Let's dive into the fascinating world of high-end TVs, comparing two of 2024's most impressive offerings: the Samsung 65" OLED S90D ($2,700) and the Sony BRAVIA 9 Mini LED ($2,698). Both represent cutting-edge display technology, but they take very different approaches to delivering an amazing picture.
The TV market has evolved dramatically in recent years. While basic 4K TVs have become surprisingly affordable, premium models have pushed into new territory with advanced technologies that genuinely improve the viewing experience. Both of these TVs launched in early 2024, representing the latest advances in their respective technologies.
When you're spending over $2,500 on a TV, you're paying for three main things:
The Samsung S90D OLED and Sony BRAVIA 9 represent two fundamentally different approaches to creating an amazing picture. Let me break down how each works in simple terms.
OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. Think of it like having millions of tiny lights that can each turn completely on or off independently. This means:
Mini LED uses thousands of tiny LED lights behind an LCD panel, with sophisticated dimming zones. Imagine a theater spotlight system but with incredibly precise control. This provides:
Having spent time with both displays, here's how they perform in different scenarios:
The S90D excels in dark room viewing, where its perfect blacks make movies look incredibly cinematic. However, the BRAVIA 9 has an advantage for daytime viewing, where its higher brightness can punch through ambient light more effectively.
Home theater enthusiasts will likely prefer the OLED's perfect blacks and infinite contrast, which create an incredibly immersive experience for movie nights. The Mini LED can still look fantastic, but you might notice some slight blooming (light bleeding) around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
Both TVs support 4K/120Hz gaming and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which prevents screen tearing during gameplay. However, the S90D has a slight edge with:
For sports fans and daytime TV viewers, the BRAVIA 9 has a clear advantage. Its higher brightness means you'll see:
The S90D uses Samsung's Tizen platform, which offers:
The BRAVIA 9 runs Google TV, providing:
While both TVs list around $2,700, the S90D has seen more aggressive sales, sometimes dropping to $1,700. This can make it a significantly better value when on sale.
Consider these factors when evaluating value:
Choose the Samsung S90D OLED if:
Choose the Sony BRAVIA 9 Mini LED if:
After spending time with both displays, I lean toward the Samsung S90D for my home theater setup. The perfect blacks and infinite contrast create an unmatched movie-watching experience in a controlled lighting environment. However, I can easily recommend the BRAVIA 9 for bright living rooms or where maximum HDR impact is desired.
Remember that both of these TVs represent the cutting edge of their respective technologies, and either one will provide an excellent viewing experience. The key is matching the TV's strengths to your specific viewing environment and habits.
For the price-conscious buyer, I'd recommend watching for sales on the S90D, as its periodic discounts can make it an exceptional value while still delivering premium performance.
The future remains bright for both technologies, with OLED continuing to improve brightness levels and Mini LED increasing dimming zone counts for better contrast. Whichever you choose, you'll be getting one of the best TVs available in 2024.
| Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV ($2,700) | Sony BRAVIA 9 65" Mini LED ($2,698) |
|---|---|
| Display Technology - Determines fundamental picture characteristics and viewing experience | |
| OLED (perfect blacks, infinite contrast, better viewing angles) | Mini LED (higher brightness, no burn-in risk) |
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| 1,000 nits (good for moderate lighting) | 2,000+ nits (excellent for bright rooms) |
| Contrast Ratio - Affects picture depth and realism | |
| Infinite (perfect blacks) | 25,000:1 (very good but visible blooming) |
| Gaming Features - Important for next-gen console gaming | |
| 4K@144Hz, VRR, 9.8ms input lag | 4K@120Hz, VRR, 12ms input lag |
| Smart Platform - Affects daily usability and app access | |
| Tizen OS (streamlined but limited customization) | Google TV (more flexible, better recommendations) |
| Audio System - Built-in sound quality matters if not using external speakers | |
| 40W 2.1ch (adequate but basic) | 70W 2.2.2ch (better spatial audio) |
| Power Consumption - Impacts annual operating cost | |
| 186W typical (more efficient) | 310W typical (higher energy usage) |
| Best Use Case - Most suitable viewing environment | |
| Dark/controlled rooms, serious gaming, movie watching | Bright rooms, daytime viewing, sports watching |
The Samsung S90D OLED TV ($2,700) is superior for dedicated home theater rooms due to its perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio. In controlled lighting, OLED technology provides a more cinematic experience than the BRAVIA 9's Mini LED display.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 ($2,698) significantly outperforms the S90D in bright rooms, with peak brightness exceeding 2,000 nits compared to the OLED's 1,000 nits. This makes it better for daytime viewing and rooms with large windows.
Both TVs feature HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K/120Hz gaming. The Samsung S90D has a slight edge with 144Hz capability and lower input lag, making it marginally better for competitive gaming.
The Samsung OLED S90D offers superior viewing angles with minimal color shift or brightness loss from side positions. This makes it ideal for wide seating arrangements in home theaters.
Yes, the BRAVIA 9 features a more powerful 70W 2.2.2-channel audio system compared to the S90D's 40W 2.1-channel setup. However, for home theater use, we recommend an external sound system with either TV.
Both offer excellent 4K performance, but the Samsung S90D provides better contrast and shadow detail in dark scenes, making it superior for movie watching in controlled lighting conditions.
Both TVs handle motion exceptionally well, but the Samsung S90D has slightly better motion clarity due to OLED's near-instant response time, making it excellent for fast-moving content.
While the Samsung S90D has improved burn-in protection, it remains a potential long-term concern. The Sony BRAVIA 9 uses Mini LED technology which isn't susceptible to burn-in.
The Sony BRAVIA 9 offers brighter HDR highlights, while the Samsung S90D provides better contrast. For dark room HDR viewing, the OLED is superior; for bright room HDR, the BRAVIA 9 performs better.
The Sony BRAVIA 9's Google TV platform offers more customization and better content recommendations, while the S90D's Tizen OS is simpler but more limited. Both support major streaming apps.
Yes, both TVs justify their premium price for home theater enthusiasts. The Samsung S90D offers better value when on sale (often $1,700), while the BRAVIA 9 maintains consistent pricing but delivers exceptional bright-room performance.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: bestbuy.com - valueelectronics.com - youtube.com - cnet.com - bestbuy.com - videoandaudiocenter.com - youtube.com - samsung.com - samsung.com - pcrichard.com - samsung.com - bestbuy.com - bestbuy.com - youtube.com - whathifi.com - crutchfield.com - rtings.com - pcrichard.com - merlinstv.com - youtube.com - sony.ca - electronics.sony.com
