I tested Samsung's glare-free OLED TV vs a conventional OLED TV - here's what I learned
OLED: The Perfect TV Technology, Except for One Flaw
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays are all the rage these days, featuring in a variety of consumer products like smartphones and televisions. When it comes to TVs, OLEDs are often considered the top choice, thanks to their unmatched contrast, vibrant colors, and incredible detail. However, there's one issue that OLED TVs have struggled with: reflections.
Unlike LED and mini-LED TVs, which use a separate backlight, OLED TVs have individual pixels that can dim as needed, allowing for greater control over lighting. But this also means that OLED TVs have been lacking in brightness compared to their mini-LED counterparts. The dimmer screens of OLEDs make it more susceptible to reflections, which can be a real annoyance. Some OLED TVs, such as the LG G3 and Panasonic MZ2000, have tried to address this problem by incorporating brightness-boosting micro-lens-array (MLA) technology, but reflections still persist.
Traditionally, reducing TV reflections meant making adjustments to the lighting in the room or covering windows. However, Samsung has come up with a new solution to combat glare with its OLED Glare Free screen technology, featured in the Samsung S95D OLED TV.
OLED Glare Free uses a matte screen and works in combination with the S95D's QD-OLED display, which offers brightness comparable to MLA OLED screens. The result is an OLED TV that significantly reduces reflections.
I recently had the opportunity to compare the Samsung S95D with the Panasonic MZ1500, a mid-range model with a conventional W-OLED (White OLED) panel. I used demo footage from the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark Blu-ray, featuring images with varying brightness levels.
Under the highest brightness settings in our testing lab, I placed the S95D and MZ1500 side-by-side. The difference was immediately noticeable when viewing footage with predominantly black backgrounds. The MZ1500 showed reflections of nearby objects, such as the lab's sofa and door, while the S95D's screen remained reflection-free. Even when I changed the angle to assess reflections from overhead lights, the S95D displayed only a minimal haze-like reflection compared to the MZ1500's distracting mirror-like reflection.
This difference in reflection reduction was evident in brighter footage as well. Even though the light source was still somewhat visible on the S95D, it was much less obscured compared to the MZ1500. The same held true for scenes with dark tones in movies like The Batman. Regardless of whether the overhead lights were set to their brightest or dimmest levels, the Samsung S95D consistently minimized reflections.
It's worth noting that the S95D's matte screen did have an impact on black levels. While the reflections were reduced, the depth and richness of the S95D's blacks fell short compared to the MZ1500. One image from the Spears & Munsil disc featuring a bright white Ferris wheel against a black night sky showed that the S95D lacked the intense contrast and punchy black levels that the MZ1500 offered. The S95D also seemed to have a slightly grayer tone and missing shadow detail in some scenes from The Batman.
However, when viewed in pitch-black conditions, where reflections were eliminated altogether, the S95D truly shone. Its vibrant colors, exceptional detail, and impressive contrast provided a viewing experience with incredible depth.
In brighter conditions, though, the MZ1500's strong contrast gave it a more polished appearance, even with the worsened screen reflections. There's no denying that the Panasonic MZ1500 held its own in most lighting conditions in the lab, with its deep black levels and excellent contrast. However, the Samsung S95D effectively showcased the power of its OLED Glare Free screen technology, transforming mirror-like reflections into less distracting haze-like reflections.
For those who don't mind screen reflections, conventional OLED TVs are still a great option, especially considering their lower price. However, Samsung's anti-reflection technology has made OLED TVs a viable choice for those who prefer brighter viewing environments. As a bonus, the Samsung S95D delivers outstanding overall picture quality, elevating OLED TV performance to new heights.
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays are all the rage these days, featuring in a variety of consumer products like smartphones and televisions. When it comes to TVs, OLEDs are often considered the top choice, thanks to their unmatched contrast, vibrant colors, and incredible detail. However, there's one issue that OLED TVs have struggled with: reflections.
Unlike LED and mini-LED TVs, which use a separate backlight, OLED TVs have individual pixels that can dim as needed, allowing for greater control over lighting. But this also means that OLED TVs have been lacking in brightness compared to their mini-LED counterparts. The dimmer screens of OLEDs make it more susceptible to reflections, which can be a real annoyance. Some OLED TVs, such as the LG G3 and Panasonic MZ2000, have tried to address this problem by incorporating brightness-boosting micro-lens-array (MLA) technology, but reflections still persist.
Traditionally, reducing TV reflections meant making adjustments to the lighting in the room or covering windows. However, Samsung has come up with a new solution to combat glare with its OLED Glare Free screen technology, featured in the Samsung S95D OLED TV.
OLED Glare Free uses a matte screen and works in combination with the S95D's QD-OLED display, which offers brightness comparable to MLA OLED screens. The result is an OLED TV that significantly reduces reflections.
I recently had the opportunity to compare the Samsung S95D with the Panasonic MZ1500, a mid-range model with a conventional W-OLED (White OLED) panel. I used demo footage from the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark Blu-ray, featuring images with varying brightness levels.
Under the highest brightness settings in our testing lab, I placed the S95D and MZ1500 side-by-side. The difference was immediately noticeable when viewing footage with predominantly black backgrounds. The MZ1500 showed reflections of nearby objects, such as the lab's sofa and door, while the S95D's screen remained reflection-free. Even when I changed the angle to assess reflections from overhead lights, the S95D displayed only a minimal haze-like reflection compared to the MZ1500's distracting mirror-like reflection.
This difference in reflection reduction was evident in brighter footage as well. Even though the light source was still somewhat visible on the S95D, it was much less obscured compared to the MZ1500. The same held true for scenes with dark tones in movies like The Batman. Regardless of whether the overhead lights were set to their brightest or dimmest levels, the Samsung S95D consistently minimized reflections.
It's worth noting that the S95D's matte screen did have an impact on black levels. While the reflections were reduced, the depth and richness of the S95D's blacks fell short compared to the MZ1500. One image from the Spears & Munsil disc featuring a bright white Ferris wheel against a black night sky showed that the S95D lacked the intense contrast and punchy black levels that the MZ1500 offered. The S95D also seemed to have a slightly grayer tone and missing shadow detail in some scenes from The Batman.
However, when viewed in pitch-black conditions, where reflections were eliminated altogether, the S95D truly shone. Its vibrant colors, exceptional detail, and impressive contrast provided a viewing experience with incredible depth.
In brighter conditions, though, the MZ1500's strong contrast gave it a more polished appearance, even with the worsened screen reflections. There's no denying that the Panasonic MZ1500 held its own in most lighting conditions in the lab, with its deep black levels and excellent contrast. However, the Samsung S95D effectively showcased the power of its OLED Glare Free screen technology, transforming mirror-like reflections into less distracting haze-like reflections.
For those who don't mind screen reflections, conventional OLED TVs are still a great option, especially considering their lower price. However, Samsung's anti-reflection technology has made OLED TVs a viable choice for those who prefer brighter viewing environments. As a bonus, the Samsung S95D delivers outstanding overall picture quality, elevating OLED TV performance to new heights.