Samsung S95B vs LG C2 Review and Comparison (QN55S95B vs OLED55C2, QN65S95B vs OLED55C2)
Finally, Samsung has released their first OLED TV with the model number of Samsung S95B. Of course, this has been waiting by OLED TV fan because the competition in the OLED TV market will be more attractive. So far, there is no competition in real sense in OLED TV market because all OLED TVs use the OLED panel made of LG. While the competition is only focusing on the features and capabilities of the ability of their image processor, not on panel performance. But with the presence of Samsung S95B that carries QD-OLED TV technology, we have more diverse choice in buying OLED TV. By manufacturer, QD-OLED promises some enhancements over typical OLED panel including brighter peak brightness and more vibrant color. The main ingredient of QD-OLED panel is quantum dot filter that combined to blue OLED panel.
On the other hand, LG C2 is the successor of LG C1, the best-selling OLED TV in 2021. As we have known, alongside with Sony, LG becomes the market leader in OLED TV market for the past several years. With the presence of Samsung S95B, this makes LG can no longer relax like in previous years. Back to the LG C2 OLED, it already applies EVO OLED technology that first introduced by LG in last year on LG G1, while its predecessor LG C1 doesn’t yet apply this OLED technology. With Evo OLED panel, expected, the LG C2 can aim brighter peak brightness than the predecessor that use typical OLED Panel.
As a newcomer, the Samsung S95B doesn’t come in a lot of screen sizes variants. It is only available on 55 inches variant (QN55S95BAFXZA) and 65 inches (QN65S95BAFXZA). On the other hand, LG C2 comes with a lot of screen variants, even in this year, it comes with the smallest variants that ever, which is 42 Inches (42OLEDC2PUA). Besides 42 inches, the LG C2 also comes in 48 Inches (48OLEDC2PUA), 55 Inches (55OLEDC2PUA), 65 Inches (65OLEDC2PUA), and 77 Inches (77OLEDC2PUA). And talking about picture quality, we don’t doubt image quality produced by OLED TV. Meanwhile, in the market, with the same screen size (QN55S95BAFXZA vs 55OLEDC2PUA, QN55S95BAFXZA vs 55OLEDC2PUA), the Samsung S95B is sold more expensive than the LG C2, though their price can still change at any time. So, which is superior between the Samsung S95B that uses QD OLED and LG C2 that uses Evo OLED panel?
Check the Latest Price | ||
Samsung S95B | LG C2 OLED | |
42 Inches | OLED42C2PUA on Amazon | |
48 Inches | OLED48C2PUA on Amazon | |
55 inches | QN55S95BAFXZA on Amazon | OLED55C2PUA on Amazon |
65 inches | QN65S95BAFXZA on Amazon | OLED65C2PUA on Amazon |
77 inches | OLED77C2PUA on Amazon | |
83 inches | OLED83C2PUA on Amazon |
Samsung S95B vs LG C2 Side by Side Comparison
Samsung S95B vs LG C2 Specification
Specs | Samsung S95B | LG C2 OLED |
---|---|---|
Screen Sizes Available | 55” (QN55S95BAFXZA), 65” (QN65S95BAFXZA | 42” (OLED42C2PUA), 48” (OLED48C2PUA), 55” (OLED55C2PUA), 65” (OLED65C2PUA), 77” (OLED77C2PUA), 83” (OLED83C2PUA) |
Resolution | 4K (3840 x 2160) | 4K (3840 x 2160) |
Panel Technology | QD-OLED Panel | Evo OLED Panel |
Backlight Technology | No Backlight | No Backlight |
Local Dimming Technology | Pixel Dimming Level | Pixel Dimming Level |
Processor | Neural Quantum Processor 4K | Alpha 9 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K |
HDR Supports | HDR10, HLG, HDR10+ | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
Native Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
Variable Refresh Rate | Yes (FreeSync, GSync, HDMI Forum) | Yes (FreeSync, GSync, HDMI Forum) |
Smart TV Platform | Tizen 2022 | WebOS22 |
Smart Apps | Samsung Bixby, Google Assistant, Alexa | LG ThinQ AI, Google Home, Amazon Alexa |
Remote | Samsung Remote 2022 | LG Magic Remote 2022 |
Audio Setup | 5.1 channel | 2.0 channel |
Audio Power Output | 60 watts | 20 watts |
HDMI Ports | 4 | 4 |
USB Ports | 2 | 3 |
Wireless Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Picture Quality
Both of the LG G2 and G1 have excellent picture quality thanks to their great performance of their image processor of processing video signal. No matter the resolution of the source, with AI Based 4K up-scaling engine embedded on their image processor, the image produced looks very details on their screen. So, whether the resolution is 480p like DVD movies or 730p like Cable TV, you can enjoy them in 4K quality with small details are still preserved well. Blu Ray movies with 1080p resolution looks detail on the screen, nearly native 4K content. And both can show native 4K content without any issue. Besides has great image processor and 4K Up-scaling engine, both of them also have good gray uniformity. When showing throughout screen is gray, color on the screen looks even there is only a very little variation in brightness across the screen and there is almost no dirty screen effect in the center, which means it is great. The other great point is about their side viewing angle coverage. Both of them can maintain black level and brightness level so they are still look consistent, even if watched from the side.
