The recognition, a first for any global TV manufacturer, was awarded to Samsung QLED TVs for their true color expression of over 2,000 Pantone colors, as well as and newly added 110 skin tone shades.

Samsung Newsroom spoke to Ed Hattenberger, Senior Technical Product Manager at Pantone, who has accumulated over 20 years of experience in the color industry and manages the Pantone Validated program.

△ Ed Hattenberger, Senior Technical Product Manager at Pantone

Q. What is your current role and what does it entail?

A. As a senior technical product manager, I use my knowledge of color to help companies realize their creative vision from design and specification through to final production. I also lead the innovation of various digital color products at Pantone, including Pantone Validated, our patent-pending color testing process for displays and printers that ensures products can simulate the full range of Pantone Colors and skin tones and in doing so meet Pantone’s exacting criteria.

Q. Why is accurate color reproduction so important for consumer TVs and how did the Pantone Validated program set out to improve this?

A. Today’s consumers want brands that represent equality, inclusivity and authenticity, and true color fidelity from their viewing experience plays an essential role. Regardless of the medium — physical or digital — consumers seek out and invest in products that reflect this. Pantone Validated provides an added layer of confidence to the consumer that the colors and skin tones seen on a screen are authentically reproduced according to the definitions found in Pantone Color and SkinTone guides and related Pantone Validated processes.

“During our measurement testing, we found that Samsung’s Quantum Dot technology provides the full range of colors even at peak brightness.”

Q. To readers not familiar with Pantone Validated, what does the achievement of this approval signify? Can you tell us in simple terms the standards a display has to meet? Why should consumers look out for the Pantone Validated check mark when purchasing their Samsung product?

A. The Pantone Validated logo signifies that a product, such as a Samsung HDR TV or Display, meets Pantone’s rigorous testing and calibration requirements for reproducing real world Pantone Colors and skin tones with a high level of color fidelity. Our Pantone Validated process was created by color scientists and technicians at Pantone with decades of color experience. It uses a stringent, patent-pending testing process that leverages advanced X‑Rite and Pantone color management technology. Over the past decade, we have tested and qualified hundreds of consumer and professional color devices from leading manufacturers worldwide.

Q. Samsung has received two awards — Pantone Validated and Pantone SkinTone Validated. Can you briefly describe what Pantone SkinTone Validated means to consumers and how it is different from Pantone Validated?

A. Pantone Validated uses the universally recognized Pantone Matching System (PMS) digital library and objectively tests more than 2000+ Pantone colors. For Samsung, we tested the PMS colors in High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode for maximum color rendering capabilities.

Pantone SkinTone Validated is an extension of the Pantone Validated program and tests color reproduction based on 110 unique skin tones, all of which can be found in the Pantone SkinTone Guide. This guide is the first scientifically based guide integrating the physical measurements of thousands of actual skin tones from the full spectrum of ethnicities, geographical zones and ages.

Pantone SkinTone Validated ensures that tested models from leading TV and display companies can accurately represent the world’s palette of skin tones. This helps brands demonstrate to consumers that their products and technology are more inclusive than ever.

Q. In your experience with Samsung TVs, what stands out to you about the Pantone Validated qualifications these models have received? Can you tell us any interesting facts or data points that demonstrate how Samsung TVs received Pantone Validated approval?

A. Samsung is the world’s first HDR TV and Display manufacturer to participate in and receive Pantone Validated and Pantone SkinTone Validated. This is a testament to Samsung’s commitment to being a market leader. Their confidence in adopting Pantone Validated is steadfast proof of their desire to deliver world-class TV and display products.

Q. Samsung’s Quantum Dot technology is all about color. Instead of producing standard blues and reds, it displays highly specific blues and reds, providing an intense level of accuracy in color reproduction. What role do you think this has played in achieving Pantone Validated?

A. During our measurement testing, we found that Samsung’s Quantum Dot technology provides the full range of colors even at peak brightness. Because the Pantone SkinTone Validated testing process is extremely meticulous, it will quickly call out any deviation from its target Pantone SkinTone Colors at a variety of brightness levels. Samsung’s HDR and Quantum Dot technology and related capabilities enable these televisions to achieve and maintain the color fidelity requirements to become Pantone SkinTone Validated.

