In line with this goal of seamless connections, Samsung has expanded the hyperconnected experience by partnering with Signify, formerly known as Philips Lighting, to incorporate the Philips Hue Sync TV app into Samsung TVs. These technologies work in perfect harmony to make content more immersive and add a cinematic quality to any home theater set up.

To dive deeper into the collaboration, Samsung Newsroom sat down with AJ Cho from the CX team at the Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics and Yoojin Hong, Product Marketer of Hue at Signify Korea, to share insights into the partnership’s origin and setup tips to optimize your home entertainment experience.

▲ Philips Hue, synced with Samsung QLED TV, offers an immersive viewing experience that transcends the screen

Industry Leaders Create the Ultimate Entertainment Experience

The partnership between Samsung and Signify goes back to 2020. Philips Hue, known for its smart lighting system that allows users to adjust brightness and color, had just launched the Play HDMI Sync Box in 2019.

“We noticed how the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box could sync lighting with the brightness and color according to the content being played on the screen. This significantly enhanced the viewing experience in a way we had never seen before,” said Cho. “At that moment, we knew we wanted to partner with Signify for a collaboration that would make our two products as cohesive as possible.”

“With years of research into lighting’s impact on human perception and psychology, Philips developed Hue, a sophisticated and intelligent lighting system offering not just adjustable brightness and color temperature, but also a spectrum of 16 million colors,” said Hong. “Teaming up with Samsung, a market leader in TV manufacturing, allowed us to take full advantage of our advanced lighting system. It was clear to me that this collaboration would lead to innovative solutions in home entertainment.”

▲ AJ Cho from the CX team at the Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics (left) and Yoojin Hong, Product Marketer of Hue at Signify Korea

As a result of this partnership, Samsung TVs were the first in the world to support the Philips Hue Sync TV application. Now, when Philips Hue is paired with a Samsung TV,¹ the content is not just on the screen. It envelopes the entire room with lighting that harmonizes with each scene in real-time.

It’s also never been easier to set up. Simply install the app from the app store, attach the light to the back of your TV and pair the light to the TV. The light can be paired with the TV without a separate sync box, instead leveraging the Samsung Smart TV platform.

▲ Philps Hue Play Gradient Lightstrip attached to the back of a TV. The Philips Hue Sync TV app eliminates the need for a separate Sync Box, allowing for a cleaner and easier setup

“Previously, the Sync Box synchronized the lights only via the HDMI cable. In contrast, the Philips Hue Sync TV app allows content and the lights to sync. This means our consumers can enjoy this feature with everything from streaming services to video games,” said Cho. “It’s not only easy to install but also keeps the TV setup clean, with no need for additional cables.”

Smart Lighting Enhances Gaming, Movies, Live Sports and Much More

The Philips Hue Sync TV app supports a wide variety of content, including both game and video mode. The app will automatically use lighting optimized for the game you’re playing or the video you’re watching, synchronized in real-time to the content.

▲ An on/off comparison of Philips Hue Sync (Game Mode) on a Samsung QLED TV

“I strongly recommend using the lights on game mode, which provides immersive lighting based on the genre of the game you’re playing,” said Cho. “Whether it’s a simulation, FPS(First-Person Shooting), or racing game, the extra lighting pulls you in. Players can adjust the intensity of the light based on their preference as well for a highly customized experience.”

▲ An on/off comparison of Philips Hue Sync (Video Mode) on a Samsung QLED TV

Philips Hue also works well with movies or television shows. Cho’s personal favorite is pairing it with a horror movie. “Switching to Video mode with a horror movie transforms the room, immersing the viewer in a chilling, ominous atmosphere that truly elevates the viewing experience.”

▲ An on/off comparison of Philips Hue Sync on a Samsung Smart Monitor

Avid sports fans will also appreciate the synergy between Samsung TV Plus² and Philips Hue. This combination became especially exciting with the recent launch of the FIFA+ channel³ on Samsung TV Plus. Samsung TV Plus is Samsung’s free, ad-supported streaming TV service. The FIFA+ channel features an extensive collection of FIFA Originals, archives, and highlights from both men’s and women’s soccer.

Cho noted, “Using Philips Hue truly enhances the thrill of watching a game at home. Paired with superior sound and picture quality, the TV and the lighting combination creates a stadium-like atmosphere right in your living room.”

Maximizing Realism in Home Entertainment With Philips Hue

There are a number of key factors which influence how immersive content on screen can be. While the significance of picture and sound quality cannot be overstated, Hong believes that lighting might be the final piece needed to elevate the overall experience.

▲ Philips Hue Sync TV app, available on compatible Samsung Smart TVs, helps automatically sync the smart lighting according to various types of content displayed on the screen including videos and games

“Philips Hue harmonizes with Samsung Smart TV, adjusting its colors in real-time to reflect on-screen content and maximizing a sense of realism on screen,” said Hong. “Whether it’s a movie, TV show, or gaming, Philips Hue is able to precisely catch the changes on screen, intensifying the immersion of the content.”

Find the Perfect Philips Hue Setup for Your Samsung TV

Philips Hue offers a wide lineup of options to suit any home theater set up. Based on their experience, Cho and Hong have handpicked specific Philips Hue products designed to optimize the viewing experience.

▲ Philips Hue Play Gradient Lightstrip (left) and Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Tube (right)

Cho selected the Philips Hue Play Gradient Lightstrip, which can be attached to the back of a TV. “Similar to the way different colors are mixed to make the perfect shade of paint, this light strip uses different shades of light to create the desired ambience,” said Cho. “With its 45-degree beam angle and seamless connectivity, the Play Gradient Lightstrip allows your content and lights to be perfectly in sync.”

Hong prefers the Philips Hue Play Gradient Light Tube. “It’s versatile, easy to install anywhere around the TV, and its greatest strength lies in its customization,” said Hong. “The light tube can be rotated up to 340 degrees, allowing you to direct the lights precisely where you need it in any setup.”

¹ The Philips Hue Sync app is available on Samsung Neo QLED and QLED TV models Q60 and above released after 2022. A software update is planned for Q70B and Q700B 2022 models to support the app by the end of 2023.
² Samsung TV Plus is a free, go-to source for entertainment and sport, available to Samsung Smart TV, Mobile and Tablet customers. Samsung TV models manufactured after 2016 and mobile devices with access to Android 8.0 or higher will have Samsung TV Plus already built in. If your device is compatible, you will be able to download it directly from the Galaxy and Google Play store. Samsung TV Plus is available on Samsung Family Hub refrigerators and the web on select regions.
³ Samsung TV Plus is only available in South Korea, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Brazil and Mexico. The mobile app is only available in South Korea, United States, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria and India.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

▲ (From left) Taejin Hong and Woomin Lee of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display TV Product Planning CX Team

Every day, Samsung Electronics’ engineers and product planners work together to the end of creating products that are as fresh as they are innovative and groundbreaking. Their mission is no simple one: to introduce new ideas and advancements in technology while raising the bar, year after year.

Since the first introduction of the flagship QLED TV in 2017, Samsung’s product planners have been responsible for the introduction of countless innovations, ideas and partnerships with the goal of bringing users the tailored, true-to-life viewing experiences they expect.

As Samsung celebrates its 15^th year as the number one global TV leader, no product better demonstrates cutting-edge product innovation of the company’s teams quite like the 2021 Neo QLED. In order to learn more about the development of the 2021 Neo QLED lineup, Samsung Global Newsroom sat down with two members of Samsung Visual Display’s TV Product Planning CX team, Taejin Hong and Woomin Lee.

Innovation That Understands the User

“Consumers expect new and exciting products every year, but there is a lot of competition out there,” noted Hong. “Many brands have TVs that are of the same size as Samsung’s, and also claim to have many of the same features and resolution, so central to our product development is breaking through the competition by really focusing on providing the most optimized user experiences for our Neo QLED lineup,” he added.

Central, then, to the teams’ QLED strategy direction is the user. “Recently, we have seen a dramatic shift in what consumers are looking and asking for,” highlighted Hong. “Users are moving away from specs and feeds to upgrades that are centered around personalized viewing experiences, design, and true-to-life picture quality.”

In order to realize this, both Hong and Lee stressed that timely feedback from real users as well as the market at large is critical. “It is so important for us to receive timely input and feedback from our customers, retailers, and behavioral experts in order for us to fully understand the most up-to-date TV trends,” noted Lee. “For our 2021 lineup, we focused on developing a new viewing experience that reflects the challenging and unprecedented times of late, one that is centered around hyper-personalized screens.”

