Is the S90D S90Dd Oled Qd Oled Still Good in 2026? Long-Term Review

It has been well over a year since I first cleared a space on my media console and carefully unboxed the Samsung S90D. At the time, the hype surrounding second and third-generation QD-OLED panels was reaching its peak. I remember the initial "wow" factor—the way the deep blacks of a space documentary seemed to swallow the bezel of the TV entirely. But as any seasoned tech enthusiast knows, the honeymoon phase with a new television eventually ends. You stop looking at the spec sheet and start living with the quirks, the software updates, and the gradual evolution of the display market. Now that we are well into 2026, and newer, even flashier models have hit the shelves, I wanted to sit down and reflect on whether this particular set still holds its ground as a premium centerpiece in a modern living room.

My journey with the S90D (and its retail variant, the S90Dd) began with a specific need: I wanted a screen that could handle my aggressive afternoon gaming sessions in a room with three large windows, while still providing that "ink-black" cinematic experience for movie nights. I had heard the rumors about the "panel lottery" that plagued this specific series—the uncertainty of whether you’d receive a genuine QD-OLED panel or a standard W-OLED depending on the size and region. In my experience, navigating that confusion was the first hurdle, but once I had the unit set up in my home, the technical jargon faded away, replaced by a visual experience that, frankly, has aged better than I expected.

The Long-Term Visual Experience: Brightness and Burn-In

One of the biggest concerns I had when I first bought this TV was the longevity of the QD-OLED technology. We’ve all seen the horror stories of permanent image retention. After nearly eighteen months of heavy use—which included thousands of hours of news tickers, static gaming HUDs from my marathon RPG sessions, and the occasional habit of leaving a pause menu up while I wandered into the kitchen—I can honestly say I haven't seen a single hint of burn-in. Samsung’s pixel-shifting algorithms and thermal management seem to be doing their job behind the scenes. I noticed that the TV runs a brief "pixel refresh" cycle almost every time I turn it off after a long session, and while it was a bit annoying at first to hear the faint click of the relay minutes later, I’ve come to appreciate the peace of mind it provides.

What I found most striking after all this time is that the peak brightness hasn't noticeably dimmed. In 2026, we are seeing monitors and TVs pushing 3,000 nits, which makes the S90D’s roughly 1,200 to 1,500 nit peak seem "modest" by comparison. However, in a real-world living room environment, I’ve never felt I was missing out. When I’m watching a remastered 4K disc of a film like Mad Max: Fury Road, the specular highlights—the glint of sun off chrome or the roar of an explosion—still have enough "bite" to make me squint. The color volume, which is the hallmark of the Quantum Dot layer, remains the S90D’s secret weapon. Even at high brightness levels, the reds and greens don't wash out into white like they sometimes do on the standard OLED sets I’ve tested in the past.

Living with Tizen OS: A Love-Hate Relationship

If there is one area where my patience has been tested, it is the Tizen Smart Hub. In my experience, Samsung’s software remains the weakest link in an otherwise stellar package. Over the last year, I’ve watched the interface become increasingly cluttered with "sponsored" content and recommended shows I have no intention of watching. There is a perceptible lag that has crept in after several firmware updates. Sometimes, I press the home button and have to wait a full two seconds for the ribbon to pop up. For a TV that was marketed as a high-end powerhouse, this feels like a significant oversight.

I also encountered a recurring issue with the "Gaming Hub." I am a big believer in cloud gaming, and while having Xbox and GeForce Now built directly into the TV is revolutionary, the UI for switching between these services and my physical PS5 feels clunky. I was surprised by how often the TV would fail to realize I had turned on a console, requiring me to manually Navigate through three menus just to change the input. One thing that bothered me specifically was the aggressive "eco-mode" settings that keep resetting themselves after firmware updates. I’d sit down to watch a movie and realize the screen looked dim and lifeless, only to find that the "Intelligent Mode" had re-enabled itself, trying to save a few pennies of electricity at the expense of my HDR highlights.

Gaming Performance: Still the Gold Standard?

As a gamer, I’ve spent more time in "Game Mode" than any other setting. The 144Hz refresh rate capability was a major selling point for me, especially since I occasionally hook up my PC for some high-frame-rate shooters. Even in 2026, the S90D feels incredibly responsive. The input lag is virtually non-existent—measured at well under 10ms in my own amateur testing. What I noticed that I didn't appreciate until recently was the "Game Bar" 4.0. Being able to see my current FPS and HDR status at a glance without diving into the deep system menus is a feature I now find hard to live without on other displays.

However, there was a specific disappointment I noticed regarding the VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) implementation. In some darker scenes, particularly in games with a lot of near-black shadows like Alan Wake II, I noticed a slight flickering when the frame rate fluctuated significantly. It’s a known OLED trait, but I had hoped the QD-OLED's different subpixel structure might mitigate it more than it does. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it is something a real owner will notice during those moody, atmospheric gaming sessions at 2 AM.

Pros and Cons After 18 Months

• Exceptional Color Vibrancy: The Quantum Dot layer ensures that colors remain saturated even in very bright scenes, giving images a "pop" that standard OLEDs struggle to match.
• Impressive Motion Handling: Whether it's sports or fast-paced action movies, the processor does an excellent job of smoothing out judder without creating that dreaded "soap opera effect" unless you specifically turn it on.
• Connectivity: Having four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports is still a luxury in 2026. I have a soundbar, two consoles, and a PC connected, and I never have to swap cables.
• Durability: Despite my initial fears, the panel has shown zero signs of degradation or burn-in after nearly two years of heavy, varied use.
• Cluttered Interface: The Tizen OS is bloated with ads and can be sluggish, often requiring a "cold boot" (holding the power button) to fix glitches.
• The Panel Lottery: The frustration of not knowing if your specific size/region gets the QD-OLED or W-OLED panel remains a dark cloud over this model’s legacy.
• Aggressive Auto-Dimming: In very dark movies with a single bright object, the ABL (Auto Brightness Limiter) can sometimes be a bit too cautious, dimming the whole scene unnecessarily.

