Samsung QE42S90H
Published date: 19/Sept/2026
Published date: 19/Sept/2026
Currently unavailable
Key Features
Samsung QE42S90H
Key Features
Currently unavailable
What Customers Say
Owners of the S90H praise a clear, colourful picture with deep blacks and bright highlights that several call the best they have seen from Samsung, and most say it needed little or no adjustment out of the box. The matte screen is the reason many chose it: buyers with large windows and patio doors report reflections cut to almost nothing, and one owner using the set as a computer monitor finds most of the screen reflection-free, with a slightly raised black level in strong light as the only trade-off. Gaming on a current console draws strong praise, the built-in speakers are described as good enough to skip a soundbar, and one first-time buyer says the ambient-light sensor makes it ideal for a bedroom. Reviews below cover the S90H range from 42 to 65 inches, which shares the same panel type and processing with this 42-inch set; owner reviews naming the 42-inch model are few.
The repeated complaint is that BBC iPlayer was not yet available on the 2026 model at the time of purchase, and two owners describe a glitch where BBC channels showed a split screen until another channel was selected, one of them on this 42-inch size.
For a bedroom, a desk or a compact living room, owners rate the S90H a strong buy for its glare-free OLED picture and its gaming credentials, provided the missing catch-up app is something you can wait for.
Who Should Buy This
- Gamers wanting a 165 Hz OLED with VRR and G-SYNC on every HDMI input
- Desk and bedroom buyers wanting a 42-inch OLED that doubles as a monitor
- Bright-room viewers wanting a matte OLED screen that cuts reflections
- Film fans wanting deep OLED blacks with HDR10+ and HLG support
- UK viewers wanting twin terrestrial and satellite tuners with recording
Who Should Skip It
- Dolby Vision viewers wanting that HDR format on streaming and discs
- Anyone wanting strong built-in sound without adding a soundbar
- Buyers who rely on BBC iPlayer and cannot wait for it to arrive
- Buyers wanting a confirmed manufacturer warranty length on the spec sheet
What Experts Says
Overall Assessment and Positioning
The Samsung QE42S90H is the smallest size of Samsung's 2026 S90H OLED range, which sits above the entry-level S85 series and below the flagship S95H. It brings the range's anti-reflective screen and 165 Hz panel down to a size that suits a desk, a bedroom or a compact living room, with the ports on the set itself rather than a separate connection box. At 8.3 kg without its stand and with a 200 x 200 mm VESA pattern it is the easiest S90H to wall-mount or stand on a desk.
Key Strengths and Standout Features
The 4K OLED panel is driven by the NQ4 AI Gen3 processor with HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG support; the panel runs at a native 165 Hz and all four HDMI 2.1 inputs accept 4K at 165 Hz with VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro, G-SYNC compatibility, ALLM, HGiG and Game Motion Plus, which makes it a genuine alternative to a large gaming monitor. Two USB-A ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and an Ethernet port cover the connections, and one HDMI carries eARC for a soundbar. Audio is a 20 W 2.0-channel system with Dolby Atmos decoding and Object Tracking Sound Lite, with Q-Symphony for pairing with a compatible Samsung soundbar. Twin DVB-T2, DVB-C and DVB-S2 tuners with a CI+ slot and PVR recording cover UK terrestrial and satellite viewing, and Tizen runs the streaming apps with Alexa built in, plus AirPlay and Google Cast.
Value Proposition and Who It's Best Suited For
This is the S90H for a desk or a small room where a console or PC will be plugged in: the matte screen handles a window behind the sofa or beside the desk and the 165 Hz panel handles the gaming. The honest qualifications are its G energy class in both SDR and HDR, with a stated 52 W SDR and 99 W HDR on-mode draw and 72 kWh a year, the absence of Dolby Vision in favour of HDR10+, a 20 W stereo sound system that is the thinnest in the range, and a manufacturer warranty that Samsung's own page does not state. Buyers who want it mainly as a television rather than a monitor will find the 48-inch S90H a modest step up in price for a larger picture and a 2.1-channel sound system.
Similar Reviews
Video Reviews
ChoiceWise Scores: 76 Out Of 100
The ChoiceWise Score is calculated using a defined methodology based on the features and factors that matter most in this category. Read our full scoring methodology: choicewise.app/methodology#score
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the panel's native refresh rate is 165 Hz and all four HDMI 2.1 inputs accept 4K at 165 Hz, with VRR, FreeSync Premium Pro, G-SYNC compatibility, ALLM and HGiG listed under its gaming features.
Its 42-inch 4K OLED panel, 165 Hz native refresh rate, four HDMI 2.1 inputs and matte anti-reflective screen suit desk use, and the ports are on the set itself rather than a separate connection box.
No, the stated HDR formats are HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG; Dolby Vision is not listed.
It has four HDMI 2.1 inputs, one of which supports eARC, plus two USB-A ports and an Ethernet socket, all on the set itself.
A 20 W 2.0-channel system with Dolby Atmos decoding and Object Tracking Sound Lite, with Q-Symphony support for pairing with a compatible Samsung soundbar.
It carries an energy class of G for both SDR and HDR, with a stated on-mode power demand of 52 W in SDR and 99 W in HDR, and an annual consumption of 72 kWh.
Yes, it has twin DVB-T2, DVB-C and DVB-S2 tuners with a CI+ slot, and PVR recording to USB is supported.
The panel weighs 8.3 kg without its feet and 8.7 kg with them, and it uses a 200 x 200 mm VESA mount.
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ChoiceWise does not perform hands-on product testing for this page. The expert opinion and recommendations are based on third-party reviews and sources, which we analyze and summarize using our editorial process.
ChoiceWise does not perform hands-on product testing for this page. The expert opinion and recommendations are based on third-party reviews and sources, which we analyze and summarize using our editorial process.