Raising the bar for cinema innovation, Samsung unveiled the latest model of Onyx (ICD) in March. The next generation of cinematic experiences will be defined by immersive visuals, improved comfort and a reliable viewing experience.

In this article, Samsung Newsroom takes a closer look at the company’s vision for the future of cinema in terms of Visuals, Space and Consistency.

▲ Samsung Onyx was the center of attention at the company’s booth at CinemaCon 2025, the industry’s largest exhibition

Visuals — An Out-of-This-World Screen Experience

Immersion is at the heart of the cinematic experience — a setting designed to transport audiences into the world of the film. Only in an environment free from the everyday distractions such as constant calls, notifications and household chores can viewers fully engage with the story unfolding on the screen.

A true cinematic experience faithfully delivers the filmmaker’s vision, presenting every detail, color and shadow exactly as intended. Onyx brings that vision to reality.

▲ Pixar’s Inside Out 2 shown on Samsung Onyx, demonstrating the display’s peak brightness and vibrant color accuracy

Onyx, the world’s first cinema LED display certified¹ by Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI), delivers superior picture quality in 4K HDR resolution with vivid colors, deep blacks and infinite contrast. The clarity, precision and rich detail in each frame help give life to the narrative. Gone are the days of poor edge resolution and inconsistent brightness.

▲ Samsung Onyx enhances Pixar’s Lightyear (top) and Soul (bottom) with outstanding contrast, making dark scenes more vivid and immersive

The Onyx screen can lend its brightness and clarity to applications other than movie screenings — live sports, concerts, gaming events and corporate presentations, for example. The ability to host alternative content empowers theaters to diversify their offerings and create new revenue streams without compromising the premium viewing experience.

▲ A live concert seen on Onyx, demonstrating the display’s color accuracy and sharp details

Space — More Room for Comfort and Flexibility

Comfort and spatial design are also key factors that set premium cinemas apart. Much like the distinction between economy and business class on an airplane, the seating experience can make or break a theater’s appeal. As theaters evolve into premium auditoriums, spacious, comfortable seating becomes essential.

Onyx helps enable this transformation. Unlike traditional projectors which require separate projection rooms and large setups, Onyx’s cinema LED technology maximizes the available space in a theater. This allows cinemas to optimize their auditorium spaces and provides more flexibility to install specialized seating like larger recliners or dining tables.

Furthermore, new Onyx (ICD) offers flexible scaling options, allowing screens to be customized to fit the dimension of each auditorium, ensuring the best use of space without sacrificing picture quality and comfort.

▲ Pixar’s Elio screened on Samsung Onyx featuring luxury seating for a premium cinema experience

With Onyx, every seat in the theater offers a reliable high-quality visual experience — no edge distortion or resolution loss — ensuring that the entire audience is fully immersed in the story. The combination of optimized space, enhanced comfort and stunning visuals elevates the overall cinema experience.

▲ Samsung Onyx empowers theaters to deliver a premium cinema experience and luxury dining for customers.

Consistency — Reliable Viewing Quality With Smarter Management Tools

We go to the theater to be transported — to lose ourselves in the world of a story. But experiences in traditional projection-based theaters can deteriorate with picture quality that varies depending on the age and condition of the equipment.

Samsung’s Cinema LED screen, on the other hand, features an ‘Auto Calibration Solution’ that automatically adjusts color consistency across each module, ensuring optimal picture quality — not just at installation, but every step of the way through ongoing maintenance.

Onyx also offers the industry’s first and longest 10-year warranty for cinema LED,² raising the bar for long-term reliability in cinema technology.

▲ Samsung Onyx, an out-of-this-world cinema LED display

Since debuting the world’s first Cinema LED screen in 2017, Onyx has built strong partnerships with major global film studios, earning trust and recognition across the industry. As the leader in Cinema LED technology, Samsung is committed to pushing boundaries — so the magic of the movies is always seen exactly as it was meant to be.

With Samsung Onyx, the future of premium cinema is brighter, clearer and more immersive than ever before.

