Samsung’s QLED TVs recently became the first TVs to be certified burn-in free byvideo, an acclaimed German tech magazine.

The magazine’s comprehensive evaluation assessed vulnerability to burn-in and afterglow, which can permanently impair picture quality. The results of the test proved that Samsung’s TVs were as free of both, and demonstrated what makes QLED TVs some of the most durable displays on the market today.

The Details

‘Burn-in’ refers to the phenomenon in which static images (such as channel logos, or the health bar in a console game), displayed for an extended period of time, leave a permanent outline on a screen.

Examples of burn-in on conventional TVs

Conducted in conjunction with connect Testlab, a world-renowned testing lab, the 72-hour stress test evaluates a TV’s ability to stand up to the exacting levels of performance that we require in TVs today, focusing specifically on the portrayal of HDR (high-dynamic-range) video.

With some display technologies, memory effects will already keep 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 findings indicate that QLED TVs are unaffected by burn-in and afterglow, and that fixed images may be displayed on them without risk, regardless of duration.

Why Burn-in Matters

Assessing a TV’s susceptibility to burn-in is key to determining how long it will last – and ultimately whether it’s worth your money. Although all screens get dimmer with age, burn-in’s adverse effect on picture quality can significantly shorten a TV’s lifespan.

On average, based on typical use, consumers should expect their TV’s picture quality to remain roughly the same for anywhere from seven to ten years. What’s interesting to note is that the definition of that term – ‘typical use’ – has expanded in recent years with the rise of binge-watching video and the development of exciting ‘smart TV’ functionalities. Now, on a typical day, we may switch on the TV to watch the latest episode of a favorite show, start a gaming session with friends, or manage our home’s IoT appliances.

Speaking of enjoying dynamic content, these days, so many of our favorite shows and games feature HDR support, which means video that’s brighter and more immersive than ordinary content. As time goes by, however, HDR content can wear down a TV – accelerating burn-in and reducing its lifespan.

In addition, as illustrated by innovative functions like Ambient Mode, which allows QLED TVs to display beautiful, aesthetic-enhancing images when switched off, Samsung is constantly exploring ways to help people get more use out of their TV. Each new function results in TVs being utilized for longer periods of time, which makes durability issues like burn-in more important than ever.

How QLED TVs Deliver

The source of QLED TVs’ durability lies in Samsung’s use of inorganic Quantum dots. Unlike display technologies based on organic materials, Quantum dots do not degrade over time. This allows QLED TVs to offer exceptional picture quality that not only lasts much longer than other displays, but is guaranteed to be burn-in free.

The experts at video are not the first to put Samsung’s guarantee to the test. In fact, industry-trusted TV review site Rtings.com recently conducted a stringent series of tests that measured image retention in dozens of TVs from the market’s leading brands. The pivotal portion of the tests, which reflected typical use conditions, placed colorful logos on the TVs for 10 minutes and measured how many minutes, if any, it took for the imprinted images to disappear.

Samsung’s QLED TV passed with flying colors, earning a perfect score for image quality and lack of burn-in. When subjected to the same tests, however, other displays fared far less well – succumbing to burn-in, and in doing so, further confirming QLED TV’s industry-leading durability.

What it means for Samsung

Rtings’ assessment and video’s certifications are products of Samsung’s steadfast commitment to offering consumers the very best in terms of picture quality.

As Doochan Eum, Samsung Electronics’ Vice President of Visual Display Business, explains, “Consumers simply don’t want to put up with a display that’s not built to handle how we use our TVs today. Quantum dots’ longevity and ability to express 100 percent color volume allow QLED TVs to provide a level of picture quality that will remain consistent and captivating for many years to come.”

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.

At the 2018 Electronic Entertainment Expo (‘E3’) in LA this June, Samsung QLED TVs were exhibited as part of Microsoft’s Xbox booth. The 75-inch QLED TV screens caught the attention of keen gamers, with a long queue forming in order to enter the showroom. Players enjoyed an unparalleled 4K HDR gaming experience, featuring stunning graphics and quick response times, with the QLED.