While in maintaining black level and brightness level, their performance is same, the Samsung S95B can do a better job of maintain color. On the screen of the LG C2, Color will look shift started at around 27 degrees and looks washed out started at around 65 degrees. Meanwhile, on the screen of the S95B, they can be maintained as wide as black and brightness level are maintained. So, even if you watch TV from extremely side angle, up to 70 degrees off center and front, the image displayed on the screen of S95B looks very accurate without any degradation in contrast, color, and brightness, as accurate as when viewed from the center and front. On the screen of the LG C2, the images displayed may be also still looks accurate from the side, but there is a bit degradation in color accuracy, especially when viewed from extremely side angle.
Winner: Samsung S95B
Dark Room Performance
There is no doubt about the performance of the OLED TVs in a dark room. As we have known, all OLED TVs has infinite contrast ratio that makes them can produce nearly perfect black. Even when they are set in a pitch-dark room, black remain look inky. This is caused they don’t use backlight and as the light source, each pixel of OLED panel can emit its own light individually. And since each pixel of OLED panel can switch on/off or dim individually, this makes them has pixel dimming level. It is equivalent to LED TVs with Full array local dimming that have number of dimming zones is same to number of pixels. And for this time, it is still impossible for LED TV. So, when they are displaying black in bright area, there is not light at all emitted from black area though surrounding area is bright. On the contrary, when they are displaying small bright scene in a bright room, there is no blooming around bright area.
Additionally, lack of backlight also makes them have nearly perfect black uniformity. Wherever the black area is shown, it will have the same depth. When displaying a white crossline at the center, it can be shown perfectly without blooming around it while the rest still look really black, even that close to bright area. Moreover, their perfect black level and nearly perfect black uniformity also make dark colors can be shown accurately. This makes shadow details of HDR images can be shown without “Crushed Black”, as you should watch in HDR.
Winner: Draw
Bright Room Performance
Although still not as bright as premium OLED TVs, Samsung S95B and LG C2 have excellent peak brightness in SDR and HDR. With real scene SDR images, they may achieve the same brightness level, which is around 420 nits. But with white window test, the S95B can get brighter, which is around 50 nits at 10% and 25% white window test for the S95B and around 425 nits at 10% white window for the LG C2. Their peak brightness is actually bright enough to combat the glare in most bright room. Moreover, both have excellent reflection handling. So, in most bright room, there is almost no issue with the glare or reflection. But sadly, since they both have aggressive ABL (Automatic Brightness Limiter), their peak brightness considerably drops with large bright area. Even when showing through screen is white, their peak brightness drops to around 210 for the Samsung S95B and around 180 nits for the LG C2. This is mainly distracting when watching sports with bright playing surfaces, like baseball of hockey.
While the S95B has a bit brighter SDR peak brightness, it also has brighter HDR peak brightness than the LG C2. It is even including the brightest OLED TVs that ever. With real HDR content, the S9B can reach about 950 nits while the LG C2 hits around 850 nits. The highest possible of peak brightness that reached by the S95B is also much brighter where it can hit around 1250 nits and 1000 nits at 2% and 10% white window for a moment, though it drops to around 800 nits after stabilized. On 10% white window, it even can maintain its peak brightness at around 1000 nits. On the other hand, the LG C2 hits around 850 nits at 2% and 10% white window and drop to around 780 nits after stabilized. The result, this cam makes small highlight pop, even if they are set in a bright room.
Overall, their performance in a most bright rooms is equally great. But compare between them, the Samsung S95B is a bit better than the LG C2. Besides it has a bit higher SDR and HDR peak brightness, it also has a bit better of handling reflection. In a bright room, small highlight of HDR images looks more pop on the screen of the Samsung S95B than LG C2. But even so, for the LG C2, although not as good as the S95B, its bright room performance is still great, better than the previous models.
