Budget OLED TVs have come a long way. Early models often compromised on features to hit lower price points, but that’s changed in recent years. LG’s B-series, consistently ranked among the best OLED TVs, have steadily improved, with last year’s B5 offering a feature set nearly on par with the step-up LG C5 and LG G5.
While LG’s B-series is a perennial favorite in the budget OLED space, Samsung and Philips offer compelling alternatives. To compete with the LG B5, these brands released the Samsung S85F and Philips OLED760, respectively. I tested all three side-by-side to determine which affordable OLED delivers the best overall experience.
Brightness
Before diving into the comparisons, a quick note on setup. While I typically use Filmmaker Mode for testing, I used Movie/Cinema mode for this test, as all three TVs exhibited relatively low brightness compared to premium OLEDs. I also adjusted some settings on the Philips OLED760, which were impacting the picture. These included turning off texture enhancement and noise reduction, setting the color temperature to Warm, and maximizing peak brightness.
The Samsung S85F was the clear winner in terms of brightness, appearing punchier in daytime scenes and brighter overall. Snow looked crisp and vibrant on the S85F, while still decent on the other two TVs. However, bright highlights in scenes, like light reflecting off sand-colored buildings, appeared slightly overblown on the S85F, a nuance the OLED760 and B5 handled more gracefully.
Measurements confirmed the S85F’s advantage. It achieved a peak brightness of 777 nits in HDR, compared to 668 nits for the B5 and 665 nits for the OLED760 (measured in Filmmaker Mode for consistency). Fullscreen HDR brightness was similar across all three, ranging between 130-150 nits, but the higher peak brightness gave the S85F its extra vibrancy.
Colors
OLED TVs are known for their rich colors, and these budget models didn’t disappoint. All three delivered excellent color reproduction. Using a scene from Wicked, all TVs captured the vivid pink flowers under a tree. The S85F’s higher brightness resulted in the most vibrant pinks, while the OLED760 and B5 looked more natural, though still punchy.
With The Mask, the S85F again displayed the boldest colors, with the character’s yellow suit appearing particularly striking. However, it occasionally bordered on oversaturation. The B5 offered the most appealing colors, balancing vibrancy and accuracy. The OLED760’s colors were the most natural and rich, but its lower brightness diminished the impact of the vibrant hues. In darker viewing conditions, the OLED760’s Ambilight feature enhanced the immersive experience, particularly with colorful content like Pixar films or Star Wars.
Contrast
As expected from OLEDs, contrast and black levels were superb on all three TVs. OLED’s ability to individually dim pixels creates a strong balance between light and dark tones. However, there were differences. The S85F’s higher brightness created the most dynamic contrast, with shadows appearing bolder in scenes like those from Dark City. The OLED760, however, demonstrated the most ‘authentic’ contrast, with deeper black tones that looked more true-to-life. The B5 fell in between, offering a good balance.
Motion and Upscaling
Motion handling was the biggest differentiator. With Cinematic Movement activated, the B5 presented the smoothest and most natural motion, with minimal judder. The S85F, with judder set to 4 and blur set to 2, appeared smooth but exhibited slightly more judder and lacked the natural look of the B5. The OLED760 struggled, with judder present even without motion processing, and any attempt to smooth motion resulted in blurring.
In upscaling a DVD of Amazing Spider-Man, the B5 delivered the best results, smoothing textures and improving colors and contrast. The S85F performed well, sitting between the B5 and OLED760, despite its larger screen size.
Conclusion
All three TVs excelled in different areas, and buyers would be satisfied with any of them. All three offer a full suite of gaming features. They all fall within the £899-£999 price range. The choice depends on viewing preferences.
For brightness and vibrancy, the Samsung S85F is the best choice. If you prioritize accurate contrast and the immersive experience of Ambilight, the Philips OLED760 is a strong contender. For great motion handling and upscaling with a balanced picture, the B5 is the way to go. The B5 edges out the competition, but any of these TVs represent excellent value if you find a good sale price.
