1. Samsung’s 2026 OLED TVs, particularly the S95H and S90H series, are available for review, with the S95H emerging as a top contender for best OLED TV of the year.
2. The S90H series has shifted from previous panel lotteries, with US models now seemingly exclusively using WOLED panels instead of QD-OLEDs, a change confirmed by early reviews.
3. The S90H series features a matte coating across all models, and there are concerns it may be shipped with older 2025 WOLED panels rather than the latest technology, raising questions about panel quality and value.
4. Despite potential downgrades in panel technology, most S90H models have experienced a significant price increase of around $200 compared to last year.
New Samsung OLED TVs 2026 Overview
Samsung’s got some new OLED TVs for 2026, and they are starting to appear in different shops around the world. Early reviews about their models, the S95H and S90H series, are now out. The S95H is promising to be one of the best OLED TVs this year, offering high-end features. On the other hand, the S90H series seems to have some controversial changes, especially concerning what kind of panels they’re using, and that might make QD-OLED fans a little disappointed.
Panel Lottery and Regional Variations
In past years, Samsung had an issue called the “panel lottery,” especially for the S90 series. This meant that in many countries outside the US and Korea, different sizes of the same model had different panels. For example, in Europe, only the 65-inch S90 would feature the advanced QD-OLED panels, all other sizes from smaller 42-inch to larger 83-inch or 90-inch were equipped with WOLED panels made by LG. Sometimes even the 65-inch versions had WOLEDs, creating confusion among consumers. This year they seem to have stop that because, in the US, Samsung now appears to only use WOLED technology across the S90H lineup.
Performance and Color Capabilities
Reviewers like The Display Guy and Ecoustics tested the 65-inch version of the new S90H OLED TVs. Their findings suggested that despite Samsung’s marketing, the panel on these models may not be the QD-OLED type they expected. Ecoustics measured the color reproduction and found it can display 98.6% of the P3 color standard but only 74.77% of the BT.2020 color space, hinting that the panel might actually be WOLED. This could be a disappointment for viewers who wanted the richer colors of true QD-OLED tech.
Design and Panel Technologies
In addition to potential panel downgrades, the S90H series has adopted a matte screen coating across all variants, a change from previous models that often featured glossy finishes. The Display Guy was unable to confirm if every S90H model uses WOLED panels or if Samsung is hiding some of the details, as the company has a history of not disclosing the panel type. This uncertainty is frustrating for consumers who care about the exact tech inside their TV, especially since European buyers have had to deal with similar issues before.
Color Gamut and Panel Concerns
Another concern with the current lineup is the brightness and color range. The reviewers speculate that Samsung might only be using older 2025 WOLED panels in the entire S90H series, not the latest 4-layer WOLED panels seen in competitors like LG’s C6 or G6 models. There’s hope that the smallest 42-inch and biggest 83-inch models may still use the newer panels, but the reviewer hasn’t yet seen proof of this, having only tested a pre-production 65-inch sample.
Pricing and Value Concerns
Adding to the worries, the new S90H models are priced higher than last year’s, with most models seeing a $200 increase. For example, the 65-inch version now costs $2,700, up from $2,500. This price hike doesn’t seem justified if the panels are actually downgraded to WOLED, especially since consumers expect more from a premium lineup. The inconsistencies and increases make it hard for buyers to decide whether this series is truly worth the investment.
