When it comes to generating the best viewing experiences possible on a TV, a balanced array of technologies and features are necessary to determine the picture quality of a display. From resolution to refresh rates, contrast levels to backlight control and color gamut to upscaling capabilities, all these features work together to create and produce high-quality images on-screen.

Samsung Electronics’ 2021 Neo QLED lineup features technological breakthroughs that deliver immersive and true-to-life viewing experiences like never before thanks to its LED modules on the hardware level through to its upscaling processes on a software level. With Samsung’s proprietary Neo Quantum Mini LEDs, Quantum Matrix Technology and Neo Quantum Processor, users can enjoy true-to-life viewing experiences that are better than ever before.

What’s more, Samsung’s Neo QLED lineup also features an incredibly thin and stylish Infinity One Design.¹ With bezels all but erased at less than a millimeter, users can fully immerse themselves into the images on-screen, and given that the Neo QLED hangs on the wall just like a painting, it can blend seamlessly into various interiors.

To better understand how three key technologies of the 2021 Neo QLED lineup work together to enhance the overall picture quality experience, Samsung Newsroom is introducing them in dynamic graphic format for easy comprehension.

Manufactured With Precision – Quantum Mini LEDs

Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLED comes with an all-new form of light source, Quantum Mini LED. A whole new display technology featuring thousands of LEDs that are much smaller than standard LED modules,² Quantum Mini LEDs reveal accurate and sophisticated image detailing while maintaining precise backlight control.

The secret behind the miniature size of Quantum Mini LEDs is Samsung’s proprietary micro layer technology that mounts micro layers inside the LED itself, as opposed to conventional technologies that pack layers on top of the LED, in order to eliminate unnatural noise among the LED elements and ensure deeper blacks can be displayed without blooming.

4,096 Levels of Lighting Control for Greater Bright-to-Dark Contrast – Quantum Matrix Technology

The 2021 Neo QLED lineup also incorporates Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Matrix Technology, which harnesses enhanced 12-bit gradation for greater control of the light source – the Quantum Mini LEDs. This allows the TV to control its lighting across an astounding 4,096 levels, four times greater than conventional 10-bit displays.³ This also creates even more possibilities to deliver the ultimate in contrast ratio management and deeper shades of black.

But that’s not all. With advanced local dimming control, 2021 Neo QLED lineup can efficiently manage power and improve peak brightness, making bright areas brighter and dark areas darker by harnessing unused electric power from dark areas and concentrating it to be used in bright areas. Quantum Matrix Technology takes advantage of the Quantum Mini LEDs’ superb hardware characteristics, all embedded in an LED the size of a grain of sand, and offers viewers sharpness and color volume that is more true-to-life than ever before.

Advanced Upscaling Divided Into 16 Artificial Neural Networks – Neo Quantum Processor

The crisp definition and vivid colors offered by Quantum Mini LEDs and Quantum Matrix Technology are brought to life by Samsung’s powerful Neo Quantum Processor and its AI upscaling capabilities. With 16 multi-modal neural networks running at once, the 2021 Neo QLED lineup delivers smooth and seamless 4K or 8K upscaling that meets the needs of the finest home theaters.

Samsung’s Neo Quantum Processor features AI-powered deep learning technologies that mimic the mechanism of human learning and memory, and the 2021 Neo QLED lineup sees a significant upgrade in this technology as the Neo Quantum Processor has grown from featuring one to 16 neural networks. These 16 different neural networks categorize content based on input resolution, quality and more.

Furthermore, since the Neo Quantum Processor includes dedicated upscaling models to precisely upscale content based on various factors including resolution, edges, details and noise levels, its 16 multi-modal neural networks can upscale SD broadcast content, HD videos on streaming services or even FHD content from Blu-ray disks, enhancing the exact aspect of picture quality needed for each content type.

¹ Infinity One Design is offered on QN800A and above. For detailed lineup information, please visit www.samsung.com.

² Compared with LED module height featured in the 2020 Samsung UHD TV, each Quantum Mini LED is 1/40 the size.

³ 10-bit: 2¹⁰ = 1,024 levels of control; 12-bit: 2¹² = 4,096 levels.

In order to understand more about how those innovative features of the Neo QLED transcend technological hurdles to meet user’s growing demands for next-level quality displays, Samsung Global Newsroom sat down with the next-generation TV’s developers to find out more.

▲(From left to right) Engineers Bonggeun Lee, Kyehoon Lee, and Minhoon Lee from the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics

The Beginning of QLED: the Quantum Mini LED

The culmination of a range of leading innovations, the journey to developing the Neo QLED began with the creation of the Quantum Mini LED, a light source just 1/40^th the height of conventional LEDs. Samsung’s engineers managed to reduce the size of the LED down to almost that of dust, and applied a micro layer that softly disperses light into the LED itself, allowing the chip to emit and disperse light on its own. The resulting self-emitting LED removes the noise possessed by previous technologies and enables the era of natural, smooth display presentation.

“In those TVs that utilize the typical LEDs, there is an additional lens that has to sit on top of the LED so that the light can be dispersed, so our focus for our new LED product was on allowing it to disperse light independently,” noted Engineer Minhoon Lee. “Not only is the Quantum Mini LED smaller and more space-effective than its predecessors, but it also does not require the extra lens layer, allowing us to align more LEDs together in a more compact manner.”

As the Quantum Mini LED is just 1/40^th the height of previous LEDs, the engineers encountered many hurdles in the production process. There was not enough equipment available to work with these new LEDs that were of such a minute size, and the production process was inevitably intricate and tricky. “Not only is the Quantum Mini LED small, but we also needed to ascertain the accurate location of where electricity enters the LED in order to align the tens of thousands of elements around it,” said Engineer Kyehoon Lee. “This meant that expertise and advanced technologies became key. Samsung already has the know-how when it comes to developing next-generation displays, including micro LED products, so we could address this issue by applying existing Samsung processes that deal specifically with microfine elements.”

