In case you missed the event, take a look at some of the highlights from Samsung’s showcase at ISE 2023 below.

▲ ISE 2023 was held at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. This was the second year in a row ISE was held in Barcelona.

▲ ISE 2023 was held at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. This was the second year in a row ISE was held in Barcelona.

The guiding principle for Samsung this year was “Everyday Sustainability.” Through its new AV products and solutions, Samsung hopes to highlight sustainability across the entire product lifecycle, including sourcing, production, distribution, using and recycling.

▲ Visitors learned about Samsung’s eco-conscious efforts across all five stages of the product lifecycle.

▲ The theme of “Everyday Sustainability” showcased at Samsung’s booth attracted the attention of visitors from all over the world.

Redefining Hybrid Work and Learning

The “Samsung Kiosk” Windows version (Model Name: KMC-W) allows businesses and retailers to optimize the customer experience with expanded support for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise OS. With its enhanced capabilities and all-in-one functionality, the Samsung Kiosk won an ‘ISE Best of Show’ by AV Technology. While exploring the booth, one manager from the retail industry said the Kiosk “is a great solution to attract customers and create a seamless experience.”

▲ Visitors were drawn to the “Samsung Kiosk” and had the opportunity to experience the display’s usability. Samsung incorporated use of the Kiosk as part of their own booth experience at ISE.

The Wall (Model Name: IWB) and The Wall All-in-One (Model Name: IAB) provide awe-inspiring, immersive screens for businesses. The Wall All-in-One was honored with the ‘ISE Best of Show’ by Installation and ‘Top New Technology (TNT) Awards’ for Video Wall Hardware showcasing its impressive and beautiful display features. While discussing The Wall, a professional from the European signage industry noted, “The photo quality is brilliant thanks to the incredibly small pixel pitch.”

▲ Visitors to the booth watched and listened intently while learning about The Wall IAB’s striking features and easy installation.

The Samsung Flip Pro makes it easier than ever to collaborate with a seamless environment. Users can connect to the Flip with multiple devices at once, edit documents and share content in real time. The Flip Pro’s industry-leading features earned it three awards at ISE: ‘ISE Best of Show’ by Tech & Learning, the ‘Top New Technology (TNT) Awards’ for Interactive Whiteboards and the ‘2023 INAVATION Awards’ for Communication & Collaboration Display Product. Visitors to the booth enjoyed testing the whiteboard and expressed satisfaction with the interface’s usability.

▲ Visitors to the booth tested the Flip Pro interactive whiteboard in person and commended its intuitive user experience.

▲ A mirrored PC screen with the Flip Pro makes collaboration easier for businesses and educators, even in remote environments.

Eco-Conscious Outdoor Signage That Shines

The new model of the Outdoor LED Signage XHB series delivers a peak brightness of 8,000 nits and can be installed in Concave, Convex, S shape, Fascia or 90 °L type shapes. The new XHB series has also been upgraded to be more eco-conscious, with power consumption reduced by over 15% compared to the previous model. One viewer commented that the LED signage “marks a new chapter for Samsung and is one of the standout features of the booth.”

▲ Visitors to the booth, particularly those in the sports industry, marveled at the XHB series.

▲ Viewers explored the XHB series display’s different form factors, enabling flexible design and installation.

▲ Viewers explored the XHB series display’s different form factors, enabling flexible design and installation.

EV charging stations are an emerging area for advertising and upselling opportunities. Samsung’s latest smart signage for outdoor EV chargers (Model Name: OH24B) offers unmatched connectivity and UL-verified visibility to display crystal clear content — leading the signage solution to win the ‘ISE Best of Show’ by AV Technology. One visitor to the booth commented on “the efficient operation and upselling opportunities” that are made possible by solutions like the OH24B.

▲ Business representatives visiting the booth were intrigued by the outdoor signage for EV chargers.

Reducing On-Site Visits With Remote Management

Samsung’s cloud-based MagicINFO makes ‘Remote Management’ easy. Through Remote Management function, users can monitor a number of connected signages and manage settings like volume and screen brightness, plus troubleshoot from a single online portal. This leads to fewer site visits for an efficient management of multiple signage, on top of preventing the energy wastes by easily dimming or turning off signage when they’re not needed.

