Samsung S90F OLED review
Overview and model-year position
The Samsung S90F is Samsung's 2025 mid-range OLED television and has been replaced by the 2026 S90H. It remains attractive when discounted because it combines OLED contrast, four HDMI 2.1 inputs, strong gaming tools and Samsung's broad smart-TV platform. Buyers should treat it as previous-generation stock and compare its clearance price with both the newer S90H and discounted LG C5 rather than assuming a large percentage discount automatically makes it the best option.
The most important buying complication is panel variation. Samsung sold S90F screen sizes using different OLED panel technologies in different sizes and markets. Some versions use QD-OLED, while others use WRGB OLED. Both provide pixel-level blacks and fast response, but colour volume, peak brightness, subpixel structure and bright-room behaviour can differ. A review of one size cannot safely be applied to every S90F. Confirm the exact UK model code and seek measurements for that size before paying a premium on the assumption that it contains QD-OLED.
Picture quality, HDR and viewing conditions
In a dark or moderately lit room, the S90F delivers the central OLED strengths: deep blacks, strong local contrast, wide viewing angles and clean fast motion. QD-OLED versions can produce especially vivid saturated highlights because colour is generated without a conventional white subpixel. WRGB versions remain capable but can look different at high brightness. Samsung's processing provides sharp upscaling and effective noise reduction, although aggressive default modes can make colours and edge enhancement look excessive.
Samsung supports HDR10, HLG and HDR10+, including dynamic HDR10+ material, but it does not support Dolby Vision. Dolby Vision content still plays through a compatible source using its HDR10 fallback, but buyers cannot access Dolby Vision-specific dynamic metadata. This is a meaningful distinction from LG and Sony rather than a theoretical format-war detail, particularly for households using services or discs with extensive Dolby Vision catalogues.
Ambient light affects OLED presentation. Glossy versions can show reflections, and QD-OLED panels can display slightly raised or tinted blacks under strong direct light. The newer S90H adds a more consistent glare-reduction approach across its range. For a bright conservatory or daytime sports room, a powerful Mini LED set may maintain impact more easily. For evening films and wide seating, the S90F's pixel-level contrast remains a major advantage.
Gaming, connections and Tizen
The S90F is one of the strongest previous-generation gaming televisions. All four HDMI inputs support high-bandwidth features, allowing several consoles or PCs alongside an eARC soundbar. It supports 4K at up to 120Hz for current consoles and up to 144Hz from a compatible PC, plus Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Samsung's game-bar controls. High-refresh operation still depends on the source, cable, game and input settings; a 144Hz television does not convert films or ordinary broadcasts into genuine 144fps content.
Samsung Gaming Hub can provide cloud-gaming applications without a console, but service availability, subscriptions, controller support and broadband performance remain external requirements. Cloud gaming also adds compression and latency compared with a local console or PC. One HDMI socket carries eARC, yet the three remaining capable ports make system planning easier than on televisions limited to two HDMI 2.1 sockets.
Tizen includes major UK streaming applications, Samsung TV Plus, SmartThings integration and voice features. Its recommendation-heavy home screen will not suit everyone, and account requirements can change. The television's slim speakers create a wider presentation than basic sets, but size-specific audio systems vary and deep bass remains limited. Budget for a soundbar if films and games are a priority.
OLED care, value and verdict
Like every OLED, the S90F can experience temporary retention or permanent uneven ageing when bright static elements are repeated for long periods. Samsung includes pixel-shift, logo-dimming and maintenance routines, but these reduce rather than eliminate risk. Leave protection features active and avoid using maximum brightness continuously for desktop menus, rolling news, sports scoreboards or one game interface. Retailer and manufacturer warranty terms should be checked for the exact UK model.
The S90F is a compelling discounted gaming OLED, especially where four HDMI 2.1 ports and HDR10+ matter more than Dolby Vision. It is less straightforward than LG's C5 because panel technology may vary by size, and the 2026 S90H now offers a consistent WRGB approach, higher 165Hz PC support and improved glare handling. Buy the S90F when the precise size has been identified and the discount compensates for both its model year and its missing Dolby Vision support.