Incorporating the New Normal Into TV Development

Not only has the recent global situation completely transformed the way users are interacting with their TVs, but it has also had an effect on the way TV product planning is carried out. “Traditionally, large trade shows such as CES and IFA serve as perfect opportunities for us to gather industry feedback, while in-person sales provide on-site consumer feedback,” explained Hong. “Since both of these opportunities have been off the table since early last year, we had to create a new internal meeting system that is both timely and agile enough to provide us with feedback from various regional offices regarding their local situations. This system incorporates touchpoints with vendors, partners, retailers, and customers, and allows us to easily communicate with all those on-site and helps us respond effectively to the changing landscape.”

Since its launch in 2017, the QLED lineup has taken the premium TV market by the storm. Last year, QLED sales reached 7.79 million units, accounting for 35.5% of total Samsung TV sales. The company’s 2021 Neo QLED lineup, recently launched across various regions throughout March and April, has also provided valuable insight for the planning teams. “In Korea alone, our Neo QLED TV sales have reached 20,000 units in under two months since product launch,” said Lee. “This speaks volumes to the importance of market research and timely consumer feedback.”

This new way of working, of course, comes with as many challenges as it does opportunities. “The number of meetings and calls we have held with regional product managers, retailers, and engineers around the world has more than doubled in the past year,” highlighted Hong. “Further to this, we have been actively carrying out surveys and research into our consumers and their ever-changing TV usage habits.” But this hard work has paid off, as noted by Hong: “The pandemic has been a challenge for all, but it has also provided us with a valuable opportunity to look back at what truly matters for both us and our users.”

Harnessing Teamwork to Adapt to the Latest Trends

There is no denying that mainstream consumer TVs are becoming larger in size and that the standards for picture quality are becoming higher than ever before. However, the recent shifts in TV and behavioral trends have seen Samsung’s product planners lean towards developing hyper-personalized screens able to fit into individual consumer lifestyles.

“The past few years have been a period of introspection for a lot of people and self-improvement has become the force driving many purchases around the world,” said Lee. “According to a Salesforce report, 5 out of 10 consumers responded that they would consider swapping out a product for a different brand if it doesn’t deliver a truly personalized experience.”

But this change in behavioral trends has not resulted in a complete transformation of the team’s strategy planning. “Picture quality and design have been our top priorities since the launch of our first TV, and changing consumer usage patterns, along with the increased need to provide a one-of-a-kind experience, are what ultimately led to the creation of this year’s Neo QLED lineup,” explained Lee.

Samsung’s Neo QLED 43-inch model was also created through this multifaceted way of thinking. “Initially, we had not considered developing any sizes below 55 inches for the QLED lineup given the industry trend that saw consumers embracing larger screen models,” noted Hong. “However, following a study we undertook, we learned that there is also a growing demand for ‘second’ screens and more personalized screens used within office settings as well as family and gaming settings.”

According to the study undertaken by Samsung, the advent of the ‘new normal’ that has seen consumers spending more and more time at home has seemed to accelerate different consumer TV use cases and there has been an uptick in interest in smaller screens. “We have seen an increased demand for smaller and medium-sized screens,” said Lee. “But when it comes to developing these smaller TVs, it is not just a question of simply shrinking the size. Every piece of engineering must be adjusted for a differently-shaped model, and everything from the supply chain to the production line must be customized for each product.” In the end, teamwork brought it all together: “We quickly got together with the engineering team and started developing the smaller flagship models for release this year – teamwork at its finest!”

Developing Neo QLED to Be the Ultimate Entertainment Hub

“Another exciting trend we have noticed since the beginning of 2020 is that a lot of people are playing more games, be it on their mobile, computer or on their TV,” noted Hong. According to a recent report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), there are approximately 214 million gamers in the U.S. alone, with 75% of households having at least one member actively playing games on a regular basis.

“Gaming has become a fun group activity during the pandemic, particularly for those looking to connect with others,” highlighted Hong. “Naturally, we incorporated this trend into our latest products to provide a one-of-a-kind gaming experience. Such dedicated features on the 2021 Neo QLED include Super Ultra-wide Game View and the all-new Game Bar gaming interface – all while maintaining one of the lowest input lags in each TV category.”

Hong, in particular, is a fan of these game-centric additions to the QLED lineup. “Personally, I enjoy the Super Ultra-wide Game View feature, which enables gamers to experience ultra-wide gaming. It is a feature completely new to TVs with its 21:9 and 32:9 aspect ratios, and this expanded field of view is great for finding hidden items or discovering enemies lurking in the corner while gaming.”

Maintaining the Samsung Legacy of Superior Picture Quality and Design

Both Hong and Lee agree that the latest Neo QLED lineup would be nothing without the past 15 years of display innovation. “At the end of the day, the QLED’s new features and product differentiation strategy wouldn’t lead to much without our solid foundation in picture quality and design,” highlighted Hong.

Lee, who has led QLED usage studies in global markets, agreed that this was a universal trend that continues to guide consumer choice. “The Neo QLED lineup is a product that reflects a meticulous study of user behaviors and priorities,” he noted. “We realize that there are many factors to consider when looking to purchase a new TV, but at the end of the day, it is the superb image quality and sleek design offered by Samsung TVs that provide the most satisfaction to our customers.”

The Neo QLED line represents the very latest iteration of this foundational excellence. “In particular, our Neo QLED TVs are equipped with Quantum Matrix Technology and Neo Quantum Processors, which enhance the picture quality through cutting-edge upscaling technology that harness Quantum Mini LEDs that are 1/40 the size of conventional LEDs,” explained Lee. “These technologies are a culmination of the industry’s peak technological advancements all working together to bring unrivaled picture quality to users in any viewing environment.”

The innovative Quantum Mini LEDs featured in the 2021 Neo QLED lineup in fact played a very important role in design upgrades. “It is only fitting that, with such stunning picture quality and immersive audio experiences, we would also look to enhance the TV’s design,” explained Hong. “Due to the size of the Quantum Mini LEDs, we were able to modify the TV’s form factor to possess a slim and minimalistic design. It is a modern accent piece suited for any interior, all thanks to Samsung’s engineering mastery.”

Looking to 2022 – and Beyond

“I think the fact that we have been able to win over consumers for the past 15 years is a testament to Samsung’s dedication and commitment to developing products that are in line with consumers’ needs,” noted Lee. “In particular, ever since the introduction of our QLED lineup in 2017, we have seen a rapid increase in market share in the premium TV segment, which we are very proud of.”

Based on the success of Neo QLED, Samsung’s TV product planning team is in the midst of developing yet another impressive and groundbreaking product lineup for 2022. “There is truly never a dull moment during the development cycle,” noted Lee. “We are already very excited for our 2022 lineup, and we hope that it will see us extend our No. 1 title in the global TV market through 2022 for a 16-year streak.”

With its innovative television solutions, Samsung, the leader of the global TV market for the past 15 straight years, is realizing ‘A Better Normal’ in users’ actual lives. In part two of this series, Samsung Newsroom looks at how global trends and innovative products like Samsung’s television line-up have come to shape the very ways consumers live their lives.

How Lifestyle TVs Reflect Our Distinct Lives

Contemporary users spend a lot of time with their TVs. Thus, it is important that they select a TV that is a match for their individual lifestyle. According to its product development philosophy, which prioritizes ‘respect for all users’ preferences’, Samsung has developed innovations in fields ranging from screen design to user experience. And with Samsung opening the door to an era of more flexible and customizable lifestyle televisions, users no longer need to match their lifestyles to their TVs.

One initial aspect that Samsung analyzed was distinct patterns across different generations and lifestyles. A variety of lifestyles were taken into consideration in order to develop products that would fit a range of needs. For example, The Sero, a Samsung TV capable of alternating between vertical and horizontal orientation, was launched to meet the needs of a Millennial generation that enjoys consuming mobile content. Likewise, The Serif, a TV with an iconic design, was developed to satisfy those who value aesthetic appeal. The Frame, a TV that can be hung like a piece of artwork, is for those who prioritize artistic appeal.

The Premiere, an ultra-short throw (UST) projector which transforms the home into a theater, is another case in point. This industry’s first triple laser projector with 4K resolution and Smart TV UI delivers a remarkable in-home cinema viewing experience. Samsung went even further in meeting a range of diverse user needs with The Terrace, an outdoor TV that allows users to expand their home entertainment experiences to the outdoors.

