With the introduction of QLED TVs, Samsung has redefined the television landscape, integrating this innovative quantum dot technology into its products. By leveraging the properties of these ultra-fine quantum dots, QLED displays achieve a broader color gamut and higher brightness, elevating picture quality to levels that traditional LED TVs cannot match.

What sets Samsung QLED TVs apart from conventional LED TVs? Samsung Newsroom had the opportunity to meet with researchers Kevin Cha and Jang Nae-won from the Visual Display Business and disassemble a Samsung QLED TV to reveal the secrets behind its stunning performance — literally behind the screen.

1. Operating Module: The Brain of TV

1) Rear Cover

The back panel of a TV serves more than just a structural frame; it protects internal components and effectively manages heat. It houses speakers for audio support and facilitates easy device connections, improving the overall user experience.

2) Main PCB (Printed Circuit Board)

The main PCB acts as the brain of the TV, overseeing functions such as power supply, remote control reception and SmartThings connectivity. This critical component controls the entire system, ensuring the television operates smoothly.

3) TV Tuner

The TV tuner is responsible for receiving and converting broadcast signals for display on the screen. The rise of streaming services and increased use of external device connections has led many users to prefer smart monitors without tuners. However, by definition, a “television” must include this component.

4) AI Processor

At the heart of the Samsung QLED TV is the Q4 AI Processor chip. This advanced component manages AI functionalities such as picture and audio optimization and AI assistants. By automatically adjusting both image and sound based on the surrounding environment, the AI processor makes the viewing experience more immersive.

5) Speakers

Speakers are more than simple output devices. With high-resolution audio and a room-filling sense of space, Samsung QLED TV speakers greatly enhance the viewing experience.

2. Panel

1) Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Layer and Color Filter

The panel’s structure comprises several intriguing components. The liquid crystal layer and color filter are essential parts of the panel’s basic structure. The liquid crystal layer controls light passage, while the color filter separates colors and creates images at a pixel level. The PCB, which is attached to the panel, precisely controls each pixel, fine-tuning the image.

2) Optical Sheet

The optical sheet concentrates light from the backlight, ensuring a brighter and more uniform image across the display. By gathering light, it elevates the general brightness of the display.

3) QD (Quantum Dot) Layer

The next step reveals the QD layer, perhaps the most important, core component of Samsung QLED TVs. The layer actually utilizes quantum dot materials to convert light sources. This ensures more precise and vibrant colors than conventional technologies, resulting in lifelike visuals. The QD materials in this layer are certified No-Cadmium, enabling safer quantum dot TVs that do not contain harmful substances.

4) Diffuser Plate

This diffuser plate scatters light emitted from the backlight and spread it evenly across the panel to eliminate excessively bright spots and maintain natural illumination.

5) Blue LED Backlight

Samsung QLED TVs use a bright and efficient blue LED backlight. When paired with the QD layer, this backlight produces highly pure colors and achieves greater light efficiency than traditional white LEDs in standard LCD TVs, leading to enhanced overall luminance.

3. Three Key Requirements for a Real Quantum Dot TV

To qualify as a real quantum dot TV, three conditions must be met: the presence of a QD layer, sufficient quantum dot concentration and a blue backlight. Once a TV meets all three conditions, it can be considered a real quantum dot TV.

Samsung QLED TVs are the only models in the world to satisfy these criteria, earning the ‘Real Quantum Dot Display’ certification from TÜV Rheinland, a prominent international certification body based in Germany. This recognition underscores the excellence of Samsung’s QLED technology.

4. Striking Difference Between QLED and LCD

The differences between Samsung QLED and traditional LCD TVs are evident even to the naked eye, but especially striking when measured with professional tools.

For Samsung QLED TVs, the wavelengths of red, green and blue colors exhibit narrow bandwidths and distinct peaks in their emission spectrum, resulting in meticulous color representation. Viewers can see natural visuals and exceptional picture quality with rich, deep colors.

In contrast, LCD TVs without QD layers display generally lower peaks, a wider bandwidth in green as well as multiple peaks in red, hindering accurate color reproduction. To compensate, these TVs often require multiple layers for color correction, ultimately reducing light efficiency.

The in-depth teardown reveals that Samsung QLED TVs are built with sophisticated technology that goes beyond basic explanations. Every component that manages light works in harmony, culminating in breathtaking image quality. The QD layer, in particular, significantly enhances the richness and vibrancy of colors. The intricate technology behind these displays makes a substantial difference in overall picture quality.

At IFA 2025, Samsung Electronics showcased its technological prowess by establishing a “Real QLED Zone,” promoting the concept of “Buy Real, Not Fake.” Samsung QLED TVs represent the pinnacle of cutting-edge technology, pushing the boundaries of premium viewing experiences. With Samsung’s QLED TVs, viewers can truly appreciate the remarkable difference that quantum dot technology delivers.

1. Simulated image based on actual measurements ︎
2. Simulated image based on actual measurements ︎

According to market research firm Omdia, Samsung achieved a 28.3% market share in the global TV market in 2024, maintaining the number one ranking it has held since 2006. This continued success is driven by the company’s commitment to premium and ultra-large screen innovation, as well as the introduction of cutting-edge, AI-powered TVs.

“Samsung’s 19-year reign as the global TV market leader has been made possible by the trust and support of our customers,” said Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to shape the future of the TV industry with innovations like AI-powered TVs, delivering products and services that meaningfully enrich people’s lives.”

▲ Samsung Electronics secured its position as the global leader in the TV market for the 19th consecutive year (Source: Omdia , Feb-2025. Results are not an endorsement of Samsung)

Dominance in the Premium and Ultra-Large TV Segments

Samsung solidified its leadership in the high-end TV market, particularly in the premium ($2,500+) and ultra-large (75-inch and above) segments:

• Premium ($2,500+) TVs – Samsung captured a 49.6% market share, accounting for nearly half of the global premium TV market.
• 75-inch and above – Samsung led the ultra-large category with a 28.7% market share.

QLED and OLED TV Success

Samsung also maintained its leadership in the QLED and OLED segments, reinforcing its dominance in the premium TV industry:

• QLED TVs – With 8.34 million units sold, Samsung commanded a 46.8% market share, further strengthening its leadership in this category. The global QLED market also saw significant growth, surpassing 10% of total TV sales for the first time.
• OLED TVs – Samsung’s OLED sales reached 1.44 million units in 2024, securing a 27.3% market share. This marks a year-over-year (YoY) increase of 42% and 4.6% in unit sales and market share, respectively, reflecting strong consumer demand for Samsung’s OLED innovations.

Transforming Home Entertainment With AI and Art

At CES 2025, Samsung unveiled Vision AI, a breakthrough in AI-powered screens that extends beyond traditional entertainment. By analyzing user preferences, intent and habits, Vision AI delivers a seamlessly personalized viewing experience that shapes the future of smart home displays.

Samsung is also expanding its Samsung Art Store — originally available exclusively on The Frame — to Neo QLED and QLED models this year, providing more consumers with access to a personalized digital art experience.

Market research firm Omdia reported that Samsung has achieved a 30.1% share of the global TV market in 2023, reinforcing its status as the industry leader since 2006. This success is largely due to the company’s strategic focus on premium and large-screen TV categories, driven by its cutting-edge QLED and OLED models.

Since its launch in 2017, Samsung’s QLED TV lineup, including the latest Neo QLED models, has surpassed cumulative sales of 40 million units. In 2023 alone, the QLED lineup achieved sales of 8.31 million units.

Samsung asserted notable leadership in the premium TV sector – specifically for TVs over 75 inches and priced above $2,500. The company has recorded an impressive 60.5% market share in terms of sales for TVs priced over $2,500, while also maintaining a lead with 33.9% sales share for TVs over 75 inches. In addition, thanks to robust sales of 98-inch models, TVs over the 90 inches have maintained the lead with a 30.4% market share.

Building on its success in the ultra-large and high-end TV market, Samsung has also made significant strides in the OLED sector. The company’s OLED TV lineup recorded 1.01 million units sold in 2023, capturing a market share of 22.7%. With the expanded OLED lineup in 2024, Samsung’s market share in the OLED sector is projected to surge in 2024.

“We are proud to be recognized as the market leader in the global TV sector for 18 consecutive years, a testament to the enduring trust and loyalty our customers place in Samsung,” stated SW Yong, President and Head of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are deeply committed to advancing the industry, moving beyond exceptional picture quality to offer more meaningful and valuable experiences.”

At CES 2024, Samsung Electronics unveiled the groundbreaking NQ8 AI Gen3 processor, heralding the start of the AI Screen Era. The advancement in state-of-the-art chipsets and capabilities is set to redefine the smart TV domain, integrating sophisticated AI powered by Tizen OS to establish AI screens as center of the smart home innovation.

2024 is shaping up to be another year of significant innovation for Samsung. With advancements in processors and cutting-edge AI features, Samsung is on course to further transform home entertainment and set new benchmarks in the TV industry.

In order to continue bringing the best and most vivid display to its users, Samsung has been expanding its 8K ecosystem, widening the scope of high-definition content experiences. With technology optimized to offer the brightest and sharpest 8K definition, users can enjoy a wide range of content including movies, NFT artworks and more. To learn more about Samsung’s 8K ecosystem, check out the card news below.

Samsung Electronics has been shaping the history of television through the development of its technological innovations, from FHD and 4K through to 8K, thanks to its far-sighted strategic vision and an endless passion to bring new technologies to the market.

In order to learn more about the achievements made so far in the field of TV technological innovation, as well as the future of display technologies in the age of UHD screens, Samsung Newsroom sat down with TV experts.

▲ (From left) Sangmin Lee, Head of the Picture Quality Solution Lab, Hyunchul Song from the Product Development Group and Youngseok Han from H/W Platform Lab of Samsung’s Visual Display Business

Pioneering the Future of TV Through Endless Innovation

These days, picture quality has become one of the most crucial factors consumers consider when choosing a TV. In 1977, Samsung succeeded in the development and mass production of a color TV, the Color Economy TV, for the first time in Korea, ushering in the era of color television for the country. Samsung earned the title of the first color TV manufacturer in Korea thanks to its steadfast dedication to innovation, and the company was never complacent about the colossal success of its black and white TV model, the Econo TV, which took the lion’s share within the monthly TV market at the time.

▲ Samsung’s first LED TV, launched in 2009, wowed the world as a breakthrough in TV technology.

Next to be developed was the LCD TV, and, in 2009, Samsung unveiled its breakthrough model — the Samsung LED TV. The LED TV was the culmination of all the innovative technologies available at the time, allowing for unrivalled picture quality brought about by light-emitting diodes. All components of Samsung’s LED TV were designed anew, and the number of patents acquired for this model exceeded 3,000.

▲ Samsung’s QLED TV made its global debut at CES in 2017.

In 2017, Samsung then went on to introduce the world’s first QLED TV based on cadmium-free quantum dot technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The company’s innovative TV was at the center of attention that year, boasting superb picture quality and 100% color volume.

A year later, the company brought to the market a QLED 8K model that incorporated 8K resolution into Samsung’s proprietary quantum dot technology. It featured Direct Full Array, a backlight technology able to precisely control the lighting balance across every part of the picture on-screen, as well as 8K AI Upscaling, an upscaling technology designed to intelligently upgrade lower-quality videos into vivid 8K resolution, for the first time in the industry. Samsung’s innovative QLED 8K technologies are what launched the era of 8K.

“In 2020, Samsung unveiled the world’s first bezel-less TV that completely removed the bezels from around the display,“ said Hyunchul Song from the Product Development Group. “A year later, we further solidified our position as an industry leader by introducing our Neo QLED technology based on Quantum Mini LED displays. From FHD through to 8K, we have undertaken ceaseless efforts to develop innovative products that offer differentiated experiences based on consumer needs.”

Striving for Superior Picture Quality Through In-Depth Research Into Human Behavior

Samsung continues to strive to offer the best possible viewer experiences by delivering leading picture quality. However, what does “good picture quality” mean to someone who works on its development?

“Picture quality is considered good when it delivers a sense of reality to the viewer that feels as if you are witnessing the images on-screen first-hand,” explained Youngseok Han, a developer from the H/W Lab. “To ensure good picture quality, display performance indicators such as high resolution, high luminance and excellent color expression are essential. What also matters is how well-balanced the other cutting-edge technologies of the display are, including the chip design, the picture quality algorithms and the sound.”

Han went on to provide further insight into the importance of balance to the corresponding picture quality. “The factors that impact picture quality the most are how well you organize the various relevant technologies. These include those designed to reduce distortion and any image transmission noise, those that reproduce colors precisely and richly and create sharp contrast for more vivid, clear images and those motion technologies that ensure the movement of objects on-screen appears smooth and fluid.”

It would be impossible to develop good picture quality with just one singular technology, no matter how great that technology is. This is why Samsung is committed to developing innovative technologies through all kinds of different approaches without resting on their laurels as a leader in the industry. Recently introduced on the 2023 Neo QLED TV, Real Depth Enhancer is one of the new features that has been developed to the end of further improving picture quality.

When human eyes are focused on an object, attention is directed onto the object by optimizing sharpness, clarity and texture, all while also maintaining the background scene. Samsung’s Real Depth Enhancer technology was developed based on an understanding of this human behavior, and harnesses AI to automatically separate an object from its background to create a greater sense of depth and make the images truly pop.

Furthermore, Neo Quantum Matrix Pro technology improves the playback of fine details through precise control of the quantum mini LEDs across a total of 16,384 levels.* This meticulous adjustment further adds dimension and a sense of reality to the images on-screen.

“Our Real Depth Enhancer technology is the result of an optimization of all the relevant technologies in a way that takes human psychology into account, instead of focusing only on improving resolution,” noted Han.

From 8K Games to Artworks on Samsung TVs in the Age of 8K Technology

These days, users are being bombarded by new content. Tens of thousands of new pieces of media and content are being published every day across all manner of platforms — but does the same apply for those contents being made in 8K?

“Following the recent growth of 8K devices including smartphones, anyone is able to create 8K content and view it in ultra-high resolution,” said Sangmin Lee, Head of the Picture Quality Solution Lab. “High-performance graphics cards also now make it possible for users to play 8K games, meaning that we are already living in the age of 8K UHD.”

Song further detailed the growth of 8K content in today’s viewing market. “There is a growing amount of 8K content available on social media channels, and artists are creating digital artworks in 8K,” he explained. “We added in ‘YouTube Videos in 8K’ feature to the 2023 Neo QLED TV to allow users to peruse the 8K content available on YouTube and explore digital artworks, such as an image in NFT¹ form, at a single glance.”

Samsung is also taking the lead in expanding the 8K content ecosystem by being at the helm of the 8K Association, a global non-profit organization established in 2019 with the aim of establishing 8K standards and expanding 8K content. As of February 2023, the association has 33 members, including Samsung, TV panel producers, SoC chip makers and leading content creators. Last year, Samsung released a teaser for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series in 8K developed in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video, another member of the 8K Association.

Developing Optimal Picture Quality That Takes Viewing Experiences to the Next Level

In order to learn more about the next steps for industry leader Samsung in terms of picture quality in the age of 8K technology, Samsung Newsroom asked the three TV professionals what their goals are.

“As a developer, I feel the most accomplished when I hear the feedback that viewers think the images on-screen seem real to them,” said Han. “My goal is to further improve our algorithms by optimizing a range of components in order to deliver picture quality that is ‘more real than real’ to viewers.”

For Song, creating technologies that bring real value to users is of the utmost importance. “While the development department works to create the best picture quality through technological innovation, I am more involved in optimizing products to bring high-quality experiences to as many viewers as possible,” said Song. “I will continue to deliberate on what other kinds of user value we can bring to our viewers.”

Finally, from Lee’s perspective, the goal is and always has been to provide users with experiences that go beyond simply watching content. “The most important value that a display can provide is to present images that seem more real than reality itself,” explained Lee. “Through the best picture quality algorithms and leading sound performance, the optimal picture quality that is delivered then allows users to enjoy their favorite content without having to worry about adjusting the settings. Our ultimate goal is to offer superb picture quality that enables users to thoroughly enjoy their viewing experiences that go beyond simply watching content.”

Stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom for the second and final part in this series highlighting the role of the 8K TV and the innovative technologies Samsung has been developing to provide the best possible viewing experiences to its users.

* The number of levels in quantum mini LEDs has been corrected from 13,684 to 16,384 levels as of March 30, 2023.

¹ SAVAGE is a high quality NFT marketplace featuring 4K/8K video and photography. With over 50 titles at launch in March 2023, SAVAGE will expand throughout the year with more than 250 new pieces from top creators and brands.

Check out our gamer’s guide below to learn more about how Samsung optimized its newest QLED TVs to offer users more immersive and responsive gaming sessions.

Members of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Division (from left): Hyun Mook Choi and Jessica BeomEun Kim, from the TV Product Planning Group, Sungchang Jang, from the Software R&D Group, and Youngho Jung, from the Panel R&D Group.

Since introducing Auto Game Mode to its TVs back in 2018, Samsung has made delivering next-level gaming experiences a key priority for TV development. Today, the fruits of the company’s considerable efforts include three consecutive ‘Best of Innovation’ nods in the gaming category of CES’s annual Innovation Awards.

Samsung’s latest QLED TVs build on that award-winning heritage by offering users their most immersive and enjoyable TV gaming experiences yet. To learn more about how QLED TVs are changing the game in this regard, Samsung Newsroom sat down with the product planners and developers who helped bring the displays to life.

More Immersion, Less Distractions

When it comes to fostering immersive gaming, one of the most important factors, the team explained, is what’s known as input lag – or the amount of time between the moment a command is entered on a controller and the moment it’s registered on the screen. The shorter the input lag is, the more immersive the gameplay becomes.

“Input lag is determined by how quickly image signal can be processed and displayed on the screen,” said product planner Jessica BeomEun Kim. Samsung’s team was able to minimize QLED TV’s input lag, Kim continued, “by enhancing the way the TV processes image signal, which consequently reduces video processing time.”

