Samsung S90FA QN55S90FAFXZA 55"

A killer gaming OLED with perfect blacks and a 144Hz panel, held back only by mediocre HDR brightness. Buy it under $1,200 or don't buy it at all.

What surprised us most is how well the NQ4 AI Gen3 processor handles upscaling. Feed it a 1080p stream and it cleans things up nicely, pulling detail out of older content that lesser TVs just smear. The 144Hz Motion Xcelerator is a standout for gaming, and with VRR and ALLM baked in, this thing feels built for a PS5 or Xbox Series X. The 2.1-channel 40W audio setup is also better than expected for a flat panel, with Dolby Atmos support and eARC for a soundbar later. But here's the rub: the HDR brightness is a weak spot. At the 34th percentile for HDR, bright scenes don't have that eye-searing pop you'd get from a QD-OLED or a high-end mini-LED. In a dark room it's gorgeous. In a sun-drenched living room, you'll notice it.

The LG OLED evo C5 is the most direct rival, and it's a coin flip in many ways. The LG gets brighter in HDR and has a cleaner smart platform, but the Samsung counters with better built-in audio and that 144Hz panel. The Sony BRAVIA 9 is a different animal entirely, a mini-LED that gets much brighter but can't touch the Samsung's perfect blacks. If you're on a budget, the TCL QM8K and Hisense U8 both offer shockingly good picture quality for less money, but you're giving up OLED's per-pixel precision. For most people, the Samsung at its low price point beats the LG on value, but if HDR pop matters more than perfect blacks, the Sony or TCL are the smarter buy.

The price on this TV is all over the map. We're seeing listings from $1,098 to $2,600 for the same panel, a $1,502 spread. That's not a typo. At the low end, this is a screaming deal for a 55-inch OLED with this feature set. At the high end, you're getting fleeced. Amazon currently has the best price we've seen, so if you're buying, start there and don't pay a penny over $1,200. At that price, it's a no-brainer. At $2,600, you're in LG G4 or Sony A95L territory and those are better TVs, period.

The Samsung S90FA is a 55-inch OLED that nails the basics and then some. The one thing to know? This is a gaming and movie beast with picture quality that punches way above what the spec sheet suggests, even if the HDR brightness doesn't top the charts. You're getting that infinite contrast and per-pixel control OLED is famous for, plus a 144Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 across all four ports. It's the TV to beat if you want deep blacks and vibrant color without selling a kidney.

If you're putting this in a bright living room with lots of windows, this isn't your TV. The HDR brightness just can't compete with a good mini-LED, and you'll be squinting at dark scenes. Go get the Sony BRAVIA 9 or TCL QM8K instead. Also skip it if you're paying more than $1,300, because at that point you're overpaying for what you get.

Buy it, but only at the right price. The Samsung S90FA is a fantastic OLED for gaming and dark-room movie watching, with a feature set that covers everything a modern living room needs. The HDR brightness is the one real compromise, and it's a meaningful one if your room gets a lot of daylight. But at $1,098 to $1,200, this is one of the best values in OLED right now. At $2,000 or more, walk away and get an LG G4 instead.