Bigger is Better: The Trends Behind the Evolution of Premium TVs

Formerly minor facets of our lives like home training, telecommuting, and remote learning have become major parts of our regular routines recently. As we are required to spend more time indoors, more people are both working and playing from home, making our screens our windows to the wider world. Thus, more and more users have been investing in larger screens and premium televisions, with the popularization of various OTT services also contributing to this. Last year, experts forecasted that sales of large-screen TVs (over 75” in size) and 8K-resolution TVs would rise by 22% and 118% respectively this year.¹

Samsung Electronics took this trend into account too, diversifying its QLED TV model lineup to include 85, 75, 65, and 55-inch options. To further satisfy users with diverse expectations of large-screen TV functionality, Samsung also implemented 8K maximum resolution on the televisions and maintained a keen emphasis on sound quality. In particular, Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound (OTS) technology, a dynamic sound feature that corresponds to the movement of objects on screen, allows users to experience more realistic sounds while consuming their content. To further deliver optimized gaming performance, Samsung has also partnered with AMD to develop the first TVs with Freesync Premium Pro support for both PC and console games in its 2021 Neo QLED and QLED lineup.

These days users can experience the very best in displays from the comfort of their homes. For instance, the MICRO LED 110” model that Samsung unveiled in December 2020 breaks new ground in the premium display domain by showing users just how attractive a large-screen TV can be. The MICRO LED uses micrometer-sized LED lights to eliminate the backlight and color filters utilized in conventional displays. It is self-illuminating, producing stunningly lifelike colors and brightness through its 24 million individually controlled LEDs. The display’s Monolith design, defined by its screen-to-body ratio of over 99%, additionally allows it to fit naturally anywhere in the home. The new Multi View feature, which allows users to watch up to four different content sources simultaneously, is also available on Samsung’s MICRO LEDs.

Eco-Friendly – From Manufacturing to Disposal

When it comes to the environment, Samsung has adopted eco-friendly policies that cover the lifecycle of its TV products, beginning with the manufacturing stage. The use of recycled plastic materials has been applied to certain products in the manufacturing process, and the company’s Eco-Packaging, which sees previously discarded packaging materials upcycled, has been implemented. First used for 2020 lifestyle TVs, Samsung is now extending this packaging scheme to the entire 2021 TV lineup.

The company has also introduced Solar Cell Remote Controls, which can be recharged by indoor light, outdoor light or via USB. These remote controls will be featured with all 2021 Neo QLED models, removing the need for disposable batteries.

Samsung’s ‘Screens Everywhere, Screens for All’ vision aims to not only provide the best screen experience for all users, but to contribute to realizing a sustainable future. Looking forward, Samsung Electronics will continue working to provide optimal display solutions and create people-centered innovations while catering to ever-changing environments and trends.

¹ Market research firm OMDIA forecasted that, in 2021, shipments of large-screen TVs (over 75” in size) would reach 7.62 million units, a 22% increase over the 6.27 million units last year. It also predicted that 8K TV shipments would reach 571 thousand units in 2021, surpassing the 262 thousand units in 2020.

From black and white to color, analog to digital, and digital to smart TVs­—Samsung Electronics has been there for all the key historic moments in the development of the television. Over time, Samsung has established itself as a global television leader by applying innovative technologies and staying a step ahead when it comes to identifying global lifestyle trends.

And Samsung’s innovation hasn’t slowed in 2021. Even in the unprecedented era of the global pandemic, the company recorded a revenue-based TV market share of 31.9%¹ in 2020. This was the highest figure the company had ever recorded, and means that Samsung has retained its number one spot in the global TV market for the 15^th consecutive year. In this two-part series, Samsung Newsroom will explore the legacy of Samsung TVs, which have long been pioneers in the sector.

A History of Excellence

Samsung released its initial ‘world’s first’ television in 1998 with the launch of its 55-inch projection TV. The company’s initial securing of this title was partially brought about by its helping to lead the global transition from analog to digital television.

Samsung went on to further change the game by releasing its LCD TV in the early 2000s. Around this time the company successfully popularized wall-mountable LCD TVs, leading to the inception of the golden age of LCD TVs. Samsung also launched a 46-inch (116cm) LCD TV—which was then the largest in the industry—and consequently altered the approach of an industry that had not been focused on large-screen TVs up to then. The 46-inch LCD TV, which cost more than USD 13,000 back then, was widely welcomed and helped spur the success of LCD TVs.

Samsung’s Bordeaux LCD TV, naturally portraying the tones of a fine wine

The Bordeaux LCD TV, released by Samsung in 2006, is another example that shows how innovation-based, outside-the-box thinking has changed the face of the sector forevermore. Developers began to question the long-term feasibility of thick, heavy, vacuum-tube-based televisions and instead started to dream of TVs that were lightweight and aesthetically sophisticated. The Bordeaux TV was the result, with its sales numbers exceeding one million in the first six months of its release. The Bordeaux TV featured a speaker that was relocated from both sides of the TV to the bottom, and highlighted its sophistication with a crimson color and curved edges. In addition to marking the launch of the Bordeaux TV, 2006 was also the first time in the company’s history that Samsung ranked first in the global television market. The company has continued to hold that position for 15 consecutive years, and still holds it today.

The Commitment to Realizing the Best Definition Ever Seen

Aiming to provide the absolute best experience to its television users, Samsung has maintained a keen commitment to improving image resolution. In a time of constantly changing lifestyle patterns and an ever-expanding pool of content, true technological innovation remains a primary driving force when it comes to retaining the TV industry’s top spot.

Samsung’s LED TV, which received attention for its innovative, integrated technologies

At CES 2009, Samsung introduced the beginning of the LED TV era. The company’s LED televisions used light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are semiconductor-based light sources that emit light when current flows through them, to realize very clear image resolution. About 50 engineers worked for around two years to completely redesign all components of the TV, obtaining more than 3,000 patents as they worked to realize the potential of LED TV technology. The resulting televisions would go on to distinguish themselves by creating a whole new domain for the industry.

Samsung’s QLED TV, first introduced at CES 2017

Samsung’s QLED TV, which achieved 100 percent color volume for the first time in the industry, is another product that reached the peak of screen technology. In 2017, Samsung released this next-generation television, which was based on quantum dot (QLED) technology. The TV takes quantum dot technology to new heights with advancements in light efficiency, stability and a wider color spectrum. At this time, Samsung emphasized that it would be creating a new standard for the global TV market in accordance with its slogan, ‘The Next Innovation In TV.’

Samsung revealed its 2021 Neo QLED, a whole new display technology, during its First Look event ahead of CES 2021. Neo QLED is underpinned by Quantum Mini LED technology, which features LEDs that are 1/40^th the height of conventional LEDs and are precisely controlled by Samsung’s own Quantum Matrix Technology and Neo Quantum Processor, a powerful picture processor with enhanced upscaling capabilities. Thus, Samsung, which has remained a step ahead when it comes to introducing future display technology, continues to lead the global TV sector while further strengthening its unique position in the market.

Reflecting Users’ Tastes – The Inception of the ‘Era of Smart’ 

After leading the global TV market for 15 consecutive years, Samsung’s innovations have come to transform users’ lifestyles and daily routines too. As more and more users gained the ability to handpick the content they wanted to watch, Samsung launched the Samsung TV App Store in 2010. In particular, the app provided a variety of high-quality local content for different countries, which helped to expand viewer pools. By developing the app according to the viewing preferences of each region and accentuating content like sports, movies, and cooking, Samsung helped make the viewing experience more enjoyable and further advanced its leadership.

Samsung has also been offering its Samsung TV Plus² service since the service’s launch in 2015. Samsung TV Plus is the company’s free Smart TV video service, which provides instant access to news, sports, entertainment and more. The service has now been expanded to 12 countries, bringing access to over 60 million Samsung Smart TVs.

Samsung, which has always been ahead of the pack when it comes to making our societies smarter, will continue to put the users first by allowing them to select what they want to consume and catering its offerings to their tastes. As it continues to demonstrate the power of content, Samsung is planning to further expand its Smart TV experiences by increasing the number of countries where it can provide its services, as well as reinforcing its cooperation with broadcasting companies and content providers from around the world.

¹ January 2021 data released by market research firm Omdia

² Samsung TV Plus is currently available in select regions including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Korea, Australia, and Brazil. Service availability may vary by region and product.

Samsung Electronics shared its vision for the future at the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The company introduced new products at its virtual press conference, showing how it’s continuing to innovate by creating solutions that are flexible, intelligently connected, and use AI to understand context to make daily life seamless.

