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Television technology has evolved dramatically in recent years, giving consumers unprecedented picture quality options. Among the most impressive offerings are Samsung's premium displays: the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV and the Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV. Both represent the cutting edge of what's possible in home entertainment, but they use fundamentally different approaches to achieve their spectacular images.
If you're considering investing in a high-end television in 2024, you're likely weighing the substantial differences between these two impressive options. Let's explore what makes each of these technologies special and which might be the better fit for your viewing habits, space, and budget.
Before diving into specific models, it's worth understanding the core technologies that power these displays. The differences in how they generate images directly impact performance characteristics that you'll notice every time you watch.
The Samsung S90D OLED, priced around $2,700, uses a technology called QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED). This represents Samsung's latest evolution in self-emissive display technology, released in March 2024 as part of their premium lineup.
In an OLED display, each pixel generates its own light and can turn completely off independently. This means:
Samsung's QD-OLED technology adds a layer of quantum dots to traditional OLED, enhancing color purity and brightness compared to conventional OLED displays. This addresses one of the historical limitations of OLED technology: peak brightness.
The Samsung QN900D Neo QLED 8K, priced significantly higher at around $5,000, represents Samsung's flagship 8K offering for 2024. Released alongside the S90D in March 2024, it showcases Samsung's most advanced implementation of mini-LED backlighting technology.
Neo QLED combines:
This results in significantly higher brightness capabilities than OLED while delivering much better contrast than traditional LED TVs. The mini-LEDs are packed densely behind the screen, allowing for more precise control of which areas display light or darkness.
The most immediately noticeable difference between these TVs is how they handle contrast and black levels.
The S90D OLED delivers what videophiles often consider the gold standard: perfect blacks with infinite contrast. When a pixel needs to display black, it simply turns off completely. There's no light leakage whatsoever. In dark scenes, this creates an unmistakable sense of depth and realism that backlit technologies struggle to match.
"Watching movies like 'Dune' or 'The Batman' on an OLED display reveals shadow details and atmosphere that other technologies simply can't reproduce," notes veteran display calibrator Robert Heron. "The ability to have bright specular highlights right next to absolute darkness without any haloing or light bleed is OLED's defining characteristic."
The QN900D Neo QLED counters with astonishingly good local dimming that gets closer to OLED's perfect blacks than any previous backlit technology. Its mini-LED system divides the backlight into hundreds of independently controlled zones. While impressive, physics dictates that some light will inevitably bleed between zones in high-contrast scenes. You might notice subtle blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds, particularly with HDR content.
If you primarily watch movies in a darkened room, the OLED's perfect blacks will likely provide the more immersive experience. For a bright living room with lots of ambient light, the difference becomes less noticeable.
Where the QN900D Neo QLED pulls decisively ahead is in peak brightness and HDR performance. While the S90D has made significant improvements over earlier OLEDs, reaching approximately 800-1000 nits of peak brightness, the QN900D can push well beyond 2000 nits in its brightest highlights.
This brightness advantage translates to several real-world benefits:
HDR (High Dynamic Range) content is specifically designed to take advantage of this extended brightness range. When watching HDR movies or playing HDR games, the QN900D's brightness advantage becomes more pronounced, delivering a more dramatic range between the darkest and brightest parts of an image.
Perhaps the most obvious specification difference is resolution. The S90D OLED features a 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels), while the QN900D Neo QLED boasts 8K resolution (7680 x 4320 pixels) – four times the pixel count.
Does this matter in everyday viewing? The honest answer is: it depends.
Native 8K content remains extremely limited in 2024. Most streaming services cap at 4K, and even physical media remains at 4K resolution. However, the QN900D's advanced NQ8 AI Gen3 processor does an impressive job upscaling 4K content to 8K, adding perceived detail and clarity.
"The resolution difference becomes more noticeable the larger your screen and the closer you sit," explains display technology researcher Dr. Raymond Soneira. "On a 65-inch screen, you'd need to sit closer than 5-6 feet to fully appreciate 8K's additional detail with most content."
If you're planning to upgrade to a larger screen in the future or sit relatively close to your TV, the 8K resolution might provide more future-proofing value. For most living room setups with typical viewing distances, 4K resolution remains more than adequate for incredible detail.
Both TVs deliver exceptional color performance that exceeds what most viewers would notice in everyday content. However, there are subtle differences worth understanding.
