The Samsung TQ55S95C 4K TV (55”) is equipped with a Quantum Dot-boosted OLED panel. The manufacturer announces high brightness, an excellent anti-glare filter, perfectly calibrated colors, a separate connector box and an ultra-slim silhouette. Priced at €2,690, this high-end TV seems to be the perfect model for home theater and video games. But is this truly the case?
Samsung TQ55S95C: packaging & accessories
The Samsung TQ55S95C television comes with a One Connect box that features all the connectors and part of the electronics. Accompanying this box are two cables (30cm and 2.5m). It is possible to place the box on the back of the TV’s base or inside a cabinet. A power cable, user guide and rechargeable remote control (solar) are also included.
Samsung TQ55S95C: presentation
The Samsung TQ55S95C is the manufacturer’s newest high-end OLED 4K UHD television. It is slimmer, brighter and features a better anti-glare filter than its predecessor, the Samsung QE55S95B.
This Samsung TV is equipped with a 10-bit/144Hz OLED panel with Quantum Dots. This combination makes it possible to display HDR10 and HDR10+ images with deep blacks and intense colors. The powerful Neural Quantum 4K processor optimizes the display standard and HD sources and upscales them to 4K.
The panel of the Samsung TQ55S95C has also been expertly calibrated to guarantee a picture with accurate, realistic colors. What’s more, it is now equipped with a remote box for the electronics and connectors, which greatly simplifies the TV’s integration. The audio section has also been improved, as this Samsung TV features a 4.2.2 channel system with 70W of amplification.
The Samsung TQ55S95C television is powered by the proprietary Tizen interface, providing the user with many features as well as simple, smooth navigation. It is easy to access the many apps once the TV is connected to the internet, particularly those of the main streaming services. This Samsung television also offers a number of exclusive apps that let you take advantage of your telecom operator’s TV services without needing to connect an external TV set-top box. The only criticism we have is that there sometimes is a slight lack of responsiveness when browsing.
The gaming specs are also improved, with support for the Pro version of the VRR AMD FreeSync Premium protocol. The latter is tasked with eliminating judder and image tearing by precisely matching the display frequency of the screen to that of the graphics processor. Like all the Korean manufacturer’s televisions, the Samsung TQ55S95C incorporates the Gaming Hub interface, which features several cloud gaming services as well as shortcuts to Twitch and YouTube.
As a result, it is possible to access Xbox and PC video games, without a console or computer, directly via the Samsung TQ55S95C. You simply have to connect a controller or a keyboard and mouse, and a high-speed Internet connection. This means you can game at any time, with no download time or latency, via the cloud gaming service to which you have subscribed (subscription not included with the TV).
Samsung TQ55S95C: key specifications
- OLED panel with Quantum Dots
- HDR10+ Adaptive & Gaming
- Ultra-slim design (10mm)
- One Connect box
- 4.2.2 channel sound (70W)
- Built-in woofer
- Solar universal remote control
- 4K 120Hz/144Hz compatible
- AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- Gaming Hub
Samsung TQ55S95C: configuration
Once the base was assembled and screwed onto the back of the screen, we placed the television on a TV cabinet and connected the One Connect box using one of the included cables. You can use the short one to install the box on the back of the TV, and the long one if you want to place it further away. Then all we had left to do was connect the various sources and then switch on the TV. If you prefer, you can also mount this TV on the wall using a VESA 300×200 compatible wall-mount.
The television can be configured using a remote control or a smartphone, via the SmartThings control app. You have to select the language, then choose whether or not to activate intelligent mode.
A word of warning: when the latter is activated, the Image menu only provides access to two modes: Optimized and Visual Comfort. To manually access the Dynamic, Standard, Eco, Cinema and Filmmaker modes, you must deactivate the Adaptive Image feature via the settings menu of the Smart mode (General and Confidentiality).
If you are not connecting your TV to the Internet with a network cable, you need to set up WiFi. Next, select the region for setting the DTT channels, then detect the connected sources. Once these steps have been completed, the Samsung TQ55S95C is ready to use.
For our review, we connected the TV to a wall aerial socket for DTT reception. We also paired it with the Pioneer UDP-LX500 4K UHD Blu-ray player using an Audioquest Cinnamon HDMI cable. This enabled us to play the Spears & Munsil 4K Ultra HD calibration Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray movies. We tested the Internet connection via network cable and wirelessly, using the Netgear Orbi RBK852 WiFi booster.
Samsung TQ55S95C: our impressions
Ultra-slim screen
Thanks to the One Connect box, the manufacturer has managed to drastically reduce the thickness of the television. While the bottom part of the Samsung TQ55S90C containing the electronics and the connectors is 3.9cm thick, the entire surface of the Samsung TQ55S95C is only 1.1cm thick! As a result, this TV is ideal for wall-mounting with an ultra-flat bracket.
The heavy steel foot provides perfect stability and makes it easy to place the TV on any type of furniture. It leaves around 6.8 centimeters of space underneath the screen, allowing a soundbar to be installed without obscuring the image. It’s a pity, however, that it doesn’t swivel.
New anti-glare filter
The Samsung S95C range introduces a new and very powerful anti-glare filter. Similar to those used on the best 2023 Samsung Neo QLED TVs, it has a slightly more matte finish than the filters of previous OLED generations. Light pollution is greatly reduced, allowing you to watch TV and play video games during the day.
4K HDR content
As soon as we watched the test video of the Spears & Munsil Blu-ray, we realized that we were in the presence of an excellent television. The Samsung TQ55S95C was very precise, with a sharp picture right out of the box. The dynamic shifts were handled perfectly, and the colors were intense, as long as HDR Tone Mapping was activated (Picture menu/Expert settings). In Filmmaker mode, the color temperature seemed slightly too warm (default setting: Warm 2). When set to Warm 1 and Standard (neutral), the color reproduction was highly accurate and nuanced.
