Samsung S90H OLED First Test: What's Different?
HDTVTest's first test of the S90H, looking at what changed from the previous generation.
Samsung · 2026 · WOLED
Samsung S90H OLED
Samsung's 2026 mid-range OLED drops QD-OLED for LG-made WOLED panels in every size, keeping the matte Glare Free screen and 165Hz gaming.
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Exact model · United States
QN65S90HAEXZA
Not measured in the sources read.
Where to buy the 65″
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The verdict
A good bright-room OLED and a close rival to the LG C6, particularly for gamers. Shoppers who want the stronger color of QD-OLED should look at the S95H or last year's S90F in sizes that used it, because the S90H does not offer that panel. Its measured brightness is high for a WOLED set.
The S90H is Samsung's mid-range 2026 OLED, sold in six sizes from 42 to 83 inches. Unlike the 2025 S90F, which mixed QD-OLED and WOLED panels by size, reviewers say every S90H size uses a standard WOLED panel, though Samsung does not publish the panel type. It shares the NQ4 AI Gen3 processor and Glare Free screen with the flagship S95H, and supports 4K at up to 165Hz. It has no Dolby Vision, and its speakers are modest.
Strengths
- TechRadar measured 1,689 nits in a 10% HDR window on a 55-inch model, higher than the LG C6 it compared against.
- The Glare Free screen drew praise from TechRadar for bright rooms, and a Reddit owner says it diffuses window light well.
- Four HDMI 2.1 inputs with 4K 165Hz, VRR and measured input lag near 9.2 to 9.3 ms.
- Wide size range, including 42 and 48-inch options that the flagship S95H does not offer.
- Uses the same NQ4 AI Gen3 processor as the S95H.
Weak spots
- No Dolby Vision support.
- WOLED panel gives noticeably narrower BT.2020 color coverage than the QD-OLED S95H, about 78% versus about 90% in Tom's Guide's tests.
- TechRadar saw black crush in some dark scenes and preferred the LG C6 overall in a side-by-side test.
- The 2.1-channel 40W speakers are modest, and TechRadar called Tizen annoying in places.
- Samsung does not publish the panel type, so the WOLED claim rests on reviewers.
Great for
- Bright rooms where reflections are the main problem
- Gamers who want 4K 165Hz at mid-range pricing
- Small-room buyers who want a 42 or 48-inch Samsung OLED
Skip if
- Anyone who wants QD-OLED color volume
- Dolby Vision-dependent viewers
How it fits
Calculated from published specs and independent tests. How this works
Tap a score to see what went into it. These are calculations, not lab results.
Claimed vs. measured
Independent test figures are kept apart from what the manufacturer says. Results vary by tester, test size and firmware.
Measured Claimed
Brightness
HDR peak brightness (10% window)The most-quoted HDR brightness figure. A 10% window is about the size of a bright object in a scene.
- 1,689 nitsTechRadar55″ tested · Filmmaker Mode, 10% HDR window, UK 55-inch · Nov 8, 2026
- 1,496 nitsTom's Guide10% window, HDR; S90H column of the S95H review table, size not stated · Jun 26, 2026
HDR full-screen brightnessBrightness of a completely bright image, like a snowfield or a hockey rink.
- 305 nitsTechRadar55″ tested · Fullscreen HDR, UK 55-inch · Nov 8, 2026
SDR peak brightness (10% window)How bright regular, non-HDR content gets, which matters most in a sunny room.
- 226 nitsTom's Guide10% window, SDR; size not stated · Jun 26, 2026
Color
DCI-P3 color coverageHow much of the color range used by modern movies the TV can show.
- 99.3%TechRadar55″ tested · HDR, UHDA-P3 coverage, UK 55-inch · Nov 8, 2026
Rec. 2020 color coverageA wider color target than DCI-P3. No consumer TV covers it fully.
- 76.5%TechRadar55″ tested · HDR, BT.2020 coverage, UK 55-inch · Nov 8, 2026
Color accuracy out of the box (ΔE)Lower is better. Under about 3 is hard to distinguish from perfect by eye.
- ΔE 1.65Tom's GuideDelta-E; size not stated · Jun 26, 2026
Gaming
Input lag, 4K 60 Hz (game mode)The delay between pressing a button and seeing it on screen.
