If you prioritize a better overall picture quality, prefer gaming with high responsiveness, and don't mind paying more, the Samsung S90C OLED is superior, especially for high-framerate gaming due to its higher refresh rate.
However, if you are looking for a TV in an upper midrange price point that performs well in dark rooms for movies and is generally less expensive, the LG A1 OLED could be a good choice, but it won't be as bright in well-lit rooms and has lower gaming performance compared to the Samsung.
Both TVs offer wide viewing angles and support various HDR formats, but they may not perform equally well as a computer monitor. Neither has particularly outstanding speakers. If connecting multiple devices is a priority, the Samsung S90C has an extra HDMI port. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the LG A1 (OLED)
The LG A1 (OLED) has no clear advantages over the Samsung S90C (OLED).
Advantages of the Samsung S90C (OLED)
Very good for bright room
Excellent for dark room
Best in class for gaming
Excellent for movies & TV
Excellent for news, talk, & other TV
Excellent for cartoons & animation
Excellent for use as monitor
Best in class viewing angle
Best in class reflections
Key differences
Picture Quality
8.2/10
9.4/10
10.00/10
CONTRAST
10.00/10
7.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
9.2/10
WOLED
PANEL TYPE
RGB OLED
WBC
PANEL SUB-TYPE
QD-OLED
The Samsung S90C (OLED) has excellent picture quality, while the LG A1 (OLED) has very good picture quality.
Movies & TV
8.9/10
9.4/10
10.00/10
CONTRAST
10.00/10
10.0/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
No
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The Samsung S90C (OLED) is excellent for movies & TV, while the LG A1 (OLED) is very good.
The LG A1 excels in providing deep blacks and an excellent contrast ratio, which is crucial for movie and cinematic TV watching, along with respectable viewing angles and color performance out of the box. The Samsung S90C, while sharing the A1's perfect black levels and contrast, offers additional benefits with superior brightness in HDR content, a wider color gamut, and better viewing angles, making it a stronger choice for vibrant and immersive cinematic experiences.
Sports
8.0/10
8.7/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.2/10
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.8/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The Samsung S90C (OLED) and LG A1 (OLED) are both very good for sports, though the Samsung S90C (OLED) is somewhat better.
The LG A1 excels in watching sports due to its excellent response time and wide viewing angles, ensuring clear images without blur during fast action, and consistent picture quality from different angles. The Samsung S90C also performs admirably in the same conditions, with the added benefit of better motion processing and superior reflection handling, making it preferable for environments with varying light conditions.
Gaming
7.0/10
10.0/10
9.0/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
10.0/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.2/10
100.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
100.0/100
6.3/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.4/10
The Samsung S90C (OLED) is best in class for gaming, while the LG A1 (OLED) is good.
The Samsung S90C outperforms the LG A1 in gaming due to a higher refresh rate and better input lag, resulting in smoother motion and more responsive gameplay. While both TVs have excellent response times, the S90C's additional gaming features make it the superior choice for gamers.
Cartoons & Animation
8.0/10
9.3/10
8.0/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
9.2/10
7.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
9.2/10
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.8/10
7.1/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
8.8/10
9.2/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
9.8/10
The Samsung S90C (OLED) is excellent for cartoons & animation, while the LG A1 (OLED) is very good.
The LG A1 delivers good colors right out of the setup process and has a very good range of colors it can display, important for vibrant animation viewing, but its color volume is only good, possibly leading to less rich color reproduction in some scenarios. On the other hand, the Samsung S90C stands out with very good initial color accuracy, an excellent color gamut that can present a wide array of colors, and an excellent color volume, ensuring that it can maintain those colors across a variety of shades and luminance levels, which is preferable for animated content that relies heavily on bright, varied colors.
News, Talk, & Other TV
8.4/10
9.1/10
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.8/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
The Samsung S90C (OLED) is excellent for news, talk, & other TV, while the LG A1 (OLED) is very good.
The LG A1 offers fair SDR brightness, which is sufficient for news and TV programs, and its upscaling is very good to enhance lower-resolution content. In comparison, the Samsung S90C provides good SDR brightness, which is beneficial in various lighting conditions, and it also features very good upscaling capabilities along with slightly more effective local dimming and motion processing for an improved viewing experience.
Bright Room
6.6/10
8.5/10
8.8/10
VIEWING ANGLE
10.0/10
6.3/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
7.8/10
6.1/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
8.0/10
8.8/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
10.0/10
The Samsung S90C (OLED) is very good for bright room, while the LG A1 (OLED) is only fair.
The LG A1's performance in a bright room is lower due to its fair SDR and HDR brightness and very good reflections handling, while the Samsung S90C excels with its good SDR brightness, very good HDR brightness, and best reflections handling, allowing it to maintain clearer visibility and vibrancy under strong ambient light. Contrast, color volume, and color gamut, where both TVs perform very well, play a secondary role in bright room performance, enhancing overall picture quality but not as critical as brightness and reflections in this context.
Cost
$1,148
$1,279
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The LG A1 (OLED) has a price of $1,148 and the Samsung S90C (OLED) costs $1,279.
"Samsung S90C is the company's attempt at making its QD-OLED technology more affordable. You get high-end pictures, great processing, top gaming tech, and a sharp design."
Get a great deal on the LG A1 (OLED) or the Samsung S90C (OLED)
About LG
LG, a prominent TV brand from Korea, has played a significant role in popularizing OLED TVs. OLED technology is hailed as the future of TV technology. Their TVs employ WebOS, a proprietary smart TV software that not only offers seamless functionality but also includes gaming-specific features, earning praise from players worldwide. Often regarded as the gateway to unparalleled viewing experiences, LG's mid-range OLEDs come highly recommended, making them a worthwhile investment for those willing to stretch their budget for superior quality.
About Samsung
Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, holds the title of being the largest global TV vendor in terms of units sold. They offer a diverse lineup of TV products that cater to various budget ranges. A notable achievement in recent years is the development of Quantum Dots, a technology that enhances color reproduction, resulting in richer and more vibrant hues. Samsung TVs are well-regarded for their high manufacturing quality and user-friendly software, making them an excellent choice for consumers seeking an intuitive viewing experience.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec TVs team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest TV information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the TV team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and TVs Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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TVs Expert
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