“Our world looks different, and many of you have been faced with a new reality–one where, among other things, your home has taken on a greater significance,” said Sebastian Seung, President and Head of Samsung Research, the advanced R&D hub of the company that leads the development of future technologies for Samsung Electronics’ SET (end-products), addressing the company’s efforts to enhance the at-home technology experience. “Our innovations are designed to provide more personal and more intuitive experiences that express your personality. We’re hard at work to bring you next-generation innovation, with AI as the core enabler, for your better tomorrow.”

Creating More Intimate and Personalized User Experiences

As people spent more time at home last year, the tech they wanted became the tech they needed. In relying on that tech, people came to understand many ways connected solutions could make life easier. TVs were vital for entertainment—and sometimes, fitness. Chromebooks became crucial home learning tools. Smart fridges helped with remote shopping and meal prep. Smartphones were indispensable.

Samsung’s continued investments in innovations that adapt to evolving lifestyles enable the company to keep pace with rapid changes. Key innovations unveiled include:

• Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex: The latest version of the Bespoke refrigerator features changeable panels that come with a choice of colors and materials that made the original a success, allowing consumers to adjust their fridge for form and function. The new 4-Door model, available in North America this spring, also includes a brand-new Beverage Center, which gives quick access to a water dispenser and an automatically-filled water pitcher. Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex also comes equipped with a Dual Auto Ice Maker which makes not only regular cubed ice but also smaller ‘ice bites’ to suit different preferences for cold beverages.

• 110-inch MICRO LED: This new screen features self-lit inorganic LED with a slim and nearly bezel-less Infinity Screen design that seamlessly blends into the living space. The result is a spectacularly immersive viewing experience with astounding picture quality. The 110-inch MICRO LED also adds “4Vue” (Quad View), a four-way viewing option—so you can keep up with multiple sports at once, or stream a tutorial while playing a video game. Also, for US consumers, more than 160 free channels¹ are available through Samsung TV Plus. MICRO LED will be rolled out globally beginning this spring.²

• Lifestyle TV: Samsung’s cutting-edge lifestyle TV lineup includes The Serif, The Frame, The Sero and The Terrace—a recently launched 4K QLED outdoor TV—as well as Samsung The Premiere, a cinema-like quality 4K laser projector.

• SmartThings Cooking: A new service from Samsung SmartThings is designed to make your culinary journey seamless. An automatic Meal Planner powered by Whisk’s Food AI recommends meals for the whole week, makes shopping lists with the ingredients you need, and connects to grocery retailers for one-stop shopping straight from the Family Hub refrigerator or your mobile screen. Recipe instructions can be sent directly to synced Samsung cooking devices to minimize hassles and mistakes.³

• Samsung Health Smart Trainer on Samsung 2021 TVs: Samsung Health seamlessly transforms the home into a personal gym, and the new Smart Trainer⁴ feature tracks and analyzes posture in real time, just like a personal trainer. During and post-workout, Smart Trainer provides feedback on form, helps you count your reps, and estimates calories burned. With video and interactive training via Bixby-enabled voice control, Samsung Health Smart Trainer elevates and personalizes the home workout experience.

Bringing AI and Robots to Daily Life Including Housekeeping

Samsung has long been at the forefront of AI and robotics innovation, leveraging its seven global AI research centers to advance technology. By bringing AI to its products, Samsung is creating new home experiences—from washing machines that optimize water usage, detergents, and wash cycles, to TVs with a Quantum AI Processor that can upscale HD content into pristine 8K resolution.

The major technologies featured during Samsung’s press conference include the following:

• JetBot 90 AI+: Coming to the US 1H 2021, this new vacuum cleaner uses object recognition technology to identify and classify objects to decide the best cleaning path. LiDAR and 3D sensors allow JetBot 90 AI+ to avoid cables and small objects, while still cleaning hard-to-reach corners in your home. Also outfitted with a camera, JetBot 90 AI+ is integrated with the SmartThings app to assist you with home monitoring.

• Samsung Bot Care⁵: The latest development in Samsung’s growing robotics lineup, Samsung Bot Care is designed use AI to recognize and respond to your behavior. It will be able to act as both a robotic assistant and companion, helping to take care of the details in your life. It will also learn your schedule and habits and send you reminders to help guide you throughout your busy day.

• Samsung Bot Handy⁶: Also in development, Samsung Bot Handy will rely on advanced AI to recognize and pick up objects of varying sizes, shapes and weights, becoming an extension of you and helping you with work around the house. Samsung Bot Handy will be able to tell the difference between the material composition of various objects, utilizing the appropriate amount of force to grab and move around household items and objects, working as your trusted partner to help with house chores like cleaning up messy rooms or sorting out the dishes after a meal.

Looking to the future, Samsung is also developing other tangible applications of AI technologies for daily life. Samsung is continuing to build on its Samsung Bot Retail, which would guide users outside the home in retail environments, and GEMS, Samsung’s health-focused exoskeleton as mobility aide. These innovations allow robots and robotic devices to co-exist with humans, enhancing their lives and catering to a variety of lifestyles and different environments.

Technology for a Better Future

Samsung closed its CES 2021 press conference by sharing more on the brand’s vision for how technology can enable progress and create a better tomorrow for all. Samsung believes that there is no single all-encompassing solution; a sustainable future requires investments across a broad spectrum. That’s why Samsung is focused on three key areas that are poised to benefit the most from technological innovation: sustainability, education, and accessibility.

“At Samsung, we are always looking for ways to build a better, more sustainable future,” said Sandeep Rana, Senior Manager, Environmental Sustainability Specialist at Samsung, who shared Samsung’s sustainability message at the press conference. “With a focus on the environment, people and society, we will continue to provide our consumers with responsible tools and technologies to address our challenges today and enable a better future for all.”

As part of its commitment to creating a circular economy, Samsung is developing programs and packaging solutions that promote a sustainable product lifecycle—from beginning to end:

• Galaxy Upcycling at Home: At the event, Samsung announced an update to its Galaxy Upcycling program called Galaxy Upcycling at Home. The new program reimagines the lifecycle of an older Galaxy phone and offers consumers options on how they might be able to repurpose their device to create a variety of convenient IoT tools.

• TV Eco Packaging: Additionally, Samsung announced that its eco-packaging would expand to QLED, UHD TV, monitor, and audio products in 2021. As part of an ongoing commitment to eco-consciousness, Samsung is creating products and solutions with sustainability at the core. For example, Samsung’s new Solar Cell Remote Control—made in part with recycled plastic—can be charged via solar or indoor lighting, reducing battery waste.

Believing that future generations will play a critical role in building a sustainable future, Samsung has also prioritized technology education through Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, which encourages young people to creatively use technology to solve community challenges, and Samsung Innovation Campus, which helps students develop technical and personal skills for future jobs.

Samsung also highlighted at the event how it is making its products even more inclusive and accessible for all. The SeeColors application is designed to help those with color vision deficiency (CVD) to adjust the settings on their 2021 QLED TVs for a better viewing experience, and the Sign Language Zoom feature on TVs ensures that everyone, regardless of ability, can easily enjoy cutting-edge technology.

Lastly, understanding how challenging it can be to strike a balance between our digital and analog lives, Samsung presented the Digital Wellbeing feature, designed to help people take control and manage their digital time—so they can use technology to better our lives and empower ourselves.

For more information, images or video on the products Samsung announced at CES 2021, please visit http://news.samsung.com.

¹ 160 free channels for Samsung TV Plus are available for US users only. The Service availability may vary by region and product.

² Availability of MICRO LED will vary by region.

³ Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.

⁴ Specific features available may vary by region and product.

⁵ Samsung Bot Care is not currently available for sale. The described functions and technical capabilities have been demonstrated in test settings.

⁶ Samsung Bot Handy is not currently available for sale. The described functions and technical capabilities have been demonstrated in test settings.

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

While viewing HDR content is typically optimal in a darkened environment, customers’ viewing environments may vary greatly depending on a wide array of factors, including room lighting, time of day, and proximity to windows. The HDR10+ Adaptive feature supports dynamic scene-by-scene optimization, following guidelines from the HDR10+ LLC, and can now adjust to any room lighting condition, further enhancing the HDR experience. This feature utilizes the TV’s light sensor and ensures that the screen brings to life the creative intent without any loss of details or contrast. All Prime Video HDR content is automatically delivered in HDR10+.

HDR10+ Adaptive on Samsung QLED TVs also supports Filmmaker Mode, a display setting that Samsung – as a member of the UHD Alliance – developed in partnership with filmmakers, studios and consumer electronics manufacturers. Samsung and Amazon Prime Video teamed up to enable Filmmaker Mode and HDR10+ Adaptive for Prime Video customers.