The Samsung TQ55S95C displayed a beautifully precise and detailed picture with 4K HDR content streamed on Prime Video and UHD Blu-rays. The incredible contrast and high brightness ensured superb 4K HDR rendering. However, it is a shame that Samsung has once again omitted Dolby Vision compatibility. You have to make do with HDR10 and HDR10+ with this TV.
With the series The Wheel of Time and the movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the television provided very convincing 4K HDR images. They were bursting with details, particularly on close-ups of faces, while panoramic shots had wonderful depth. The high and low lights were reproduced with infinite nuance, which reinforced the realism of the picture.
On Roland Emmerich’s Moonfall on 4K HDR Blu-ray, the result was spectacular. Whether it was the disasters caused by the proximity of the Moon, the lift-off of the space shuttle, the scenes in space or the return to earth in the snowy mountains, we enjoyed an extremely rich image. The combination of quantum dots and an OLED panel delivered sparkling highlights, vivid and nuanced colors, and virtually infinite contrast. A real treat!
4K video games
This Samsung television is equipped with four HDMI 2.1 connectors adapted to the latest video games, with a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hz. Once we’d connected a PlayStation 5, we were able to launch Hogwarts Legacy and Gran Turismo 7 Standard Edition.
The beautiful backgrounds of these two games were a real treat. The television perfectly reproduced the light effects and reflections made possible by Ray Tracing technology. Whether we were battling magical creatures and wizards, or taking on powerful GTs on racetracks across the globe, we enjoyed excellent image quality and optimal responsiveness.
DTT & HD Blu-ray upscaling
With TV channels, the upscaling results depended largely on the picture quality of the program. Consequently, HD TV programs and series were upscaled effectively, offering a quality similar to true 4K streaming.
We were able to verify this on both Top Gear reruns and recent Arte documentaries by choosing the Standard image mode. Overall, the results were highly satisfactory, from bright, natural-tone outdoor shots to studio footage.
On very low-definition programs, still shots were improved, but the results were more moderate with moving images. Unfortunately, artificial intelligence cannot compensate for all the missing pixels. In this respect, Samsung’s TV is no better or worse than the competition.
4.2.2-channel sound
The Samsung TQ55S95C is Dolby Atmos compatible and features a 4.2.2-channel audio system, a real feat for a screen that is only 1.1cm thick! Given the thinness of the TV, all the drivers are situated on the back of the screen. There are two stereo drivers for the front channels and two others for the surround effects, as well as two drivers for the vertical Atmos effects. Lastly, two sets of three woofers reproduce the low frequencies.
In practice and despite what the manufacturer says, we didn’t really benefit from an immersive 360° experience, as the sound reproduction was mostly frontal.
That said, the distribution of the effects was wide, high and even deep, but remained behind the screen due to the foot that sets the TV away from the wall. It was sufficient to add depth to the sound. It is also worth noting that the volume can be turned up high without generating any saturation.
Ideally, it is best to pair the television to a Dolby Atmos soundbar and a subwoofer to truly benefit from an immersive sound bubble. For optimal integration, we recommend a Samsung model compatible with Q Symphony technology, which simultaneously uses the TV’s drivers and those of the soundbar. This will allow you to enjoy Dolby Atmos sound without any cables between the screen and the soundbar.
Samsung TQ55S95C: compared to…
LG OLED65G3
Both of these TVs are perfectly calibrated in Filmmaker mode, with very accurate colors. With its micro lenses, the LG OLED65G3 is brighter and displays a very dynamic image with more vivid colors than the Samsung model. However, the latter provides more subtle, nuanced hues.
Moreover, the Samsung’s slightly matte anti-glare filter gives the picture a certain cinematographic softness. This is great for movies, which makes its lack of Dolby Vision compatibility, a format supported by the LG TV, all the more regrettable. The Samsung does, however, support HDR10+, the competing dynamic HDR format that the LG model has omitted.
Sound-wise, the Samsung television offers a wider, higher and deeper reproduction, with more prominent bass.
On a daily basis, the Tizen and webOS interfaces are just as comprehensive and pleasant to use. However, the LG television is a little more responsive when pressing the buttons on the remote control.
Panasonic TX-55LZ2000E
Equipped with a classic OLED panel, the Panasonic TX-55LZ2000E falls short of the Samsung TV in terms of brightness. Consequently, its dynamic range isn’t as wide and the Samsung TQ55S95C has greater light variations. The latter displays more nuances from the deepest black to the brightest white.
However, the Panasonic screen is unbeatable when it comes to color accuracy, with an incredible calibration in Filmmaker mode that is worthy of a professional monitor. It also has the upper hand regarding sound, with a true soundbar integrated under the screen combined with lateral and up-firing drivers. It offers better spatialization and greater immersion. But it comes at the price of a more imposing design, with a significantly thicker screen (almost 7cm).
Samsung TQ55S95C: who is it for?
The Samsung TQ55S95C will appeal to those who enjoy bight 4K HDR images with perfect contrast and realistic colors. It is a reference for both home theater and video games.
Samsung TQ55S95C: conclusion
The Samsung TQ55S95C provides high-end performance and is one of the best OLED TVs available right now. Its high brightness, well-calibrated panel, effective HDR management and powerful anti-glare filter make it an excellent choice for a home theater system. Its 4K 144Hz compatibility and gaming features are also a must for video games. Its remote connector box is also extremely practical for integrating the screen. And its ultra-slim silhouette makes it one of the most attractive TVs of 2023.
We liked
- The gorgeous design
- The well-calibrated Filmmaker mode
- The precise HDR rendering
- The very effective anti-glare filter
We would have liked
- Support for Dolby Vision
- A swiveling base
