Samsung S95B vs S95C comparison – what’s the difference?

Samsung S95B vs S95C comparison – what’s the difference?
Romilly Cotta Updated on by

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If you’re wondering what the differences are between Samsung S95B vs S95C, you’re certainly not alone.

The S95B TV was released in 2022 with a hugely positive reception. Its release marked the brand’s return to OLED TVs after almost a decade long hiatus. In our opinion, it was worth the wait. The S95B has since featured in our best picks for gaming TVs, and sits comfortably in our pick of the best TVs for Xbox Series X and PS5. As you can see, it’s a highly capable TV, so how does it shape up against its successor?

Like its predecessor, the S95C features a QD-OLED panel that creates an incredibly vivid display. As Samsung’s latest QD-OLED release, we expect it to deliver a better performance than the S95B, but by how much?

You might be weighing up whether or not the S95C is worth the upgrade, especially now that the S95D release date is coming. However, there are plenty of features to be excited about, especially if you’re in the market for a whopping 77-inch display. Your decision to upgrade will depend on your usage and budget, so it’s good to be clear on these factors ahead of jumping into our discussion.

We’ll be comparing what we think are the key comparison areas between the Samsung S95B and S95C. We’ll look at everything from specs to gaming features and value for money. By the end, you should be able to make an informed decision on which QD-OLED TV is best for you.

Samsung S95B vs S95C – specs comparison

The design of the S95C has largely stayed the same as its predecessor, so let’s see how the specs compare. Will they translate to a substantial improvement in performance?

SpecsS95BS95C
Size55″, 65″55″, 65″ 77″
Resolution4K UHD4K
HDRHDR10+HDR10+ Adaptive
PanelQD-OLEDQD-OLED
Peak brightness1,300 nits peak2,000 nits peak
Refresh Rate120HzUp to 144Hz
Response Time0.1ms0.1ms
Connectivity4 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x USB4 x HDMI 2.1, 3 x USB
Audio EnhancementObject SoundTracking, Dolby AtmosDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus
Gaming FeaturesALM, FreeSync, G-Sync ALM, FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync

As you can see from the table above, there are a number of key differences between the S95B and S95C, but how do these translate to overall performance?

First, we’ll discuss the display. Though both are Quantum Dot OLED displays, the S95C has a considerable lead in terms of brightness, at 2,000 nits. This is about 20-30% brighter than the S95B, and enough to provide a noticeable difference when viewing in HDR.

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The S95C’s extra brightness produces a greater sense of tone and depth. Skin tones look more consistently life-like than they do in the S95B, and the 2023 model also offers superior performance when it comes to handling darker scenes. Black levels are maintained in dark room settings, and you can expect more subtle details in dark corners which is a welcome improvement.

If you’re watching content in a bright room, the S95C is clearly the TV to go for, though that’s not to say the S95B doesn’t also deliver superb performance.

It’s also worth adding that the S95C delivers this peak brightness with a much more efficient power management system, so that superior brightness does not lead to an increase in power consumption.

Samsung S95B vs S95C – which is better for gaming?

The S95B continues to offer an excellent gaming performance for both console and PC gaming. It ticks all the right boxes, capable of hitting 4K at 120Hz, while offering ALM, VRR and FreeSync.

Does the S95C offer anything new? It sure does look like it.

The key improvement is its 144Hz frame rate which will translate to a smoother image quality for PC gaming. It will also support AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro VRR, making it the first OLED on the market to offer that level of VRR support.

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The S95C also boasts 4K streaming for the cloud gaming service Nvidia GeForce Now, alongside support for Xbox cloud gaming, Amazon Luna, and Utomik.

Overall, it looks like the S95C is set to be one of the best gaming TVs of 2023.

Samsung S95B vs S95C – sound quality

The S95C offers improvements in sound quality compared to its predecessor, though we still recommend boosting the audio with a soundbar due to Samsung’s ultra-slim nature of QD-OLED TVs.

However, Samsung has improved the performance of its Object Tracking Sound feature. This translates to a more powerful, multi-channel soundstage. This feature succeeds in accurately placing special effects in exactly the right place on and off screen.

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The S95C will still share Dolby Atmos with the S95B though, so if you do end up choosing the 2022 model, you’ll still be getting 3D sound with good clarity in voices and a decent bass.

Samsung S95B vs S95C – price comparison

The difference in price will be an influential factor for most potential buyers.

The S95C will cost you a staggering $4,499 if you’re going for the 77″ model. For the 55″ and 65″ displays, you’ll likely be paying between $2000-$3000.

If you’re leaning towards the S95B, we’ve got some good news for you. The arrival of its successor has made the 2022 significant drop in price. If you’d prefer to prioritize savings over new features, go for the S95B:

  1. Samsung S95B 65-inch was $2,999 now $1,899 (Samsung)
  2. Samsung S95B 55-inch was $2,199 now $1,599 (Samsung)

Samsung S95B

Size

55in

Resolution

4K UHD

Refresh rate

120Hz

Panel type

QD-OLED

Samsung S95C

Samsung S95C pre order

Size

77in

Resolution

4K

Refresh rate

144Hz

Panel type

OLED

Samsung S95B vs S95C – final word

Overall, your final decision is ultimately a balancing act between price and performance.

If you’re looking for the best value option, the juicy discounts on the S95B make it difficult to ignore. Even with the release of its successor, the S95B, as a QD-OLED TV, will remain one of the best gaming TVs in 2023.

If you’re a gamer, the S95C should be an easy choice thanks to its 0.1ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate. However, other than its improvement in peak nit brightness, the S95C does not make any dramatic evolutionary leaps from its predecessor.