Samsung’s 2018 QLED TVs have evolved to merit the title of the ‘monster’ of the gaming industry. They offer gamers a low input lag of no more than 15ms (0.015 seconds), a rich viewing experience achieved by 100% color volume and High Dynamic Range (HDR) 2000, and Radeon FreeSync for the seamless playing of even the most demanding games.

Fighting Input Lag in FPS Games

Input lag can be a critical issue for those players who want to enjoy fast-paced games like first-person shooters (FPS) or fighting games. Input lag, or input latency, is the delay between the TV or monitor receiving a signal and it being displayed on the screen, or the delay between pressing a controller button and seeing the game react. It is important in gaming because even a 0.01 second reaction difference can determine the difference between a winning and losing move in an FPS game.

Samsung’s QLED TVs have input lag reduced to 15ms (1ms = 0.001 seconds), faster than conventional TVs which have a 20-30ms lag on average. Gamers can fully immerse themselves in games on their QLED TVs with minimal lag. QLED TV’s Auto Game Mode also changes features including response speed for game optimization. When users start a game on a console such as Xbox, the TV automatically recognizes the game and sets the correct game-related settings.

Optimized Picture Quality for Immersive Gaming

Today’s games are characterized by feature film-quality storylines, cinematography and graphics. Game characters and avatars are becoming more and more lifelike, as are the landscapes around them, often offered in full 360-degree rotation to the player for the most immersive experience possible.

In order to deliver this virtual realism to gamers, game platforms feature the latest in color, contrast and imaging technology, as well as 144Hz refresh rates for high frame-rate gaming. Samsung’s 2018 QLED TVs are the first in the TV industry to use Radeon FreeSync in collaboration with global graphics card maker AMD. Radeon FreeSync puts an end to choppy gameplay and broken frames, bringing smooth gaming and the fluidity of gaming monitors to the big screen.

With the Samsung QLED TV, gamers can experience the cutting-edge display performance they are used to. The QLED TVs feature HDR10+ for crisp and detailed images, as well as 100% color volume for greater image depth in both the day and nighttime, at any brightness level. Samsung’s Anti-reflection technology is another bonus for reducing eye strain and optimizing gameplay.

Enjoy Over 15,000 PC games with Steam on TVs

As well as their favorite console games, users can also play Steam games on their QLED TV. Steam is an online game platform with over 120 million users globally.

In order for QLED users to enjoy the full offering of the Steam platform, all they need to do is head to the Samsung Smart Hub and download the free Steam Link app. No supplementary hardware is necessary for users to be able to access the 15,000+ games offered by Steam on the large-inch QLED screen.

In addition, gamers don’t need to bother with changing the settings on their QLED TV in order to access their favorite console games. Just turn on Auto Game Mode and start your console.

No Screen Burn-In, Guaranteed

TV screens suffer from performance decline over time, with static images and fixed interfaces leading to image retention and consequently the burn-in issue. With Samsung QLED TVs, however, you no longer need to worry about burn-in.

Rtings, an industry-trusted US TV Reviewer, ran a test for permanent image retention. Different kinds of TVs were kept on for 10 minutes, running a test pattern in a loop. The 2017 QLED TV scored 10/10 for image quality and lack of burn-in, while some screens achieved a mere 5/10.

The durability of the QLED TV screen is due to groundbreaking Quantum Dot technology. Quantum dots are made of inorganic materials, which translates to longer-lasting displays that do not develop the burn-in issue. Displaying the same image or scene for long periods of time will not leave unpleasant ghost images on your QLED TV, enhancing the gaming experience.

“Today’s TVs are like all-round players. More and more, people are enjoying everything on TV such as games, the internet, or smart functions provided by IoT,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “The huge-screen QLED TV with best performance and durability will take the gaming experience to the next level.”

As TVs get bigger, their design has become ever more important. According to a Samsung Electronics survey of US consumers last year, almost eight out of ten (77%) of the respondents who plan to purchase premium TVs over $2,000 answered that they consider ‘design’ to be important.

