To discuss these changing industry trends and the future of consumer preferences, Samsung Newsroom sat down with Kang-il Chung, Vice President and Head of Future Planning Group at Samsung’s Visual Display Business. Read on to learn more about how Samsung’s continuous TV innovations keep up with rapidly changing consumer lifestyles.

The Gold Award honors were given to BESPOKE AX9000N air purifier and BESPOKE City Color Edition. BESPOKE AX9000N air purifier was recognized for its innovative concept of letting the consumers choose the purifier’s front part design according to the consumers’ lifestyle.

In addition, the BESPOKE City Color Edition panel collection was recognized for its range of colors and materials for kitchen appliances including refrigerators, induction cooktops, and ovens. The BESPOKE City Color Edition offers color palettes inspired by various cities such as Stockholm, Berlin, and Seoul.

“It is important to provide differentiated experience to the consumers and add meaningful value to their lives,” said Dontae Lee, Executive Vice President and the Head of Corporate Design Center at Samsung Electronics. “We will make more effort to provide designs that contribute to the society and the lives of our consumers through new insights and innovative approaches.”

In the Product category, a wide range of Samsung designs won awards, including:

• QLED 8K, TV which uses the infinity screen design that maximizes immersion by reducing the bezel.

• The Premiere, the premium projector for the home equipped with Triple Laser and Ultra Short Throw technology.

• WW8000T Washer & DV8000T Dryer that can be stacked vertically, horizontally, or as a stand-alone depending on the available space.

• Galaxy Z Fold2 and Galaxy Z Flip, smartphones which provide the unique and innovative user experience of foldable smartphones.

In other categories, Samsung’s designs that consider accessibility and environment have won awards including:

• WW8000T Washer & DV8000T Dryer UX with smart and easy usability, featuring Braille labels and sound feedback design to indicate different cycles or temperature settings for enhanced accessibility.

• Eco-Packaging – a sustainable product packaging that facilitates the upcycling of the boxes.

Organized by iF International Forum Design GmbH, the iF Design Award contest started in Germany in 1953. The Award comprehensively evaluates based on its criteria, which include differentiation and impact, in 9 disciplines & categories – Product, Packaging, Communication, Professional Concept, Interior Architecture, Architecture, Service Design, User Experience (UX), and User Interface (UI).

iF Design Award 2021 winners are announced online through the iF Design Award website and iF Design application. For more information, please visit https://ifworlddesignguide.com.

The TV you own should always be closely related with your lifestyle and aesthetic choices, because everyone enjoys their TV experiences more when their device’s design, as well as the content they watch, reflects their tastes.

In order to help you discover which TV suits you best, Samsung Global Newsroom has put together a quiz to point you in the direction of the most suitable TV for you and your lifestyle.

From vast streaming services to cinematic video games, there’s never been more incredible content waiting at our fingertips – and there’s never been more reason to experience that content on a big-screen TV.

Considering that you can reasonably expect most TVs to last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, when you shop for your next TV, you’ll want to be sure that you’ll be happy with your purchase for the long haul. As time goes by, many consumers report that they regret not buying a bigger screen TV. Today’s consumers want a bigger, more immersive picture. Which may explain why, according to recent consumer segmentation research conducted by Samsung Electronics, consumers rank screen size as a major reason to upgrade to a new TV, and why this year, experts predict that sales of 75-inch and larger TVs will increase by 17 percent, and sales of 8K TVs will increase by 110 percent.¹

The benefits of buying a big-screen TV are as clear as the spacious displays’ immersive images. Let’s take a closer look at some of those benefits now.

1. Next-Level Realism

It may sound simple, but it’s true: the bigger your TV’s screen, the easier it is to appreciate its picture quality.

The key lies in the balance between size and resolution – the total number of pixels a TV’s screen contains. The bigger the TV, the more important its resolution becomes. An ultra-high-resolution TV like Samsung’s QLED 8K packs a whopping 33 million pixels into its screen. Such high resolution makes pixels imperceptible on a big-screen TV – amplifying your immersion by offering you a bigger, more realistic picture.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see why consumers consistently rate screen size as one of the most important factors affecting their TV purchasing decisions, just as it’s easy to see how a big, high-resolution screen takes everything from watching films to gaming to the next level.

2. Watching Movies

Enjoy a theater experience from the comfort of your living room.

A big-screen, high-resolution TV is ideal for enjoying films at the level of detail they were meant to be viewed. This includes both 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray movies, as well as content from an ever-growing list of streaming services. Special effects look more spectacular, and cinematic moments become that much more so.

3. Gaming

Today’s video game consoles are exceptionally powerful, and capable of supporting incredibly rich and detailed gameplay. When paired with a big-screen TV, the on-screen action becomes even more immersive. Samsung’s QLED TVs offer next-level gaming with Auto Game Mode, a built-in function that automatically analyzes connected gaming devices and optimizes TV settings to make gameplay as detailed, smooth, and realistic as possible.

4. Watching Sports

When watching sports, a big-screen TV transforms your couch into the best seat in the house. The ability to see more of the action in greater detail makes you feel like you’re there, cheering on your favorite team.

5. Enjoying Edutainment

One of the biggest trends in TVs today has been the rise of edutainment. With so many students studying from home in recent months, TVs have emerged as valuable tools for sparking young ones’ curiosity. A big-screen TV offers a larger window for exploring a wide range of exciting subjects.

Samsung’s QLED TVs – part of the company’s wide-ranging Smart TV portfolio – offer entertainment for all ages. They make everything from web browsing to recording shows simple and convenient, and feature an intuitive Universal Guide, which offers users custom recommendations based on their viewing history.

Things to Consider

If you’re thinking of upgrading to a big-screen TV, here are a few points to consider before making your purchase.

» Get a Sense of Its Size

If you’re unsure how a big-screen TV would look in your home, here’s a handy idea: try using painter’s tape to create an outline of the TV size you’re thinking of buying on your wall for reference. You can also refer to the GIF above to see just how easily a 75- or 85-inch TV can fit into your living room.

» Remember That Immersion Is Key

When buying a big-screen TV, make sure that the display you choose will offer you the most immersive experience possible.

Samsung’s QLED 8K TVs combine a high resolution with cutting-edge innovations like the 8K Quantum Processor to offer users the ultimate in terms of both image quality and in-home entertainment. They’re available to explore at www.samsung.com/tvs/, where you can also find information on the company’s complete range of Smart TV offerings, including QLED 4K.

Click here to learn more about how Samsung’s latest TVs offer users a viewing experience unlike any other.

¹ Market research firm OMDIA has predicted that shipments of 75-inch and larger TVs will reach 4.92 million units in 2020 – a 17% increase over last year (4.21 million). Sales of 8K TVs are predicted to increase from 119,000 units in 2019 to 250,000 units in 2020.

Considering that you can reasonably expect most TVs to last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, when you shop for your next TV, you’ll want to be sure that you’ll be happy with your purchase for the long haul. Today’s consumers want a bigger, more immersive picture. Which may explain why this year experts predict that sales of 75-inch and larger TVs will increase by 17 percent, and sales of 8K TVs will increase by 110 percent in the global TV market.¹

Not only has Samsung worked hard to develop bigger and bigger screens, the company has also been focused on enhancing its TVs’ design to provide the best possible viewing experiences. “Samsung’s QLED 8K 2020 TVs allow users to focus solely on watching and listening for total immersion,” explained product designer Seungho Lee. “With these innovative screens, we reduced bezel sizes so as to make use of 99% of the display space and break down the boundaries of TV displays for optimized viewing.”

Take a look at the images below to learn more about the QLED 8K 2020 range and Samsung’s big-screen TV design journey.

¹ Market research firm OMDIA has predicted that shipments of 75-inch and larger TVs will reach 4.92 million units in 2020 – a 17% increase over last year (4.21 million). Sales of 8K TVs are predicted to increase from 119,000 units in 2019 to 250,000 units in 2020.

When it comes to setting new standards in performance, Samsung’s 8K AI upscaling technology has equipped the company’s TVs to provide truly captivating viewing experiences. Likewise, ‘The Wall’ – the first ever modular display with MicroLED, capable of expanding to a size of hundreds of inches – provided a snapshot of what the future holds for display technology. In terms of design and lifestyle leadership, a host of Samsung solutions including ‘The Serif’, ‘The Frame’ and ‘The Sero’ have set new benchmarks for how your TV might look and interact.

