Samsung S90C 4K TV review: This 2023 model is still our favorite OLED display

Samsung's 2023 S90C still delivers the best balance between price and performance of any TV we've tested, offering better value than similar 2024 TVs.

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When it comes to performance for your money, Samsung's S90C 4K OLED TV rises above every other display we've tested. 

The 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models use quantum dots, giving them brighter colors than rival OLEDs from LG. And while the S90C's panel still isn't as blazingly bright as Samsung's top-tier QLEDs, the display offers impressive pop, especially with HDR (High Dynamic Range) content, alongside the superior black levels, infinite contrast ratio, and wide viewing angles that OLED displays are celebrated for.

It's also packed with features, including four full-bandwidth HDMI inputs to benefit the latest gaming consoles and PCs, all the streaming apps you'll need, and a handsome design. Samsung does sell a new 2024 edition of this TV, called the S90D, but it costs a lot more while offering very similar specifications. Here's why the 2023 S90C remains our top pick for the best TV you can buy right now. 

The picture is beautiful, bright, and natural-looking

It's hard not to start with the best part of the S90C: its fantastic picture quality. For reference, we did most of our testing with the TV in Filmmaker Mode (the most accurate preset), making only minimal adjustments, including raising the Shadow Detail for HDR and changing HDR Tone Mapping to Static. In a testament to its performance, this set looks incredible right out of the box, especially compared to more finicky LED displays.

The QD-OLED screen provides sterling contrast thanks to its deep, inky black levels and quantum dot technology, letting the TV's brilliant color reproduction and sparkling HDR highlights really sing on top. The set's colors are vibrant, but what really draws you in are the shading nuances swirling across an immersive canvas. Cueing up nature content in 4K HDR, like Netflix's "Our Planet," reveals mesmerizing shading alongside crystalline definition. The neon tropical fish in the show's many coral reef scenes burst to life as the light glitters across their scales in sapphire-blue water.

Moving on to some of our go-to test films, like "Guardians of the Galaxy Volume II," the S90C leans into every scene, moving gracefully from dim corridors to luminous lasers and explosions. Again, it's the little details that rise above what you'll get in more budget options, especially on the LED front. The swirling gilded textures of Queen Ayesha's ostentatious throne are utterly distracting as the lustrous backdrop draws your eyes.

With a peak brightness just above 1,000 nits by most measurements, the S90C beats similarly priced OLED TVs like its primary rival, the LG C series. However, it doesn't get as bright as more expensive OLED models, like Samsung's S95C or LG's G series, let alone blistering QLED TVs from Samsung, TCL, or Hisense. But it still gets plenty fiery in HDR highlights and even SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) content when called upon. If you prefer extra rev and brightness over a more laid-back look, you can also pick your poison to some degree by moving the HDR Tone Mapping between Active (the brighter version) and Static (the more accurate option).

The TV tends to crush shadow detail a tad with the murkiest HDR content when watching in a brightly lit room, even though the panel does a fine job reducing reflections. But even in these moments, the fantastic colors and rich blacks shine through with impressive depth thanks to OLED's self-emissive technology that lets each pixel turn on and off independently. 

The S90C also offers excellent motion response thanks to its 120Hz panel that can rise to 144Hz with supported PC gaming content. And the screen manages to look brilliant from any angle as well — a trait nearly all LED and QLED TVs struggle to match.

The only drawback we encountered was a notable amount of jolting in motion during especially hard-panned shots, though this is something you'll see in virtually all OLED displays. You can correct it with granular motion smoothing under the TV's Picture Clarity Settings at the cost of some minor "soap opera effect."

This is really nitpicking, though. From broadcast HD content to the best 4K HDR films and TV shows, the S90C simply looks fabulous, with enough beauty and brawn to satisfy the most discerning videophiles and make OLED novices into instant converts.

The display is easy to set up and looks great on a stand

Speaking of OLED novices, if you haven't seen the ultra-slim panels used on today's OLED TVs, prepare to be wowed as you pull the S90C from the box. Thinner than a pencil (or your smartphone) at the top, the TV only gets a few inches deeper at its thickest point toward the bottom, where you'll find the inputs and general circuitry. Unlike Samsung's more expensive TVs that house their inputs in a separate One Connect Box, the S90C has all its ports built right into the display.

You'll need to be careful as you set the TV down to attach its feet, grabbing it from its midpoint to ensure you don't bend it. (Hint: It also attracts fingerprints that are hard to remove, so consider some gloves.) It won't spend long in this position, though, as the included feet simply snap on, with no need to so much as grab your screwdriver. A small metal panel hides the feet in a pedestal-style base. It's not quite as fancy (or shockingly heavy) as the pedestal stand found in Samsung's priciest flagships, but it's also easier to put together.

You'll also get Samsung's excellent solar-powered remote, which essentially never needs charging since it can draw energy from sunlight and indoor lights. It's compact, easy to use, and feels quite good in your hand, making it perhaps our favorite remote out there.

Samsung's Tizen interface is serviceable, if slightly clunky

Let's be clear: Samsung's smart TV Tizen interface is perfectly fine. It supports all the best streaming services, offers cool extras like an array of ambient modes and SmartThings control, and is responsive enough to be your TV's daily driver. However, it's still a step behind our favorite operating systems, including Roku OS and the ultra-convenient Google TV. 