“We are always looking for new features and innovations that can help improve the customer experience,” said BA Winston, Global Head of Video Playback and Delivery at Amazon Prime Video. “With HDR10+ and Filmmaker mode, Prime Video content is optimized regardless of the viewing environment and customers can enjoy movies and TV shows the way the filmmakers intended.”

More contents are becoming available in HDR10+ with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) and Samsung extending its technology partnership to include even more HDR10+ catalogues and new titles for distribution on OTT services around the world.

“As consumers spend more time at home, Samsung has been looking for ways to enrich consumers’ entertainment experience in the comfort of their homes,” said Younghun Choi, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are delighted to offer smart picture quality solutions that will enhance consumers’ at-home HDR viewing experience, bringing original-quality cinematic experience to our consumers around the world.”

“Samsung has demonstrated exceptional commitment in developing HDR10+ technology and bringing the industry together in support,” said Michael Aaronson, Senior Vice President, Digital Distribution, UPHE. “We are pleased to further expand our partnership with Samsung as we work to bring more titles into this advanced in-home viewing ecosystem to movie audiences worldwide.”

UHD titles available on Prime Video also include HDR10+ so all Prime Video customers can enjoy the improved HDR experience with most Samsung QLED TVs regardless of room lighting conditions.

For more information on Samsung TV, please visit www.samsung.com.

Make Control and Discovery Effortless

Thanks to a wider range of voice assistant options, Samsung Smart TV users now have faster access to their favorite entertainment, real-time answers on screen, and the ability to seamlessly control their smart home devices with a voice assistant of their choosing. By activating voice commands, users can easily browse channels, adjust the volume, control playback, open apps and much more.

“The use of voice assistants on our Smart TVs has grown exponentially since Bixby’s launch in 2018,” said Seline Han, Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa now supported, we are inviting our consumers to ask even more of their Smart TVs.”

Entertainment lovers can now use their preferred voice assistant to discover new content instantly with an effortless search by genre, director or actor. In addition to finding new TV programs and films to watch, viewers can ask Alexa, Bixby or Google Assistant to provide the weather forecast, find out the latest game scores or play their favorite tunes. With Google Assistant, viewers will also have access to the Google services they know and love to help streamline their days, including Google Search, Photos, Maps, Calendar and more.

“By bringing Google Assistant to Samsung Smart TVs, we want to connect your living room with the rest of the smart home and help you better manage your day, across your favorite Google services,” said Jack Krawczyk Director, Product Management for Google Assistant. “With our collaboration with Samsung, we are able to offer help from Google assistant to more people around the world right from the big screen.”

Users can add another hub to any room in the house with Samsung Smart TVs which can now be used to control the lights, set the thermostat, set an alarm or perform any other tasks under the command of a household’s existing voice assistant.

“Amazon Alexa on Samsung Smart TVs is designed to delight customers with an enhanced entertainment experience. Beyond navigating video and music content with ease, customers can also connect their Alexa built-in TVs with over 100,000 smart home devices, to make everyday tasks more convenient,” said Aaron Rubenson, Vice President of Alexa Voice Service and Alexa Skills. “Our collaboration with Samsung continues to bring customers the convenience of voice control on Smart TVs while giving customers access to their voice service of choice.”

Samsung Smart TVs Speak Your Language

Since the integration of Amazon Alexa across Samsung’s Smart TVs earlier this year, voice assistant support has been made available to Samsung Smart TV users in 14 countries globally.

Google Assistant is now available in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and will be rolling out to 12 countries by the end of this year.¹

For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

¹ Available in the UK, France, Germany, Italy by late October and in Spain, Brazil, India and South Korea by late November.

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.

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

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

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

1. Next-Level Realism

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

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

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

2. Watching Movies

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

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

3. Gaming

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

4. Watching Sports

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

5. Enjoying Edutainment

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

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

Things to Consider

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

» Get a Sense of Its Size

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

» Remember That Immersion Is Key

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

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

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

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

In the two years that have passed since its introduction, HDR10+ has not only been revolutionizing the home entertainment market but has also debuted on a variety of other devices, including smartphones.  Bill Mandel, Vice President of Samsung Research America’s Digital Media Solutions Lab, sat down with Samsung Newsroom to provide an update on how far HDR10+ has come since 2017.

Building a HDR10+ Ecosystem

The biggest innovation for HDR10+ since its introduction in 2017 has been the expansion of the types of devices that can support the revolutionary picture technology, as well as the number of partners that have adopted it.

Over the past year, the number of HDR10+ certification program adopters has tripled, including many TV makers and various ultra-high-definition (UHD) device and System on Chip (SoC) makers. As Mandel affirms, the technology has become crucial to providing the best possible big screen television experience. “The additional picture information that comes with HDR10+ enables the TV processor to best recreate the color tones, brightness and contrast details with the highest precision and respect for the creative intent,” he notes. “Every scene and frame of a viewer’s content is delivered to the highest possible quality on larger screens thanks to HDR10+ and QLED TV processors.”

Samsung’s US-based Digital Media Solutions Lab are constantly aware that, just as the number of HDR10+-certified devices is constantly growing, so is the amount of content available. “We develop technologies like HDR10+ to be stable over a long time so that we can ensure we offer consistency across all available picture qualities as well as synergy between content producers and the viewing ecosystem,” explains Mandel of their development process, “and we work to provide a roadmap to enable the industry to develop and grow with these and other new video tools and enhancements.”

Providing High Picture Quality Across the Board

Back in 2017, Samsung partnered with 20^th Century Fox and Panasonic to create a logo and certification program that allows displays to be certified for having HDR10+ implementation. Since then, many more displays and much more content have been developed to support HDR10+ by a wide range of partners and collaborators who see the benefits this picture technology has to offer viewing quality.

“Device adopters see the picture quality benefit to HDR with HDR10+, service providers are finding that they can easily update their existing HDR services, and content providers are finding they can achieve greater consistency of quality across a wider variety of televisions,” comments Mandel on the path HDR10+ has forged in the industry. “Recently, at the Samsung Developer Conference in San Jose, we showcased samples of HDR10+ across a variety of devices including mobile, tablets and TVs to many interested developers.”

Looking to the future, Mandel notes that HDR10+ is set to revolutionize not only TV viewing experiences for users, but potentially also cinematic experiences. “Starting with HDR10+ technologies, we are currently working to understand the needs of filmmakers, post-production facilities and studios in order to help post-production workflows and future generations of displays provide even more capabilities and options to consumers and the media industry.”

The Most Vivid Viewing Experience Yet

What sets HDR10+ apart is that it has been designed to reproduce images faithfully by taking advantage of the brightness, darkness and contrast elements of content paired with the performance range of a viewer’s television. Thanks to its advanced tone mapping technology, HDR10+ is able to better reproduce HDR content with the appearance as intended by the creator. “Not only can users enjoy this quality on HDR10+-certified devices, but HDR10+ technology can enable any TV, even with differing sets of performance characteristics, to provide an immersive HDR content experience that fully showcases the care creatives put into their HDR source masters,” explains Mandel.

Mandel recommends dimming the lights in your home when watching HDR10+ content to make the most of the experience. “HDR10+ works with all the picture modes available on Samsung TVs,” adds Mandel, “and our ‘Movie’ picture mode has been optimized by the picture quality engineering team to deliver colors and cinematic texture as envisaged by the original content creators.” Mandel encourages consumers to look for HDR10+ support when considering their next device, “so that they can be sure they are getting the best HDR viewing opportunity possible.”

HDR10+, along with 8K resolution, stands at the forefront of display technology innovation. “Samsung is committed to continuously expanding the capabilities offered by TV screens,” affirms Mandel. “Through industry collaboration with technology initiatives such as HDR10+ and partners throughout the media ecosystem, we are continuously striving to deliver the best possible viewing experience to consumers now as well as in the future.”

Available now, a new Ambient Mode is designed to enhance consumers’ daily lives and provide them with unique experiences in viewing content beyond what the TV screen shows when turned on.

“We are proud to offer the Ambient Mode, which not only adds new value to the TV screen when it is turned off, but also brings new lifestyle benefits to our customers, moving beyond conventional TVs,” said Jongsuk Choo, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We plan to expand content for Ambient Mode by collaborating with young, talented artists over the next several years to give our customers more meaningful ways to enjoy their QLED TVs.”

As part of the initial rollout of a new Ambient Mode, Samsung has collaborated with talented artists to help consumers make their homes a warmer and a more comfortable environment. Recognized for her abstract oil paintings, Tali Lennox, a model and artist who is influential in the fashion industry, joined forces with Samsung for Ambient Mode. Netherlands-based Scholten & Baijings also created a collection of various home artworks that feature porcelain and fabric products in elegant colors and patterns.

