Are you eyeing a Micro RGB TV as your next living room TV? You might be considering two of the latest models: the Samsung R85H and Samsung R95H. There’s a pretty big delta in price between them, so your biggest question is probably which one is worth the upgrade?
You can rely on specs to help you decide. These paint a pretty good picture of why the Samsung R95H Micro RGB TV is on a higher price point than Samsung R85H. But to provide more insight into the decision, I sat down for hours with both TVs. I watched them side by side at the Samsung Canada head office in Toronto to compare. Note that I was given access to the 65-inch R85H and 75-inch R95H TVs. This size difference was accounted for in my evaluation.
Specs comparison
First, let’s break it down by specs in this handy table. This will give you a quick view of how these two Micro RGB TVs compare.
| Key TV specs | Samsung R85H Micro RGB TV | Samsung R95H Micro RGB TV |
| Screen Sizes | 55″, 65″, 75″, 85″, 100″ (coming soon) | 65″, 75″, 85″, 115″ |
| Bezel | Solidity design, 3 Bezel-Less | Black Element, 4 Bezel-Less with Infinity Air Stand |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 |
| Refresh rate | Up to 144Hz | Up to 165Hz |
| AI processor | Micro RGB AI Engine | Micro RGB AI Engine Pro |
| Backlight | Red, Green, Blue Micro LED | Red, Green, Blue Micro LED with more zones |
| UHD dimming | Ultimate UHD Dimming | Ultimate UHD Dimming Pro |
| HDR rating | Micro RGB HDR+ | Micro RGB HDR Pro |
| Wide-angle viewing | Yes | Yes, plus Glare-Free panel |
| Audio | Eclipsa Audio, Dolby Atmos, 360 Audio | Eclipsa Audio, Dolby Atmos, 360 Audio |
| Audio output | 2-channel 30W | 4.2.2-channel 70W |
| Connectivity | 4 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x USB-A, 1x optical out, Wi-Fi 6E | 4 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x USB-A, 1x optical out, Wi-Fi 6E, Wireless One Connect box compatibility |
| HDMI 2.1 features | ALLM, eARC, VRR, 4K at 120Hz/144Hz | ALLM, eARC, VRR, 4K at 120Hz/144Hz/165Hz |
| SmartThings | Adapter sold separately | Built-in |
| Advanced AI features | Auto HDR Remastering, Real Depth Enhancer, 4K AI Upscaling, Micro RGB Color Booster Pro, Now Brief, Live Translate, Generative Wallpaper, AI Soccer Mode, Karaoke Mic, Vision AI Companion | Auto HDR Remastering Pro, Real Depth Enhancer, 4K AI Upscaling Pro, AI Motion Enhancer Pro, Micro RGB Color Booster Pro, Now Brief, Live Translate, Generative Wallpaper, AI Soccer Mode Pro, Karaoke Mic, Vision AI Companion |
| Dimensions (65-inch, without stand) | 56.8 x 32.72 x 2 inches | 56.58 x 32.5 x 1.17 inches |
Key features of the Samsung R85H and Samsung R95H
I watched all types of content, from dark action shows to animated movies, action movies, colourful reality TV, and classic content from Samsung TV Plus. I queued up the exact same scenes side by side, or watched on one TV then the other. This allowed me to get down to the nitty-gritty of how these TVs differ and if the R95H is worth spending more on.
Colour accuracy, contrast, & brightness
The Samsung R85H and Samsung R95H TVs are driven by a Micro RGB AI Engine (the R95H has the Pro level). Features like Micro RGB Color Booster Pro enhances dull colours and Micro RGB HDR+ (Pro for the R95H) improves highlights. They support HDR10+ (Advanced for the R95H). You get natural colours and good contrast. Black levels are good, too, though not as deep as you’ll see with an OLED TV.
I watched several scenes from shows like The Night Agent on Netflix side-by-side with both TVs. Both provide wonderful contrast, especially when there are scenes that really put it to the test, like a blazing fire in the dark of night. Colours are more faithfully reproduced in the Samsung R95H. This is evident in scenes like one from Spider-Man: Far From Home where there are several people standing on a bridge. Their colourful shirts pop more on this higher-end TV. Â
Both TVs do a wonderful job with brightness, showcasing details without washing out images. They would perform wonderfully in well-lit rooms like the one I was in.
