Samsung S85H QN83S85HAEXZA 83"

The Samsung S85H is an 83-inch OLED with killer gaming features and near-infinite contrast. It's a steal at $2,340 but overpriced at $4,500, so shop around. The lack of Dolby Vision and weak built-in audio are the main drawbacks. If you're a gamer who wants a massive screen, this is one of the best options right now.

Let's talk about what those benchmark numbers actually mean when you're sitting on your couch. The display sits in the 97th percentile of all TVs we track. That's not just good, that's best-in-class territory. The near-infinite contrast comes from OLED's party trick: black pixels simply turn off. No backlight bleed, no grayish dark scenes. When a movie fades to black, the room goes dark. It's the kind of thing you don't appreciate until you watch a space movie and realize you can actually see individual stars against pure black.

The gaming performance is a standout too, landing in the 86th percentile. The 120Hz native refresh rate means fast motion stays smooth, and with FreeSync Premium and G-SYNC compatibility, you won't get screen tearing whether you're on a PS5, Xbox, or a gaming PC. The NQ4 AI Gen2 processor handles upscaling well, so older 1080p content looks respectable on that massive 83-inch canvas. HDR support is strong at the 86th percentile, though it's worth noting this panel uses HDR10+ and HLG, not Dolby Vision. If you're deep in the Dolby Vision ecosystem, that's a trade-off to consider.

The most obvious rival is the LG C5 OLED. LG's OLED panels have long been the gold standard, and the C5 brings Dolby Vision to the table, which the Samsung lacks. If you're a cinephile with a 4K Blu-ray collection, that Dolby Vision support might matter more than Samsung's gaming features. The C5 also tends to have better out-of-box color accuracy, though Samsung's Pantone validation narrows that gap.

Then there's the Sony BRAVIA XR A95L. It's more expensive, but Sony's processing is genuinely superb, especially for motion handling and upscaling. If you watch a lot of sports or lower-resolution content, Sony's XR processor is hard to beat. The TCL QM7K and Hisense U8 are the budget alternatives. They're not OLED, so you lose those perfect blacks, but they offer impressive brightness and cost significantly less. For a bright room where you can't control ambient light, a mini-LED like the Hisense U8 might actually be the smarter buy.

Here's where things get weird. The S85H is listed anywhere from $2,340 to $4,500 across nine US listings. That's a $2,160 spread, which is frankly ridiculous for the same TV. If you're paying the high end of that range, you're getting fleeced. At $2,340, this is a genuinely compelling deal for an 83-inch OLED. At $4,500, you're in Sony A95L territory, and that's a different conversation entirely.

Our advice: shop around. The budget score of 91.9 out of 100 assumes you're not paying the premium price. Newegg and Amazon both carry this model, and prices fluctuate. If you can snag it under $2,500, you're getting a massive OLED panel with top-tier gaming features for less than many 65-inch flagships. That's the sweet spot.

The Samsung S85H is one of those TVs that makes you realize how far OLED has come. An 83-inch panel with near-infinite contrast, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Samsung's NQ4 AI Gen2 processor doing the heavy lifting. It's a big, bold statement piece for a living room, and it's aimed squarely at people who want flagship-level picture quality without necessarily paying flagship-level prices. Well, sort of. We'll get to the pricing weirdness in a bit.

Who's this for? Gamers, mostly. The spec sheet reads like a love letter to console and PC players: FreeSync Premium, G-SYNC compatibility, ALLM, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and that 120Hz panel. But it's also a strong pick for movie nerds who want those inky OLED blacks and HDR10+ support. The 97th percentile display ranking in our database backs that up. This thing is a looker.

What makes it interesting is the positioning. Samsung has been pushing their QD-OLED tech hard, but the S85H is a more traditional OLED panel, and that's not a bad thing. It keeps the price a bit more grounded while still delivering the contrast and color accuracy people expect from the brand. Pantone Validated color, AI upscaling, and a surprisingly capable smart platform round out the package.

If you're a home theater purist who demands Dolby Vision, this isn't your TV. The lack of Dolby Vision support is a dealbreaker for some, and the LG C5 or Sony A95L will serve you better. Similarly, if you're putting this in a very bright room with lots of windows, the OLED panel's brightness might struggle compared to a mini-LED like the Hisense U8, which can pump out significantly more nits.

Also, if you're on a strict budget, the TCL QM7K offers a lot of screen for less money. You lose the perfect OLED blacks, but you gain brightness and save a chunk of change. And if you're not a gamer, some of the S85H's best features are wasted on you. The premium you're paying for gaming features like FreeSync and G-SYNC won't matter if you only watch cable news and sitcoms.

For gamers, this is an easy recommendation. The combination of 120Hz, VRR support, and four HDMI 2.1 ports makes the S85H one of the best gaming TVs we've tested. If you've got a PS5, Xbox Series X, and a gaming PC all hooked up, you won't run out of ports or features. The 86th percentile gaming score is earned, not given.

For movie lovers, it's a bit more nuanced. The OLED contrast is stunning, and HDR10+ content looks fantastic. But the lack of Dolby Vision is a real gap, especially since so much streaming content uses it. If you're primarily a Netflix or Disney+ streamer, you'll still get great picture quality, but you're not getting the absolute best HDR format those services offer. The 20W speakers are also underwhelming for a TV this size. Budget for a soundbar, especially if you care about Dolby Atmos.