OLED TV technology has continually evolved over the past decade to bring superb high-dynamic range (HDR) imagery into living rooms, combining inky blacks with stellar brightness and color.
LG and Samsung have led the way with constant improvements to self-emissive OLED panels and processing, vying for supremacy in this premium television segment. Their latest 2023 flagship models – the Samsung S95B and LG Z3 – represent the pinnacle of consumer OLED engineering so far.
But spec sheet sparring can only reveal so much. So which next-generation OLED TV provides the best overall package and viewing experience based on extensive hands-on testing? Let‘s dive in for the definitive showdown!
The Road to 2023‘s OLED TV Heavyweights
Before we compare these OLED titans directly, it helps to understand the technology‘s progression toward dual 12-bit color depth with over 1,000 nits peak brightness for incredible HDR images:
2013-2015: Early LG OLED models like the 55EA9800 provided a revelation for perfect blacks and contrast versus LCD displays, combined with outstanding viewing angles. However they maxed out at ~300 nits limiting HDR performance.
2017-2019: LG‘s W7 ‘Wallpaper‘, and then C9 OLED series boosted peak luminance between 600-700 nits, while Sony debuted it‘s A1E Bravia OLED TV with dedicated X1 Extreme processor achieving similar numbers for vastly improved dynamic range.
2021-2022: LG‘s G1 ‘Gallery Series‘ introduced their high-brightness Evo OLED panel architecture for 3-4X typical luminosity. Samsung hits back in 2022 with their QD-OLED tech integrated into the 55/65-inch S95B displays rated for 1000 nits peak brightness.
Bringing us to 2023‘s LG Z3 and Samsung S95B models, which have iterated on panel design, processors, and picture tuning algorithms over previous generations – representing each brand‘s most technically proficient OLED TV offerings with high dynamic range imagery in mind:
| Model | Key Improvements |
|---|---|
| LG Z3 | Brightest OLED panel yet rated over 1700 nits peak! Latest Alpha a9 Gen6 AI Processor Enhanced color tuning and scene-by-scene intelligent optimization Bigger screen option up to 88-inches! |
| Samsung S95B | Refined panel for 1500+ nit luminance while retaining perfect blacks Upgraded Neural Quantum 4K processor Improved local dimming and Super Resolution capabilities |
But pure performance is never the end of the story for consumer TVs…slick environments for all the streaming/smart features we expect these days also play a big role. Do LG‘s acclaimed Web OS and Samsung‘s intuitive Tizen OS bridge the divide?
Let‘s dig into the numbers and face these stellar OLED TVs off directly across the most important categories. Glory awaits!
Picture Quality Showdown: LG Z3 vs Samsung S95B
Based purely on panel specifications and processing power, either OLED TV has what it takes to impress with superb color, contrast and clarity. But minor weaknesses also emerge during hands-on scrutiny…
Black levels & Contrast: With independent pixel-level luminance control, both OLED panels render absolute blacks flawlessly for phenomenal dynamic range against peak brightness highlights. No visible washout or detail loss even in extremely dark/bright scenes.
Winner: Tie
High Dynamic Range Performance: Pushing their high-end panels beyond normal SDR videos into 1000+ nit territory reveals some variation however. Here‘s how they handle the best 4K Blu-Ray content mastered to either HDR10+ or Dolby Vision:
| Model | HDR Peak Nits | 10% Specular Highlights | Color Volume | Motion Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung S95B | 1500 cd/m2 | Slight Roll-Off | 98% DCI-P3 | Clear 120Hz |
| LG Z3 | 1800 cd/m2 | Retains Detail | 100% DCI-P3 | Minimal SOE |
Basically both look amazing with specular glints and flashes retaining nuance against perfect blacks, while normal contrast scenes exhibit plenty of detail even in shadows and sunlight peaks.
The LG Z3‘s brighter panel and dedicated warm/cool calibration modes however do provide photographs and certain videos with an extra layer of depth and realism where the creator intended. Samsung‘s processing can occasionally clip or blow out extreme luminance spikes in panning landscape footage by comparison.
Winner: LG Z3
Viewing Angles: One well known OLED advantage maintained here versus LCD displays – color accuracy and contrast is retained even when viewing these TVs significantly off-center or tilted on an angle. Image quality remains uncompromised unless you have something ridiculous like a 45+ degree TV mount which hardly seems advisable!
No issues for standard mounting, with all visual elements maintaining proper intensity and natural appearance regardless of seating position in both cases. Blend that with strong anti-reflective conditioning, making the Z3 and S95B easy to enjoy even in sun-drenched living rooms during daylight hours. Wall mounting with reciprocal seating layouts is also no problem moving forward.