Clarity
With the Samsung R95H, there’s a scene in The Night Agent that takes place in Grand Central Station. There’s even greater clarity with things like text on signs that are more easily readable and visible. Both TVs provide an overall crisp and clear image. I can see details on characters’ faces when the camera zooms up close.
With brighter scenes in shows like the reality series Love on the Spectrum, details like a bee pollinating a flower, a colourful garden of flowers, and blades of grass shown in the foreground, are lifelike with distinct colours and detail. I was even able to see mosquitos that landed on a cast member’s jacket with the Samsung R95H, taking clarity to another level. While watching Shrek, Donkey’s fur was more detailed and lifelike on this TV. But both do a wonderful job of producing clear, realistic-looking images with depth and detail.
I also checked out old classic content on both TVs, accessed through Samsung TV Plus. There’s more of an artificial feel to the AI improvements made to the picture in the show The Beverly Hillbillies, which I watched on the Samsung R95H. It’s better than watching in low-res on such a big screen, but it isn’t going to blow you away. Classic content actually looked better on the Samsung R85H—but this may be because it’s a smaller screen than the Samsung R95H.
Wide-angle viewing
The biggest differentiator between these two TVs is in the viewing angle. The Samsung R85H has a wide viewing angle, and you can comfortably sit (or stand) off axis and still see the screen with good clarity. But depending on the room conditions, you will see a bit of glare and reflections. That’s especially with lights above or coming in from a window.
By contrast, the Samsung R95H has a Glare-Free panel, and the difference is striking. Standing off axis, there’s absolutely no glare, no reflections. The Glare-Free screen is worth the upgrade if you’re watching with larger families or groups. It’s also worthwhile if you’ll be enjoying the TV often during the day and/or in a brightly lit room.
Motion/refresh rate
Both TVs have a good refresh rate. Features like AI Motion Enhancer Pro and Motion Xcelerator kick this up a level with the Samsung R95H. There’s no motion blur in fast-moving action scenes, sports, and other similar content. Even in the most challenging scenes in shows like The Night Agent and movies like Spider-Man: Far From Home, motion was smooth and easy on the eyes. The Samsung R85H does a wonderful job with motion, too.
The Samsung R85H has a 144Hz refresh rate and the Samsung R95H increases this to up to 165Hz. That makes it a better option for gamers. While I didn’t test either TV for gaming, given the higher refresh rate, the Samsung R95H will likely do a better job with intense titles like first-person shooters and other games with fast motion. Sports fans may also appreciate the higher refresh rate of the Samsung R95H.
Design
These two TVs look similar to one another, both able to mount on a wall or sit on a stand. The stands are slightly different in design. The one for the Samsung R85H has round feet and the Samsung R95H stand is an Infinity Air Stand. The Samsung R85H stand has more of a minimalist look to it. The Samsung R95H sticks out more in the middle, which you might find distracting unless you position a thin soundbar there. But the Samsung R95H is also much slimmer. It can work with the Samsung One Connect wireless box, but you’d have to buy it separately. It also has Samsung SmartThings compatibility built in, while you’d need an adapter with the Samsung R85H. Â
The Samsung R85H comes in 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-inch sizes (100-inch coming soon) while the Samsung R95H comes in 65-, 75, 85-, and 115-inch sizes. Both can display content from the Samsung Art Store. Because the Samsung R95H has a Glare-Free screen, you might prefer its look for this purpose (as well as for off-axis viewing, which I’ll get into further).
Both come with the easy to use BT SolarCell remote. It’s comfortable to hold and has convenient quick buttons for streaming services, AI assistants, and more, as noted in my review of the Samsung R85H Micro RGB TV.