On QLED TVs, racing games – known for being graphics heavy, and for boasting lightning-fast gameplay – run smoothly, without screen freezes or delays. As developer Youngho Jung explained, FreeSync Premium, a technology that eliminates screen tearing and stuttering enabled this ability to seamlessly manage graphics-heavy games. Also, Game Motion Plus, which minimizes motion blur and halo effects helps smoother gameplay. “We prevented the screen from becoming distorted by syncing the performance of the graphics card with the output of the display,” said Jung.

Spotting enemies and objects in the dark is easy with QLED TV’s built-in Dynamic Black Equalizer. This innovative technology utilizes the TV’s AI Quantum Processor to enhance image quality in real time by analyzing a game’s dark scenes and detecting objects within them. It then optimizes black levels to help you see things that weren’t so clear before.

Gaming-Specific Features

QLED TVs also include a number of built-in gaming-specific features that make it easier for gamers to immerse themselves in the action.

Take for instance Multi View, a screen-splitting function that allows users to simultaneously game on one side of their screen and mirror videos from their phone on the other. The ability to game and watch a favorite streamer on a single screen eliminates the inconvenience of having to switch back and forth from focusing on your TV to focusing on your phone. The function can even detect when your phone has switched to landscape mode, and reflects this adjustment in real time.

Auto Game Mode is another clever built-in function that enables QLED TVs to automatically analyze connected devices and optimize settings accordingly. All you have to do is simply connect your console to your TV, and a “game mode is turned on” message will automatically pop up on your screen. The idea behind including this notification, Kim explained, was to emphasize that the TVs “transform into a gaming device the moment they’re connected to a console.”

Sound is another critical element that can make or break your gaming experience. Not only can realistic audio make games more fun, it can also mean the difference between victory and defeat. To allow users to enjoy the most realistic sound experience possible, Samsung packed its newest QLED TVs with a total of six speakers – two more than previous models. Built-in Object Tracking Sound (OTS) technology enhances gamers’ immersion by allowing them to sense where sounds are coming from and how far away they are.

QLED TV + Gaming: A Winning Combination

Once a simple display, the TV has evolved into the center of home entertainment, and a hub for users to engage in a wide range of fun and interactive experiences. As Software engineer Sungchang Jang, explained, the team went to great lengths to ensure that Samsung’s 2020 QLED TVs would offer gamers the most entertaining experiences imaginable.

“It was crucial that our 2020 QLED TVs would be able to work perfectly with any gaming devices that consumers might use,” said Jang. “This required us to develop entirely new technology. We had to test each and every gaming device we could find individually in order to ensure that they worked well with the TV. There was a lot of trial and error, but in the end, thanks to our team’s tremendous efforts, we managed to pull it off.”

To get a better sense of the kinds of features gamers want in a TV, the product planning team used MOSAIC, Samsung’s company-wide intelligence platform, to source suggestions from some 15,000 Samsung employees.

Looking ahead, the team members believe that TVs will continue to serve as the center of home entertainment, and will be recognized as bona fide gaming devices. “Going forward,” added the product planner Hyun Mook Choi, “we’ll continue to enhance our TVs’ gaming features, to offer gamers the most complete and satisfying gaming experience possible.”

^*Images on screens are simulated.

Check out the infographic below to learn more about how Samsung optimized its newest QLED TVs to offer users more immersive and responsive gaming sessions.

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.

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.

Left to right: Alexander Warr (Time Frame), Irem Deniz Akcam (Sphere), Matthew Cockeril (Kinetic Decor), Gerard Puxhe (Architectural Extension), Jianshi Wu (Bird Clock)

Samsung Electronics has teamed up with leading design and architectural magazine Dezeen in a competition to find the next graphic imagery for the QLED TV’s ‘Ambient Mode.’ Open to designers and creatives worldwide, the judges invited shortlisted entrants to the final round of the competition at IFA, with the grand prize winner announced on August 31 in Berlin. The competition saw a myriad of entries from all over the globe, but only five were invited to IFA to showcase their designs in full.

Ambient Mode is the innovative feature of 2018 QLED TVs that transforms the traditionally black display of the ‘off’ screen into a dynamic, animated interior design feature. Ambient Mode can mimic the appearance of the wall it sits on while also conveying chosen imagery or information, such as the time or the weather.

The judges of this contest to find the next Ambient Mode design, including esteemed designer Neville Brody and Serif TV designer Erwan Bourollec, and Dontae Lee, Head of Samsung’s Corporate Design Center, were looking for designs that fit Ambient Mode’s mission to echo its environment and blend seamlessly into the aesthetic of user’s homes. “We weren’t looking for a design that was going to dominate or be too overpowering,” noted judge Neville Brody (pictured below). “The most important feature for us was whether or not the design could really make any environment warm and relaxing, just like Ambient Mode has been designed to do.”

The competition elicited a diverse and exciting range of creative responses to Ambient Mode. “The great thing about all the designs is the potential they all had to be completely customizable,” elaborated Brody. “From the objects or animals involved to the background design, all had the potential to be as personal to users as possible.” Choosing a winner from the five dynamic shortlisted designs was no easy feat, but it was Swift Creatives’ design that “offered a level of detail you could get involved in, but at the same time stayed there as a very natural part of the environment,” explained Brody.

The judging panel believe that with these new designs, the QLED TVs and Ambient Mode offer users even more options to personalize and enhance not just their screens, but their living spaces, too.  “Samsung TVs today are truly beautiful,” affirmed Brody. “They are moving the display screen away from being just a piece of technology and towards something that fits more seamlessly into people’s lives. It is a tremendous opportunity for creatives and consumers alike.”

UK-based Swift Creatives, the team behind winning design ‘Kinetic Decor’, was inspired by the family connotation of the mobile design as well as their Scandinavian roots. “Our design taps into the fundamental Scandinavian pleasures associated with everyday living and the simple comfort of relaxing at home with friends, using technology to support, not intrude on, this experience,” said Matthew Cockeril (pictured above).

Take a look at the five shortlisted designs in full below.

“Kinetic Decor”, Swift Creatives, UK

This ‘mobile’ concept relies on light cues and motion sensors to determine the activity of the chosen objects or animals (completely customizable) on screen. Regarding the challenges of designing for Ambient Mode, Swift Creatives team noted that “treading the fine line between representing something physical and something digital – key to the Ambient Mode offering – required careful thought and conceptualization.”

“Sphere”, Doisign, Turkey

This ‘digital world’ design allows users to catch a glimpse of what is going on in the outside world of their friends and family around the world with this social media and local data powered cut-out design. “Our design has transformed the TV into a personal assistant by harnessing the QLED’s AI and IoT capabilities. The immediate personalized home interface Ambient Mode offers allows users to take their home to a new interaction level.”

“Bird Clock”, Jianshi Wu and Yitan Sun, USA

This whimsical concept showcases the time of day to users through the gentle flutter of birds; the number of birds on each level represents a different digit of the time, and background coloration showcases the time of day. “We wanted our design to make the act of checking the time on a device less of a mindless errand. It embraces how new technology like Ambient Mode can encourage new ways to interact with technology.”

“Time Frame”, Alex Warr and Zach Walters, USA

This design provides a portal into a desired location, be it your current one or somewhere further afield, with the shape of the portal’s frame adjusting to subtly indicate the time of day as a clock would. “Time Frame is a dynamic window, enhancing the user’s space by creating a virtual connection to another environment; it is designed to enhance and expand the possibilities of a user’s space.”

“Architectural Extension”, Gerard Puxhe, UK

This concept expands upon the design of a user’s existing furniture and interior aesthetic, taking on a ‘box’ shape that blends in with the room’s surroundings, while decorative elements subtly reflect live weather and time information. “With ‘Architectural Extension’, I aim to integrate the digital and the physical world in a believable way.”

Samsung Electronics and Dezeen, a leading design and architectural magazine based in the UK, announced the grand prize winner of the co-hosted ‘Dezeen x Samsung Ambient Mode Design Competition’ at IFA 2018 on August 31. “Kinetic Decor,” designed by Matthew Cockeril, Stephen Waller and Peter Hälldahl of UK and Denmark-based Swift Creatives, was honored with the grand prize and €8,000 prize money for best demonstrating how the Ambient Mode feature in Samsung’s QLED TV transforms the TV into something meaningful, even when switched off.

The Dezeen x Samsung Ambient Mode Design Competition, held from June 25 to August 3, focused on the evolving usability of the Ambient Mode, a new feature on Samsung’s QLED TV which blends the TV into the living room and the surrounding space by mimicking the wall’s color and displaying desired content and information such as the news, weather, photos and music. To enter the competition, entrants submitted their best Ambient Mode designs using static or animated images.

“Now in its second consecutive year, the Dezeen x Samsung Ambient Mode Design Competition provides the perfect opportunity to honor leading designers from around the world while acquiring graphic designs that reflect the premium quality of our TVs,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “The opportunities to increase the usability of the QLED TV’s Ambient Mode is endless. The designs are reflections of how we imagine the Ambient Mode – as a feature that enriches the everyday lifestyles of our consumers across the world.”

The contest awarded €29,500 in total prize money, reflecting Samsung’s ambition to celebrate talented designers and acquire premium concept and design quality from all around the world. The judging panel this year included esteemed designers, Neville Brody and Erwan Bouroullec, who selected the winner based on a complex set of criteria – a full understanding of the Ambient Mode, as well as overall design, originality, usability and seamlessness with the surrounding space and user lifestyle.

The winning design “Kinetic Decor” is a digital re-staging of the ‘mobile’ concept, with the live movements of the design’s fish becoming more animated as a room’s lighting increases or a user approaches. The submission especially received high marks for its connectivity with Ambient Mode content that is already available today.

“Our design aims to bring calm and a beautifully dynamic structure into the living space,” said Swift Creatives team member, Matthew Cockeril. “We were motivated to apply because of the unique way Samsung’s display technology supports designs that are responsive and sensitive to the people within the space it sits.”

Alongside the grand prize winner, four finalists were shortlisted with their designs exhibited as special displays within the Samsung Electronics booth at IFA 2018. The designs include “Time Frame,” displaying the outside scenery on the TV; “Bird Clock,” picturing birds sitting on a power line to indicate time; “Architectural Extension,” a virtual space like the balcony that creates the illusion of extended space; and “Sphere,” displaying graphics of the Earth’s rotation matched with relevant content and data, including photos, news and friends’ social media posts.

To extend the ecosystem of Ambient Mode, Samsung Electronics will roll out a Software Development Kit (SDK) in beta version later this year.

From August 31 to September 1, Samsung’s “Perfect Reality” campaign placed a series of attention-grabbing advertisements at three Berlin landmarks: the Berlin Congress Center, the Weinmeister station, and RAW-Gelände, a cultural center.  The unique ads spotlighted QLED 8K’s industry-leading picture quality with captivating scenes centered around the themes of sport, food, and sci-fi.

Utilizing real-life models and objects to encapsulate the “Perfect Reality” that QLED 8K, with its ultra-high resolution and image-optimizing technologies, is capable of providing, the intricate and arresting scenes caused many a passerby to come in for a closer look. Clips of the public’s reactions to the ads were shared on various social media channels by Germany’s most popular influencers, including renowned photographers and YouTubers.  

QLED 8K is currently being showcased at Samsung’s IFA 2018 booth, located on the second floor of CityCube Berlin.

QLED 8K’s “Perfect Reality” campaign placed eye-catching ads at a total of three Berlin landmarks, including the famous Berlin Congress Center.

At Weinmeister station, passersby take a second to admire the campaign’s intricate setups, which utilized actual models and objects to showcase QLED 8K’s industry-leading picture quality.

Visitors to RAW-Gelände draw closer to the strikingly detailed scene of two travelers in space, one of three ads designed to encapsulate QLED 8K’s “Perfect Reality”.

Samsung Electronics today received the official HDR10+ logo certification for its 2018 Premium UHD and QLED TVs being HDR (High Dynamic Range) 10+ compatible. HDR10+, a next-generation core technology for ultra-high picture quality TV, provides users with a premium HDR viewing experience and delivers pristine images as originally intended by creators while contributing to the creative activities of film studios and directors.

With HDR10+ technology which helps HDR TVs to optimize brightness levels on a scene-by-scene by incorporating dynamic metadata, Samsung TVs can produce brighter highlights and darker darks for additional depth and sense of realism on-screen. The HDR10+ certification program creates a foundation that provides viewers with an enhanced viewing experience while also developing a range of plans to extend the HDR10+ ecosystem.

“The introduction of the HDR10+ certification logo represents the groundwork that we are setting for the ultra-high picture quality TV market,” said Doochan Eum, Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “By making use of our leading technology and expertise, we will continue to extend our valuable partnerships while maintaining our commitment to providing consumers with best HDR content possible.”

Among Samsung’s notable HDR10+ partnerships, TP Vision, which oversees Philips TV development, manufacturing and marketing, will introduce HDR10+ to its entire lineup of 4K TVs next year, and V-Silicon (formerly Sigma Designs) will show a demo of HDR10+ in its private booth at IFA 2018.

Film production company Warner Bros. will also start creating HDR10+-compatible contents, which will be available for home distribution later this year. In addition to that, Samsung partnered with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation to standardize the HDR10+ licensing process, in order to make it easier for content creators to realize its technology, get closer to filmmaker’s creative intent and improve the viewing experience for all audiences. Twentieth Century Fox is currently exploring several titles for release and plans to announce their availability in the coming weeks.

In Europe, a popular VoD provider, Rakuten TV, is seeking to partner with Samsung Electronics to provide HDR10+ premium entertainment to European consumers. “At Rakuten TV, we have the mission to deliver the best cinema experience at home,” said Sidharth Jayant, Global Product Director at Rakuten TV. “Samsung is our premium partner in this regard, and our upcoming collaboration on HDR10+ reinforces our commitment to be the VoD reference platform for Smart TVs. With dynamic metadata added to the HDR signal, combined with the widest 4K HDR catalog of new releases that we currently provide to European Smart TV owners, we are confident Rakuten TV will deliver an unforgettable cinema experience at home.”

For more information on HDR10+, please visit www.hdr10plus.org.

Samsung Electronics announced a partnership with Dezeen, a leading design and architectural magazine, inviting designers to create graphics for the Ambient Mode feature on Samsung’s QLED TVs. Held from June 25 to August 3, the contest will reward 29,500 euros in total prize money. To enter the contest, designers need to submit their best Ambient Mode designs using either static or animated images.

Samsung’s Ambient Mode does away with the mundane black screen that dominates a room when the television is not in use. Built into the 2018 QLED televisions, Ambient Mode makes the screen appear transparent by mimicking the appearance of the wall behind it, while also enhancing its environment by overlaying additional imagery and information – such as the weather – if desired.

“Ambient Mode creates a useful and innovative experience for users, even when their television is turned off. Knowing that this experience is unique to every user, the Ambient Mode design competition is meant to develop imagery that resonates with each of our consumers,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We hope that designers will take this opportunity to show off their creativity and help us grow the library of designs available to consumers on Ambient Mode.”

To enter, contestants must pick one of the four backgrounds provided by Samsung and develop concepts that build on both the television’s environment and the time of day in which the feature would be utilized. Designers can base their entry on one of Samsung’s existing Ambient Modes – décor, information or personal photos – or they can propose a completely novel mode. Further, as Samsung and Dezeen are looking for concepts that highlight how Ambient Mode can mirror the environment and blend into the aesthetic of consumers’ homes, entrants will need to specify a particular lifestyle for their design.

The competition’s judging panel includes esteemed designers Neville Brody and Erwan Bouroullec, as well as members of Samsung’s and Dezeen’s design teams – Dontae Lee, Executive Vice President and the Head of the Corporate Design Center at Samsung Electronics and Amy Frearson, editorial director of Dezeen.

The competition will reward 29,500 euros in total prize money. The grand prize winner will receive 8,000 euros while two runners-up will receive 3,000 euros, respectively. 1,500 euros will be awarded to the other seven shortlisted entrants and 1,000 euros will be given to five longlisted designers. Dezeen will interview the finalists and publish a story about each of them.

The competition entry is free of charge. However, entrants must be over 18 years of age with the ability to present their work to a panel of English-speaking judges. For more information on how to enter, please visit dezeen.com/Samsung.

This is the second contest in which Samsung and Dezeen have partnered to organize. In 2017, the two companies cooperated to host a TV accessory design competition for Samsung QLED lineup’s TV stands and received a total of 1,200 works from 83 countries. The contest participant Fulden Denheli received a grand prize and later was also named the winner at IFA 2017 for her adaptable, Scandinavian-inspired concept.

Viewing Assisted by AI

With so much sport available to watch this summer, viewers might need a little help locating the events they want to watch. Samsung 2018 QLED TVs are furnished with Bixby and a Universal Guide, two intelligent features which make browsing for content even easier.

Bixby, the intelligent assistant, allowed the Newsroom to search for the team or game they wanted to see using a simple voice command, without scrolling through the schedules of every TV channel looking for content. So when viewers pressed the microphone button on their remote control and said, “Find Channels Showing Brazil Games”, a list of matches played by Brazilian teams appears on the screen.

The Universal Guide is equipped with a specialized Sports tab that recommends relevant content provided by the TV’s cable and satellite connections, as well as online streaming content, in a single place and prominently displays the titles of on-air sports games at the top of the screen.

Full Immersion at Home

When the grand stadium appeared on the 75-inch screen, the Newsroom gasped with delight. As they sat back to watch the TV, the green grass spread out lusciously before their eyes and all had the feeling that they were present at the live event. A big screen is critical to this sense of immersion. That’s why 2018 QLED TVs offer a full lineup of large screens – up to and including an 82-inch model.

