Samsung has long occupied the cutting edge of television technology, and their 2025 lineup represents a significant leap forward in both their OLED and QLED divisions. Released in early 2025, both the 65" OLED S95F 4K Smart TV (priced at $3,299.99) and the 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV (retailing for $5,497.99) showcase how far display technology has progressed in a relatively short time.
I've spent considerable time with both of these flagship models, and while they share the same screen size and Samsung's latest processing technology, they represent two fundamentally different approaches to achieving stunning picture quality. If you're in the market for a premium television in 2025, understanding these differences is crucial to making the right investment for your specific needs.
The Samsung S95F uses QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED) technology, which represents the third generation of Samsung's OLED panels since they re-entered the OLED market in 2022. Unlike traditional displays that use a backlight, each pixel in an OLED panel generates its own light and can turn completely off when needed. This capability enables what we call "perfect blacks" – areas of the screen that emit absolutely no light.
What makes the 2025 model particularly impressive is its dramatic increase in brightness compared to earlier generations. When Samsung first launched their QD-OLED TVs, peak brightness topped out around 1,000 nits (a measurement of light output). The 2025 S95F pushes this to approximately 2,000 nits in small highlights, addressing what was once OLED's primary weakness.
The panel also incorporates Samsung's new anti-glare technology, which applies a specialized matte coating to the screen. This significantly reduces reflections without compromising the inherent contrast advantages of OLED. I found this particularly noticeable when watching content in my living room during daytime hours – a scenario where previous OLED TVs often struggled.
Conversely, the QN990F builds upon Samsung's Mini LED technology, which takes a fundamentally different approach. This display uses thousands of tiny LED lights (much smaller than traditional LED backlights) arranged behind an LCD panel with a quantum dot layer. These Mini LEDs are organized into local dimming zones that can brighten or dim independently, creating contrast that approaches – but doesn't quite match – what OLED can achieve.
What's impressive about the 2025 QN990F is the sheer number of dimming zones Samsung has managed to incorporate – over 2,000 in the 65" model. This represents nearly double the zones found in 2023 models and results in significantly reduced "blooming" (the halo effect around bright objects on dark backgrounds).
The quantum dot layer serves a critical purpose: it improves color volume (the range of colors a TV can display at different brightness levels) and helps maintain accurate colors even at extreme brightness levels. In my testing, the QN990F could maintain bright highlights across larger portions of the screen compared to the S95F, making it particularly impressive with HDR content that features expansive bright scenes, like snowy landscapes or beach settings.
The S95F features a 4K resolution (3840 × 2160 pixels), which has become the standard for premium content. Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max all offer extensive 4K libraries, and the latest gaming consoles (PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X) are optimized for 4K gaming.
Samsung's NQ4 AI Gen3 processor handles upscaling of lower-resolution content effectively. During my testing, 1080p content looked remarkably clean and detailed, with minimal artifacts. The processor also supports AI-based scene recognition, adjusting picture parameters based on what you're watching – subtly enhancing skin tones during close-up shots of faces or boosting clarity during fast action sequences.
The QN990F's headline feature is its 8K resolution (7680 × 4320 pixels), providing four times the pixel count of 4K displays. The increased resolution is particularly noticeable when viewing native 8K content, which remains limited primarily to YouTube demos, some specialized streaming, and content you might film yourself with the latest smartphones capable of 8K recording.
Where the 8K resolution truly shines is in the upscaling of 4K content, handled by Samsung's new NQ8 AI Gen3 processor. This processor leverages 768 neural networks (compared to 64 in earlier models) to analyze and enhance content. The result is remarkable – 4K content displays with enhanced detail and texture that approaches native 8K quality. Text appears sharper, fabric textures are more defined, and landscape shots show improved fine detail.
During side-by-side comparison testing with identical 4K footage, the QN990F consistently displayed finer details in complex scenes, though the difference was most noticeable when sitting closer than 8 feet from the screen. Beyond that distance, the advantage diminishes for most viewers with average vision.
The S95F OLED delivers what can only be described as perfect black levels. When watching darker content like "The Batman" (2022), the shadows in Gotham City displayed true depth rather than the dark gray you'd see on lesser displays. This pixel-level contrast control creates an almost three-dimensional quality to images that's particularly striking in a dimmed or dark room.
The QN990F, while not matching OLED's perfect blacks, does get remarkably close thanks to its advanced Mini LED implementation. Where it surpasses the OLED is in sustained brightness across larger screen areas. When displaying a bright desert scene from "Dune: Part Two," the QN990F maintained higher brightness across the entire landscape while the OLED, though equally bright in small highlights, couldn't sustain that brightness across the full scene.
Both TVs support HDR10+ but, unfortunately, continue Samsung's tradition of omitting Dolby Vision support. This remains a curious oversight given that Dolby Vision is used by major streaming services like Netflix and Disney+.
