Samsung has announced the US availability of its Samsung S85D OLED TVs, a new, more affordable OLED TV series sold in screen sizes ranging from 55 to 77 inches.
The Samsung S85D series sits below the Samsung S95D OLED and mid-range Samsung S90D TVs. We selected the S90D's predecessor, the Samsung S90C, as our best TV in 2023 for its compelling combination of performance and value, and we expect the new S85D series to follow in its footsteps.
The price of the S85D series OLED TVs is as follows:
- 55 inches: $1,699.99 (around £1,350 / AU$2,560)
- 65 inches: $2,099.99 (around £1,670 / AU$3,165)
- 77 inches: $3,399.99 (around £2,700 / AU$5,120)
According to Samsung, the new OLED TVs feature the same NQ4 AI Gen2 processor and 4K AI Upscaling found in the company's other 2024 OLED TVs, including the flagship S95D series. They are also compatible with Pantone Validated Colors and come with the free Samsung TV Plus TV portal and Samsung Gaming Hub.
Samsung S85D TVs offer four HDMI 2.1 ports with 120 Hz and ALLM support. For audio, they have 2 built-in 20-watt speakers, Samsung's Object Tracking Sound Lite, and a Q Symphony feature that allows the TV's speakers to work in tandem with a Samsung sound bar for an enhanced presentation.
Along with the S85D OLED TVs, Samsung also announced US pricing and availability for its new 42-inch, 48-inch, and 83-inch S90D OLED TV models. Prices for other sizes had already been previously announced.
- 42 inches: $1,399.99 (coming soon)
- 48 inches: $1,599.99 (around £1,270 / AU$2,400)
- 83 inches: $5,399.99 (around £4,290 / AU$8,140)
With its smaller screen size options, 144Hz refresh rate with FreeSync Premium VRR, and the Samsung Gaming Hub cloud-based gaming portal found on the company's other TVs, Samsung is positioning the S90D series as the perfect option for gamers.
Opinion: The more OLED TVs the better, if it keeps prices down
The best OLED TVs are getting brighter and, with 83-inch models now common, bigger. But OLED TVs generally remain an expensive option compared to regular QLED TVs and even mini-LED ones. That's why it's encouraging to see Samsung expand with a third series of lower-cost OLED TVs in the new S85D models and add smaller, more affordable screen sizes to its S90D series.
That's not to say Samsung's new S85D OLED TVs are cheap. They exactly match the launch prices of last year's S90C series, which they replace with the higher-cost models of the new S90D series. So while prices for Samsung's OLED TVs are generally going up (the new S95D series flagship OLEDs start at $2,599 for the 55-inch screen size), at least the company is giving us a less expensive option.
One important thing to consider about new televisions is the type of display panel that is used. While the new S95D series TVs use QD-OLED panels made by Samsung, the 42-, 48-, and 83-inch S90D series models use regular W-OLED panels sourced from LG displays. Even more confusing, Samsung has not confirmed that the other S90D series screen sizes will use a QD-OLED panel instead of a W-OLED panel, a situation that has been characterized as a OLED TV Screen Lottery.”
Samsung has not specifically stated whether the new S85D series will use QD-OLED or W-OLED panels, although given the cheaper price, it is possible that Samsung has opted for W-OLED. That's not to say the new S85D TVs don't look good. We had the opportunity to do a Hands-on test of a 48-inch Samsung S90D OLEDa model that uses a W-OLED panel, and found the image quality to be very good overall.
QD-OLED or W-OLED, the new Samsung S85D series TVs are the company's entry-level OLED models for 2024, and while we won't know for sure how they perform until we have an S85D to test, we hope it will offer the same cost-effectiveness as the Samsung S90C series from last year.