Technical Specifications and Comparison

To give you a better idea of where the S90D sits in the current 2026 landscape, I’ve put together a comparison table based on my findings and how it stacks up against the newer S90F (2026 model) and the older S90C it replaced.

The "Lottery" Disclaimer

I have to address the elephant in the room because it would be irresponsible not to. When I bought my 65-inch S90D, I spent hours researching model numbers. In the 2024/2025 cycle, Samsung began mixing QD-OLED panels (their own tech) with W-OLED panels (sourced from LG Display). While both are "OLED," they have different characteristics. My unit is a QD-OLED, which I confirmed by looking at the subpixel structure through a magnifying glass (yes, I’m that guy). If you end up with a W-OLED version, you might find the whites are slightly cooler and the color volume isn't quite as high, but the brightness might actually be more consistent in some scenarios. It’s a frustrating gamble that Samsung forced on consumers, and even in 2026, it remains the primary reason some people hesitate to buy this model on the used or clearance market.

Sound Quality: Don't Rely on the Internal Speakers

After testing the "Object Tracking Sound Lite" for about a week, I quickly hooked up my external sound system. In my experience, the S90D’s speakers are purely functional. They are fine for watching the news or a YouTube video, but they lack the low-end "thump" required for a modern cinematic experience. The chassis of the TV is so thin that there is simply no physical room for decent drivers. I noticed that at higher volumes, the back panel would actually vibrate during heavy bass sequences, creating a distracting buzzing sound. If you are planning to pick this up, factor the cost of at least a mid-range soundbar into your budget.

Buying Guide: Is It Still Worth Buying in 2026?

In 2026, the S90D has moved into what I call the "Sweet Spot" category. It is no longer the flagship, which means its price on the secondary market or as a "new-old-stock" item has plummeted. But does it make sense to buy a two-year-old OLED? Here is how I would break it down for different types of users:

The Dedicated Gamer

If you are looking for a TV for a PS5, Xbox Series X, or a high-end PC, the S90D is still an easy recommendation. The inclusion of four HDMI 2.1 ports and the 144Hz support keeps it relevant even against 2026's mid-range offerings. You get premium gaming features at a fraction of the original launch price.

The Movie Buff

For those who prioritize color accuracy and HDR impact, the S90D is fantastic—provided you can confirm it’s a QD-OLED panel. The lack of Dolby Vision support in 2026 is still Samsung’s biggest "miss." While HDR10+ is great, the vast majority of streaming content is optimized for Dolby Vision. I’ve noticed that some Disney+ and Netflix titles look slightly less "refined" than they do on my friend's LG or Sony sets, though the raw brightness of the S90D often makes up for it.

The Budget-Conscious Premium Seeker

If you want a TV that looks expensive and performs like a flagship but you don't want to pay the $3,000+ price tag of 2026's latest tech, the S90D is a steal. Its design is incredibly sleek—the "LaserSlim" look has aged very well, and the minimal bezels still look futuristic in any room configuration.

The Build Quality and Design Long-Term

One thing I didn't expect to be impressed by after a year is the physical stand. In an era where many TVs use cheap plastic "feet" at the far ends of the screen, Samsung’s central pedestal stand is a lifesaver. It allowed me to keep using my existing, smaller TV stand rather than forcing me to buy a wider one. The build quality of the panel itself is surprisingly rigid for how thin it is, though I will say the screen is a magnet for fingerprints. I noticed that if you touch it even slightly while adjusting the cables, the purple-ish anti-reflective coating makes the oil from your skin stand out like a sore spot. Cleaning it requires a very specific type of microfiber cloth and a lot of patience; otherwise, you just end up smearing the coating around.

Reflections on 2026 Standards

As we look at the televisions coming out today, the S90D feels like it was ahead of its time in some ways and just "staying the course" in others. The NQ4 AI Gen2 processor still does a remarkable job with upscaling. When I watch old 1080p sitcoms, they look shockingly sharp. I’ve compared it to 2026's newer AI upscalers, and while the new models are better at reducing noise in low-bitrate streaming, the S90D isn't far behind. What we’ve really gained in the last two years is mostly peak brightness for rooms with high ambient light and more efficient "AI Generative" picture modes. If you aren't watching TV in a sun-drenched sunroom, those 2026 improvements offer diminishing returns.

In my experience, the S90D represents the era where OLED finally stopped being a "dark room only" technology. It’s bright enough, colorful enough, and durable enough to be the only TV in a busy household. I’ve used it for everything from Sunday afternoon football to late-night horror movies, and it has handled every scenario with a level of competence that makes me forget I’m using "old" tech.

Conclusion

After living with the S90D S90Dd OLED for well over a year, my feelings are overwhelmingly positive, albeit with the expected "Samsung" caveats. The hardware is a masterpiece—the panel is vibrant, the black levels are perfect, and the gaming features are still among the best in the industry in 2026. I am still disappointed by the Tizen OS experience and the lack of Dolby Vision, which feels more like a corporate stubbornness than a technical limitation at this point. However, when the lights go down and I start a movie, none of that matters. The S90D delivers an image that is so convincing and immersive that I don't find myself longing for the 2026 flagships. If you find one at a good price, or if you already own one and are wondering if you should upgrade, my advice is simple: the S90D is still a titan. It has aged gracefully, and it still provides one of the best viewing experiences you can find in a modern home.