“Samsung is the world’s first HDR TV and Display manufacturer to participate in and receive Pantone Validated and Pantone SkinTone Validated. This is a testament to Samsung’s commitment to being a market leader.”

 Q. What do you believe is in store for the future of Pantone?

A. Pantone remains committed to color communication and inspiration. We are working on solutions that help brands and creators bridge the digital and physical worlds and ensure a consistent customer experience — in person, on a screen or in the meta. We will continue to develop innovative digital products that support today’s digital content workflows. Together with products and technology from X-Rite, Pantone solutions can help realize the creative intent in the final form of any brand’s product.

Be sure to tune in to Samsung’s Unbox & Discover 2022 event on either Samsung Newsroom or Samsung.com on March 30 at 11 p.m. KST to learn more about the future of the screen experience.

The 2022 Samsung Lifestyle TVs won the ‘Eye Care’ Certification from Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker (VDE) in Germany, one of Europe’s largest technical-scientific associations with more than 36,000 members. The certification applies to Samsung’s 2022 Lifestyle TV models including The Frame, The Serif and The Sero. The screens are evaluated on various categories, including ‘Safety’, ‘Gentle to the eyes’, flicker level, uniformity and color fidelity.

(From left) Seokwoo Yong, EVP and Head of R&D Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics and Cherif Kedir, President & CEO of VDE

The new Lifestyle TVs were assessed for safety from blue light emission and melatonin inhibition levels based on a light hazard classification method set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Samsung’s 2022 Lifestyle TVs satisfy the IEC’s standards for screen flickering, which can cause eye fatigue or headache for viewers. They were also recognized for excellence in color fidelity and picture quality uniformity, both elements of which contribute to eye comfort level while watching TV.

(From left) Seokwoo Yong, EVP and Head of R&D Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics and Wyatt Brannan, Vice President of North America Consumer, Medical & Information Technology of UL

Samsung’s 2022 Lifestyle TVs¹ were also verified as ‘Glare-Free’ by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a leading independent safety science company. UL’s verification validates the ‘Glare-Free’ claim by assessing the products against Unified Glare Rating (UGR) testing standard set by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). Samsung’s new Lifestyle TV models use a new Matte Display with anti-glare, anti-reflection and anti-fingerprint properties to deliver the optimal brightness and provide the best picture quality without glare.

• Reflected Glare, which determines whether the objects on a TV screen are visible even when external light is reflected on the surface
• Discomfort Glare, which determines whether a TV screen is too bright
• Disability Glare, which determines whether a TV screen is overly bright when watching TV in a dark room

These glare assessments were calculated based on test results of watching TV in both 300 lux, which is equivalent to a brightly lit work area, and in 70 lux, which is usually the value for a dimly lit work area.

(From left) Seokwoo Yong, EVP and Head of R&D Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics and Raj Shah, Vice President at Marketing of Pantone

Additionally, Samsung’s all new 2022 QLED models received the world’s first ‘Pantone Validated’ certification from Pantone, the world-famous brand in the global color industry and creator of the Pantone Matching System (PMS).

These models receiving this recognition from Pantone include all 20 newly released models – 15 QLED TVs in both 4K and 8K and five monitors. Samsung’s 2022 QLED TV line-up was recognized for its accurate expression of 2,030 Pantone colors and newly added 110 skin tone shades.

“As TVs become more of an entertainment hub in the home, there’s an increased demand for screens with top-tier picture quality that minimize eye strain,” said Seokwoo Yong, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “This recognition from leading global institutes validates our technology that delivers best-in-class images along with the most comfortable watching experience.”

¹ Applicable to Samsung’s 2022 Lifestyle TVs consisting of The Frame, The Serif and The Sero.

MICRO LED: The Pinnacle of Display Technology

As Samsung’s state-of-the-art display, MICRO LED offers a best-in-class picture quality thanks to 25 million micrometer-sized LEDs that individually produce light and color, creating an incredibly immersive experience through impressive depth, vibrant colors and a heightened level of clarity and contrast. At CES 2022, Samsung will unveil the MICRO LED in three different sizes – 110”, 101” and 89”.