The S90D OLED benefits from the inherent advantages of OLED technology for color reproduction:
The QN900D Neo QLED counters with:
For professional color-critical work, the OLED's pixel-level precision often makes it the preferred choice. For everyday viewing of vibrant content like sports or animation in brighter rooms, many viewers might prefer the Neo QLED's presentation.
Modern TVs serve double-duty as gaming displays, and both Samsung models offer impressive gaming features. For serious gamers, several factors matter beyond just resolution.
The S90D OLED supports up to 144Hz refresh rate, meaning the screen can update 144 times per second. This provides incredibly smooth motion for compatible games. Even more impressive is OLED's nearly instantaneous pixel response time—under 1 millisecond—which eliminates motion blur when objects move quickly across screen.
The QN900D Neo QLED pushes even further with support for 4K at 240Hz (though you'll need very high-end PC gaming hardware to take advantage of this). Its response time isn't quite as instantaneous as OLED but still performs excellently at around 2-4ms.
Both TVs support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology, including FreeSync Premium Pro and HDMI Forum VRR, which synchronizes the TV's refresh rate with your gaming console or PC's output for tear-free gaming.
Input lag—the delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen—is crucial for competitive gaming. Both TVs excel here with input lag under 10ms in game mode.
Samsung has equipped both models with gaming-specific features:
The QN900D includes a slight advantage with its more advanced gaming hub features and cloud gaming integration, but both represent excellent options for serious gamers.
The "best" TV technology often depends more on where and how you'll use it than on absolute technical specifications.
If your living room has large windows and you frequently watch TV during daylight hours, the QN900D Neo QLED has a significant advantage. Its superior brightness can overcome ambient light much more effectively, maintaining contrast and color saturation even in well-lit environments.
The S90D OLED has improved its anti-reflection coating compared to previous generations, but it still cannot match the Neo QLED's ability to combat glare and ambient light. In very bright rooms, OLED images can appear somewhat washed out compared to the much brighter QLED technology.
For dedicated home theater spaces or evening viewing in dimmed lighting, the OLED's perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio provide an unmatched cinematic experience. Movies like "Interstellar" or "Blade Runner 2049" with their dramatic use of shadow and contrast showcase the OLED's advantages most clearly.
The Neo QLED performs admirably in dark rooms as well, but videophiles will notice some subtle blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds that isn't present on OLED displays.
If your seating arrangement spans a wide area, the S90D OLED maintains consistent color and contrast when viewed from angles up to about 60 degrees off-center. The QN900D Neo QLED, despite improvements in off-angle performance, still shows some color shifting and contrast reduction when viewed from extreme angles.
For families with seating spread across a large living room, this viewing angle advantage can be a significant factor in favor of OLED technology.
For dedicated home theater enthusiasts, both TVs offer exceptional performance, but with different strengths.
The perfect blacks of the S90D OLED create an immersive cinematic experience that's particularly evident with letterboxed movies. The black bars above and below widescreen content completely disappear in a darkened room, making the image feel more expansive.
"In a properly darkened dedicated theater room, OLED technology still delivers the most film-like experience," notes home theater designer Theo Kalomirakis. "The ability to render absolute black is particularly important for creating that sense of depth that makes cinema so immersive."
The QN900D Neo QLED counters with spectacular HDR highlights that can make explosion effects and sunlight scenes appear more dynamic. Its 8K resolution also provides future-proofing as more ultra-high-definition content becomes available.
Both TVs support Dolby Atmos audio passthrough and eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) for connecting to external sound systems, which is essential for a true home theater experience.
The nearly $2,300 price difference between these models cannot be ignored. At $2,700, the S90D OLED represents Samsung's premium 4K offering but at a price point that's accessible to more enthusiasts. At $5,000, the QN900D Neo QLED 8K targets early adopters willing to pay a significant premium for cutting-edge technology.
Both technologies have specific considerations regarding long-term use:
OLED displays have historically been susceptible to burn-in (permanent image retention) with static content displayed for extended periods. Samsung has implemented several technologies to mitigate this risk, including pixel-shifting algorithms and automatic brightness limiters. For typical mixed content viewing, burn-in is unlikely to be an issue, but those who watch news channels with static logos or play the same video game for many hours daily should be aware of this potential limitation.
