The Samsung S95F won because it solves the one problem every other gaming TV ignores: glare. RTINGS described its Glare Free 2.0 matte coating as a "black hole" that swallows reflections from windows, lamps, and overhead lights. The Viewing Angle called it "actual wizardry." In a bright living room, every glossy OLED turns into a mirror during dark scenes. The S95F does not.
The anti-glare story would mean nothing if the panel underneath were mediocre. It's not. The QD-OLED delivers pixel-level contrast with color volume that RTINGS rates outstanding. Pete Matheson measured input lag under 10 milliseconds. Tech With KG crowned it the overall best gaming TV and highlighted Game Motion Plus, which interpolates 30fps console games to feel like 60fps with low enough latency to stay playable.
Four HDMI 2.1 ports at 165Hz handle a PC, PS5, Xbox, and soundbar simultaneously. The One Connect box routes all cables through a single thin cord to the panel, so your wall-mount looks clean. Samsung's VRR support covers FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync. Every gaming spec checkbox is filled.
What It Won't Do
Tizen is the S95F's biggest liability. Pete Matheson called the OS sluggish and bloated right out of the box. The Viewing Angle went harder: forced account creation, intrusive ads on the home screen, and the overall feel of a "free streaming stick" embedded in a $2,500 TV. Samsung also refuses to support Dolby Vision, opting for its own HDR10+ format instead. If you watch a lot of Netflix or Disney+ Dolby Vision content on Xbox, you'll notice the difference. And RTINGS flagged a specific side effect of the matte coating: direct light hitting the panel raises the otherwise perfect OLED blacks to a faint purple or gray tint.
The TCL QM6K won Best Value because it delivers specs that cost $2,000 three years ago for under $500. The Viewing Angle called it "the most pleasant surprise of the year." RTINGS named it their best budget TV. Jon Rettinger said it "blew me away for the price." The consensus is unusually uniform.
The QD-Mini-LED panel supports 4K at 144Hz natively, and RTINGS confirmed it can push 288Hz at 1080p for competitive shooters. Quantum dot color accuracy is the real surprise here. In a blind comparison, The Viewing Angle's wife picked the QM6K's picture over a $1,400 Sony. Skin tones render with what The Viewing Angle described as "near monitor-level accuracy," something budget TVs have never done before.
Google TV runs clean and snappy. Both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are supported, which neither Samsung OLED can claim. At $498, the QM6K costs less than a single year of a flagship TV's depreciation.
What It Won't Do
Two HDMI 2.1 ports. That's it. If you own a PS5, an Xbox, and an eARC soundbar, you're already one port short. Jon Rettinger and The Viewing Angle both flagged this as the QM6K's most frustrating limitation. The VA panel also has narrow viewing angles, so colors wash out fast if anyone sits to the side. HDR brightness tops out around 812 nits, which means highlights don't explode off the screen the way they do on a $2,000 OLED. And in dark rooms, blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds is visible.
Who Should Buy Which
Samsung S95F 65"
A QD-OLED with anti-glare coating so effective RTINGS calls the screen a black hole
- Your living room has windows or overhead lights that create glare on a glossy TV
- You connect multiple HDMI 2.1 devices and want clean cable management with the One Connect box
- You game at 165Hz on PC and want the lowest input lag in a QD-OLED
- You watch sports, movies, and game on the same TV and want one panel that handles all three
- Your budget is $2,000-2,500 and you consider the TV a 5+ year investment
TCL QM6K 65"
QD-Mini-LED with 144Hz gaming for under $500. The Viewing Angle calls it the most pleasant surprise of the year
- You want 4K/144Hz gaming with quantum dot color for the price of a nice dinner out
- Dolby Vision support matters to you and Samsung's HDR10+-only approach is a deal-breaker
- Your seating is directly in front of the TV, not spread across a wide living room
- You're a competitive FPS player who values the 288Hz mode at 1080p for reaction time
- You need a second TV for a bedroom, office, or dorm and don't want to compromise on gaming specs