Samsung S85FA QN65S85FAFXZA 65 Inch 65" 2025 Review

A good OLED that's not a great value. The screen is beautiful, but the HDR and processing are mid-tier for the price. For a true home theater experience, look at LG or Sony.

The Samsung S85FA is a solid 65-inch OLED that gets a lot right, but it's not the knockout you might expect from a Samsung OLED at this price. The one thing you need to know is this: it's a great all-rounder for a living room, with a beautiful screen and good gaming features, but its HDR punch and picture processing are surprisingly middle-of-the-pack. For $1,415, you're paying more for the OLED badge and smart ecosystem than for class-leading picture quality.

The numbers tell a clear story. Its display quality lands in the 90th percentile, which is excellent, and the audio is up there at 84th. But then you hit the picture quality score, which is a head-scratching 43rd percentile. Our data shows its HDR performance is only in the 57th percentile, which means it's not delivering the eye-popping contrast and brightness you see on higher-end OLEDs. It's fast for gaming with 120Hz and VRR, scoring a 74th percentile there, but the overall picture processing just doesn't wow you like a Sony or LG OLED can.

At $1,415, it's a tough sell. You're in premium OLED territory, but you're not getting premium OLED performance. If absolute picture quality is your top priority, this isn't the best value. You're essentially paying for the Samsung brand and a reliable, good-looking TV, not a benchmark-setter.

This is where it gets interesting. The LG OLED evo AI G5 is the direct competitor, and it typically beats the S85FA on pure picture quality and processing, especially for movies. The Sony BRAVIA 5, while a Mini-LED, often outclasses it in brightness and upscaling for sports and cable TV. If you want the best OLED picture, look at LG. If you watch a lot of non-4K content or sports, the Sony is a smarter buy. The Samsung sits awkwardly between them.

Skip this if you're a cinephile chasing the best HDR experience or if you watch a lot of standard-def cable. This TV's weaknesses are in picture processing and highlight brightness. Go get an LG OLED evo G5 for movies or a Sony BRAVIA for upscaling instead.

We can't give it a full-throated recommendation. The Samsung S85FA is a good TV, but it's not a great one for the price. It's best for someone who wants a reliable, good-looking OLED from a brand they trust, plays a lot of games, and doesn't need the absolute best HDR or upscaling. If that's you, it'll serve you well. But if picture quality is king, you can do better for your money elsewhere.