Continuing its design innovation for TVs since the launch of the Bordeaux TV in 2006, Samsung has once again created something beautiful in the QLED TV. The QLED TV is a work of art that naturally melts into a living space. Of its features, Ambient Mode, which turns the “off” screen into a new display, and the Invisible Connection, which combines power and data lines into one, best accentuate the TV’s beauty and its harmony with the surrounding environment.

1. ‘Ambient Mode’, the Revival of the Black Screen

TVs are turned on for only five hours a day on average, yet they occupy a large space on the wall in the living room. This means TVs hang on the wall just as a black screen for more than 19 hours every day. With a TV turned off, it is easier to see dust or fingerprints on the screen – especially when the screen is large.

This year, Samsung Electronics unveiled Ambient Mode for the QLED TV, turning an empty screen into a display that depicts images and information. Ambient Mode is unique and unparalleled as it literally allows the TV to blend seamlessly into the room.

“See the Sun in the Morning and Hear the Raindrops – All via TV”

Ambient Mode also increases the QLED TV’s operation efficiency significantly with energy-saving functions that turn off the screen if users are not nearby. The SmartThings app detects mobile signals (Bluetooth Low Energy) and passes on the information to the TV. With an auto-dimming sensor, the TV’s brightness and color can be adjusted according to the viewing environment. In the dark, Ambient Mode is automatically turned off to prevent unnecessary power consumption.

In addition, the QLED TV’s inorganic quantum dot technology is free from burn-in, letting users appreciate Ambient Mode as much as they want without seeing afterimages, even after a static picture has remained on screen for an extended length of time. Samsung Electronics is the only company in the industry that offers a 10-year burn-in warranty.

2. Invisible Connection, Integrating TV Cables into One

As the number of TV peripherals increases, messy cables are exposed around the TV – and are often hidden inside the wall for aesthetic reasons. To gracefully harmonize the device into its surroundings, Samsung devised the One Visible Cable for its QLED TVs. Following the introduction of ‘Invisible Connection’ which combines complex connection lines into a single cable last year, Samsung unveiled the first-of-its-kind innovation by merging power lines into one line.

“The First TV to Integrate Power and Data”

With high-speed SerDes and optical communication technology, the Invisible Connection transmits audiovisual signals and data as well as power. Often, transmitting sensitive data at high speeds through an optical cable with a power line is likely to cause interference and noise. This, however, can be reduced by Samsung’s error compensation technology.

Made of inconspicuous transparent materials, the Invisible Connection is the perfect solution to tidy up the area around the TV and eliminate visual distractions. The cable offered is 5 meters in length, but if needed, the line can be extended up to 15 meters with separate purchase of a longer One Visible Cable. Thanks to the cable’s color and material easily blending in with the wall, users can now truly appreciate minimalism in interior design in their living rooms.

Accentuating safety as a key aspect of the Invisible Connection led Samsung Electronics to develop a new piece of technology. The over-current protection circuit cuts off power automatically as soon as users unplug or disconnect the cable. Samsung successfully stabilized high-voltage transmission and was approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global safety testing and certification company.

“Ambient Mode makes the invisible visible, and the Invisible Connection makes the visible invisible. Despite the two features’ roles being seemingly different, they both share the same purpose: to maximize spatial value and alter the lifestyles of consumers,” said Taeyoung Huh, Vice President of Samsung Electronics. “Samsung’s QLED TV and its technologies remains at the heart of creating a better-than-ever TV experience for all of our users.”

* Product specifications may vary depending on models and locations.

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

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

UHD TV Beyond FHD TV

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

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

What is the Standard for Ultra-High-Definition?

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

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

Blacks and Colors Transformed

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

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

AI Upscaling the Content

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When it comes to the state of the current TV market, it’s clear that consumers are after larger screens, a trend driven by rising income levels and changing consumer expectations. Recent years have seen the standard for what constitutes a large screen TV change. Whereas previously, large screen TVs were classified as measuring 55-inch. Now, that classification has crept up to TVs over 65- or 75- inch in size, with the super large category also now a category in its own right.

