OLED TV Showdown 2025: Samsung vs LG vs Sony – Which 4K OLED Reigns Supreme?

• Samsung’s QD-OLED TVs (S90C/S95C) deliver some of the brightest, punchiest colors of any OLED – great for bright rooms and gaming – but notably do not support Dolby Vision HDR whathifi.com wired.com.
• LG’s latest OLEDs (C3/G3 and new G4/G5) match Samsung in brightness thanks to Micro Lens Array (MLA) tech, offer wide format support (Dolby Vision, etc.), and feature class-leading gaming specs on all HDMI 2.1 ports rtings.com trustedreviews.com.
• Sony’s OLEDs (A80L/A95L) are famed for picture accuracy and processing – with the A95L QD-OLED praised for “perfect blacks, punchy colors… and impressive HDR brightness” rtings.com – but they come at a premium price and only two HDMI 2.1 ports for gamers rtings.com rtings.com.
• All these 4K OLED TVs deliver stunning image quality with true blacks and infinite contrast. Samsung & LG have battled fiercely on features, brightness, and price, often offering better value techradar.com techradar.com, while Sony, Panasonic, and Philips differentiate with superior audio (and unique touches like Ambilight on Philips) techradar.com.
• Expert reviews highlight that Samsung’s S95C and LG’s G3 are extremely close in performance – the G3 can hit higher peak HDR brightness, but Samsung’s QD-OLED offers more vibrant color in highlights and 4K 144Hz gaming support rtings.com rtings.com. Sony’s A95L slightly outperforms LG’s G3 in pure picture quality (smoother gradients, color volume) thanks to QD-OLED tech and Sony’s processing rtings.com.
• Looking ahead, OLED TVs are getting even brighter and more advanced in 2025. LG’s new “tandem” OLED panel (G5) pushes well above 2,000 nits peak techradar.com, Samsung’s upcoming S95F refines anti-reflection “OLED Glare-Free” tech for better bright-room viewing techradar.com, and competitors like Sony and Panasonic are finally closing the price gap while supporting every HDR format. Below, we compare all major aspects – panel tech, picture and sound, smart features, gaming, pricing, and more – of Samsung’s OLED 4K TVs versus LG, Sony, Panasonic & Philips. Get the full scoop on today’s OLED leaders and a preview of tomorrow’s models!

Introduction: OLED TV Market in 2025

The battle for OLED TV supremacy has never been more intense. Samsung’s return to OLED in recent years with QD-OLED panels has ignited fierce competition with LG, long the dominant OLED maker techradar.com. Sony, Panasonic, and Philips also offer flagship OLEDs that cater to home theater enthusiasts. In 2025, consumers face a wealth of options: Samsung’s S90C and S95C QD-OLEDs, LG’s OLED Evo line (C3, G3, and newer G4/G5), Sony’s BRAVIA OLEDs (A80L, A95L), plus high-end models from Panasonic (MZ/Z series) and Philips (OLED+ series) in select markets. All promise the prized qualities of OLED – perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and vivid colors – but they differ in execution. Key questions now center on panel technology (QD-OLED vs. WOLED), brightness and color performance, audio quality, gaming capabilities (HDMI 2.1, VRR, etc.), platform features, and even format support (Dolby Vision vs. HDR10+). Meanwhile, OLED technology itself continues to evolve, with breakthroughs like MLA (Micro Lens Array) and new tandem OLED stacks pushing brightness higher each year. Below we dive deep into how Samsung’s latest OLED TVs stack up against their rivals on all these fronts, and what experts and reviews say about each. Whether you’re a cinephile, a gamer, or just seeking the best 4K Smart TV, this report will help you understand the current OLED landscape.

OLED Panel Technologies: QD-OLED vs. WOLED (and MLA)

Modern OLED 4K TVs use two main panel types:

• White OLED (WOLED) with color filters – pioneered by LG Display – found in LG’s OLED TVs (C3, G3, etc.) and many models by Sony, Panasonic, Philips. These panels produce white light from OLED compounds and use filters (or a color-changing layer) to emit RGB colors. LG’s latest “OLED Evo” panels, like in the G3, introduced Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology (branded “META Technology”) to boost brightness and efficiency. Thousands of microscopic lenses help extract more light, enabling the LG G3 to be “one of the brightest OLED TVs to hit the market” tomsguide.com. In fact, LG’s G3 (2023) and G4/G5 (2024–25) can approach or exceed 1,500–2,000 nits peak brightness in HDR highlights, a huge jump over prior OLEDs whathifi.com techradar.com. MLA, combined with improved algorithms (like LG’s “META Booster”), gives WOLEDs richer colors and better performance in bright scenes than earlier generations trustedreviews.com trustedreviews.com. LG’s upcoming 2025 G5 even uses a new 4-layer “RGB tandem” OLED panel (two blue emitting layers plus red/green) for greater brightness and color efficiency – reviewers measured over 2,200 nits peak, an unprecedented level for OLED techradar.com.
• Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED) – developed by Samsung Display – used in Samsung’s S90C, S95C and Sony’s A95L. QD-OLED panels emit blue OLED light which then hits quantum dot layers to produce red and green, eliminating the color filter and white subpixel of WOLED. The result is spectacular color volume and purity, especially in bright highlights. QD-OLED can display more saturated colors at high luminance where WOLEDs with a white subpixel would otherwise wash out. In practice, this means QD-OLED TVs like the Samsung S95C can output “much brighter colors” and appear more vibrant or “punchier” than even MLA WOLEDs rtings.com rtings.com. Brightness-wise, QD-OLEDs have also been pushing higher: Samsung’s 2nd-gen panel in the S95C is about 30% brighter than the 2022 model, capable of ~1,300 nits in accurate modes and 2,000+ nits in Vivid mode whathifi.com. Sony’s A95L (which uses Samsung’s panel) was measured around 1,400 nits peak (10% window) rtings.com. While WOLED with MLA caught up in overall peak brightness, QD-OLED still excels at color brightness – as one expert noted, the Sony A95L delivers “better color volume, as colors are brighter and more vibrant” than the LG G3 MLA OLED rtings.com rtings.com.

In summary, Samsung’s QD-OLED vs. LG’s WOLED+MLA is the new OLED tech showdown. Both achieve incredible contrast and wide viewing angles inherent to OLED. QD-OLED holds an edge in color vibrancy (especially in HDR highlights and wide color gamut coverage), while LG’s MLA-based WOLED can slightly outperform in full-screen brightness and has no risk of the slight color tinting that QD-OLED’s anti-reflective coating can introduce at off angles. Importantly, both technologies have largely overcome the old OLED weakness of low brightness. “For the longest time, I told folks to avoid OLED in bright rooms… But this is the first time I can firmly say it’s not a problem anymore,” writes WIRED about the Samsung S95C, noting it stays bright and stunning even in a sunlit room, while still delivering perfect blacks in the dark wired.com. In other words, top OLED TVs in 2025 can confidently replace LED/LCDs even in daytime living rooms – a feat that was tricky just a few years ago.

Samsung OLED Models (S90C & S95C): QD-OLED’s Bright Sparks

Samsung currently offers two 4K OLED TV lines internationally: the S90C and the flagship S95C (both 2023 models, continuing into 2024). Both use Samsung’s QD-OLED panels and share many picture characteristics, but there are a couple of key differences:

• Design & Build: The S95C is an ultra-slim design intended for flush wall-mounting. It externalizes all connectors into Samsung’s One Connect Box, so the TV itself is razor-thin and uniform in depth rtings.com rtings.com. This premium design, reminiscent of LG’s “Gallery” series, makes the S95C look stunning on a wall (no bulges for electronics) and also allows a beefier speaker system. The S90C, in contrast, has a more traditional build (a slight enclosure in the back for ports/components, as last year’s S95B did). Many buyers actually appreciate the S90C’s simplicity – no external box to manage – but for the cleanest wall install, S95C has the edge. Experts note the S95C’s approach results in “a sleeker, more uniform design” and less cable clutter on the wall rtings.com.
• Brightness & Panel Implementation: The S95C is tuned to drive the QD-OLED panel harder, achieving higher peak brightness than the S90C. Measurements and reviews indicate the S95C can be ~20–30% brighter – for example, in HDR highlights, the S95C might hit around 1,500–1,800 nits vs. S90C’s ~1,200–1,300 nits, depending on picture mode trustedreviews.com. In practice, this difference is subtle except for the brightest scenes. Rtings found “the S95C gets much brighter than the S90C, although this won’t be very noticeable… except in a few super bright scenes.” rtings.com rtings.com Outside of peak highlights, both perform similarly with the same excellent contrast and color. Essentially, S95C squeezes the absolute max out of the panel, while S90C offers 90% of that at a lower price point.
• Audio: The S95C features a 70W 4.2.2-channel speaker system built into its thin frame, versus the S90C’s simpler audio (which is still multi-channel, but less powerful). The S95C’s extra thin chassis actually benefits speaker placement – Samsung could position drivers for up-firing and side-firing Dolby Atmos effects more optimally whathifi.com. While no TV’s built-in sound can rival a proper soundbar or home theater, the S95C’s audio is surprisingly robust for casual use. The S90C’s sound is decent (some reports say its thicker body even gives it slightly better bass), but the S95C is rated to deliver a broader soundstage. All Samsung OLEDs also support Object Tracking Sound+, which attempts to position audio “on-screen,” and Q-Symphony to synchronize with Samsung soundbars.