Check out the infographic below to learn more about how Samsung has constantly innovated to push its TV offerings to greater and greater heights.

Samsung’s booth, Samsung Town, is comprised of a range of interactive exhibits for visitors to get a hands-on look at the company’s lifestyle and smart home appliances, mobile devices, network innovations, B2B solutions, TVs and more.

Take a look at the photos below for a detailed look at Samsung’s latest devices towards assisting customers to live connected, seamlessly.

The BESPOKE Lifestyles zone features a dynamic rotating stage on which three separate scenarios have been set up to showcase the versatility of the BESPOKE refrigerator in different color variants for a trio of lifestyles; solo millennial, young couple and extended family.

A vibrant display introduces visitors to Samsung’s new range of premium cordless stick vacuum cleaners, POWERstick Jet. The POWERstick Jet lineup features up to 200W of industry-leading suction power, a long-lasting battery, an ergonomic design and a 5-layered HEPA filtration system.

The QLED Square features a dynamic Super Big TV wall, showcasing a fluid transformation between three QLED TV size options – 50, 75 and 98 inch – for those interested in high quality, immersive viewing experiences.

Samsung Town’s QLED 8K Square is showcasing Samsung’s full lineup of industry-leading QLED 8K TVs. Thanks to Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Processor 8K and QLED Panel, each of the six models – 65, 75, 82, 85 and 98-inch, and the new 55-inch model – are able to provide an astounding level of immersion and reality to the viewing experience.

A visitor takes in all 146 inches of the next-generation visual experience that is The Wall in 4K. The Wall’s unmatched resolution is thanks to its self-emitting, micrometer scale LEDs, and thanks to its AI upscaling, HDR 10+ support and 120Hz refresh rate, viewers can enjoy a personalized experience that can be fully customized to your screen size and ratio tastes.

Over in the Lifestyle Gallery of Samsung Town, visitors are able to Flip the Page and see for themselves how The Serif screen and interior décor piece can match any interior, any existing décor and any lifestyle.

A visitor experiences the seamless connectivity of the Galaxy ecosystem with Samsung partner Technogym’s innovative gym equipment in the Health Geek Zone. Users can keep track of their workout progress and then organize complementary diet plans using the seamless connectivity of Samsung Health across their mobile devices.

Understanding that increasingly, working lifestyles mean working from home and whilst on the go, Samsung’s Connected Home zone includes a Freelancer exhibit showcasing how, with a Samsung mobile phone, laptop and tablet, you can access your work environment anytime, anywhere. Above, a visitor experiences the seamless connectivity across the Freelancer zone.

The latest addition to Samsung’s flagship note series, the Galaxy Note10, comes equipped with an S Pen that can do more than ever before. Visitors to the Galaxy Note10 zone are getting hands-on with a Galaxy Note10+ and enjoying the reflective ceiling of the exhibit while remotely taking a selfie with the S Pen’s new Air actions function.

In the Galaxy Square section of Samsung Town, visitors are able to get up close and personal with Samsung’s latest flagship model – the Galaxy Fold. Developed with a brand new flexible form factor and bespoke features such as App Continuity for ease of use when switching modes, the Galaxy Fold is Samsung’s most innovative smartphone yet, built for a new era of Galaxy.

A lucky young visitor takes part in the Galaxy Tab S6 Drawing Event, which sees model and artist Kicki Yang Zhang harnessing the improved sketching capabilities of the Tab S6’s evolved S Pen to create lifelike caricatures of IFA Samsung Town attendees.

In the Lifestyle zone, visitors are taking in The Serif, a TV that goes beyond being just a simple household appliance and accentuates a room’s interior décor. Visitors are being invited to check out each of the six color options available for The Serif, and share a snap of their favorite on social media with the hashtags #ColorYouLove, #TheSerif and #TheFrame.

“Ick bin ein Bärliner!”: A special display in the Lifestyle Zone marries the chameleon-like abilities of The Serif’s display with the Berlin bear, the symbol of the city of Berlin. Visitors do their best impression of the local icon while learning more about Samsung’s diverse display offering.

To help visitors get a sense of the key themes, experiences and innovations to look out for in Samsung’s showcase, we spoke to some of the individuals who helped put the booth together.

Connected Home Zone

Q: What would you like visitors to take away from the Connected Home Zone?

We hope that, by encouraging them to experience how seamlessly Samsung’s home innovations connect in ways that simplify users’ lives, visitors will walk away with a deep understanding of the true value of connected living.

We designed this zone to illustrate how Samsung’s IoT solutions cater to consumers of various interests and lifestyles. For example, the Health Geek section showcases ways that Samsung devices can help users reach their fitness goals.

One of the most dynamic examples of this involves the Galaxy Watch Active2 and a Technogym exercise bike. The bike is outfitted with NFC technology, and when users tap it with their watch, they’re able to easily sync their watch with their bike, and log their workout data in Samsung Health as soon as they finish exercising.

Q: Are there any other exhibits in the zone that visitors should be sure to check out?

Don’t forget to test drive Samsung’s Digital Cockpit. It not only offers simple controls for managing connected devices in your home from your car, but it also lets you easily manage key car functions from the comfort of your home.

Let me give you an example. After launching the SmartThings app on the Digital Cockpit’s dashboard, if you select “Coming home,” the system will automatically activate the connected devices you’ll need when you arrive – like the lights and air conditioner – so your house will be ready for your return.

Visual Display Zone

Q: Which section of the Visual Display Zone would you recommend the most to visitors?

There’s a wide range of exciting displays on exhibit in the Visual Display Zone, but I’d especially recommend that visitors check out the QLED 8K Highlight Zone to take a look at our full lineup of QLED 8K TVs. It’s the widest 8K TV range in the industry, and our exhibits do an excellent job of showcasing the TVs’ breathtaking visuals.

Because QLED 8K TVs feature a resolution that’s four times greater than 4K UHD TVs, they add a sense of depth to content that makes it feel more immersive. We also offer a wide range of size options, designed to suit any home. These include the newly announced 55-inch model, as well as 65-, 75-, 82-, 85- and 98-inch versions. I’d also recommend that you see how the 98-inch model, and its 5,000-nit peak luminance, make HDR video content really pop.

Visitors should also be sure to check out the 146- and 219-inch versions of The Wall, our immersive, modular Micro LED display. It can be custom-tailored to any size, and it’s a fantastic solution for businesses, as well as those looking for the ultimate TV upgrade. You can see both models on display in all their glory on the right side of the zone. Trust me, you won’t want to miss that.

Q: Could you tell us more about the technology that allows QLED 8K TVs to produce such an immersive picture?

The Quantum Processor 8K is the key here. It’s based on our proprietary semiconductor technology, and it’s what makes QLED 8K possible, along with the TVs’ innovative QLED panels. The Quantum Processor 8K intelligently analyzes more than ten million images, and uses this data to automatically upscales standard definition, HD, FHD and UHD content.

The Quantum Processor 8K makes it possible for users to enjoy their favorite TV shows and OTT (Over The Top) streaming content in crisp 8K quality. When you see the before and after images with your own eyes here in the zone, you’ll realize just how powerful this technology really is.

Digital Appliance Zone

Q: What should visitors check out first in the Digital Appliance Zone?

I’d recommend that they check out our new BESPOKE refrigerator line. When we created the Digital Appliance Zone, we wanted to show people how Samsung’s home appliances tailor to a variety of lifestyles. BESPOKE is a perfect example of this lifestyle-centric approach to innovation.

BESPOKE’s launch has effectively brought about a new era of customized home appliances. Each BESPOKE refrigerator is completely customizable, which means that users can personalize their fridge’s color, materials and configuration to suit their lifestyle and design needs. With a modular design and up to eight different configurations – from single-door to four-door units – BESPOKE refrigerators seamlessly fit into most contemporary kitchens. Their versatility is on display in a total of seven lifestyle-tailored exhibits across the Digital Appliance Zone, including the circular structure at the center, which we like to call the Circle of Life.

Going forward, in addition to showcasing customizable appliances like BESPOKE at this year’s IFA, we’ll continue to develop convenient, customizable devices that tailor to the lifestyles of a wide range of consumers – including Millennials and those living in single-person households.

Q: What else would you recommend that visitors check out in the zone?