Winner: Samsung S95B
Color Reproduction
Combination of Quantum Dot technology and QD-OLED makes the Samsung S95B have outstanding color gamut, even better than LG C2 that already has excellent color gamut. In DCI P3 uv or xy, their color coverage may be same and nearly perfect where they can cover nearly 100% of color space. This certainly is great for most current HDR Content like HDR10. Meanwhile, in Rec.2020, color gamut coverage of the S95B is much wider than the LG C2. If the LG C2 cover around 73% in Rec.2020 xy and around 80% in Rec.2020 uv, the Samsung S95B can cover more color space, which is around 87% in Rec.2020 xy and around 91% in Rec.2020 uv. Although not as wide as the S95B, color coverage of the LG C2 actually is good, more than enough to properly show most colors of HDR content mastered in Rec.2020. This is future proof since there are a lot of HDR content that mastered in Rec.2020 is started to release. But a bit shortcoming is their tone mapping is not very accurate, so some certainly colors especially saturated greens may be not shown accurately.
Besides have wider color gamut, the Samsung S95B also have much better color volume. They can show nearly perfect deep, dark shades of colors thanks to their infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity. It also can show normalized colors fairly well. But even so, in showing saturated bright colors, the S9B is much better. As we have known, the LG C2 uses WRGB OLED panel where there is an additional white subpixel. The result, it may be able to show pure white, but on the other hand this will desaturate some bright colors. This makes the LG C2 cannot produce bright saturated colors. On the other hand, with blue OLED or QD-LED, color produced by the Samsung S95B is significantly better than LG C2 and even, it can show bright saturated color close to same brightness as pure white. That is not only that, normalized colors also can be shown better than most TVs on the market.
That is not only on color gamut and color gradient, the Samsung S95B also has better color gradient than the LG C2. While on the screen of OLED C2, there is some noticeable banding in darker shades of blue and red, on the screen of the S95B, there is almost no banding in most colors. However, ignoring their difference, their color gradient is equally great. But even so, if you feel that banding still bother you, they both have a feature that can help to reduce banding. On the Samsung S95B, it is called “Noise Reduction” while in LG C2, it is called “Smooth Gradation”. But keep in mind, enabling this feature can cause some loss in fine details, especially with high quality content.
Winner: Samsung S95B
Motion handling
Just like other OLED TV, both of the LG C2 and Samsung S95B has nearly instant pixel response time. This makes fast motion looks very clear with almost no motion blur. Following fast moving object, there is only a very short ghosting trail that should be hard to notice. But on the other hand, as we have known, the faster pixel response time, this can cause images appear to more stutter, especially when they are playing low frame rate content like 24p movies. Since both have nearly instant response time, each frame if hold on longer. This can cause image appears to stutter. Fortunately, it can be reduced by enabling motion interpolation. So, this should not be a serious problem. Overall, there is almost no motion blur when they are showing fast moving images. Meanwhile, blur that may visible is more caused by persistence.
As we have mentioned above, the OLED panel doesn’t have backlight. Nevertheless, there is still a small a bit dip in brightness on their screen that correspondent with refresh rate panel. However, it is not very noticeable and is very different from PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) on LED TV with local dimming. But the screen flicker sometimes is required to reduce persistence blur that caused by their nearly instant pixel response time. And for this purpose, both of them have (Black Frame Insertion) feature that can help to improve their motion appearance by reducing persistence blur. But a bit unfortunately, they only can flicker at 60 Hz, even if they are playing 120 Hz content.
By default, both of the LG C2 and Samsung S90B have native 120 Hz refresh rate panel. However, they also already support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). No matter the resolution of the content, their refresh rate can range between 20 Hz to 120 Hz. Their VRR is also compatible with some gaming features like FreeSync, GSync, or HDMI Forum VRR. This will improve their gaming performance by removing screen tearing effect when you are playing a game with a compatible game console. Meanwhile, when playing 24 movies, they can do a great job by removing judder from any source.