Picture Performance: Both Samsung models offer the signature QD-OLED picture: perfect blacks, very high brightness for OLED, and intensely rich colors. They cover essentially the entire DCI-P3 color gamut (and a large portion of Rec.2020) and maintain color saturation even in small bright highlights. This leads to HDR images that “pop” with vibrant hues and specular highlights that rival LED LCD TVs. As noted in one head-to-head review, Samsung’s QD-OLEDs have an extra gear in color brightness – their “extra luminance makes specular highlights pop more,” especially compared to traditional OLEDs rtings.com. Both S90C and S95C excel in dark-room home theater as well: pixel-level contrast yields inky blacks with no blooming. Shadow detail is also well-preserved, though out-of-the-box Samsung tends to crush near-blacks a bit (can be tuned via calibration). One limitation: Samsung TVs still do not support Dolby Vision HDR, only the base HDR10 and Samsung’s HDR10+ format. The S95C’s lack of Dolby Vision has been a point of contention, with reviewers calling Samsung “needlessly stubborn” for refusing DV given its widespread use whathifi.com. Samsung maintains that their HDR10/10+ processing is sufficient, and indeed one reviewer noted they “never noticed the lack of Dolby Vision as a problem” during real-world viewing on the S95C wired.com. Still, the omission means Samsung OLEDs won’t display Dolby Vision metadata on Netflix, Disney+, Ultra HD Blu-rays, etc., using HDR10 instead.

It’s worth noting Samsung’s anti-reflective screen on these QD-OLEDs. The S95C introduced an improved “OLED Glare Free” coating (also on 77″ S90C) that is remarkably effective at cutting reflections whathifi.com whathifi.com. In bright rooms, this matte-like coating diffuses reflections to mere hazes – a big advantage for daytime TV viewing. A TechRadar comparison found “the S95C’s screen eliminates mirror-like reflections” far better than LG’s glossy OLED screens techradar.com techradar.com. The trade-off with this coating can be a mild pinkish tint when the screen is off and a slight magenta cast to blacks if viewed from extreme angles (common to Samsung’s QD-OLEDs), but head-on it greatly reduces glare. The S90C 55″/65″ use a semi-gloss screen (not the new coating), so they behave more like a typical OLED with clearer but more reflective surface. Overall, Samsung’s focus is giving OLED more living-room versatility: brighter picture + anti-reflection means even with lights on, an S95C still looks “fantastic” wired.com.

Gaming: Samsung has made gaming features a priority. Both S90C and S95C support 4K @ 120Hz and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), including AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility. Uniquely, Samsung enables up to 4K @ 144Hz on these TVs (when connected to a capable PC) rtings.com. This slightly exceeds the usual 120Hz cap and gives competitive PC gamers an edge in motion clarity. Input lag on the Samsungs is extremely low (~5ms at 120Hz, ~10ms at 60Hz). All four HDMI ports are full HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps) on both models whathifi.com whathifi.com, so you can connect multiple high-bandwidth devices (e.g. PS5, Xbox Series X, high-end PC) without issue – a contrast to Sony’s two 2.1 ports. Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) is supported to automatically engage Game Mode. Additionally, Samsung’s Game Bar interface allows quick access to settings like framerate, HDR, and aspect ratio adjustments (Samsung even supports ultrawide 21:9 / 32:9 aspect gaming on these OLEDs). HDR gaming is excellent thanks to the high peak brightness – highlights in games really stand out. One caveat: Samsung doesn’t do Dolby Vision gaming (Xbox will fallback to HDR10 on these TVs), but it does support HDR10+ gaming for the few titles that use it. By all accounts, an S90C/S95C is top-tier for gaming, with Rtings declaring “the S95C’s official 4K @ 144Hz support” gives it an edge over LG’s 120Hz limit rtings.com.

Smart TV Platform: Samsung uses its custom Tizen OS. It offers a huge selection of apps (all major streaming services, Samsung TV Plus channels, etc.) and an increasingly personalized UI. The 2023 update moved to a full home screen dashboard. While feature-rich, some reviewers find Samsung’s interface a bit laggy or cumbersome. WIRED, for instance, said the Smart TV system is “far from my favorite… inexplicably hard to find apps” and even “extremely laggy… at times” on the S95C wired.com. Samsung has been refining it, and the S95C’s newer chipset shows improvement over last year, but it’s still not as snappy as LG’s or as simple as Roku/Apple TV. Many users pair a streaming box for smoother navigation wired.com. On the plus side, Samsung’s platform is stable and supports things like AirPlay 2, voice assistants (Bixby, Alexa, Google Assistant), and Multi View (split-screen with two sources). The remote is Samsung’s SolarCell remote, a slim wand that charges via indoor light – no batteries needed wired.com. It’s eco-friendly, though so thin it’s easy to lose in couch cushions!

Bottom line on Samsung OLEDs: The S90C provides high-end QD-OLED performance at a slightly lower cost, while the S95C adds a premium design, One Connect box, and pushes the panel to its limits. Experts conclude that differences are relatively minor: “The S95C is a bit better than the S90C for basically two reasons: sleeker design and higher brightness” rtings.com. In all other respects – contrast, color, gaming prowess – they’re extremely close. Both Samsungs deliver a wow-worthy image with the kind of bright, vivid OLED picture that was “a window to the future” when QD-OLED first debuted wired.com. If you value Dolby Vision, you might lean LG or Sony, but otherwise Samsung’s OLEDs are formidable rivals now, often undercutting others on price for similar or better specs.

(Notably, Samsung has even released an 83-inch S90C – marking Samsung’s first use of an LG WOLED panel – to offer a larger size. That specific variant forgoes QD-OLED tech for LG’s panel, yet Samsung still markets it under S90C) rtings.com rtings.com.

LG OLED Models (C3, G3 and Beyond): OLED Evo with Maximum Versatility

LG is the established leader in OLED TVs, supplying panels to most other brands and continually innovating its own consumer lineup. In 2023 LG’s key models were the C3 (the all-rounder) and G3 (the “Gallery” series flagship). By late 2024, these were succeeded by the C4 and G4, and now the just-introduced C5/G5 for 2025 – but since naming varies by region, we’ll focus on the C3/G3 as representative, noting new improvements where relevant.

LG OLED G3 (2023 “Gallery” Series): This TV drew widespread acclaim as LG’s brightest OLED ever and a true competitor to QD-OLED. It incorporates MLA (Micro Lens Array) technology in its panel (for 55″, 65″, 77″ sizes) along with a substantial heatsink, enabling significantly higher brightness. LG claimed up to ~1,600 nits, and indeed reviewers confirmed the G3 can exceed 1,200–1,300 nits in calibrated modes, and ~1,800 nits in Vivid HDR mode on a 10% window whathifi.com. Rtings measured the G3 as the brightest OLED of the two in a head-to-head with Samsung’s S95C, noting it “can reach a higher peak brightness… and performs better in very bright SDR scenes” rtings.com. This brightness boost narrowed the gap with LED TVs and made HDR “truly come alive” on the G3. Beyond brightness, the G3 is a showcase of LG’s OLED refinements: it produces superbly accurate colors (especially in Filmmaker or calibrated modes) and very good tone mapping. Importantly, despite earlier concerns, the G3 does not exhibit the color desaturation in highlights that older WOLEDs did – LG’s use of MLA and new “META” algorithms keep highlight details “lovely and rich, even in its brightest areas,” with no washed-out look whathifi.com. This addresses the old WOLED vs QD-OLED criticism; as What Hi-Fi noted, the G3’s highlights remain vividly colored whathifi.com.

The LG G3’s design is ultra-thin and made to mount flush on a wall (it comes with a wall bracket in the box; a tabletop stand is optional extra) trustedreviews.com trustedreviews.com. It mimics a framed picture on the wall – hence “Gallery” series. In contrast to Samsung, LG places the inputs on the TV (no external box), but when wall-mounted, the G3 sits nearly flat (the ports recess into a cavity). The build quality is excellent, though if you plan to put it on furniture, remember to purchase the stand separately. Sizes for G3 range from 55″ up to 83″ (note: the 83″ uses an older panel without MLA, so it’s not as bright as the smaller sizes). For 2024, the G4 and now G5 continue in this vein, with the G5 getting the brand-new “four-stack” panel as mentioned, pushing brightness and efficiency even further techradar.com. The G5 also adds an advanced anti-reflection treatment to cut glare (addressing one complaint: older LG OLEDs have a glossy screen that can reflect room lights distinctly). TechRadar reports the G5 uses a new polarizer that’s “very effective” head-on, though at an angle reflections can still appear brighter techradar.com. The trend is clear: LG is working to eliminate any disadvantage versus Samsung in bright-room performance while leveraging its panel tech for peak HDR impact.

LG OLED C3 (2023) and C-Series: The C3 was LG’s “mainstream premium” model – slightly below the G3 in hierarchy, but hugely popular due to its price-to-performance. It uses a very similar WOLED panel (sans MLA) with “OLED Evo” enhancements, reaching around 800 nits fullscreen / 1,000+ nits peaks in HDR. The C3 didn’t get MLA, so it’s not as intensely bright as G3, but still improved marginally over 2022’s C2. In side-by-sides, the G3’s extra luminance is evident in specular highlights and in overcoming ambient light. Many buyers on a budget went for C2/C3 since they deliver 90% of the image quality of G2/G3 at a lower cost. By 2024, LG’s C4 reportedly integrated some of LG’s new tech to close the gap (and the C5 (2025) is said to be noticeably brighter than C4, possibly indicating trickle-down of MLA or tandem tech) youtube.com. The C-series also offers more size options – including 42″ and 48″ for those needing a small OLED (often used as gaming monitors). These smaller sizes lack some brightness due to pixel pitch constraints, but they’re unique to LG (Samsung and Sony don’t make OLEDs under 55″).

Picture Quality & Processing: LG’s OLEDs are renowned for their excellent picture accuracy and cinematic image. In Filmmaker Mode or ISF modes, they adhere closely to standards. HDR content on the G3/C3 looks spectacular, with the inky blacks and per-pixel contrast expected of OLED. The LG G3 earned praise for its “stunning picture” with higher contrast from the brighter highlights techradar.com. Motion handling is strong (near-instant pixel response yields almost no motion blur, though this can introduce mild stutter in slow panning shots – common to all OLEDs). LG provides user controls like OLED Motion Pro (BFI) to insert black frames for motion clarity, and TruMotion for interpolation if desired. Upscaling on LG’s α9 AI Processor is very good, though some say Sony’s upscaling is a touch better in preserving fine gradients rtings.com. For most, LG’s processing is top-tier; few artifacts and effective noise reduction for streaming content. Color-wise, LG’s default “AI Picture Pro” mode can be a bit vivid, but in calibrated modes the colors are lifelike and neutral. With HDR, LG supports Dolby Vision (including Dolby Vision IQ) on C3/G3, which optimizes HDR tone-mapping scene by scene (and can adapt to room lighting with a sensor). They do not support HDR10+ (which is Samsung’s equivalent dynamic HDR), but honestly HDR10+ content is far rarer than Dolby Vision, so this is not a big loss. In gaming, LG even introduced Dolby Vision Gaming up to 120Hz on supported platforms – something the G3 and even C3 can do with an Xbox Series X trustedreviews.com. This makes LG the most format-inclusive for gamers (although DV in gaming currently maxes at 4K 60 on Xbox for most titles and 120Hz in a handful of cases). Standard HDR10 gaming is of course supported too.