For more information on Samsung’s QLED TVs and Ambient Mode, please visit www.samsung.com/tvs.

Samsung Electronics announced today its HDR10+ ecosystem expansion to 45 industry partners and the construction of a new certification center in China. The new partnerships with companies, from online streaming and content services to semiconductor industry, will bring more true-to-life picture quality content to viewers and also expand the impact of HDR10+ technology across different market segments.

Last June, Samsung Electronics launched the HDR10+ certification and logo program in partnership with 20th Century Fox and Panasonic. HDR10+ is Samsung’s next-generation standard technology for picture processing, which optimizes brightness levels and contrast for each scene, making bright areas brighter and dark areas darker to deliver a lifelike viewing experience.

Thanks to Samsung’s new partnerships with content providers, consumers can soon access more content in vivid and reality-like colors. Rakuten TV, a European online streaming service, will begin offering HDR10+ content in the first half of next year. One of the largest among CIS and Eastern Europe OTT/VOD services, MEGOGO is currently finishing its HDR10+ licensing process, making its adoption of HDR10+ official, and planning to release HDR10+ contents on its platform, viewable on all Samsung Smart TV devices. ARSPRO, based in Moscow, is another production studio that has implemented HDR10+ technology, including the use of dynamic metadata. It has successfully carried out the remastering of the first several series of programming in HDR10+. On December 3^rd of this year, the largest Russian OTT/VOD service ivi also presented five European series in HDR10+ to Samsung Smart TV users for the first time in Russia and CIS region.

“We continually work on improving the video quality for our users. And we are proud to be the first Russian OTT/VOD service to maximize the opportunities available through Samsung QLED TVs and give a chance to our subscribers to view the contents in this new better-quality format. We plan to expand our HDR10+ collection because our focus is on providing the highest quality content to the viewers, using all the features of Samsung TVs,” said Irina Grandel, Business Development Director at ivi.

In 2017, Samsung also launched its premium video streaming service with Amazon, making Prime Video the first streaming service to deliver all 4K (UHD) videos in HDR10+. In 2018, Amazon integrated HDR10+ support into the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which launched in October. Another HDR10+ partner Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has created over seventy HDR10+ compatible titles so far and plans to have over 100 titles available for digital distribution in HDR10+ by early next year.

Samsung is also building partnerships with major smartphone chip manufacturers. Qualcomm, a U.S. semiconductor and telecommunications equipment maker and a member of the HDR10+ alliance, recently announced that HDR10+ will be supported on its new chipset, Snapdragon 855. Arm, U.K.’s innovation-leading company in mobile technology that has successfully collaborated with Samsung System LSI, will also join the HDR10+ network, further growing HDR10+’s influence in the mobile category.

In addition, Samsung plans to build a new HDR10+ center in China with TIRT, a national testing and inspection center for the Chinese consumer electronics, in December. The center is designed to help Chinese TV manufacturers, including Hisense, TCL and Konka to access the certification procedure and in turn accelerate the expansion of the HDR10+ ecosystem. The China center follows the opening of certification centers built in Korea, Japan and the U.S. earlier this year.

“With HDR emerging as one of the most important technologies for ultra-high picture quality, Samsung’s HDR10+ format is gaining recognition,” said Hyogun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “HDR10+ has already been well-received by major companies across a variety of industries. Samsung will continue to build on this, solidifying our HDR standard technology leadership and maintaining our presence in the global TV market.”

Samsung QLED TVs are certified as the burn-in free TVs by video, an acclaimed German tech magazine. Conducted in conjunction with the connect Testlab, a global testing lab, all 2018 Samsung QLED TV series were proved free of burn-in and afterglow reaffirming QLED TVs’ position as one of the most durable displays on the market today.

The requirements for TV displays are made ever more demanding by technologies such as High Dynamic Range (HDR). The risk of putative burn-in is of particular concern to TV customers in the premium segment. To see if displays stand up to the exacting performance requirements, the TV experts from video and connect Testlab carried out certification test based on the Information Display Measurements Standard (IDMS), an international norm for panel measurements, and concentrated on QLED TV’s HDR content display quality.

Samsung’s QLED TVs passed the stress test and received the certificate for ꞌno burn-inꞌ and ꞌno afterglowꞌ¹. In a 72-hour endurance test, the testers performed measurements on Samsung QLED TVs to check their putative burn-in effects, which may be caused by static picture elements. These effects, also referred to as ꞌmemory effectꞌ, ꞌghostingꞌ, ꞌimage retentionꞌ, ꞌsticky imageꞌ or imprecisely as ꞌburn-inꞌ, tangibly impair the picture quality of a television.

In the case of some display technologies, memory effects will start glowing after one minute of TV use if static picture elements are shown on their screen in high luminosities. In the test, the TVs were therefore made to display a checkerboard pattern for deep black and very bright white values for longer periods of time. The test engineers added variable text elements and an intermittently blinking white frame to the test picture so that the automatic stills detection customary for modern HDR TVs could not spring into action. This helped the testers create similar conditions as in HDR games. In addition to the standard analysis, the testers used dark gray images with brightness values of 10 nits– which will show if dark pixels are brightened up.

The measurements showed that the tested Samsung QLED TVs remained unaffected by the rigorous tests. The TV can thus theoretically be left on permanently without picture elements like network logos leaving an afterglow or burning in.

Taking into account that the quality of a TV screen is strongly impaired by afterglow and burn-in – especially after emitting HDR quality pictures with extreme brightness values – Samsung QLED TV is a product of choice among many other modern TVs for those planning to invest in a high-end TV. It guarantees powerful visual capabilities without potential memory effects or permanent damage.

“Anyone who is particularly sensitive to ghost images and unwilling to run any risks over many years of use will be on the safe side with LCD or QLED, respectively,”² conclude the test experts.

¹ All test criteria can be viewed at https://www.connect-testlab.com/.

² “Technik Extrem – Hilfe, es brennt (ein)”, video, issue 8/18, p. 58. All quotes are taken from this article.

Samsung Electronics today unveiled a new extreme sports video in collaboration with Red Bull and the legendary Brazilian skateboarder Pedro Barros. Under the theme ‘See the Bigger Picture,’ the new video invites viewers to experience the action and intensity of skateboarding as Barros skates through an indoor structure modeled after some of the world’s most iconic backdrops like Barcelona and New York City.

Following the success of Samsung and Red Bull’s first extreme sports collaboration titled ‘See the Unexpected,’ the new concept highlights the intensity of skateboarding while also showcasing the capabilities of Samsung’s QLED TVs. Available in ultra large screen model sizes that range from 65 to 88 inches, the QLED TV can express the most immersive and lifelike picture quality on the market today, capturing every color and movement with pristine clarity.

“On the ultra-large screen of QLED TV, viewers will have an immersive experience as they watch the ‘See the Bigger Picture’ video with Pedro Barros in its full glory, and we’re excited to have partnered with Red Bull once again to highlight how brilliant extreme sports appear on screen,” said Sunghee Han, Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “As we continue to grow our QLED TV lineup, our partnerships with brands like Red Bull will play an essential role in providing consumers with thrilling content optimized for premium TV viewing.”

Throughout the video, viewers are treated to several different concepts within the construction of a virtual, two-story indoor skate park. As Barros skates through the structure, a new aesthetic dimension is revealed, ranging from the bold architecture of Barcelona and the heat of the African desert to the concrete jungles of New York and San Francisco. Globally renowned artists, including RYNoART, Steve Fawler, Kirsten Poulsen, Sophia Langner, Marco Reinhardt, PTLN, NXT LVL and C-Bass contributed to the design of the virtual skate park. All of their work was brought to life by Starelation and a master ramp-builder Andreas Schutzenberger who constructed the concept over an eight-week period.

The video’s star, Pedro Barros, is an international sports celebrity famous for winning six gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal at the X-Games. He is also the top overall Bowl title-holder from the World Cup Skateboarding for four consecutive years from 2010 to 2013 and was third in 2014 and 2015.

The ‘See the Bigger Picture’ video will be shown on QLED TV screens at Samsung retail stores beginning in June, as well as on Samsung and Red Bull social media channels.

To learn more about Samsung’s QLED TVs, please visit www.samsung.com.

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

Among the key trends discussed included the rapidly increasing demand for UHD quality large screen TVs, as well as ongoing consumer pain points related to TV convenience.

