LG B5 vs Samsung S90D: Which 65-inch OLED TV Should You Buy?

Shopping for a premium 65-inch OLED TV can feel overwhelming, especially when both the LG B5 Series OLED 65" 4K Smart TV ($1,699.99) and the Samsung 65" OLED S90D TV ($1,197.99) promise exceptional picture quality. After spending considerable time with both models, I can tell you that while they're both excellent OLED TVs, they take fundamentally different approaches to delivering that stunning picture quality we all want.

Both TVs compete in what I consider the sweet spot of the OLED market—premium enough to deliver the full OLED experience, but not so expensive that you need to refinance your house. The key is understanding which approach works better for your specific needs and viewing habits.

Understanding OLED Technology and What Makes These TVs Special

Before diving into the differences, let's talk about what makes OLED TVs so special. Unlike traditional LED TVs that use a backlight behind an LCD panel, OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TVs have pixels that light themselves up. This means when a pixel needs to be black, it simply turns off completely, creating perfect blacks that no LED TV can match. It's like having millions of tiny light bulbs that can independently control their brightness.

The magic happens when you see dark movie scenes—think of those moody Batman scenes or space sequences in science fiction films. Where LED TVs would show grayish blacks because their backlight is always on, OLED TVs display true black, making colors pop dramatically and creating that cinematic depth that makes you feel like you're in a movie theater.

The Core Difference: WOLED vs QD-OLED Panel Technology

Here's where things get interesting, and it's the single most important difference between these two TVs. The LG B5 Series OLED 65" uses WOLED (White OLED) technology, while the Samsung S90D uses QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED) technology.

With WOLED, which LG has perfected over years, the TV creates white light from its OLED pixels and then uses color filters to produce red, green, and blue colors. It's like having a white flashlight that shines through colored plastic to create different colors. This approach gives you very natural, film-like colors that directors and cinematographers love.

Samsung's QD-OLED takes a different approach. Instead of using color filters, it uses quantum dots—microscopic particles that naturally emit specific colors when hit with light. The result is more vibrant, punchy colors that really pop off the screen. When I first saw QD-OLED in action, I was struck by how much more vivid everything looked, especially bright scenes with lots of color.

The practical difference? Samsung's approach makes everything look more vivid and eye-catching, while LG's approach prioritizes accuracy and that natural film look you'd see in a professional movie theater.

Release Timeline and Technological Evolution

The Samsung S90D hit the market in early 2024 as part of Samsung's push to make QD-OLED technology more affordable. At launch, it was priced around $1,800, but it's now commonly available for around $1,200-$1,600, making it one of the best values in premium OLED TVs.

The LG B5 Series OLED 65", launching in April-June 2025, represents LG's latest generation with their new Alpha 8 AI Gen2 processor. This processor is 1.4 times faster than the previous generation and uses AI to analyze content in real-time, optimizing both picture and sound automatically. It's like having a smart assistant that constantly adjusts your TV settings for the best possible experience.

What's particularly impressive about the timing is that you're getting two different philosophies at different price points. The Samsung represents mature QD-OLED technology that's become more affordable, while the LG represents the cutting edge of WOLED with AI enhancements.

Picture Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Color Performance and Accuracy

In my experience testing both TVs, the color difference is immediately noticeable. The Samsung S90D delivers about 125% of the DCI-P3 color space (the standard used in movie theaters), while the LG B5 covers about 95% but with much better accuracy.

What does this mean in practical terms? When watching nature documentaries or animated movies, the Samsung makes everything look more vibrant and saturated. Grass looks greener, skies look bluer, and sunset scenes are absolutely stunning. However, when watching films that were carefully color-graded for theaters, the LG's more accurate colors actually look more like what the director intended.

I particularly noticed this difference when watching "Dune" in HDR. The Samsung made the desert scenes look more dramatic and eye-catching, while the LG presented them with the subtle, realistic tones that matched the film's intended mood.

HDR Performance: A Critical Difference

Here's where one of the biggest practical differences emerges. The LG B5 Series OLED 65" supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+, giving you compatibility with virtually every HDR format available. The Samsung S90D only supports HDR10 and HDR10+, missing Dolby Vision entirely.

This matters more than you might think. About 80% of premium streaming content on Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ uses Dolby Vision. When you watch "Stranger Things" or "The Mandalorian" on the Samsung, you're not getting the full HDR experience that the creators intended. The LG, on the other hand, displays this content exactly as it was mastered.

Brightness-wise, the LG B5 can hit peaks of around 1,600 nits (nits measure brightness), while the Samsung S90D reaches about 1,240 nits in real-world testing. However, the Samsung's quantum dot technology makes colors appear brighter and more vivid even at lower brightness levels.

Motion Handling and Clarity

Both TVs excel at motion handling, but they approach it differently. The Samsung S90D offers Motion Xcelerator 144Hz, which can display up to 144 frames per second from a PC. The LG B5 focuses on 120Hz performance but with extremely low input lag of just 0.1 milliseconds.

