Samsung S90FA Samsung QN65S90FAFXZA 65 Inch 4K OLED Smart TV Review

The Samsung S90FA is a fantastic all-rounder OLED TV with surprisingly great sound. Its OLED panel delivers perfect blacks for movies, and the 120Hz screen is smooth for gaming. At around $1,580, it's a strong value in the mid-range OLED market. Just know it's not the brightest, so keep it out of direct sunlight.

So you're looking at a 65-inch Samsung OLED, and you're wondering if it's worth the jump. The S90FA sits in that sweet spot where you're getting flagship-level OLED tech without paying for the absolute top-tier model. It's for the person who wants that perfect black and killer contrast for movie nights, but also needs a solid all-rounder for sports and gaming. What makes it interesting is that Samsung's AI processor is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, trying to make everything you watch look like native 4K, which is a big deal if you stream a lot of older content or watch cable TV.

Our data shows this TV scores highest for sports (74.1/100) and gaming (72.2/100), which tells you it's built for motion. The 120Hz panel is a big part of that. For movies, it's still strong at 65.4, but that's where some of the trade-offs with this specific model start to show. The big thing to know is this isn't Samsung's QD-OLED panel; it's a standard WOLED. You still get those infinite blacks, but the color volume and peak brightness won't quite match the more expensive sets.

If you're coming from an older LED TV, this will feel like a revelation. The picture just pops, and the Tizen smart system is snappy and reliable. But in the world of 2025 OLEDs, it's playing in a very competitive midfield. It's a fantastic TV for a dark or dimly lit room, and for the price, it delivers a lot of that OLED magic.

Let's talk numbers. The display quality lands in the 90th percentile, which is excellent. In practice, that means deep, inky blacks and fantastic contrast that makes scenes in dark shows like 'Stranger Things' look incredible. The audio is even more impressive, sitting in the 91st percentile. With its 2.1 channel system and Dolby Atmos support, it actually sounds good enough that you might not feel an immediate need for a soundbar, which is rare for a TV.

The gaming performance is solid at the 74th percentile, thanks to that 120Hz refresh rate and low input lag. For most console gamers on a PS5 or Xbox Series X, this is plenty fast. The catch is in the HDR and picture quality percentiles, which are lower at 57th and 43rd, respectively. What does that mean in real life? In a bright room, highlights won't sear your eyes like they do on a high-end Mini-LED. And while the AI upscaling is good, our testing shows it can sometimes over-sharpen lower-quality content, making some standard definition cable channels look a bit artificial.

At around $1580, the S90FA is priced as a premium mid-range OLED. You're paying for the OLED panel itself and Samsung's reliable smart ecosystem. Compared to LG's similarly priced B-series OLEDs, you're getting better built-in sound and a different smart OS. Compared to Hisense or TCL Mini-LEDs at this price, you're trading raw brightness for superior contrast and viewing angles.

The value really hinges on what you prioritize. If you want the best possible contrast for a dark home theater and don't need searing brightness, this is a strong pick. The included 5-year protection plan from this retailer is a nice bonus that adds peace of mind. But if your room has a lot of windows and you watch mostly during the day, a bright Mini-LED might give you more for your money.

You've got options. The LG OLED evo G5 is the direct competitor. It'll have slightly better out-of-the-box color accuracy for movies and LG's gaming features are top-notch. But the Samsung often wins on audio and its upscaling might be better for cable/sports. It's a toss-up between movie purists (LG) and all-rounders (Samsung).

Then there's the Hisense U6 Mini-LED. It's way cheaper for a bigger size. You'll get much higher peak brightness for HDR, but you lose the perfect blacks and wide viewing angles of OLED. The Samsung's picture will look more three-dimensional and filmlike. For gaming, the Hisense might have more input lag. So it's a classic brightness vs. contrast battle. The Sony BRAVIA 5 is a wildcard—it's a Mini-LED, not OLED, but Sony's processing is legendary. It'll likely beat the Samsung on upscaling and motion handling, but it's also a completely different panel technology.

Skip this TV if your primary viewing happens in a very bright, sun-drenched room. That 39.7/100 score for outdoor performance isn't a joke—glare will be a constant battle, and HDR highlights won't pop. In that case, look at a bright Mini-LED like the Hisense U6 or TCL Q Series. They'll give you the brightness to combat glare, even if you sacrifice some contrast.

Also, skip it if you're a pixel-peeping videophile who wants absolute reference accuracy for calibrating movies. While the OLED contrast is perfect, the picture quality percentile suggests some processing choices that deviate from a pure, unaltered image. An LG OLED or a Sony TV might suit that need better. Finally, if you're on a tight budget and just want a big screen, a standard LED TV will get you more inches for your dollar, though you'll lose all the OLED magic.

Buy the Samsung S90FA if your viewing room has controlled lighting and you want that iconic OLED contrast for movies, but you also need a great all-purpose TV for sports and gaming. The audio system alone saves you from an immediate soundbar purchase. It's a balanced, do-almost-everything-well TV that feels premium.

Think twice and look at a bright Mini-LED like the Hisense U6 or TCL Q7 if your living room is flooded with sunlight. That low 'outdoor' score is a real warning. Also, hardcore movie buffs who value reference-grade color might prefer an LG OLED for its filmmaker mode. But for most people turning their living room into a proper home theater, the S90FA hits a very sweet spot.