Demand for Large Screen UHD TVs

According to market research firms GfK and NPD, global market revenue for big screen TVs, larger than 55 inch, occupied over 40 percent between January and August 2017. In North America, 60 percent of TV sales were for big screen TVs larger than 55 inch, with 30 percent for TVs larger than 60 inch.

Related to TV resolution, the market is also experiencing a shift from FHD to UHD. Between January and August of this year, according to GfK and NPD, revenues for UHD TVs accounted for over 50 percent of the global TV market, and 60 to 70 percent in North America, Europe and Korea.

Desire for Easier-to-Use TVs

Consumers also continue to desire TVs that are easier to use. Samsung recently conducted research into the U.S. and German TV markets, involving more than 1000 consumers in each region who indicated willingness to purchase a new TV product. The results show that 23 percent and 15 percent of the respondents in the U.S. and Germany respectively pointed out “complicated cable wires” as the first pain point. Research participants also indicated continuing difficulty in linking external devices to their TVs, typing via the TV screen, and navigating smart TVs.

Strong Positioning Aligned with Global Trends

Based on these trends, Samsung continues to strengthen its leadership in the global TV market. According to GfK and NPD, between January and August 2017, Samsung was the number one player, recording 34 percent of total global TV market revenue, higher than the market shares of the second and third largest players combined. The company also recorded 42 percent for big screen TVs, 60 inch and larger, and 38 percent for UHD TVs. Samsung also led in market share based on TV pricing, with 44 percent in TVs, priced over USD 1500, and 37 percent for TVs over USD 2500.

Samsung’s strategy revolves around providing consumers with the broadest options for big screen TVs, such as QLED TVs and premium UHD TVs in 65-, 75-, 82- and 88- inch sizes, as well as curved and flat screen options. Samsung’s TV accessories have also received positive reviews, including the clean and clutter-free cable solution, Invisible Connection; auto recognition and control function, Auto Detection; and One Remote, providing an easy way to access many different remote controls in one.

“With a significant increase in QLED TV sales in the second half of this year, there is no doubt that the position of Samsung as a leading player in the premium TV market continues to grow,” said Yoon Lee, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung will continue to lead global TV market trends with a business strategy that meets the rapidly changing needs of global consumers.”

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 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.

For example, when most manufacturers showcase their wares at CES, the world’s biggest consumer electronics tradeshow, they highlight offerings that target the premium segment of the TV market. But why exactly do TV manufacturers compete so fiercely to cater to such a small selection of consumers?

Premium TVs: A Golden Goose for Manufacturers

Although premium TVs account for just five percent of global sales, for many manufacturers they are a golden goose, accounting for roughly 20 percent of total revenue and 40 percent of total profits. In other words, if a manufacturer was to lose ground in premium TVs, it would most likely lose out on the entire market.

Just three years ago, most TVs targeted at the premium sector carried price tags of over $1,500. Today, fierce competition has lowered prices, which means consumers can easily find premium TVs at a base price for $1,200. Don’t let the markdowns fool you, though; premium TVs are still, on average, more than twice the price of most TVs on the market.

A Leader in the Premium Sector

Over the past several years, Samsung Electronics has established itself as a leader in premium TV innovations. This year’s launch of QLED TV, Samsung’s flagship TV line, will reinforce its position as a leader in this area.

Last year, Samsung accounted for 47 percent of sales of TVs priced at over $1,500, and 48 percent of TVs priced at over $1,200, respectively. In other words, Samsung products represent half of the total number of premium TVs in the global market today.

In addition, in the first quarter of this year, Samsung recorded a 60 percent share in the US market for TVs priced at over $1,500, which is higher than the respective shares of all of its competitors combined.

Samsung’s position is solid in European market as well, where it garnered a market share of over 40 percent during the same period. The company has also firmly established its position as a leading manufacturer of premium TVs in China, the largest market in the world. There, four out of ten premium TVs sold in the first quarter of this year were produced by Samsung.

Samsung’s New Flagship TVs

What exactly do premium TVs offer? Well, along with a high price tag, today’s high-end TVs typically feature UHD (Ultra High Definition) resolution and measure over 60 inches across.

Samsung also leads the markets for UHD and widescreen TVs – a position that is even more evident when it comes to 65- and 75-inch widescreens. In fact, last year, Samsung products accounted for well over 40 percent of the global sales of TVs measuring over 60 inches.

In accordance with the widescreen TV trend, Samsung has launched two 75-inch QLED TVs in the US, Europe, China and Korea.

The curved Q8 offers an immersive viewing experience, coming with a full metal body and offering its audience a crisp, comfortable view (at any angle) that only a premium TV can offer.

The back of the flat screen Q7 features a natural, wavy pattern, and its body reflects contemporary, minimalist aesthetics. The bezel-less design and clean back look great whether mounted on the wall or positioned on a stand, and offer viewers an excellent viewing experience either way.

“The Q8 and Q7 are our flagship products that have combined one of the most advanced TV technologies in the current era and minimalist design,” said Moonsoo Kim, Senior Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business. “The two will make it clear, in the global TV market, that a premium TV means Samsung, and we are excited about that.”

A new era of spatial design has begun. When choosing items to design their spaces, people no longer seek technical premiums, or blindly follow trends. People nowadays base their design needs in each individual preference and lifestyle, rather than being conscious of others. This goes the same for TVs. Now, users personally choose their TVs and place it in their homes in a way that best suits their lifestyles. In light of this, it was necessary to redefine and innovate the TV experience in order to design a TV that can intimately and harmoniously meld with individual lives.

This was TV

“TVs are always found in the same places.
It’s surrounded with various devices.
Wires are everywhere, uncontained, in disarray.
Their shapes and colors are identical.
Once installed, a TV takes root and becomes hard to relocate.
The biggest, most expensive TV is the best.
When turned-off, a TV adds nothing to the space.
Choosing a TV and interior design are two separate things.”

To bring innovation to TV design, we crossed off common stereotypes, one by one. Through this process, we were able to develop a TV design that alleviates user inconveniences, enhances essential functions, and harmonizes with any space.

The Next Innovation in TV – QLED

The QLED TV has unrestricted freedom in every aspect. Its viewing experience, as well as its installation method and location are all unconfined to any specific space or time. We ask ourselves why we have been stuck in restrictive and old interior design habits of placing a TV in the living room across from a sofa. By replacing a minor nuisance with innovative design experience, the QLED TV has become an objet d’art that elevates the ambience of its space regardless of being turned on or off.

360˚ Design Pushing the Boundaries of Space

Up until now, the back of a TV was an obsolete area in terms of TV design because it was not in view. However, with the idea of placing a TV in the center of a particular space in mind, all areas of the QLED TV have been intricately designed. Once you turn on the screen that can produce 100% color volume, the QLED TV becomes an even more dominant presence in its space.

Designing ‘Disappearance’

The German term ‘Kabel-Salat’ literally translates to a ‘Cable Salad’, which describes a messy bundle of tangled cables. These tangled cables are often seen surrounding TVs nowadays, and never fail to distract us from the surrounding space. The QLED TV features ‘Invisible Connection’, a transparent optical cable that has been designed to minimize any visual disturbances no matter where it is located near the TV. Furthermore, the ‘One Connect’ box allows the TV to perform various functions without connecting multiple cables to the TV itself. The nearly wireless QLED TV designs its surroundings with undisturbed tranquility.

A TV that Ascends above Space

Wall-mounted TVs always had wasted spaces behind them. The QLED TV’s ‘No Gap Wall-mount’ effectively minimizes the space between the wall and the TV, thereby creating a modern effect of a TV hovering elegantly and effortlessly close to the wall. The mount maintains a very slim profile, and the bracket inserts itself completely to the back of the TV, altogether elevating the quality of the design.

Stand Design that Reflects User’s Individuality

In addition to wall-mounts, the QLED TV brings your space to life in many other ways as well. With the ‘Studio Stand’, your TV will look like a work of art. The classic easel form allows the QLED TV to express a classical and luxurious aura. The ‘Gravity Stand’ is a metallic cone-shaped stand that has a finish akin to a stylish sculpture. Its contemporary look dictates the ambience of its space like a piece of installation art.

Designed for Your Space – The Frame

On average, people spend 4 hours a day watching TV. In other words, the TV is turned off for at least 20 hours. The design of The Frame has been conceived through the vision of a TV that is beautiful even when it is turned off. Throughout each day, The Frame acts as a precious piece of artwork and naturally dissolves into the everyday moments of our lives.