¹ Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) is a consortium of major film studios established to define specifications for an open architecture in digital cinema systems.
² Based on internal research and publicly available information. Onyx includes a standard three-year warranty, with options to extend coverage up to 10 years.

▲ Samsung Onyx was the highlight of the company’s exhibition at CinemaCon 2025.

Samsung Electronics reaffirmed its leadership as a pioneer in cinema LED technology at CinemaCon 2025, the ‘largest and most important gathering of movie theater owners from around the world,’ held in Las Vegas, Nevada from March 31 to April 3. At this event, Samsung unveiled the latest Samsung Onyx cinema LED screen with its unmatched picture quality, industry-leading reliability and expanded scalability to meet the evolving needs of theaters worldwide.

With nearly 6,000 industry professionals from more than 80 countries coming together to celebrate the moviegoing experience, CinemaCon is essential for companies that serve the cinema industry. Samsung invited industry professionals to its immersive booth to discover the latest in premium theater technology and watch films from leading studios.

▲ Attendees arriving at CinemaCon 2025 at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas; Inside Out 2 displayed on Samsung’s QMD supersized 105” signage

Redefining Luxury Theater Experiences with Samsung Onyx

At the booth, theater owners and industry leaders had a chance to experience films, including Elio (2025) on the new Samsung Onyx screen, showing attendees a cinematic experience that is unmatched with true black levels, infinite contrast ratio and exceptional color accuracy.

▲ Pixar’s Elio screened on Samsung Onyx at CinemaCon 2025

The new Samsung Onyx screen supports frames up to 4K 120Hz¹ to deliver ultra-smooth motion and razor-sharp quality that brings out more details on screens. Further, Onyx can reach peak brightness levels of 300 nits (86.7fL), six times brighter than traditional cinema standards, which means the brightest details on the screen remain visible to the audience.²

While traditional projectors often appear dim in larger theaters and struggle with washed-out colors in bright scenes, Samsung Onyx maintains exceptional brightness to reveal rich details in shadows, intense highlights and stunning color accuracy across the spectrum.

“The color and vibrancy are very rich,” said Cynthia Lusk, Director of Creative Film Services and International Production at Pixar Studios. “On the Onyx display, there are details of the characters shown that I haven’t seen on a screen before.”

▲ A colorful scene from Pixar’s Inside Out 2 during a screening on Samsung Onyx at CinemaCon

This year’s Onyx offers theater owners four standard sizes³ — 5 meters (16 feet), 10 meters (33 feet), 14 meters (46 feet) and 20 meters (66 feet) — with additional flexible scaling options to accommodate a variety of theater dimensions.

Cannon Beach, a mixed use development blending lifestyle and adrenaline in Mesa, Arizona, will be the first location in the United States to introduce the latest generation of Samsung Onyx in its movie theater, LVL 11 Entertainment.

▲ Opening in Fall 2025, LVL 11 Entertainment at Cannon Beach will be the first cinema in the United States to introduce the latest generation of Samsung Onyx in an auditorium with a balcony, creating a unique viewing experience built around the Cinema LED screen.

“We chose to partner with Samsung because its commitment to innovation and cutting-edge technology aligns perfectly with our vision for LVL 11 Entertainment. By premiering the Samsung Onyx Cinema LED Screen in Arizona, we will be offering an entirely new experience, not just a movie,” said Adam Saks, Chief Operating Officer, LVL 11 Entertainment. “Samsung’s ability to push the boundaries of entertainment technology ensures that LVL 11 at Cannon Beach remains at the forefront of the industry.”

Digitizing In-Theater Movie Promotion with Color E-Paper

▲ Floor maps showcased on Samsung Color E-Paper displayed at the Samsung booth, demonstrating the screen’s paper-like display and slim depth.

Outside the theater, Samsung introduced new digital signage to help theater owners transform the entire moviegoing experience.

Samsung Color E-Paper is an ultra-low power, lightweight and slim display that can replace traditional analog and paper-based promotions while delivering the high visibility and functionality. A dedicated mobile app allows theater owners to seamlessly operate the display remotely, and schedule wake-up and sleep times. With Samsung VXT managing the content of Color E-Paper, updating is simplified as theaters change displays to promote the next upcoming blockbuster.