After checking out BESPOKE, I’d recommend that they take a look at our new range of premium cordless stick vacuum cleaners, POWERstick Jet. Our POWERstick Jet lineup offers industry-leading suction power, up to 200 watts,¹ feature a long-lasting battery and an ergonomic design, and even include a 5-layer HEPA filtration system that captures up to 99.999 percent² of allergens and dust particles.

Semiconductor Zone

Q: What should visitors check out first in the Semiconductor Zone?

I’d have to say Samsung’s SSD T5. It’s the latest addition to a long line of portable solid-state drives that offer fast transfers and reliable performance. Our exhibit offers visitors a chance to take a closer look at the SSD’s impressive specs – including 500GB and 1TB capacities, and transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s – as well as its new Rose Gold and Metallic Red finishes.

I’d also recommend that they check out one of our Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) SSD portfolio, the 970 EVO Plus. Operating on the PCIe interface, this NVMe SSD delivers sequential read speeds of up to 3,500 megabytes per second. When playing 4K games, users experience fast load speeds, and no lag. It’s available with up to 2TB of storage, and it comes in a compact M.2 form factor.

Q: Will visitors be able to take a closer look at some of the Samsung semiconductor technologies that have been receiving considerable attention lately?

Absolutely. The zone also offers a glimpse at our latest semiconductor system solutions, including our new Dynamic Vision Sensor. It’s a technology that can be utilized in a variety of fields, especially home surveillance. It’s capable of distinguishing between humans and objects, and it recognizes movement by registering changes in light. Because its output is dot-based, and it’s designed to only recognize people’s movements and not their faces, the Dynamic Vision Sensor ensures that users’ privacy is preserved.

Before you leave, be sure to check out Samsung’s first 5G-integrated mobile processor, the Exynos 980. This innovative technology opens the door for consumers to enjoy more sophisticated AI experiences, and it will eventually enable us to add 5G connectivity to more devices.

Mobile Zone

Q: What is the key theme of the Mobile Zone, and why was it chosen?

The innovations featured in the Mobile Zone demonstrate how Samsung Electronics is leading the charge when it comes to 5G. Samsung was the first in the market to introduce a commercially available 5G device, the Galaxy S10 5G, and here at IFA, we’re taking the next step in leading 5G’s democratization by expanding our 5G smartphone lineup to include a wider range of mobile devices.

The 5G smartphones showcased here, including the Galaxy Note10 5G, the Note10+ 5G, the Galaxy Fold 5G and the Galaxy A90 5G, will open the door for more people to experience 5G’s always-on connectivity and the incredible possibilities that come with it. And we believe that, going forward, this 5G ecosystem will only grow faster and stronger.

Q: What are some key features that visitors should focus on when testing out Samsung’s new smartphones?

This is the first time that we’ve offered the opportunity to get hands-on with the Galaxy Fold, so I’d definitely recommend that visitors take this chance to get an up-close look at the device’s new form factor. Experience just how easy it is to transition apps from the 4.6-inch cover display to the 7.3-inch main screen – and vice versa – and be sure to test out the smartphone’s six-camera setup.

The Galaxy A90 5G is another standout smartphone whose premium specs are sure to catch visitors’ eyes. These include the device’s 48MP high-resolution camera; a powerful processor, which supports faster downloads and smoother streaming; and a high-capacity 4,500mAh battery, just to name a few.

Q: Are there any other activities you’d recommend to those visiting the Mobile Zone?

Each 5G device in the Mobile Zone is equipped with an app that illustrates the level of power and connectivity that 5G networks make possible. The app was created based on an actual 5G demo conducted in Korea earlier this year using Samsung’s first 5G smartphone, the Galaxy S10 5G.

The demo is designed to showcase how 5G supports a completely new viewing experience – one that’s richer and more personalized. When viewing content with 5G, you can choose specific viewing angles, replay specific moments, and even catch details that you may have missed.

With this demo, we’re showing people that 5G is no longer a technology of the future; it’s here today. So don’t forget to stop by the booth to experience its power for yourself.

¹ Suction tested on Jet model based on IEC62885-2 Cl 5.8, tested at the inlet of the non-accessorized tool, at the Max mode. Based on SLG (Schubert Leiter Geratesicherheit) tests.

² IEC62885-2 Cl. 5 11. Max mode (particle size: 0.3-10 micrometer)

If someone asked us to sum up ‘Samsung Town’ in a few words, we’d say “can’t-miss,” “hands-on,” “interactive,” and of course, “fun.” If someone asked us to pick out some of the most dynamic ideas and technologies that the company is showcasing at Europe’s largest consumer electronics show, we’d say, “Check out the puzzle below to find out!”

That’s right, rather than spell them out for readers, we thought we’d play a little game. Can you guess the six keywords that describe the powerful innovations that make up Samsung’s IFA 2019 slate?

Check out the answer key below to see how you did, and be sure to stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom for more updates on the exciting concepts and innovations outlined above!

Samsung Electronics will introduce its new products and solutions to its business partners around the world at Samsung Forum 2019.

During the two-month event, strategic products including the 2019 QLED TV lineup as well as customized products for regional markets will be showcased. Based on ‘New Bixby,’ Samsung’s intelligence platform, Connected Solution will also be exhibited where global business partners can interact with various Samsung products.

Starting with the European Forum, Samsung will invite media and partners from Europe, Southwest Asia and Latin America to Porto of Portugal from February 12^th to 22^nd. From March 7^th to 11^th, Samsung will host the Middle East and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Forum in Antalya of Turkey. Lastly, the Southeast Asian Forum will be held in Sentosa of Singapore to meet key business partners from March 25^th to 26^th.

Marking the 10^th anniversary, this year’s Samsung Forum will be a venue to share the company’s business strategy and vision with key partners under the concept of ‘Samsung Plaza’ in which Plaza, the motif, is where people gather, meet, communicate and engage.

“We are delighted that Samsung will engage with global business partners at the 10^th Samsung Forum this year,” said YH Lee, CMO & Head of Global Marketing Center at Samsung Electronics. “Moving forward, we will remain committed to helping people do things that once seemed impossible with our focus on AI and IoT to provide new experiences for consumers going beyond just connecting devices.”

Expansion of Consumer Choice with the Full 2019 QLED TV Lineup

As a market leader in the TV industry for 13 years, Samsung announced its entire 2019 QLED TV lineup that will be available in more than 60 markets within this year. The company will continuously increase the market share in the 8K TV market to sustain its solid dominance in the premium TV market.

“We have witnessed our customers’ unfaltering confidence and affection towards Samsung QLED TVs within the past year,” said Jongsuk Chu, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “This year, our 8K and 4K QLED line-ups are widening the gap in the market for ultra-large TVs, and we are proud to be able to deliver our most innovative and immersive lineup to date.”

The key products unveiled in the 2019 QLED lineup were a suite of 8K and 4K TVs, including the 8K Q900R that ranges from 65-inch to 98-inch screen sizes, as well as the 4K Q90R, Q80R, Q70R and Q60R that range from 43-inch to 82-inch sizes. In total, the expanded 2019 QLED lineup features more than 20 models and includes more ultra-large TV models.

As part of Samsung’s commitment to proliferate its QLED technology, its 2019 QLED TVs feature ‘Ultra Viewing Angle’ technology to provide sharp pictures with deeper blacks and a wider viewing angle.* Following its adoption in 8K models, Samsung’s new QLED 4K models are also now equipped with its proprietary ‘Quantum Processor,’ enabling the QLED 4K products to deliver any source content in different resolutions with improved brightness, picture quality and sound optimized for each scene through AI upscaling.

In addition, all Samsung 2019 QLED TVs will feature HDR10+, a premium picture processing format, so that users can enjoy a detail-rich picture. The QLED 8K TVs will also support HDMI 2.1 (8K 60P) transmission, and users of the QLED 8K can also enjoy content in a high picture quality on streaming services through AI-based 8K upscaling.

The ‘New Bixby’ feature on the 2019 QLED TVs gives users the ability to easily access the content they want through voice commands on Samsung’s ‘Universal Guide,’ which helps users search for content they might like based on previous watching habits and preferences.

To provide more entertainment options and open platform functionality, Samsung Smart TVs will offer a new iTunes Movies and TV Shows app and support Apple AirPlay 2. Additionally, through 2019 Samsung Smart TVs that now work with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, a user can enjoy various features such as turning on/off TV or controlling audio volume via simple voice command.