When watching TV together with family or friends, people sitting at the edges of the group can often feel left out of the action, unable to see the full picture due to glare. To ensure that there are no more elbow-fights for a prime spot on the couch, Samsung QLED TVs have adopted Anti-reflection technology, making every seat the best spot for taking in the game. Anti-reflection also reduces the TV’s reflection of surrounding room lights when watching in the evening, so that viewers can see everything comfortably. The screen even captivated the audience from a distance and viewing was uninterrupted from any position around the room.

Vivid Pictures in Any Condition

The QLED TV’s 4K resolution gave the Newsroom a dynamic view of players’ movements. When watching sports on conventional TVs, the picture can appear blurred or broken because of the fast movements on the screen. However, the QLED TV guarantees clean picture quality with a 4K Q Engine, which automatically improves image quality and expresses hidden details.

Even viewed in the dark, Samsung 2018 QLED TVs fully expressed every small detail, like the sweat dripping from players’ foreheads, the players’ feet deftly maneuvering the ball around the field and the texture of a patch of turf flying from the ground. Direct Full Array technology ensured accurate and solid picture quality by controlling the individual brightness of the numerous tiny cells that light the screen, thus enhancing contrast around bright colors.

Under bright lighting, quantum dot picture quality shined through. Samsung 2018 QLED TVs are equipped with 100% Color Volume, which rendered the vivid realism of the stadium, regardless of ambient brightness. In addition, HDR (High Dynamic Range) 2000 technology expresses up to 2000 nit of brightness, which allowed viewers to clearly see the trajectory of the ball against a backdrop of bright colors from the sun, spectators and signs, or distinguish the back number of a distant athlete.

Optimized Sound for Heart-Racing Moments

At a live sporting event, layer upon layer of sounds from all around the stadium create a rich tone that is utterly unique. The melodic chants of the crowd, the sharp blast of the referee’s whistle, the shouts between players and the quiet hush before a crucial moment all blend to create an electric atmosphere.

QLED TVs up the intensity of sounds by automatically optimizing sound mixing according to the content displayed. The viewers put away their remote controls and were fully immersed. Understanding the difference between the spectators’ roars and commentators’ voices, the automated technology helps users focus by lowering the volume of surround sound when commentators are speaking, but raising the volume of the crowd at moments of excitement.

In sport, winners and losers can be decided in a split second. Watching sports on a Samsung 2018 QLED TV, viewers can enjoy every minute and every second, as if they were really there.

* Product specifications may vary depending on models and locations.

For decades, the TV has been a static object, confined to sit on the outer edges of a room or inside a cupboard, never moving from a single space as we attempt to hide away the cables that bring it to life. Yet Samsung Electronics believes that the TV should be an agile and dynamic device, with the flexibility to be positioned anywhere within in space and moved whenever desired. Combining cables into a single line, the One Invisible Connection was thus conceived to eliminate clutter and free the TV from its past.

Recently the Newsroom sat down with the One Invisible Connection managers to take a closer look at the journey from product planning to development, as they created this innovative solution.

Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Division, who planned and developed the One Invisible Connection. (From left) Junghwa Choi, Mingu Roh, Duhee Jang, and Seungbok Lee.

First-of-its-kind Flexibility

The first development in Samsung’s dramatic reduction of cable clutter was the One Connect Box, a hub for connecting various A/V components to the TV, introduced in 2013. Building on this work, in 2017, the company debuted the Invisible Connection, which combined all data and A/V lines into a forked cable. This year, it unveiled a first-of-its-kind innovation: a new One Invisible Connection that integrates everything – data and power – into a single cable.

“Invisible Connection” for 2017 QLED TVs (left) and “One Invisible Connection” for 2018 QLED TVs (right) Last year, there was a separate power line, but it was completely integrated into one cable this year.

The new One Invisible Connection is the culmination of the team’s combined efforts to overcome numerous obstacles. “Last year, we focused more on the appearance to create a design that seems invisible. But this year, while developing the newer version, we looked closely at real households to see how the cables were actually installed,” remarked Mingu Roh from the Product Strategy Team. “People would twist and mold the cables to hide a power line out of sight. So, we thought integrating the lines into one single cable would be fundamental to increasing the TV’s freedom.”

The greatest technical hurdle was to allow a customer to freely change the location of their TV around a room, without being hindered by bulky power or data cables. Junghwa Choi from the R&D Team explained, “We developed a solution which uses high-speed SerDes, optical communication, and error compensation technology to integrate the power and data lines into one thin cable.” Seungbok Lee from the R&D Team added, “We decided on this route after careful deliberation.”

The cable provided with the TV is 5 meters in length, but if needed, the line can be extended up to 15 meters, with the separate purchase of a longer One Visible Connection.

This is how Samsung 2018 QLED TVs were freed from spatial restrictions. With the One Invisible Connection, users can easily move their TVs, avoiding the tiresome process of reorganizing tangled lines and unplugging the powerline from the outlet. No longer required to be positioned close to sockets or in front of a sofa in the living room, the TV can be enjoyed anywhere in the room.

Safety First

The One Invisible Connection has piqued public curiosity and raised certain questions concerning safety for small children and animals. Keeping these considerations at the forefront of their minds, the R&D Team undertook the sizable task of designing an ultra-thin cable that safely allows high-voltage transmission.

Customer safety was the team’s top priority in any situation. Focusing on the management and reduction of various safety risks led them to develop a new piece of technology: an over-current protection circuit that shuts off power in the rare case of overheating. In risky situations, the One Invisible Connection immediately cuts off power. “If it is unplugged or disconnected, power is cut off within two seconds for safety purposes,“ said Duhee Jang from the R&D Team.

Samsung was approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL)*, guaranteeing the safety of the One Invisible Connection. Nevertheless, the certification process itself was challenging, as there were no pre-existing standards to measure the new development against. In fact, Samsung created a new standard.

“We worked closely with UL from the beginning of the project to define customer needs and standards. Given the time constraint, the Planning and R&D Teams had to work simultaneously and these profound efforts are why the successful development and optimization of the One Invisible Connection are particularly meaningful,” said Lee. “UL Marks are the most widely recognized safety certification marks in the world. We are proud of the fact that we were able to present these new standards,” he added.

First Impressions

Resolving the shortcomings of traditional cables, the developers of the One Invisible Connection paid close attention to consumer preferences. On their home visits, they had also gained insights about consumer perception of cable thickness.

Roh said, “There was feedback that thin cables seem vulnerable and unstable. People even asked me, ‘Is it OK to have a cable this thin?’ So the team began its research and verification process to find an optimal thickness that would also assure users.”

As the product evolved into a hybrid cable containing both power and data lines, the team enhanced durability by swapping materials. “The major changes include switching the cable material from Kevlar to the more durable Teflon on the outside,” Choi elaborated. “It successfully integrates several important technologies.”

In their desire to blend it seamlessly into the home, the team went beyond the traditional boundaries of the TV. Some may doubt the importance of a cable, but Samsung’s One Invisible Connection is at the forefront of the evolution of the TV from simple audio-visual medium to a lifestyle product.

In consideration of the growing trend of consumers seeking greater convenience from their products, maximizing mobility is the future of TV design. The team hopes it will soon be the norm that people move their TVs anywhere around their homes.

^*UL is a global safety consulting and certification company, approved to perform safety testing by the U.S. federal agency Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Researchers, who had previously focused only on how to improve functions of the TV when it is on, began to think outside the box. The black screen of the TV when turned off is an eyesore to many. Some users even hide their TV sets in a cabinet. These observations prompted TV developers to act.

Concentrating their attention on the TV screen, they eventually came up with the inspired idea of making the screen “transparent” when not in use. Users can choose to use this transparent screen to display pictures, news or weather forecasts, or make it seamlessly blend with the background. Creators from Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Division explain how they developed “Ambient Mode” below.

Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Division who planned, designed, and developed Ambient Mode. (from left) Dongheon Shin, Yoojin Choi, Suwon Shin, Hana Kim, Soohong Kim

The TV is Gone! The TV Screen Blends in with the Background

At the First Look 2018 New York, held on March 7 (local time) at the American Stock Exchange, the SmartThings app was used to take a picture of the wall in front of which a QLED TV was positioned, and then the TV disappeared. It was now in Ambient Mode, one of the features of 2018 QLED TVs. When this simple but innovative feature was revealed for the first time in the world, the audience burst into applause.

Ambient Mode analyzes the pattern and texture of the wall where the TV is mounted and displays the result on screen, leaving only the TV frame visible. Contrast and brightness can be adjusted for the best result.

Ambient Mode can also display news and weather forecasts in real time. It is a far cry from a simple screensaver, which uses images to cover the blackness of the screen. “Bringing the data in real time, Ambient Mode puts truly ‘live’ content on the screen. This is what differentiates Ambient Mode,” said Suwon Shin from the R&D team.

This innovative change was born through observing customers continuously. “My team researched lots of customers’ behaviors. Many users did not want to see the black screen in their living rooms when the TV was off. That’s when we came up with this idea.” said Yoojin Choi, a UX designer at Samsung Electronics. The division developed an algorism that generates patterns after analyzing the background.

This is not the only thing they learned through consumer research. According to Samsung Electronics’ survey, about 70 to 80 percent of households had bright wall colors without complicated patterns. They therefore added various plain background options so that customers could just choose one of them, fine-tune the color and brightness, and enjoy Ambient Mode.

Ambient Mode combines varied content on the transparent screen. In order to make the home more comfortable, developers built around the concept of nature. At six o’clock in the morning when the sun rises and lightens the house, the white luminance display level increases. When indirect lighting, such as a fluorescent lamp, is turned on, yellow has the highest luminance value. Birds sing at noon and crickets chirp in the evening. It is perfection down to the smallest detail.

Hana Kim from the Product Strategy Team said, “Ambient Mode, which has become part of the house, will show you useful information in the busy morning or in the evening when you are home from work. It doesn’t require any user interference. Ambient Mode does it on its own.”

Only 10 out of 900 Sketches Survived… An Endless Struggle for Agreement

The process of creating an unprecedented experience, including content moving as if it were alive, was a series of twists and turns. In addition to developing technology that could read and respond sensitively to every situation, the engineers had to figure out what customers have in common. “A still picture would not work. We had to make it seem alive and in harmony with its surroundings. Over the past year, I made more than 900 sketches. Only 10 of them survived. It was such a difficult a mission,” said Choi.

The Ambient Mode sensor stylishly hidden in the bottom logo of the 2018 QLED TVs

There were many technical hurdles. Soohong Kim, a hardware developer at Samsung Electronics recalled the days struggling to satisfy both engineers and designers. “Sometimes function and design do not go hand in hand. The sensor had to be placed in front for fine readings of the TV’s surroundings, but it didn’t look very good. Eventually, I put the sensor in the “Samsung” logo at the bottom of the screen. It is not visible to the naked eye.”

How to reach a consensus among planners, developers and designers was another hurdle to overcome. Since they were going where no one had gone before, endless meetings and discussions between departments became routine. “We were all greedy because we were taking the first step in a new field,” said Donghun Shin, a UX designer at Samsung Electronics. “We spent a lot of time in development and also made a lot of changes. We combined all the creative things together. It was a bumpy road, but we ended the journey satisfied.”

Ambient Mode Connects with Users, Complementing Lifestyles

Conventional TVs consume electricity while not in use. However, in Ambient Mode, 2018 QLED TVs detect when users are not around or when the lights are off using Bluetooth Low Energy and turn themselves off. The key is connectivity between the TV and the user. This function reduces energy consumption and extends the life of the TVs.

They look forward to seeing how Ambient Mode changes in the future. Hana Kim (pictured above) said, “There are various devices such as smartphones and tablets, but the TV has its own unique value in that it has a big screen for content sharing. Ambient Mode can encourage the media market to craft a range of content.”

“The Ambient Mode created an opportunity for the TV to be a warm and welcoming hub at the center of the living room,” said Yoojin Choi. “We will develop it so that families can communicate more and share a pleasant atmosphere in their living space.”

“Now the market is seeing the thinnest and largest TVs ever. We need new values to open a new market and I think Ambient Mode is the answer. 2018 QLED TVs with Ambient Mode bring the family together in the living room to have quality time. We don’t know where the end of the journey is, but one sure thing is that we will not stop here. We’re already wondering what the next innovation will be.”

With Ambient Mode, the creators realized what was only a wild imagination to someone else. And the team will continue their endeavor in bringing the unimaginable to reality.

The UK is getting ready for TVs, digital displays and cinema screens across the country to switch off as Samsung rolls out an advertising campaign that interrupts scheduled ad breaks with several seconds of ‘TV blackout’.

The disruptive campaign is designed to trick viewers into thinking their TV has been ‘switched off’, thus highlighting the default status of the TV in the home while it is not in use. The darkness ends, with text emerging: “This is your TV screen… most of the time; a void full of nothing.” The adverts will go on to explain that Samsung QLED TVs boast an ‘Ambient Mode’, which allows TV sets to blend in with their surrounding interior design, or display imagery when not in use, meaning that consumers need never see the void again.

The #TVblackout campaign will leave a large footprint, stretching across 10 days, with over 200 TV spots on multiple channels and networks, and reaching an estimated 49 million viewers. Launching on May 25, popular Friday night viewing that will be disrupted includes Coronation Street (ITV), The Simpsons (Sky) and First Dates (C4). In an audacious move, Samsung will also air the ad during the commercial breaks of the Champions League final on Saturday May 26, informing the audience that it is “time to adjust your set.” The campaign will also take over digital displays at the iconic Piccadilly Circus, as well as interrupting the famous Pearl and Dean theme tune during the adverts before cinema screenings of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. 

This isn’t the first time that UK viewers have been targeted by Samsung’s innovative campaigns. In November last year, Samsung premiered Washing Machine: The Feature Film at London’s Leicester Square, which layered a dramatic original score by celebrated composer Michael Nyman over the filming of a 66-minute family wash cycle. The unique project built upon the impact of a 3 min 20 sec advert featuring a QuickDrive wash cycle, which was broadcast during a complete ad break takeover of one of Britain’s most popular TV programs. 

*Samsung QLED ‘Ambient Mode’ background setting feature may vary depending on the environment where the TV is installed including, but not limited to, wall designs, patterns, and/or colours

Source: UK Newsroom

No matter how big the TV screen is, if it doesn’t have the necessary picture quality, users won’t be able to realize the power of the screen. That’s why large-sized TV has inevitably led to the increase in demand for Ultra High Definition (UHD). UHD is a 4K (3,840X2,160) picture quality, which is applied to TVs that measure over 65 inches. The technology is about to take yet another step up as 8K (7,680X4,320) TVs are ready to be commercialized.

But this is an era whereby even the number of pixels isn’t enough in isolation. To produce the best picture quality possible, it’s also important to consider the environment this content will be viewed in and the quality of the original content itself. The paradigm is shifting and it’s vital that all considerations are taken into account to produce an experience that everyone will enjoy.

UHD TV Beyond FHD TV

Worldwide UHD TV sales surpassed FHD (Full High Definition) TV for the first time last year, according to market researcher IHS Markit. It is expected to ship more than 100 million units this year, which is about 45% of the total TV market. In 2022, the proportion of UHD TV is expected to reach 60%.

Samsung UHD TV sales volume is also on the rise. Sales of Samsung UHD TVs in the fourth quarter of last year already exceeded 50% of the total Samsung TV units sold globally. In the first quarter of this year, Samsung UHD TV sales also increased by more than 35% compared to the same period last year.

What is the Standard for Ultra-High-Definition?

In the ultra-high-definition TV market era, standards for judging picture quality are further developing. For example, is a TV able to reproduce colors with real-life brightness, particularly when the normal TV viewing environment is brighter than many would expect? According to the DOE survey, consumers in the U.S. and Europe usually watch TV in a bright environment with an average home illuminance level of 79 lux. Can a TV react and provide an accurate picture in these, and other common viewing use cases?

Experts advise consumers to look beyond the high resolution to see the different factors that cause the difference in brightness, contrast, and content when consumers watch TV. The way consumers view TV and the way experts gauge a TV’s ability to deliver is much more sophisticated than it ever has been. The TV needs to be more versatile because it’s used to do more things. That means Samsung has to be stringent to make sure its QLED products perform not just according to the specifications but also according to real life usage.

Blacks and Colors Transformed

A new criterion for picture quality is color volume, which can measure minute color changes, three-dimensionally, according to varying degrees of brightness. Recently, Verband Deutscher Electrotechnischer (VDE), a well-regarded certification institution in Germany established in 1893, certified QLED TV for 100% color volume for two consecutive years, which is the world’s first and only time a TV has received such a distinction.

QLED TV, based on the metal quantum dot technology, can accurately represent detailed colors that can be hidden from dark or bright images. Brightness can be expressed up to 2,000 knits, which is 3 to 4 times that of conventional TVs, giving a more vivid look to scenes such as sunlight reflecting texture and white snowy landscapes.

Indeed, this year’s Samsung QLED TVs achieves the highest level of contrast ratio by improving the quality of blacks on-screen while maintaining brightness. To create an even more stunning contrast ratio, the TVs feature new Direct Full Array technology, which puts backlit LEDs behind the panel for precise brightness control. By making the LED blocks more than ten times the number of conventional TVs, the light can be adjusted individually to create a subtler difference in black colors. Moreover, it applies the black algorithm that perceives and precisely adjusts black colors, successfully delivering the original detail even in particularly dark scenes.

When watching a dark scene in a bright environment, the reflection of objects around the screen can cause discomfort. QLED TV solved this problem by using Anti-reflection technology. Even under daylight or bright lighting, an anti-reflective screen dramatically reduces glare, allowing one to be more immersed in images regardless of the surroundings.

Along with this, Samsung is also working to expand the ecosystem to upgrade HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology, which is an integral function of ultra-definition TV. Since last year, Samsung has been developing HDR10+, which is one step more advanced than HDR10, a standard for realizing HDR video. HDR10+ is a technology that shows optimal contrast ratio for each scene through ‘Dynamic Tone Mapping’ technique which applies different contrast to each scene. The company is expanding its HDR10+ content in cooperation with global companies such as Amazon, 20^th Century Fox, Panasonic and Warner Bros.