One area LG historically lagged was handling of lower-quality video (e.g. cable TV); older LGs could exhibit some posterization. The G3’s generation improved smooth gradation, but in side-by-sides Sony’s processing produced “smoother gradients in HDR and better upscaling,” giving Sony a slight edge for non-4K content rtings.com. That said, LG has closed the gap considerably with its AI-powered upscaler in recent α9 processors – most viewers will find little difference unless scrutinizing test patterns or very challenging content.

Gaming Features:LG’s OLEDs are widely considered the gold standard for gaming TVs. They pioneered many features – the LG C9 (2019) was first with full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 on all ports, and that tradition continues. The C3/G3 have four HDMI 2.1 ports (48 Gbps) just like Samsung whathifi.com, meaning you can connect multiple next-gen consoles and a gaming PC without limitations. They support 4K 120Hz, VRR (both standard HDMI-VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium, as well as G-Sync Compatible), and ALLM. Input lag is extremely low (~9.5ms at 60Hz, ~5ms at 120Hz). LG also offers a Game Optimizer dashboard to quickly adjust settings (including genre-specific modes, black stabilizer, and an FPS counter). A unique advantage: as mentioned, LG supports Dolby Vision gaming (up to 4K 120Hz on newer models) trustedreviews.com, which no other brand currently does – if Dolby Vision HDR games become more common, this could matter. At present, the actual difference DV makes in gaming is subtle, but it’s a “why not have it” feature. In comparisons, LG’s gaming performance is basically unbeaten – “unbeaten gaming performance and features” as TechRadar’s verdict on the G3 put it techradar.com techradar.com. Rtings similarly often ranks LG OLEDs as the best gaming TVs due to their combination of low lag, VRR, and no risk of blooming or response time issues.

One small differentiator: LG’s latest models support 4K 120Hz with Dolby Vision and VRR simultaneously (on Xbox), which was a recent firmware addition – a niche but noteworthy point for the hardcore gamer. Also, LG TVs have HGiG mode for more accurate HDR game tone-mapping. The only gaming feature LG lacks compared to Samsung is the ability to run higher than 120Hz; LG caps at 120 (except the G5 which now can do 4K 165Hz on paper, per TechRadar) techradar.com. But 120Hz is enough for consoles and most PC use.

Smart TV Platform: LG’s webOS is considered one of the better smart TV systems. The latest version (webOS 23/24) features a full home screen with content recommendations and an app bar. It’s generally snappy and user-friendly, with a “pointer” style Magic Remote that lets you point and click at menu items (or use the scroll wheel). All major streaming apps are available, as well as an apps store for others. WebOS also integrates ThinQ AI for IoT device control, has Google Assistant and Alexa built-in, and supports Apple AirPlay 2/HomeKit. While webOS has grown more complex over the years (and includes some sponsored content in the UI, which some find annoying), it remains intuitive. Switching inputs or changing settings is quick – LG’s on-screen menus are well-laid-out and not as laggy as some competitors’. TechRadar in 2024 continued to praise LG’s OLEDs for being “extremely well-equipped for features, from a great smart TV system to the most comprehensive gaming features” techradar.com. That sums up LG’s philosophy: pack everything in. For example, LG TVs support DTS audio passthrough (the G3 even re-introduced DTS decoding which earlier LGs lacked), they support Bluetooth headphone output, and even have apps for GeForce Now game streaming, etc. This breadth of features makes LG a very safe choice – you won’t miss out on any major format or function (aside from HDR10+, which few will lament).

Audio: The LG G3 includes a 4.2 channel, 60W sound system with support for Dolby Atmos decoding trustedreviews.com. It’s an improvement over the C3’s simpler 3.1.2 setup (C3 has 40W 2.2 ch). The G3 uses psychoacoustic processing to simulate a “virtual 9.1.2” experience from those drivers trustedreviews.com. It’s decent, with clear dialogue and some sense of height, but it “doesn’t match the picture” quality, as TechRadar noted in cons techradar.com. The consensus is that while LG improved TV sound, anyone buying a high-end OLED should consider at least a mid-range soundbar for true cinematic audio. Still, LG offers features like WOW Orchestra (if paired with an LG soundbar, the TV’s speakers join in for fuller sound) and Bluetooth surround ready (to use Bluetooth speakers as rears). On the G3, bass is limited (no built-in subwoofer module like some Panasonic/Philips have), but treble and mids are fine for everyday viewing. In Europe, LG’s partnership with audio brand Meridian provides some audio tuning as well. Ultimately, LG’s focus has been on picture and features; audio is serviceable but not exceptional on C3/G3.

Summing up LG: LG’s OLEDs are often considered the all-around choice. They support the widest array of HDR formats and gaming features, have a polished user experience, and image quality that is among the best. A comparison by Rtings between the LG G3 and Sony A95L concluded that while the Sony had a slight performance edge in processing and color, “the LG is a bit more versatile, especially for gamers, as it has four HDMI 2.1 ports, whereas the Sony only has two.” rtings.com rtings.com This highlights LG’s strategy: cater to power users who plug in multiple devices and want every feature. The LG G3 in particular proved that the WOLED tech still has legs – “the G3 takes things up a notch… creating a stunning picture” and “proves there’s still life in traditional OLED tech yet,” as TechRadar put it techradar.com. If you want Dolby Vision HDR (which Samsung lacks), or a smaller size OLED, or simply a well-balanced TV, LG is a top contender. And with the 2025 G5’s breakthrough brightness and the wireless M3/M5 models (which put a Zero Connect box to transmit video wirelessly to the screen), LG is pushing innovation on multiple fronts. LG also tends to price aggressively, especially on the C-series which often undercuts Sony. Add to that LG’s strong reputation (they’ve been making OLED TVs for a decade now) and generally good panel reliability with new anti-burn-in measures, and it’s easy to see why last year’s LG C-series is often called “the best TV buy” for value techradar.com techradar.com.

Sony OLED Models (BRAVIA A80L & A95L): Masterful Processing, Premium Experience

Sony’s approach to OLED TVs emphasizes picture processing finesse and acoustic excellence. In 2023, Sony offered two notable 4K OLED models: the BRAVIA XR A80L and the flagship BRAVIA XR A95L.

