As a tech geek who analyzes display trends, I couldn’t wait to check out Samsung’s new TV lineup unveiled at the 2023 CES show. I’m thrilled they revealed their next-gen Micro LED CX TV that promises revolutionary picture quality. But with head-spinning price tags expected, I had to pit the CX versus Samsung’s existing S95B OLED to see if it‘s truly worth the upgrade.
After digging into the specs, features and real-world performance considerations, I‘ll cut through the hype so you can decide which model better fits your needs and budget. Keep reading for my complete breakdown!
Display tech: Evolutionary vs revolutionary
The S95B leverages Samsung‘s latest OLED panel technology using self-illuminating pixels with the inky blacks and vibrant color we’ve come to expect from OLED. But OLEDs have inherent limitations due to their organic materials which degrade over time.
The Micro LED CX eschews OLEDs entirely in favor of micro-sized LEDs; tiny light bulbs sized similar to OLED subpixels. This revolutionary inorganic design unlocks unmatched brightness, longevity and screen sizes compared to OLED. But such cutting-edge performance commands an otherworldly price tag only the wealthy can afford.
The Winner: Micro LED CX brings a true breakthrough in what’s possible in a display while avoiding OLED’s Achilles‘ heel. But let’s dig deeper…
Image quality face-off
With self-emissive pixels that can turn off completely to create perfect black levels, both OLED and Micro LED deliver exceptional contrast and shadow detail for captivating picture quality.
But when it comes to peak brightness, the CX‘s LEDs torch its OLED rival – micro LED tech enables up to a searing 4000 nits versus just 1300 nits for the S95B. And brightness matters: HDR content is mastered for 1000+ nit displays so more brightness makes highlights really punch while augmenting realism.
The S95B isn’t exactly dim, but that 3x peak brightness advantage for the CX creates images with so much more depth and detail. See how they compare:
| TV Model | Micro LED CX | S95B OLED |
|---|---|---|
| Panel Type | Micro LED | OLED |
| Peak Brightness | 4000 nits | 1300 nits |
| Contrast Ratio | Infinite | Infinite |
| HDR Format Support | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
| Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 120Hz |
And when you consider HDR color volume covering a wider gamut at higher luminance levels, the CX also outguns Samsung’s OLED by producing colors more true-to-life at its higher peak brightness.
The Winner: While both deliver awesome contrast, the CX’s superior brightness and HDR color volume earn my vote.
Built to last a lifetime
Unlike OLEDs which use organic materials prone to degradation, Micro LED employs rock-solid gallium nitride LEDs that continue shining brightly for over 100,000 hours. They‘re simply more durable.
And that stability pays off – while OLED TVs slowly dim and lose color accuracy over time, Micro LED maintains its stellar visuals and brightness for over a decade of heavy usage without even subtle issues like image retention or burn-in.
The S95B even comes with integrated heat sinks and algorithms that detect static areas of the screen to mitigate OLED risks like permanent burn-in which scared me off from buying OLED in the past if I‘m being honest.
But even with those precautions in place, inherent OLED lifespans still only expect around 30,000 hours until noticeable brightness and color declines manifest. I plotted expected picture quality over time so you can anticipate the difference:
See what I mean? While that graph shows gradual decline, remember burn-in can cause more sudden image retention issues.
The Winner: No question for me here – Micro LED‘s staying power guarantees stunning visuals lasting decades instead of needing to replace your TV after 5-7 years of heavy streaming and gaming.
Motion handling showdown
Being the display nut I am, I put a lot of stock into how well a TV keeps up with fast motion. Whether it‘s sports, video games or action films, you‘ll appreciate a TV that can keep the action clear and smooth.
And in this department, both the S95B and Micro LED CX continue to impress me. They utilize rapid-response OLED and Micro LED panels capable of a crazy-fast 0.1ms response time for crisp clarity with minimal motion blur.
So whether you‘re tracking a soccer ball mid-kick or battle explosions in the latest Call of Duty game, both TVs will keep the action buttery smooth and easy to follow.
I‘ll give the CX bonus points for supporting playback up to 240 FPS versus just 120 FPS on the S95B. This helps further eliminate motion artifacts so you can better track fast-moving visuals. But there are very few native 240 FPS video sources.
For live sports and games, both also feature auto game modes to minimize input lag for responsive controls – the CX touts an insanely fast "sub 1ms" input lag when fed a 240Hz signal. Pretty wild right?
The Winner: The CX pulls ahead but expect excellent motion resolution from both to handle the fastest on-screen action.
Sound showdown
As impressive as the picture quality promises to be, I always say never underestimate a TV‘s sound system – bad audio can ruin an otherwise great viewing session!
Thankfully, both models pack potent sound hardware with the Micro LED CX introducing Samsung‘s custom multi-channel Arena Sound system:
- Bass-thumping woofers placed behind the panel ensure you‘ll feel every explosion while multiple side-firing speakers located at ear level deliver clearer dialogue.
- The end result? You‘ll hear crystal clear audio effects and soundtrack music emanating from precise locations all around for next-level immersion.
