Samsung QN65S95FAFXZA QN65S95FKIT1 65" Review
The Samsung S95 QD-OLED TV has a stunning screen and a blazing 165Hz refresh rate perfect for gamers, but its sluggish software and middling HDR hold it back from being the complete package.
The 30-Second Version
A gaming powerhouse with a breathtaking QD-OLED screen. Just don't expect it to be smart about it—the software and connectivity are weak links.
Overview
The Samsung S95 is a gaming TV that accidentally wandered into the living room. The one thing you need to know is this: if you're a gamer who also watches movies, this is a phenomenal screen. If you're a movie purist or a smart home power user, you'll find some rough edges. It's a specialist, not a generalist. The QD-OLED panel is stunning, delivering those perfect blacks and vibrant colors OLED is famous for, and the 165Hz refresh rate is a genuine treat for fast-paced games.
Performance
The gaming performance is what surprised us the most, landing in the 91st percentile in our database. That 165Hz refresh rate is no joke, and the response is incredibly smooth. What's surprising in a less good way is the connectivity score, which sits in the 13th percentile. You're getting a top-tier panel, but the ports and smart features feel like they're from a cheaper model. It's a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde situation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The QD-OLED picture is stunning, with perfect blacks and vibrant color. 92th
- 165Hz refresh rate makes gaming buttery smooth and is a real standout. 88th
- Glare-free screen is a practical win for bright rooms. 70th
- Built-in Dolby Atmos audio is surprisingly decent for a TV.
Cons
- The Tizen smart platform is sluggish and feels dated. 30th
- Connectivity is weak for a TV at this price (only 13th percentile). 30th
- HDR performance is just okay, which is odd for an OLED.
- The bundled 'protection plan' feels more like a marketing add-on than a real value.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 65" |
| Resolution | 3840 (4K UHD) |
| Panel Type | QD-OLED |
HDR
| HDR Formats | HDR |
| Dolby Vision | No |
| HDR10+ | No |
| HLG | No |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 165 Hz |
Smart TV
| Voice Assistant | Alexa |
| Works With | Alexa |
Audio
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
Connectivity
| HDMI Version | 2 |
Value & Pricing
At just under $2200, the value is tricky. You're paying a premium for that elite gaming performance and QD-OLED panel. If those are your top priorities, it's worth it. If you want a more well-rounded TV for movies and smart features, this price feels steep for what you get.
Price History
vs Competition
This is where it gets interesting. Compared to the LG OLED evo AI G5, you lose LG's superior webOS smart platform and movie processing, but you gain that higher 165Hz refresh rate for gaming. Against the Sony BRAVIA 5, the Sony will likely beat it for color accuracy and upscaling for movies and sports, but the Samsung wins on pure gaming speed. The Hisense U6 series is a budget mini-LED option; it can't touch the S95's black levels, but it's way brighter for HDR and costs half as much.
| Spec | Samsung QN65S95FAFXZA QN65S95FKIT1 65" | Sony Bravia Sony BRAVIA 5 98" 4K HDR Smart Mini-LED TV | LG OLED evo - C5 series LG - 77" Class C5 Series OLED evo AI 4K UHD Smart | Hisense U65QF Mini-LED Hisense - 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED QLED UHD 4K | TCL QD Mini LED - QM6K TCL - 85" Class QM6K Series 4K UHD HDR QD Mini LED | Roku Mini-LED QLED 4K - Pro Roku - 65" Class Pro Series 4K QLED Mini-LED Smart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 65 | 98 | 77 | 75 | 85 | 65 |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 4K (2160p) | 3840x2160 |
| Panel Type | QD-OLED | MiniLED | OLED | MiniLED | MiniLED | MiniLED |
| Refresh Rate | 165 | 120 | 120 | 144 | 144 | 120 |
| Hdr | HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG |
| Smart Platform | - | Google TV | webOS | Fire TV | Google TV | Roku TV |
| Dolby Vision | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Dolby Atmos | true | false | true | true | true | true |
| Hdmi Version | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Hdr | Audio | Smart | Gaming | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Picture Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung QN65S95FAFXZA QN65S95FKIT1 65" | 50.8 | 70.4 | 30.2 | 88.4 | 91.5 | 30.2 | 49 | 43 |
| Sony Bravia K98XR50 98" LED Compare | 92.9 | 73.8 | 91.6 | 94.9 | 75.4 | 97.2 | 99.5 | 86.1 |
| LG OLED evo - C5 series 77" Class C5 Series Compare | 92.9 | 90.4 | 95.3 | 99.9 | 95.6 | 98.6 | 99.5 | 43 |
| Hisense U65QF Mini-LED 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED Compare | 98.8 | 90.4 | 93.8 | 96.5 | 69.1 | 97.2 | 97.6 | 97.1 |
| TCL QD Mini LED - QM6K 85" Class QM6K Series Compare | 96.5 | 90.4 | 98.6 | 98.4 | 37.3 | 96 | 94.3 | 86.1 |
| Roku Mini-LED QLED 4K - Pro 65" Class Pro Series Compare | 96.5 | 90.4 | 92.5 | 97.4 | 62.4 | 99 | 98.8 | 86.1 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the 165Hz refresh rate worth it over a standard 120Hz TV?
Only if you're a serious PC gamer with a rig that can push frames that high. For consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X), 120Hz is the max, so you're paying for headroom you might not use.
Q: How's the brightness for HDR content?
It's good, not great. Our data puts its HDR score in the 59th percentile. QD-OLEDs are more about perfect contrast than eye-searing brightness. If you want a super bright room, look at a high-end mini-LED.
Q: Does the glare-free screen actually work?
Yes, it's a legit feature. It diffuses light really well, making it much more watchable in a sunny living room compared to a glossy OLED.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for the ultimate movie-watching experience with the best upscaling and smart TV platform, this isn't it. Go get a Sony BRAVIA OLED instead. Also, skip it if you need lots of HDMI ports or care about future-proof connectivity—this TV is oddly stingy there.
Verdict
We recommend the Samsung S95 if your primary use case is next-gen console or PC gaming, and you want the best possible motion clarity on an OLED. It's a fantastic gaming monitor that happens to be TV-sized. For a more balanced, family-friendly TV that excels at movies and has a better smart interface, look at the LG or Sony OLEDs instead.