Samsung S85D vs S90C
Elisabeth Christ
Updated September 2024
As Samsung continues to push boundaries in OLED technology, the S85D and S90C models stand out with impressive innovations. These TVs boast cutting-edge designs, enhanced gaming features, and top-tier display performance. The S85D leans on traditional WOLED tech, while the S90C amps things up with QD-OLED enhancements. Let’s dive deep into how these two flagship models stack up against each other across essential aspects like design, image quality, and more.
Key Takeaways
The Samsung S85D impresses with its WOLED display and refined design, offering excellent picture quality and solid gaming performance. Meanwhile, the S90C’s QD-OLED panel delivers superior brightness and color, making it more suitable for HDR content. Both models are strong contenders for gaming, but the S90C’s 4K144Hz capabilities and wide aspect ratios cater more to competitive gamers. Sound performance is similar across both, with the S90C offering marginally better depth.
Samsung S85D OLED TV
Entry-level OLED with Excellent Picture Quality
✓ Slim and stylish design
✓ Object Tracking Sound Lite & Dolby Atmos
✓ NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor
✓ 120Hz native refresh rate
Samsung S90C OLED TV
High-End 4K TV with High Brightness
✓ Object tracking sound Lite (OTS Lite)
✓ Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro
✓ QD-OLED panel
✓ Various smart features
#1 Design and Build Quality
Samsung S85D OLED TV
The Samsung S85D showcases a sleek "Contour Design," inspired by flowing waves, giving it an ultra-slim and elegant profile that blends seamlessly into any room. Its stylish curved rear panel exudes refinement, while the pair of feet at the base adds a modern touch. Meanwhile, the SolarCell remote, which charges on indoor light, adds an eco-friendly layer to the overall minimalist aesthetic. Its carefully crafted design feels premium without overpowering the room.
On the other hand, the S90C's "LaserSlim Design" takes thinness to new heights, with a slim metal bezel and a depth of just 1.6 inches. This TV exudes a contemporary vibe, particularly with the solar-powered remote, though it lacks backlighting. The center stand gives it flexibility for various setups, whether mounted or placed on a desk. With its even slimmer form, the S90C offers a modernist appeal that feels almost invisible from the side.
#2 Image Quality and Display Features
Samsung S90C OLED TV
The S85D’s traditional WOLED display impresses with its ability to deliver pure blacks and bright whites due to individually controlled pixels. Backed by the NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor, it uses AI for intelligent upscaling and Pantone-validated colors for precision in every frame. The S85D’s 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth visuals, enhanced by HDR10+ support for dynamic contrast. Although it lacks Dolby Vision, the HDR10+ format still brings vibrant HDR content to life.
Samsung S85D OLED TV
The S90C, however, takes things up a notch with its QD-OLED panel. Offering deeper blacks, richer colors, and improved brightness, it sets a new standard for OLED displays. Its Quantum HDR OLED technology delivers impressive contrast, particularly in HDR10+ content, while the real depth enhancer adds more clarity to foreground details. Though color accuracy varies slightly in certain modes, the S90C shines in Filmmaker Mode, where it offers an immersive cinema-like experience.
#3 Gaming Performance
Samsung S90C OLED TV
For gamers, the S85D offers solid performance with its 4K120Hz refresh rate and Motion Xcelerator technology. The inclusion of FreeSync Premium Pro ensures smooth HDR gaming, while the Samsung Gaming Hub opens the door to cloud gaming from platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming. Low input lag and the intuitive Game Bar make the S85D a capable choice for competitive gaming, adjusting key settings on the fly.
Samsung S85D OLED TV
The S90C, however, caters even more to hardcore gamers, with its 4K144Hz refresh rate that delivers an ultra-smooth gaming experience. Thanks to Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro, it ensures fluid motion even in fast-paced games. The S90C also features Game Motion Plus, a feature that balances motion smoothing with responsiveness, making it perfect for gaming in various genres. With a wider screen ratio option (21:9 or 32:9), the S90C delivers a more immersive gaming experience compared to the S85D.
#4 Sound Quality
Samsung S90C OLED TV
The S85D packs a solid punch with its 2.0 speaker system delivering 20 watts from each channel. Equipped with Object Tracking Sound Lite and Dolby Atmos, it provides dynamic audio that adapts based on the content you’re watching. The built-in Adaptive Sound Pro feature adjusts audio settings depending on your room environment, optimizing clarity and bass for dialogue-heavy content.
In contrast, the S90C ramps things up with a 40-watt, 2.1 channel system that adds extra depth to its audio performance. Object Tracking Sound Lite gives an immersive soundstage, especially during action scenes. While the bass is not earth-shattering, it’s sufficient for everyday TV watching. Dolby Atmos also helps create a broader, cinematic soundscape. For those seeking more, the S90C supports Samsung’s Q-Symphony, allowing you to combine TV speakers with a Samsung soundbar for a richer audio experience.
#5 Additional Features and Connectivity
Samsung S85D OLED TV
Both the S85D and S90C offer robust connectivity with four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K120Hz. Both models come equipped with Samsung TV Plus, Smart Hub, and Multi View features for seamless content access and multitasking. The S85D leans on the Tizen OS with 800+ free channels and integrates SmartThings, offering a smart home control experience from your TV.
The S90C, however, adds a few extra features. Its Real Depth Enhancer is great for improving contrast, while Hue Sync brings smart lighting integration, adjusting room lighting based on what’s on the screen. Both TVs support Q-Symphony for soundbar integration, but the S90C's additional Ethernet, RF input, and ATSC 3.0 tuner give it an edge for those looking for future-proof connectivity.
Samsung S85D vs S90C
Final Thoughts
Samsung S85D vs S90C
If you're seeking an elegant and high-performing OLED TV for mixed-use, the Samsung S85D delivers on style and performance. However, for gamers and HDR enthusiasts, the S90C with its advanced QD-OLED display and gaming features edges ahead. Choose the S85D for a more affordable yet premium experience or go for the S90C if gaming and display brightness are top priorities.
If you like to read more about Smart TVs, check out our other relevant guides here:
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Author
Elisabeth Christ
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