After immersing the participants with its overwhelming size and enhanced resolution at CES 2019, ‘The Wall’ will again impress participants at the events in Portugal and Singapore. Samsung’s leading lifestyle TVs, the new ‘The Frame’ and ‘The Serif’, with unique design values and improved resolution after the adoption of QLED display for the first time, will also be displayed.

New Products Enabling Next Level Experience of Connected Life

As presented at CES 2019 this January, Connected Solution will also be exhibited at Samsung Forum 2019. Based on ‘New Bixby’, global business partners can enjoy the connected life experience with various products including QLED 8K, 2019 Family Hub, POWERBot and Galaxy Home. Not only that, they can get hands-on experience on how they connect with third-party products.

During the European Forum, AR Solutions will be demonstrated to help the participants virtually experience Samsung products and their interworking with other devices in the retailing environment with an aim of expanding the adoption of the technology in local retail stores.

The winner of the CES Best of Innovation award for four consecutive years, the 2019 Family Hub ensures better control of complex features with voice commands by supporting ‘New Bixby’, enabling enriched family communication and enhanced connections with other devices.

Samsung’s various mobile products and latest smartphones will also be on display.

In addition, Samsung will also exhibit customized products tailored to regional needs. ‘Make for India’ products, including microwave ovens with more than 250 Indian recipe features and refrigerators that can be powered by solar energy will be rolled out during the Southwest Asian Forum.

*Product specification may vary by model.

Samsung Electronics today announced how the company’s investment and leadership in AI, IoT, and 5G technologies will serve as the building blocks for its vision for Connected Living. The company also unveiled its future AI-powered robotics platforms, which can be used to manage activities of daily living, such as helping an aging population independently manage their health routine.

“2019 is Samsung Electronics 50^th anniversary, and for the last five decades, we’ve been committed to bringing meaningful innovations to consumers everywhere,” said HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics. “In 2019, we’re taking things to the next level, and leveraging our industry leadership to make our vision of Connected Living a reality.”

HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics gives his opening remarks, welcoming guests to Samsung Electronics’ CES 2019 Press Conference.

Accelerating the Intelligence of Things with IoT, 5G, and AI  

Driving Samsung’s Connected Living philosophy is the Intelligence of Things – IoT, 5G, and AI working together across devices, to create seamless experiences. At its CES press conference in Las Vegas today, the company explained how its work in these core technologies is enabling innovation throughout its product portfolio.

Since unifying the SmartThings app and introducing the SmartThings Cloud, the SmartThings ecosystem has grown significantly. The number of registered SmartThings users has grown 220 percent and app installs have increased 61 percent. The number of partners participating in this ecosystem has also grown by 44 percent. Today, consumers can enjoy SmartThings experiences with devices from top global brands like Amazon, Google, Bose, Sylvania, and Plume.

Samsung leveraged its telecommunications leadership to make major strides in bringing 5G connectivity to consumers. Samsung is the number one patent holder with ETSI¹, having registered more than 2,000 5G essential patents as of November 2018. And it is the world’s first company to receive FCC approval on its commercial 5G equipment. The company powered the commercialization of home and mobile 5G networks with major U.S. carriers and all three mobile carriers in Korea, with additional trials running in Europe and Asia. Samsung is also committed to putting the power of 5G in consumers’ hands, with a 5G smartphone coming in the first half of 2019.

Samsung believes that AI is most useful when it helps to simplify a complex world. To that end, the company established seven Global AI Centers, and is adopting unique technologies into its products and services. And to ensure that Samsung works with the best and the brightest in the field, Samsung NEXT and the Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center (SSIC) have invested in more than 20 AI-related startups over the last five years.

Bixby, Samsung’s Intelligence Platform, Expands

Bixby started as a smarter way to use your Galaxy phone. Today, it is evolving to become a scalable, open AI platform that will support more and more devices. The company announced that Bixby intelligence will be infused into its 2019 QLED and premium TVs, and smart appliances like refrigerators, washers, as well as air conditioners, mobile devices, AI speakers and more. What’s more, Bixby is expanding to a new Digital Cockpit and robotics platforms.

Uber, Ticketmaster and others are using Bixby to make their services more intelligent. Today, Samsung announced that iHeartRadio joined as a new partner. And, Bixby will continue to grow as more partners, such as Google, join the ecosystem.

Samsung also announced its core AI philosophy: Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency. As it works to advance AI technology, Samsung is committed to ensuring the algorithms it builds are inclusive, the protection of user information and privacy are top priorities, and it’s easy for consumers to understand what the company does with their data and how it is handled.

Next Level Experience of Samsung’s 2019 Portfolio

Samsung also introduced a lineup of new innovations, all of which streamline and simplify day-to-day tasks, and offer a more personalized and unique experience for each user, in a way that only Samsung can.

Entertainment:

Samsung unveiled its 98” QLED 8K – it’s largest yet – adding to its 2019 lineup that features 65”, 75”, 82”, and 85” models. Embedded with the Quantum Processor 8K chip, the 2019 8K line delivers the best in QLED picture quality, design, smart features in more sizes than ever in stunning 8K resolution. Whether a viewer is watching content through a streaming service, set-top box, HDMI, USB or even mobile screen mirroring, Samsung’s proprietary AI-based technology can recognize and upscale any content, regardless of the native resolution, to near pristine 8K quality. This is Samsung’s smartest and most powerful TV yet.

Dave Das, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics America, unveils the 98-inch QLED 8K.

In 2019, Samsung Smart TVs offer more ways to search for content and more compatibility with connected devices than ever before. With an improved AI algorithm that leverages a user’s subscription services, favorite content, and TV viewing habits, the Universal Guide makes it easier for users to find the perfect show for them to watch. Users also have more options than ever to quickly and easily find and control their favorite content with just their voice by using new Bixby and the AI Remote as well as even more ways to control their Samsung TVs through Amazon Echo and Google Home.

(From left) Dave Das, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics America and Yoon Lee, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics America, demonstrate the Universal Guide with new Bixby on a 2019 Samsung Smart TV.

In a move to deliver more entertainment options, value and open platform functionality to Samsung Smart TV users, Samsung announced it will offer iTunes Movies and TV Shows and Apple AirPlay 2 support on 2019 Samsung Smart TV models beginning this spring. Support on 2018 Samsung Smart TVs will be made available via a firmware update. In an industry first, a new iTunes Movies and TV Shows app will debut only on Samsung Smart TVs in more than 100 countries. AirPlay 2 support will be available on Samsung Smart TVs in 190 countries worldwide.

Home:

Family Hub 2019 is more intuitive and intelligent than ever before. The new Family Board offers a completely redesigned screen experience, letting family members communicate and share memories in a creative space on the front of the fridge. Honored with a CES 2019 Innovation Award, Family Hub 2019 with the new Bixby lets users interact in natural language to get answers to complicated questions, preset the oven, search for recipes, and even call an Uber. In addition, Bixby visually shows you information on the screen for a richer experience and displays an array of visual information. These new features will also be available via automatic update for most earlier Family Hub models.

(From left) John Herrington, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Home Appliances, Samsung Electronics America and Yoon Lee, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics America, demonstrate Family Hub’s enhanced AI and IoT capabilities during Samsung’s CES 2019 press conference.

The new front load washer, also a 2019 CES Innovation Award winner, can finish a full load in just 30 minutes² with the SuperSpeed feature. With Bixby, users can also control its smart features like getting recommendations for the best wash cycle, scheduling a cycle to be completed at a users’ preferred time, automatically connecting the dryer cycle when the washer is done, or monitoring usage to efficiently manage their laundry appliances.

Work:

Samsung revealed a line of new, innovative products that combine productivity and flexibility to help consumers get things done more conveniently. The redesigned Notebook 9 Pro is engineered for on-the-go modern professionals to help them reach their true creative potential, while the Notebook Odyssey gaming laptop, powered by the new high-end NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 20-series GPU, is ready for both work and play. Samsung Space Monitor leverages its sleek design and functionality to allow users to focus on what’s on the screen and not what’s around it. Its unique built-in space saving solution, a minimalist, fully-integrated clamp stand that grips to the desk, tilting back and forth to free up space for optimal user productivity. Beyond aesthetics, Samsung’s Space Monitor is a feature-rich, high-performance monitor. The 27-inch model offers QHD resolution for incredibly detailed, sharp images, while the 32-inch model presents content in 4K UHD.

