OLED televisions represent the pinnacle of display engineering with their stunning high definition images, perfect black levels and ultra thin form factors. While LG has led the way in large-scale OLED panel production, arch rivals Samsung and Sony continually push display innovation through their own variations of core OLED technology.
Sony helped pioneer early commercial OLED development in the 2000s before stepping away for over a decade. But the company triumphantly returned in 2017 leveraging its proprietary video processing and sound reproduction advances. Samsung similarly stood at the genesis of OLED‘s consumer arrival in the late 2000s only to let LG assume market leadership as tighter manufacturing margins repelled continued investment.
Now resurgent, Samsung appears poised to disrupt the greater OLED landscape by infusing quantum dots into the equation – a tactic that rectifies OLED‘s lone lingering deficiency in brightness. Though at the expense of some screen size versatility, Samsung‘sQD-OLED debut decisively one-ups mid-range WOLED offerings from Sony and LG where picture quality is paramount. Nevertheless, Sony continues applying its strengths in creative OLED panel implementation, custom video processing and sonic fidelity to keep Samsung honest through flagship sets of its own.
A Brief History of Sony OLED TVs
Sony Found early success with OLED technology across various portable devices in the early 2000s before bringing its first OLED television to market in 2007 – the revolutionary yet exorbitantly priced XEL-1 sporting an 11-inch screen. But the following year Sony suddenly exited the OLED TV arena entirely, not releasing another television featuring the budding display technology until the 55-inch A1 model in 2017.
Rather than manufacture OLED panels on their own, Sony has focused software and hardware efforts around optimizing core OLED screen performance. Most of Sony‘s OLED models utilize LG‘s mid-range WOLED panels distinguished by a white sub-pixel augmented by integrated red, blue and green color filters. However the company‘s reliance on LG screen supply hasn‘t precluded Sony from applying its engineering prowess to areas like image processing, sound and connectivity.
Sony‘s current lineup of BRAVIA branded OLED TVs is headlined by the cognitive XR flagship processor claimed to mirror functions of the human brain for optimized contrast, color, motion clarity and other picture attributes. Sony has likewise translated key innovations from its premium sound bars and home theater components into integrated audio systems featuring dedicated actuators literally vibrating the OLED panel itself to emit sound.
Samsung‘s Pioneering Past and Future Vision
The Samsung brand similarly enjoys strong association with pioneering OLED milestones. The company mass produced and marketed early commercial OLED televisions from 2007 to 2013, even temporarily dominating market share. But faced with high R&D costs and narrowing profit margins, Samsung eventually ceded OLED panel development and consumer TV sales almost exclusively to cross-town rival LG.
After nearly a decade passed outside the TV space that it helped birth, Samsung triumphantly returned in 2022 infusing its prominent quantum dot display technology into a new and potentially game-changing OLED television formula – QD-OLED. By permitting quantum dots to natively convert incoming blue OLED light directly into pure red and green wavelengths absent color filters at the sub-pixel level, Samsung contends far greater luminosity, color accuracy and contrast are attained.
Though risking some hit to efficiency and cost, Samsung is betting its hybrid quantum dot OLED models can redefine the aspirational TV performance watermark much as the company accomplished in areas ranging from mobile displays to SSD storage. For consumers, that quickly translates into demonstrably better high-dynamic range content delivery including crisper specular highlights with reduced risk of clipping or compression. And crucially for notoriously dim OLED tech, radically improved screen brightness emanates as an almost ancillary windfall benefit.
Sony BRAVIA OLED TV Lineup and Models
Sony‘s 2022 fleet of BRAVIA OLED televisions encompasses six distinct model lines headlined by the cognitive XR processor. Prices range from under $2000 on the entry A75K series to $5000 for Sony‘s new Acoustic Surface Audio+ flagship – the QD-OLED powered A95K. Besides quantum dots, Sony‘s step-down OLED options leverage more conventional WOLED screens augmented by proprietary image and audio processing:
Sony A80K – Sony‘s mid-range OLED offering starts under $2000 culminating in a 77-inch model. Powered by the Cognitive Processor XR with multiple screen sizes, Dolby Vision HDR, 120fps HDMI 2.1 inputs and Acoustic Surface Audio.
Sony A90K – Successor to popular A90J series gains cognitive XR processor but sheds the 83-inch option and Bravia Cam. Pricing reaches up to $4000 for the 65-inch model with next-gen gaming connectivity.
Sony A95K QD-OLED – New addition harnesses quantum dot color conversion for higher peak brightness and wider color. Priced at $4000 and up while maxing out at 65 inches. Pairs cognitive XR with upgrade Acoustic Surface Audio+.
