Samsung S99H review: Picture quality that almost defies belief

Every year manufacturers somehow manage to make the best TVs even better – increasingly it's like there's no ceiling to what's possible. That said, Samsung's take for its 2026 flagship might seem, well, confusing on the face of it.

Why? Because the S99H on review here – the same as the S95H in the USA – takes Samsung's QD-OLED panel mastery, but leads it down a more 'arty' design route, complete with an integrated silver bezel border. Don't want the bezel? You'll want the S95HF – the all-important 'F' variant not available in the USA (and not to be confused with the last-gen S95F model either!).

Samsung has also done away with the default OneConnect Box – the separate unit to wire HDMI and other connections away from the TV itself – meaning a thicker chassis than typical art TV buyers might consider as optimum. That is better for gamers who want the lowest latency possible, though, and this TV is heavy set for those customers.

In fairness, Samsung opted out of the OneConnect Box default last generation, with the S95F (2025) not taking it on like its S95D (2024) predecessor. That said, you can buy an optional box for the S99H (or, indeed, S95H and S95HF) – upping the HDMI count to eight ports total, which finally fixes my biggest issue with TV connectivity.

So is the Samsung S99H a genius amalgamation of all the company's finest TV tech or a flagship misfire pitching the 'art TV' trend of 2026 to high-end home cinema enthusiasts? I've been living with a production sample for a couple of weeks for this review to find out...

Price & Availability

I've laid out a table of pricing, below, for the key model sizes – differentiating regional product codes. Note: there's no 55-inch S99H, while the S95H's 83-inch model I've not included, as it's not the same type of panel technology.

The absence of a 55-inch S99H means no QD-OLED panel in Samsung's 2026 range at this size for the UK, which I find perplexing. Presumably sales just haven't been successful in that size category – unless the S95HF fills that gap (and which I've queried with Samsung to see if such a model will become available).

Price-wise, the S99H model is a little more costly than the outgoing S95F series from last year. It's a consistent £100 per model for both the 65- and 77-inch versions, which is under 3% and therefore in line with annual inflationary factors.

S99H vs S95H vs S90H: What's what?

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For the UK market, Samsung has tried to simplify its product ranges (despite the mayhem of regional variations, as outlined above!).

There's the S99H at the very top of the spectrum (S95H in the USA), which uses a QD-OLED panel type. That's Quantum Dot OLED, which goes extra on colour and brightness compared to classic OLED. The S95HF is the same, but ditches the silver bezel design.

Step down to the S90H and that's all classic OLED (read our review here) – and with more size options available. That's different to the previous S95F and S90F models, where the core sizes (55- and 65-inches only) were both QD-OLED – but with a lesser degree of anti-reflective coating in the lower-spec model.

Design & Features

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The first time I saw an S99H (well, technically an S95H) was at the annual CES show. Samsung had gone fairly stealth on the set's presence, given it had just announced a 130-inch Micro-RGB panel that dominated the brand's exhibition space.

In that dark room, the H set's silver edging – which sits behind the main panel, as if embossing it to greater prominence, in what Samsung calls 'FloatLayer' design – wasn't especially flashy or distracting. But when my 77-inch S99H arrived for testing at home, set up in my living room as normal, I found that silver edge hard to ignore.

Time is everything, though, and the more I lived with it, the more I enjoyed its point of difference. Others may disagree, though, and you might not want the 'floating' aesthetic for a wall-mount TV either – in which case I'd strongly suggest picking the S95HF (unless you're in the USA, in which case it's hard luck, apparently).

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What I did find incredibly refreshing about the S99H, however, is how simple it was to assemble. It's a screwless design, so the two feet slot over couplings – with two height options available – and that's it, job done. Compared to Samsung's complex 8K TV set up this one's a doddle.

Around the back of the S99H is where you'll find the four HDMI 2.1 ports. They're assigned a little differently than typical, with port no.3 serving the HDMI eARC – which I've been using in tandem with the HW-Q990H surround system to great effect.

That soundbar houses two further HDMI inputs for passthrough, so I've got lots of connectivity options. However, if you do want even more, the S99H can also operate with a OneConnect Box (sold separately; not tested in this setup), meaning you can either deliver wirelessly to the set, foregoing the usual HDMI ports, or double up with a total of eight available – something no other manufacturer yet offers.

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Software-wise, Samsung's Tizen-based system is a little confusing at times – perhaps because it features not one but two remote controls with different quick-access buttons. Nonetheless, the homepage combines access to 'Now Playing', 'Popular Searches', a series of customisable apps, and rows of streaming picks to jump into – including from Samsung TV Plus.

Given this TV's anti-glare panel and updated design aesthetic, Samsung is clearly looking to double down on its art offering – with Samsung Art Store also easily accessible, should a membership appeal (at a monthly cost). No longer is this sort of content confined to The Frame TVs, which have been doing so well for the brand.

Samsung Vision AI is also available at the click of a button, bringing personalised voice querying to the fore. That's in addition to the AI Picture Settings, which automate the visuals – but I've found aren't to this set's greatest benefit, except really when watching sports.

Picture Quality

If you're on board with the FloatLayer design and silver bezel addition and happy with an anti-reflective display – for 2026 there's no QD-OLED option without such a panel coating – then the Samsung S99H's picture quality is astounding.

