Tom's Guide Verdict
The Samsung S95H sets a new benchmark for OLED performance, combining best-in-class brightness with an incredibly effective Glare Free screen. It’s held back slightly by a subpar remote and the omission of Dolby Vision, but its picture is elite.
Pros
- +
Outstanding overall picture quality
- +
Best-in-class brightness
- +
Effective Glare Free display
- +
Art Store support
Cons
- -
Cheap-feeling remote
- -
No Dolby Vision
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Price: $3,399
Screen size: 65 inches
Model: Samsung QN65S95HAFXZA
Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
HDR: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, HDR10+ Advanced
Refresh rate: 165Hz
Ports: 4x HDMI 2.1
Smart TV software: One UI Tizen
Size (without stand): 59.43 x 35.23 x 1.04 inches
Weight (without stand): 46.08 pounds
The Samsung S95H OLED TV might be my favorite flagship from the brand to date. It’s been designed to dominate both light-controlled home theaters and bright living rooms alike, defying the historic limitation that even the best OLED TVs can't handle high ambient light.
Samsung has delivered the brightest OLED TV we’ve ever tested. After hours of watching and gaming on the S95H, I’m confident you can comfortably watch this panel in any environment without worrying about a washed-out image. The combination of raw luminance and an incredibly effective glare-free display keeps the screen looking pristine, no matter the genre.
Alongside the premium picture tech, this set gets integration with Samsung's popular Art Store, allowing the TV to double as a high-end gallery piece when it's not in use. Then there’s a the controversial metal bezel bordering the screen, a feature I thought I’d despise but somehow grew on me — no, really.
While there are a few caveats I’ll note in my following Samsung S95H OLED TV review, overall, I think this set is a striking reminder at just how dominant modern OLED technology can be.
Samsung S95H OLED TV: Price and sizes
The Samsung S95H is positioned as a premium flagship set, and its pricing reflects its status at the top of the brand’s OLED lineup. While official launch pricing varies by size, it commands a top-tier premium:
- 55-inch Samsung S95H OLED (QN55S95HAFXZA): $2,499
- 65-inch Samsung S95H OLED (QN65S95HAFXZA): $3,399
- 77-inch Samsung S95H OLED (QN77S95HAFXZA): $4,499
- 83-inch Samsung S95H OLED (QN55S95HAFXZA): $6,499
I’ll remind you that OLED TVs come in fewer sizes than Mini-LED TVs. That said, if you want Samsung OLED at a lower price and with smaller screen sizes, the Samsung S90H is a compelling alternative. You will lose Art Store access as well as see some shortcomings in performance, detailed in charts further below.
Samsung S95H OLED TV review: Design, ports and connectivity
Samsung has made an… interesting design choice with this TV. It features a non-optional metal bezel that sits behind the screen, making the uniform chassis look like it’s floating off the wall when mounted. That said, you do get a set of sturdy metal feet included, which I used for the sake of this review.
I really thought I would hate the bezel, but I fear it’s grown on me. I can understand it might deter some shoppers but I think it ended up making this TV look as elevated as the picture ultimately proves.
It helps that Samsung no longer requires an external One Connect box by default for its flagship OLED now, too. Instead, the primary inputs are fully integrated directly into the back of the TV. You get 4x HDMI 2.1 inputs built right in with one supporting eARC. (You do have the option to add an external One Connect box separately, which grants an additional 4x HDMI 2.1 inputs on top of the integrated ones.)
Note that there isn’t an ATSC 3.0 tuner to support 4K over-the-air broadcasts. I’d recommend the Sony Bravia 8 II as an alternative OLED with the technology should that be a deal-breaker for you.
How we test TVs
We follow a standard testing protocol for every TV we review at Tom’s Guide. Our benchmarks include a series of technical and subject tests designed to rate the set’s performance.
For our technical tests, we use a Jeti spectraval 1501-HiRes spectroradiometer, a Klein K10-A colorimeter, a Murideo 8K-SIX-G Metal pattern generator, and Portrait Displays’s Calman calibration software to take measurements. We also use a Leo Bodnar 4K Input Lag Tester for determining whether it’s one of the best gaming TVs. For a more detailed look at what we do and how we do it, check out our “How we test TVs” page.
Samsung S95H OLED TV review: Performance
The primary storyline of the S95H is its outstanding overall picture quality, fueled by class-leading brightness. Testing scenes from “Top Gun: Maverick,” the sun-drenched nostalgia of the cinematography looked absolutely spectacular. Colors were highly accurate right out of the box, offering a deeply cinematic feel.
That said, Samsung's ongoing refusal to support Dolby Vision remains a point of contention. I always have to add a caveat here, especially when evaluating premium sets: Without Dolby Vision, you lose out on HDR highlights having that extra little bit of "pop" and dynamic refinement. Fortunately, the S95H's native panel brightness is so immense that I almost didn't miss it, but it's still a frustrating omission for purists.
