CES 2022 offers visitors and online viewers an opportunity to see for themselves how Samsung has been innovating for the future. From displays and home appliances, to products and services that raise the bar for innovation, the company’s showcase at the world’s largest technology show offers a peek at what our daily lives will look like very soon.

Samsung’s CES 2022 booth is full of eye-catching innovations. But which products and technologies will viewers and visitors absolutely not want to miss? To answer that question, Samsung Newsroom went straight to the source, asking the experts behind the innovations which ones they think deserve a closer look.

In part one of this two-part series, Telly Lee, Vice President of Samsung’s Home Appliances Division and Jungrae Kim of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business will explain how Samsung designed its latest home appliances and portable screen to cater to consumers’ evolving lifestyles.

The Bespoke Kitchen: Home Appliances That Evolve in Line With Users’ Changing Lives

▲ Telly Lee, Vice President of Samsung’s Home Appliances Division and Head of the Kitchen Product Planning Group, with Samsung’s Bespoke French Door refrigerators

Q: What can you tell us about the home appliance products and technologies that are being showcased at CES 2022?

We are going to focus on introducing the Bespoke kitchen, in which refrigerators and colors are unified to great effect. The Bespoke kitchen begins with our flagship Bespoke refrigerators. We’ve expanded the Bespoke range to FDR (French Door refrigerators) in the U.S. market in 4-door and 3-door models. This represents a significant expansion of our lineup following the release of Bespoke refrigerators in 4-Door Flex, Bottom Mount Freezer and 1-Door Column types in 2021.

One unique point of innovation for Samsung’s Bespoke refrigerator is the Beverage Center. Featuring a water dispenser hidden inside the door, the Beverage Center offers a convenient, hygienic solution that enables the fridge to feature a smooth exterior. Along with the new Bespoke refrigerators, we’re also showcasing other vibrant and colorful products that are part of the Bespoke kitchen like oven ranges and dishwashers.

These days, we’re seeing more customers in the U.S. choose modern designs for their kitchens. With Bespoke, we want to show that it’s possible to decorate your kitchen based on your individual tastes with a palette that includes colors that blend in with your interior, as well as accent colors.

At CES, we are also showcasing SmartThings Cooking, a service that introduces connected experiences to the kitchen. With this service, users can receive recipe recommendations and information to help them save time on both prep and cooking. SmartThings Cooking recommends recipes that fit your tastes and dietary restrictions, then builds meal plans to match. As you’re cooking, it also sends recipe instructions directly to synced Samsung cooking devices.

Q: What are some unique or attractive aspects of the new Bespoke offerings that you don’t want visitors at CES to miss?

First, I’d like to underline the expansion of the Bespoke range, which gives consumers who want their refrigerator to reflect their preferences in terms of color and materials even more options to choose from. Since launching Bespoke in the U.S. in 2021, we’ve seen continuous demand for this type of customization. Delivering on this is one of the reasons we added the French Door refrigerator to our 2022 Bespoke refrigerator lineup. The panels come in twelve colors, which means that there are over 20,000 possible color combinations for a four-door refrigerator alone. I am confident that no other refrigerator offers customers this much choice.

Another can’t-miss aspect is the features. The Beverage Center, for instance includes a 1.4-liter AutoFill water pitcher, as well as a Dual Auto Ice Maker that holds up to 4.1kg of ice. What’s more, the FlexZone offers five different temperature modes to keep ingredients like meat, seafood, fruits and vegetables at optimal temperatures. These unique features help bring greater convenience to users’ daily lives.

Users also get to experience an even smarter kitchen with Family Hub, which is included in the latest Bespoke refrigerator lineup. By using the large screen on the front of the refrigerator users can enjoy music and videos in the kitchen and control kitchen appliances and smart devices too. With a screen that integrates seamlessly into the door panel, and with a highly aesthetic design and minimized bezels, the Bespoke Family Hub is capable of blending into any space.

Last but not least, we are introducing the Bespoke Atelier app that we first launched in Korea to the global market. The app offers access to more than 170 works of art from global artists, covering various periods, trends and themes. It recommends works of art and allows you to create your own gallery of sorts by customizing your display to suit your tastes. In addition, when users display an artwork in listening mode, they’ll be able to hear a description of the art with subtitles. This makes it feel like you’re enjoying a guided tour an art museum from the comfort of your kitchen.