AI Upscaling the Content

High quality content is as important as the ultra-high definition TV specification.

Many of the most recognizable names in video content such as Netflix, YouTube and various cable companies already provide UHD content. However, due to the burden of production cost, consumers are not able to enjoy 4K UHD broadcasting content on TV unrestrictedly yet.

The problem here is that if low-quality content is shown on a big screen, the pixels are usually enlarged artificially, causing the picture to shake or lose clarity. Samsung Electronics has solved this problem by installing the ‘4K Q Engine’ based on semiconductor technology on its QLED TV.

‘4K Q Engine’ is a technology that upgrades SD (400,000 pixels) and FHD (2 million pixels) class image to 4K (8 million pixels) class. Based on artificial intelligence, it applies a 5-step algorithm (Image Signal Analysis ▷ Noise Reduction ▷ Improved 1st Detail ▷ 4K Upscaling ▷ Improved 2nd Detail) to improve image quality and express hidden details. In actual comparison, in the FHD image, the part where the light in the night view of the city is clearly separated by the ‘4K Q Engine’.

What’s more, 8K AI Technology will be introduced in the latter half of the year and will offer an even better picture and sound expression.

QLED TV’s dramatically improved picture quality this year has been widely praised by many media outlets including Tech Radar, What Hi-Fi, and AVS Forum. Trusted Reviews gave Samsung’s QLED the Highly Recommended mark and said: “The Samsung QE65Q9FN is the most impressive TV I’ve reviewed in years. It effectively combines the strong brightness and colour of Quantum Dot LED (QLED) with the deep blacks and almost the lighting precision of OLED. That’s a huge deal in a world where you generally choose one or the other.”

“As TVs gradually get larger in size and the competition for premium picture quality becomes fiercer, detailed and subtle image rendering performance is growing in importance,” said Doochan Eum, Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With Samsung QLED TV’s enhanced brightness, contrast, content, we are continuing to provide consumers with a superb immersive viewing experience.”

Rapid Growth of Large-sized TV Market

While growth in the overall global TV market has plateaued, sales of larger screen TVs 65-inch and over has grown by more than 30 percent in recent years. According to research firm IHS Markit, the market volume of 65-inch and over TVs was 8 million in 2016 and increased to 11.4 million in 2017. This year, market volume is expected to reach 16 million units.

The market for extra-large, or above 75-inch, TVs is expected to experience even more pronounced growth of 47% this year, a key reason why Samsung has made this segment a core focus area. In the first quarter of this year, the company’s global sales of 65-inch and larger TVs increased over 35% year over year. In the same period, sales of Samsung TVs in the South American market spiked nearly four times, and the demand for large-sized Samsung TVs almost doubled in Korea.

Almost Half of 75-inch TVs Sold Worldwide Made by Samsung

In 2017, Samsung Electronics maintained its top ranking in the worldwide TV market for the 12th consecutive year, with more than 20% market share last year.

Samsung’s presence is even more noticeable in the fast-growing, large-sized TV market. The company is leading the worldwide market of 65-inch and over TVs, with 31.1% share of total number of units sold and 34.1% share for total sales last year, according to IHS Markit.

The share is even higher for 75-inch and larger TVs, reaching up to 47.4% share based on number of units sold. This means that one out of every two extra-large TVs sold worldwide is a Samsung TV. The popularity of Samsung TVs is particularly noteworthy in Europe and Latin America, where the company holds almost 60% of market share.

For the overall 75-inch and larger TV market, there was almost three times sales growth in the first half of this year, as compared to the same period last year. To meet and hone in on the growing customer demand in this segment, Samsung has strengthened its 75-inch and larger TV lineup in the four series lines (Q6F, Q7F, Q8C, Q9F) of the 2018 QLED TV portfolio.

QLED Leads Larger TV Market with Aims to Double its Growth

Samsung’s 2018 QLED TV lineup has received strong reception since its global launch in March this year, for example experiencing a sevenfold increase in number of units sold in the first four weeks following launch in the United States compared to last year. In China and South Korea, sales volume doubled in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the fourth quarter of last year.

Samsung will continue its growth in both sales and innovation involving QLED TV.  Samsung’s 2018 QLED TV lineup has incorporated various additional functions to optimize high-resolution content for a very large screen, delivering a mesmerizing, immersive experience. Among other standout features, Samsung’s QLED TV is the world’s only TV delivering 100% color volume, and has been upgraded with technologies such as ‘Anti-reflection’ so users can enjoy pure blacks without reflection. ‘HDR 2000’ enhances the level of brightness and expressed detail, and 4K Q Engine, automatically upscales content to 4K resolution, optimizing the content for the big screen.

Samsung QLED TV has also been designed with convenience in mind and reflecting consumer needs with features such as artificial intelligence based on Bixby and SmartThings App, the One Invisible Connection that combines complex connection lines into a single cable, and Ambient mode which enables the TV to depict images and information, even when the TV is off.

“With the very full major sporting events line up this year, including 2018 World Cup Russia and the Asian Games, we expect the demand for large-sized TVs to grow rapidly,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics. “This year, for QLED TVs, we aim to double growth, as well as continue our leadership in the global TV market by driving the ultra-large TV market.”

In 2006, the beginning of Samsung’s market-leading run, the company laid the foundation for a new era of TV design with the unveiling of the Bordeaux, an LCD display with an elegant, wine glass-inspired form. Since then, Samsung TVs have become synonymous for pairing refined designs, like the Bordeaux’s, with first-of-their-kind innovations that take the viewing experience to new heights.

For example, in 2009, Samsung launched the world’s first edge-lit LED TV, which, in addition to being incredibly thin, introduced consumers to a new level of picture quality. That groundbreaking development was followed up, in 2010, by the world’s first 3D LED TV, which opened the door to a world of immersive 3D entertainment. That same year, Samsung unveiled the world’s first smart TV app store, and in 2011, the company launched Smart Hub, its intuitive smart TV user interface.

Other pioneering developments that demonstrate Samsung’s position ahead of the curve include the launches of the world’s first OLED TV, in 2013, and the first curved and bendable UHD TVs, in 2014.

Samsung’s new QLED TVs represent the pinnacle of this innovative history. The TVs’ combination of premium aesthetics and lifelike visuals has prompted many consumers to rethink how they assess a TV’s immersive qualities.

Featuring new Bixby integration and powered by quantum dot technology, QLED TVs offer a viewing experience defined by seamless controls and immersive visuals. The TVs’ ability to provide 100 percent color volume enables them to produce much brighter and deeper colors, allowing content to be displayed in the manner that producers intended.

QLED TV’s engrossing visuals are complemented by a minimalist design that eliminates distractions to enable users to be utterly immersed in their content. This aspect of the design is bolstered by both the One Invisible Connection, which seamlessly combines the AV and power cords, as well as those of peripheral devices, into a single, transparent cable, and the new Ambient Mode, which allows the TVs to display ambient images that enable them to seamlessly blend in with their surroundings.

Going forward, Samsung will continue to innovate with exciting TV technologies that will foster even more enriching and immersive viewing experiences. These include quantum dots, as well as the self-emitting MicroLED modules that the company debuted at CES 2018. Look forward to more updates on that milestone development in the latter half of this year.

Check out the infographic below to learn more about Samsung’s recent landmark TV technologies.

1. Extra-large 75-inch TV, Presence in All Lineup

The TV is getting bigger. Regardless of the size of the living room, large-size TVs tend to be preferred, and TVs in this category (over 75 inches) are expected to grow by more than 30~40% each year. That’s why the 2018 QLED TV lineup features more models over 75 inches than in previous years.

Each QLED TV offers truly immersive visuals that have been optimized by Samsung’s Q-Engine technology to reduce or eliminate issues that can affect other large TVs, such as noise and juddering. This allows the TVs to provide superior image quality compared to other large displays and makes fast-paced action in a sport or scene appear smoother and more realistic.

What’s more, the 8K QLED TV to be launched in the second half of this year is equipped with high-definition conversion technology that uses artificial intelligence to upscale the picture up to 8K. As a result, users will be able to immerse themselves in the content on a large screen regardless of the image source.

2. Deeper Contrast in Any Environment

When it comes to producing accurate images, contrast is key. In 2018, Samsung QLED TV dramatically improved contrast ratio and deep color with its 100% color volume.

Samsung’s QLED TVs feature a new ‘Direct Full Array’ that carefully regulates brightness. This cutting-edge technology employs a full grid of LED backlights to ensure that each section of the screen is accurately illuminated in order to deliver the best possible image quality. This feature allows the QLED TVs to darken specific areas of the screen while simultaneously illuminating others. This creates dazzling contrast – with brighter brights and darker darks – and allows content that’s been optimized to feature rich, nuanced color, such as HDR10+ video, to really shine.

Additionally, ‘Ultra Black Elite’ is a new anti-reflection technology that makes on-screen blacks perfect. It eliminates screen reflection to ensure that images remain sharp and vibrant at any angle.

3. Bixby Support, Easy Connect & Content Share

Many people feel a hassle to install a separate app and use the cloud. The 2018 QLED TV is based on a new platform called ‘SmartThings’, a cloud solution called ‘SmartThings Cloud’ and a single AI called ‘Bixby’. It automatically recognizes devices and provides the convenience of connecting and managing all devices through a single cloud.

The new Samsung QLED TV can easily connect with other devices simply through a click on the mobile app. In addition, ‘Bixby’ can be used to recognize complex search queries and perform entertainment functions, as well as control other home appliances in the house. The ‘One Remote Control’ function, which handles all devices connected to the TV, and the ‘Universal Guide’, which collects and displays the content that consumers usually like on one screen, make it easier and faster for users to get straight to their favorites.

4. Ambient Mode Without Burn-in

The TV is the hub of home entertainment. However, except for four to five hours of TV viewing a day, it stays on the black screen all day, providing little additional value. Now, Samsung has rebuilt the off screen of its QLED TV into a display that provides a beautiful and practical experience.

‘Ambient Mode’ allows you to view information such as weather, time, and news, or to display pictures and videos on the screen even when you are not watching TV. The TV screen completely melts into the surrounding space, eliminating the monotony of a black screen and providing a new TV experience. Notably, the 2018 QLED TV can operate in ambient mode for 24 hours a day without burn-in. The burn-in free technology means the TV does not fade or suffer from image retention – even after long periods.

5. One Invisible Connection Makes More…

Cables and peripherals that are connected to a TV in a complex way tend to interfere with the overall aesthetic of the interior. The 2018 Samsung QLED TV provides a solution that takes into account the space where the TV is installed. It’s called One Invisible Connection and it combines data and power lines to make sure the limited space around the TV isn’t obstructed by multiple wires.
One Invisible Connection integrates everything from the last year’s Invisible Connection, which connects the complicated lines of peripheral devices with a single data cable, to the power line of the TV. It is the first in the industry to simultaneously transmit large capacity AV data and power over a single cable. In addition, it can be extended up to 15m, so you can freely position the TV regardless of where the power source is. Users can also control various peripherals through ‘One Connect Box’ which means the infra-red signal from the remote control can be directed at just one device.

*Specific features may vary by region and market

The launch of Samsung’s 2018 QLED TVs has ushered in a new era of Intelligent Display. QLED TVs achieve crisp details, seamless connection to users’ favorite content via smart features, and a beautifully simplified design that discreetly harmonizes with any space or lifestyle.

In Samsung’s first TV launch of the year, the company unveiled the 2018 QLED TVs to media representatives, partners and invitees at the First Look event, hosted at the American Stock Exchange in New York on March 7. The event not only introduced Samsung’s future vision for the TV, but also gave attendees the opportunity to get hands-on with the newest range of 2018 QLED TVs. The exhibition featured interactive experience zones where visitors could enjoy true-to-life picture quality, Ambient Mode, SmartThings integration with Bixby, and an ever-so-subtle Invisible Connection.

Take a look at the event highlights below.

Jonghee Han, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, introducing the new 2018 QLED TVs. “It’s time for a new definition of visual display. The most beautiful screen that is easy to use and offers complete immersion without any distractions: this is the promise of Samsung QLED TV in 2018.”

Julien Jae Lee, Vice President of Visual Display Business UX Team at Samsung Electronics, announces the end of the big black screen. With Ambient Mode, Samsung’s QLED TVs integrate with your living space, giving the TV a new purpose in life.

Pedro Freitas (right), Senior Manager of Samsung Electronics America Service Innovation, demonstrates intuitive TV connection with SmartThings alongside Sarah Nelson (left), Senior Manager of Business Development. “Samsung QLED TV will provide you with an easy, seamless user experience where you can find, access and share the content you want.”

The Wall, Samsung’s 146-inch modular display, fully immerses visitors, presenting a bigger vision for the future. It will be launched in the second half of this year.

Competitors race head-to-head in the XBOX Competition Event. The game, shown on a QLED TV that enhances the immersive experience, was broadcasted live on YouTube.

The QLED TVs’ Ambient Mode blends seamlessly into backdrops of wood, brick and paint. Ambient Mode can harmonize with the TV’s backdrop, showcase a beautiful picture or display useful information.

An Invisible Room shows off the advantages of Samsung’s single-cable One Invisible Connection. The thin and transparent cable links the TV to a One Connect box that connects to all your media devices and can be hidden neatly out of sight.

A guest explores SmartThings, which effortlessly connects a user’s TV to multiple devices, with seamless syncing and control.

Integration with Bixby also allows people to control all the main functions of their Samsung QLED TV with just their voices.

To create even more stunning picture quality, the TVs feature new Direct Full Array backlighting technology that ensures that the screen is illuminated accurately. This reduces blooming and halo effects and enables deeper contrast, with inky blacks and brilliant whites. Advanced Anti-reflection technology ensures that the TVs’ spectacular picture quality can be enjoyed from almost any angle, and also helps boost contrast. Aligned with the new products, which include models wider than 75 inches, Q Engine technology automatically upscales on-screen content to UHD levels to further enhance viewers’ immersion.

Samsung’s 2018 QLED TVs’ style changes based on innovative technologies are also noticeable. Ambient Mode is an energy-saving function that allows the TV to elegantly display images as well as real-time information such as the weather or news. Samsung has also introduced a simple solution to eliminate cable clutter, called the One Invisible Connection, which integrates power cables and data lines that were previously separated to allow the TVs to harmonize with their surrounding aesthetic.

Samsung’s intelligence platform, Bixby, is making its TV debut in the 2018 QLED lineup. Bixby¹ allows users to use their voice to ask Bixby a question, issue a command, and activate a range of useful functions including simple controls over their TV and smart home appliances. The new QLED TVs are also designed to seamlessly connect with SmartThings-compatible devices to offer users even greater control over their home’s smart technology. In addition, the TVs’ Universal Guide service curates content from the TV and connected sources to offer users a customized viewing experience that they can enjoy at any time.

Check out the infographic below to learn all about the 2018 QLED TV lineup’s exciting new features.

¹Bixby is available in the US and Korean markets

Samsung Electronics today unveiled its 2018 home entertainment lineup at the company’s First Look in New York event. Samsung highlighted details about its flagship QLED TV models and its expanded lineup of UHD, Premium UHD and Ultra-Large Screen TVs. With groundbreaking design elements, enhanced picture quality, and intuitive smart capabilities, Samsung’s 2018 QLED line empowers consumers to enjoy content without distractions – even when viewers are not actively watching.

“Our 2018 lineup of televisions are truly our most innovative and sophisticated yet, designed for today’s consumer who is mindful of the aesthetics of their space,” said Jonghee Han, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are excited for consumers to experience our new TV lineup and features that offer more freedom to decide where and how the TV can be best enjoyed within the home.”

Samsung’s 2018 line features new innovations that enrich the lives of consumers by reimagining how TV integrates into the living room, how consumers enjoy their content, and how they interact with their devices.

Highlights of the 2018 lineup include:

Ambient Mode

Ambient mode provides useful information throughout the day – even when consumers aren’t actively watching movies and TV. It can play music as well as display news headlines, traffic reports, and weather updates. For wall-mounted TVs, Ambient Mode can mimic the pattern on the wall behind the TV to create an astonishing visual effect in which the TV blends seamlessly into the wall.

One Invisible Connection*

The new One Invisible Connection is one slim cable that combines both consumer’s power and AV data to the TV. Available up to 15 meters, it frees consumers from having to place their TV near data or power outlets.

Smart TV, Featuring Bixby

The QLED line’s smart capabilities offer revolutionary ways to set up the TV and find content. Effortless Login uses the new SmartThings app* to drastically reduce the time it takes to set up a new TV. The new Universal Guide enables consumers to navigate across supporting streaming services and live TV through one intuitive menu. And with Samsung’s intelligence platform, Bixby,** consumers can use voice commands to bring up their favorite shows and control compatible devices.

Direct Full Array

The Q8F and Q9F QLED TVs deliver stunning images with pristine contrast through Direct Full Array (DFA) technology. Direct Full Array uses a panel with zones of smartly controlled backlighting that adjust automatically to deliver deep blacks and pure whites.

Audio Lineup

Samsung offers four new audio products that offer clear and immersive sound tailored to the different ways that individual consumers set up and use their home theater systems.

• HW-K950: With front-firing, up-firing and new side-firing speakers, the HW-K950 Dolby AtmosÒ soundbar creates an extraordinary cinematic experience that delivers 7.1.4 surround sound.
• HW-N650: Designed for gamers, the HW-N650 soundbar features Acoustic Beam Technology that puts consumers at the center of the action.
• HW-NW700: The HW-NW700 soundbar features a wall-mounted design that perfectly complements QLED TVs so that they both blend beautifully into any home environment.
• VL550: The VL550 includes a unique metal dial that consumers can attach to any metallic surface and use to control music with the sound of their voice.

Samsung 2018 TV Line Details***

In response to rising consumer demand, Samsung is reinforcing its commitment to ultra-large screen televisions. The 2018 Samsung TV line features 9 series across the QLED TV, Premium UHD, UHD and Ultra-Large Screen display range, available in a variety of sizes. Models in the 2018 lineup feature both flat and curved display options.

