Sony Bravia 8 OLED vs Samsung S95D OLED
Which is the better pick? We compared ratings from professional reviewers to help you decide.
Quick verdict
Sony Bravia 8 OLED
Samsung S95D OLED
Sony Bravia 8 OLED scores higher with a 4.2/5 average across professional reviews from 3 sources.
The Sony Bravia 8 is the cinephile's pick — Sony's XR Processor handles motion, color, and upscaling better than any rival, and the Acoustic Surface Audio+ sounds noticeably better than the flat-panel speakers on LG and Samsung. What Hi-Fi loved it at 5/5, PCMag more guarded at 3.5/5 citing price. Pick it over the LG C4 if film reproduction matters more to you than brightness, and if two HDMI 2.1 ports are enough for your console setup.
Strengths
- +Sony's XR Processor is widely considered the best motion and color handling in OLED — reference-grade for film watching
- +Google TV platform with native Apple TV, Netflix IMAX Enhanced, and PlayStation-optimized gaming modes
- +Acoustic Surface Audio+ uses the panel itself as a speaker — audio appears to come from on-screen subjects
- +Excellent upscaling from SDR/HD sources due to Sony's experience with pro video equipment
- +Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced
Watch-outs
- −Peak brightness trails the LG G4 and Samsung S95D — Sony chose a WOLED panel tuned for accuracy over sheer brightness
- −Only 2 HDMI 2.1 ports (vs LG's 4) — a limit for multi-console setups
- −Gets expensive quickly; PCMag 3.5/5 cited price-to-features ratio as the main complaint
The Samsung S95D is the brightest OLED you can buy and the ONLY one whose matte coating genuinely works in a bright room. Tom's Guide 4/5, PCMag 4/5, CNET 8.6/10. The missing Dolby Vision is the reason not to buy it — if most of your streaming is Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+ in Dolby Vision, you're paying a premium for features you can't use at full quality. Best for bright-room viewing and gamers who don't care about Dolby Vision.
Strengths
- +QD-OLED panel with matte anti-glare coating — the ONLY premium OLED that stays watchable in a sunlit room
- +Highest peak brightness of any OLED TV we compared, ~2,000 nits in HDR highlights
- +Neural Quantum Processor 8K with excellent upscaling and 144Hz gaming refresh rate support
- +4x HDMI 2.1 ports with VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium Pro
- +Slim 'Infinity' design with external One Connect Box keeps the screen panel itself under 1.5cm thick
Watch-outs
- −No Dolby Vision support — Samsung's long-standing stance, forcing you to HDR10/HDR10+ content only
- −Matte coating slightly softens blacks in completely dark rooms vs the glossy LG C4/G4
- −Tizen OS has more ads than Google TV or webOS
- −QD-OLED burn-in risk is slightly higher than WOLED in long-term torture testing
Specifications comparison
| Spec | Sony Bravia 8 OLED | Samsung S95D OLED |
|---|---|---|
| Panel | 65" WOLED | 65" QD-OLED |
| Resolution | 4K | 4K |
| Refresh | 120Hz | 120Hz (144Hz VRR) |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | HDR10+, HLG |
| HDMI | 2x HDMI 2.1 | 4x HDMI 2.1 |
| Peak Brightness | ~1300 nits | ~2900 nits |