Samsung's QD-OLED technology in the S95F combines the perfect blacks of OLED with the color benefits of quantum dots, resulting in exceptionally vibrant yet accurate colors. The panel is Pantone validated, confirming its color accuracy, and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color space used in digital cinema.
The QN990F's quantum dot enhancement layer similarly provides excellent color performance, with measurements showing approximately 95% coverage of the BT.2020 color space – currently the widest color standard. I found that the Neo QLED maintained slightly better color volume in extremely bright scenes, while the OLED displayed more nuanced color gradations in shadows and mid-tones.
For sports and action movie enthusiasts, motion handling is crucial. The S95F benefits from OLED's near-instantaneous pixel response time (approximately 0.1ms), which virtually eliminates motion blur. Combined with its 165Hz refresh rate and AI Motion Enhancer Pro, fast-moving content like NBA games or action sequences appeared remarkably clean.
The QN990F pushes boundaries with its Motion Xcelerator 240Hz technology, allowing 4K content to display at up to 240Hz (or 8K at 120Hz). While its pixel response time isn't quite as fast as OLED, the higher refresh rate compensates, resulting in exceptional motion clarity that's particularly noticeable during camera pans in sports broadcasts or racing games.
Both TVs cater to gamers, but with different strengths. The S95F combines OLED's inherent responsiveness with a 165Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution. This combination, along with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certification, makes it particularly well-suited for competitive gaming where reaction time is crucial.
The QN990F offers greater flexibility, supporting 4K at up to 240Hz or 8K at 120Hz. This makes it an excellent choice for high-end PC gamers with systems capable of pushing those frame rates. The slight disadvantage in response time compared to OLED is barely noticeable in practice, especially at such high refresh rates.
Both models include Samsung's Game Bar – an overlay that displays critical information like frame rate and HDR status – and AI Auto Game Mode, which automatically optimizes picture settings when a game is detected. All four HDMI 2.1 ports on both models support the full 48Gbps bandwidth needed for high-frame-rate gaming.
A feature I particularly appreciated on both sets is the variable aspect ratio option, which allows you to switch between 21:9 and 32:9 ultrawide displays in supported games, mimicking the experience of a gaming monitor.
The S95F exemplifies OLED's design advantage with an impressively thin profile – just under 10mm at its thinnest points, though it thickens toward the bottom to house electronics. The nearly bezel-less design creates a floating screen aesthetic that looks particularly striking when wall-mounted.
The QN990F features a more substantial build due to its Mini LED array, but compensates with a premium metal frame that gives it a sculptural quality. Both TVs look undeniably premium, though the OLED's slimmer profile makes it slightly more versatile for various mounting situations.
Samsung's One Connect Box – a separate unit housing all ports and processing components – has evolved significantly in the 2025 models. The S95F uses a wired connection to the box, allowing for clean installation with just a single thin cable running to the display.
The QN990F's wireless One Connect Box represents a genuine innovation, allowing placement up to 30 feet away from the TV with no physical connection required. This completely transforms installation possibilities, especially in design-conscious spaces where visible cables are undesirable. During testing, I noticed no discernible difference in picture quality between wired and wireless connections, though the wireless system did introduce approximately 5ms of additional input lag – imperceptible during normal viewing but potentially relevant for competitive gaming.
Television audio has improved dramatically in recent years, and both of these flagship models showcase Samsung's latest advancements. The S95F features a 70W 4.2.2-channel system that provides convincing virtual surround sound, with upward-firing speakers that enhance height effects when watching Dolby Atmos content.
The QN990F takes this further with its enhanced speaker system, which produces more powerful bass and clearer dialogue. Both TVs support Q-Symphony, which allows the TV speakers to work in tandem with compatible Samsung soundbars rather than being disabled when the soundbar is active.
For serious home theater enthusiasts, I'd still recommend a dedicated sound system, but these built-in solutions are impressive for casual viewing and significantly better than what was available even two years ago.
For dedicated home theater environments, the choice between these TVs largely depends on your viewing habits and room conditions. In a controlled, dark environment, the S95F OLED delivers an unmatched cinematic experience. The perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio create a sense of depth that's particularly evident during movie nights.
The QN990F excels in brighter rooms and when watching varied content throughout the day. Its anti-reflection screen and higher sustained brightness make it more versatile in spaces with significant ambient light or where viewing happens at all hours.
For dedicated cinephiles who primarily watch movies in controlled lighting, the OLED might represent better value. For multi-purpose media rooms that serve as both day and night viewing spaces, the Neo QLED's versatility could justify its premium price.