Samsung QD-OLED Model Overview
For 2022, Samsung‘s OLED return manifests solely through the QD-OLED based S95B series offered in 55-inch and 65-inch screen sizes. Despite higher build costs prompted by the quantum dot layer, Samsung delivers pricing under today‘s premium 4K LCD flock including its own QN85B Neo QLED lineup.
Core shared features across Samsung‘s QD-OLED models encompass 4K resolution, 120Hz effective refresh rates thanks to black frame insertion, HDMI 2.1 inputs and compatibility with advanced gaming attributes like variable refresh rate and auto low latency modes. Samsung‘s new Neo Quantum Processor 4K silicon leverages deep learning for optimized upscaling alongside tweaked dimming, color mapping and contrast adjustment firmware.
Where Sony splits audio duties across the display itself and a dedicated subwoofer, Samsung implements a more conventional 4.2.2-channel speaker system complete with Dolby Atmos decoding and object-tracking sound.
Side-By-Side Technical Comparison
Here‘s how Samsung‘s 65-inch QN65S95B QD-OLED television and the Sony 65-inch XR-65A95K QD-OLED set compare across an array of meaningful performance benchmarks:
| Specification | Samsung QN65S95B | Sony XR-65A95K |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Type | QD-OLED | QD-OLED |
| Screen Sizes Available | 55", 65" | 55", 65", 75" |
| Native Resolution | 4K (3,840 x 2,160) | 4K (3,840 x 2,160) |
| Peak Display Brightness | 1500 nits | 1300 nits |
| Full Screen Brightness | 188 nits | 180 nits |
| Contrast Ratio | Infinite | Infinite |
| HDR Support | HDR10, HLG, HDR10+ | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
| Color Gamut (DCI-P3) | 99.3% | 99% |
| Color Volume | 800M+ | 800M+ |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| VRR | Yes | Yes |
| ALLM | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI Ports | 4 | 4 |
| HDMI 2.1 Inputs | 3 | 3 |
| Display Dimensions | 57 x 33 x 1.6 inches | 57 x 33 x 1.8 inches |
| Weight | 52.9 lbs | 63.9 lbs |
| Audio System | 4.2.2 Channel | Acoustic Surface, subwoofer |
| Smart Platform | Tizen OS | Google TV |
| Bluetooth Support | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi Protocol | WiFi 6E | WiFi 6 |
Judging the numbers, Samsung‘s QD-OLED panel proves brighter in peak and sustained full screen measurements while surpassing Sony‘s Acoustic Surface Audio setup for sheer speaker size and channel count. However Sony counterpunches with more screen size options and its Encoder XR processor that optimizes Dolby Vision HDR along with cognitive gaming boosts.
Samsung QD-OLED Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Quantum dot color conversion boosts OLED brightness substantially
- Greater color volume and luminosity than regular OLED
- Near infinite contrast ratio for true blacks
- Very low input lag for fast gaming response
- Strong 4.2.2 channel sound system
Cons:
- Fewer screen size options than Sony OLED models
- No Dolby Vision HDR support
- External speaker design versus Sony‘s integrated audio
- New tech prompts slightly more expensive pricing
Sony OLED Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros:
- Excellent cognitive XR video processing
- Acoustic Surface Audio integrates sound into display
- Multiple screen sizes meet more user needs
- Dolby Vision HDR bolsters picture quality
- Very smooth, fluid motion handling
Cons:
- Only higher-end Sony models offer QD-OLED benefits
- Peak brightness lags Samsung‘s QD-OLED TVs
- No HDR10+ support found on Samsung
Declaring a Winner: Samsung QD-OLED vs Sony BRAVIA OLED
Reviewing the detailed specifications and test results, Samsung seizes a slim but decisive edge largely on the strengths of its underlying QD-OLED panel technology. By essentially merging quantum dots with OLED, color volume, sustained brightness and contrast soar past levels Sony can presently match outside its pricier A95K release. HDR content truly pops with specular highlights exhibiting more detail without clipping while perfect blacks now come with markedly better luminance when needed.
That said, Sony contributes meaningful advancements of its own that shouldn‘t be overlooked when contrasting its OLED offerings against Samsung‘s fledgling QD-OLED debut. The company‘s Cognitive Processor XR silicon leverages AI and machine learning to optimize picture attributes like color mapping and contrast on a scene-by-scene if not frame-by-frame basis. And Acoustic Surface Audio stands impressively apart from conventional speaker systems in looking and sounding superb.
For buyers where absolute peak picture quality reigns above all else, Samsung‘s 2022 QD-OLED models like the S95B series currently own the crown. Gamers wishing to pair QD-OLED goodness with gaming-friendly features would also do well opting for Samsung. But Sony presents a more versatile range that audiophiles or cinema purists may prefer, while offering higher-end processors and more screen size choice. The brilliance of both brands propels OLED enjoyment to new heights.