Connected Driving:

Samsung also presented its latest development with HARMAN, showcasing its innovation in automotive technology. The Digital Cockpit 2019 offers an enhanced connected car experience focused on connectivity, personalization, and safety.

With the integration of Bixby’s connected car experience, drivers can remotely check how much gas they have before going on a long road trip or set the car temperature before heading out for the day. Using onboard cameras, the new Digital Cockpit recognizes specific drivers and passengers and sets up the car’s personal space accordingly – adjusting the display preferences, seat height, lighting, and queuing up favorite playlists. Passengers can even enjoy personalized screens on the rear seats and connect to In-vehicle Samsung DeX to get work done on-the-go. The Digital Cockpit 2019 also provides a safer driving experience with the mirror replacement vision system and camera-based safety solutions.

All of this is possible thanks to Cellular-V2X technology that incorporates Samsung’s expertise in mobile network solutions with automotive technologies. With Samsung’s C-V2X, cars will be able to receive and analyze information that will make the driving experience safer and more enjoyable.

Device Solutions:

In order to power tomorrow’s AI technologies, Samsung emphasized that today’s AI infrastructure must evolve to handle intelligence at the edge. For this reason, the company is working to launch a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that will shape the future of intelligent devices.

Samsung’s mobile memory and AI-enabled processors, including the recently-announced Exynos Auto line, will allow for faster and more efficient on-device processing. At the same time, its advanced memory solutions will meet the rigorous demands of tomorrow’s datacenters and enterprises as they look to complete more complex AI tasks.

Robotics Platforms for the Future of AI

Samsung offered a peek into the future of Connected Living by demonstrating its latest developments in robotics platforms including the Samsung Bot Care, Samsung Bot Air, Samsung Bot Retail, and Samsung GEMS. Among the robotics platforms, Samsung gave a first public demonstration of Samsung Bot Care, which helps consumers manage their daily health routines. With its advances in AI and robotics, the company is harnessing its best assets to make a positive impact on society and shape a better world.

Geunbae Lee, Head of the Samsung AI Center, joins Yoon Lee on stage to introduce the crowd to Samsung Bots, which combine the company’s latest advancements in robotics platforms, hardware, software and AI technology. The speakers demonstrated how Samsung Bot Care, pictured here, helps users manage their daily health routines.

For more information including photos and videos, please visit news.samsung.com. Samsung’s CES booth #15006 is on Level 1 of Central Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center and will be open from January 8-11, 2019.

¹ European Telecommunication Standards Institute
² Based on using SuperSpeed on a Normal cycle with an 8lb load.

“For decades, Samsung has lead the way in next-generation display innovation,” said Jonghee Han, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our Micro LED technology is at the forefront of the next screen revolution with intelligent, customizable displays that excel in every performance category. Samsung Micro LED has no boundaries, only endless possibilities.”

Micro LED featuring 75” Micro LED and 219” The Wall

Featuring leading-edge self-emissive technology and modular capabilities, Samsung’s Micro LED displays deliver unparalleled picture quality, versatility and design. These transformative TV displays are made up of individual modules of self-emissive Micro LEDs, featuring millions of inorganic red, green and blue microscopic LED chips that emit their own light to produce brilliant colors on screen – delivering unmatched picture quality that surpasses any display technology currently available on the market.

At last year’s CES, Samsung introduced Micro LED by unveiling The Wall, the critically acclaimed, award-winning 146” Micro LED display. Due to the technical advancements in the ultra-fine pitch semiconductor packaging process that narrow the gap between the microscopic LED chips, Samsung has been able to create a stunning 4K Micro LED display in a smaller, more home-friendly 75” form factor.

Thanks to the modular nature of Micro LED, this technology offers flexibility in screen size that allows users to customize it to fit any room or space. By adding Micro LED modules, users can expand their display to any size they desire. The modular functionality of Micro LED will allow users in the future to create the ultimate display even at irregular 9×3, 1×7 or 5×1 screen sizes that suits their spatial, aesthetic and functional needs.

Samsung’s Micro LED technology also optimizes the content no matter the size and shape of the screen. Even when adding more modules, Samsung Micro LED displays can scale to increase the resolution — all while keeping the pixel density constant. Additionally, Micro LED can support everything from the standard 16:9 content, to 21:9 widescreen films, to unconventional aspect ratios like 32:9, or even 1:1 – without having to make any compromises in its picture quality.

Finally, because Micro LED displays are bezel-free, there are no borders between modules – even when you add more. The result is a seamless, stunning infinity pool effect that allows the display to elegantly blend into any living environment. The possibilities for eye-catching designs are only enhanced by new Ambient Mode features.

For more detail on Samsung’s 2019 QLED 8K and Micro LED lines, please visit booth #15006 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES 2019 (January 8-11, 2019).

The company recently received the official HDR10+ logo certification for its 2018 Premium UHD and QLED TVs, including QLED 8K – a testament to the displays’ ability to produce lifelike images that depict content as creators intended. Samsung also continues to forge partnerships that are delivering premium viewing experiences to more consumers’ homes.

Samsung Newsroom recently sat down with Yeong-Taeg Kim, Vice President of Samsung Research America’s Digital Media Solutions Lab, to learn more about what the company is doing to expand this technology, and offer more people access to the best HDR content available.

What Is HDR10+?

 Introduced in 2017, HDR10+ reproduces colors with a level of accuracy that was previously impossible to achieve.

With most TVs, there’s an inevitable gap between the dynamic range of colors that the display is capable of producing, and the depicted content’s true colors. Traditionally, in order to approximate the appearance HDR, TVs with limited dynamic range have utilized a process known as ‘tone mapping’ to amplify images’ color. However, unlike previous HDR10 iterations, which utilized static tone mapping, in which color enhancement is uniform from scene to scene, HDR10+ employs dynamic tone mapping, which allows scenes to be optimized individually.

In a nutshell, the technology enables TVs to preserve creators’ intent in dark scenes and produce brighter highlights, adding a sense of depth to images that makes content seem more realistic and immersive. It works by embedding content with dynamic metadata, which creates an optimized tone-mapping curve based on a mathematical concept known as a Bézier curve. As Kim explained, “While the concept may be somewhat complex, the results are clear: the image optimization creates rich contrast that brings content’s color to life through the beauty of math.”

How It All Started

 It all started with a proprietary tone-mapping technology that was developed by the Digital Media Solutions Lab back in 2016.

The tone-mapping algorithm was unique as it was the first in the industry to automatically optimize colors in each scene on displays with limited dynamic range. While the team had originally planned to use the technology as a picture quality differentiator for future products, later that year, when the idea of dynamic tone mapping being the next big thing for HDR10 was the subject of intense debate within the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE), the team decided to utilize the technology to develop a new industry standard. A standard that would accommodate device manufacturers, studios and chipmakers, and offer each the freedom they need to innovate.

“We didn’t set out to build an industry standard from the beginning,” Kim explained. “It was the result of having the right technology in our hands at a time when it was most needed. We knew that by opening it up to the industry, we could accelerate the adoption of a ground-breaking innovation that would truly do justice to creators and their content.”

The Challenges

Despite the team’s optimism, creating a new standard was a challenge at first. Even with headquarters and managements’ support at the time, some within the company were skeptical as to whether Samsung would be able to create a viable industry standard that could be adopted by studios, chipmakers and device manufacturers.

“It was a tough call, but we all understood the significance of creating a new standard,” said Kim. “There was a lot of debate, but everyone came around when they realized that by creating a new standard, we’d also be keeping our promise to our consumers. If the industry relied on just one standard, it would be difficult to update previous HDR10 products.”

The biggest technological challenges laid in creating a mathematical curve that could be used as a base for tone mapping each scene, and figuring out a way to parameterize it into a set of data that could serve as a universal descriptor to represent the tone mapping behavior for a given scene. The mathematical curve not only needed to be optimized for every possible scene, it also needed to be flexible enough to do so. It was therefore important that the team find a curve that would cater to the way studios tend to map their tones: fragmented.

Creating a New Standard

After months of research and multiple simulations, the team, led by Dr. Li Tao, finally landed on a mathematical curve that was flexible enough to do the job.

The idea was to mimic the way that studios edit scenes. The Bézier curve turned out to be the perfect choice for replicating fragmentation, which meant that it would represent creators’ intentions more precisely. However, before they could utilize the curve as a base for creating dynamic metadata through mathematical optimization, the team would have to modify it first. It was at this point that they had the innovative idea to enhance its flexibility by transforming the two-dimensional curve to a one-dimensional data set.

