Samsung S85HA QN55S85HAEXZA 55"

A gaming-first OLED that nails contrast and smoothness but fumbles on picture quality. Get it cheap, or get an LG C5 instead.

The gaming chops are the real story here. You get a 120Hz panel, FreeSync Premium, ALLM, and HDMI 2.1, which puts it in the top tier for connectivity and well above average for gaming. The Motion Xcelerator 120Hz keeps things smooth, and input lag is low enough that you won't blame the TV when you whiff a shot. But the picture quality is a letdown for an OLED. The processor is supposed to boost brightness and detail, but our data shows it's just mediocre compared to other OLEDs. The audio is solid, middle of the pack, with Object Tracking Sound Lite doing a decent job of placing sounds in the room.

The LG C5 Series is the obvious rival here, and honestly, it's the better TV for most people. The C5 delivers stronger picture quality and HDR performance, which matters more for movies and shows. The Sony BRAVIA XR A95L is in a completely different league, but it costs a lot more. If you're on a budget and mostly game, the TCL QM8K or Hisense U8 Series will give you more brightness and better HDR for similar money, though you lose the perfect OLED blacks. The S85HA only makes sense if you find it at the low end of that price range and gaming is your main use.

Pricing is all over the place. You'll see this TV listed anywhere from $1,098 to $1,500 depending on the bundle and retailer. The best deal we found is on Amazon with the 2-year Amber Protection plan. At the low end, it's a tempting entry into OLED gaming. At the high end, you're paying too much for a TV that doesn't beat the competition on picture quality.

The Samsung S85HA is a weird one. It's an OLED, so you get those perfect inky blacks and that instant pixel response, but Samsung cut some corners to hit a lower price point. The NQ4 AI Gen2 processor does some heavy lifting, but the picture quality scores land in the bottom half of our database, which is not what you expect from a panel with infinite contrast. This is a gaming TV first, and a movie lover's TV second.

If you're a movie buff who wants the best HDR and picture quality, this isn't your TV. Go get the LG C5 Series or save up for the Sony A95L. If you're on a tight budget and don't need OLED, the TCL QM8K gives you more brightness and better HDR for less money.

Buy the Samsung S85HA if you're a gamer who wants OLED contrast without paying LG C5 prices. It's a solid gaming display with excellent connectivity and smooth motion. But if you care about movie nights and HDR pop, spend a little more on the LG C5 or look at a bright mini-LED like the TCL QM8K. This Samsung is a good deal at $1,098, not at $1,500.