In addition to the hardware innovations, the 2022 MICRO LED supports 20-bit greyscale depth. This means MICRO LED models can express every detail in a scene, offering the finest control with over 1 million steps of brightness and color levels, delivering a true HDR experience. It also expresses 100% of DCI and Adobe RGB color gamut, resulting in stunning, lifelike colors. Together with immersive design made possible by its 99.99% screen-to-body ratio, MICRO LED delivers revolutionary performance.

Finally, MICRO LED comes packed with enhanced usability and customization features.

• Art Mode allows consumers to turn any room into an art gallery as they can select and display their favorite artwork or digital photography. The 2022 MICRO LED also comes with two exclusive media pieces from noted artist and designer Refik Anadol.
• Multi View lets users view content from four different sources simultaneously – from any or all of the four HDMI ports – in pristine 4K resolution at up to 120fps.
• Dolby Atmos delivers a premier immersive audio experience with top, side and bottom channel speakers for breathtaking, multi-dimensional sound.

Evolution of Neo QLED With Neo Quantum Processor and Dynamic Sound Experience

Thanks to the Neo Quantum Processor and the advancements in picture technology and sound it delivers, 2022 Neo QLED will provide some of the most pristine images and immersive soundscapes possible. In fact, this year’s Neo Quantum Processor introduces advanced contrast mapping with BLU (back-light unit), increasing the brightness level from 12 to 14-bit gradation for greater control of the light source – the Quantum Mini LEDs. This allows the TV to control its lighting across 16,384 steps, quadrupled from the previous 4,096 steps.

The new Shape Adaptive Light technology leverages the Neo Quantum Processor to analyze lines, shapes and surfaces to control the shape of light from the Quantum Mini LEDs, enhancing the brightness and accuracy of all shapes on the screen. The result is outstanding image quality that puts full HDR content on display. Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED also features Real Depth Enhancer, a multi-intelligence picture quality algorithm. This technological advancement creates a greater sense of realism by determining and processing an object on the screen against its background to create a sense of depth.

Additionally, Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED features EyeComfort mode, which automatically adjusts the screen’s brightness and tone based on a built-in light sensor and sunset/sunrise information. As the ambient light changes, the screen will gradually reduce the amount of light and offer warmer tones, adjusting the blue light levels accordingly. This allows for a more comfortable viewing experience at night by reducing the blue light which may affect one’s sleep quality.

Neo QLED’s sound features are getting a major upgrade as well. Building on OTS (Object Tracking Sound), which directs the sound to move across the room along with the object on-screen, the 2022 products will feature OTS Pro, which incorporates powerful up-firing speakers to create overhead surround sound. 2022 Neo QLED also delivers a truly remarkable Dolby Atmos experience thanks to the addition of Samsung’s new top channel speakers. With multi-channel speakers placed throughout the TV, Neo QLED delivers a dynamic sound experience that tracks the actions from all corners.

Award-Winning Lifestyle TVs With Seamless Integration of Design and Technology

Samsung’s 2022 Lifestyle screens seamlessly blend design and technology for a unique and personalized experience. A new Matte Display with anti-glare, anti-reflection and anti-fingerprint properties has been applied to The Frame, The Sero and The Serif, providing one of the most pleasant and comfortable viewing experiences. As a result, the new Matte Display on Samsung’s 2022 Lifestyle screens received three verifications from UL (Underwriter Laboratories) for being ‘Reflection Glare Free’, ‘Discomfort Glare Free’ and ‘Disability Glare Free’.

• The Frame now offers the most realistic art viewing experience outside of a museum thanks to the anti-glare, low-reflection panel technology featuring an embossed, Matte Display. It also avoids fingerprints and smudges, allowing users to enjoy their favorite artwork in perfect condition. The Frame comes in sizes ranging from 32” to 85”.
• The Serif also comes with a matte finish body to blend seamlessly with the Matte Display, elevating the iconic design to give the most premium look and feel. With the addition of a 65” size option, The Serif is now offered in sizes ranging from 43” to 65”.
• The Sero offers an optimized watching experience with its new Matte Display in both vertical and horizontal modes. The new vertical Multi View function takes multitasking to the next level, allowing users to simultaneously view different content on the top and bottom of the screen, or search information online while watching something.