• Sony A95L (2023): This is Sony’s top 4K OLED, and importantly, it’s Sony’s first QD-OLED TV with the new panel (the A95K in 2022 was the first-gen QD-OLED). Available in 55″, 65″, 77″, the A95L is directly comparable to Samsung’s S95C, as it uses a Samsung QD-OLED panel but pairs it with Sony’s own Cognitive Processor XR and picture tuning. The result, as many reviews claim, is one of the best pictures ever seen on a TV. Rtings gave the A95L an outstanding 9.2 rating in picture quality categories rtings.com and noted “you get perfect blacks, punchy colors, incredible accuracy, and impressive HDR brightness” on this set rtings.com rtings.com. Sony specifically pushes its strengths: the Cognitive Processor XR does complex mapping of the image, supposedly focusing on the area the “eye” would find most important and ensuring detail there. It also handles color and gradation with finesse – for example, Sony TVs are known for very smooth color gradients (less banding) and excellent upscaling of sub-4K content. Indeed, in direct comparisons, the Sony A95L was cited for “much better image processing, resulting in smoother gradients in HDR and better upscaling” than LG’s brightest OLED rtings.com rtings.com. This means things like sunsets or misty skies in HDR will have fewer visible steps on the Sony. The A95L, thanks to QD-OLED, also has fantastic color volume – Rtings said its colors are “vibrant, lifelike, bright, and accurate” out of the box rtings.com rtings.com. Peak brightness is in the ~1400 nit range (with small highlights), so not quite higher than Samsung S95C, but close. One trade-off observed: Sony, unlike Samsung, does not push the panel as hard in full-field brightness, and it engages an automatic brightness limiter more conservatively to protect panel lifespan. In practice, the A95L’s HDR is extremely impactful, but in sustained bright scenes, Samsung might look a touch brighter (at the expense of more aggressive ABL in some modes). The A95L’s design is fairly sleek – it has thin bezels and comes with a low-profile stand that can be set in three positions (including a soundbar clearance mode). It’s a bit thicker than LG G3 or Samsung S95C because Sony houses all electronics in the panel (no external box). But importantly, Sony continues its Acoustic Surface Audio+ system on the A95L: the OLED screen itself acts as a speaker. Actuators vibrate the glass to produce sound (left, right and center channels), supplemented by two subwoofer units in the TV’s back for bass. This gives a very unique and direct sound – dialog literally comes from the characters on-screen. Sony further allows the TV to serve as the center channel in a surround setup (using the “S-Center Speaker” input) rtings.com. For built-ins, the A95L likely has the best sound among these brands (though Panasonic and Philips have strong audio too). Many reviews praise Sony’s acoustic trickery: while it’s not going to rival a high-end external system in bass, the clarity and positioning are excellent. Gaming on A95L: Sony finally stepped up its game mode in A95L. Input lag is improved (~9ms), VRR is supported, and it even supports Dolby Vision gaming (limited to 4K 60Hz on Xbox). The A95L also introduced a new Game Menu UI and features like Black Equalizer and crosshair overlays, showing Sony’s recognition of gamer needs (features they lacked in previous models). However, Sony still provides only two HDMI 2.1 ports (48 Gbps) – typically HDMI 3 and 4. The other two ports are HDMI 2.0 rtings.com rtings.com. And if you use a soundbar/receiver with eARC, that occupies one of those 2.1 ports (HDMI 3 is eARC, which passes through audio) rtings.com rtings.com. So effectively, an A95L can only have one other 4K120 source plugged in alongside eARC, unless your AVR supports HDMI 2.1 switching. This is a limitation for multi-device gamers – a clear disadvantage versus Samsung/LG’s four 2.1 ports. Additionally, the A95L is capped at 4K 120Hz max (no 144Hz or higher PC mode like Samsung). It also currently doesn’t support 1440p @ 120 (minor issue). In competitive terms, Rtings found the Samsung S95C a better pure gaming option due to its extra ports and higher refresh support, whereas the Sony appeals more to cinephiles rtings.com rtings.com. As they put it: “Competitive gamers and dark-room HDR fans will appreciate Samsung’s speed and brightness; film buffs who rely on Dolby Vision – or who want Sony’s image processing – may find the Sony A95L worth the premium.” rtings.com rtings.com This neatly encapsulates the A95L: it’s arguably the TV for picture purists who want stunning, reference-quality image (and who often watch a lot of Dolby Vision content), and are willing to pay extra for it.
• Sony A80L (2023): This model uses a traditional WOLED panel (from LG Display), not QD-OLED, and is the successor to the A80K/A80J series. It comes in 55″, 65″, 77″, and even 83″ – so it’s Sony’s option for those needing an 83″ OLED (since the A95L tops at 77″). The A80L lacks the MLA tech that LG’s G3 has, so its brightness is more modest – roughly on par with an LG C3 or C2. It might hit ~700 nits peak in HDR, and ~150 nits full-field. In side-by-side, it’s visibly dimmer than an LG G3 or Samsung S90C in HDR highlights avforums.com. Thus, the A80L is more of a “value OLED” in Sony’s lineup, positioned against LG C3 or Samsung S90C. And indeed, its pricing was similar to those. Where A80L shines is, again, Sony’s processing and picture tuning. Upscaling, motion, and especially tone mapping of HDR in Dolby Vision are excellent. But given its panel’s limits, it can’t deliver the same HDR punch or color volume as the QD-OLED or MLA-equipped sets. An AVForums user succinctly said “I don’t think the Sony A80L is as good as the others, it doesn’t get very bright”, recommending if brightness is needed, go for LG G3 or Samsung S95C rtings.com. The A80L does feature the Acoustic Surface Audio system as well (though a slightly lower-specced version) and Sony’s Google TV platform with the XR processor. Many of the A95L’s qualities – like superb calibration out-of-box and great handling of Blu-ray and streaming movies – carry over, just with a lower brightness ceiling. For gamers, the A80L has the same two 2.1 port limitation and no 4K/120 Dolby Vision (Sony doesn’t do DV at 120 on any set). It’s still a fine gaming TV (supporting 4K120, VRR, ALLM), but the Samsung S90C or LG C3 outclasses it in gaming responsiveness and features. Rtings compared Samsung S90C vs Sony A80L and concluded “the Samsung is better – it’s brighter, handles glare better, highlights in HDR stand out more, has a wider color gamut and better color volume, and is the better option for gamers (lower input lag, 4K 144Hz)” rtings.com rtings.com. The A80L would appeal more to those who prioritize film/TV accuracy and maybe like the idea of Sony’s acoustic screen sound.

Smart TV (Google TV) and Other Features: Both A95L and A80L run on Google TV (Android 11) platform. This means a very rich app ecosystem (essentially every streaming app available via Play Store), built-in Chromecast, and tight integration with Google Assistant (hands-free voice commands are enabled on the A95L via an internal mic) rtings.com. The interface is content-centric, which some love and others find a bit heavy. It’s generally smooth on these models since Sony upgraded the SoC in A95L (MediaTek Pentonic 1000) and presumably a similar chip in A80L. The new chipset also enabled better HDMI 2.1 support (the previous generation had some limitations, which is why only 2 ports). Google TV provides personalized recommendations and watchlists across services. It’s quite convenient if you are in the Google ecosystem. On the flip side, it can feel bloated; some UK reviewers noted issues like certain local catch-up apps missing at launch (for Philips, but Sony seems to have them). Overall, Google TV is powerful and flexible, just not as minimalist as LG or as fast as Roku/FireTV.

Sony supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG but not HDR10+ on these sets. For audio, they support Dolby Atmos and also DTS passthrough (Sony even supports IMAX Enhanced content with DTS tracks, something LG historically didn’t, though LG G3 added basic DTS support back) rtings.com. Sony’s TVs often excel in motion processing – with technologies like XR Motion and Cinemotion for judder-free playback of 24p films. If you love the “Sony look” – which many describe as a very natural yet dynamic image – the A80L and A95L deliver in spades. As one comparison summed up: the Sony A95L is “slightly better” overall than LG’s G3 in pure picture, owing to processing and vibrant QD-OLED colors, but it’s more expensive and less gamer-friendly smarthomesounds.co.uk whathifi.com. It’s truly a connoisseur’s TV.

Pricing: Sony historically charges a premium. The A95L launched around $2,800 (55″) to $4,500 (77″). The A80L launched near $2,300 (65″). Street prices did fall, but generally Sony is the priciest of the big three for OLED. That extra cost goes into the advanced video processing and audio hardware (and arguably, brand cachet). By 2025, however, Sony appears to be adjusting pricing to be more competitive techradar.com. For instance, their new “Bravia 8 II” QD-OLED (the presumed A95L successor) launched at similar prices to LG and Samsung’s flagships techradar.com techradar.com, a shift from earlier times when Sony might be far higher. This means consumers might not have to pay quite as large a “Sony tax” going forward.

In summary, Sony’s OLEDs are about refinement. They may not boast the absolute highest specs on paper (no MLA on A80L, limited HDMI ports, slightly lower peak nits than Samsung), but the combination of Sony’s picture tuning, QD-OLED’s inherent strengths (on A95L), and unique Acoustic Surface audio make them a favorite for home theater enthusiasts. If you want the “filmmaker’s intent” right out of the box, Sony is hard to beat – their color accuracy and motion are routinely top-notch rtings.com rtings.com. And with A95L, they proved they can take Samsung’s QD-OLED panel and arguably get the most out of it in a balanced way: many call the A95L the best TV of 2023 in overall image quality. Just be ready to invest a bit more, and perhaps limit your gaming devices or get an HDMI 2.1 AVR to work around the port limitations.

Other Brands: Panasonic & Philips (and More)

Aside from the big three, Panasonic and Philips deserve mention as they produce competitive OLED TVs, mainly for Europe and other regions (Panasonic exited the U.S. consumer TV market years ago). These brands often use LG’s WOLED panels (including the latest MLA versions) but differentiate with their own processing and features.

Panasonic: Long revered among videophiles, Panasonic’s OLEDs are known for reference-quality color and superb engineering. Their flagship 2023 model, the Panasonic MZ2000, used a customized MLA OLED panel (LG WBE panel with MLA) plus Panasonic’s “Multi-Layer Heat Management” solution – essentially an advanced heatsink that allows the panel to sustain higher brightness longer trustedreviews.com trustedreviews.com. Panasonic dubbed this combo the “Master OLED Ultimate” panel. In practical terms, the 65″ MZ2000 could hit around 1500–1600 nits peak (some measured even higher in Vivid) and sustain brightness well, on par with LG G3. It was arguably the brightest OLED of 2023 in calibrated modes, slightly above the G3 in some tests youtube.com. Reviewers also note Panasonic’s color tuning is exceedingly natural – they leverage their Hollywood post-production partnerships to factory-calibrate their TVs to near perfection. What Hi-Fi, in a head-to-head, found the MZ2000’s picture “felt more natural and authentic” compared to the LG G3, though both were excellent whathifi.com. Panasonic sets support the full suite of HDR formats: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG – basically everything trustedreviews.com. They are one of the few that do both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ (the two rival dynamic HDR formats), ensuring maximum compatibility.

Panasonic’s HCX Pro AI processor might not carry the brand recognition of Sony’s XR, but it is very proficient. Upscaling and motion are top-tier (Panasonic often wins shootouts for best motion handling). They also introduced features like Filmmaker Mode with Intelligent Sensing (like Dolby Vision IQ but for all content, adjusting the image for ambient light while preserving accuracy).

Audio on Panasonic flagships is another standout: The MZ2000 (and previous 2000-series) has a built-in 360° Soundscape Pro audio system tuned by Technics, with up-firing and side-firing speakers integrated into the TV’s back trustedreviews.com trustedreviews.com. The MZ2000 packs ~160W of power in a 3.1.2 configuration, essentially a soundbar built into the TV. This yields significantly better sound than slim OLEDs like LG G3 – including actual overhead Atmos effects and solid bass for a TV. “It’s got sound quality miles ahead of the LG C3 or G3,” notes one T3 review t3.com. The downside is the TV is heavier and deeper (and not as flush for wall-mount).

In terms of smart OS, Panasonic uses its own My Home Screen platform (derived from Firefox OS). It’s simpler and more minimalist than Tizen/webOS/Google – some appreciate its snappy, ad-free interface, though app selection can be slightly limited (all big apps are there, but fewer niche apps).

Panasonic targets the high-end viewer who values picture fidelity. For example, they include features like Netflix Calibrated Mode and have extremely fine-grained calibration controls (and were among the first to add Calibration Pattern Generation via CalMAN). Their TVs often end up being used as client reference monitors in studios. The brand’s only weakness has been gaming features: while Panasonic did add VRR, ALLM, etc., some models only allowed Dolby Vision gaming up to 60Hz (not 120) trustedreviews.com, and historically they had higher input lag than LG/Samsung (though recent models improved to ~10-14ms). Also, Panasonic until recently only had two HDMI 2.1 ports (like Sony) which could be limiting. The 2024 flagship Panasonic MZ (or now Z) series – e.g., TX-65Z2000 (or Z1500, Z1000 variants) – likely continued that port setup. However, given Panasonic’s market focus, these things are minor for their audience.