Rapid Growth of Large-sized TV Market

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

QLED Leads Larger TV Market with Aims to Double its Growth

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

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

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

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

Samsung Electronics designed its 2018 QLED TVs to help redefine ‘immersion’ as it relates to TVs. The devices feature a finely polished design that naturally blends in with its surroundings, fostering captivating viewing experiences when on, and enabling users to remain completely immersed in their daily activities when off.

Introducing the new, intricately refined QLED TV – a TV whose engrossing visuals and boundless, 360° design offer users the unprecedented experience of total immersion.

Eliminating Distractions

The 2018 QLED TVs’ clean-cut design enables users to be utterly immersed in their favorite content. Because convoluted cables are distracting, the TVs feature the One Invisible Connection, which combines the AV and power lines, along with the cables of peripheral devices (via the One Connect Box), into a single, transparent cable that eliminates visual distractions and keeps the area around the TV tidy. This first-of-its-kind innovation can also be extended up to 15 meters, so users may freely position their TV without worrying about its proximity to a power source.

QLED TV’s minimalist styling is bolstered by its No Gap Wall-mount, which allows the display’s sleek metal frame to be neatly and easily installed flush against the wall. Each TV is also compatible with an array of stylish stands. Designed to blend in with a wide range of living spaces, the stands ensure that the displays look stunning from any angle, and offer users the freedom to position their TV wherever suits their lifestyle.

Built to Blend In

* The image shown is for illustration purposes only. The details in the screen may differ from the actual product, and product specifications may vary depending on region and model.

When crafting the TVs, Samsung carefully contemplated a design that would gracefully harmonize with its surroundings even when the TV was turned off. This ultimately led the design team to develop QLED TV’s new Ambient Mode, which makes it seem as if the TV is projecting the wall behind it. This design element creates a sense of spatial consistency by enabling the TV screen to seamlessly blend in with the wall.

The SmartThings app features an array of built-in images to suit a wide range of living spaces, and also allows users to take a picture of their own wall to set as their Ambient Mode image. Useful day-to-day information, such as the time, weather or news, can also be also displayed in real time, and accessing the feature is simple, thanks to the addition of a dedicated Ambient Mode button on QLED TV’s One Remote Control.

In addition, thanks to Samsung’s energy-efficient technology, Ambient Mode is easy on electricity bills. When activated, the screen brightness is automatically adjusted according to the viewing environment to minimize power consumption. And because Samsung’s QLED technology is guaranteed to be burn-in free, users may enjoy the feature without worry.

Illuminating the Essence of the QLED TV Experience

Onscreen images are not embedded in the product.

Samsung’s 2018 QLED TVs completely redefine the viewing experience. Rather than describing that experience with a plethora of words, Samsung has chosen to express the product’s concept with a variety of images.

Samsung has crafted Onscreen images that offer users unique visual encounters, taking ordinary things such as a flower, a butterfly or a feather, and transforming them to create visually extraordinary experiences. These visually rich Onscreen images showcase colorful splendor, effectively setting the stage for QLED TV’s vibrant images and exceptional picture quality.

As the new ‘face’ of Samsung’s 2018 QLED TVs, Onscreen images are both points of intersection between the user and the product, as well as channels through which Samsung conveys its design values of injecting the sheer joy of viewing into everyday life.

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

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

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

First-of-its-kind Flexibility

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

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

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

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

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

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

Safety First

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

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

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

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

First Impressions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Piyush Kunnapallil, General Manager, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India and actress Hansika Motwani launching the 2018 Television range in Chennai

Samsung has introduced game-changing products in the Indian market across segments. The brand has always been ahead of the curve with first-to-market innovations such as LED TV, Smart TV, Curved TV, Curved UHD TV and now QLED TV and The Frame.

“Consumers in India are upsizing and are moving to bigger and better televisions. We intend to fuel this trend by increasing our UHD line-up by 60% and launching new products with innovative features such as Ambient Mode and superior sound quality,” said Mr. Rajeev Bhutani, Senior Vice President, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India.