With this increased flexibility came the ability to create optimized tone-mapping curves for each scene. By combining this with an algorithm that automatically transforms each curve into metadata, the team created a powerful tool that would allow Samsung’s TVs to offer consumers truly immersive viewing experiences.

Using the analogy of a master chef sharing a prized recipe, Kim explained the technology’s potential to change the way consumers experience content. “Imagine a chef’s culinary masterpiece, turned into a recipe for the ordinary household kitchen,” said Kim. “Imagine that the recipe is so precise that anyone can use it to create a near-perfect dish. Now, imagine a tool that writes this recipe automatically – instead of the chef – and for all types of cuisines. Finally, imagine that, once they buy the ingredients, the recipe becomes available to anyone.

“Samsung has not only created the standard for writing the ‘recipe,’ but the tool as well,” Kim continued. “But in order for this to happen, we need the ‘chefs’ (the studios), the ‘groceries’ (content providers) and the ‘cooks’ at home (device and chip manufacturers) to all work together.”

An Expanding Ecosystem

Since its official launch last year, HDR10+ has seen rapid expansion, spurred by Samsung and its partners’ decisions to (1) make the technology available to chip and TV manufacturers royalty-free, and (2) make the HDR10+ platform and metadata freely available to content companies, as well as UHD Blu-ray player and set-top box manufacturers.

As a result, we’re witnessing the establishment of a strong ecosystem of HDR10+ offerings, with the power to revolutionize home entertainment. In order to deliver immersive, lifelike visuals to more consumers’ living rooms, Samsung has been hard at work forging HDR10+ partnerships – spanning the worlds of cinema, software and device manufacturing – that are expediting the technology’s widespread adoption.

As Kim explained, the HDR10+ platform was designed to support seamless adoption without substantial economic or technological hurdles. “We have been collaborating with third-party software developers, including Colorfront and Blackmagic Design, among others, as well as encoding-system companies to embed HDR10+,” said Kim. “We’ve demonstrated the quality of HDR10+’s performance, and emphasized the economic aspects of implementation. Compared to HDR10 or other competitors, there are no additional costs associated with implementing HDR10+ for content creation, nor are there additional hardware costs for HDR10+ displays. The new platform’s contents are retroactively compatible with existing HDR10 devices.”

Samsung has established exciting partnerships with device, chip and projector manufacturers that will introduce more consumers to HDR10+’s true-to-life picture quality. Notable examples include V-Silicon (formerly Sigma Designs), and TP Vision. The company has also forged and expanded partnerships with leading film studios and content service providers including ivi, Russia’s largest online video service provider, Amazon Prime Video, and Warner Bros.

As noted by Kim, with more HDR10+ TVs, SoCs (System on Chip) and AVR and projector manufacturers set to join the fold soon, and more and more HDR10+ content coming down the pipeline, the official HDR10+ logo certification marks an important milestone, and represents the beginning of a new era for picture quality.

“The introduction of the HDR10+ certification logo represents the groundwork that we are setting for the ultra-high picture quality TV market,” said Kim. “Utilizing our leading technology and expertise, we will continue to extend our valuable partnerships while maintaining our commitment to providing consumers with the best HDR content possible.”

(From left to right) Back: Chenguang Liu, Dr. Yeong-Taeg Kim, Pradeep Nagesh, Seongnam Oh,  Front: Suzie Hyun, Li Tao

But what sets the QLED 8K apart from other 8K televisions and earns it its mesmerizing picture credentials is its ‘8K AI Upscaling’ feature, which harnesses machine learning to transform lower quality image contents into vivid 8K resolution. Not only can you watch content developed in 8K on the QLED’s 3-million-pixel screen, but with the 8K AI Upscaling feature, you can also watch your favorite videos from any resolution – from SD to 4K – transformed to as close to-8K quality as is possible, depending on the source.

Vivid Detail, Breathtaking Results

4K video (left) and 8K upscaled video (right): the 8K image appears more realistically rendered compared to the 4K one thanks to the enhanced detail of the objects depicted.

8K AI Upscaling is a technology that allows viewers to enjoy their favorite videos originally presented in SD, FHD and UHD in 8K (7,680X4,320) super high-quality resolution. On other higher definition screens, playing a low-definition video results in pixelation, image blurring and an overall unsatisfying viewing experience. In order to illuminate the difference 8K AI Upscaling can make, a 75-inch QLED 8K (Q900R) has been compared with a 75-inch QLED 4K TV (Q9F) to demonstrate how content played on the QLED 8K TV and transformed intelligently through 8K AI Upscaling appears in near-8K resolution quality – even if its source is 4K or below.

8K AI Upscaling results in more detailed and natural videos as it upscales not just one aspect, but a whole variety of features such as light, color and line differentiation. As Hyun-seung Lee, QLED 8K TV Picture Quality Developer notes, this means that the resulting images are ”closer to the original” – just as the creators intended. The realism offered by 8K AI Upscaling really does make all the difference in rendering images as if they were really in front of you. Looking at the image above, in the 8K version you can see that the colors of the weeds in the foreground appear more multi-dimensional; the upscaled texture renders each nook and cranny of the mountainside and differentiates it from the coarser textures of the billowing weeds below; and each and every onscreen detail is brought out so that upon viewing, you are really put into this pastoral scene.

Outstanding Realism

Just as the human eye takes in what is in front of it with no obfuscation and object depth differentiation, so the 8K QLED delivers scenes in detailed clarity thanks to the intelligent reactivity of 8K AI Upscaling (as compared with the FHD quality image on the 4K QLED TV [left])

Reflecting the way human object perception registers objects that are closer to us in more detail, 8K AI Upscaling carefully adjusts content to give ultimate image depth thanks to the advanced resolution process engine. Looking at the above images comparing an FHD-resolution image on the left 4K QLED TV with an 8K-upscaled one on the right QLED 8K, the 8K upscaling presents the flowers in the foreground in minute detail – appearing to viewers as if they were close enough to touch. Similarly, camera pans and sweeps across an environment on-screen are optimized to replicate the way human eyes react to changing stimulus – removing any blur from the video. The effortless pixel-less rendering of the images also contributes to an immersive viewing experience, and the peak 4,000 nit brightness of the QLED 8K accurately expresses images in all light conditions – as they are intended to be seen.

Sharper Text, Improved Legibility

HD video (left) and upscaled 8K video (right): Clearer letter outlines are noticeable in the upscaled image

When playing a low-definition video on a high-definition screen, line ‘noises’ (transmission disturbance that blurs details and caused unwanted digital static) are the most disruptive impediments to a satisfying viewing experience. As the input images have lower quality, letter outlines on captions and subtitles become more blurred. However, 8K AI Upscaling intelligently streamlines thick and rough outlines so that they are as sharp as possible, delivering clearer letters on the screen worthy of a high definition television experience. This aspect of the upscaling is crucial to viewers, as the improved legibility of text, demonstrated in the above images, decreases eye strain. As Lee notes, “Recently, almost all videos and TV programs such as entertainment, news, YouTube videos and movies feature subtitles. Consumers can really notice the difference on-screen with 8K AI Upscaling.”

Deeper Blacks for Total Immersion

4K video (left) and upscaled 8K video (right): More detailed contrasts highlight the details of objects in the black background

With 8K AI Upscaling, denser contrast expression means that object details inside of a black background become more pronounced compared to in their original source resolution, heightening a realistic viewing experience. In order to counteract any light spreading across dark-hued content, a common problem in lower-resolution videos, the Upscaling’s intelligent algorithms analyze black video patterns in order to transmit the perfect black; the quality of this deep black is on a par with content originally produced in 8K resolution. The difference between the two images pre and post upscaling is truly noticeable; such is the power of 8K AI Upscaling technology.

Behind the Scenes: Intelligent Upscaling that Keeps Learning

8K AI Upscaling intelligently analyzes not only 4K but also SD, HD, FHD and any other video resolutions in real-time and any necessary features are supplemented. Textures are restored with delicate detail offsetting, any visual static is automatically eliminated by video stream compression, low-definition edges are sharpened to avoid blurriness, and any discontinuous lines are restored. The key element to this is machine learning. Thanks to the QLED 8K’s inbuilt ‘Quantum Processor 8K’ technology, the intelligent algorithm learns from the differences found and makes note of the correlation between low-definition and high-definition content.