Philips: Philips (TP Vision, Europe) has carved a niche by combining LG’s OLED panels with their own P5 AI processor and the unique Ambilight technology. Ambilight is a system of LED bias lighting on the TV’s rear that projects colors onto the wall matching the on-screen content. It creates a halo effect that many find enhances immersion (especially for movies and gaming in a dark room). The 2023 Philips OLED+908 is their flagship, featuring the same LG MLA “META” panel as the G3/MZ2000, and a 3.1-channel Bowers & Wilkins sound system integrated. The OLED+908 was praised for its aggressive pricing (under-cutting LG/Panasonic in some regions) and excellent picture quality – “sublime picture, great built-in audio” per TechRadar techradar.com. It hits around 1000+ nits calibrated (Philips tends to not drive as hard as LG G3; the review measured ~1400 nits on a 5% window with Vivid settings) homecinemachoice.com homecinemachoice.com. Color accuracy and video processing on Philips P5 are very good, though perhaps a notch below Sony/Panasonic in purist terms. Philips often leans towards a sharp, vibrant default picture (which many consumers like). They do offer Filmmaker Mode for accuracy, and support all HDR formats (Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG).

Philips’ strength is combining many features: Ambilight (in various modes, including a cool gaming mode that reduces input lag of Ambilight reaction), DTS Play-Fi support for wireless surround, and high-quality sound by B&W. The OLED+908’s Bowers & Wilkins system is an 80W 3.1-channel setup with a built-in subwoofer and tweeter/midrange pairs for LCR channels homecinemachoice.com homecinemachoice.com. This yields clearer dialogue and better bass than most TVs, though Panasonic’s top model still has more channels.

Philips TVs in 2023 transitioned from Android TV to Google TV OS, similar to Sony. This change brought a more modern UI but had growing pains – notably, in the UK the initial firmware lacked Freeview Play (meaning catch-up apps like BBC iPlayer were unavailable until an update) homecinemachoice.com homecinemachoice.com. That aside, Google TV provides Philips users with plenty of app choices and features like Google Assistant.

One catch: like Sony (and Panasonic), Philips only provides 2 HDMI 2.1 ports on their high-end sets homecinemachoice.com. For example, on OLED+908, out of 4 HDMI, only 2 are 4K120-capable (one being eARC) homecinemachoice.com. So that familiar limitation exists. Otherwise, Philips does cater to gamers decently: VRR (HDMI VRR, G-Sync, FreeSync) is supported, as is ALLM. Input lag is competitive (~10ms). They even include a Dolby Vision Game mode (at 60Hz) and support Nvidia G-Sync on some models. One interesting tidbit: Philips publicly stated they chose MLA OLED over QD-OLED because they believe MLA OLED offers better all-round performance (brightness with fewer downsides) flatpanelshd.com. They’ve so far not released a QD-OLED TV, sticking with LG panels possibly for that reason and for the flexibility of sizes (their OLEDs go up to 77″).

Brand reputation and market: Panasonic and Philips OLEDs often win comparison shootouts in Europe. In a 2025 TV shootout, the Panasonic and Sony were neck-and-neck with Samsung and LG, and in some categories, Panasonic actually won or Sony won (it was very close) avnirvana.com. However, these brands have limited availability: Panasonic primarily in Europe and Japan; Philips mainly Europe (Philips TVs in North America are different models under the Funai license, none are OLEDs). Enthusiasts who do get their hands on these often laud them as the connoisseur’s choice – e.g., “The Panasonic MZ2000 is the ultimate home cinema package” as one Pocket-Lint headline put it pocket-lint.com. Ambilight on Philips is also a love-it-or-hate-it feature: those who love it find it hard to go back to a TV without it for movies/gaming, as it can make a 65″ image feel larger and more engaging. Philips uniquely can also sync Ambilight with Hue smart lights to extend the effect across a room.

Others (Vizio, Hisense, TCL): These brands have dabbled in OLED. Vizio released two OLED models (55″ and 65″) in 2020 using LG panels, often sold at budget prices, but they had some firmware issues and Vizio hasn’t released new OLEDs since. Hisense (China) launched an OLED model in some regions (55A9H, etc.), similarly using LG’s panel and focusing on value – but Hisense’s main push is ULED (quantum dot LCD). TCL has shown printed OLED prototypes, but its flagship products are Mini-LED LCDs (like X11). None of these have made major waves in the OLED space yet, where the focus remains on the premium experience.

In summary, Panasonic and Philips offer compelling alternatives if you’re in a region they serve: Panasonic for the home cinema purist who wants accuracy and great sound out-of-box, Philips for the stylish, immersive experience (Ambilight) and solid all-round performance with both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. They demonstrate that LG isn’t the only game in town using LG’s panels – implementation matters. For instance, Panasonic’s image tuning is so respected that professional calibrators often say a Panasonic OLED in Filmmaker Mode is the closest to mastering monitor you can get on a TV. Philips, meanwhile, shows you can add creativity (Ambilight) to make OLEDs even more visually arresting.

Image Quality Face-Off: Highlights, Color, and Contrast

When comparing Samsung, LG, Sony (and others) OLEDs, it’s a matter of fine degrees of excellence. All deliver outstanding contrast with true black pixels next to bright ones – something no LCD/LED can match fully. Still, there are notable differences:

• HDR Peak Brightness: As of 2023/2024, the brightest OLEDs are LG’s MLA models (G3/G4) and Samsung’s QD-OLEDs (S95C) – both roughly in the 1,200–1,500 nit range on real scenes. Sony’s A95L hits ~1,000–1,200 nits in calibrated modes, and Panasonic’s MLA (MZ2000) ~1,500 nits. In practice, all these premium sets have more than enough brightness for impactful HDR. The LG G3 can claim the title of brightest WOLED (Rtings: “LG G3 is the brighter OLED… can reach higher peak brightness than S95C in HDR” rtings.com). Meanwhile, Samsung’s S95C and Sony’s A95L QD-OLEDs leverage that brightness into extremely vibrant highlights. For example, specular highlights (glint of sun on water, a flash of metal) on the S95C/A95L may appear more piercing and colorful. Color Volume and Bright Color Performance is indeed an area QD-OLED shines: Rtings notes the S95C “outputs much brighter colors overall” and with its wider native gamut “will be the more vibrant TV in most cases” rtings.com rtings.com. Sony’s A95L also “delivers much better color volume, as colors are brighter and more vibrant” than an LG G3 rtings.com rtings.com. That said, LG’s WOLED tech improved to the point that only in side-by-side might you notice a difference – none of these sets look dull. They all cover 100% DCI-P3; only QD-OLED currently pushes beyond into BT.2020 gamut a bit more.
• Dark Room Performance: All OLEDs are superb in a dark home theater environment. Black level is essentially perfect (0 nits). One subtle point: Sony’s OLEDs (and Panasonic’s) are tuned to preserve shadow detail meticulously, whereas some early Samsungs crushed blacks slightly for extra contrast look. However, these days Samsung and LG both include fine shadow detail controls. One thing QD-OLED does exhibit: in a bright room, the black floor can raise (due to the coating). Rtings found that the Sony A95L’s blacks “drastically raise in rooms with lights on,” appearing a bit hazy rtings.com rtings.com. Samsung’s S95C had a similar issue with the first-gen QD-OLED panel – the anti-reflection layer has a purple hue at angles, and in ambient light, blacks aren’t as deep. The new S95F (2025) supposedly improved on this with the Glare Free 2.0 screen maintaining better blacks techradar.com. Standard WOLEDs (LG, etc.) have a glossy screen that in dark room gives a perfect jet black (provided no reflection). So if you often watch with even dim lights, the LG/Panasonic might have a slight edge in black perception, whereas in a pitch dark room, all are equally black.
• Color Accuracy and Tone Mapping:Sony is often championed here. Out of the box, Sony’s Custom or Cinema mode is extremely close to reference. HDR tone-mapping on Sony (particularly in Dolby Vision) aims to follow the content creator’s intent without excessive brightness boosting. This sometimes means Sony TVs will not make an HDR image as bright as, say, Samsung’s “Dynamic” mode, but they preserve highlight detail better. Dolby Vision vs HDR10: LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips all handle Dolby Vision content with dynamic tone mapping – meaning they can extract more nuance from say a very dark scene followed by very bright scene in a movie. Samsung not having DV means it relies on static HDR10 metadata; it still performs well (and has HDR10+ on Amazon Prime content). But as What Hi-Fi notes, with Dolby Vision content so common, Samsung’s refusal to support it seems stubborn whathifi.com. On an LG or Sony, Dolby Vision movies and games will display that logo and use the TV’s Dolby engine for optimized brightness/contrast scene-by-scene. HDR10+ content, on the other hand, will play in base HDR10 on LG/Sony since they don’t support it (except Panasonic/Philips which do both). HDR10+ is found on Amazon’s original shows and some UHD discs (and is backwards-compatible with HDR10). Practically, the lack of HDR10+ on LG/Sony is not a big deal, whereas lack of DV on Samsung can be a consideration if you’re a heavy Netflix/Apple TV+ user (almost all their HDR is Dolby Vision).
• Upscaling and Motion: If you watch a lot of 1080p cable, older Blu-rays, etc., Sony and Panasonic might give a slightly cleaner upscale. Sony’s “Reality Creation” is famous for pulling out detail without overt sharpening. For sports motion, Sony’s MotionFlow and Panasonic’s Intelligent Frame Creation are excellent if you like interpolation (soap opera effect). LG and Samsung offer interpolation too, but some find Sony’s handling introduces fewer artifacts. That said, many purists leave motion processing off (or use the mild “Cinemotion” to only handle judder). With it off, all OLEDs have near-instant pixel response, which means crystal-clear fast motion but also potential stutter. Some models (Sony) insert a tiny bit of blur to reduce stutter; LG and Samsung offer optional BFI to help as well. It’s quite technical, but suffice to say any top OLED will look great for sports and gaming – fast motion is a strength due to no sample-and-hold blur, but the trade-off is you might notice frame judder more at 24fps content.
• Screen Uniformity: OLEDs generally have excellent uniformity (no clouding or backlight bleed that LCDs can have). However, some can have slight tint or vignetting at extreme edges. All the brands bin panels so flagships get the cream of the crop. Reports suggest LG G3 units had very clean screens; QD-OLEDs sometimes have a minor pink tint in near-white slides due to the panel structure. But nothing normally visible in content. Burn-in is often asked about: all of these manufacturers include mitigation (pixel refresh cycles, logo dimming, etc.). Rtings long-term tests show 2022+ OLEDs, even QD-OLED, handle static content much better than older ones. Still, if you leave any OLED showing CNN tickers 24/7, you risk image retention. For normal varied use (movies, gaming, some news) it’s not a big worry, especially with the 5-year panel warranties companies like LG and Panasonic offer on their flagship models in some regions avforums.com.