Presenting Fine Details Through Precise Control: the Quantum Matrix

Local dimming is a technology that enables better picture quality by optimizing the brightness appropriately and dimming or brightening parts of the screen that respectively need to be adjusted through distinguishing the screen backlights into multiple zones. Increasing the on-screen contrast not only provides life-like watching experiences, but it also significantly reduces the amount of electricity used. Samsung has championed local dimming technology for a long time, and has been able to improve and advance this technology through dedicated research and development efforts. As a result, the Neo QLEDs feature an evolved and optimized local dimming technology – Quantum Matrix.

However, if the lens that is used to disperse the light on top of an LED is removed and the backlights are exposed, wouldn’t this result in users being able to notice the changes in brightness and contrast happening? The engineers had already considered this, and tackled this obstacle by including even more precise adjustment into the Quantum Matrix’s processes.

Previously 10 bits, the Neo QLED features 12 bits brightness so that the light can be adjusted within a total of 4,096 levels. When the light level on-screen is not detailed enough, it can result in an impression of lag or freezing, and the light could be absorbed by nearby local blocks. However, Quantum Matrix technology is able to express a color at dozens of different levels without any glitching and presents them with no blooming. If you enjoy playing games on your TV, for example, you will be able to easily distinguish a foe in a dark cave with your own eyes.

“The range of brightness that the human eye can see is called the dynamic range,” noted Minhoon Lee. “When it comes to Quantum Matrix, the light can be adjusted within a 4,096 level range, meaning that this dynamic range has also been maximized.”

“The human eye is very sensitive, so we are helping each color to play its own role and show itself as it is instead of getting mixed up with other ones,” continued Minhoon Lee. “In addition, Quantum Matrix technology brings the extra electricity that isn’t being used in darker parts of the screen to the brighter parts so that the concentration is maximized. With this technology, we’ve achieved brightness of up to 4,000 nits¹ with the Neo QLED.”

Quantum Matrix technology not only precisely controls all those Quantum Mini LEDs, but it also controls the light source for each individual content. “This technology works by analyzing the content source being played so that users can enjoy even more vivid, realistic experiences,” noted Engineer Bonggeun Lee. “For instance, if there is a scene on-screen that requires a maximized sense of dimension, the technology will provide a sense of depth by focusing the light on the object that is at the front while darkening the background. It is a completely different technology from something as simple as lights that just turn on and off.”

More Detailed AI Upscaling: the Neo Quantum Processor

When it comes to enjoying the best possible viewing experiences, content picture quality is just as important as a next-level display. In order to ensure that users can enjoy high-quality content even if the original source is of a lower resolution, and regardless of local internet speed, Samsung’s engineers developed a picture quality engine to automatically convert any content to an optimized picture quality – the advanced AI-powered Neo Quantum Processor.

The innovation key to the Neo Quantum Processor’s high performance is that its neural network has been increased from 1 to 16. This allows the processor to map different contents by their type, significantly enhancing its upscaling capability. “The Neo Quantum Processor works like this: the selected video’s attributes will be analyzed in real-time by the processor, and then the most optimized neural network out of the 16 available will be applied for the best possible upscaling result,” explained Bonggeun Lee. “This means that each one of the 16 neural networks is capable of playing a different role so that the processor can perform even more detailed upscaling.”

The processor’s method of filling the gaps between low resolution and high resolution contents has also become more precise. If the gap between the pixels is widened, then simply copying and pasting the same pixel repeatedly will make the video unclear and blurry. With the Neo Quantum Processor, the correlation is constantly analyzed through neural network learning and the change between pixels is estimated to fill in the gap between pixels in a way that is as close to reality as possible. This allows for a pattern to be analyzed in real-time and the best possible upscaling solution can be applied to the content, no matter what resolution the input video has (be it SD, HD, FHD or 4K).

The Epitome of Samsung’s Display Innovation: 2021 Neo QLED

Samsung’s TVs have been number one in the global market for 15 consecutive years. This achievement illustrates the synergy between the different innovations the company develops for each of its products, and how they work together to consistently provide the viewing experiences that users expect. The Neo QLED, a TV in a whole new league of its own, was made possible only due to the company’s existing work into developing advanced display technologies.

“Neo QLED isn’t simply a display made out of small LEDs,” highlighted Engineer Kyehoon Lee. “From including small yet effective elements to developing precise screen control, there are so many different technologies that have converged in the Neo QLED to bring beautiful display screen experiences to users. We’re very excited to see how our team’s efforts in research and development over the years have finally led to such an achievement in display technology.”

Each year, the trends within the display business change without fail. When developing the Neo QLED, all the engineers agreed that the trend they paid the most attention to was “the bigger, the better”. Out of the many factors that users consider when purchasing a TV, size is always at the top of the list. The engineers expect that the market is set to move forward with this mindset, too.

“In the past, some people felt uncomfortable with large-screen TVs, as they wouldn’t be able to so vividly see all the pixels on-screen and this lead to visual discomfort,” noted Bonggeun Lee. “However, Neo QLED is a TV that has reached the technological level that allows for satisfying viewing experiences across the board. In line with the leading trends within the TV market that prioritize ultra-large screens, we will continue to work towards realizing the perfect picture quality on a large screen.”

Samsung’s Neo QLED, which presents its contents to users as if it were actually right there in front of their eyes, has been realized with the aim of opening up a new era for displays. Following this, it won’t be too long until we can all enjoy next-level viewing experiences right in our own living rooms.

¹ Maximum brightness may vary by model.

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.