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For most buyers, the LG C4 is the safer all-round OLED. It supports Dolby Vision, has four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 inputs, strong processing for ordinary streaming video and a 4K/120Hz gaming feature set that suits PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The Samsung S90H is the better specialist choice when your room has troublesome reflections or you want 4K PC gaming at up to 165Hz. Its Glare Free screen, HDR10+ support, NQ4 AI Gen3 processor and newer 2026 design give it a clear case, but the comparison is conditional: there is no controlled, same-size independent test of the S90H directly against the C4.
The models also come from different generations. Samsung announced the S90H as part of its 2026 OLED range on April 2, 2026, while the C4 is LG’s 2024-generation television. That age difference affects current sale pricing, available sizes and which features matter most to you.
Quick verdict: choose by room, content and gaming platform
| Your priority | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Movies with Dolby Vision discs or streaming | LG C4 | Dolby Vision support and the safer movie-oriented format choice. |
| Bright room or windows opposite the screen | Samsung S90H | Glare Free treatment is designed to reduce reflections, with a possible small black-level trade-off. |
| PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X | LG C4 | 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming up to 120Hz cover current console limits. |
| High-end PC gaming | Samsung S90H | Four HDMI 2.1 inputs are rated up to 4K/165Hz, useful with a graphics card that can actually drive that signal. |
| Low-quality or heavily compressed streaming | LG C4 | A related-generation independent comparison found better low-bitrate smoothing on LG; this is directional evidence, not a direct S90H test. |
| Best deal after discounts | Whichever is cheaper in your exact size | C4 prices have fallen sharply, while S90H pricing and stock vary by size, region and model code. |
What the Samsung S90H and LG C4 actually are
Samsung S90H: a 2026 OLED built around glare control and PC refresh
The S90H is Samsung’s 2026 OLED model. Samsung’s US listing identifies the 65-inch version as QN65S90HAE/QN65S90HAEXZA and highlights OLED HDR+, Glare Free, the NQ4 AI Gen3 processor and an Ultimate Gaming Pack. Samsung announced the range on April 2, 2026, so availability and regional model numbers can differ from the product shown on the US site.
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LG C4: a discounted 2024 model with broad format support
The C4 is LG’s 2024-generation OLED. It uses four HDMI 2.1 ports, supports 4K at 120Hz, variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low-latency mode (ALLM), and carries Nvidia 144Hz certification for compatible PC setups. LG also supports Dolby Vision gaming at up to 120Hz.
Because the C4 is an older generation, its value depends heavily on sale price. TechRadar’s June 20, 2025 assessment reported a 42-inch price around $699 and said the 65-inch version could fall below $1,300 during sales in the United States. Those figures were observed at that time, not permanent list prices.
Core specifications at a glance
| Specification | Samsung S90H | LG C4 |
|---|---|---|
| Generation | 2026 | 2024 |
| Resolution | 3,840 × 2,160 | 4K; 3,840 × 2,160 |
| Panel type | Self-emissive OLED | Self-emissive OLED |
| Maximum refresh rate | Up to 165Hz with VRR | Up to 144Hz for compatible PC input; 120Hz console support |
| HDMI 2.1 inputs | Four, up to 4K/165Hz | Four, up to 4K/120Hz |
| HDR formats documented | HDR10+, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10+ Gaming, HDR10+ Advanced, HDR10 and HLG | Dolby Vision support; Dolby Vision gaming up to 120Hz |
| Variable refresh and latency features | VRR and Samsung gaming features | VRR, ALLM and Nvidia 144Hz certification |
| Measured HDR brightness | 1,497 nits at a 10% window in Filmmaker mode, Tom’s Guide, 2026 | Not stated in the cited comparison |
| Measured SDR brightness | 226 nits at a 10% window in Filmmaker mode, Tom’s Guide, 2026 | Not stated in the cited comparison |
| Measured input lag | 9.3 milliseconds in Filmmaker mode, Tom’s Guide, 2026 | 9.2 milliseconds at 60Hz, TechRadar, 2025 |
| Audio specification documented here | 2.1-channel, 40W on the 55-inch review sample | Not stated in the cited comparison |
The brightness and input-lag figures are measurements of specific review samples and modes, not guarantees for every screen size. A 55-inch S90H result should not be treated as the performance of an 83-inch model, and the C4’s 9.2ms result was measured at 60Hz.