“We conducted extensive consumer research and found that consumers need more than just a TV for their living room. The Ambient Mode in Samsung QLED TV allows it to seamlessly blend with your home interiors. We also identified that sound is a major point of concern for Indian TV consumers, hence we developed the Concert series, designed to deliver unmatched sound. Similarly, the UHD series brings in a host of innovations and unparalleled features,” he added.

QLED TV

In the 2018 QLED TV, Samsung is introducing Ambient Mode. With the Ambient Mode, you can convert QLED TV into a canvas that expresses your moods and can also act as a window to the world. The TV can mimic the pattern on the wall behind the TV to create an astonishing visual effect in which the TV blends seamlessly into the wall. Also, the TV will automatically show you the weather to reflect whether it is sunny or rainy or snowy. Moreover, you can personalize the background with your own photos or from a selection of stunning artworks. It’s very easy to access the Ambient Mode by simply pressing the hotkey on QLED TV remote.

The 2018 QLED also comes with one invisible connection whereby through a single, hardly visible cable you can transmit data as well as power. Using this robust, high speed, and future proof cable, you can put the TV wherever you want to and all connected devices can be stacked away far from the TV.

With intelligent display comes an intelligent way to control your TV. In the QLED TV, you can do away with buttons and interact smartly through the S VOICE. With S VOICE you are only one voice command away from controlling your QLED TV. For example, if I ask – How‘s the weather? – the TV will display the weather data on the screen.

The QLED TV also comes with the Smart Things app that can connect TV to other IoT enabled devices for syncing and sharing content, sending notifications and, mirroring screen and sound. Moreover, it offers the amazing picture quality through 100% Colour Volume and HDR10+ functionality which brings out hidden details. Fusing a slim, sleek and premium metal body with a nearly bezel-less display, QLED TVs set the tone for exceptional sophistication.

There will be 8 QLED TV models in 2018 ranging from 55-inch to 75-inch, covering flat as well as curved variants. The QLED TV range will start from INR 2,45,000.

UHD TV

Samsung’s UHD TVs are characterised by excellent picture quality and elegant design in Slim Matte body. Powered by superior High Dynamic Range, Samsung UHD TVs provide striking brightness, deep contrast, exceptional details and vividly accurate colours. Moreover, its Dynamic Crystal Color technology is optimized for high resolution viewing to deliver crystal clear tones across an expanded colour spectrum.

The UHD variants also come with One Remote Control, Smart Hub and Smart Convergence for you to pair your Smartphone with TV or vice-versa or TV with Bluetooth speaker that lets you enjoy 2-Way audio streaming.

With these new products the UHD line-up will increase from 10 models to 16 models. Entry level UHD will start from 7100 series followed by 7470, 8000 and finally The Frame. The UHD TV range will start from INR 64,900.

Concert Series

As a part of ‘Make for India’ Innovations, Samsung unveiled the Concert Series, in two distinct variations, Smart Concert and Joy Concert.

Sound quality is a very important buying factor for a TV purchaser. Consumers are looking for loud volume and cinematic sound capability so that they can enjoy movies, music and sports on their TVs. The 2018 Concert Series has been designed to address this Indian need for sound with a new sound technology that combines both hardware and software improvements to deliver powerful cinematic surround audio experience.

Unlike regular TVs, the Concert series will come not with 2 but 4 speakers – two at the top and two at the bottom. Each channel delivers 10W sound output to pack a cumulative punch of 40W surround sound experience.

Smart Concert Series also comes with Bluetooth capability which allows users to pair their smartphones or speakers to the TV and also has a customisable advanced user interface.  The Smart Hub feature in the Smart Concert variant allows users to access Live TV and browse content across a host of apps such as Jio Cinema, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Big Flix and many more.

The Smart concert and Joy concert are available in 32”, 43” and 49” sizes, and will starts from INR 27,500.

Feel The Game Offer

In view of the FIFA World Cup starting in June, Samsung has launched “Feel the Game” offer for customers looking to upgrade to large screen and premium TVs. With the 2018 QLED TVs, consumers will get Free Galaxy S9 along with 10-Yr No Screen Burn In Warranty. Also, gifts such as Free Soundbar or Speaker will be applicable on purchase of other select TVs. The offer will run across India till July 15.