When it comes to gaming, the performance is nothing short of immersive. Diving into Marvel's Spider-Man on PS5, the web-slinger has honestly never looked better. Fast-paced motion was handled brilliantly. Spinning helicopter blades remained perfectly clear, and the contrast and environmental reflections off city skyscrapers looked amazing. I noticed some very slight artifacting during intense, chaotic sequences, but generally, the motion was incredibly smooth. Watching sand flying around during heavy action scenes showed off a spectacular level of graphical pop that bursts right off the screen.
Samsung S95H OLED TV review: Test results
While our objective lab testing confirms that this is the brightest OLED we have ever put through our benchmarking pipeline, the final metrics tell a compelling story against its nearest premium competition.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Samsung S95H | Samsung S90H | Samsung S95F | LG C6 OLED |
SDR Brightness (10%, in nits) | 253 | 226 | 267 | 355 |
Delta-E (lower is better) | 2.24 | 1.65 | 1.20 | 1.53 |
Rec. 709 Gamut Coverage | 113.30% | 109.60% | 106.88% | 97.89% |
HDR Brightness (10%, in nits) | 2,721 | 1,496 | 2,138 | 1,355 |
UHDA-P3 Gamut Coverage | 99.92% | 99.34% | 99.97% | 99.77% |
Rec. 2020 Gamut Coverage | 89.60% | 77.83% | 90.26 | 75.92% |
Input Lag (ms) | 9.7 | 9.3 | 9.5 | 12.9/9.1 (Boost) |
The most remarkable takeaway from the bench tests is the S95H's staggering HDR brightness, clocking in at 2,721 nits. This draws a definitive line between where the S95H vs. S90H stand in Samsung’s OLED lineup, while also improving on the previous generation S95F's brightness by nearly 30%.
Combined with a blistering 9.7ms input lag and some of the best coverage you’ll find of both the Rec. 709 and BT. 2020 color gamuts, expect to see the S95H used as a point of comparison in many of our TV reviews going forward.
Samsung S95H OLED TV review: Audio
The audio system built into the S95H is pretty good for day-to-day viewing, though it naturally hits a physical limitation. Because the ultra-thin chassis isn’t as spacious as a bookshelf speaker’s, the audio leaves you wanting more when it comes to deep bass performance.
On the plus side, vocal clarity is rock-solid, meaning you won’t struggle to hear dialogue during quiet scenes. That said, to match a picture this elite, I highly recommend adding one of the best soundbars. Staying in-brand with the 2026 Samsung HW-Q990H to access Samsung's Q-Symphony feature makes a lot of sense here, as it allows the TV's integrated drivers to work in tandem with a compatible Samsung soundbar for a wider soundstage, but be prepared to pay a premium for Samsung’s top soundbar.
Samsung S95H OLED TV review: Interface
The S95H runs on the Samsung One UI TV interface, which feels more refined and highly functional than ever. A standout improvement is the navigation bar positioned right up at the top of the screen, which makes it significantly easier to find your apps, inputs, and settings without getting lost in endless menus.
For art lovers, the built-in Art Store is a major perk. It gives you access to a massive library of pieces to display when the TV is idle, turning a giant black rectangle into a focal point for your room. You do need a membership to enjoy it properly, though you can also sync the TV to the SmartThings app and upload your own photos to view.
Otherwise, navigation across the OS feels snappy, and downloading all the best streaming services is quick and painless. I do wish Samsung’s free content platform (Samsung TV Plus) didn’t autoplay with volume on start up, but it does offer a lengthy lineup of ad-supported shows and movies that, again, are totally free.
Samsung S95H OLED TV review: Remote
If I found one glaring flaw in the premium presentation of the S95H, it’s the included remote. For a flagship TV of this price tier, this rechargeable remote feels surprisingly cheap and plasticky in the hand.
Worse yet, it completely lacks a backlight. Finding buttons during a late-night movie session in a dark room becomes a guessing game. While it gets the job done and features standard shortcut options, it feels like an afterthought compared to the highly premium build of the TV itself.
Samsung S95H OLED TV review: Verdict
If your priority is securing unparalleled OLED picture quality that can thrive even in a sun-soaked living room, the Samsung S95H OLED TV is an absolute triumph. It has some noteworthy rivals like the LG G6 OLED, but for most folks, this will be the best TV you can buy in 2026.
Its best-in-class brightness levels and superb “Glare Free” panel make it a versatile beast for movies and gaming alike. You will have to live with a subpar remote and the lack of Dolby Vision support, but if you can look past those complaints, the pure visual horsepower on display here makes it one of the absolute best televisions I believe money can buy.
