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The nomination of the Samsung S95D as TV of the Year 2024 should not cause the same shock as when the Samsung S95D was voted TV of the Year 2024. The Samsung S90C OLED TV ended the reign of LG TV of the Year in 2023but the reason he won this title at TechRadar Choice Awards 2024 is an interesting mix.

It was a combination of sensational AI-powered processing and a matte display. This combination of digital and analog technologies has given the Samsung S95D a step ahead of the competition and has consolidated it as one of the best televisions we have already seen.

When I tested the S95D, I was surprised by how effective its Glare-Free OLED display was. Our TV test room at TechRadar has bright overhead lighting to help us test reflectivity, but the S95D made the job easier, virtually eliminating reflections and screen glare. I could even watch The Batmana notoriously dark film, in full light without being distracting!

Screen reflections are usually kryptonite for the best OLED TVs due to their relatively low brightness levels, and although new Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology gives OLEDs like the LG G4 And Panasonic Z95A A serious boost, we found the S95D and its simple matte display on an incredibly bright next-generation QD-OLED panel to be even better for viewing in bright rooms.

Like I said, the matte screen isn’t the only reason the S95D won – it’s just a big slice of the TV of the Year winning pie. Like other TV makers, Samsung has talked up AI innovations in its TVs at CES 2024, but the S95D legitimately shows how AI can improve picture quality.

When testing the S95D, I marveled at the realistic textures and details. Even the seams of clothing and the cracks in the rocks took on a realistic quality that I had never seen before on television. The S95D’s QD-OLED display panel is one of them, but it’s also Samsung’s Real Depth Enhancer AI feature that contributes to the TV’s spectacularly detailed picture.

Other AI features on the S95D include 4K AI upscaling, which in testing even worked wonders with low-resolution broadcast TV. Another new feature, OLED HDR Pro, further increases brightness, making HDR highlights in images look bolder and more dynamic. In our testing, the S95D produced a peak brightness of 1,868 nits, a brightness increase of more than 35% over its predecessor, the Samsung S95C, and the brightest OLED we tested at this day.

Combine all of these features with the rich colors and powerful contrast provided by the S95D’s QD-OLED panel and you have an exceptional TV that looks great with any source presented to it.

But the S95D doesn’t just offer image quality. It’s packed with features we look for in the best gaming TVs including 4K 144Hz, VRR (with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), HGiG and ALLM support. It also comes with Samsung’s built-in Gaming Hub, a useful destination for gamers wanting to get into the action straight away.

To round it all off, the S95D’s built-in sound allows precise placement thanks to an Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) function. It has a ‘floating’ appearance thanks to a clever stand design, and its external One Connect Box houses all connections with a single connection cable to the TV – ideal for wall mounting and cable management.

The S95D is not perfect. I think one of best soundbars is necessary to add extra audio immersion, and there was some black crushing present in dark scenes when I tested it, but I really can’t fault Samsung’s best OLED TV otherwise.

I saw all the main competitors of the S95D this year: the LG G4, Sony Bravia9, Panasonic Z95A And Philips OLED909 to name a few – and while they all have their strengths and are great TVs, none gave me the same feeling of seeing a leap forward as the S95D. As I said in my review, the Samsung S95D is both “the future of OLED” and “the standard bearer for 2024”. If that doesn’t say Television of the Year, what does?