Samsung S90 Samsung S90F 42" 4K HDR Smart OLED TV Review

The Samsung S90F 42-inch 4K OLED TV is a gaming powerhouse with a 144Hz refresh rate, perfect blacks, and a compact size ideal for desks. While its HDR isn't the brightest, its gaming performance is in the top tier. At under $900, it's a fantastic choice for gamers who also want a great TV for movies in darker rooms.

If you're looking for a 42-inch OLED TV that's basically built for gaming, the Samsung S90F should be at the top of your list. It's a 4K HDR smart TV that packs Samsung's latest AI processor and a self-lit OLED panel into a surprisingly compact and portable package. At around $900, it sits in that sweet spot for a premium gaming monitor alternative, offering features like a 144Hz refresh rate, FreeSync Premium, and ALLM that most dedicated monitors would kill for. People searching for a '42-inch OLED TV for gaming' or a 'Samsung S90F review' are usually wondering if this is the ultimate desk setup screen, and the short answer is: it's a very strong contender.

Let's talk numbers. In our database, this TV scores in the 93rd percentile for gaming performance. That's not just marketing fluff. The Motion Xcelerator 144Hz refresh rate, combined with near-instantaneous pixel response times from the OLED panel, means motion looks incredibly smooth with almost no blur. Input lag is low enough that you won't feel a disadvantage in competitive shooters. For HDR content, it supports HDR10+ and HLG, and while its HDR brightness peak isn't the absolute highest, the infinite contrast from those perfect blacks makes HDR movies and games pop with depth. The 20W audio system lands in the 80th percentile, which is decent for built-in speakers, but most gamers will want to pair it with a soundbar or headset.

At $898, the S90F 42-inch OLED is priced aggressively for what you get. You're paying a premium over a standard 4K LED TV, but you're getting near-top-tier gaming features and OLED picture quality in a size that's hard to find elsewhere. The closest alternatives are often 48-inch OLEDs from LG, which might be slightly cheaper but lack Samsung's specific gaming optimizations and Tizen OS. If your budget is tighter, a high-refresh-rate Mini-LED TV like a TCL QM8 might offer brighter HDR for less money, but you'll sacrifice those perfect OLED blacks.

This is where it gets interesting. The most direct competitor is the LG C3 series in a similar size. The LG often has slightly better out-of-the-box color accuracy and Dolby Vision support, but the Samsung fights back with a higher 144Hz refresh rate (vs 120Hz) and often a more gaming-focused feature set. Then there's the Sony BRAVIA 5, a Mini-LED TV. It will blow the S90F away in peak brightness for HDR, making it better for bright rooms, but it can't match the OLED's contrast or pixel-level precision. For a pure, immersive gaming experience on a desk, the Samsung's combo of size, speed, and OLED contrast is hard to beat. The Hisense U6 and TCL QM8 are budget Mini-LED options that offer great value and brightness but are in a different league for response time and black level.

Skip the S90F if your room is very bright with lots of windows and you can't control the glare. In that case, a brighter Mini-LED TV like the Sony BRAVIA 5 or TCL QM8 will serve you better. Also, if you're a dedicated cinephile who prioritizes Dolby Vision support and reference-grade color accuracy above all else, you might prefer an LG OLED. And if you need thunderous, room-filling sound without a soundbar, look elsewhere, as the built-in audio is just fine, not fantastic.

So, should you buy the Samsung S90F 42-inch OLED? If your primary use is gaming, especially in a controlled lighting environment like a home office or bedroom, this is an easy yes. It's one of the best gaming displays you can get that also happens to be a great TV. The gaming performance is elite, the OLED picture is stunning for movies when the lights are down, and the size is just right for dual-duty use. Just be ready to maybe tweak the picture settings out of the box and consider an external audio solution.