- 9.2 msTechRadar55″ tested · Game mode, 4K 60Hz, Leo Bodnar tester · Nov 8, 2026
- 9.3 msTom's GuideGame mode, Leo Bodnar 4K tester; size not stated · Jun 26, 2026
What changes by size
The same name doesn’t always mean the same TV. Here is every size we’ve confirmed.
| 42″ | 48″ | 55″ | 65″ | 77″ | 83″ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | QN42S90HAEXZA | QN48S90HAEXZA | QN55S90HAEXZA | QN65S90HAEXZA | QN77S90HAEXZA | QN83S90HAEXZA |
| Lowest price | $899.99 | $999.99 | $1,200 | $1,400 | $2,000 | $3,300 |
| Panel notes | Standard WOLED per Tom's Guide, which says every S90H size uses it. Not measured at this size in the sources read. | Standard WOLED per Tom's Guide, which says every S90H size uses it. Not measured at this size in the sources read. | WOLED. TechRadar confirmed it by measurement on the UK 55-inch model; Tom's Guide says all sizes use it. | Standard WOLED per Tom's Guide, which says every S90H size uses it. Not measured at this size in the sources read. | Standard WOLED per Tom's Guide, which says every S90H size uses it. Not measured at this size in the sources read. | Standard WOLED per Tom's Guide, which says every S90H size uses it. Not measured at this size in the sources read. |
| Width | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Weight | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| VESA | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Highlighted rows differ between sizes.
Will it fit?
From your seat
Viewing distance8′0″
A good fit. At this distance a 65″ screen fills 33° of your view. Most people like 59″–80″ from here.
Seen from above
Dimensions and mounting
- Without stand
- Not published
- With stand
- Not published
- Stand footprint
- Not published
- Weight
- Not published
- VESA pattern
- Not published
- Power use
- Not published
Full specifications
From the manufacturer unless noted. Shown for the 65″ model.
Picture
- Display technologyHow the screen makes its picture. OLED types light each pixel on their own for perfect black. Mini LED and QLED are LCDs with a backlight, and tend to get brighter.
- WOLED
- Panel typeFor LCD TVs: VA panels have deeper black but narrower viewing angles; IPS/ADS panels hold up better from the side but look grayer in the dark.
- OLED
- Panel notes
- Standard WOLED per Tom's Guide, which says every S90H size uses it. Not measured at this size in the sources read.source
- BacklightFull-array backlights sit behind the whole screen and allow local dimming. Edge-lit TVs are thinner but dim far less precisely.
- Self-emissive
- Resolution
- 4K
- Picture processor
- NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor
- Screen finishAnti-glare and matte coatings cut reflections in bright rooms, sometimes at a small cost to perceived contrast.
- Glare Free matte screen; Samsung cites a gloss level of 15 GU or less
HDR & color
- HDR formatsHDR formats describe how a TV should show bright highlights and rich color. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ adjust the picture scene by scene; a source and TV must both support a format to use it.
- HDR10, HDR10+, HLGsource
Refresh & motion
- Maximum refresh rateThe highest refresh the TV accepts over HDMI. Sometimes only available at reduced resolution or from a PC.
- 165 Hz
Smart platform
- Smart TV platformThe software your TV runs. It decides your home screen, app selection and how often you’ll see ads.
- Tizen
- Platform version
- One UI Tizen (2026); Samsung promises 7 years of OS updates
- Broadcast tunerNeeded to watch free over-the-air TV with an antenna. ATSC 3.0 is the newer US standard; a few TVs have dropped tuners entirely.
- ATSC 1.0source
HDMI & connections
- HDMI ports
- 4source
- HDMI 2.1 portsPorts with enough bandwidth for 4K at 120 Hz and beyond. If you have more than one current console or a gaming PC, count these carefully.
- 4
- HDMI notes
- TechRadar lists four HDMI 2.1 ports, all supporting 4K 165Hz, VRR and ALLM. Which port carries eARC was not stated in the sources read.source
Gaming
- Variable refresh rateLets the TV match its refresh to a game’s frame rate, which removes tearing and most stutter.
- FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatiblesource
- Auto Low Latency ModeSwitches the TV into game mode automatically when a console starts a game.