Winner: Draw
Inputs
As their connectivity, the Samsung S95B and LG C2 have 4 HDMI ports as their main connectivity. Additionally, they also have 1 Digital Audio Output (optical), Tuner In, and Ethernet port. A bit difference is about their USB port where the OLED C2 have 3 ports while the S95B OLED has 2 ports. Talking about their HDMI Ports’ ability, all of their HDMI ports already support HDMI 2.0 full bandwidth, CEC, HDCP 2.2, etc. They also have 1 ARC ports that also supports eARC. Additionally, they also already HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and their HDMI 2.1 support up to 48 Gbps of bandwidth. wide enough to cover 4K @ 120 Hz signal with 12-bit color and full chroma 4:4:4. This gives you the flexibility to connect multiple high-bandwidth-devices like PS5 or X Box X Series. Additionally, they also support most resolution like 1080p, 1440p, and 4K at both 60 Hz and 120 Hz. A bit difference is about HDR formats supported by them. Both support HDR10 and HLG, but the difference is dynamic HDR that supported by them where the Samsung S95B supports S95B while LG C2 supports Dolby Vision.
Talking about their input lags, they have excellent input lags in Game Mode. With 60 fps games, the input lag of the OLED C2 is around 14 ms while the s95B is around 10 ms. Meanwhile, with 120 fps content, their input lags are much lower and similar, which is around 5 ms. And with VRR enable, input lag of the OLED C2 is around 13 ms and input lag of the S95B is around 5 ms. This certainly makes the S95B is more responsive than the OLED C2, especially with 60 fps content or VRR enabled. Nevertheless, ignoring their difference, their input lags is low enough to make your act in game pad is in-sync with what you see on the screen.
Winner: S95B
Smart Features
As their Smart TV platform, the Samsung S95B runs Tizen 2022, which is also found on Samsung’s 2022 TV lineup. On the other hand, the LG C2 runs WebOS 22 that also found on LG’s 2022 TV Lineup. In this year, LG advertises this as version 22, which is a shift from the previous versioning system. Both of these platforms run fast and smoothly on them and have easy to use interface. That is new from WebOS is that it has user profile, allowing you to customize the home page for different user. Meanwhile, that is new from Tizen is that its interface now fills the entire screen instead of the bar that appeared on the previous version. Nevertheless, ignoring their difference, overall, their smart platform run smoothly and fast on them without any issue.
Besides their smart platform can run smoothly on them, both also have great selection of apps. Most of the common streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, or others are provided. Both of them also supports Google Duo. With additional webcam, this allows you to make a video call. Botha also supports Cast, USB Drive Playback, HDR in certain apps, etc. They come with built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa to make a voice command. They also have its own remote app platform, where the S95B supports SmartThing with Samsung’s Bixby while LG C2 supports LG ThinQ AI. In general, they both have excellent smart TV platform.
And as their controller, the LG C2 comes with LG’s magic remote 2022 while the Samsung S95B comes with Samsung Smart Remote. Both of them have many features including built-in microphone for voice control, CEC menu control, One remote, etc. Their remote also have some dedicated buttons. On the remote of LG C2, there are Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, LG Channels, Google Assistant, and Alexa. While on the remote of the S95B, there are Netflix, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. The great point of the LG’s magic remote is that it has clickable scroll wheel and point and click feature.
Winner: Draw
Check the Latest Price | ||
Samsung S95B | LG C2 OLED | |
42 Inches | OLED42C2PUA on Amazon | |
48 Inches | OLED48C2PUA on Amazon | |
55 inches | QN55S95BAFXZA on Amazon | OLED55C2PUA on Amazon |
65 inches | QN65S95BAFXZA on Amazon | OLED65C2PUA on Amazon |
77 inches | OLED77C2PUA on Amazon | |
83 inches | OLED83C2PUA on Amazon |
Samsung S95B vs LG C2 OLED Performance
Movies
Both of the Samsung S95B and LG C2 OLED have great performance when used for watching movies in a dark room. Thanks to their infinite contrast ratio, perfect black uniformity and pixel dimming level, their performance is equally great in a dark room. Dark scene looks great without crushing the detail in shadow. Additionally, there is also no blooming around bright object in a dark scene. Meanwhile, their great 4K up-scaling engine allows you to watch old movies on DVD in near 4K well. Fast action movies also look smooth on their screen thanks to their great motion handling. And as we have mentioned above, the instant response time may make movies appears to stutter. But you can solve this issue by interpolating them to 60 Hz. They also can show movies with judder-free from any source. Overall, they are great TVs for watching movies in a dark room and their performance is not much different.