▲ Remote Management makes it easy to control multiple displays at the same time from one cloud-based platform.

▲ It was an exciting year at ISE 2023, with a record number of attendees visiting the event.

“We are committed to ensuring everyday sustainability throughout our signage portfolio and finding meaningful ways to minimize our environmental impact as part of our journey toward a more circular economy,” said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to showcase our vision for how smart signage can help enable everyday sustainability while unlocking incredible new opportunities for businesses at ISE.”

Building Technologies that contribute to Eco-Conscious Digital Signage

At ISE this year, Samsung will highlight the company’s sustainability initiatives based on its new environmental strategy announced in September 2022. Pre-registered visitors will be able to see Samsung’s environmental vision come to life, with the sustainability zone at the booth showcasing the eco-conscious practices applied to digital signage products. These practices are based on the five stages of the product lifecycle – sourcing, production, distribution, using, and recycling.

Samsung’s 2023 smart signage products (QHC, QMC, QBC) are approximately 40% slimmer than previous models at 28.5mm thickness. Through this, the number of shipping containers required for logistics after production can be reduced by more than 20%[1] compared to the previous model. In addition, smart signage products support automatic screen brightness adjustment by adopting an illuminance sensor which reacts to surrounding light conditions, helping users manage their power consumption automatically. Plus, the resin used for the rear covers contains 10% of Post-Consumer Materials (PCM).

▲ The Remote Management function will enable users to simply monitor the number of connected devices and easily manage different devices, as well as remotely control settings such as power ON/OFF and screen brightness.

Samsung’s cloud-based MagicINFO solution enhances Remote Management and helps to manage multiple signage displays and a variety of content efficiently. The Remote Management function will enable users to simply monitor the number of connected devices, their types and errors, and easily manage different devices, as well as remotely control settings such as screen brightness. Plus, this solution will offer other features including device health diagnostics, informing users of issues related to cable connection, device temperature and network disruption.

At ISE 2023, Samsung will also be running a separate solution seminar zone, introducing visitors to the company’s new and differentiated technologies. Its soon-to-be-announced cloud signage platform will offer a wide range of energy-saving solutions that empower users to manage and reduce their energy usage. New solutions include real-time power consumption monitoring, timed luminance scheduling, remote brightness adjustment and automatic device management. This comprehensive platform will integrate and connect LCD signage, LED signage, and B2B TVs to provide a seamless user experience.

Introducing New 2023 Outdoor Signage — Large LED Screens and Small-Sized Displays Unveiled

Samsung is announcing new signage products at ISE 2023. Firstly, the company will release its 2023 outdoor LED signage[2] (Model Name: XHB series), built for the sports industry and spectacular landmark locations.

The XHB series is available in four models: P6 (6mm pixel pitch), P8, P10 and P16, all of which produce light at an astonishing peak brightness of 8,000 nits exceptionally clear and stunning picture quality – even when in direct sunlight. Furthermore, the standardized module design of the XHB guarantees flexible design and installation, including Concave (maximum of 2500R curvature), Convex, S shape, Fascia, and 90 °L type.

With a design twice as thin as the previous model, the XHB series can be installed in a seamless way, with the installation time also reduced by more than half for improved convenience. Furthermore, improved energy efficiency means the XHB reduces power consumption by over 15% compared to its predecessor and can reduce approximately 2,492 tons of CO2 emissions every year, which is equivalent to the amount of CO2 sequestered by about 290,000 30 year old pine trees in one year[3].

The XHB series will be available for ordering starting from ISE 2023, with some of the first models already being installed as electronic scoreboards at the home stadiums of globally recognized US Baseball teams, the New York Mets and The World Champion Houston Astros ahead of the 2023 season.

Finally, Samsung is introducing a small-sized, 24-inch outdoor signage display (Model Name: OH24B) to cater to the electric vehicle (EV) charger market. As demand for EVs continues to rise, it is important to provide solutions that enable a more connected, enjoyable charging experience, while providing upselling opportunities for businesses and retailers.