• QLED TV: Models in the 2018 QLED TV lineup include – Q9F (65”, 75”, 88”), Q8F (55”, 65”, 75”), Q7C (55”, 65”), Q7F (55”, 65”, 75”) and Q6F (49”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 82”). The QLED TVs feature enhanced color and contrast, HDR10+ compatibility, Ambient Mode, Smart TV enhancements with Bixby Voice, One Remote Control and the One Invisible Connection.****
• Premium UHD: Models in the 2018 Premium UHD TV lineup include NU8500 and NU8000. The Premium UHD TVs include features such as dynamic crystal color, HDR10+ compatibility, clean cable solutions, and Smart TV enhancements with Bixby Voice and One Remote Control.
• UHD: Models in the 2018 UHD TV lineup include NU7100 (75”, 65”, 55”, 50”, 43”, 40″) and NU7300 (65”, 55″). These UHD TVs include features such as 4K UHD and HDR picture capabilities, clean cable solutions, slim design and Smart TV capabilities.

Samsung’s 2018 home entertainment line will be available in stores beginning March 2018. For more information and pricing on Samsung’s TV and Audio products, please visit www.samsung.com.

*SmartThings is available on iOS and Android-powered devices.

** Bixby service ability may vary by country or carrier. Voice Command recognizes English (U.S.), Mandarin Chinese and Korean. Not all accents, dialects and expressions are recognized. The list of features that can be controlled by voice commands via Bixby will continue to expand. Mobile functionality compatible with Samsung Galaxy 8 series or higher with Bixby function. Samsung Account log-in and data network (wifi or internet connection) required to fully operate Bixby features.

***The product line, details and availability vary depending on the region.

****One Invisible Connection applies to Q7 and higher models except Q8F. One Remote Control applies to NU7400 and higher models.

Samsung Electronics’ newest QLED TVs will offer an unrivalled viewing experience when they are revealed in New York, USA.

The First Look in New York will take place on March 7 at the American Stock Exchange in Manhattan and will form part of Samsung’s global launch event for its 2018 QLED TV lineup. Throughout the continuous evolution of its technology, Samsung always designs its products around the lifestyles of its customers. The new QLED TVs will do this in brand new ways for 2018.

Samsung will mark the launch of the 2018 QLED TVs at 11 a.m. EST on March 7, 2018. Real-time content sharing of the First Look in New York will be available at news.samsung.com, instagram.com/samsungtv and facebook.com/SamsungTV.

Samsung has created a “Samsung City” at its CES booth, which showcases the communication and connectivity among all of Samsung’s devices. What’s most noteworthy, however, is that the innovations are not just demos – all of the devices and services featured will be available to consumers in the near future, beginning in 2018.

Across twelve different zones at Samsung’s booth, participants will see what their lives with Samsung will look like in the coming years and beyond, and how our concepts of home, business and mobility will soon change forever.

Home: The Center of Life

Samsung’s products will continuously become more intelligent, which will lead to major changes in how we live.

For example, they already enable you to enjoy content more easily and continuously. Instead of your content being locked to one device in one room, it can follow you wherever you go. Content such as live video streams can also move between devices such as your Galaxy Note8 and QLED TV. Likewise, music from your mobile device can be streamed to your TV or connected speaker.

But with Bixby, life is even more simplified. If you start watching a TV show in the living room, you can say, “Bixby, I will keep watching in the bedroom,” and Bixby will pause your show and resume it when you get to the bedroom. All the associated tasks and devices can also move rooms with you and Bixby can turn the devices off in the living room if it’s now empty.

In the near future, you could even use Bixby to help you take better care of your health. If you were to take a photo of something you were eating, for instance, Bixby Vision could automatically calculate the number of calories in the meal, and the Galaxy Gear smartwatch could track calorie intake. Using this data, the Family Hub fridge could recommend recipes to help you manage your caloric intake.

These home technology demonstrations are based on the ability of Samsung’s devices to communicate with one another. The company’s technology goes far beyond the capabilities of a regular AI assistant.

Business & Mobility: Expanding Intelligence Beyond the Home

Look outside the home and you’ll see Samsung has brought AI and IoT innovation there, too.

For instance, the Samsung Flip, a newly developed digital signage solution, supports wireless synchronization between a laptop and a smartphone, thereby expanding the office experience. Ideas captured by the Samsung Notebook 9 Pen or Galaxy Note8 can therefore be displayed immediately on the Samsung Flip for brainstorming. Seamless sharing on a mobile device via NFC is also available, helping to bring about a collaborative workspace where creative ideas can be exchanged freely.

With the combination of 5G and automotive electronics, Samsung also plans to present a new vision for the connected car. The Digital Cockpit, a new automotive electronics platform developed by Samsung and HARMAN, is an extraordinary result of collaboration. At the CES exhibition venue, you can interactively experience the Digital Cockpit with VR, and also check out the TCU (Telematics Control Unit) and Mirror Replacement Vision System through the kiosk.

As one of the largest connected device companies in the world, Samsung is well-placed to deliver the level of intelligence that will make life easier for users. The great thing is that this harmonized life for consumers will soon be a reality. Come take a peek at what will be your new lifestyle at Samsung’s booth at CES.

Samsung Electronics today introduced the world’s first 8K AI technology for its new 85-inch 8K QLED TV at its product unveiling of The Wall ahead of CES 2018. The AI technology based on machine learning analyzes content and automatically upscales low-resolution images into 8K picture quality.

Despite the fact that the market is currently flooded with an ever-increasing number of displays capable of realizing super-high resolution such as UHD and 8K, many viewers are not able to fully enjoy the experience due to the lack of available high resolution content.

However, Samsung’s AI technology has all but eliminated this obstacle by enabling the television to transform all pictures into 8K, the current highest ultra-high definition television resolution in digital television and digital cinematography. It lets consumers enjoy just about any movie or TV show on any channel in 8K resolution regardless of native resolution or method of transmission.

The AI technology helps to support three following features:

• First, QLED TV, based on AI technology, is equipped with a database that studies and analyzes millions of images in advance to transform low-resolution content into high-resolution. When fed with a source in low resolution, this feature of the QLED TV selects the optimal filter and converts the source into a high-quality image.
• In addition, by increasing image processing 64 times, the technology helps offer natural images in high-resolution, without compromising gradation in the picture. In the image of an aurora, for instance, the TV provides consumers with subtle, seamless gradation.
• Lastly, the new QLED TV categorizes elements of picture quality (black/blooming/brightness) in input sources by scene to produce pictures with richer and more detailed contrast. With the feature, the edges of text are rendered sharp and a moonlight image is offered with the edges of the moon in the background clear, not blurred.

Furthermore, Samsung’s AI technology enables the TV’s sound to be optimized for specific scenes, without having to change any settings. If you’re watching a football game, for instance, the cheering of the spectators is amplified to recreate the excitement of the match. Or, if viewing a concert, the low-frequency sounds of the music might be highlighted to deliver a richer sound.

This AI technology has already attracted much attention, landing Samsung’s 2018 QLED TV lineup a CES 2018 Innovation Award, honoring outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products.

Samsung 8K QLED TVs with AI technology will be launched during the second half of 2018, focusing on sets with screens larger than 65 inches. By rolling out this technology, Samsung is improving the viewing experience for the consumer by making it possible for them to easily enjoy all of their favorite video content in a sharper, richer and more pristine image quality.

Over the past few years, one of the breakthrough achievements of Samsung researchers has been the development of cadmium-free quantum dot technology, currently utilized in Samsung QLED TVs. While quantum dot had the benefit of delivering superior light expression, the technology posed harm to the environment with toxic cadmium at risk of being released through nanoparticle degradation. Samsung’s quantum dots, however, are cadmium-free, and Samsung is currently the only company that produces cadmium-free (Cd-free) quantum dot displays.

The architect behind development of the Cd-free quantum dot technology was Dr. Eunjoo Jang at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT). For her achievements, Dr. Jang was appointed a Samsung Fellow on November 16 – a distinct honor established at Samsung in 2002 to honor outstanding achievements in research, and also referred to as “Samsung’s Nobel Prize.”

Dr. Jang, who has been involved in the research of Cd-free quantum dot technology for over 15 years, recently shared with Samsung Newsroom the story behind her research into the technology, as well as her thoughts on what’s next for display innovation.

“I wanted to do something that no one else had”

Dr. Jang, who earlier in her career was studying catalysts at POSTECH and the University of Ottawa in Canada, had strong interest in developing quantum dot technology that could leverage catalyst technology when she started the project at SAIT in 2002:

“I thought nano-technology would fit well with quantum dot because it is a semiconductor material. It wasn’t so much about application at the time, but the goal was to look ahead 10 years. When I initiated my research, I was one of the few ones looking into the potential future application, but many had very limited belief as to whether the research and study were even possible.”

Dr. Jang recalled that developing Cd-free quantum dot technology was quite a challenge. While quantum dot was studied widely for its capabilities in absorbing and emitting light, and also used in various lighting devices, its application into other areas was seen as limited as it requires the hazardous heavy metal cadmium.

“At first, we could not even imagine a Cd-free quantum dot, but in Samsung’s commitment to being a globally responsible manufacturer, the vision was to make it work. I was able to relatively quickly complete a cadmium-containing quantum dot, but I wanted to do something that no one else had. So, I worked another three years on Cd-free quantum dot.”

Dr. Jang describes seeing her scientific research applied to a commercial product as particularly gratifying, “It was such a terrific period when I was helping in the design of a plant for production of Cd-free quantum dot products, a technology which had actually started from work in the lab. My research work was used for real-life production, and when Cd-free quantum dot was first introduced at CES 2015, it was such an amazing experience.“

Expansion of Cd-free Quantum Dot Across Samsung Products

Dr. Jang explained, “It has been three years since Cd-free quantum dot technology has been applied to Samsung products. The technology has proven to be stable even when we change its structures in terms of higher brightness, local dimming, 8K and other features.”

Dr. Jang also emphasized her belief in the environment of Samsung as key to the success in producing the technology, “The reason why Samsung Electronics was able to produce this achievement in terms of quantum dot is because the company started earlier than other competitors. We set a specific goal from an early stage, and poured our resources into it.” She added that the achievement is especially meaningful to her because it was an independent development, “I am proud that Samsung, with its own capabilities, was able to develop such advanced technology without any outsourcing. This is clear testament to the strengths of our people as well as our environment which helps drive innovation.”

The Future: Self-Lighting Quantum Dots, and More

So, what is the next evolution for Samsung TVs?

Dr. Jang explained the differences between QLED and OLED, “Both have strengths and weaknesses. Contemporary OLED is incomplete, and OLED TV displays have many weaknesses related to burn-in, brightness, large screen and grey-scale which are all due to lesser stability.” She especially emphasized that replacing the light emitting layer with quantum dot is essential to overcome the limit of the display, “Using organic or inorganic materials for the light emitting layer could influence the reliability of products. I would like to implement the improvement of making this layer with inorganic materials – quantum dots.”

Dr. Jang also said that she is currently devoting considerable research into self-lighting QLED and its application, “I am currently participating in a study of making a better display that can overcome the limit of OLED TV and be applied in many other fields. Self-lighting quantum dot technology is being specifically researched for this purpose. My ultimate goal is to develop technology that gives new value to customers and makes for a more convenient life.”

From research to commercialization, Dr. Jang is one of the many talented innovators at Samsung who are helping write the next chapter in display technology. As she continues her work in developing quantum dot’s technological leadership in the field, it will be exciting to see the innovations that arrive next into our living rooms.

Dr. Eunjoo Jang and researchers at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT)

Samsung Electronics announced today the launch of SeeColors app for QLED TV, which is compatible with all Samsung QLED TVs. The SeeColors app^* for QLED TV helps people with Color Vision Deficiency (CVD) identify their personal visual deficiencies through the app. Based on the individual’s results, QLED TVs, featuring 100% color volume, adjust the color settings on the display, allowing viewers with CVD to enjoy a viewing experience with more optimized colors.

“Samsung is committed to making people’s everyday lives smarter and more convenient through technology and innovation,” said Hyeongnam Kim, Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “The launch of SeeColors for QLED TV embodies this mission by providing users with a way to address one of the world’s biggest optical challenges through the latest technologies and visual displays.”

Nearly 300 million people globally have CVD, with approximately 8% of men and up to 1% of women affected^**, based on a representative survey conducted in Europe and North America. However, the majority of people with CVD are unaware of their condition and the impact it has on their quality of life.

Through the SeeColors app on the TV, users can identify the type and level of their CVD then directly recalibrate their QLED TV screen based on their personal results. To offer an easy method for people to identify CVD, Samsung Electronics partnered with Professor Klara Wenzel who heads up the Department of Mechatronics, Optics and Mechanical Engineering Informatics at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, to adopt the Colorlite Test, or C-Test, for TV and mobile devices. C-Test, developed by Professor Wenzel, is a digital test that uses the concept of color filters and mathematical modeling to identify CVD. Adopting the C-Test through the SeeColors app has resulted in a simple solution which gives people with CVD the opportunity to see the world through their QLED TVs in more optimized color.

The SeeColors app is available for download from the Smart TV App store. Users can also download the app to conduct the test through Google Play and the Galaxy App Store for Samsung Galaxy smartphones S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S7, S7 edge and S8 devices. Once users connect their Galaxy smartphone to their QLED TV, the TV will automatically adjust the color setting based on the user’s results.

The SeeColors app is created in partnership with Colorlite®, a Hungarian company that applies certified technology based on 20 years of scientific research to lenses to help people address CVD. The SeeColors app marks the first time Colorlite® is being used on TVs and smartphone devices.

Samsung Electronics has committed to providing a wide range of accessibility features via its innovative products, and its efforts have been recognized with CES Innovation Awards in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

*This app is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or medical problem. Any information found, acquired or accessed through this app is made available for your convenience and should not be treated as medical advice.

**Calculation based on Fletcher, R. & Voke, J. (1985) Defective colour vision: fundamentals, diagnosis and management. Adam Hilger, Bristol.

*** *Updated on March 5th, 2019: Updated the effects of the SeeColors app

Can you see the letter C? No? Well, you may have a form of color blindness. Color blindness – or color vision deficiency (CVD) – affects approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women. The problem is, although nearly 300 million people suffer from CVD, many are not aware of their condition. And if they do know, they may not realize they are missing out on the fullest spectrum of color.

Samsung Electronics and scientists at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics have invented a way for people with the condition to see the world in more optimized colors. The new test is at the heart of an innovative app called SeeColors*, which is available on Samsung QLED TVs globally for the first time.

The Challenges of Living with Color Blindness

Mark Green, who has CVD, is positive about his condition, but explains some of the challenges of CVD in everyday life, “My friends ask me how do I know grass is green? How do I know it isn’t? I can distinguish colors when they are on their own. It’s when they are together I can get mixed up.” Mark is a sales manager and believes being color vision deficient is not too much of a problem at work, except for charts, “Someone might point to a green slice of a pie chart – but they all look brown to me.”

According to Professor Klara Wenzel, who heads up the Department of Mechatronics, Optics and Mechanical Engineering Informatics at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, some color vision deficient people suffer from an inferiority complex because of their condition and simply “being different.”

“This is why we began this research nearly 30 years ago. We thought: it’s not possible to cure this condition (yet), but it is possible to help people who live with it.”

Offering Everyone the Opportunity to Enjoy More Optimized Colors 

The retina of the human eye contains approximately 6.8 million color-sensitive receptors, so it’s a herculean task to create a test to measure them all. Professor Wenzel and her team designed an digital test which uses the concept of color filters. Through mathematical modeling and years of experiments, they produced the Colorlite^® Test, or C-test.

Professor Wenzel and her team then took it a step further. They adapted the C-test so it could be used as an app on any Samsung Galaxy S6 mobile phone and above, called the ‘SeeColors’ test. And now, the SeeColors app makes it possible for color vision deficient people to see more optimized colors on their Samsung QLED TV.

Yui Yoon Lee, a Principal Engineer at Samsung Electronics who collaborated on the project, explains, “The SeeColors app works via simple steps. After users download the app from the Smart TV app store and receive their results, the app will automatically change QLED TV’s color setting according to the test result. What’s so exciting is that the app and TV allow people with the condition to have an more optimized viewing experience.”

With QLED TV in particular offering pure and realistic colors, it is the perfect time for those with CVD to have access to the SeeColor solution. QLED TV uses quantum dots to build brightness, improve contrast and open up a huge color palette that reaches 100 percent color volume. Now more people can enjoy a better viewing experience with more optimized colors on QLED TV, including those suffering from some forms of color vision deficiency.

“It’s Color Heaven!” An Upgraded Viewing Experience with the SeeColors App

Mark, a participant of a recent SeeColors app test in New York, was very impressed by the color production of QLED TV when utilizing the SeeColors app, “It’s actually really cool. The SeeColors display seemed a lot more rich, diverse and like “color heaven” compared to the dull display.”

Another participant, Dustin, was also surprised and pleased, “Colors were more vibrant with QLED TV. The reds stuck out a lot more in the updated TV. The greens and oranges were easy to differentiate, which is something that’s usually very difficult to identify.”

“We want to help people with color vision deficiency see and enjoy the billions of colors that the world has to offer,” said Samsung’s Yui Yoon Lee. “Technology has an enormous impact on our lives – particularly with regard to our health. Samsung is part of this evolution, but we want to go further. We want to improve the quality of everyone’s lives – day in, day out.”

Samsung Electronics created the SeeColors app as part of its commitment to enrich people’s lives via technology. The SeeColors app on QLED TV will help people with CVD enjoy more optimized colors, providing richer, more immersive viewing experiences.

* This app is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or medical problem. Any information found, acquired or accessed through this app is made available for your convenience and should not be treated as medical advice.

** * Users can also download the app from Google Play and the Galaxy App Store for Galaxy devices. The app on mobile devices only provides the diagnosis of CVD levels.