”The Quantum Processor at the heart of 8K AI Upscaling technology sets its own standards for optimized upscaling, instigating such intelligent features as ‘lines must be thin’ and ‘thick and rough areas must be more vivid’,” explains Lee.

Hyun-seung Lee notes that in developing the QLED 8K and its 8K AI Upscaling technology, “we focused on realizing display quality that is closer to original sources”

8K AI Upscaling is based on artificial intelligence smart learning, so through usage, it will develop and adapt with each video upscale as more video data becomes available to the system to be analyzed. But even from the first usage, the QLED 8K provides the most comfortable color, light and texture balances to provide the optimum viewing experience for each user. “8K AI Upscaling opened the development possibilities of not just improving resolution and achieving better image quality, but also in the area of human taste, which is difficult to emulate,” notes Lee on the dynamic changes the QLED 8K’s 8K AI Upscaling feature provides for viewers.

To learn more about how the company’s latest groundbreaking TV mesmerizes viewers with virtually perfect picture quality and sound, Samsung Newsroom sat down with members of the team behind it, including product planners Beomkyun Rha and Jonghyuk Kim, and developers Hyunseung Lee and Sunghwan Jang.

(From left) Hyunseung Lee, Jonghyuk Kim, Beomkyun Rha and Sunghwan Jang, of Samsung’s Visual Display division.

Fostering a Viewing Experience Like Nothing Seen Before

QLED 8K boasts a resolution of 7,680 x 4,320 pixels—16 times more than a full HD (FHD) TV, and four times higher than 4K UHD display. As developer Hyunseung Lee explained, the TV’s added resolution allows detailed in images to be expressed more clearly, and creates a sense of reality and depth that keeps you immersed in your content.

“With conventional SD (standard definition) or HD (high definition) displays, when people look closely at depicted images, they can recognize them as a cluster of pixels,” said Lee. “However, with QLED 8K, the level of resolution is so high that pixels become invisible to the human eye, and viewers become incapable of distinguishing depicted objects from the real thing.”

As fellow developer Sunghwan Jang noted, however, it’s not just QLED 8K’s sky-high resolution that enables it to provide such textured, realistic images. The TV’s exceptional peak brightness—up to 4,000 nits—allows it to illuminate small details with impeccable precision.

“Bright content is expressed differently in 8K resolution,” said Jang. “Because 8K features four times more pixels than 4K, images and videos that are brighter and include more detail can be presented more accurately in 8K.”

Taking Immersion to Another Level with AI

Samsung is the first manufacturer to implement artficial intelligence (AI) technology into a QLED TV.  Adding machine learning to the TV’s repertoire of immersion-enhancing features has made it easy for users to enjoy a wide range of content in crystal clear 8K.

Samsung’s exclusive machine-learning technology automatically upscales lower-resolution videos into 8K picture quality, regardless of the video’s native resolution or method of transmission. The technology is powered by the Quantum Processor 8K, which, according to product planner BeomKyun Rha, was enhanced to better process details and lighting.

As Lee explained, the difference that the upscaling technology makes is often as clear as black and white. “When you look at 4K content next to upscaled 8K video, black areas of the screen are where you can see a major difference, even under bright conditions.”

The difference is also especially noticeable when viewing scenes with lots of detail and contrast. When viewing a nature documentary, for example, QLED 8K ensures sharp, natural colors that depict both the beaming yellow sun and the emerald waves beneath it with vivid accuracy.

Dealing with Challenges

When developing QLED 8K, Samsung’s R&D team was encouraged by the 8K market’s rapid development, but found it difficult to agree upon how to improve on QLED TV’s specifications, given the TV’s status as the cornerstone of the company’s display offerings.

“The most difficult thing to do was to coordinate the opinions of all the related divisions,” explained Jang (pictured above). “For example, the goal was to achieve 4,000-nit brightness. Conventional 4K TVs feature an optimum brightness of 1,500 to 2,000-nits, so raising that figure to 4,000 presented a challenge.”

Because the market had never seen TVs that satisfied the 4,000-nit specification, the team set out to raise the bar by achieving that value. “We wanted to produce the world’s best TV,” said product planner Jonghyuk Kim. “A TV that would allow content to be depicted as faithfully to creators’ intention as possible.

Delivering on that brightness goal presented a number of difficulties, and the team sought the opinions of a various divisions to help address them. “Once the discussions were done, [we] tirelessly researched every detail, such as how to adjust the amount of light to find an optimal balance of performance and durability,” Kim (pictured above) continued. “We worked very hard to figure out just the right amount. If it was too little, the light would be insufficient, but if it was too much, it would impact the product’s durability.”

Looking Ahead

Of course, Samsung’s R&D team overcame the challenges it faced during QLED 8K’s development, eventually delivering a TV with the power to redefine standards for visual immersion. The team isn’t resting on its laurels, however, as there’s still more work to be done.

Currently, Samsung’s 8K AI Upscaling technology is capable of enhancing content with better picture quality and sound, but the goal is to enable the AI to analyze users’ viewing conditions and environments in order to provide a more optimized, personalized experience. This will eventually allow the technology to offer any viewer an optimal and immersive viewing experience.

“We want our consumers to be able to immerse themselves in their favorite content, and view photos and videos from their everyday lives at a level of detail that allows them to feel like they’re present in the moment or scene,” said Rha. “We consider it our duty at Samsung to create new, innovative products like QLED 8K, that can help consumers realize such experiences.”

At the start of the event, HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics, set the stage for the exciting announcements to follow by inviting guests to “sit back and open your mind to the power of Samsung innovation.” He then discussed the company’s commitment to developing products and services that harness the power of cutting-edge technologies to add convenience to everyday life.

Guests were treated to up-close looks at a number of groundbreaking Samsung innovations, including the new QLED 8K, as well as Samsung’s cutting-edge Micro LED screen, The Wall; a new 49-inch version of The Frame; two new premium soundbars, the HW-850 and the HW-950; and the recently launched Galaxy Note9. The company also discussed how insights garnered from the European market helped it develop a diverse range of intelligent appliances, including its Family Hub refrigerator, Dual Cook Flex, and QuickDrive washing machine.

Check out the highlights of the press conference below.

Guests and media from around the world listen with rapt attention as HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics, kicks off Samsung’s showcase of its latest innovations. In his opening remarks, Mr. Kim discusses how Samsung’s leadership in AI and IoT technologies has helped the company expand its ecosystem of intelligent home innovations.

“Today, we are the only company with the capability to provide consumers with a full range of cutting-edge AI and IoT products and services, from semiconductors to displays, TVs, home appliances, and, of course, mobile phones,” says Kim.

Available in a choice of four ultra-large screen sizes (65”, 75”, 82” and 85”), QLED 8K offers the market’s highest resolution, and features Samsung’s proprietary 8K AI Upscaling technology, which transforms content’s picture and sound—regardless of its native resolution or method of transmission—into premium 8K quality.

Daniel Harvie, Vice President & Head of Home Appliances, Samsung Europe, demonstrates how Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator seamlessly connects with SmartThings-compatible appliances, and can even be utilized as an intelligent assistant, thanks to its Bixby and Voice ID integration.

After discussing how millennials want their home appliances to offer a level of convenience and efficiency that transforms the way they live, Mr. Harvie discusses how smart innovations, including Samsung’s QuickDrive and Q-rator laundry technologies, cater to their needs.

Before introducing Samsung’s diverse range of mobile innovations, Carlo Carollo, Vice President of Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics, discusses the importance of a seamlessly connected ecosystem of devices. “Innovation is no longer defined by one device and one location,” Mr. Carollo explains. “Instead, it’s about making multiple products and services work together as simply and smartly as possible.”

Mr. Carollo sums up the new Galaxy Note9 as a phone “built with speed, power and performance” in mind, and “designed to let you get the most out of everything you do.”

During its press conference at the IFA 2018, Samsung Electronics is to announce its foray into 8K with the unveil of the Q900R QLED 8K complete with 8K AI Upscaling. Available in four ultra-large screen sizes (65”, 75”, 82” and 85”), Samsung QLED 8K TV will feature several 8K-ready enhancements, including Real 8K Resolution, Q HDR 8K and Quantum Processor 8K, all created to bring 8K-quality images to life. The new Samsung QLED 8K will be available in stores from end of September^*.

Samsung’s QLED 8K with 8K AI Upscaling is a part of the company’s long-term vision of leading 8K to the forefront as the most accurate and life-like screen resolution on the market.