Audio
The audio experience is wonderful with both TVs. You get Dolby Atmos, offering a sense of depth and realism with on-screen moments. Sound appears to come from the direction it originate from in the plot, like a crash from the left or creaky doors on the right. The Samsung R95H adds Object Tracking Sound Audio to ensure even greater realism. Sound is nicely balanced between dialogue and louder background scenes or music. Ideally, you’ll connect separate speakers to enhance the experience. Both TVs use Q-Symphony for seamlessly syncing sound with a companion Samsung sound bar.
AI integration
Both TVs lean heavily into AI with Samsung Vision AI Companion. This includes the ability to engage in natural language conversations with the Bixby Assistant. There’s also access to AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity. AI Soccer Mode and AI Sound Controller are features for sports fans. The Samsung R95H adds the Pro level of these features so the TV will automatically recognize the ball, playing field, and crowd, while enhancing both the picture and audio accordingly. But it can go a step further as well.
You can quiet the roar of the fans to hear the commentator more clearly, or conversely, quiet the commentator so you can focus on the action. This might be with games from a different country where the play-by-play is being given in a language you don’t understand.
I didn’t test this feature on either TV, but I have seen many demos of it on Samsung Neo QLED TV models. You get an overall nicer stadium feel that serious sports lovers will appreciate. There’s also a noticeable boost in brightness of the players’ uniforms and the grass. This feature works with various apps and services, but only with the TV’s built-in speakers or a connected Samsung sound bar. Â
Smart TV OS
Both TVs come with the One UI Tizen OS, as is the case with all Samsung TVs. This smart TV operating system gives you access to your favourite streaming apps. You also get proprietary ones like Samsung TV Plus with free live and on-demand content, and Samsung Gaming Hub. Both TVs promise up to seven years of OS updates, so they’ll be up to date with new features as they are released for a long time to come.
Samsung R85H vs Samsung R95H: Which TV should you get?
Samsung S95H Micro RGB TV
The Samsung R95H Micro RGB TV boasts higher level specs across the board. You get pro-level processing for everything from the engine to the AI-powered features, remastering, upscaling, and handling motion. The improvements may be more noticeable after spending a longer amount of time with the TV than I did, and when using it for other activities like gaming.
The most notable reason to upgrade to the Samsung S95H, however, is for the Glare-Free panel. If you’re using the TV in a living room with lots of natural light and plan to watch during the daytime, that feature alone could be worth the price of entry. You’ll still get a wide viewing angle with the Samsung R85H. But in such a setting, the difference in off axis viewing between these two TVs is very noticeable.
Another reason you might consider stepping up to the Samsung R95H is for gaming. The higher refresh rate won’t make a difference for casual gamers. But for serious gamers who play intense titles, it makes a difference.
Samsung R85H Micro RGB TV?
If you are on a strict budget, you aren’t losing out by any means with the Samsung R85H. It’s still a fine TV for bright and dark rooms, for watching sports, animated content, sitcoms, news, and action movies, and even for gaming. You miss out on pro-level processing and the glare-free panel. The slower refresh rate won’t be noticeable unless you’re playing intense games: I didn’t notice any motion blur with even fast-action movie and TV show scenes.
Given the big difference in price, I think the Samsung R85H will be suitable for most families and individuals. It’s the better all-around choice offering greater value for dollar.
Should you go OLED? An alternative to consider
If a cinematic experience is top of your list, you might want to consider stepping up to a Samsung OLED instead of the Samsung R95H, like the new Samsung S95H OLED TV, which is actually much affordable. I spent hours with it last year, and the picture is absolutely stunning. If top-of-the-line is your desire and you mostly watch movies in dark rooms, this model is worth considering.
Choosing the right TV for your home
For the best family TV that balances wonderful picture quality with budget and will perform well in bright environments with accurate colour, contrast, and brightness, the Samsung R85H is a good choice. The Samsung R95H is a nice step-up for pro-level features, improved built-in audio, the glare-free panel, and higher refresh rate. But the price might not justify the upgrade for most average families.
Find the Samsung R85H Micro RGB TV in 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch sizes. The Samsung R95H Micro RGB TV is available in 65-inch and 85-inch sizes at Best Buy Canada.