In short, the overall image quality across Samsung S95C, LG G3, Sony A95L, etc., is phenomenally high. Minor differences: Samsung = most vibrant HDR with pop, LG = bright and accurate with broad support, Sony = natural and refined processing. One expert said the Sony A95L and LG G3 differ by maybe 5% in picture, with the Sony nudging ahead but at a 25% higher price smarthomesounds.co.uk. It underscores that you’ll be happy with any of these for movies or gaming. The decision often comes down to features and brand ecosystem rather than a clearly “better” picture.

Sound Quality and Audio Features

Flat TVs generally struggle with sound, but these high-end models try hard to compensate:

• Samsung S90C/S95C: The S95C’s 4.2.2 70W system is fairly powerful. It creates a decent faux-surround and even some height using psychoacoustic tricks. Bass is limited due to no big drivers, but for casual TV watching (news, shows) it’s fine. Samsung supports Dolby Atmos decoding and uses Object Tracking Sound+, which means the TV attempts to place sounds according to on-screen action by modulating the various speakers. It’s a noticeable effect – e.g., a bird chirping top-left might sound slightly higher and left of center. While better than thin LCD TV sound, it’s still no match for a separate Atmos soundbar. The S90C has a simpler 2.1.2 or 3.1.2 setup (depending on size) around 40W. Reviewers found it can sound a bit thinner due to the smaller speaker drivers. Samsung TVs do not support DTS:X decoding (they dropped DTS support entirely a few years ago), but they will passthrough DTS via eARC to a receiver if needed. Both S90C/S95C have eARC for high-bitrate audio output to sound systems. Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature is noteworthy: if you pair a compatible Samsung soundbar, the TV’s speakers join the soundbar for a fuller sound (the system intelligently assigns certain channels to the TV). This only works within Samsung’s ecosystem, but it’s a nice bonus if you invest in their soundbar.
• LG C3/G3: LG’s built-in sound, as mentioned, is serviceable. The G3’s 60W 4.2 setup gets decently loud and clear, but physics is physics – no deep bass. The C3’s 20W 2.2 (on smaller sizes) or 40W 2.2 (on larger) is average. LG does support both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X passthrough (and starting 2023, DTS audio decoding returned on G3). They also offer WOW Orchestra (similar to Q-Symphony) when paired with LG soundbars – synchronizing TV speakers with the bar. One quirk: historically, LG OLEDs had an issue where enabling Dolby Atmos (in internal apps) would force output in a way that increased audio lag. Newer sets and firmware have improved on that. For most, if you care about audio, an external solution is recommended. But if not, LG’s AI Sound Pro mode can virtualize 7.1.2 sound somewhat convincingly. Still, in head-to-head comparisons, TVs like Panasonic MZ2000 or Sony A95L with their more elaborate speaker systems “soundly beat the LG G3 or C3 in audio performance” t3.com pocket-lint.com.
• Sony A80L/A95L: Sony invests heavily in audio tech. Both the A80L and A95L use the Acoustic Surface Audio+ where the screen is the speaker. The A95L being larger, has 3 actuators (for left, center, right) behind the screen and 2 subwoofers, totaling 70W. The A80L might have 2 actuators (L/R) plus subs with around 50W. These produce a very direct sound – voices literally emanate from the characters’ mouths on screen, which no other TV can replicate as well. The A95L’s system was rated very highly for clarity and imaging; it also supports Acoustic Center Sync (S-Center input) to tie into a Sony sound system or soundbar as a center channel. That’s a neat feature if you have, say, a Sony HT-A9 or A7000 sound setup – the TV becomes part of the surround system seamlessly. Sony TVs support Dolby Atmos decoding and DTS (including DTS:X) passthrough – they’re among the few that do both. Sony’s overall audio tuning tends to prioritize clarity over raw volume or bass. For example, What Hi-Fi remarked the A95L’s audio is “powerful and spacious” but still, for true cinematic impact, a dedicated audio system is preferable – which is true of all these.
• Panasonic/Philips: As noted, these can have even beefier audio. Panasonic’s flagships effectively have integrated soundbars with multiple speakers including upward-firing, making them the best sounding OLED TVs you can buy without extra hardware t3.com. They deliver enough bass and surround effect to satisfy many without a soundbar. Philips with B&W audio also provides above-average bass and clarity (the OLED+908’s 80W system impressed reviewers with “punchy” sound and clear dialogue homecinemachoice.com homecinemachoice.com). They also support both Dolby and DTS formats, plus things like DTS Play-Fi for multi-room audio.

In sum, if audio is a high priority and you cannot add a separate audio system, consider those models known for sound (Sony’s Acoustic Surface, Panasonic’s built-ins, Philips B&W). Between Samsung and LG, it’s a wash – both are okay, not amazing. The thin form-factor of many OLEDs (especially ones like the LG G-series or Samsung S95C) inherently limits acoustic performance. Brands offset this with processing (virtual Atmos etc.), which can only do so much. A mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbar ($300-$600 range) will still handily outperform any of these TV’s internal speakers, in terms of dynamic range and bass response. Given the premium nature of these TVs, many buyers do pair them with a good audio solution to create a complete home theater experience.

Smart Features & OS: Tizen vs webOS vs Google

We’ve touched on this, but here’s a quick comparison for everyday usability:

• Ease of Use: LG’s webOS and Samsung’s Tizen are generally considered easy and family-friendly, with colorful icon bars and simple navigation. Google TV on Sony/Philips is more content-rich (sometimes info-dense), but very powerful in search (voice search can find content across apps, etc.). All three offer voice control and smartphone app integration.
• App Support: All have Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, etc. Samsung lacks Google Play Movies (since it’s a competitor), but that’s minor now. Sony/Philips (Google) have the advantage of built-in Chromecast and the Google Play Store with a massive app library (e.g., niche apps, emulators, etc.). LG and Samsung have many apps but can sometimes miss a few region-specific ones (e.g., maybe an obscure sports service might not have a Tizen app but has Android TV app). However, LG’s platform has grown with ThinQ AI – e.g., it now has Matter smart home integration, etc.
• Updates and Longevity: Sony and Philips (Android/Google) typically get more frequent app updates via Play Store, and OS updates for a couple of years. LG and Samsung provide firmware updates for several years too, but their OS is proprietary – if they make a major version change, older models might not get all new features. For instance, LG’s webOS 22 introduced user profiles, but older models stayed on webOS 6. Still, core apps are kept updated. Samsung tends to add new streaming services fairly promptly (they even had Apple TV+ app early on, etc.).
• Advertisements: Unfortunately, all platforms have some level of sponsored content now. Samsung and LG have ads on the home dashboard (which users cannot fully disable). Google TV also has rows of recommended content which can include sponsored items. It’s a minor annoyance but part of the modern smart TV landscape.
• Unique Features:
  • Samsung: Multiview (watch two sources at once), Ambient Mode (art/photos on screen when not in use), Samsung TV Plus (free channels), DeX support, etc.
  • LG: Gallery mode (slideshows art), AI recommendations, Home Dashboard for IoT devices, and an optional “Always Ready” mode that turns the screen into info display when off.
  • Sony: Integrates well with PlayStation 5 (auto HDR tone mapping and ALLM when a PS5 is connected). Also has the Bravia Core streaming service (free high-bitrate 4K movies included with purchase).
  • Philips: Ambilight has its own suite of settings (e.g. bias lighting modes) and ties into Hue lights.
  • Panasonic: My Home Screen is simple – fewer frills, but does support some customizable quick menu pins and has a built-in media player that’s quite robust for USB playback.

In general, if you’re used to a streaming device (Roku/Apple TV/Fire), you may still prefer to use that for consistency. But all these TVs can stand on their own for streaming needs. There’s no major app that you absolutely can’t get on one of them (except maybe the odd case: e.g., Sony’s Crunchyroll app supports 4K HDR whereas LG’s might not, or Samsung’s HBO Max app lacked Dolby Vision since the TV can’t do DV – small differences). Gamers might care that LG’s OS has a slight advantage in supporting Nvidia GeForce Now and Stadia (when it existed); Samsung also has a Gaming Hub with Xbox Cloud Gaming, etc. Android TVs can sideload apps if you’re tech-savvy.

Connectivity and Ports

A quick recap of port configurations:

• Samsung S90C/S95C: 4 HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps) on both. One is eARC. These support ALLM, VRR on all. Also 3 USB, Ethernet, RF tuner, optical audio out. One Connect box on S95C houses these (with a single cable to TV). S90C ports are on TV. If you need analog AV or older ports, modern TVs including these have none (only digital). Samsung also has Wi-Fi 5/6 and Bluetooth for wireless.
• LG C3/G3: 4 HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps) on both. One eARC. Plus 3 USB, etc. LG notably still includes an ATSC 3.0 tuner (for next-gen TV broadcasting) in North America. So does Samsung and Sony in many models (Samsung had it in S95C, Sony in A95L – check region).
• Sony A80L/A95L: 4 HDMI total – HDMI 3 is eARC (2.1), HDMI 4 is also 2.1, the rest are HDMI 2.0 rtings.com rtings.com. This means only two 4K120 capable inputs. Additionally, as Rtings notes, if eARC is used and your receiver doesn’t support multiple 2.1 passthrough, you effectively have one free 2.1 for console/PC rtings.com rtings.com. Sony also provides 2 USB (A95L might have 3), and typical tuner, etc. Both A80L and A95L have Wi-Fi 6 for better streaming bandwidth.
• Panasonic MZ/Z series: Usually 4 HDMI with 2 at 2.1 bandwidth, 2 at 2.0. eARC on one of the 2.1. They often include twin TV tuners (in EU models) for recording one channel while watching another, a Panasonic specialty. USB ports for recording to hard drive, etc. Network ports and analog outs might still exist (Panasonic sometimes has an SD card slot or analog audio out on certain models – a nod to enthusiast needs).
• Philips OLED+908: 4 HDMI, only 2 of which 4K120 homecinemachoice.com. eARC takes one. It has 3 USB, plus a subwoofer out (unique – you can connect an external sub to augment the TV’s bass) homecinemachoice.com. Also likely includes dual tuners and possibly a satellite input (common in EU).