▲ Samsung’s Bespoke Family Hub refrigerator

Q: Our way of life has changed dramatically over the past two years, with technology that connects people becoming more important as contactless ways of doing things increasingly become the norm. What kind of impact do you think the products and technologies showcased at CES 2022 will have on people’s lives?

As users have begun to spend more and more time at home, their lives have become more “home-centric”. We expect this trend to continue in 2022. At the same time, concern for sustainability continues to increase on the heels of events like the United Nations’ COP26 conference, and with environmental regulations being strengthened across the globe. With these shifts in consumer lifestyles and interests in mind, Samsung has been working to provide kitchen solutions that are “customized, smarter, and more sustainable.”

Our customized kitchen solutions cater to users who have been spending a lot of time in their kitchen and thus feel a stronger desire to remodel their space to reflect their tastes. By expanding our Bespoke lineup, we are providing a more diverse range of refrigerator types and color options, helping users build customized kitchens that suit both their lifestyle and their interior design scheme.

Spending more time at home has naturally led to a rise in home cooking as well. To help make this easier by making kitchens “smarter”, Samsung introduced SmartThings Cooking, a tailored cooking journey service that does everything from looking up recipes to creating a diet plan and even shops for groceries. Powered by Whisk’s Food AI, SmartThings Cooking recommends your personalized recipe and meal plans based on your tastes, dietary needs and groceries you have on hand. The service also allows you to enjoy convenient one-stop grocery shopping with your favorite grocery retail brands available through the Whisk network. When it comes time to cook, SmartThings ensures a seamless cooking experience while communicating directly with your smart Samsung kitchen appliances.

And with Family Hub, consumers can even utilize this service through the display on the front of their fridge while continuing to control other home appliances from it as well.

Finally, our kitchen solutions are becoming “more sustainable.” Bespoke refrigerators are built for high energy efficiency, and their replaceable door panels help extend their lifespans. Samsung continues to innovate on this front, seeking out ways to incorporate cutting-edge technology into our appliances while keeping sustainability in mind as well.

The Freestyle : Designing a Screen That’s Not Limited by Space

▲ Jungrae Kim of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business proudly displays The Freestyle, a new portable screen introduced at CES.

Q: Could you walk us through how your team came up with The Freestyle?

Ever since the pandemic changed our daily lives, our personal spaces have become more and more important. This is particularly true of relaxing spaces like the bedroom, where we’re seeing more people using products for the purposes of entertainment. We’re also seeing more people utilize cozy and quiet spaces in their homes, as well as increased interest in spending time outdoors – by going camping, for example. We wanted to reflect these trends of our time in our products, and enable users to use them as they wish – anytime, anywhere, and regardless of space limitations. That’s how we came up with the personal, movable smart screen that is The Freestyle.

Q: What are unique points of the Freestyle?

The Freestyle was designed to offer users new levels of functionality. It’s easy to see what sets this product apart just by looking at it. To allow users to carry around every day, we designed The Freestyle to be lightweight, weighing just 830 grams. The fact that you can conveniently carry it with you wherever you go is its biggest advantage.

The Freestyle also features a simpler installation process. All users need to do is place The Freestyle wherever they want, and then turn it on. That’s it. The Freestyle comes with full auto keystone and auto leveling features, enabled by industry-leading technology. The features allow the device to automatically adjust its screen to any surface at any angle, providing a perfectly proportional image every time.

Users can enjoy a seamless and continuous viewing experience by accessing their user accounts and settings for major OTT services. On top of that, we’ve also applied the industry’s first far-field voice control technology. So when the screen is turned on, users can search for content using just their voice. When the screen is off, they can use the device to listen to music or ask for the day’s weather just as they would with a smart speaker.

The Freestyle’s picture and sound quality – the most basic and important features of any display – also deserve a closer look. We applied Samsung TVs’ picture quality engine, and the white balance is adjusted automatically according to the color and tone of the wall that the screen is being projected to. We also applied dual passive radiators to produce deep, high-quality bass. This allows customers to enjoy a cinema-quality sound experience no matter where they are.

Q: In line with Samsung’s ‘Screens Everywhere’ vision, The Freestyle can be utilized in various ways for maximum convenience. What are some specific use cases for The Freestyle?