Immersive Theater Lobbies with Cinematically Designed Signage

▲ Information about Elio(Pixar, 2025) displayed on Samsung’s QMD supersized 105” signage with a Samsung kiosk

Samsung’s QMD series 105-inch supersized screen delivers a unique viewing experience, immersing moviegoers with a large screen before they step into the auditorium. Featuring a cinematic 21:9 ratio, the QMD is designed to captivate the audience, enhance brand visibility and enhance the overall theater environment.

Transforming Menu Boards with Appetizing Visuals

▲ Samsung QMC signage displayed at CinemaCon, showcasing its vivid colors and dynamic content to captivate attendees before they enter the Onyx theater

Samsung QMC signage will immediately draw movieogers upon arrival, showcasing one billion shades of color and allowing theaters to display their food and beverage offerings in a more engaging manner. The QMC’s slim profile enables theaters to optimize their space, seamlessly blending the display into any theater environment.

▲ CinemaCon 2025 official poster contest winners

Samsung’s participation at CinemaCon underscores its pioneering excellence and continued legacy in cinema LED display. Industry experts, theater owners and studios witnessed how Samsung is ushering in the future of cinematic innovation and leadership to build excitement for the future of films.

¹ Based on the screen’s internal data bandwidth. Actual frame rates may vary depending on the connected IMB. 4K resolution support applies to Onyx’s four standard sizes.
² Peak brightness supported when using DCI-HDR supported IMB.
³ All measurements in meters and feet refer to screen width, while all measurements in inches denote diagonal; The 10-meter Onyx screen is now available for order, with other models arriving in a phased rollout.

Samsung Electronics today announced the latest Onyx (ICD model) cinema LED screen at CinemaCon 2025, marking a new era for cinema display technology. Building on its legacy as a cinema LED pioneer, which began in 2017, Samsung is setting new standards with unmatched picture quality, industry-leading reliability and expanded screen scalability to meet the evolving needs of theaters worldwide.

“The cinema industry is shifting its focus towards delivering a more immersive and visually captivating experience,” said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With Onyx, Samsung delivers not only the highest-quality visuals but also the flexibility that allows theaters to redefine the movie-going experience and cater to evolving audience expectations.”

Brighter, Bolder and More Immersive: The Future of Cinema Is Here

As the world’s first DCI-certified¹ cinema LED display, Samsung Onyx delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience with true black levels, infinite contrast ratio and exceptional color accuracy. The screen is capable of supporting frame rates up to 4K 120Hz,² delivering ultra-smooth motion and razor-sharp details.

Every auditorium has unique dimensions, and screen size requirements vary from theater to theater. To accommodate this, Onyx offers four standard sizes³ and additional flexible scaling options, allowing theaters to maximize their available space and present films in the largest possible format without compromising image quality:

• 5 meters (16ft) — Ideal for boutique and smaller-format theaters (Pixel pitch: 1.25mm)
• 10 meters (33ft) — The industry standard for premium cinemas (Pixel pitch: 2.5mm)
• 14 meters (46ft) — A versatile format that delivers an impressive, large-scale cinematic experience (Pixel pitch: 3.3mm)
• 20 meters (66ft) — A large-format solution for premium auditoriums (Pixel pitch: 5.0mm)

Samsung Onyx cinema LED screens natively support both scope (2.39:1) and flat (1.85:1) aspect ratios, ensuring films are displayed in their intended formats without the need for additional adjustments. When scaling beyond standard sizes, Onyx maintains both aspect ratios while maximizing the screen size, allowing content to expand proportionally without distortion.

Unlike traditional projectors, which can appear dim in larger theaters and struggle with washed-out colors in bright scenes, Onyx’s enhanced brightness ensures richer details in shadows, more intense highlights and superior color accuracy across the entire spectrum. Powered by Samsung’s HDR technology, Onyx reaches peak brightness levels of 300 nits (87.6fL) — six times brighter than conventional cinema standards — allowing even the brightest details to remain clear and visible.⁴ As a result, high-brightness scenes retain their full impact, rather than appearing washed out or overexposed.