With that in mind, here’s a handy rundown of features to consider before buying your next TV.

1. Color Volume

What it is: A standard for evaluating a TV’s ability to produce accurate colors at all luminance levels. The higher the color volume, the better the TV will be at expressing vivid, accurate colors.

Why it matters: Manufacturers in the fiercely competitive TV industry are constantly exploring ways to deliver standout picture quality. The color volume measurement emerged as a way to evaluate a UHD (or 4K) TV’s ability to produce immersive viewing experiences, focusing on how the TV performs under various lighting conditions. Color volume matters because if a depicted image exceeds a TV’s peak luminance, it may appear washed out or faded, and the quality of the viewing experience suffers.

How Samsung’s innovating with it: Samsung’s QLED TVs, which feature a peak brightness of 1,500 to 2,000 nits, are the first displays to reaches 100 percent color volume. This means that in typical viewing environments, the TVs produce brighter and deeper colors that allow content to be displayed in the manner that producers intended. In addition, QLED TV’s screen-coating technology reduces reflection by 98.5 percent, providing a more comfortable viewing experience even under strong sunlight or lighting.

2. HDR

What it is: HDR, or “high dynamic range” technology adds more color, brightness and contrast to content displayed on standard HD or UHD TVs.

Why it matters: HDR was introduced to provide whiter whites, blacker blacks, and colors that are more detailed and true-to-life. The difference between HDR and the preceding SDR (standard dynamic range) standard is night and day, as HDR allows details that might be lost in shadows or glare when depicted on an SDR TV to truly stand out.

How Samsung’s innovating with it: QLED TVs come with support for the new open standard for HDR video, HDR10+. HDR10+ adds more dynamic range (the ratio of light and dark) to images to deliver greater contrast and more vibrant colors, and allows images to be enhanced on a scene-by-scene basis. The results are lifelike visuals that portray content precisely as the producer intended.

3. Refresh Rate

What it is: A TV’s refresh rate, expressed in hertz (Hz), is the number of times that an image on the screen is refreshed per second. The higher the hertz, the smoother the picture.

Why it matters: The standard refresh rate for TVs today is 60Hz, or 60 times per second, with 120Hz and 144Hz representing the higher end of the spectrum. TVs with high refresh rates generally provide more seamless visuals with minimal motion blur, creating more immersive viewing experiences. If you’re a gamer, or you watch a lot of fast-paced action films, a TV with a high refresh rate may be just what you need to take your experience to the next level.

How Samsung’s innovating with it: In addition to boasting a wide range of game-optimizing features including a short input lag (20-millisecond), three types of QLED TVs with the Q7, Q8 and Q9 models feature a 120Hz refresh rate that ensures seamless and fluid in-game visuals. 

4. HDMI and Connections

What HDMI is: HDMI, short for “high definition multimedia interface”, is an industry-standard, all-digital interface that transmits visual and audio data between devices such as TVs, streaming media and Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and more.

Why it matters: Higher-quality HDMI cables generally support higher data transfer speeds (measured in gigabytes per second), providing more bandwidth to enjoy 4K UHD and HDR content. The manner in which a TV handles its HDMI and other connections can directly influence its setup, and the ease with which the device integrates into a living environment.

How Samsung’s innovating with it: All QLED TVs are optimized to deliver 4K UHD content thanks to their support for HDMI 2.0. HDMI 2.0 makes it possible to increase frame rates and maximum bandwidth (to 18Gbps), and deliver high-resolution visuals, allowing for the transmission of 4K video at 60Hz with 32 audio channels (up from eight).

In addition to HDMI 2.0, QLED TVs feature a practically invisible optical cable that seamlessly connects to external devices via the HDMI, USB 3.0 and coaxial port-housing One Connect box. The result is a TV setup that’s free of messy wires and truly designed for living.

5. Smart TV

What it is: A “smart” TV is capable of connecting to the internet to allow users to stream video content, browse the web, and run compatible apps.

Why it matters: Streaming shows and movies through over-the-top (OTT) services like Netflix has quickly become the new normal, with more and more people enjoying a wide range of dynamic entertainment via convenient apps. Smart TVs typically incorporate support for these services, offering users more freedom to enjoy their favorite content.

How Samsung’s innovating with it: Samsung has equipped its QLED TVs with a range of smart apps, services and features that make it easy to enjoy high-quality UHD and HDR content. Particularly handy features include the TV PLUS app, which neatly organizes on-demand content in an interface that mirrors the channel menus of traditional cable or TV providers, and the One Remote, which allows you to manage your smart TV and other connected devices via a single, intuitive control.

6. Durability

What you should expect: No TV will last forever, but these days you should typically expect anywhere from 7 to 10 years of reliable service from your new TV. The expected lifespan for a premium TV may be even longer.

What Samsung’s TVs deliver: There are many factors that can ultimately prove detrimental to a TV’s longevity, and burn-in may be chief among them. Burn-in is a form of permanent damage that’s caused by leaving a static image on a screen for a long period of time. While image retention refers to any image that stays on a screen temporarily, burn-in lasts permanently, seriously affecting the lifespan of a television.

Samsung’s QLED TVs are certified to be burn-in-free, thanks to their utilization of inorganic quantum dots. In fact, each is backed by a 10-year warranty against burn-in* – a quality guarantee that recently expanded to global markets, and demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to delivering premium performance with its premium TVs.

*Details of the burn-in guarantee for QLED TVs vary by country, and the policy will gradually be introduced to other countries as the QLED TV is launched in each market.

As it has made continual strides as a global company, Samsung has ranked as one of the top 10 brands on the Interbrand rankings from 2012 to 2017, demonstrating continual growth in brand value.

This year’s achievement is particularly meaningful given some of the challenges that Samsung has faced, and overcome, in the past year. For example, Interbrand, in its evaluation, cited among various factors, Samsung’s exemplary, fast recovery from last year’s Galaxy Note7 crisis, the company’s successful launches of flagship products, and its continued stellar financial performance.

In particular, Samsung’s mobile business reconfirmed its market leadership through the successful launch of the Galaxy S8. Samsung’s memory division also performed strongly, with its record profits contributing to the rise in brand value. Samsung’s digital appliances business introduced innovative and award-winning new products, developed from deep consumer insights, like the Family Hub refrigerator and AddWash washing machine. Samsung’s visual display division also broke new ground in the TV market with the new QLED TV as well as The Frame, a new lifestyle TV for the home.

“Our efforts to make meaningful progress to improve people’s lives contributed to the rise in brand value,” said YH Lee, CMO of Samsung Electronics. “Our ranking this year is a positive sign that demonstrates our efforts to regain trust have resonated with global consumers.”

This year’s Interbrand’s Best Global Brands will be announced at the World Trade Center in New York City on September 27.

Samsung’s Growth in Brand Value

Real-time Relay Broadcasts of Live Game Competitions

Starting this week, Samsung will begin offering real-time relay broadcast services for popular games including Battleground, StarCraft and League of Legend (LOL) in the U.S., Canada, and Korea for owners of Samsung Smart TVs released after 2015. With Samsung partnering with popular Korean P2P technology-based video streaming company AfreecaTV, the service will allow viewers to enjoy live competitions of professional games streamed in the highest resolution on Samsung Smart TVs once the AfreecaTV app is installed.

Among the regular live broadcasts, Korean StarCraft leagues feature as a highlight of the service with their contribution to the global e-sports phenomenon. Samsung Smart TVs users will be able to enjoy StarCraft league games remastered in UHD resolution, in addition to several other games. The real-time broadcast service will also be subsequently launched in other European and Asian countries from early next year.

Enhanced Gaming Options

Samsung is expanding its Smart TV services to ensure users can enjoy more games. The Samsung Smart TV Smart Hub menu has a “Gamefly” service that contains more than 100 games including casual, shooting (FPS: First-Person Shooter), sports, real-time strategy (RTS), role-playing (RPG) and other genre titles. Users can play simple casual games with a remote control or smartphone, and more intensive RTS and RPG titles by plugging in a game controller.

Also, in collaboration with Valve, Samsung has launched the Steam Link app enabling Steam subscribers to enjoy thousands of PC games directly on their Samsung Smart TV screens. Users can play Steam games on their Samsung Smart TVs by activating the Steam Link app, and after their TV and PC have been connected to one another via wired or wireless internet connection. After launching in August 2017, the service is currently available in 55 countries including the U.S. and U.K.

Finally, Samsung recently announced an exclusive U.S. marketing and retail partnership with Microsoft to utilize Samsung QLED TVs as the official 4K TV partner for the highly-anticipated Xbox One X. The partnership kicked off at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2017 in June as attendees experienced, for the first time ever, breathtaking 4K HDR gaming on Xbox One X and Samsung QLED TVs. Gamers will be able to experience the power of Xbox One X on QLED TVs at various Xbox and Samsung marketing and retail activations throughout the U.S. Consumers will also see a custom Samsung TV spot showcasing Xbox One X and QLED TV together that will run nationally around the launch of Xbox One X this fall.

Samsung QLED TV, a Game Lover’s TV

Samsung QLED TV continues to win attention from across the gaming industry for its game-optimized features, including best-in-class 4K HDR screen, short input lag of 20 ms (millisecond) and the ability ensure longtime game play with no image retention or burn-in. In addition, Samsung QLED TV automatically recognizes peripheral devices connected to the TV, and also consolidates the usual tangle of multiple, complex cables into one single, transparent optical fiber cable. The TV also offers voice recognition technology via its remote control so users can easily initiate the TV’s game mode to enjoy optimized graphics and sounds.

As Samsung’s Smart TV technology, and QLED TV lineup, continue to trail blaze the industry, Samsung will continue to push the boundaries of a TV to a comprehensive entertainment hub for enjoying and consuming various types of content.

One thing, however, has always remained the same and helped the trade show grow, and that’s this: Each year at IFA, electronics manufacturers present their latest consumer innovations, attracting attention from all over the world.

Samsung has presented its technical innovations in Berlin since 1991, and is one of the most prominent exhibitors at IFA today.

‘The Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition’

“Dear present and absent ones. When you listen to the radio, also spare a thought for how humanity obtained this wonderful instrument. The wellspring of all technical achievement is the divine curiosity, the ludic drive of the tinkering and pondering researcher, and no less the constructive imagination of the technical inventor.”¹

These were the words with which one of IFA’s most famous guests, Albert Einstein, opened the “Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition” – as IFA was originally known – in Berlin in 1930. The radio – the latest and, arguably, most important technical achievement in mass communications at that time – was the star of the show, and Einstein himself presented the exciting new technology to event attendees.

(Left) Albert Einstein opens the Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition in Berlin in 1930; (Right) Einstein explains the potential of the still-young communications medium to attendees. Source: Messe Berlin

Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Stuttgart

The first IFA trade show took place in December of 1924. The inaugural event gathered a total of 242 exhibitors, who fascinated crowds with their latest technological innovations for a total of twelve days.

The trade show was held each year until 1939, when the outbreak of WWII and the subsequent reconstruction forced it into hiatus. IFA made its return in Düsseldorf in 1950 and, on its 20^th anniversary, in 1957, moved to Frankfurt and added “television” to its title. Reconstruction operations in Germany would lead IFA to shift its location from Frankfurt to Stuttgart and then Berlin, only to return to Düsseldorf in the end.

Since 1971, the trade show has taken place exclusively in Berlin, under the official name of “Internationale Funkausstellung” – hence “IFA”. gfu, a corporation that promotes the advancement of consumer electronics, came onboard two years later, and has been organizing IFA² ever since.

The innovation cycles of many products have grown shorter and shorter over the years, and eventually, in 2005, IFA became an annual event.

Queues at the opening of IFA in 1973. Source: Messe Berlin.

Samsung – an Innovation Driver and Major Attraction

Samsung has been a fixture at IFA ever since it first exhibited at the trade show in 1991³. During that IFA, 26 years ago, Samsung presented screens and televisions in a 660-square-meter space.

2003 marked an important juncture in Samsung’s relationship with IFA. A move to Hall 20 meant that a substantially larger exhibition space would be available, turning Samsung into one of the show’s major exhibitors.

With keynote speeches in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2014, Samsung strengthened its position as a global brand, establishing ground-breaking technologies and setting future trends. In 2008, for example, Park Jong-Woo, the then-President of Samsung Electronics Digital Media, predicted that the entertainment industry would take a gigantic leap forward by seamlessly networking a variety of devices. Nowadays, smartphones and tablets easily hook up to users’ TVs and Bluetooth speakers, and even some fridges and washing machines can be controlled on the go.

(Clockwise from top left) Samsung’s IFA booths in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Samsung has been one of IFA’s largest exhibitors since 2003.

2014: Samsung Becomes IFA’s Largest Exhibitor

2014 saw the opening of CityCube Berlin, which IFA’s host venue, Messe Berlin, invested over 83 million euros to build. Samsung moved into the three-story cube – which, along with featuring the largest product-exhibition space (approx. 6,000 m²), also houses several rooms (approx. 2,500 m²) for presentations and sales meetings – as soon as it was completed. The location has been used exclusively by Samsung at IFA ever since.

More exhibition space also opens up new possibilities. Samsung’s individual product divisions were previously presented spread across several halls, but the move to CityCube Berlin meant that they could be showcased under one roof. Today, Samsung has become IFA’s largest exhibitor, with 8,700 square meters of hall space.

In 2016, Samsung impressed IFA attendees with this TV installation at the heart of CityCube Berlin.

Picture quality remains one of the most important focuses for TVs, and is one of the hottest attractions for the trade show. Over the last eight years, the TV industry has mastered the leap from HD to Full HD to UHD resolution – each of which has been successfully established in the mass market.

IFA has also served as a popular showcase for introducing new product categories in other areas. In 2010, Samsung presented its first tablet to the world with the Galaxy Tab. One year later, the Galaxy Note marked the beginning of large-screen premium smartphones, or ‘phablets’. Samsung’s first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, was introduced in 2013, laying the foundation for Samsung’s smartwatch portfolio. And in 2014, the Galaxy ecosystem was further expanded with the Gear S and Gear VR.

This year, too, visitors to Samsung’s IFA booth are treated to a great many innovations and technical highlights, such as QLED TV, The Frame, the QuickDrive washing machine, Family Hub refrigerator, mobile devices, portable SSDs and more.

For more information on Samsung’s presence at IFA 2017, visit: https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-shapes-lifes-new-normal-at-ifa-2017

¹Extracted from a recording of Albert Einstein’s opening speech at the Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition in Berlin in 1930. Source: http://landesarchiv-berlin.de/

²With the exception of 1985, 1987 and 1989.

³Samsung did not attend IFA in 2004.

“This year, UHD became the most decisive factor for television purchases for the very first time, according to gfu¹. And yet for Samsung, better television is not just about brilliant picture quality, but a better TV experience in every respect.

“With QLED, we have introduced a TV category that convinces thanks to Quantum dot technology, UHD, HDR, and a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits. And where ease of use is concerned, Samsung sets standards with the Smart Hub and Premium Smart remote. Viewers can access any content they want in just three clicks – even from external players. QLED TVs are literally more beautiful televisions, with their clever wall mounts, cable solutions and stands.

“With The Frame, we are transforming the television into a canvas for digital art. The designer TV combines interior design with current smart TV technology, and evokes the aesthetic reserve of a picture frame.”

Kai Hillebrandt, Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Clear User Menus – The Comprehensive Samsung Interface

“Technology is meant to make life easier. But while the capabilities of smartphones, PCs, refrigerators and washing machines continue to increase in the Internet of Things era, their operation is also becoming ever more complex.

“With Samsung, the technology adapts to the person, and not the other way around. To simplify the daily lives of consumers and enterprises, we carry out trend studies on consumer behaviors and apply the findings when developing the next smartphones, televisions and home appliances.

“We are thus continuously improving how users interact with our products – be it via gesture, touch, gaze or voice. The result is an all-embracing design language for Samsung’s Smart TVs, the Smart View app, smartphones, tablets, our Family Hub 2.0 refrigerators, and many other appliances.”

Kai Hillebrandt, Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Perfect Sound to Match the Picture – Samsung Soundbars Bring Cinema Sound to the Living Room

“Connectivity and immersive listening are the big audio trends of 2017. This because a successful home cinema experience not only calls for a brilliant picture, but also luscious sound.

“Samsung’s QLED TVs revolutionize picture quality with UHD and HDR. MPEG-H stands for a new sound experience. The new technology permits every audio track to be individually modified and purposefully adjusted in live broadcasts.

“Easy and fast access to music from anywhere in the house is also becoming ever more important for consumers. Two thirds of German consumers, for example, desire clean TV setups² – a clear rejection of complex 7.1 systems and loudspeaker cables.

“With the HW-MS750 Flat Soundbar Sound+, Samsung has already combined a soundbar and subwoofer in a single slim soundbar casing – without any additional speakers or external cables. The Samsung HW-MS950 soundbar, powered by Dolby Atmos, makes sound even more flexible while placing the viewer at the center of the sound experience. The sound can be precisely moved and placed in three-dimensional space, also above the viewer’s head. Dolby Atmos makes home cinema entertainment come alive, and turns it into an intense and emotional experience with a clear and profoundly detailed soundscape.”

Kai Hillebrandt, Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Untethered Music – The Galaxy S8 with UHQ Audio

“Music is also enjoyed on the go these days. Be it in the fitness studio, on the train, in the kitchen or garden – users always have their soundtrack with them, on their smartphone or streamed from the web. “With its Ultra High Quality (UHQ) audio technology, Samsung takes music enjoyment to a new level. It also enables high-quality sound on the road and supports digital recording at up to 32 bit/384 kHz. The audio files are not compressed, and can even be extrapolated.

“This way, music lovers can enjoy the entire sound spectrum of music sources in CD quality – or even higher, for example, with FLAC files or high-quality streaming. The technology is deployed in Bluetooth speakers, high-quality AKG headphones, ultra-light headsets, and even smartphones – the Galaxy S8 and S8+.”