The outdoor signage excels in both durability and outdoor visibility across a wide range of diverse conditions. This high resilience and versatility are provided by peak brightness of 1,500 nits, and a slim, metal design, as well as water, dust and liquid resistance (IP66, Ingress Protection), and IK-10 Level glass protection. A high temperature, rigid liquid crystal panel is also applied to provide further durability even under strong sunlight. In addition, the display offers removable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth accessories which

can optimize the receiving rate based on installation conditions. Finally, the small signage boasts unparalleled energy efficiency with the industry’s lowest power consumption[4] (a maximum of 90W) above 20-inches, perfect for an EV charging station which requires 24/7 operation and information delivery.

New Kiosk and Flip Pro’s Exclusive Solution Deliver Enhanced Device Compatibility

Samsung is also announcing the latest model, ‘Samsung Kiosk’ Windows version (Model Name: KMC-W). In addition to the existing model operating Tizen (OS), ‘Samsung Kiosk’ Windows version is compatible with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise OS to expand customer choices.

This new Kiosk adopts Intel’s 11th generation Intel Core Processor. It is equipped with 8GB DRAM and 256GB SSD, providing fast processing and ample storage space to meet the fast-evolving industry demands beyond healthcare, hospitality, and retail.

The company will introduce a new solution, exclusive for the ‘Samsung Flip,’ meeting the demand of both educators and businesses to be connected to various devices simultaneously. It enables users to bring the content or applications in their PC to the Flip by connecting a PC with the Flip. Especially, users can write over content brought from their PC on the screen of Flip and share in real-time. The new solution enhances usability for remote work and provides a seamless work environment by allowing users to optimize and utilize the screen to connect with other device screens.

For more information about Samsung’s impactful SMART signage and solutions, please visit https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/ise2023.

[1] Based on the number of boxed devices per-40ft container. Based on annual sales volume of indoor smart signage in 2022.

[2] Product availability and specifications may vary by country.

[3] The amount of carbon emissions for XHB was compared with that of its predecessor (XPR) based on sales in 2022. 

XHB’s annual carbon emissions were calculated via Carbon Footprint Calculator (https://www.kcen.kr/tanso/intro.green) in January 16, 2023. (high voltage, summer).

XHB’s carbon reduction effect equivalent to planting trees was calculated based on The Average Amount of Carbon Absorbed by Forest Trees Devised by National Institute of Forest Science, Korea (ver. 1.2) on July, 2019.

[4] Internal market analysis

Samsung Electronics recently completed the installation of an upgraded display solution in the Swiss Life Arena, making it the most modern ice hockey arena in Switzerland. The display solution modernizes the space by providing revamped hardware and software as well as technical support for the ZSC Lions and includes the largest indoor LED cube in Europe. The upgrades were made possible by Samsung’s innovative technology and have enabled the Swiss Life Arena to meet National Hockey League (NHL) standards, a level typically only achieved by North American arenas.

▲ The LED cube installed at the Swiss Life Arena is the largest indoor LED cube in Europe.

As an official display technology partner of the Swiss Life Arena, Samsung outfitted the arena with a wide range of signage products and technical solutions to enhance the customer experience and improve operational efficiency.

“We are proud to present Samsung’s display technology after working with our AV Solution Partner Bild+Ton and the ZSC Lions to equip what is now the most modern ice hockey arena in Switzerland, delivering a world class fan experience,” said Daniel Périsset, Head of CE IT Team, Display and Memory at Samsung Electronics Switzerland. “The unparalleled quality of the solutions will help us deliver the best experiences in the rapidly evolving sports entertainment industry.”

Ground-Breaking Display Solutions To Wow Fans

Samsung installed 669 square meters of LED signage inside the arena, totalling over 18 million LEDs. From players on the side lines to fans in the stands, Samsung’s vibrant display technology allows everyone in the arena to be immersed in the action thanks to brilliant clarity and consistent color presentation. The advanced LED technology provides lifelike picture quality by optimizing brightness levels while eliminating shine and visual inconsistencies.

The central LED Cube display — which measures 12(w)x12(d)x8(h) meters — is the principal element of the fan experience with 416m² of the LED signages. Regardless of where fans sit in the arena’s 12,000 seats, they will be able to enjoy the stunning video display. Designed with premium picture quality and vibrant colors, the Cube will captivate audiences and set the mood using ambient light and sound. During the process of constructing the massive Cube, the teams collaborated to overcome the challenges of keeping the total weight as low as possible and managing the sheer scale of the installation.