Neo QLED technology doesn't face burn-in concerns but may experience some minor backlight aging over many years of use. Generally, LED-based displays have proven extremely durable over long periods.
The 8K resolution of the QN900D provides some future-proofing as content standards evolve. While 8K content remains limited today, the powerful upscaling processor ensures that current 4K content looks outstanding. As streaming technology advances and bandwidth increases, 8K content will likely become more common over the next few years.
For most viewers with 5+ year upgrade cycles, this future-proofing aspect might justify some of the premium price if you want to stay at the cutting edge of content standards.
Choosing between the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV and the Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV ultimately comes down to your specific viewing environment, content preferences, and budget.
Both televisions represent exceptional examples of their respective technologies. The S90D OLED offers what many consider the purest image quality for cinematic content, particularly in controlled lighting, while the QN900D Neo QLED 8K delivers breathtaking brightness, resolution, and HDR performance that can overcome challenging room environments.
For most consumers seeking the best balance of performance and value, the S90D OLED will provide an exceptional viewing experience at a more accessible price point. Those who demand the absolute cutting edge of display technology and have both the budget and viewing environment to take advantage of it will find the QN900D Neo QLED 8K an impressive technological showcase that pushes the boundaries of what's possible in home entertainment.
Whichever technology you choose, both represent remarkable achievements in display engineering that deliver viewing experiences that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.
| Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV | Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV |
|---|---|
| Price - Total investment required | |
| $2,700 (significantly more affordable) | $5,000 (premium price for cutting-edge technology) |
| Display Technology - Fundamentally different approaches to creating an image | |
| QD-OLED (self-emissive pixels with perfect blacks) | Neo QLED with Mini-LED (backlit display with quantum dots) |
| Resolution - Detail and clarity in the image | |
| 4K (3840 x 2160) - Excellent for all current content | 8K (7680 x 4320) - Future-proofing but limited native content available |
| Processor - Handles upscaling and image enhancement | |
| NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor | NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor (more powerful, better 8K upscaling) |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| 800-1000 nits (good but not class-leading) | 2000-3000 nits (exceptional, overcomes ambient light) |
| Black Levels - Creates depth and realism in dark scenes | |
| Perfect blacks with infinite contrast (no blooming) | Excellent but not perfect blacks (minor blooming in high-contrast scenes) |
| Refresh Rate - Smoothness of motion, especially for gaming | |
| 144Hz (excellent for console gaming) | Up to 240Hz at 4K (superior for high-end PC gaming) |
| Response Time - Speed at which pixels change state | |
| <1ms (virtually instantaneous, no motion blur) | 2-4ms (excellent but not quite OLED-level) |
| Viewing Angles - Image quality when viewed from sides | |
| Excellent (consistent image quality up to 60° off-center) | Good but degrades at extreme angles (best viewed head-on) |
| Bright Room Performance - Visibility in well-lit environments | |
| Good but can appear washed out in very bright rooms | Excellent (high brightness overcomes ambient light) |
| Dark Room Performance - Movie viewing in dim lighting | |
| Exceptional (perfect for home theater environments) | Very good but visible blooming in extreme contrast scenes |
| Gaming Features - For console and PC gamers | |
| HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, <10ms input lag | HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, <10ms input lag, 4K@240Hz capability |
| Risk of Burn-in - Long-term durability concern | |
| Minimal risk with normal use but possible with static images | No risk of burn-in (advantage for news channels, static content) |
| Design Profile - Physical appearance and thickness | |
| Ultra-thin profile (1.6 inches) with minimalist design | Infinity Air Design, slightly thicker but nearly bezel-less screen |
| Best Use Case - Where each TV shines | |
| Movie enthusiasts, gamers, controlled lighting environments | Bright living rooms, early adopters, HDR enthusiasts |
The main difference is in their display technology. The Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV uses self-lighting pixels that can turn completely off for perfect blacks, while the Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV uses mini-LED backlighting that offers significantly higher brightness. The OLED delivers superior contrast and viewing angles, while the Neo QLED provides better performance in bright rooms and higher resolution with its 8K display. The S90D OLED is also much more affordable at $2,700 compared to the QN900D Neo QLED at $5,000.
For a dedicated home theater with controlled lighting, the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV generally provides a more cinematic experience. Its perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio make dark scenes in movies look more realistic, and there's no blooming around bright objects. The Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV offers excellent HDR performance with brighter highlights, but in a darkened home theater, the OLED's superior black levels typically create a more immersive viewing experience for films, especially those with many dark scenes.
The Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV significantly outperforms the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV in bright rooms. With peak brightness levels of 2000-3000 nits (compared to the OLED's 800-1000 nits), the Neo QLED can overcome glare and ambient light much more effectively. The S90D OLED can appear somewhat washed out in very bright environments, while the QN900D Neo QLED maintains vibrant colors and contrast even with sunlight in the room.
For most consumers, the $2,300 price difference between the $2,700 Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV and the $5,000 Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV is difficult to justify. The Neo QLED's advantages (8K resolution, higher brightness, better performance in bright rooms) are significant but specialized. Unless you have a very bright viewing environment, need the absolute highest resolution available, or consider yourself an early adopter willing to pay for cutting-edge technology, the S90D OLED offers better value for most home entertainment needs.
Both TVs offer excellent gaming performance, but with different strengths. The Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV features near-instantaneous response time (<1ms) which eliminates motion blur, 144Hz refresh rate, and very low input lag. The Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV supports higher refresh rates (up to 240Hz at 4K), has similarly low input lag, but slightly slower response time (2-4ms). For competitive gaming or fast-paced titles, the S90D OLED has a slight edge, while the QN900D Neo QLED offers higher resolution gaming for high-end PC setups.
For most viewers in 2024, the 8K resolution of the Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV provides minimal visible benefit over the 4K resolution of the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV. Native 8K content remains very limited, and at typical viewing distances with a 65" screen, most people cannot discern the additional detail. The 8K TV does provide excellent upscaling of 4K content and some future-proofing value, but most consumers won't notice a significant resolution difference in everyday viewing compared to the S90D OLED.
The Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV offers superior viewing angles compared to the Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV. With OLED technology, the picture quality, colors, and contrast remain consistent even when viewed from angles up to 60 degrees off-center. The QN900D Neo QLED, despite improvements over traditional LED TVs, still shows some color shifting and contrast reduction when viewed from extreme angles. For wide seating arrangements where people view the TV from various positions, the S90D OLED provides a more consistent experience for all viewers.
While burn-in (permanent image retention) was a concern with earlier OLED TVs, the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV incorporates several technologies to minimize this risk, including pixel-shifting algorithms and automatic brightness limiters. For typical mixed-content viewing, burn-in is unlikely to be an issue. However, if you frequently watch channels with static logos for extended periods (news channels, sports tickers) or play the same video game for many hours daily, there is a small potential risk. The Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV uses different technology that is not susceptible to burn-in at all.
For sports viewing, the better choice depends on your viewing environment. In brighter rooms, the Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV offers advantages with its higher brightness and vivid colors that maintain their impact even with ambient light. For evening sports viewing in controlled lighting, the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV provides smoother motion handling with less blur during fast action. If you primarily watch sports during daylight hours in a bright room, the QN900D Neo QLED would be preferable, while for night games in dimmer lighting, the S90D OLED might provide a more engaging experience.
Yes, both the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV and Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV run on Samsung's Tizen operating system with similar smart features, including access to streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more. Both support voice assistants (Bixby, Alexa) and integrate with the SmartThings ecosystem for smart home control. The QN900D Neo QLED might offer slightly faster response times when navigating the interface due to its more powerful processor, but the core smart TV experience is very similar between both models.
The Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV delivers superior HDR (High Dynamic Range) performance due to its significantly higher peak brightness capabilities. With brightness levels reaching 2000-3000 nits in highlights, HDR content appears more dynamic and impactful compared to the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV, which typically reaches 800-1000 nits. While the OLED has perfect blacks that enhance contrast, the Neo QLED's much higher brightness allows HDR highlights like sunlight, explosions, and bright specular reflections to appear more realistic and punchy, especially in HDR10+ content.
Both the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV and Samsung QN900D Series 65" Neo QLED 8K Smart TV are premium products built with high-quality components, but they have different longevity considerations. The Neo QLED technology has no risk of burn-in and typically maintains consistent performance over many years, with potential minor backlight aging over extended periods. The OLED technology offers spectacular initial performance but carries a small theoretical risk of burn-in with static content and may experience some brightness degradation over many years of use. Both TVs come with Samsung's warranty protection, and with normal varied viewing habits, both should provide many years of excellent performance.
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