Martin Börner, Deputy President, Samsung Electronics GmbH

UHD and HDR – QLED TV Creates a Visual Experience That’s Ready for the Big Screen

“UHD is conquering the mass market, as more and more consumers have become captivated by the ultra-realistic visual experiences enabled by UHD and HDR. High resolution is the most decisive factor for television buyers today³.

“A still larger leap is provided by HDR technology, helping today’s televisions achieve pictures that are extremely rich in contrast. The expanded color space becomes even more apparent in a direct comparison. Thanks to its unique suitability for HDR10 content, Samsung’s QLED technology represents the TV experience of the future.

“What’s especially impressive is the brightness of the Quantum dot displays. QLED TVs are extremely bright, with peak values of up to 2,000 nits, and offer the user intensively radiant, lifelike colors even in bright daylight. In doing so, QLED TVs follow the standards for digital cinema, and are able to cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 cinema color space. That is a decisive point for consumers, as HDR will change the TV experience forever. It is thus not without reason that we are talking about a new product category when referring to QLED TV.”

Kai Hillebrandt, Vice President of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Virtual Reality – Gear VR Makes the New Media Age Accessible for All

“Virtual reality and 360-degree video have introduced a completely new media experience to the mass market, and Samsung is a pioneer in these areas. Take social VR, for example. The technology is tangibly affecting our behavior on social networks. Today, we take our followers along in 360 degrees when we go to a concert or climb a mountain. They can then share in the adventure live with their VR headset or on a Samsung smart TV.

“Samsung is one of the first companies to have made these fascinating new experiences broadly available to the public, with its Gear VR headsets and Gear 360 cameras, and is a pioneer for this new media age.

“We have sold over 1.1 million VR devices in Europe since 2015, and already more than 5 million worldwide. This clearly shows that the interest in this technology is huge. It will fundamentally change the way we tell and experience visual stories.”

Martin Börner, Deputy President, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Benefitting Your Health – A Fitter Lifestyle with Samsung Gear

“Fitness wearables have become the norm in the shortest space of time, providing a perfect example of how quickly technologies can transform our lives. This is exactly what our motto for this year’s IFA expresses: “the new normal”. We have long since stopped talking about the measurement of the self instead of a new relationship with our body.

“Wearables change our awareness for a healthy life through their ability to monitor the wearer’s fitness activities, and optimize their efforts with the help of apps.

Samsung has been actively working to shape this trend for five years now with new innovations such as our Samsung Gear smartwatches. We will be experiencing this kind of rapid societal development brought on by technologies more often in the future, as trends spread with ever greater speed these days, not least of all thanks to social media.”

Alexander Zeeh, Director Home Appliances, Samsung Electronics GmbH

Networking in the Household – The Family Hub 2.0 Refrigerator as a Family Manager

“The market for household appliances is growing, and we see ourselves in a very good position to benefit from this growth. Samsung is banking on brilliant, dependable innovations that let us make household chores easier for our customers, and often help them reclaim some time. The industry-wide trend towards connected home appliances has an important part to play in this. We always take a close look at what people need in their day-to-day life, and develop products that meet their needs.

“With Family Hub, a smart refrigerator with an integrated LCD display, we have pooled our know-how in screen technologies, networking, and ease of use in the area of cooling to turn the kitchen into a modern communication center with the fridge as family manager. This is where food is organized, messages are exchanged, and schedules are compared.

“The fridge’s next generation, Family Hub 2.0, caters to the needs of every family member even more individually. Using personal user profiles, the entire family can now also exchange to-do lists or send messages to the refrigerator display on the go.

“The Smart Home App can also be used to control other compatible household appliances, such as a washing machine for example, by way of the user’s smartphone or the refrigerator screen.”

Martin Börner, Deputy President, Samsung Electronics GmbH

¹ gfu, Motive, Einstellungen und Kaufkriterien. Konsumtrends der Consumer und Home Electronics, May 2017.

² Data collected at the behest of Samsung by Kantar TNS in an online multi-subject survey based on the iBus method. This involved surveying 1,017 Germans aged 16 to 64 from June 1 to 4, 2017.

³ gfu, Motive, Einstellungen und Kaufkriterien. Konsumtrends der Consumer und Home Electronics, May 2017.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with the Vice President of Samsung Research America’s Digital Media Solutions Lab, Bill Mandel, to discuss the ins and outs of the open-source platform, as well as Samsung’s efforts to accelerate its adoption.

Q. In a nutshell, how does HDR10+ help Samsung’s QLED TVs create immersive viewing experiences?

HDR10+ processes images dynamically, allowing for scene by scene, and at times frame by frame picture enhancement. QLED TV’s advanced image technologies make the displays fully capable of portraying these optimized visuals.

This dynamic approach to image optimization results in rich, accurate colors and deeper contrasts. It means that when watching a show or film, characters’ expressions and the details of a scene appear crisp and nuanced, making the scene truly come to life.

Q. What sets HDR10+ apart from other video formats, such as HDR10?

HDR10+ is designed to reproduce images with utmost accuracy, even on displays which would otherwise have difficulty portraying HDR10 content. While HDR10 produces remarkable visuals on Ultra HD Premium^TM displays, HDR10+ allows consumers to enjoy HDR10’s image benefits on a wider variety of TVs.

Samsung UHD and QLED TVs’ HDR10+ integration allows them to fully utilize their native image technologies to provide the most lifelike visuals out there. Even premium TVs will benefit from the display-engine upgrades that come with HDR10+, as well as the incorporation of HDR10+ data in picture optimization.

Some competing platforms employ techniques with fewer control points, and are tuned on reference monitors rather than the consumers’ displays. It’s quite difficult for display manufacturers to take a reference monitor-defined process and adapt it to a range of products. HDR10+, on the other hand, was designed specifically for consumer sets, and engineered to reproduce content created with an HDR10 master in a manner that preserves the creators’ intent.

Q. What led Samsung to make HDR10+ open source and royalty-free?

Samsung strongly believes in making core technologies openly available to the industry to help build strong ecosystems. We’ve seen this before with platforms like Tizen.

It’s for this reason that Samsung made HDR10+ available to chip and TV manufacturers royalty-free. In January of 2018, we will begin licensing the HDR10+ platform and metadata for free to content companies, UHD Blu-ray player and set-top box manufacturers, as well as other vendors around the world. By making HDR10+ openly available, we provide a platform that will lead to the creation a variety of devices that depict video content in a manner that offers viewers the best possible expression of the creators’ intent.

Q. What are some of the actions that Samsung is taking to ensure a smooth transition to HDR10+?

Our goal is to see HDR10+ available to any manufacturer out there who would like to incorporate it into their displays. We’re offering engineering support to help these manufacturers achieve the best results, and we’re currently in discussions with various content creators and distributors as well.

Everyone we’ve met with at the industry level has been shown the platform’s benefits, as well as the simplicity with which it integrates into existing processes. We’re also working closely with vendors to make it easy for content creators and studios to generate HDR10+ content using existing HDR10 videos. We plan to announce further details on the platform’s adoption in the coming months.

Q. Could you elaborate on some of the advantages that HDR10+ offers our partners?

Through our partnership with 20^th Century Fox and Panasonic, we’ve introduced a logo and certification program that allows displays to be certified for quality HDR10+ implementation.

We are working to enable post production tool suppliers to incorporate HDR10+ so that content producers can integrate HDR10+ generation right in to their final post production. Additionally the function of these tools could be incorporated into transcoding operations so that even libraries could be upgraded to HDR10+ if so chosen by rights holders. We are aiming to provide the best ability available to generate and review HDR10+ data for their content.

Q. We’ve heard that HDR10+ was designed with the future in mind. Could you elaborate on this?

The SMPTE standard that we introduced at the end of 2015 was designed to be forward-thinking. It’s currently capable of blending in HDR10+ over parts of an image, but its versatility also makes it possible to incorporate support for new advancements in image optimization in the future without impacting performance.

Over the past year, we’ve been conducting demonstrations and working with HDR10+ in our labs to confirm with certainty the profile of HDR10+ that we are putting into practice.

Q. What can consumers expect to see next in terms of picture quality?

We’re currently witnessing intense development in this area across the industry. Now that we have a great image platform in HDR, as well as open delivery systems in HDR10 and HDR10+, there is a lot of room for innovation in content production, post-production, and displays – all of which will benefit the consumer. Over the coming years, this will lead to significant advancements in picture quality that empower creators and filmmakers to produce great content.

In addition, the proliferation of HDR10+ will allow cinematographers to create engaging three-dimensional content by taking depth and detail to entirely new levels.

The Q8F is the flat screen counterpart to the previously launched curved screen lineup Q8C. Samsung is expanding its QLED TV line-up in Europe as it seeks to solidify its leading position in the global premium TV market. The new 43-inch version of The Frame combines both technology and art to provide consumers with design value that enables them to personalize and elevate smaller living spaces.

“We are proud to introduce a flat version of the Q8 in response to demand from European consumers seeking premium, flat and mid-size TVs,” said Sang-ho Cho, Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our extended QLED TV lineup as well as 43-inch version of The Frame ushers in new possibilities for televisions with their innovative technology and beautiful design, reflecting consumer lifestyles.”

Fortifying its Leading Position in the Premium TV Market

With the addition of the Q8F models, Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV lineup in Europe has been expanded to 14 models. Samsung’s offering, with the Q9, Q8, and Q7 QLED TV models, represents the most comprehensive line-up of premium TVs ranging from 49 to 88-inches in size and includes eight flat and six curved screen sets. The Q8F models, in particular, are the first flat screen models in Samsung’s QLED TV Q8 line-up.

Using metal quantum dot technology, Samsung QLED TVs produce the most accurate colors regardless of scene brightness level. This unique characteristic was verified with a “100 percent Color Volume” by VDE (Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker), the global standard certificate authority in Germany. The QLED TV’s Invisible Connection, a transparent optical cable that is only 1.8 mm in diameter, eliminates the tangled clutter of cables, and its No Gap Wall-mount allows the television to be mounted flush against a wall and fit seamlessly into various spaces.

The new 43-inch model of The Frame completes the lifestyle TV’s lineup, which currently consists of 55- and 65-inch models. Through its Art Mode function, The Frame, in addition to serving as a TV, doubles as a home décor element displaying both works of art as well as personal photographs. Through The Frame’s Art Store, users will soon be able to access about 1,000 prominent art pieces from world famous galleries and museums including the LUMAS, Saatchi Art, Sedition and Prado Museum.

The Q8F models will be immediately available following its introduction at IFA, and the 43-inch version of The Frame will be available in Europe starting in October, with the products to be introduced elsewhere on a phased basis. The new Q8F is available at a suggested retail price of EUR 2,599 (55-inch) and EUR 3,599 (65-inch), and the 43-inch The Frame at EUR 1,499.

Catching the Eyes of IFA Attendees with Enhanced HDR10+ Technologies

Samsung will demonstrate its QLED and HDR10+ TV technologies at the QLED and HDR10 Summit, which is being co-hosted by display market research publisher Insight Media. HDR10+ provides unprecedented picture quality for displays with brightness, color and contrast automatically optimized for each scene. The Summit will detail how with HDR10+ dynamic tone mapping, every scene is individually enhanced to bring-to-life vibrant visuals and colors that allow viewers to enjoy content just the way the filmmaker or director intended.

At the Summit, Samsung will also discuss its new partnership with 20th Century Fox and Panasonic Corporation to create an open, royalty-free dynamic metadata platform for HDR10+. The three companies will form a licensing entity in January 2018 and offer royalty-free metadata to content companies, UHD TV, Blu-ray players/recorders and set-top box manufacturers, as well as SoC (System on Chip) vendors.

“Our goal is always to provide consumers with the best possible viewing experience through the latest technology and innovation,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With our latest advanced HDR10+ technology and QLED TV, we hope to make enhanced picture quality with richer colors and deeper contrast easily accessible to users across a variety of content.”

As discussed in an earlier edition of the THIS IS QLED TV series (Part 2), premium TVs worth more than $1,500 account for just five percent of total TV sales, but have a much larger business impact, accounting for 20 percent of sales revenue and 40 percent of profits.

Attendees at a QLED TV launch event in June 2017, in Brazil, take in the display’s immersive visuals.

Samsung Has Over 40% of Market Share in Most Regions

According to Samsung’s own statistics, Samsung TVs maintained their first place standing in the over-$1,500 global premium TV market in the second quarter of 2017, with more than 40 percent of market share by sales volume in all the major global markets, except China, where it was number one but with around 30 percent market share. Samsung’s market share remained above 40 percent in North America and Europe, the major battlegrounds of the global TV market. Samsung TV also recorded approximately 50 percent market share in Central and South America, and a higher percentage than all other competitors combined in the Middle East, CIS, African and Korean markets.

Samsung launched its flagship premium QLED TV in 2017, starting in North America in March. Samsung’s QLED TV, which combines great picture quality and lifestyle design, has led the outstanding performance of Samsung premium TV all over the world. In particular, Samsung’s share in North America’s high-end TV market, including QLED TVs, has increased sharply over the previous quarter.

Strengthening Samsung’s Premium Image with Glocalization Strategies

Samsung is pursuing local and global strategies which provide customized services tailored to each region while delighting TV consumers around the world with differentiated benefits. Samsung offers a five-year display warranty and a 10-year burn-in guarantee for all 2017 QLED TV products*. This guarantee period is much longer than the usual TV warranty period of one to two years, and stems from Samsung’s confidence in the display durability of its technology in terms of image retention and burn-in.

Additionally, Samsung has added its new “All Care Protection” function this year in hot and humid regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia. This function goes a step further than the existing “Triple Protect” technology which protects the TV against lightning, moisture and abnormal voltage. All Care Protection further enhances the longevity of Samsung’s TVs by preventing dust and insects from getting inside the set.

Samsung is also providing a Connected TV service in Southwest Asia, including India, which enables users to view photos and videos from their smartphones on a large screen TV even without an internet connection. Another new service is Samsung Family TV 2.0 in China, which allows users to send text messages, photos and emoticons to their parents’ TVs via their smartphones using QQ, the country’s top mobile messenger.

Samsung offers a five-year display warranty and a 10-year burn-in guarantee for each of its 2017 QLED TVs.

Expanding Its Selection of Premium TVs

Samsung offers three types of QLED TVs with the Q7, Q8 and Q9 models that come in different shapes (flat and curved) and sizes ranging from 49 to 88 inches. The company plans to provide an even broader selection to global premium TV consumers by expanding the models available in each product line in the second half of the year.

In addition, Samsung’s “The Frame” has recently come onto the global market, equipped with a unique appearance reminiscent of a picture frame and an artificial intelligence (AI)-based display. Alongside the QLED TV, The Frame is leading Samsung’s growth in the premium TV market. The company will unveil more details about its market-leading premium TVs at the IFA 2017 exhibition starting on September 1, 2017, in Germany.

“As we enter the UHD TV era, consumers are demanding a screen wider than 60 inches and a clearer picture without image retention or burn-in,” said Jong seok Choo, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “In the second half of this year, we will expand the QLED TV and The Frame product lines to further strengthen our position in the premium TV market, which is the main battlefield in today’s TV market.”

Seeing Samsung’s The Frame hung on a wall begs the question: Is it a work of art or a television?

*Details of the guarantee for 2017 QLED TVs vary by country, and the policy will gradually be introduced to other countries as the QLED TV is launched in each market.

Samsung has partnered with Dezeen, a leading design and architectural magazine, to call for innovative stand concepts for Samsung’s QLED TV and announce the finalists for Samsung’s first ever global TV accessory design competition. The competition drew more than 1,200 participants from 83 different countries and the competition rate was as high as 80:1.

By making it to this stage of the competition, the 15 shortlisted designs will move on to the next round of judging, from which five designs will make the final cut. The final five will be announced on August 21, with each gaining a cash prize. A total prize of 30,000 euros will be awarded.

In order to participate in the competition, designers submitted their best QLED TV stand designs along with a corresponding strategic business plan.

Extraordinary designs

The competition’s shortlist features a variety of groundbreaking designs, including a TV stand that doubles as a plant pot and another that incorporates a decorative display shelf. Others include a design featuring a counter-weighted pulley system, one inspired by the Danish “hygge” craze and one that doubles as a surfboard stand.

Competition applicants were asked to develop their stand designs with a particular focus on users’ lifestyles in mind. While some of the designs are over-the-top, many that made the shortlist range from simple wooden designs and ceiling-mounted systems intended for minimal homes, to colored glass stands designed to match more luxurious interior décor.

Major showcase

The five finalists will also be invited to IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) 2017, Europe’s leading consumer electronics and home appliance trade show, in Berlin, Germany from September 1 to 6. The top five designs will also be exhibited as part of a special installation at the Samsung booth at the show.

Samsung’s QLED TV is truly a lifestyle TV that gives consumers the freedom to place their television in various living spaces. The QLED TV is currently available in both flat and curved screen models and can be used with a variety of interchangeable stands, including the Gravity and Studio Stands. The QLED TV lineup is the first to standardize its TV stand structures, meaning each stand is compatible for the 55-inch and 65-inch QLED TV models as well as The Frame. These unique stands allow for consumers to customize their living spaces to fit their personal home aesthetic.

“Samsung believes in developing beautifully designed products that provide overall value to our consumers and their unique lifestyles. That’s why we’ve chosen to work with Dezeen to find the next great TV accessory,” said HyunSuk Kim, President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our products are not only about innovative technology alone, but also about enhancing users’ existing home décor.”

To learn more about Dezeen X Samsung and the QLED TV line, please visit the Dezeen and Samsung Websites.

Instead of connecting Steam Link hardware to the TV, this technology enables users to stream their favorite games from their in-home PC directly to their Samsung Smart TVs via an app in the Samsung Smart Hub. If users connect the in-home PC and TV and run a Steam Link game service on their PC, they can play the game on their Samsung Smart TV screen via the Steam Link app.