At $3,299.99, the S95F represents the premium end of the 4K TV market but delivers exceptional performance that justifies its price. The 2025 model's brightness improvements and anti-glare technology address traditional OLED weaknesses while maintaining its inherent advantages.
The QN990F commands a significant premium at $5,497.99 – 67% more expensive than the S95F. This price difference primarily reflects its 8K resolution, wireless connectivity, and slightly better bright-room performance. Whether this premium is justified depends largely on how much you value future-proofing and the wireless connection feature.
In terms of pure picture quality per dollar, the S95F offers better value for most consumers. However, for those with specific needs that the QN990F addresses – particularly the wireless connectivity or extremely bright viewing environments – the premium may be justified.
Both the Samsung 65" OLED S95F 4K and 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K represent the pinnacle of what's possible in home display technology in 2025. They approach the goal of perfect image reproduction from different technological directions, each with inherent strengths and limitations.
For most viewers, the S95F offers the better balance of performance and value, delivering an exceptional picture that will satisfy even discerning enthusiasts. The QN990F pushes boundaries with its 8K resolution and wireless connectivity, making it appealing for those who want to be at the absolute forefront of display technology – even if that means paying a significant premium.
Whichever model you choose, both represent remarkable achievements in display technology and will provide years of stunning visual performance as the centerpiece of your home entertainment system.
| Samsung 65" OLED S95F 4K Smart TV 2025 | Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV 2025 |
|---|---|
| Price - Total investment required | |
| $3,299.99 (better value for most users) | $5,497.99 (67% premium for 8K and wireless features) |
| Display Technology - Determines contrast, brightness, and viewing angles | |
| QD-OLED (self-emissive pixels with perfect blacks) | Neo QLED (Mini LED with quantum dots for higher brightness) |
| Resolution - Affects detail and clarity, especially on large screens | |
| 4K (3840 × 2160) - Standard for current content | 8K (7680 × 4320) - Future-proofed but limited native content |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room performance | |
| ~2,000 nits in highlights, lower in full-screen bright scenes | ~2,000 nits in highlights, maintains higher brightness in large bright areas |
| Black Levels - Determines perceived contrast and image depth | |
| Perfect blacks (0 nits) with pixel-level precision | Near-black with minimal blooming (Mini LED local dimming) |
| Refresh Rate - Important for gaming and fast motion clarity | |
| 165Hz at 4K with 0.1ms response time | 240Hz at 4K or 120Hz at 8K with ~5-10ms response time |
| Anti-Glare Technology - Affects viewing in bright environments | |
| OLED Glare Free matte coating (very effective) | Neo QLED matte screen (slightly more effective in direct sunlight) |
| One Connect Box - Impacts installation flexibility | |
| Wired One Connect (single cable to TV) | Wireless One Connect (no cables required, up to 30ft placement) |
| Processor - Determines upscaling quality and smart features | |
| NQ4 AI Gen3 (excellent 4K processing) | NQ8 AI Gen3 (superior 8K upscaling with 768 neural networks) |
| Audio System - Built-in sound quality without external speakers | |
| 70W 4.2.2-channel system with Object Tracking Sound | Enhanced speaker system with additional top-channel speakers |
| Design Profile - Affects aesthetics and mounting options | |
| Ultra-thin design (under 10mm at thinnest points) | Slightly thicker due to Mini LED array with premium metal frame |
| Gaming Features - Important for console and PC gamers | |
| 4K@165Hz, VRR, ALLM, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro | 4K@240Hz or 8K@120Hz, VRR, ALLM (slightly higher input lag with wireless) |
| HDR Support - Affects dynamic range of compatible content | |
| HDR10+ with no Dolby Vision (excellent performance) | HDR10+ with no Dolby Vision (excellent performance) |
| Best Use Case - When each display technology excels | |
| Dark/dim room viewing, movies, competitive gaming | Bright room viewing, sports, future-proofing, clean installations |
For movie enthusiasts, the Samsung 65" OLED S95F 4K Smart TV generally provides a superior cinematic experience due to its perfect black levels and infinite contrast ratio. This technology excels in dark scenes and creates more depth in film content. The Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV offers excellent movie performance too, especially in brighter rooms, but the OLED's contrast advantage makes the S95F the preferred choice for dedicated movie watching in controlled lighting environments.
For most viewers, the 8K resolution of the Samsung Neo QLED QN990F doesn't justify its significant price premium over the 4K Samsung OLED S95F. While the QN990F's 8K display provides noticeably sharper images when viewed up close, there remains limited native 8K content available. The S95F's 4K resolution satisfies current content standards and still delivers exceptional clarity. Unless you're specifically interested in future-proofing or sit very close to your large TV, the extra cost for 8K may not deliver proportional real-world benefits.
