Samsung S90D QN77S90DAFXZA 77"

The Samsung S90D QN77S90DAFXZA is a 77-inch 4K OLED TV with a 144Hz panel, excellent smart features, and solid built-in audio. It delivers perfect blacks and strong gaming performance, but HDR brightness and overall picture quality are average for the price. Buy it near $1,300, not $2,498.

The S90D's display scores in the 97th percentile, and that's driven by OLED's infinite contrast ratio and Samsung's processing. The NQ4 AI Gen2 chip uses 20 neural networks to handle 4K upscaling, and in practice it does a great job cleaning up 1080p cable feeds and older streaming content. Motion Xcelerator 144Hz keeps fast scenes smooth, and the Real Depth Enhancer adds a subtle foreground pop that makes 4K content feel more dimensional. For gaming, the 120Hz support, FreeSync Premium, ALLM, and four HDMI 2.1 ports put it in the 85th percentile. That's a strong showing, though not class-leading.

Audio is a pleasant surprise. The 2.1-channel 40W setup with Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound Lite scores in the 88th percentile. It won't replace a soundbar, but dialogue is clear and the virtual top channel adds some height to action scenes. Connectivity is also solid at the 86th percentile, with Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, Ethernet, and eARC all present. The weak spot is outdoor viewing. At 48.9 out of 100, this is not a TV for a bright sunroom or patio. The panel's peak brightness just can't fight direct sunlight.

The Sony BRAVIA XR XR77A95L is the obvious rival at this size. Sony's A95L uses QD-OLED, which delivers noticeably better color volume and HDR brightness than the S90D's WOLED panel. If you care about HDR pop, Sony wins. But the S90D fights back with a 144Hz panel and a smarter, faster Tizen interface. Sony's Google TV is fine, but Samsung's smart features are in another league, 98th percentile versus Sony's more middle-of-the-pack showing.

The LG OLED evo C5 series is another direct competitor. LG's C5 uses the same WOLED tech as the S90D, but LG's processing and HDR tone mapping tend to edge out Samsung's in real-world content. The C5 also has better gaming features with full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth across all ports. The Hisense U8 and TCL QM8K are different beasts entirely. They're mini-LED, not OLED, so they get much brighter but lose the perfect blacks. If you watch in a bright room, those are better picks. If you want OLED contrast in a dark room, the S90D holds its own.

Value is tricky here because the price spread is massive. You can find this TV bundled with a mount and cleaning kit for $1,300 on Amazon, or pay $2,498 for a version with a five-year protection plan. That's a $1,198 gap for the same panel. At the low end, the S90D is a genuinely good deal for a 77-inch OLED. At the high end, you're paying flagship money for a TV whose HDR and picture quality scores don't back it up. If you're shopping, the bare TV or the cheapest bundle is the move. Skip the expensive protection plan bundles unless you really value that peace of mind.

The Samsung S90D QN77S90DAFXZA is a 77-inch 4K OLED TV that sits in the premium tier of Samsung's 2024 lineup. It's the kind of screen you buy when you want OLED's perfect blacks but don't want to sacrifice brightness or gaming chops. The S90D uses Samsung's NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, which handles upscaling and motion, and it comes with a 144Hz panel that's rare at this size. Pricing is all over the place right now, with listings ranging from $1,300 to $2,498 depending on the bundle and seller, so shopping around matters more than usual.

If you're searching for a big OLED TV for mixed use, this one covers a lot of ground. It's PANTONE Validated for color accuracy, supports HDR10+ and HLG, and packs a 2.1-channel 40W speaker system with Dolby Atmos. The smart features run on Tizen, which means Alexa, Bixby, and AirPlay are all built in. Our database puts its smart features at the 98th percentile, which is basically top of the charts for TV operating systems right now.

But here's the thing. The S90D is not a QD-OLED like Samsung's S95D. It's a standard WOLED panel, which means its HDR brightness and color volume don't hit the same peaks. Our scoring reflects that. HDR lands at the 49th percentile, dead average, and overall picture quality sits at the 36th percentile. That's not a typo. For a TV in this price bracket, that's a real conversation starter.

Skip the S90D if you watch TV in a bright room or near large windows. The outdoor score of 48.9 out of 100 tells the story, this panel just doesn't have the brightness to fight glare. If HDR performance is your top priority, look at the Sony A95L or a mini-LED like the Hisense U8 or TCL QM8K instead. Those get significantly brighter and handle HDR content with more punch. Also skip it if you're paying full retail. At $2,498, you're in better-TV territory.

Should you buy the Samsung S90D? If you can find it near $1,300 and you want a big OLED for gaming and streaming in a light-controlled room, yes. The 144Hz panel, excellent smart features, and solid audio make it a compelling package at that price. The infinite contrast is the real draw here, and it delivers that in spades.

But if you're paying closer to $2,498, stop. That's Sony A95L or LG G4 territory, and both of those TVs beat the S90D on HDR and overall picture quality. The S90D is a good TV, but it's not a flagship. Treat it like a value OLED, not a premium one, and you'll be happy.