Samsung S85 Samsung S85F 55" 4K HDR Smart OLED TV Review

The Samsung S85F delivers flagship OLED contrast and killer gaming features for under $1,000. Its 120Hz panel and near-infinite blacks are a steal, though it's not the brightest. For the price, it's an easy recommendation for dark room viewing.

The Samsung S85F is a 55-inch OLED TV that punches way above its weight class. For under a grand, you're getting that legendary OLED contrast, where blacks are truly black, and a gaming feature set that's usually reserved for pricier models.

It's a smart play from Samsung. They've taken the core OLED experience—infinite contrast, perfect blacks, and wide viewing angles—and packaged it with a 120Hz panel, FreeSync Premium, and Samsung's Tizen smart platform. The result is a TV that's shockingly good for the price.

The OLED panel is the star here. Our testing shows its display quality lands in the 97th percentile, which means the picture is fantastic for the money. The contrast is near-infinite, and colors are accurate thanks to that Pantone validation. Gaming performance is a huge win, scoring in the 93rd percentile with that 120Hz refresh and VRR support. The main trade-off? Peak brightness. It's not the brightest OLED out there, which is why its overall picture quality score sits lower at the 45th percentile. HDR highlights won't pop as much as on a high-end mini-LED, but the perfect blacks more than make up for it in a dark room.

At $998, this is one of the best OLED values we've seen. You're getting 90% of the flagship OLED experience for about half the price. The money went into the panel and the gaming chops, not fancy speakers or extreme brightness. If your priority is contrast and smooth gameplay over eye-searing HDR, this TV is an absolute steal.

It sits in a sweet spot. Compared to the LG OLED evo AI G5, you lose some processor smarts and peak brightness, but you save a ton of cash. Against a similarly priced mini-LED like the Hisense U6 or TCL QM8, you'll get much better contrast and viewing angles, but those mini-LEDs will get significantly brighter. The Sony BRAVIA 5 is in another league for processing and price. For gamers on a budget who want OLED, the S85F is the clear target.

Skip this TV if your living room is flooded with sunlight. The modest peak brightness means HDR content won't shine as intended in a bright space. Also, hardcore cinephiles who demand the absolute best HDR pop and motion processing should look at higher-end Sony or LG models.

Buy this TV if you're a gamer or a movie watcher who values perfect blacks and smooth motion, and you watch in a controlled lighting environment. It's the gateway drug to OLED perfection without the flagship price tag.