I saw Samsung’s new OLED TV with Glare Free 2.0 technology and it solves the biggest problem of the Samsung S95D
- Samsung 2025 TVs feature next-generation ‘Glare Free’ technology
- Glare Free 2.0 preserves black depth and shadow details better
- Will be featured in flagship OLED and 8K and 4K mini-LED TVs
The Samsung S95D was our pick for the best TV of the year at the 2024 Ny Breaking Choice Awards. It’s an incredible TV, and one that overcomes one of the biggest problems that have long plagued OLED TVs: screen reflections from lamps and other light sources that overload their relatively weak screen. full screen brightness levels.
Samsung solved that problem by using a new OLED Glare Free display in the S95D, and then it uses the technology to combat screen reflections in its flagship 2025 OLED, the Samsung S95F. But the Glare Free technology used in that model is not the same as that used in the S95D. Instead, it’s a second-generation version that fixes the biggest problem with last year’s flagship Samsung OLED TV: increased black levels when viewing in bright rooms.
I first noticed the black level issue when I did a hands-on test of the S95D in early 2024, but it wasn’t until I compared premium Samsung and LG OLED TVs side by side that it became clear that it was more of an issue than I initially thought . That comparison was part of a demo LG set up at the CEDIA Expo 2024 trade show that showed off the different anti-glare measures used by the Samsung S95D and the LG G4. When a lamp was placed in front of both TVs, the Samsung completely diffused the reflection and essentially eliminated it. The G4, on the other hand, showed almost mirror-like reflections.
But while Samsung’s screen was superior at dealing with reflections, the blacks on the S95D appeared more of a dark gray compared to the LG OLED, which displayed deep blacks and shadows accurately. This was of course in bright light; when the lights in the demo room were dimmed, both TVs proved equally adept at displaying deep blacks.
Glare Free 2.0 is here
The second-generation OLED Glare Free introduced in the Samsung S95F, which the company is showing at CES 2025, addresses the situation by “enhancing black expression” and rejecting glare. I first saw a demo of the new screen technology at Samsung’s headquarters in South Korea and was impressed with how effective it was at giving TV viewers the best of both worlds – there was a noticeably deeper and more realistic black , while the distracting reflections.
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Many premium OLED TV buyers are movie fans who typically dim the lights while watching, so Samsung’s Glare Free technology may be a solution in search of a problem in some ways. But on the other hand, the Samsung S95D was the brightest OLED TV Ny Breaking tested in 2024, with peak brightness measurements almost on par with some of the best mini LED TVs we tested. That factor, along with Glare Free, makes it a good option for daytime sports viewing, which is normally handled better by mini-LED models.
Samsung’s Glare Free 2.0 technology is no longer just for the company’s flagship OLED – it will also appear in its new 2025 flagship 8K and 4K mini-LED TVs, the Samsung QN990F and the Samsung QN90F. That means buyers of premium Samsung TVs can safely watch movies or play games without worrying about screen reflections and reduced contrast and shadow detail in both light and dark environments.
With pressure on the TV market from not just LG, but also relative newcomers such as TCL and Hisense, Glare Free 2.0 is a differentiator – and one I’m sure Samsung hopes will give it an edge over the competition. I can’t wait to give it a serious test to see if it holds up in tests, as it looks incredibly promising so far.
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