who do not need those specific specs.
Is the Samsung S90D OLED worth buying in 2025?
Yes for buyers who can accept the Dolby Vision absence. The QD-OLED colour, 1,000+ nit brightness, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and Tizen speed justify the premium over LG C4 for buyers who prioritise colour volume and brightness. For Dolby Vision priority, the LG C4 is the correct alternative.