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Why the S90H makes more sense in a bright room
Reflections are the S90H’s clearest practical advantage. Samsung says Glare Free minimizes glare, and Tom’s Guide found the anti-glare screen useful around windows. That can preserve shadow detail and make subtitles or dark game scenes easier to see when you cannot control the room lighting.
There is a trade-off. Tom’s Guide noted that the treatment can raise black levels slightly. In a dark room, where reflections are already limited, a conventional glossy presentation can look deeper and more direct. The S90H therefore is not automatically the better-looking television in every environment; its advantage is consistency when light hits the panel.
Why the C4 is the safer movie choice
Dolby Vision is the key format difference. The C4 supports Dolby Vision, including gaming at up to 120Hz, while the S90H’s documented HDR ecosystem centers on HDR10+ variants. If your disc collection, streaming service or receiver workflow is built around Dolby Vision, the C4 avoids a format compromise.
An RTINGS comparison of the related Samsung S90C and LG C4 found that LG handled low-bitrate content more effectively. That matters for older television episodes, heavily compressed live streams and lower-quality clips, where smoothing can hide banding and block noise. It is useful directional evidence about the two companies’ processing approaches, but it is not a measured S90H-versus-C4 result.
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Black level, color and contrast: what the evidence can and cannot prove
Both televisions are OLEDs, so each pixel can be controlled independently and black areas do not require a backlight to remain illuminated. That gives both models the fundamental OLED strengths of pixel-level contrast and no conventional LCD backlight haloing.
Do not treat the available evidence as proof that the S90H has universally better color, contrast or HDR impact. The independent comparison available for those broader conclusions tested the S90C, not the S90H. The S90H’s 1,497-nit HDR measurement is impressive under Tom’s Guide’s 10% Filmmaker-mode window, but window size, picture mode, screen size and test method all affect brightness numbers.
Gaming: 165Hz PC play versus Dolby Vision and console coverage
Choose the S90H for a high-refresh PC
The S90H is the more capable choice if your gaming PC can output 4K above 120Hz. Its four HDMI 2.1 ports are rated up to 4K/165Hz, and VRR is intended to keep the displayed frame rate synchronized with the GPU. The extra 45Hz over the C4’s 120Hz console ceiling or 144Hz PC certification is most noticeable in competitive games that can sustain very high frame rates.
That advantage has practical requirements: a suitable graphics card, a cable certified for the needed bandwidth, a game that renders fast enough and a PC setting that selects the correct refresh rate. If your system normally runs between 60 and 120 frames per second, the S90H’s 165Hz capability will not by itself make those games faster.
Choose the C4 for current consoles and Dolby Vision gaming
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X target 4K/120Hz rather than 165Hz, so the C4’s 4K/120Hz HDMI 2.1 support already matches the consoles’ practical limit. VRR and ALLM provide the expected console features, while Dolby Vision gaming up to 120Hz gives the C4 an HDR option the S90H does not document.
The C4 also has Nvidia 144Hz certification, which makes it a straightforward match for a compatible gaming PC that does not need 165Hz. Its four HDMI 2.1 ports mean you can connect multiple consoles and a PC without reserving a single high-bandwidth input.
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Input lag and game-mode brightness need context
Tom’s Guide measured 9.3ms input lag for the S90H in Filmmaker mode. TechRadar measured 9.2ms for the C4 at 60Hz. Those values are effectively the same for ordinary play, but they were not produced by the same lab, mode or test protocol, so they do not establish a head-to-head winner.
RTINGS found the related S90C better for gaming than the C4 because the C4 became noticeably dimmer in Game Mode. Use that as a warning to consider game-mode brightness, not as a direct S90H measurement. The S90H may suit people who prioritize a bright gaming image, but a controlled S90H-versus-C4 test would be needed to quantify the difference.
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Samsung’s HDR10+ approach
The S90H lists HDR10+, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10+ Gaming, HDR10+ Advanced, HDR10 and HLG. This is a broad HDR10-family implementation, with adaptive and gaming variants intended to adjust presentation for room light or game playback.
LG’s Dolby Vision approach
The C4 supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision gaming up to 120Hz. For viewers who routinely select Dolby Vision titles, that support is a simple deciding factor. If your content is primarily HDR10 or HDR10+, the format gap matters less and room reflections or price may carry more weight.