- Yessource
- Highest 4K gaming refresh
- 165 Hzsource
- Dolby Vision gaming
- Nosource
Built-in audio
Accessibility
- Remote
- SolarCell remote (solar and USB-C charging)source
Primary source: samsung.com
Setup notes
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports are reported to support 4K 165Hz, VRR and ALLM.
- HDR formats are HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG; Dolby Vision is not supported.
- Dolby Atmos is supported; DTS is not.
- The tuner is ATSC 1.0 per TechRadar.
Video reviews
Each video was checked to exist and to be about the Samsung S90H OLED.
The Best OLED TV For Most People: Samsung S90H OLED Review
CalebRated reviews the S90H and recommends it as a good OLED for most people, per the title.
Samsung S90H OLED Review | A Dream TV for Gaming!
A gaming-focused review of the S90H, called a dream TV for gaming in its title.
Hands On Review and Comparison: Samsung S95H vs. S90H OLED TVs
Ecoustics compares the S95H and S90H side by side.
What reviewers found
Summaries in our own words. Follow the link to read each review in full.
Scored the picture and gaming at the top of its scale and praised the bright-room Glare Free screen. It confirmed a WOLED panel on the UK 55-inch, saw some black crush, and wanted Dolby Vision.
Read the originalExplains that Samsung moved the S90H to WOLED in every size, ending the old size-by-size panel lottery, and argues the LG C6's measurements suggest brightness should stay close to the QD-OLED S90F, with narrower BT.2020 color.
Read the originalCompares the two and states that all S90H sizes use WOLED. The S90H gives up HDR brightness, color volume and the Art Store, but costs much less and adds 42 and 48-inch sizes.
Read the original
What owners are saying
From Reddit and forums, paraphrased with a link to the original discussion. Community reports are anecdotal.
A 65-inch owner with windows on two sides says the matte screen spreads light well, which lets them use accurate movie or filmmaker modes in a bright room instead of the very bright modes other sets need.
Read the originalPrefers Samsung normally, but says the S90H loses its value case without a QD-OLED panel and points shoppers to the LG C6 or Sony Bravia 8 instead.
Read the originalA buyer of a 65-inch S90H for a bright room reports being very happy, and notes the price fell soon after purchase at a retailer with a price-adjustment policy.
Read the original
Questions
Does the S90H use QD-OLED or WOLED?
Tom's Guide says every S90H size uses a standard WOLED panel, and TechRadar reports the same, citing DisplaySpecifications. TechRadar confirmed it by measurement only on the UK 55-inch model, and Samsung does not publish the panel type.
Why do all S90H US model codes end in AEXZA?
Every S90H size on Samsung's US store ends in AEXZA. On the 2025 S90F, the QD-OLED sizes ended in AFXZA and the WOLED sizes in AEXZA, which matches the panel split reviewers reported, but Samsung has not published that rule.
Does the S90H support Dolby Vision?
No. Reviewers from Tom's Guide and TechRadar both note that Samsung's TVs support HDR10+ instead of Dolby Vision.
Which sizes does it come in?
Samsung's US store lists 42, 48, 55, 65, 77 and 83-inch sizes.
How does it compare with the LG C6?
TechRadar measured the S90H as brighter than the C6 and better at handling reflections, but still preferred the C6's overall picture consistency in a side-by-side test.
Also consider
Sources for this page
- samsung.com /us/tvs/oled-tv/65-inch-oled-4k-tv-s90h-sku-qn65s9
- samsung.com /us/tvs/oled-tv/42-inch-oled-4k-tv-s90h-sku-qn42s9
- samsung.com /us/tvs/oled-tv/48-inch-oled-4k-tv-s90h-sku-qn48s9
- samsung.com /us/tvs/oled-tv/55-inch-oled-4k-tv-s90h-sku-qn55s9
- samsung.com /us/tvs/oled-tv/77-inch-oled-4k-tv-s90h-sku-qn77s9
- samsung.com /us/tvs/oled-tv/83-inch-oled-4k-tv-s90h-sku-qn83s9
- techradar.com /televisions/samsung-s90h-review
- techradar.com /televisions/some-tv-fans-arent-happy-about-samsun
- tomsguide.com /tvs/oled-tvs/samsung-s95h-vs-s90h-after-testing-b
- tomsguide.com /tvs/oled-tvs/samsung-s95h-oled-tv-review
Last reviewed Nov 9, 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.