The New Smart Hub and Apps for the Ultimate User Experience

Samsung’s 2022 Smart TVs come with a new Smart Hub that puts content curation and discovery front and center with their viewing preferences. The new Smart Hub will guide users to their favorite content or help them discover something new all while spending less time searching. The Smart Hub’s sidebar also allows for a seamless transition between categories – Media, Game (Gaming Hub) and Ambient – letting users focus on various in-home activities.

• Gaming Hub: The Samsung Gaming Hub will empower players to discover and jump into the games they love faster through game streaming services. Players will have access to an extensive library of games through Samsung’s partnerships with industry leaders – NVIDIA GeForce Now, Stadia and Utomik – and that’s just the beginning.
• Watch Together: The new app allows users to video chat with friends and family while watching their favorite shows and movies, guaranteed to bring everyone closer together.
• NFT Platform: This application features an intuitive, integrated platform for discovering, purchasing and trading digital artwork through MICRO LED, Neo QLED and The Frame.
• Smart Calibration: This feature allows users to fine tune the settings for optimal picture quality. Basic mode features a quick and easy way of calibrating the screens within 30 seconds, while Professional mode optimizes the screens for pristine picture quality in about 10 minutes.

Expanded Accessory Options Personalized to Users’ Needs and Tastes

The 2022 models also come with expanded accessories to personalize the user experience. The Auto Rotating Wall Mount and Stand inherits the vertical viewing experience from The Sero, allowing users to enjoy mobile viewing by automatically rotating their screens.¹

To complement the accessory, the 2022 products will support a vertical interface, including the Smart Hub, and offer a vertical Multi View feature. It will offer apps such as YouTube and TikTok as well as mirroring and casting in vertical mode. Lastly, lifestyle features such as Ambient Mode+ and Art Mode are also available in vertical mode. The new rotation key on the remote control lets users easily rotate the screen with a click of a button.

Additionally, with expanded bezel options for The Frame and full motion slim-fit wall mounts for all TVs,² there are endless possibilities of personalization with Samsung’s 2022 displays.

Breaking Sonic Barriers With the Latest Soundbar and Features

The 2022 soundbar lineup gets technology upgrades to provide even more immersive, three-dimensional audio experience. Q Symphony, the signature surround-sound experience which allows Samsung’s Neo QLEDs and soundbars to work together, has been improved with added synchrony. This enables the soundbar and TV speakers to work together with all the speakers on the TVs, including the top channel speakers, providing for an expansive, powerful soundscape.

Samsung’s 2022 soundbars also come with Wireless Dolby Atmos connectivity,³ a wireless Smart TV-to-soundbar connection in which both the screen and soundbar speakers deliver an incredible audio experience with no distracting cables.

Additionally, the new HW-S800B Ultra Slim Soundbar resets the standard in the slim soundbar category, delivering a powerful bass in compact form by integrating passive radiator technology with its subwoofer. With true top-firing speaker channels, the new ultra-slim soundbar packs powerful sound at just 1.6” in depth.

“The role of the screen has changed dramatically in recent years with advancements in technology and how entertainment is distributed. With our new lineup of products, we are providing customers an entirely immersive video and audio experience that is customizable to their needs,” said Simon Sung, Executive Vice President and Head of the Sales & Marketing Team of the Visual Display Business at Samsung. “Whether you are a movie buff, TV lover, gamer or even an art enthusiast, Samsung has leading-edge offerings that can enhance any room.”

For more information, including images or videos on the products Samsung is announcing at CES 2022, please visit news.samsung.com/global/ces-2022.

^* All functionality, features, specifications, and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation. Availability of the above-mentioned products, services, and features may vary by region.

¹ Compatible with 2022 The Frame and Neo QLED 4K/8K models up to 65”.

² Applies to all 2022 TV models 43”-85”, except Q80A and AU7000

³ Compatible with 2022 Samsung QLED