If you haven't used newer versions of these other interfaces, you'll probably think Tizen is fine. It allows you to use your phone to log in to most apps, and though it's rather cluttered (and seems to really enjoy Lifetime movies), it's aesthetically pleasing. It also lets you search across content with either Bixby or Alexa, the latter of which worked well as our preferred voice assistant.

Still, there are some quirks. For one thing, after you set up Alexa, it annoyingly suggests features like "try raising the volume with Alexa," which takes about twice as long as just using the remote (luckily, you can turn these off). In addition, while you can customize the layout to some degree, things like inputs and TV settings are oddly spread out, making accessing all the settings for adjustments something of a pain.

It's possibly just our luck, but we've also had trouble with the latest Tizen version when it comes to setting the software up with your phone, which the TV claims is the fastest way to do it. Each time we've tried so far, the TV seems to freeze in the middle, forcing us to start all over again using the TV remote. Again, Tizen is generally fine, but it's not quite as convenient or intuitive as some of the best streaming devices.

The TV offers excellent gaming support and other features

The S90C sports four HDMI inputs that support the latest gaming features, including VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) to match fast-paced gaming, ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) to automatically optimize the TV for quick gaming response, and a refresh rate of up to 144Hz with a supported PC.

The TV goes further with Samsung's Gaming Hub, which pops up automatically when you fire up your console or PC. Gaming Hub allows for some cool extras, including the ability to create your crosshairs for action games, access optimized gaming settings, and the option to stream games on the TV directly via services like Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia GeForce Now.

As for other home theater features, you'll get just about everything you'll need, with the exception of Dolby Vision. The S90C supports all other major HDR flavors, including HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, but like all Samsung TVs, it eschews Dolby Vision. Preferred for its dynamic metadata, which can tell your TV how to adjust color and contrast scene-by-scene, Dolby Vision is a favorite among streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus.

HDR10+, which the S90c does support, offers similar dynamic metadata performance, but that format isn't used by as many services. As a result, most HDR content you watch on the S90c will default to the standard HDR10 format. Ultimately, the difference between Dolby Vision and standard HDR10 is often subtle, so we don't see the TV's lack of Dolby Vision as a dealbreaker. Check out our complete guide to HDR for more details on the pros and cons of each format. 

On the audio front, the S90C pairs seamlessly with any of Samsung's newer soundbars like the Q990C. The TV even automatically shares your network settings with the bar. You can also play audio through the bar and TV speakers simultaneously via Samsung's Q-Symphony system, which can create better spacing and depth when playing surround sound and Dolby Atmos content.

The TV pairs well with speakers from other brands, too, but you won't get the added benefits detailed above. Check out our guide to the best soundbars for more audio recommendations. 

It comes in several sizes, but the 83-inch model has a drawback

The S90C is available in 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch screen sizes. We reviewed the 65-inch model, but our impressions apply to the 55- and 77-inch options as well since specifications remain the same across those three sizes.

The 83-inch model, however, has one big difference that buyers should be aware of. Instead of a QD-OLED panel, the 83-inch S90C uses an OLED screen that does not incorporate quantum dot technology. As a result, the 83-inch S90C can't match the color and brightness capabilities of its smaller counterparts. It's still an excellent display with stunning contrast, but it lacks the edge that its smaller siblings have over competing LG OLEDs. 

Shoppers should also note that Best Buy sells an exclusive 77-inch variation of this TV, called the S89C. The 77-inch S89C uses the same QD-OLED panel as the 77-inch S90C, but it has a different stand that uses left and right feet without a pedestal base. Otherwise, both models are the same. The S89C is often a lot cheaper than the S90C, so we recommend the S89C if you want this TV in 77 inches.

For more TV recommendations specific to certain sizes, check out our size-specific guides:

• Best 85-inch TVs
• Best 75-inch TVs
• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs

What's the difference between the S90C and S90D?

Samsung recently launched a 2024 version of the S90C, called the S90D. We'll be receiving the new model for a full review soon, but based on specifications, the S90D is expected to offer a slightly brighter image. Otherwise, both displays should provide very similar performance. 

Currently, the 65-inch S90D costs $1,000 more than the 65-inch S90C. The S90D does come with a free bonus TV as part of a limited-time promotion, but even when you factor that in, we still think the S90C offers better value. This could change later in the year if the S90D comes down in price, but for now, the S90C remains our top recommendation while it remains available. 

Should you buy the Samsung S90C TV?

Samsung's S90C is one of the best OLED TVs and the best 4K TVs we've seen. When it comes to overall value, it remains our favorite display on the market.  

The TV does have competitors in this class, namely LG's C series TVs, the C3 and C4. The C series also uses OLED tech and offers plenty of handy features, but it doesn't have quantum dots, so it can't quite reach the S90C's high color volume. It also can't get as bright in HDR highlights. However, the C3 does support Dolby Vision, and it's available in more sizes. 

But for value shoppers looking for a premium experience without paying ultra-premium pricing, the S90C is a ringer. There are some high-end TVs out there with better image quality, but we've yet to come across a display that delivers this level of performance at this price.