First of all, The Freestyle can be conveniently set up in a user’s bedroom. While lying in bed, before falling asleep, they can use the device’s integrated cradle to move the screen from the wall to the ceiling to continue watching a movie more comfortably. The Freestyle can also be placed lightly on a dining room table, transforming the room into a new space for entertainment.

In order to utilize spaces like this, our developers came up with a new installation solution that we applied to the product. Thanks to those efforts, users can also utilize the device on a tabletop or floor by connecting it to a standard E26 light socket.¹ There’s no need for a separate power supply or cable connection, so it can be used immediately.

For powering it up, The Freestyle is compatible with external batteries² that support USB-PD and 50W/20V output or above, so users can take it with them anywhere, whether they are on the move, on a camping trip and more. When it’s not used as a projector to stream content, The Freestyle also provides mood lighting effect thanks to its ambient mode and translucent lens cap.

Through close cooperation with Samsung’s MX (Mobile eXperience) Business, we’ve equipped The Freestyle with a button that syncs it with Galaxy devices. With just a push of a button, users can instantly use their Galaxy device as a remote control. They can also utilize mobile hotspots when no Wi-Fi networks are available. We’ve developed this product by paying close attention to even the smallest details, all to make the device just as convenient and easy to use outdoors as it is at home.

¹ Light socket connection feature will be first applied in US.

² Samsung is not liable for 3^rd party external batteries.

Customization is key with the 4-Door Flex, offering flexible options for both its exterior and interior. It features a brand-new Beverage Center, which gives quick access to the water dispenser and an automatically-filling water pitcher. It is also equipped with the Dual Auto Ice Maker, which consists of two separate ice makers that make regular Cubed Ice and smaller Ice Bites simultaneously to suit various preferences for cold beverages.

“Rethinking and optimizing spaces to promote conducive living environments has become one of our priorities to cater to shifting needs as the world adapts to new norms,” said Hyesoon Yang, Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Team, Digital Appliances, Samsung Electronics. “Samsung’s new lineup of 4-Door Flex refrigerators delivers specialized solutions that can be tailored to individual lifestyles as consumers spend more time at home.”

Custom-Fit to Your Lifestyle

The new 4-Door Flex represents Samsung’s continuous commitment to pioneering new innovations, helping consumers achieve the lifestyles that they desire through flexible, personalized offerings. The full 4-Door Flex lineup delivers several layers of personalization, including:

• Changeable Exterior
  Homeowners can put their personal stamp on their kitchen style through the creative use of materials and colors. The Bespoke version of the 4-Door Flex offers color and texture customization with interchangeable door panels that come with a wide range of colors and finishes.
• Flexible Interior Storage
  Interior customization is possible with all 4-Door Flex models thanks to its flexible shelving and drawer configuration which helps keep different foods fresh by creating optimal conditions. The 4-Door Flex includes Samsung’s signature Flex Zone, an independently controlled compartment that can quickly convert from a fridge to a freezer, able to store a wide range of items using five pre-set temperature modes. All versions of the fridge are also equipped with a Flex Crisper drawer, perfect for fresh produce or meat and fish, along with a Crisper+ drawer which ensures fruit and vegetable retain moisture.
• User-Preference Driven Recommendations
  The Family Hub version delivers the benefits of software customization thanks to its AI-powered services that upgrade living experiences for families. Get recommendations on family meals with the automatic Meal Planner, stay up-to-date with the lifespan of your produce, generate shopping lists for ingredients, and order groceries straight from the Family Hub screen.

Enhanced Freshness and Performance

The 4-Door Flex offers various conveniences, including quick and easy access to refreshingly cold water. The Beverage Center is inside the fridge, keeping the water dispenser nozzle less exposed to air, reducing the risk of contamination. Additional features also ensure your fridge items stay cool, last longer and taste their best.