Two Modes, Two Roles

If there is one item that can dramatically affect the atmosphere of your home, it will undoubtedly be a picture frame. The Frame is the ultimate combination of a TV and a picture frame that embodies unique preferences and design lifestyles. The two modes, ‘TV Mode’ and ‘Art Mode’ can each display unique atmosphere. As you turn off the TV mode, the TV will shift into the Art Mode and act as an objet d’art that brings class to your interior design.

Creating a One-of-a-kind Space

The Frame can showcase splendid artwork and photographs of precious memories as if it were an actual picture frame through its 4K UHD picture quality and Brightness Sensor. The Frame also provides a wide array of content that the user can use to display images that best suit your décor.

The Frame is a platform that brings art to the comfort of your home. You will find a breathtaking collection of more than a hundred professionally-curated art pieces that span ten different genres by 37 artists in the Samsung Collection. Users can display artwork that has been personalized to the tastes of their home interior through The Frame, and conveniently access works of world renown artists with the help of the online art store’s curation.

The Frame also carries various UX designs that help users display their own photographs or artwork. You can choose a background color and utilize six different layouts to position your images in any way you like, and essentially design your very own TV.

A Frame by Frame Option for Your Home Decor

The Frame is designed to be undistinguishable in every way from an actual picture frame, and can blend seamlessly with any interior decoration. Its ‘Customizable Frame’ can easily attach and detach itself from the body, and can be purchased in Walnut, Beige Wood, or White, based on the needs and moods of your interior.

Package that Resonates with the Heart of The Frame

It’s only appropriate to take a unique approach in package design for The Frame considering the unique characteristics of its design. The typography design that beautifully captures the information of The Frame’s functions has become a piece of art itself.

‘Screen Everywhere’ is the future vision for Samsung TV. The QLED TV and The Frame are the manifestations of this vision. A TV that can be placed anywhere in the house and offer new experiences any time of the day. A TV that begins its journey with a user’s ever-changing lifestyle and advances toward new, sustainable values. This is the beginning of innovative TV design that transcends the limits of everything we previously perceived about the TV.

In the first segment of the “THIS IS QLED TV” series, Samsung Newsroom will illustrate how the company is working to lead the premium TV market with the QLED TV.

QLED TV Becoming a Trend in China

Premium TVs that utilize Quantum dot technology are rapidly becoming more popular in China – the largest TV market in the world – thanks to the efforts the QLED TV Alliance, led by major distributors and manufacturers including Samsung Electronics.

Quantum dot TV sales made up around 1 percent of the total TV market in the first quarter of this year. By second quarter in early May, however, the sales volume increased to 2.4 percent. With the launch of Samsung’s 2017 QLED TV, the sales again increased to 3 percent by China’s May Day holiday, which is typically when the market reaches its highest point in terms of sales. Currently, Samsung makes up 80 to 90 percent of the Quantum dot TV market share in China.

On the other hand, OLED TV, the leading competitor in the premium TV market, made up 0.3 percent of sales in the first quarter and has yet to exceed 1 percent in the second quarter.

In fact, Quantum dot TV sales have been four times higher than those of OLED TV this year. This number is expected to grow, due to the advantages of Quantum dot technology, such as superior picture quality, a long lifespan and more accurate colors at varying levels of brightness.

Scenes from the 2017 QLED International Forum, held in China (left), and QLED Technology Forum in Germany (right)

Full-fledged Sales in the US and Europe

Samsung commenced QLED TV sales in the US and Europe this past February and March, respectively. Now, Samsung is preparing to roll out its entire QLED TV line-up, with products including 49, 55, 65 and 75-inch models. Weekly QLED TV sales rates accelerated by more than four times in early May compared to the beginning weeks of the sales launch.

Fueled by this year’s strategic product QLED TV, Samsung’s market share stands firm in the premium TV market in the US and Europe. Up until the end of this past April, one out of two premium TVs sold in the US was a Samsung television priced at $1,500 USD or more. Samsung is also leading the European premium TV market with a market share of approximately 40 percent.

Other global markets are also responding positively to Samsung’s premium TVs. During the first quarter, Samsung obtained more than half of the shares in the premium TV market in Latin America, particularly in Mexico, where the company showed strong sales exceeding 60 percent.

QLED TV and The Frame to Fortify Samsung’s Pole Position in the Premium Market

In addition to the expanded range of QLED TV products and screen sizes that will hit shelves worldwide starting in May, Samsung is also preparing to launch The Frame, further transforming the premium TV market.

“QLED TV not only offers superior picture quality, but is also a product that beautifully reflects consumers’ lifestyle in its design and functions,” said Yoon Lee, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “By introducing The Frame, which elevates the television to a work of art, we will set a new standard in the global premium TV market.”

The Frame

Following comprehensive lab tests, the magazine awarded Samsung Electronics’ 65-inch Q9F a rating of 920 on a 1,005-point scale – the highest score it has ever granted. Samsung QLED TV was honored for its advanced specs, smart features and versatile design, which together create the seamless viewing experience that Samsung has dubbed ‘Lifestyle TV’.

Samsung earned its score by thinking outside the box (or screen, as it were), not only optimizing QLED TV’s picture quality, but also honing the televisions’ form and components to simplify use and allow the devices to blend in in any home.

Products of this approach include QLED TV’s Invisible Connection cable, No Gap Wall Mount and refined One Remote Control, which earned high marks in the Innovation category of the evaluation. Other features designed to complement users’ living rooms include QLED TV’s boundless, 360° design and stylish array of stands.

The ability to offer a premium viewing experience while enhancing the user’s living space is at the core of Samsung’s Lifestyle TV range. In addition to QLED TV, this lineup includes The Frame, an intelligent display that doubles as a work of art, exhibiting artworks or the user’s personal photos when powered off.

Samsung QLED TV is the first product reviewed by Video Magazin to receive high marks in all three of its evaluation categories. In addition to Innovation, QLED TV received a high score in the Reference category, for its luminosity, innovative cable solution and signal processing, as well as the Highlight category, for its brightness, deep blacks, wide viewing angles, and ability to achieve 100 percent color volume.

Together, these features demonstrate how Samsung designed QLED TV with users’ lifestyles in mind, to redefine how the world experiences television.

Featuring a clean aesthetic with a slim body and nearly-there bezel, QLED TV is suitable for open spaces, while its new colors and materials blend naturally into the living environment. With a no-gap wall mount, it can easily and neatly be installed flush against the wall. Or, should the users prefer a bit more choice about the location of their TV, a collection of new stands offers an array of options. The QLED TV’s practically invisible optical cable frees the area of messy wires, making it a device that is truly designed for living.

Watch as some of the minds behind the 360° design of QLED TV discuss how Samsung’s latest television is transforming the living space of tomorrow, today in the video below.

For additional information about the design features of 2017 Samsung QLED TV, check out the following link:

How QLED TV Blends into Your Living Room

The ‘Smart Hub’ interface, for example, combines live TV channels, set-top box channels and IP channels and shows them in an intuitive manner. One Remote Control can automatically detect and control almost all connected devices, which are displayed with instantly recognizable icons and names. Equipped with Samsung’s TV Plus service, QLED TV also offers the easiest and fastest way to find, purchase and watch the latest 4K films and entertainment.

Furthermore, with the latest version of the Samsung Smart View app, users can not only search content easily, but also access essential functions on their smartphone through an interface like the one on their TV.

Learn more about the seamless navigation and unified experience enabled by QLED TV’s smart features in the video below.

For additional information about the smart features of 2017 QLED TV, check out the following links:

New Smart Features of QLED TV

Infographic on the Evolution of Samsung Smart TV

Smart TV Service Update

Offering significantly improved color performance, Samsung’s 2017 QLED TVs are the first in the world that are capable of reproducing 100 percent color volume. This means that all colors of the DCI-P3 color space can be expressed regardless of differing levels of luminance between 1,500 and 2,000 nits. This ensures that High Dynamic Range (HDR) images can be viewed in the way the content producer intended.

This breakthrough is a result of Samsung’s adoption of a new metal alloy Quantum dot material, which allows the TV to express a significantly improved range of color with much greater detail compared to conventional TVs. The new Quantum dots enable Samsung’s QLED TV to express deep blacks and rich detail no matter how light or dark the scene is, or whether the content is being played in a brightly lit or darkened room. Furthermore, the display’s enhanced picture quality is maintained regardless of how wide the viewing angle may be.

Learn more about the picture quality of the 2017 QLED TV in the video below.

For additional information about the picture quality of 2017 QLED TV, check out the following links:

QLED TV Color

QLED Contrast

QLED HDR

QLED Viewing Angle