Essentially, LG and Samsung give you the most HDMI 2.1 connectivity, which can be crucial if you have, say, a PS5, Xbox, and a gaming PC – you can plug all three plus a soundbar with no issues. With Sony/Philips/Panasonic, you’d need to manage that (maybe plug PC at 2.1 and run consoles at 2.0 60Hz, or get a receiver that can switch multiple 4K120 inputs). For some, that’s a deal-breaker; for others who just have one console, it’s moot.

All sets offer eARC for lossless audio passthrough (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, etc., except note Samsung doesn’t handle DTS formats itself, but can pass core DTS). They also all support CEC to control connected devices with one remote. Network connectivity is similar across – though only some latest models have WiFi 6 (which is beneficial for high bitrate streaming or if using wireless VRR like WiSA). LG had WiSA Ready on some sets (for wireless surround audio with a dongle) and Bluetooth support for dual headphone connections (handy if two people want to listen on headphones).

One more feature: Calibration and Image Customization – enthusiasts might use CalMAN AutoCal support present on LG, Samsung, and Panasonic for pro calibration. Sony doesn’t support AutoCal for HDR (only SDR) but can be manually calibrated. Most have advanced color management in service menus if needed.

Prices and Sizes: Choosing the Right Fit

Prices for these OLED TVs vary by model and screen size, and they tend to drop significantly over time from MSRP:

• Samsung: At launch, the S95C was priced about the same as LG’s G3 (e.g. ~$3300 for 65″) whathifi.com whathifi.com. The S90C was positioned around LG C3 pricing (~$2500 for 65″) whathifi.com. However, Samsung aggressively discounts over the year – the S90C especially saw deep cuts making it one of the best values in late 2023 (e.g., 65″ S90C dropped under $1800 during holiday sales). Samsung’s 77″ models brought OLED into big-screen value territory too (77″ S90C often under $3000 on sale by end of year, a steal relative to previous 77″ OLED prices).
• LG: The G-series is pricey at first (65″ G3 ~$3300 launch), but LG often runs promotions including a free extended warranty or rebates. The C3 started around $2500 (65″) but dipped to ~$1600–$1800 later. The 42″ and 48″ C3 fill in the smaller end: ~$1000 or less for a 42″ – popular for desk use. LG also sells a step-down B3 (60Hz OLED, cheaper processor) which in large sizes (77″) offered an entry point to big OLED at relatively lower cost (77B3 around $2500 on sale). And at the extreme high end, LG offers Signature series like the Z3 (8K OLED) or 97″ G2/G3 – the latter costing tens of thousands (basically custom order only).
• Sony: The A95L QD-OLED being premium, had the highest price among 65″ OLEDs at launch (around $3500). Sony’s don’t drop as quickly, but by mid 2024, A95L prices aligned closer to LG G3’s discounted prices in some cases. The A80L was more approachable (65″ at $2600 launch, but by Black Friday it was close to $1800). Because Sony doesn’t chase volume as much, you won’t see fire-sale pricing, but you do pay for the brand and processing. Those seeking Sony quality on a budget often consider buying the previous year’s model (e.g., 2022 A80K or even A90J if still available, as they often get clearance discounts).
• Panasonic/Philips: These tend to maintain higher price tags in Europe for longer, partly due to less competition (no direct sales in US, smaller production runs). The MZ2000 launched ~£3800 (65″), quite steep techradar.com techradar.com. By comparison, LG G3 in UK was ~£2600 for 65″ at that time techradar.com. So Panasonic was asking a premium akin to what Sony does. Philips OLED+908 was more aggressive – £3200 at 65″ including a premium B&W sound system. Philips also had slightly lower-tier OLEDs (OLED807, OLED907 without MLA or slightly down-specced sound) which came in cheaper than LG’s C2/C3. For instance, a Philips OLED807 might match an LG C2 in price but offer Ambilight as a differentiator.
• Warranty/Support: Many high-end OLEDs now come with extended panel warranties. LG in the US provided a 5-year limited panel warranty on the G2/G3 (covering image retention/burn-in). Panasonic in UK often gives 5 or 7-year warranty with their flagship through dealers (not explicitly burn-in but full cover). Samsung doesn’t advertise extended warranties for burn-in, but some regions had promotions offering up to 10-year burn-in guarantee for QD-OLED, reflecting confidence in their pixel-shifting and compensation tech. It’s worth checking local promotions.
• Sizes:
  • Samsung S90C ranges 55, 65, 77, 83 inches (remember 83 is WOLED panel) rtings.com rtings.com. S95C: 55, 65, 77 (no 83).
  • LG C3: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83. G3: 55, 65, 77, 83 (and 97 in limited capacity).
  • Sony A95L: 55, 65, 77. A80L: 55, 65, 77, 83.
  • Panasonic MZ2000: 55, 65, 77 (first year Pana did a 77). They have lower models MZ1500 (55/65 without the big sound system but same panel) and others down to 42 in basic OLEDs.
  • Philips OLED+908: 55, 65, 77. They also have OLED808 (with 42, 48, 55, 65, 77) for a mid-range option.
  So, if you need 83-inch, your choices were LG C/G series, Sony A80L, or Samsung S90C (with LG panel) – essentially WOLED options. QD-OLED topped out at 77 for now (Samsung Display hasn’t produced 83″ QD-OLED yet; perhaps in future). If you want a small OLED (under 55), only LG (and possibly Philips 42″) offer that, since Samsung and Sony start at 55″.

Value Considerations: Historically, LG’s C-series often wins on value. For example, come 2025, you might find a 65″ LG C4 or even leftover C3 for under $1500, whereas a Sony or Panasonic equivalent might still be $2000+. Rtings even noted in early 2025 that last year’s LG C4 remained their best TV buy for most people due to its price/performance techradar.com techradar.com. But if budget isn’t a big concern and you want that last ounce of performance or specific feature (like Ambilight, or Sony’s processing), spending more can be justified.

One more competitor: QD-OLED Monitors and TVs from other brands – Dell/Alienware released a 34″ QD-OLED ultrawide monitor that impressed gamers, and Samsung Electronics itself sells a 49″ QD-OLED gaming monitor (49G95SC). While not TVs, it shows QD-OLED tech expanding. Also, LG Display’s 27″ and 32″ 4K OLED monitors (240Hz) are emerging for high-end PC use – indicating OLED going beyond living rooms.

OLED TV Developments: 2025 and Beyond

The OLED TV arena is rapidly evolving. Here are key developments and upcoming trends:

• Next-Gen Panels: LG Display’s introduction of “Meta-lit” MLA panels and now the 4-stack RGB OLED (in LG G5) marks a major leap. Achieving >2000 nits brings OLEDs to parity with many LCDs in brightness techradar.com techradar.com. This tech will likely filter down to more models (perhaps the 2025 LG C5 will use a version of the new panel, making even the mainstream model ultra-bright). Samsung Display is working on 3rd-gen QD-OLED (the S95F uses it) with improved efficiency and possibly new blue emitters that last longer and allow higher brightness. There’s talk of PHOLED (phosphorescent blue OLED) coming in 2024/25 via Universal Display Corp, which could significantly boost OLED efficiency since currently blue OLEDs are less efficient fluorescent types. If that comes to fruition, all OLED panels (LG and Samsung) could get another bump in brightness or lower power usage.
• Screen Sizes & New Markets: We might see even larger OLEDs becoming slightly more affordable. LG showed a 97″ wireless OLED (M3) and has hinted at 100+ inch possibilities. Samsung has shown prototypes of rollables and transparent OLEDs, but those are more futuristic. For gamers, smaller OLED monitors (27″, 32″) with high refresh are now available – these use similar tech, indicating potential for a “OLED TV” in 32-43″ size specifically tuned as high-refresh gaming display could emerge.
• MicroLED & MiniLED Competition: While not OLED, the landscape includes these. MicroLED TVs (from Samsung, LG) are wall-sized and extremely expensive ($100k+), so not a consumer factor yet in 2025. Mini-LED LCDs (like Samsung Neo QLED, TCL QM8, Sony X95L) improved with thousands of dimming zones and can hit 2000+ nits easily. They offer an alternative: higher brightness and no burn-in worry, at often lower price for large sizes. But they still have slight blooming and off-angle color fade issues that OLED avoids. The competition has pushed OLED to get brighter and miniLED to get better in blacks – resulting in a closer race. Some users in bright environments still prefer a top Mini-LED, but overall, for critical movie watching, OLED is still king.
• Format Wars Cooling: With Panasonic and Philips supporting both DV and HDR10+, and Samsung now relatively isolated in not doing Dolby Vision, there are rumors Samsung might eventually relent on DV (especially since their mobile devices support it now). If Samsung were to add Dolby Vision in future TVs, it would be a big olive branch to home theater fans. But no confirmation yet; for now, they stick to HDR10+.
• Multi-Use and Lifestyle Features: LG’s wireless Signature OLED M (M3/M5) suggests a future with totally cable-free installations (aside from power). Samsung’s One Connect is a step in that direction too. We might see more separation of panel and processing box for flexibility. OLEDs for art display (LG has “Posé” and easel-like designs) – these niche models use same tech in creative form factors.
• 2025 Upcoming Models Preview: Based on naming:
  • Samsung’s 2025 lineup likely includes the S95F as the flagship 4K QD-OLED (which has already been reviewed, receiving 5/5 in some places techradar.com). It apparently further refines brightness and anti-reflection, making it ideal for bright rooms techradar.com. They also introduced a slightly downscaled S85F – potentially a QD-OLED without One Connect and slightly lower specs, targeting value (like an S90C successor). Samsung is also rumored to leverage LG panels for more affordable OLED series – if that happens, we might see a “Samsung OLED C” series or something using WOLED to hit lower price points, expanding OLED into mid-range.
  • LG’s 2025 lineup will be the C5, G5, possibly a new Z5 (8K) and the M5 wireless. The G5, as described, debuts the new panel tech and has wowed early testers (5-star reviews). The C5 likely gains some brightness boost from MLA or improved algorithms (TechRadar noted the C5 is noticeably brighter than C4 already whathifi.com). LG might also push their transparent OLEDs or concepts, but for mainstream, the story is brighter, more efficient panels and maybe expanded MLA across the range. There’s also an increased focus on gaming monitors with OLED from LG – some of that tech could circle back to TVs (e.g., higher refresh support).
  • Sony’s 2025 models: Sony appears to be changing naming – references to “Bravia 8 II” and “Bravia 9” came up rtings.com techradar.com. The Bravia 8 II is presumably the A95L successor (QD-OLED), and Bravia 9 might be a high-end MiniLED or maybe an 8K QD-OLED if ever made. However, one clue: Rtings mentioned “Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED (2024 flagship)” rtings.com – this was confusing, possibly referring to a miniLED model X95L/Z9K. In any case, for OLED, expect Sony to release an A95M or equivalent QD-OLED with possibly incremental improvements (maybe using the same panel as S95F, meaning slightly brighter). They might also update their WOLED model (A80 M or A85 something). The big news for Sony could be if they finally increase HDMI 2.1 port count – the Pentonic chip they use can technically handle 4, so it’s possible a redesign could allow 4 full 2.1 ports on 2025 models, catching up with LG/Samsung on that spec. Sony also has a new PlayStation Portal and pushing gaming, so they might integrate things like PS Remote Play features into their TVs.
  • Panasonic 2025: Their flagship should be the Z2000 series (MZ was 2023, presumably NZ 2024, OZ 2025 unless they skip letters). Panasonic could possibly experiment with QD-OLED if they can source panels, but so far they’ve stuck to LG WOLED. They may incorporate the new 4-stack panel by 2025 if LGD supplies it to them, leading to another bump in brightness or efficiency. Panasonic also tends to refine their image processing AI – e.g., improving their ambient light sensing for HDR, etc. A wild card: Panasonic could re-enter NA markets via custom install channels (there were whispers, but nothing concrete – enthusiasts can always import).
  • Philips 2025: They might launch an OLED+909 or 910, continuing MLA panel usage, maybe adding a 4-sided Ambilight (the 908 was 3-sided; 4-sided is typically only on their higher “9” series sets that are not flush wall-mounted). Philips also teased a new Ambilight algorithm that’s smoother. And since they explicitly said MLA OLED was better than QD-OLED, they will likely double down and use LG’s latest Meta panels.
• Content and Usage Trends: More movies and games mastered for HDR, including Dolby Vision gaming on Xbox and potentially on PC (Dolby Vision is now in Windows 11 for games). If that picks up, LG and Sony’s DV support might become more significant for gamers. Streaming services continue to use a mix of Dolby Vision (Netflix, Disney+, Apple) and HDR10+ (Prime Video, some Disney+). Owning an OLED ensures you see content as creators intended – note that many Hollywood studios use OLED reference monitors (like Sony’s mastering monitors or Panasonic’s pro OLEDs) for color grading now, meaning these consumer OLEDs can get extremely close to the director’s monitor quality.
• Energy efficiency and EU regulations: There have been rumblings of EU power consumption limits possibly affecting TV brightness in some modes. LG and Samsung both implemented features to meet regulations (like default Eco modes). The new panels actually improve efficiency, so that helps. Consumers should be aware that enabling all the brightness might require disabling light sensors or eco mode on some sets.
• Longevity: Burn-in continues to decline as a concern thanks to better pixel algorithms. For instance, LG’s OLED Care features and Samsung’s automatic pixel refresh have made cases of burn-in very rare under normal use (Rtings’ torture tests after 2 years showed the QD-OLED S95B had minor color wear only after showing bright static content for thousands of hours). As tech improves (tandem stacks and phosphorescent blue), lifespan will increase too.
• Price Outlook: With LG and Samsung now direct competitors and Samsung possibly buying WOLED panels from LG, we expect overall OLED TV prices to continue to fall or specs to rise at given price points. 55″ and 65″ OLEDs are now quite attainable. By late 2025, you might see a 55″ OLED around $1000 (the LG B3/C3 have already hit near that on sale), which was unheard of a few years back. This means more consumers can jump to OLED, increasing competition further.

In conclusion, the OLED TV space in 2025 is a showcase of cutting-edge display innovation. Samsung and LG are trading blows – quantum dots vs micro-lens arrays – each trying to outdo the other in brightness and color. Sony refines those advances with its own secret sauce in processing. Panasonic and Philips carve out enthusiast corners with their fine-tuning and features. The good news: it’s hard to go wrong at the top end. As CNET put it in a head-to-head, comparing the very best OLEDs is often a “dead heat” where personal preference (for interface, brand, slight color differences) will determine the winner digitaltrends.com.

Conclusion: Choosing Your OLED Champion

When comparing Samsung’s OLED 4K TVs to LG’s and Sony’s (and others), the “best” really depends on your priorities:

• For the brightest, most color-saturated HDR picture to wow you in both dark and bright rooms, Samsung’s S95C (and newer S95F) are hard to beat. They leverage QD-OLED’s strengths and top-tier gaming features to create a display that one expert said “fills a room with beautiful pictures” and truly looks like a window to another world wired.com. Just keep in mind the lack of Dolby Vision support – if you watch a lot of DV content, you’ll be using HDR10 (which Samsung handles well, but without the dynamic metadata). Samsung’s set is ideal for tech-savvy gamers and those who watch in varied lighting.
• For the most balanced and format-friendly experience, an LG OLED (C3/G3 or newer) is a stellar choice. LG offers a slightly brighter-than-ever image (on G3) with “phenomenal gaming performance” and full Dolby Vision support techradar.com. It’s the all-rounder: whether it’s 4K Dolby Vision movies, fast-paced 120Hz games, or just bingeing Netflix, LG covers all bases. The WebOS interface is friendly, and the TV’s future-proofed with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports and every major HDR format except HDR10+. LG also tends to be a better value if you shop around, meaning you can often get a larger size for the same budget compared to competitors.
• For the videophile who wants the pinnacle of picture accuracy and cinematic processing, Sony’s A95L (QD-OLED) or even A80L (WOLED) will be appealing. Sony’s philosophy is seen in quotes from reviews: “stays true to the filmmaker’s intent without needing calibration” rtings.com rtings.com. The A95L produces a breathtaking image with minimal tweaking – skin tones, shadow details, motion, all look natural and filmic. Plus, its Acoustic Surface Audio provides the best built-in sound of the bunch, and it’s the only one among these that can become a center speaker in a surround setup. If you primarily watch a lot of movies (especially in Dolby Vision) and care about nuance in picture, and perhaps only have one console to plug in, Sony is a compelling albeit pricier option. As one comparison put it, the Sony A95L “wins based on performance” but the LG G3 offers “far greater value for money” smarthomesounds.co.uk smarthomesounds.co.uk – a fair summary of Sony versus LG.
• For audio enthusiasts or unique features: If you’re in Europe, Panasonic’s flagship OLEDs are basically a self-contained home theater – reference-grade visuals with sound to match, supporting every format. Philips OLED+ gives you Ambilight for a one-of-a-kind ambient experience and high-end design by Kvadrat and Bowers & Wilkins. These are more niche but represent the boutique choices where design and specialty features matter.

Ultimately, all these OLEDs deliver on the OLED promise of spectacular image quality. They each have slight edges: Samsung with gaming and vibrant color, LG with full feature set and brightness in MLA models, Sony with pure picture processing and sound, Panasonic with pro-grade calibration and robust audio, Philips with Ambilight and style. Your decision might come down to practical factors: Do you need 4 HDMI 2.1 ports for multiple devices? Go LG or Samsung rtings.com. Do you watch lots of Dolby Vision movies in a dark home theater? Sony or LG (or Panasonic) will serve wonderfully rtings.com. Are you a gamer who also streams a ton? Samsung’s game bar and LG’s VRR + DV support both beckon. Are you sensitive to motion handling and upscaling quality in regular TV content? Sony’s subtle superiority there might sway you rtings.com.

One thing is for sure: OLED technology continues to advance, and the competition is yielding tangible benefits – higher brightness, better durability, and lower prices. As of 2025, we’re at a point where you can get a 65-inch OLED from any of these top brands and be assured of an outstanding 4K HDR experience that would have been unimaginable just 5-6 years ago. And with next-gen OLED innovations on the horizon (and 2025 models already boasting new tricks), the gap between brands may further shrink.

In a recent blind test of flagship OLEDs, casual viewers were hard-pressed to pick a clear winner – each TV had its fans, and results were split because they all looked so good techradar.com techradar.com. This is a win for consumers: no matter if you choose Samsung’s OLED or LG’s or Sony’s, you’re getting an elite-level 4K TV that will make movies, shows, and games look incredible. It then comes down to which specific strengths align most with your usage and preferences, and of course, finding the right deal. With this information and the expert insights cited, you can confidently navigate the OLED TV market and pick your personal champion in the 2025 OLED showdown.

Sources: Samsung, LG, Sony official specs and press; Rtings TV reviews and comparisons rtings.com rtings.com rtings.com; Professional reviews from TechRadar, What Hi-Fi, WIRED whathifi.com wired.com; TrustedReviews and FlatpanelsHD for panel tech details trustedreviews.com whathifi.com; TechRadar features on 2025 TV trends techradar.com techradar.com; and AV enthusiast references. All linked above for verification and deeper reading.