▲ The large LED cube and ribbon boards surrounding the entire arena present high-definition picture quality along with ambient lighting and sound.

“You need a reason for fans to come back to the stadium, and we can do so many things now to communicate during the game with the fans. It’s not only the Cube — it’s the screens; it’s the signage,” said Bruno Vollmer, Chief Operating Officer of the ZSC Lions. “The support from Samsung was amazing and we can be proud, all of us, for what we have done.”

To create a fluid and dynamic experience for guests, the Samsung displays include various ribbon boards — long and thin LED screens mounted on the face of balconies — and audio equipment. Thanks to the optimal visibility and low reflection technology of the ribbon boards, fans will not miss any action on or off the field — even in constantly changing lighting conditions.

The content management across all signage displays is supported by MagicINFO 9, the cloud-based solution for the most comprehensive signage offering 24/7 technical support. Managing on-screen content is made simple using Samsung’s powerful MagicINFO 9 solution, which supports content, device and data management across all the displays throughout the entire arena. MagicINFO 9 also allows users to manage content remotely and securely, meaning updates can be made quickly to reflect match details, advertising, or important customer information. 

A Connected Experience Throughout The Arena

By delivering a complete display solution, Samsung has helped to enhance every moment of the audience experience at the arena, accompanying visitors from the minute they arrive until they depart. With an upgraded Players Club and a connected customer experience from the concourse to the Business Club, Sports Club and Press Room, fans can explore the arena while staying informed about the latest game updates.

▲ Signage and displays integrated throughout the arena by Samsung allow visitors to explore the venue while not missing out on any of the game action.

To ensure the technology was incorporated into every corner of the arena, Samsung installed 240 strategically located displays across the stadium. The crystal-clear picture quality of Samsung’s smart signage solutions, including the Q-series signage, are on display in the sports bar and around the concourse. Specifically, the ultra-high definition 4K resolution of the QMR series keeps audiences engaged in the action while enjoying food and beverages in the sports bar. In the auditorium, guests will be mesmerized by The Wall (IWA), a massive and awe-inspiring screen offering a vivid visual display. Furthermore, Samsung B2B monitors were selected for the ZSC Lions’ offices due to their high-resolution picture quality and productivity features.

Adrian Wangeler, Chief Executive Officer, Bild+Ton, shared, “Samsung always responds quickly and easily. Working directly with the manufacturer has the advantage of being able to fall back on the specialists and developers.”

As an industry leader in the global signage market for the past 13 consecutive years[1], Samsung stands out in the sports entertainment industries. Following Samsung’s visual display milestones equipping Citi Field and SoFi Stadium, fans can expect an extraordinary experience at Swiss Life Arena — powered by the latest innovations from Samsung.

Watch the full video about Samsung’s innovative installations at the Swiss Life Arena here:

[1] Samsung has been the No.1 selling digital signage brand for 13 consecutive years by Omdia. (Note: Consumer TVs, along with Commercial Lite and Hospitality TVs used for signage are excluded.)

Samsung’s signage solutions are designed to meet the real-world needs of modern businesses of all sizes. From retail and corporate, to education and control room displays, Samsung’s signage provides the quality and versatility needed to create cutting-edge customer experiences.

Samsung will launch its new ISE site to showcase this year’s event theme and share further details a month before the opening of ISE 2022. Those who cannot attend this year’s ISE can take a virtual tour at Samsung’s ISE 2022 Virtual Experience (VX), which will open on May 10 when ISE 2022 begins. The ISE 2022 VX site allows visitors to virtually experience innovative display products and solutions that will be showcased onsite. For more information about Samsung’s impactful digital signage and solutions, please visit this link.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced new models in its monitor lineup that exemplify its leadership within the sector. The versatile new lineup delivers beautiful picture quality and intuitive features that give consumers more choice when selecting a monitor that fits their exact needs.

The 2022 monitor portfolio brings out the best experiences while working, gaming or watching content at home. Samsung’s latest monitors include features for high-performance gaming as well as smart and pro-level elements, such as the Odyssey’s Quantum Mini LED backlight panel and HDR 2000; the Smart Monitor’s do-it-all screen with smart features; and the High Resolution Monitor’s comfortable ergonomics.