Winner: Draw
Sports
While their performance for watching movies is similar, the Samsung S95B is a bit better than the LG C2 when used for watching sports in a bright room. Thanks to their instant response time and BFI mode, fast sports like MotoGP or F1 look very smooth on their screen. They also have good gray uniformity that makes sports with large surface like Hockey or Baseball looks great with almost no dirty screen effect. Meanwhile, the better performance of the Samsung S95B is that it has brighter peak brightness and better reflection handling that makes it can handle the glare better than the LG C2 in a bright room. Additionally, it also has a bit better side viewing angle, especially when maintaining color accuracy. Meanwhile, performance of the LG C2 when used for watching sports is actually also great.
Winner: Samsung S95B
Games
Both of the LG C2 and Samsung S95B have great performance when used for playing games. Their excellent picture quality allows you to play any games with outstanding picture quality. Just like when used for watching sports, their great motion handling makes fast paced games look very smooth on their screen. Both also have some gaming features that can improve your experience in playing games like ALLM, etc. Meanwhile, thanks to its VRR technology that is compatible with FreeSync, GSync, and HDMI Forum, it allows you to play any games with screen tearing-free, especially with a compatible device. That is not only that, they also have HDMI 2.1, allowing you to play High Quality games that supported by modern game console likes PS5 or Xbox X series. Overall, they are great TVs for games. Meanwhile, the advantage of the S95B is that it has low input lags than the LG C2, especially with 60 fps games or with VRR enabled.
Winner: S95B
HDR Performance
When viewing shadow details of HDR images, their performance is equally great. As we have discussed above, thanks to their infinite contrast ratio, perfect black uniformity, and pixel dimming level, shadow details of HDR images can be shown excellently without “crushing black”. Small highlight in a dark scene like subtitle in movies also look focus without blooming around it. Meanwhile, the advantage of the Samsung S95B is that they have better color reproduction. Their color coverage in DCI P3 color space may be same, but in Rec.2020, the S95B can cover more color space, makes some certain color of HDR content mastered in Rec.2020 looks more accurate on its screen than on the screen of the LG C2. Additionally, the Samsung S95B also has better color volume, particularly when showing bright colors. As we have discussed above, the LG C2 with white-OLED panel can show bright saturated colors while the Samsung S95B with QD blue OLED can do it fairly well. That is not only that, the S95B also has better color gradient than the OLED C2.
When showing small highlight, the Samsung Q95B also can show it brighter than the LG C2 thanks to its brighter HDR peak brightness. In certain scene, it even can show HDR images at 1000 nits, which is great. On the other hand, although not as bright as the 95B, HDR peak brightness of the LG C2 is also bright enough to make small highlight pop, as bright they should in HDR. Meanwhile, there is a bit difference in HDR formats supported by them. If the S95B supports HDR10, HLG, and HDR10+, the OLED C2 supports HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. They have great HDR performance overall, but the S95B is a bit better than the LG C2.
Winner: Samsung S95B
Conclusion
Both of the Samsung S95B and LG C2 OLED are great TVs for any usage overall. Almost all aspect of picture quality produced by them are great. They have infinite contrast ratio, nearly perfect black uniformity, and pixel dimming level, making their dark room performance is great. Although not as bright as premium LED TVs, both also have good bright room performance thanks to their good peak brightness and great reflection handling. Motion handling, side viewing angle, input lags, are also great. They both also have some gaming features that help to improve their gaming experience. So, whether they are used for watching movies, TV Shows, Sports, or Games, their performance is really great in both SDR or HDR.
Meanwhile, as the first model of Samsung’s OLED TVs, performance of the Samsung S95B is really great. It uses OLED technology that is different to what used by LG C2. With QD-OLED panel, the S95B can produce brighter peak brightness and wider color gamut than white-OLED panel used by LG C2. But even so, this doesn’t mean performance of the LG C2 is not good. In last year, it even is including one of the best TVs and becomes one of the most anticipated TV of the year.
So, which is a better choice? As we have discussed above, with the same screen and the advantages that offered, the Samsung S95B is sold more expensive than the LG C2. The decision now comeback to you according to your own preference. Both are great TV for mixed usage overall.
Check the Latest Price | ||
Samsung S95B | LG C2 OLED | |
42 Inches | OLED42C2PUA on Amazon | |
48 Inches | OLED48C2PUA on Amazon | |
55 inches | QN55S95BAFXZA on Amazon | OLED55C2PUA on Amazon |
65 inches | QN65S95BAFXZA on Amazon | OLED65C2PUA on Amazon |
77 inches | OLED77C2PUA on Amazon | |
83 inches | OLED83C2PUA on Amazon |