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The S90H specification documented in Tom’s Guide’s 55-inch review is a 2.1-channel, 40W audio system. That is the measured configuration for that review sample; no comparable C4 wattage figure is available, so a watt-for-watt audio conclusion would be misleading.
Both models provide four HDMI 2.1 inputs, which is unusually useful for a mixed setup with a soundbar, two consoles and a gaming PC. The important difference is their rated ceiling: 4K/165Hz on S90H versus 4K/120Hz on C4. Confirm the exact regional model and port labeling before buying, especially if you plan to route a PC through an AV receiver rather than directly into the television.
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How to interpret the C4 prices
TechRadar’s June 20, 2025 value assessment reported the 42-inch C4 at about $699 and said the 65-inch version could drop below $1,300 during sales in the United States. These were time-specific sale observations. They should not be used as a current worldwide price list, and larger or smaller sizes can have very different discounts.
How to check an S90H listing
Tom’s Guide documented S90H pricing and availability for a 55-inch model and listed other screen sizes from 42 to 83 inches, but the exact amount depends on retailer, region and size. Samsung’s US product code for the 65-inch set is QN65S90HAE/QN65S90HAEXZA. Match the code, diagonal size, tuner region and warranty terms before comparing a listing with an LG C4.
Because the models are two generations apart, compare the final delivered price for the same screen size rather than comparing launch positioning. A discounted C4 can be the better value even when the S90H has newer processing and a higher refresh ceiling.
A practical buying decision in five steps
- Measure the room’s light. If a window or lamp reflects directly toward the screen and curtains are not a realistic solution, give the S90H’s Glare Free treatment priority. If you mostly watch at night, this advantage is less important.
- List your HDR sources. Choose the C4 when Dolby Vision is central to your discs, streaming subscriptions or console games. Choose the S90H when HDR10+ formats fit your library and you value Samsung’s HDR10+ Gaming options.
- Match the television to the gaming device. For PS5 or Xbox Series X, both provide the relevant 4K/120Hz HDMI 2.1 path; the C4 adds Dolby Vision gaming. For a PC capable of more than 144 frames per second at 4K, the S90H’s 165Hz input is the distinctive feature.
- Decide how much processing matters. If you watch compressed live streams or older low-bitrate shows, LG’s documented advantage in the related-generation comparison favors the C4. If your sources are high-quality 4K discs and modern streams, that difference may be less visible.
- Compare the exact deal. Check screen size, model code, retailer, return policy, warranty and delivery cost. Prices are volatile and regional, so a universal value winner would be unreliable.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the S90C test as an S90H test. The RTINGS gaming and processing findings are from S90C versus C4. They can inform a cautious expectation, but they are not measurements of the S90H.
- Assuming 165Hz improves console performance. Current PS5 and Xbox Series X output targets make 4K/120Hz the relevant ceiling for those consoles.
- Comparing brightness numbers without their conditions. The S90H’s 1,497-nit HDR and 226-nit SDR figures were both measured at a 10% window in Filmmaker mode. They are not full-screen brightness guarantees.
- Ignoring reflections because OLED has perfect blacks. A reflection can lift perceived black even on a self-emissive panel. Room placement can matter more than a small laboratory contrast difference.
- Buying by diagonal size alone. Confirm the regional model code and input specification; the 65-inch US code does not automatically describe every S90H sold worldwide.
Which one should you buy?
Buy the LG C4 if you want the least-compromised movie and streaming package, Dolby Vision, excellent console compatibility or the strongest value at a sale price. It is the recommendation for a typical mixed household that watches films, television and console games without needing 165Hz PC input.
Buy the Samsung S90H if your main problem is glare, your room is bright, or your gaming PC can exploit 4K/165Hz. Its Glare Free panel, four 4K/165Hz HDMI 2.1 inputs, HDR10+ feature set and 2026 NQ4 AI Gen3 processing make it the more specialized choice.
Neither verdict is universal. The S90H is newer, but the C4 may be substantially cheaper; the S90H is better equipped for very high-refresh PC gaming, but the C4 supports Dolby Vision; and the glare treatment that helps in a sunny room can slightly raise blacks. Decide using your room, HDR library, gaming hardware and the current price for the exact size you will install.
Quick Recap
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