• Dual Auto Ice Maker
  The Dual Auto Ice Maker makes regular cubed ice and Ice Bites in two separate ice makers. Ice Bites are smaller and can chill drinks much faster—great for families with children. The dual ice maker makes up to 6.17lbs of ice a day, and stores up to 9lbs².
• Autofill Water Pitcher 
  The Autofill Water Pitcher automatically fills up with purified water, which can be infused with fruits and herbs, so it’s ready to serve instantly.
• Water Dispenser
  The Water Dispenser features a stainless-steel nozzle that is detachable for easy washing.
• UV Deodorizing Filter
  The new built-in deodorizing filter reduces odors caused by bacteria from the air in your fridge with UV technology that continuously cleans the filter.
• Superior Cooling Performance
  Keep food fresher for longer and preserve its natural flavor and taste. A Triple Cooling system independently supplies cool air to three compartments in the fridge and freezer using three dedicated coolers. The system controls the temperature and humidity in each compartment to create optimal storage conditions and prevents odors from mixing. Precise Cooling also minimizes any temperature fluctuation to just ±0.5°C to preserve the quality and texture of fresh food and prevent the effects of freezer burn. Food is kept fresh, even if the fridge door is opened frequently. And with Metal Cooling, the fridge’s metal plate in the rear wall helps maintain the optimal internal temperature by retaining the cold and preventing the loss of cool air whenever the door is open.

Timeless Design

The 4-Door Flex blends effortlessly into existing kitchen designs, with its sleek contemporary lines, flat-panel design as well as thoughtfully hidden handles and water dispenser. Meanwhile, the 4-Door Flex Family Hub version also features an upgraded UI, contributing to the unit’s overall design.

The Family Hub features a digital frame that allows users to display artwork of their choosing from a curated selection. It also offers an array of screen views to harmonize with the refrigerator and kitchen décor, including the Family Board, Family Hub’s digital interface that features analog aspects for users.

For more information, images or video on the 4-Door Flex refrigerator lineup for 2021, please visit www.samsung.com.

¹ The Family Hub model will only be launching in North America, Latin America, Europe, Southeast and Southwest Asia.

² The 9lbs of ice storage is based on the Regular Depth standard.

Samsung Electronics today announced that its BESPOKE refrigerator will be available in the U.S. this year. To be unveiled for the first time at CES 2021, the BESPOKE lineup will include an all-new 4-Door Flex format that has sleek lines and a contemporary flat-panel design with recessed handles, blending seamlessly into existing kitchens for various lifestyles. The 4-Door Flex also features a new Beverage Center and an improved Flex Zone. The lineup will also include Column and Bottom Mount Freezer formats, allowing for modular configurations that can grow to fit each household’s unique needs.

BESPOKE refrigerators offer a dynamic mix of design options, with eight unique colors and glass or steel finishes. Color options include Grey Glass, Sky Blue Glass, Navy Steel, Champagne Steel, Matte Black Steel, Navy Glass, White Glass, and Rose Pink Glass.

“As families spend more time at home—and in the heart of the home, the kitchen—they’re investing in home appliances they can personalize, which is exactly what our BESPOKE lineup offers,” said John Herrington, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Home Appliances. “BESPOKE refrigerators are customizable on the outside with a variety of colors, materials, and finishes that you can select to match your style, and also customizable on the inside with convertible drawers and other unique features.”

The 4-Door Flex Brings New Features for All Your Refrigeration Needs

Maintaining the sleek overall design of the unit, Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex comes with a new Beverage Center inside the upper-left door that provides quick access two different ways, with an internal, filtered water dispenser and built-in AutoFill water pitcher. The AutoFill water pitcher automatically refills with fresh, filtered water, or you can easily infuse the water with a flavor of your choice. The refrigerator also features a Dual Ice Maker, which can make not only regular ice cubes but also small “ice bites,” which chill drinks faster.

Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex features an improved Flex Zone, a versatile compartment that converts from fridge to freezer temperatures, offering the flexibility to meet a family’s food storage needs. The improved Flex Zone has five different temperature settings: Freeze, Soft Freeze, Meat/Fish, Fruits/Veggies, and Beverage. There is also a Flex Crisper that allows you to store meat or fish at the optimal temperature, as well as a Crisper+ that keeps your fruit and vegetables fresher for longer.

In addition to the U.S., Samsung is also introducing the BESPOKE refrigerator lineup across the MENA and European regions in 2021—expanding beyond the Northern European and Asian markets where it is currently available.

More information on BESPOKE will be on display at Samsung’s virtual CES exhibit from January 11 to 14. For more information about Samsung’s latest products, please visit https://www.samsung.com/us/explore/experiences/ces2021.