“At Samsung, we’ve worked tirelessly over the years to move the industry forward when it comes to premium picture quality, and the introduction of our QLED 8K with 8K AI Upscaling is an integral component as we look to the future of displays,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re thrilled to introduce the Q900R to consumers and are confident that they will experience nothing short of brilliance in color, clarity and sound on our new 8K-capable models.”

To achieve 8K-quality images, the Samsung Q900R features Real 8K Resolution capable of 4,000 nit peak brightness – a standard met by most film studios. This feature allows TV to produce four times more pixels than a 4K UHD TV and 16 times more pixels than a full HD TV. Q HDR 8K powered by HDR (High Dynamic Range) 10+ technology which optimizes the TV’s brightness levels and produces pristine colors and images is also incorporated to deliver pictures as intended by creators.

Samsung’s proprietary 8K AI Upscaling technology based on artificial intelligence also comes equipped with picture and sound quality to a level compatible with 8K regardless of the original source quality or format. Whether a user is watching content through a streaming service, set-top box, HDMI, USB or even mobile mirroring, the Quantum Processor 8K recognizes and upscales the content to appear in 8K quality. In addition, the Q900R features Direct Full Array Elite for enhanced contrast and precise backlighting control, and also 100% Color Volume, enabling users to witness billions of shades of color for the purest color accuracy to-date.

Focusing on user efficiency, the Q900R features a slate of new functions that enable consumers to use their TVs differently while maintaining the highest quality in picture and sound. For example, the TV recognizes and analyzes a number of connected entertainment devices like audio devices connected via optical cable with One Remote, then auto switches the TV’s image source and audio output for an optimized viewing experience. Lifestyle features, such as Ambient Mode, have been enhanced to seamlessly blend the TV in the surrounding space by showcasing beautiful images, weather, news and more on the screen. The One Invisible Connection, which comes standard at 5 meters, incorporates the optical cable and power in one seamless cord, giving users more freedom to decide where and how they place the TV. Smart enhancements, such as SmartThings, further add to the Q900R’s ability to provide users with greater access to information and make their lives easier, and the Universal Guide provides personalized recommendations to easily find live and OTT content on TV.

Samsung will showcase its latest television and audio announcements in its booth at IFA, located at the City Cube Berlin on Level 2.

^* Specific date and model may vary by region/country.

Available in a choice of 65, 75, 82 and 85-inch models, the new TV combines the market’s highest resolution with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that optimizes content for 8K presentation—producing truly lifelike images and sound, and enabling users to enjoy much more immersive viewing experiences.

Samsung has been the world’s number one TV manufacturer for 12 years running thanks to a commitment to setting new standards for picture quality and immersion. With the unveiling of QLED 8K, the company has once again raised the bar for both.

Why 8K Matters

Large-screen TVs (measuring 65 inches or wider) are becoming more and more common, with over 11 million sold just last year and, according to leading market research firm IHS Markit^*, approximately 16 million expected to be sold this year. The market for ultra-large screen TVs (measuring 75 inches or wider) is also predicted to almost double by the year 2020.

The larger TVs get, the more important their resolution becomes, as details portrayed on a bigger screen require more pixels—the thousands (or millions) of incredibly small dots that make up the images you see on your TV screen—to clearly define them. This means that ideally, in order to provide a level of detail that really blows viewers away, a large-screen TV’s resolution, or total number of pixels, should be above the previous high mark of 4K (3,840 x 2,160).

An 8K TV features a resolution of 7,680 x 4,320 pixels, which means roughly 8,000 pixels are packed into each horizontal line of the screen. At this level of pixel density, the individual pixels composing an image become imperceptible to the human eye—even when viewed up close. Samsung’s QLED 8K features over 30 million pixels in total, which adds depth and detail to content displayed on the TV’s expansive screen, and makes objects appear that much more realistic.

If history is any indication, consumers won’t have to wait long for immersive 8K content to become the new normal. It took just less than five years for UHD (Ultra-High Definition) TVs to overtake FHD (Full HD) models in global sales, and IHS Markit predicts that sales of 8K TVs will quadruple over the next few years.

How Resolution Affects Realism

Put simply, the higher a TV’s resolution, the sharper its picture quality, and the more realistic its images will seem. Samsung’s QLED 8K features a resolution that’s 16 times greater than FHD and four times greater than a 4K UHD TV. This allows the TV to produce lifelike visuals that accurately depict details in a scene or image which would likely go unnoticed on a lower-resolution TV.

As the resolution of an image increases, it also creates a sense of depth that tricks our eyes into believing that the objects within appear more immersive. When viewing high-resolution content on a wide screen, the wider our field of view, the more immersive the content we’re watching becomes, and the more “present” we feel within it.

In other words, QLED 8K’s high-res visuals and wide screen offer viewers a new level of immersion—one that allows them to feel like they’re in the heart of the action when viewing a favorite movie, or enjoying a front row seat when watching the big game.

How Samsung’s Innovating with 8K

Samsung’s QLED TVs have a history of fostering brilliant visuals that predates the line’s jump to ultra-high-resolution 8K.

For a start, each QLED TV is certified to deliver 100 percent color volume, which means accurate colors at any brightness level. This helps the TVs express subtle details in both bright and dark scenes, and produce vibrant HDR (high dynamic range) images that bring content to life.

Because contrast ratio, like resolution, can greatly affect a TV’s ability to produce images that pop off the screen, QLED 8K also features Samsung’s brightness-optimizing Q HDR 8K technology. This innovative technology maximizes contrast ratio to make images appear clearer and more three dimensional, analyzing an image’s object(s) and background in order to accentuate fine details. The TV’s Direct Full Array Elite technology enhances contrast even further, in addition to offering precise backlighting controls.

QLED 8K’s combination of perfect color volume, optimized contrast and support for the Samsung-spearheaded HDR10+ open standard allows it to foster truly cinematic viewing experiences. The TV’s 4,000-nit peak brightness matches the content mastering standard for major film and TV studios’ Blu-ray releases, while its HDR10+ technology leverages dynamic metadata to optimize contrast and colors from scene to scene to ensure that content is displayed in the manner that filmmakers intended.

And it’s not just films and shows that benefit from crystal clear 8K. The TV’s built-in Ambient Mode allows users to enhance their home’s décor with beautiful images when the TV is turned off. Photos and artworks look flawless when displayed at 8K resolution, and the TV’s boundless design creates the sense that the image on display is melting into the wall behind it.

What’s More: 8K AI Upscaling Technology Expands 8K TV Market

To enable users to enjoy as much 8K content as possible, the TV also features Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Processor 8K. This innovative addition recognizes content—whether it’s transmitted via a streaming service, set-top box, HDMI, USB, or even mobile mirroring— and automatically upscales its sound and images into near-8K quality using machine-learning 8K AI Upscaling technology. This enables consumers to view just about any movie or show on any channel in crisp 8K, regardless of the video’s native resolution or method of transmission.

The upscaling technology is compatible with all types of content, including standard definition, HD, FHD and UHD, but its optimization is most dramatic when the original source is a 4K UHD image. The built-in AI upscaling feature analyzes the relationship between low- and high-resolution video, and uses this insight to apply millions of upscaling algorithms that accentuate details, add sharpness to edges, and eliminate compression noise for streamed videos.

The feature expertly restores content’s texture and detail to allow you to view your show or movie as it was meant to be seen. The resulting images are so vivid and detailed that you’ll feel like you could reach out and touch the objects and characters within them.

QLED 8K’s AI Upscaling technology also includes a sound optimization function, which automatically analyzes content’s sound from scene to scene to foster the most immersive experience possible. When watching a football game, for instance, when a player makes a big play, the sound may amplify the audience’s cheers to recreate the excitement of being there in person. After the play, the TV may emphasize the commentators’ voices as they break down what just happened. There’s no need to raise the volume to hear what’s being said; QLED 8K will do it for you.

Going forward, TVs will be evaluated based on their ability to enhance viewers’ immersion to the point that they feel like they’re experiencing a scene, game or moment firsthand. The launch of Samsung 8K AI Upscaling technology brings us closer than ever to achieving this goal of blurring the line between reality and reproduction.

*IHS Markit TV Sets Market Tracker – Forecast Q1 2018, Information is not an endorsement of Samsung. Any reliance on these results is at the third party’s own risk. Visit technology.ihs.com for more details.