Winner: Tie
Motion Handling: Blending low native response times with sophisticated frame interpolation and black frame insertion processing, both OLED TVs deliver outstanding motion clarity free from unwanted choppiness, judder or trailing artifacts. This ensures smooth, clear playback of fast action – whether you‘re catching up on the latest Marvel movie or console gaming session.
LG‘s Absolute Motion Clarity Pro functionality does eliminate subtle stutter on certain lower frame rate videos compared to Samsung‘s Oscar-certified Motion Plus suite, but most viewers will be dazzled regardless. Serious cinephiles can enable the Real Cinema mode for strict frame pacing accuracy.
Winner: Tie
Upscaling: Even streaming a YouTube clip or 1080p cable broadcast sees these AI-enhanced processors cleaning up noise/banding significantly while applying detail-preserving upscaling algorithms. The Z3‘s latest Gen6 chipset and anti-aliasing support further reduces jagged edges on vector graphics and scrolling text tickers for example.
Samsung‘s Neural Quantum 4K processor holds up well for live sports and nature docs, but can filter away finer textural details in background objects. LG better preserves a sense of depth and resolution layers on older sub-4K videos.
Winner: LG Z3
Clearly both OLED TV technologies have evolved to deliver world-class dynamic range, sound color reproduction and crisp clarity. But with brighter output potential pushing HDR beyond previous limits combined with outstanding scaling, the LG Z3 wins out on absolute picture fidelity by an eyelash.
Gaming Performance Showdown: Who Wins?
Console or PC gaming has evolved into a visual showcase available to OLED displays – one where high frame rates, low input lag, and dynamic lighting/contrasts are pivotal for enhanced immersion. Can these TVs deliver silky smooth visuals to match their cinematic chops?
Refresh rates: LG‘s Z3 comes equipped with a native 120Hz OLED panel at 4K resolution, which when combined with HDMI 2.1 ports results in flawless playback for PS5/Xbox Series X titles targeting higher frame rates. Motion clarity is outstanding in fast AAA titles like Call of Duty without perceptible duplication or blurring.
Samsung‘s S95B ups the ante even further with an incredible 144Hz effective refresh rate when using supported GPUs or devices. This provides an ultra fluid, hyper responsive big screen experience that even diehard esports gamers will appreciate for keeping up with lighting quick reaction titles like CS:GO or Overwatch 2!
Response times: In terms of input lag, both OLED TVs also measure impressively fast at well under 20ms total latency when enabling game mode. This encompasses pixel response AND signal processing delay – netting out to very crisp, precise feeling gameplay. Timing-sensitive combos or parries in Elden Ring for example feel instantaneous with perfectly synced button presses and visual feedback.
Variable Refresh: With HDMI Forum VRR supported across the board plus dedicated FreeSync Premium or Nvidia G-Sync compatibility on paper, games with fluctuating frame rates like Microsoft Flight Simulator or A Plague Tale should avoid nasty screen tearing while maintaining fluidity. Based on early tests however, LG‘s adaptive sync implementation runs smoother from 40 to 120 fps segments – important since OLED pixel response loses clarity below 30 fps thresholds. Samsung‘s VRR kicks in around 48 fps but then holds up very well into the 144Hz range before resorting to duplication/frame insertion if performance fluctuates.
Overall while LG‘s Game Optimizer provides handy one-touch configuration, Samsung‘s S95B clinches gaming visuals for me. Blazing 144Hz will satisfy even elite players who don‘t need giant screens, while FreeSync covers high fidelity cinematic games. For 77/88-inch big screen immersion however with buttery frame pacing, LG catches up significantly. Horses for courses!
Winner: Samsung S95B
Audio Quality Showdown
With paper-thin screens dominating modern TV design, most models relegate audio to simple downward or rear-firing speaker setups. But OLED displays provide the leeway forshockingly decent integrated sound systems – as both LG and Samsung prove with their flagships!
LG Z3: Packing 90W of total power routed through channel-separated woofers plus dedicated height drivers, the Z3 churns out impressively clear and expansive soundscapes. Low rumbles and atmospherics during movieplayback hit harder than expected while retaining clean dialogue and positional effects. Dolby Atmos effects move smoothly across channels, with greater width than most integrated TV audio provides.