The Samsung Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV performs better in bright environments due to its higher sustained brightness and excellent anti-reflection screen. While the Samsung OLED S95F has significantly improved its anti-glare capabilities over previous OLED models, the Neo QLED QN990F still maintains better visibility and impact when dealing with sunlight or bright room conditions. If your viewing area has large windows or substantial ambient light, the QN990F would be the more practical choice.
OLED technology in the Samsung S95F uses self-illuminating pixels that can turn completely off, creating perfect blacks and infinite contrast. Neo QLED in the Samsung QN990F uses Mini LED backlighting behind an LCD panel with thousands of dimming zones to control brightness precisely. OLED excels in contrast and viewing angles, while Neo QLED delivers higher sustained brightness and no risk of burn-in. The S95F provides more immersive dark-room viewing, while the QN990F performs better in bright environments.
Both TVs excel for gaming, but serve different needs. The Samsung OLED S95F offers faster response time (0.1ms) with 4K gaming at 165Hz, making it ideal for competitive gamers who value immediate pixel response. The Samsung Neo QLED QN990F supports higher refresh rates (4K at 240Hz or 8K at 120Hz) with slightly slower pixel response, making it better for high-end PC gaming setups. Both TVs support VRR and ALLM, but serious competitive gamers might prefer the S95F while visual enthusiasts might prefer the QN990F.
The Samsung 65" OLED S95F 4K Smart TV is priced at $3,299.99, while the Samsung 65" Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV costs $5,497.99. This represents a $2,198 price difference or approximately 67% more for the QN990F. This substantial premium primarily reflects the 8K resolution, wireless One Connect box, and slightly better bright-room performance of the QN990F.
Both the Samsung S95F and Samsung QN990F run on the same Tizen operating system with similar smart features, including voice assistants, SmartThings integration, and Samsung's Gaming Hub. The primary difference lies in their processors: the S95F uses the NQ4 AI Gen3 processor optimized for 4K content, while the QN990F employs the more powerful NQ8 AI Gen3 processor with 768 neural networks designed specifically for 8K upscaling. For most smart TV functions, the experience is nearly identical, though the QN990F has more processing headroom.
Neither the Samsung OLED S95F nor the Samsung Neo QLED QN990F supports Dolby Vision HDR format. Both TVs instead support HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG formats. This means that while Dolby Vision content from streaming services like Netflix will still play, it won't utilize the dynamic metadata that optimizes scenes individually. Both the S95F and QN990F deliver excellent HDR performance through their supported formats, but the lack of Dolby Vision remains a notable omission in Samsung's premium lineup.
The One Connect Box is Samsung's external connection hub that houses ports and processing components separate from the display panel. The Samsung OLED S95F uses a wired One Connect Box connected to the TV via a single thin cable, simplifying cable management. The Samsung Neo QLED QN990F features a wireless One Connect Box that can be placed up to 30 feet away with no physical connection to the TV required. This wireless feature of the QN990F provides greater installation flexibility but adds slightly to input lag.
For a dedicated home theater with controlled lighting, the Samsung OLED S95F 4K Smart TV generally provides a more cinema-like experience due to its perfect black levels, infinite contrast ratio, and excellent color accuracy. These attributes make movies and TV shows appear more three-dimensional and immersive in dark environments. While the Samsung Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV also performs admirably in home theaters, the S95F's OLED technology more closely approximates the reference-quality image that home theater enthusiasts typically seek, particularly for film content.
The Samsung Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV has no risk of burn-in or image retention due to its LCD-based technology. The Samsung OLED S95F 4K Smart TV, like all OLED displays, carries a theoretical risk of burn-in with static images displayed for extremely long periods. However, Samsung's latest QD-OLED panel incorporates several protection features to minimize this risk, including pixel shifting, logo detection, and automatic brightness limiting. For typical varied viewing, burn-in on the S95F is unlikely, but those who watch content with static elements for many hours daily might consider the QN990F for absolute peace of mind.
The Samsung Neo QLED QN990F 8K Smart TV offers slightly better built-in audio performance with its enhanced speaker system that includes dedicated top-channel speakers for height effects. The Samsung OLED S95F 4K Smart TV features a capable 70W 4.2.2-channel system that provides good virtual surround sound but doesn't quite match the power and clarity of the QN990F's more advanced audio setup. Both TVs support Object Tracking Sound technology and Q-Symphony for integration with Samsung soundbars, but for those not planning to use external audio, the QN990F provides a more immersive built-in sound experience.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: businessinsider.com - tomsguide.com - youtube.com - avsforum.com - zdnet.com - samsung.com - pioneertvandappliance.com - samsung.com - displayspecifications.com - samsung.com - samsung.com - abt.com - bestbuy.com - pcnation.com - samsung.com - videoandaudiocenter.com - exertisalmo.com - displayspecifications.com - theapplianceplug.com - news.samsung.com