The Steam Link app, which was previously available as a free beta version in the U.S. market, is now available in 55 countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and Korea. It supports full 4K streaming on 2017 TV models, and allows Samsung Smart TV users to enjoy thousands of PC games through their big-screen TVs.

“We’ve received incredible feedback on our Steam Link feature and are excited to bring it to our consumers around the world,” said Heeman Lee, Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re thrilled that our Smart TVs are helping redefine the PC gaming experience by providing players the opportunity to utilize large-screen displays that deliver true-to-life picture quality.”

Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV models are also highly optimized for gaming. The TVs boast extremely low input and display latency together with the superb image quality of quantum dot technology. Also highly durable, Samsung’s QLED TVs do not suffer from burn-in or image retention issues, even over a prolonged period of game playing.

To learn more about Samsung’s Smart TV offerings and Steam Link, please visit www.samsung.com.

See the graphic below to get a better sense of the 88-inch Q9 QLED TV’s impressive size.

Samsung Electronics announced today the release of its new 88-inch QLED TV, the Q9, in North America and Korea. Having launched in Southeast Asia earlier this year, the Q9 is set to solidify Samsung’s top position in the global ultra-premium TV market. The new model is also scheduled to be released in Europe later this month.

“At Samsung, we are aiming to expand our footprint in the ultra-premium TV market with our ultra-large QLED TV models that embody the perfect combination of technology and art,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With their superior picture quality and innovative features, we are confident that our QLED TV lineup will continue to drive sales and solidify Samsung’s leadership in the global TV market.”

The Q9 features superb picture quality and performance as well as a sleek design developed with consumers’ living spaces in mind. The model was awarded record-high scores by Video Magazin, one of Germany’s most renowned consumer electronics magazines, and praised as ‘a best practice for HDR TV.’

As consumers continue to demand larger screens and premium TVs, Samsung has introduced its 88-inch QLED TV model to the global marketplace to add to its QLED TV lineup, which also includes 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch models.

As the only TV to achieve 100 percent color volume, Samsung QLED TVs reproduce rich and colorful images just as they were intended to be seen using metal quantum dot technology. The QLED TV also offers remarkable brightness and a wide color gamut, which allow the TVs to deliver detailed colors and subtle contrast even at peak brightness.

The QLED TVs Boundless 360 Design helps it elevate the ambience of the various rooms where it is placed, and its 1.88mm, transparent optical cable, known as the Invisible Connection, allows it to be connected to peripheral devices without the typical messy cables. A No Gap Wall-mount completes the QLED TVs flawless design by allowing the screen to be mounted flush against the wall.

The QLED TVs One Remote Control feature enables users to control the TV’s connected devices through a single remote.

In June, Samsung also launched its 82-inch premium UHD TV (MU8000) as part of the brand’s strategy to provide consumers with a wider variety of screen size options.

For more information on the Q9, please visit www.samsung.com.

In April 2017, the market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) made a prediction that the cognitive and artificial intelligence (AI) system market will continue its high growth of a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 54.5 percent by 2020. The characteristics of AI systems such as prediction, recommendation and intelligent assistance are expected to take important roles in creating intelligent services.

These functions of AI are already influencing consumer electronics, especially smartphones and TV products. The convergence of AI and TV is subtle, but it is a trend that is taking place and will continue to develop. Let’s look at the convergence of TV and AI and how it will change the future TV viewing, particularly for Samsung QLED TVs.

For Overwhelming Content, AI Is Necessary

People no longer just view channels provided by TV broadcasters. There are terrestrial networks, cable TV, satellite channels, internet protocol TV (IPTV) and even over the top (OTT) programming, as well as smart TV applications that viewers can choose to watch. Yet no one wants to check all the available options to find a show they might enjoy.

An AI recommendation feature could sort the content for you. AI embedded into the TV could analyze the viewer’s preference and show content that viewers might be interested on the TV screen. The 2017 Samsung QLED TV shows a large choice of content en bloc per service provider on a launcher section that is located on the lower side of the screen. Your favorite channels or services are showed first on the launcher by default and you can also use a voice commend to choose a show to watch.

In the near future, features like prediction and intelligent assistance that the IDC mentioned will be implemented in TVs and change the viewer’s experience. For example, AI can analyze weather conditions, time and issue of the day to offer the best content suited to those variables. Also, intelligent voice recognition in the future will allow conversation with viewers to recommend content depending on age, mood and content preference. These features will enhance TV viewing for everyone.

TV+AI, the Preview of IoT TV

As AI starts to be embedded into TV, viewers can use their TVs in a more convenient way. The 2017 Samsung QLED TV automatically recognizes set-top boxes, game consoles and other peripheral electronics. Instead of using technical terms such as HDMI to show the viewer which device is connected, it uses the product name like Xbox One and its logo. With this intelligent assistance, viewers no longer need complicated settings to use their TVs.

Let’s delve a little further into the examples of more advanced AI TVs. The Intelligent image engine of the Samsung QLED TV analyzes video sources automatically to change the brightness in real-time according to the light intensity. Also, the engine provides an immersive experience to viewers by enhancing perspective and three-dimensional perception.

Samsung’s The Frame which looks like a picture frame for an art, has an intelligent sensor that never existed on other televisions. The motion sensor of this product turns off the screen when there is no one around and it turns on the screen when someone comes near the TV. Furthermore, the brightness sensor automatically sets the brightness for the screen, which smoothly matches to surrounding ambient light sources.

TVs with the intelligent sensors are the previews of the future internet of things (IoT) -enabled TV. The IoT TV will optimize brightness, sound system and other features according to content characteristics such as movies and sports. In the morning, your TV could recognize your motion to control lights, blinds, air conditioner and other electronics.

Samsung plans to add IoT compatibility to all its TV products by the end of this year. In 2020, all Samsung products will become IoT-ready. Samsung’s anticipative investment towards AI and IoT will drastically change home entertainment and provide a whole new TV experience to viewers.

A big screen TV is one of the most talked-about items among Korean consumers as well. On Korean online communities, many consumers show excitement for home theater and indicate that they would prefer to stay home and watch 4K movies, instead of going to a movie theater. Others think that construction companies will soon start to sell apartments with a 100-inch or larger TV installed on a wall.

TVs Are Getting Bigger

There is an emerging trend toward larger TVs in the global market. According to several research firms, the average TV size around the world has reached larger than 40-inches as of 2016. That is the biggest average TV size in the history of the market. By 2020, that number is expected to increase to the high forties. The trend is even clearer in some places, such as North America and China. In fact, the average TV size in those markets is expected to be close to 50-inches by then.

Big screen TVs, 50-inch and larger products, are becoming a major trend among consumers worldwide. A quarter of TVs sold in the global market last year were in this category, making up more than half of the total sales. Indeed, the big buck is going toward big screen TVs.

UHD Era Means Going Even Bigger

In 2015, Samsung Newsroom published the article, ‘Hot tips for buying a cool TV’, where we talked about TV size and viewing distance. The best size of a Full HD (FHD) TV is calculated by multiplying 25 by the viewing distance. As for Ultra HD (UHD) TV, multiply by 39. For instance, if the viewing distance is 2 meters, a 78-inch UHD TV is the best choice.

Why should a UHD TV be 1.5 times bigger than a FHD TV? There is a big difference in resolution. A UHD TV has 8 times higher resolution than an HD TV, and 4 times that of a FHD TV. In other words, the number of pixels on an UHD TV is a lot higher than an HD or FHD TV. That is why TV viewers can enjoy clearer images with richer colors that look almost like a real image on a UHD TV without their eyes getting tired easily.

Samsung, the Major Player Leading the Home Theater Era

Samsung has played a leading role in the large screen TV industry for a while. A decade ago from today, it has already launched the 50-inch LCD TV in 2006, and sold the world’s first 70-inch LCD TV in 2007.

As a pioneer of the big screen TV trend, Samsung has recorded a solid market share in the global large screen TV market. According to market research firm NPD, 47.6 percent of 60-inch and larger TVs sold in in the U.S. during the first quarter was a Samsung product¹. The company also recorded that a very similar numerical value in market share was made in the European markets, solidifying Samsung’s position as a leader in the global premium TV market.

Samsung launched the world’s first 70-inch LCD TV and LCD display in 2007. At the time, the TV was about 59 million won (about 51,000 USD)

Samsung’s efforts continue this year as it launches a variety of big screen TV products, giving the consumer an ever wider selection to choose from. Samsung recently launched the 82-inch 2017 UHD TV after introducing 49, 55, 65, and 75 inch models previously. Samsung also launched its 55 and 65-inch QLED TV, Samsung’s premium TV model, followed by a 75-inch version in May. In August, Samsung plans to launch an 88-inch Q9 QLED TV, a model that will lead the big screen market.

“Samsung’s big screen TV products are ahead of their competitors,” said HS Kim, the President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “They are made with the highest ranked technology in the industry and feature design elements that blend in with our lifestyle, giving consumers a whole new home theater experience that they have never seen before.”

The Samsung QLED TV 75-inch models – the Q8, Q9 and Q7

¹The NPD Group, Inc., Retail Tracking Service, U.S., Color Television, Based on dollar volume sales, Jan 2017 – Mar 2017

Samsung Electronics GmbH has launched a campaign with German soccer star Oliver Kahn to promote its smart TVs ahead of the start of the upcoming soccer season. Oliver Kahn, the former goalkeeper, football expert and entrepreneur, is the new face of Samsung’s QLED TV, and representative of the new ways in which sports fans can enjoy the digital soccer experience, right from the comfort of their living room.

In addition to serving as brand ambassador for Samsung, Kahn features in his new Goalplay app available exclusively on Samsung’s QLED TVs. The app helps users discover soccer content across a range of sources on the TV, from broadcast to streaming video on demand (VOD). It also offers insights from Kahn such as goalkeeping tips and match analysis.

With true-to-life picture quality, a beautiful design that provides both an ambient viewing experience and the freedom to be put wherever users want it, as well as smart features that make accessing and discovering content easier, the QLED TV was built with the user’s lifestyle in mind. Exclusive content such as Goalplay only adds to these features, opening up even more possibilities for the future of TV entertainment.

“The QLED TV’s Smart Hub interface is one of the most mature on the market, and the One Remote Control makes navigating the platform incredibly intuitive,“ said Oliver Kahn, CEO of Goalplay. “As someone who enjoys watching television, I find this to be a key criterion in addition to picture quality and design. That’s why I decided to launch my new app exclusively on Samsung’s QLED TVs.”

The Goalplay app will be launched on Samsung’s QLED TVs from the beginning of 2017/18 season in Germany this summer.

Source : Germany Newsroom

“With the “See the Unexpected” series, we wanted to showcase the unique talents of these athletes against some of the most beautiful backdrops and locations in the world,” said Sunghee Han, Vice President of Samsung’s Visual Display business. “When watching the video series on Samsung QLED TVs, which are able to produce 100 percent color volume, viewers can witness the incredible detail, vibrant colors and every frame of the action in the best picture quality available.”

The “See the Unexpected” video series features Red Bull athletes including parkour athlete, Jason Paul, motorcyclist Robbie Maddison and wakeboarder Felix Georgii. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Jason Paul is world-class free runner who spends his time travelling the world, turning cities into playgrounds. Paul was named Red Bull’s Art of Motion champion from 2010 to 2012. Robbie Maddison, born in Australia, holds the world record for the highest jump in motorcycling and has also won the Best Stunt with a Vehicle honor at the Taurus World Stunt Awards in 2013 for his work in the film “Skyfall.” Felix Georgii, born in Germany, is pushing the boundaries of wakeboarding by focusing on hitting gnarly rails and ledges.

With Morocco serving as the backdrop in the video series, the athletes took their talents to “unexpected” places to perform various high-action maneuvers, with locations including Chefchaouen, known as the “Blue City” for its vibrant color, a swimming pool in Marrakech and a port city named Essaouira. Each location was selected to highlight the juxtaposition between the unique and colorful locations of Morocco with the impeccable talents of each athlete and their performances.

Through the partnership, Samsung and Red Bull are aiming to showcase uncharted destinations and share new and surprising action that normally wouldn’t take place in these locations. In bringing together the best in extreme sports and the best in picture quality, viewers are able to see first-hand the top-quality performance of Samsung’s premium televisions, as well as the capabilities and talent of Red Bull athletes.

“Working with two of the world’s most elite brands in such an amazing location has been a highlight of my career,” stated Red Bull athlete, Robbie Maddison. “We took an incredible adventure and produced some amazing content that I’m honored to share. Playing sports in unusual locations was very surreal and it’s been a dream to collaborate with other elite athletes like Felix and Jason to create this visual masterpiece in the best quality available.”

The videos, along with a 30-minute documentary piece, will launch on Samsung’s TV Plus channel, as well as Samsung and Red Bull digital channels on June 29. Customers who visit select Samsung retail locations can view the four-minute “See the Unexpected” video on Samsung’s large-scale QLED TV screen.

To learn more about Samsung televisions, please visit www.samsung.com. To learn more about Red Bull, visit www.redbull.com.

Samsung Electronics’ new QLED TVs provide insight what makes for a great gaming TV, for example being free from the troublesome issue of image retention (commonly referred to as “burn-in”) which can occur after longtime game play. Here are the specific requirements that make for a great gaming TV:

Free from Image Retention (Burn-In)

One of the serious problems plaguing gamers is image retention. Image retention is a phenomenon that occurs when a static image gets imprinted on a TV screen after being displayed for an extended period. When this imprint becomes permanent, it is then referred to as “burn-in.” As a well-known consumer tech publication RTINGS has pointed out, it is a problem for gamers because they often have parts of the screen that are static, which are more likely to cause burn-in.

While image retention is not an issue for QLED TVs, OLED TVs where each pixel is individually controlled continue to suffer from the problem. Since a thread on OLED screen’s burn-in problem was posted on AVS Forum, an online community and platform focused on home-based audio and video entertainment, there were hundreds of postings actively discussing issues of image retention. For OLED, each pixel has different lifespans because they are lit individually. The longer the pixel is turned on, the shorter its lifespan, compromising the brightness of the light and causing part of the image to be retained.

Recently, articles, images, and videos on OLED TV burn-in are easily found on Google, AVS Forums and other online outlets.

High Peak Luminance

OLED TVs provide a high contrast due to their ability to render deep blacks in a dark room. However, while this quality may be an attractive option for watching movies in darkness, it is less of a concern for gamers. Unlike people who primarily use their TVs to watch movies, gamers tend to use their devices in rooms with some ambient lighting.  QLED TVs on the other hand offer better performance in terms of peak luminance. Most OLED TVs offer peak luminance levels in the 600-700 nit range while QLEDs can get significantly brighter, with the latest models reaching 1500 nits and even 2000 nits.

Low Input Lag (Latency)

Input lag is the delay between performing an action (pressing a button or moving a joystick) to the intended affect occurring on screen. When measuring input lag, a high number means the more sluggish the game will feel, especially first-person shooter or racing games. Too much latency can literally kill your videogame character if the TV is too slow to process the action. Samsung QLED TVs consistently deliver the lowest input lag, with times measuring between 20ms and 25ms once Game mode has been engaged whereas current-generation OLEDs are hampered by high input lag when compared to QLED displays.

Enhanced Color Volume

Many video games are more colorful than movies, so gamers should look for TVs that can provide enhanced color volume for better picture quality. QLED TVs can provide higher levels of color saturation in highlights compared to OLED TVs. Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV unveiled at CES 2017 received verification from world-class testing and certification association, Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker (VDE), for its ability to produce 100 percent color volume, meaning it can capture even the subtlest differences in color pertaining to brightness.

Game-specific Optimization

Additionally, Samsung has also made it easier for users to activate Game Mode – a feature that optimizes image settings when connected to a PC or a game console by disabling the standard image processing the TV normally performs and allows the game itself to adjust the settings to provide the best picture for that game. Previously, Game Mode was buried deep in the user menu, making it difficult to activate. Samsung’s 2017 models have made it more accessible, placing it within the Picture menu.

At Samsung, we strive to deliver products that reflect a consumer’s lifestyle. For gamers, we are proud to create a variety of QLED TVs that meet their needs and provide crisp, bright and colorful images for the next generation of video games.

The top five finalists of the “Dezeen X Samsung QLED TV: Stand Design Competition” will be invited to Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) 2017, Europe’s leading consumer electronics and home appliance trade show, held from September 1 to September 4 in Berlin, Germany.

These designs will be produced into real stands, which will be exhibited as part of a special installation at IFA 2017 in the Samsung booth. The grand prize winner of the competition will be announced at IFA and will be awarded an 8,000 euro prize.

“We want to give everyone, including our consumers, the opportunity to show off their creativity and help us design the next big TV accessory,” said HS.Kim, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung’s ultimate vision is to create an open platform for designers all over the world where they can showcase their ingenuity through unique stand designs that fit into a variety of home environments.”

Samsung’s QLED TV is a true lifestyle TV that gives consumers the freedom to place their television anywhere in their home. The QLED TV’s revolutionary design elements address consumer pain points in order to create technology that fits within each individual home regardless of the design aesthetic.

Last month, Samsung announced the rollout of its recently released QLED TV accessories, including the Gravity and Studio stands, as well as its innovative Invisible Connection, a transparent optical cable designed to eliminate the previously messy setup of televisions. These diverse stands allow for individual customization, while the optical cable allows users to remove clutter and reclaim their living space.

Samsung’s QLED TV lineup was the first in the world to standardize its TV stand structures, making them compatible for both the 55-inch and 65-inch QLED TV models as well as The Frame. Starting with these products, Samsung aims to expand the TV accessory market.

With over 13 million unique monthly views and 2.8 million active subscribers, Dezeen is one of the largest online design publications. The outlet’s primary audience is architecture and design professionals as well as knowledgeable technology and design consumers.

Participants in the competition are required to submit an innovative rendering and 3D drawing of their design and tactical business plan for their TV stand. The application and submission process will be conducted through the Dezeen website.

To download an application and learn more about Dezeen X Samsung, please visit www.dezeen.com.