Samsung S90C OLED Review: The Best TV Value of 2026?
The Samsung S90C represents a fascinating moment in the TV market: QD-OLED technology at a price that undercuts LG's C-series. After side-by-side testing with the LG C3 and Sony A80L, here's why the S90C is our top pick for most buyers in 2026.
QD-OLED Explained
Traditional WOLED panels (used by LG and Sony) use a white OLED layer with color filters to produce colors. Samsung's QD-OLED uses blue OLED material with quantum dots to convert light into pure red, green, and blue. The result: brighter highlights, wider color gamut, and better color volume than any WOLED panel.
In our measurements, the S90C reaches 1,050 nits peak brightness in HDR — about 20% brighter than the LG C3. This doesn't sound like much on paper, but in real-world content, highlights pop noticeably more.
Picture Quality
Out of the box, the S90C delivers stunning picture quality. Black levels are perfect (as expected from OLED), but colors are where this TV separates itself. The quantum dot layer produces 100% of DCI-P3 color space and approximately 90% of BT.2020 — numbers that embarrass most WOLED competitors.
HDR content looks spectacular. The increased brightness and color volume mean specular highlights maintain saturation instead of washing out. Fire, neon signs, and sunsets have a realism that's hard to describe — you need to see it in person.
Gaming Features
With four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K/144Hz, VRR, ALLM, and FreeSync Premium Pro, the S90C is a gaming powerhouse. Input lag measures just 5.4ms — among the best we've tested. The Game Bar provides quick access to settings, frame rate display, and aspect ratio changes.
Notably, Samsung's Game Motion Plus can reduce motion blur without adding significant input lag — a feature missing from LG's OLEDs when using VRR.
Tizen Smart Platform
Samsung's Tizen OS remains divisive. It's feature-rich with all major streaming apps, Samsung TV Plus (free channels), and Gaming Hub (cloud gaming). But the interface feels cluttered compared to LG's webOS or Google TV. Samsung has improved responsiveness on the 2026 models, but occasional stutters remain when navigating quickly.
Sound Quality
The built-in 40W 2.1-channel speakers are adequate for casual viewing, with Object Tracking Sound Lite providing decent spatial effects. But for a TV this good, we strongly recommend a soundbar — the display deserves audio that matches its visuals.
✅ Pros
- QD-OLED delivers brighter, more colorful HDR
- Excellent gaming with 4K/144Hz and low input lag
- Competitive pricing undercuts LG C3
- Perfect black levels with no blooming
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports
- Impressive viewing angles
❌ Cons
- No Dolby Vision (HDR10+ only)
- Tizen OS can feel cluttered
- Sound quality is just average
- No 83-inch option (max 77")
- No ATSC 3.0 tuner
Our Verdict
The Samsung S90C delivers the best picture quality-per-dollar of any OLED in 2026. The lack of Dolby Vision is the only meaningful compromise, and for most viewers, the QD-OLED brightness advantage more than compensates. Unless you're a die-hard Dolby Vision fan, this is the OLED to buy.
Who should buy: Movie lovers, gamers, anyone seeking the best picture quality at a reasonable OLED price.
Who should consider LG C3 instead: Dolby Vision purists, those who need an 83-inch screen, or users who prefer webOS over Tizen.