Of course, the S95B is no audio slouch either. Its integrated 4.2.2 channel speaker system leverages object-tracking sound to adjust audio cues based on screen movements for captivating realism. And Dolby Atmos 3D surround decoding expands the sound field.
The Winner: Hard to declare a winner without listening tests but the CX‘s custom audio system tailor-made for the Micro LED screen edges out the S95B‘s impressive Dolby Atmos setup.
Smart platforms compared
Beyond cutting-edge hardware advancements powering these displays, Samsung also packs its new Micro LED TV with the latest smart features and connectivity:
S95B OLED
- Tizen smart platform
- Voice control via Bixby
- Works with SmartThings ecosystem
- Includes popular media apps
Micro LED CX
- WebOS platform
- Built-in far-field mics
- Supports multiple voice assistants
- Expanded app and cloud gaming selection
Both operating systems provide intuitive navigation, robust voice control and access to all your favorite streaming video services. And with advanced IoT connectivity, you can even link your Micro LED CX to control your smart home devices, syncing events like dimming lights when starting a movie.
And if you’re a gamer like me, AMD Freesync support on both TVs enables smooth PC and cloud gaming without performance-killing input lag or visual artifacts.
The Winner: The CX gains the edge with the brand new webOS platform and expanded gaming functionality. But both smart TV offerings promise innovative intelligent features beyond "dumb" displays.
Striking designs
Style plays a major role in today’s TV designs with stunning industrial designs that become focal points rather than ugly black boxes of old. And both Samsung models make bold lifestyle statements:
S95B: Its sleek, ultra-thin OLED panel measuring just ~1.5 inches deep cuts a slim figure on your media stand while a nearly bezel-less screen places maximum focus on your content.
Micro LED CX: This is no ordinary TV – with a monolithic design language more reminiscent of modern art sculptures or designer furniture than a screen, the CX makes a visually arresting anchor piece for your living room.
When wall mounted, the image astonishingly seems to float weightlessly on the wall. I’m a sucker for avantgarde styles like this – if money was no object, the CX easily wins my “coolest looking TV” award.
But style remains subjective – both options look fantastic if you ask me.
The Winner: The CX brings haute couture to the living room with a showstopper silhouette perfect for modern, high-end aesthetics.
Go bigger than big with micro LED
Let’s address the elephant in the room when it comes to sizing – Micro LED’s LED foundation enables manufacturing much larger screen sizes that OLED production constraints restrict.
Case in point: while the S95B tops out at an ample 75 inches, the modular Micro LED CX scales up to a cinema-sized 140 inches!
Imagine hosting the Super Bowl on a TV wider than your garage door! It might sound excessive but unreal screen sizes over 100” make a serious “wow” factor statement piece. Interior designers are already buzzing about Micro LED’s potential.
Refer to this size chart to compare options:
| Model | Size range |
|---|---|
| S95B OLED | 55", 65", 75" |
| Micro LED CX | 50”, 63”, 76”, 89”, 101”, 114”, 140”, 160" |
It’s worth noting even “smaller” CX models like 50" will still carry gigantic price tags – the increased number of LEDs in the panel directly raise manufacturing complexity. But if going bigger than huge appeals to your inner AV enthusiast like myself, the CX can’t be beat!
The Winner: The CX redefines "big screen" with cinema-sized displays not possible from rival technologies.
Price check: Luxury vs mainstream
At this point, Samsung still hasn’t formally priced its full range Micro LED CX TVs but insiders widely expect at least a $50,000+ starting price for the entry 50" size 😳
Clearly at those stratospheric rates, the CX unambiguously targets wealthier buyers who drop supercar money on next-generation displays. This remains a luxury product through and through.
Alternatively, the S95B brings exceptional 4K OLED quality to mainstream buyers with reasonable price points:
S95B Pricing
- 55-inch – $1,600
- 65-inch – $2,200
- 75-inch – $3,000
So while the CX may represent the pinnacle of display innovation, even smaller screen sizes still demand truly exotic pricing far beyond typical middle or upper-middle class budgets.
The S95B delivers outstanding OLED performance better matching realistic budgets for premium-tier, but still mass market 4K TV shoppers.
The Winner: The S95B brings superb OLED quality well within reach versus pie-in-the-sky CX pricing.
The Bottom Line
The Samsung Micro LED CX represents an uncompromising no-holds-barred display showcasing the full potential of next-generation screen technology – it produces mesmerizing visuals rivaling 8K clarity, thunderous spatial audio and sizes simply beyond comprehension just years ago.
If you have money to burn with little regard for "trivial" costs approaching a quarter million dollars for its largest configurations, the CX offers an unparalleled viewing experience like no other.
But for us average folks residing firmly within the real world of financial constraints, trade-offs and rational purchase decisions analyzing value, the S95B strikes a markedly better balance. Despite utilizing inherently limited OLED tech, its picture quality remains outstanding for real-world content while providing a massive screen size improvement over most existing TVs at reasonable prices.
So while the CX may represent the future of television, the S95B brings phenomenal OLED performance well within reach today. I‘d choose the S95B in a heartbeat – spectacular TV enjoyment without needing a private jet and Swiss banking account! But your mileage may vary.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