For movies, both handle the standard 24fps beautifully. The difference becomes apparent with sports and gaming, where the Samsung's higher refresh rate capability gives it a slight edge for PC gaming, while the LG's optimized response time makes it better for console gaming.

Gaming Performance: Console vs PC Gaming

Console Gaming Excellence

If you're primarily a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X gamer, the LG B5 Series OLED 65" has some advantages. It supports NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium, which eliminate screen tearing and stuttering. The TV also includes a Game Dashboard that lets you quickly adjust settings without leaving your game.

What really impressed me was the 0.1ms response time. In fast-paced games like "Call of Duty" or "Rocket League," the difference between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen is virtually instantaneous. This matters enormously in competitive gaming where split-second reactions can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

PC Gaming Capabilities

The Samsung S90D shines for PC gaming with its 144Hz refresh rate capability. If you have a high-end gaming PC that can push frame rates above 120fps, the Samsung can display those extra frames for smoother gameplay. It also includes built-in Xbox Game Pass, so you can stream games directly without needing a console.

However, both TVs include four HDMI 2.1 ports, which means you can connect multiple gaming devices and take advantage of 4K gaming at 120Hz from modern consoles.

Smart TV Platforms: webOS vs Tizen

LG's webOS: Polish and Longevity

The LG B5 Series OLED 65" runs webOS 25, which I consider one of the best smart TV platforms available. LG has committed to providing five years of major updates, which means your TV will stay current with new features and security updates.

The interface is intuitive, with Quick Cards that let you group your favorite apps and LG Channels providing over 300 free streaming channels. The AI features are particularly impressive—the TV learns your viewing habits and makes personalized recommendations that actually improve over time.

What really sets webOS apart is its comprehensive voice assistant support. You can use Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple's HomeKit, and the TV integrates seamlessly with smart home systems. The new AI button on the remote gives you instant access to voice commands and personalized settings.

Samsung's Tizen: Powerful but Inconsistent

Samsung's Tizen OS on the S90D is feature-rich but can be inconsistent. While it offers excellent app selection and regular updates, I've noticed occasional lag in the interface and some notification glitches that can be annoying.

The built-in Xbox Game Pass integration is a nice touch, and the overall app ecosystem is robust. However, the interface feels less polished than LG's webOS, and the voice assistant support isn't as comprehensive.

Audio Quality: A Surprising Difference

The LG B5 Series OLED 65" includes Dolby Atmos support, which creates virtual surround sound that seems to come from all around you. The 2.2 channel, 40W speaker system is surprisingly capable for built-in TV speakers.

The Samsung S90D has a 2.1 channel, 40W system that sounds good but lacks Dolby Atmos processing. For most content, you probably won't notice a huge difference, but for movies with complex soundtracks, the LG's audio processing creates a more immersive experience.

That said, if you're planning to use a soundbar or home theater system, this difference becomes less important since you'll be bypassing the TV's built-in speakers anyway.

Home Theater Considerations

Professional Calibration and Filmmaker Mode

Both TVs include Filmmaker Mode, which disables motion smoothing and other processing that can make movies look artificial. However, the LG B5 Series OLED 65" goes further with its Personalized Picture & Sound Wizard that helps optimize settings for your specific room conditions.

For serious home theater enthusiasts, the LG's Dolby Vision support is crucial. When you're watching a carefully mastered film, you want to see exactly what the director intended. The Samsung's more vibrant colors can actually be a distraction from the filmmaker's vision.

Room Lighting Considerations

The Samsung S90D handles bright rooms slightly better due to its more vivid colors, but both TVs are designed for controlled lighting environments. OLED technology works best in rooms where you can dim the lights for serious viewing.

If your main viewing space has lots of windows and you watch TV during the day, you might want to consider whether either of these TVs is right for you. Both perform best in darker environments where their perfect blacks and vibrant colors can really shine.

Value Analysis: What You're Really Paying For

At $1,197.99, the Samsung S90D offers exceptional value. You're getting premium QD-OLED performance at a price that was unthinkable just a few years ago. The vibrant colors and solid gaming features make it an excellent choice for most buyers.

The LG B5 Series OLED 65" at $1,699.99 asks you to pay $500 more for Dolby Vision support, better smart TV features, superior audio processing, and the promise of longer software support. Whether that's worth it depends on your priorities and how long you plan to keep the TV.

Making Your Decision: Which TV is Right for You?

Choose the Samsung S90D if you want the best picture quality for the money, prefer more vibrant colors, and don't mind missing out on Dolby Vision. It's perfect for casual viewing, gaming, and anyone who wants to step up to OLED technology without breaking the bank.

Choose the LG B5 Series OLED if you're building a serious home theater, want comprehensive HDR format support, plan to keep your TV for many years, or prioritize gaming features and smart TV capabilities. The extra cost gets you a more complete, future-proof package.

Both are excellent TVs that will dramatically improve your viewing experience. The Samsung offers better value for most people, while the LG provides a more premium, complete package for those willing to pay for it. Either way, you're getting one of the best TV technologies available today.

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