Like, so astounding that you won't even be peeking at that silver bezel for even a moment. Everything else around you will almost dissolve away, such is the impeccable nature of Samsung's image clarity. I thought the S95F previously was a stunner and, well, the S99H is that and even more – offering even greater brightness potential.

Such is the nature of QD-OLED that it delivers all that's great about classic OLED – perfect contrast and the deepest blacks – but with even more oomph. I can see why my T3 freelance contributor was somewhat disappointed the step-down S90H model wasn't to be QD-OLED for this year's range (despite being an 'excellent true OLED').

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I think the S99H has one of the most captivating 'Standard' picture modes that I've ever seen. Many other brands deliver such colour pop that it's almost overwrought, but the Samsung deals a more balanced hand. I've been unusually tempted to leave this mode on more often than typical – and it's so bright that many Mini-LED sets aren't going to meddle with this.

But the real magic in the S99H comes from the more delicate picture-handling, such as in Movie mode. This is the one for the real cinema heads – yes, there's Filmmaker Mode too, of course – who might want to tweak the tiniest number of settings to get a little uplift in output. Swimming in a sea of black levels is no bad thing, though, handled with nuance and care by this panel.

An exception to that can be caused by the anti-reflective panel, though, where higher ambient light levels will lift the black floor to appear a little greyer. The panel will defy reflections, though, which will be to most viewers' benefit – and it diffuses them incredibly well, such is Samsung's strength in this field.

Oh, and it'd be remiss of me not to mention that Dolby Vision content isn't supported by Samsung (but is still well handled by the set's HDR capabilities). The brand's own HDR10 and HDR10+ formats are the go-to here – with HDR10+ Advanced incoming later – which you'll mainly find in Amazon Prime Video content.

That said, many cinephiles have been asking for Samsung to deliver an equivalent panel without the anti-reflection for dark room setups – something that, thus far, hasn't been brought to market. I can see why this would be desirable, though, especially if I had the relevant home-cinema installation space.

There's one other very particular point I must also point out: the S99H, in the pre-release review sample format that I've received, suffers from minor judder issues. This is input source and mode irrelevant, too, so even a 24p 4K Blu-ray disc can appear to drop a frame from time to time. Samsung will be working on software updates ahead of release schedule, no doubt, so based on previous S-series models I can't foresee it remaining an ongoing issue.

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In contrast to the above observation, however, pop the S99H into gaming mode, and here it might be at its very best. Playing Horizon: Zero Dawn you'll not only get HDR delivered to the max – the brightness and colour are among the best I've ever seen – but the fluidity of motion is just incredible.

All the VRR, ALLM and mod cons you'd expect of a TV with four HDMI 2.1 ports are on show here. It explains, in part, why the brand has done away with the OneConnect Box as a default option, too, because of the added latency that results.

Sound Quality

While I may have criticised the S99H for being a bit thicker than some of Samsung's previous TV models, there's an obvious benefit to the added girth: more space for audio implementation.

Indeed, the sound system here is found between the floating panel and the silver bezel behind, offering a 70W system configured in 4.2.2 channels. That's four speakers handling your frontal soundstage, two (hidden) woofers on the back, and two upfiring outputs to help project sound for greater immersion.

Add in Samsung's Object Tracking Sound (OTS, as it's called for short) and the apparent source of audio relative to what's happening on screen, feels naturally associated. I've largely been using a soundbar during testing, which can sit the sound a bit too 'low', which isn't something the TV suffers from when used in isolation.

Overall, the default audio presentation here is decent. There's a limit to low-frequency bass output, of course, but compared to many tellies, it's a stronger-than-typical setup. You might even get away with foregoing one of the best soundbars, if you don't intend to watch at high volumes.

Samsung S99H review: Verdict

If the floating panel design and silver bezel are of appeal, then the Samsung S99H's QD-OLED picture quality is so bold and bright – yet still natural and convincing – that most people won't believe their eyes. Its anti-glare panel will make this set ideal for rooms with some ambient light sources, too.

If you don't like the floating aesthetic, then you'll want to buy the S95HF instead (not that you can in the USA). This axes the border bezel from the design – and it's the one I'd also opt for personally. This model still has the anti-glare panel, though, so those looking for a QD-OLED without it will have to continue petitioning Samsung for a future product release.

Aside from the S99H's minor judder issues for streaming/movie content (which ought to be fixed for the on-sale date), the picture quality when digging into Movie and Filmmaker Mode is really like bringing the cinema home. And the gaming output could well be the best I've ever seen on any TV to date. Even the sound isn't too shabby – a rare thing indeed from a TV's default output.

Having lived with the S99H for a fortnight, using it as my own, Samsung has managed to deliver across the board. And with such strong competition – the Sony Bravia 8 II and LG OLED G6 are both obvious rivals – to still be able to stand out is no mean feat. It's not the 'arty' design or Art Store that are the reason for that, though, it's the staple features done right – and a default picture that almost defies belief.

Also Consider

One as-yet-unmentioned 'problem' with the S99H is that it's pretty pricey. A way around that would be to find last year's exceptional S95F model – which has no silver bezel of concern – at a cut of the price. That's the sensible move, even if it's not as bright a panel overall.

Rivals in a similar ballpark include the Sony Bravia 8 II, which is a 5-star panel for its beautiful picture handling, or if a classic OLED panel appeals, then LG's OLED G6 or last year's OLED G5 are top-tier models to consider. Step down, and the OLED C6 or C5 are also great, yet even more affordable considerations.