With its industry-leading brightness and precision, Onyx enables clear and vivid playback even in brightly lit environments, making it ideal for alternative content such as live sports, concerts, gaming events and corporate presentations. This allows theaters to deliver a premium viewing experience beyond traditional movie screenings.

Built for Reliability and Seamless Integration

Onyx is built for long-term performance, offering the industry’s first and longest 10-years warranty for cinema LED,⁵ setting a new benchmark for reliability in cinema display technology. This extended coverage helps reduce total cost of ownership and ensures a future-proof investment for theater owners.

To maintain optimal picture quality, Samsung provides an auto calibration solution that enables theaters to easily calibrate their screens during installation and routine maintenance.

Designed for seamless integration, Onyx is compatible with both Dolby and GDC media servers, making it easier for theaters to transition from traditional projection systems. Because of this, theater networks can enjoy seamless content playback and efficient management.

Onyx is fully compatible with leading cinema audio solutions, including Dolby Atmos, Meyer Sound, QSC and custom-designed sound systems, providing theaters with the flexibility to customize their sound experience to meet their specific needs. For theaters using HARMAN’s JBL surround sound technology, Onyx also offers seamless integration to ensure optimized audio performance.

A Proven Legacy With Global Recognition

Samsung Onyx is one of the most widely adopted cinema LED screens in theaters worldwide — setting a new industry standard for premium cinema display technology. As it expands its presence, Onyx continues to showcase its unmatched reliability, versatility and ability to elevate the cinematic experience.

One of the most recent installations is at Pathé Palace in Paris, where Onyx was selected to enhance the premium viewing experience in one of the world’s most visually stunning cinemas.

“At Pathé, we are committed to delivering the highest-quality cinematic experience for our customers,” said Laure de Boissard, Managing Director, Pathé Cinéma France. “Samsung Onyx allows us to achieve stunning visuals with exceptional brightness and contrast, ensuring that every film is presented exactly as intended.”

Samsung Onyx is redefining how movies are experienced through its collaboration with the film industry as well. One such example was Samsung partnering with Pixar Animation Studios to master films like “Elemental,” “Inside Out 2,” and this summer’s “Elio” in HDR for Onyx, which led to the films being shown with exceptional brightness, contrast and color accuracy. Through close collaboration with filmmakers, Onyx continues to push the boundaries of display technology, ensuring that creative visions are brought to life with unmatched precision and clarity.

“At Pixar, we believe cinema can be a grand, shared experience — a place where stories feel larger than life and memories are made with friends. That’s why we’re driven to bring something truly new to the big screen with our pioneering HDR-1 theatrical releases,” said Dominic Glynn, Senior Scientist, Pixar Animation Studios. “In rising to meet this ambition, the ONYX screen technology delivers astonishing brightness, clarity and color — an image so clear and uniform it elevates every moment of the story. Even the casual moviegoer will feel the difference. It’s about creating that unforgettable ‘Wow!’ — the kind of experience that reminds us why cinema is, and always should be, special.”

CinemaCon attendees can experience the next-generation Onyx firsthand at Samsung’s booth at Caesars Palace, where the company will showcase its latest advancements in cinema display technology. Running March 31-April 3 in Las Vegas, CinemaCon is the largest annual gathering for the motion picture theater industry, bringing together theater owners, filmmakers, studio executives and industry professionals from all over the world.

For more details, visit samsung.com.

¹ Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) is a consortium of major studios formed to establish specifications for an open architecture for digital cinema systems.
² Based on the screen’s internal data bandwidth. Actual frame rates may vary depending on the connected IMB.
³ All measurements in meters and feet refer to screen width, while all measurements in inches denote diagonal;
The 10-meter Onyx screen is now available for order, with other models arriving in a phased rollout.
⁴ Peak brightness supported when using DCI-HDR supported IMB.
⁵ Based on internal research and publicly available information. Onyx includes a standard three-year warranty, with options to extend coverage up to 10 years.