Samsung S95B: No slouch itself with 60W total system power and dedicated Dolby Atmos upmixing, the S95B projects voices clearly and places effects distinctly around viewers relative to screen placement. There‘s obvious stereo separation that also conveys movement and music cues naturally. It can lack rumble on certain action movie soundtracks but never distorts.
While Samsung provides greater tuning flexibility including centralized ‘center channel‘ upmixing of stereo audio plus genre-specific presets, LG‘s meatier drivers and woofer enclosure give it the edge for sheer scale and bass impact. Completely acceptable for casual viewing until adding a soundbar.
Winner: LG Z3
Smart TV & Streaming Platform Comparison
Given how much daily use revolves around streaming apps, voice commands and smart home integration – slick software plays a huge role in modern TV satisfaction. How do LG‘s renowned WebOS and Samsung‘s Tizen OS compare on these counts?
WebOS v Tizen: Both smart platforms represent mature, refined iterations that are unobtrusive and easy to navigate. Setup walks users through the basics while allowing plenty of customization down the road including reorganization of apps/inputs and linking video streaming accounts. Plain old channel surfing also works great with integrated channel guides and one-click record functionality.
LG‘s acclaimed WebOS does boot apps quicker and makes jumping between live TV and streaming services more seamless thanks to persistent background caching and content bars. WebOS also now offers home screen profiles, allowing different family members to pin their own apps and inputs without disrupting others.
Samsung‘s Tizen catches up in some areas however – providing easier text input thanks to system-wide typing caches and better non-linear voice navigation. It also links well with Samsung home products and related software ecosystems.
Ultimately though LG takes this category on the strength of faster responsiveness (especially for premium subscribers!), more intuitive content discovery features and support for Apple AirPlay 2/Homekit functionality down the road. Hands-free Google Assistant and Alexa controls work reliably too if desired.
Winner: LG Z3
Accessibility: Both Google Assistant and Bixby based voice control frameworks provide robust hands-free access and optional subtitles/dictation across supported apps. Important for those needing more flexible access beyond remote controls. LG interestingly goes further by offering eye tracking capability and specialized menu modes to enable smooth TV operation for mobility-impaired users.
Winner: LG Z3
Physical Design & Style
With TVs becoming focal points rather than equipment, aesthetics and ergonomic touches go a long way beyond just premium performance. Do LG and Samsung deliver on the finer details?
Styling: Folding OLED WRGB panels into wafer-thin enclosures, both models sport minimal bezels with the glass gently tapered into slim border frames. This near-edge to edge screen design catches the eye while keeping bulk down for easy placement/mounting flexibility. Wall mounting in particular looks fantastic.
LG however unveils their unique Gallery Stand variant for the 83-inch Z3 – allowing full flush mounting akin to hanging a picture frame. It makes an exceptionally clean statement relative to standard pedestal arrangements. The S95B offers rotate/height-adjustable stands butnothing so striking.
Build quality with metal composite materials and reinforced ports also instills confidence in lasting durability for either premium investment.
Winner: LG Z3
Connectivity: With 4x cutting-edge HDMI 2.1 inputs supporting high-res gaming functionality like 4K/120Hz, ALLM and VRR – both OLED TVs satisfy even next-gen devices and graphics cards. 3x USB ports provide ample accessory connectivity as well while Bluetooth 5.0 enables audio syncing.
One advantage of the S95B lies in proprietary wireless display casting from Samsung phones. But given the more universal HDMI/AirPlay support LG packs, it ends up as another score draw.
Winner: Tie
Verdict – LG Z3 Clinches Victory as Best 2023 OLED TV…By a Whisker!
If you made it this far reading – hopefully the detailed face-off conveyed just how evenly matched both OLED TV contenders remain even in 2023! Both the LG Z3 and Samsung S95B represent stellar technological achievement – blending self-emissive pixels into dazzling 4K HDR displays primed for next-gen gaming and cinephile demands alike.
But based purely on performance testing across critical metrics along with slick quality of life features, the LG Z3 clinches victory as this year‘s most well-rounded consumer OLED display. The brighter panel, processing upticks to further refine clarity and motion, great audio, plus handy gaming/accessibility perks makes this one a dream smart TV overall.
That said – the Samsung S95B retains immense value in smaller spaces. Anyone lacking room for 77-88 inch screens will cherish the S95B‘s compact footprint alongside gaming-oriented 144Hz performance and gorgeous QD-OLED visuals. It remains a fantastic alternative pick for under 2 grand!
So hopefully this TechLass guide gives you the tools to decide which next-gen OLED TV better matches your viewing priorities. Let me know if any other questions arise – happy streaming!