“Samsung’s 2022 lineup represents the next generation in monitor innovation with offerings that meet the demands of competitive gamers, professional designers and everyone in between,” said Hyesung Ha, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “As the work and entertainment worlds continue to evolve, we are proud to deliver monitors that boost users’ experiences from the comfort of their homes.”

Odyssey Neo G8

As the world’s first monitor to feature a 4K (3,840×2,160) 1000R curved screen with 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time (GtG), Odyssey Neo G8 32” (Model Name: G85NB) is set to open a new chapter in gaming monitor innovation, offering razor-sharp performance for even the most dedicated PC gamers. Its performance matches its stunning picture quality featuring Quantum Mini LEDs, Quantum HDR 2000 with a 2,000nit peak brightness and a million-to-one static contrast ratio, bringing out the most subtle details for increased world building and immersion.

The new Odyssey Neo G8 is built with a similar design language as the Odyssey Neo G9, offering a sleek white exterior that stands out even when it’s turned off.  Beautiful colors leap off the screen into a user’s real environment with CoreSync lighting. The core lighting found on the backside of the monitor automatically detects colors on the screen and projects them in real life to create a deeper sense of immersion.

Smart Monitor M8

With an ultra-slim thickness of 11.4mm, which is about three-quarters thinner than the previous model, the 2022 Smart Monitor M8 32” (Model Name: M80B) provides space efficiency. Especially for those who value style, it features a sophisticated flat-back design with enhanced usability and comes in a new warm white color that fits perfectly everywhere. The brilliant UHD panel provides 99% sRGB color gamut while supporting 1.07 billion colors at 400nit brightness, showing every video, document or photo with true-to-life accuracy.

Smart TV and productivity apps are built directly into the monitor, enabling seamless entertainment and work while serving as a SmartThings control hub, even without the need of a PC. The 2022 Smart Monitor M8 32” is a great option for remote working. It comes with a movable magnetic SlimFit Cam that enables crystal-clear video calls when working from home. With a USB Type-C port enabling 65W charging connections, the Smart Monitor M8 provides a streamlined all-in-one workstation experience that doesn’t require an additional docking station.

High Resolution Monitor S8

The Samsung High Resolution Monitor S8 (Model Name: S80PB), available in 27” and 32” models, delivers professional-level UHD performance for creators and designers who need the highest levels of accuracy and range when working in the office or at home. Delivering up to 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, the S80PB provides an ultra-wide range of rich and nuanced colors. With Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) Display HDR 600[1], this high-resolution monitor provides an immersive viewing experience, bringing content to life as it was intended. As the world’s first UL (Underwriter Laboratories) verified Glare Free monitor, Matte Display is applied on the top of the panel, reducing light reflection even when not using a monitor hood, to provide a distraction-free working environment.

Both models feature USB Type-C 90W charging and LAN ports to help users create a simplified workstation that can charge laptops and mobile devices with no additional docking station required.

Built with the VESA mount compatibility standards, as well as a Height Adjustable Stand (HAS) featuring tilt, swivel and pivot control points, users can mount their monitor to suit any environment.

For more information, including images or video on the products Samsung announces at CES 2022, please visit https://news.samsung.com/global/ces-2022

For more information, please visit: https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/main/index

[1] VESA Display HDR 600 available on the 32-inch version. 27-inch model supports VESA Display HDR 400.

*The content was revised on 4 March 2024 to provide more accurate information. 

From fast-food outlets to cafés, Samsung, a leader in the digital signage market for over a decade, will take its audience on a virtual tour of a QSR or SMB environment to demonstrate how its portfolio of displays enables businesses to realize their vision.

At the center of the SMB experience, visitors will learn how Samsung’s cutting-edge self-ordering kiosk can revolutionize the shopping experience for customers and storeowners alike. The company’s business TV optimizes engagement as it sits behind the counter, displaying the latest promotions and sales offers.

The QSR experience will take the audience on a journey through a typical quick service restaurant, putting a spotlight on Samsung’s Crystal UHD, Outdoor LED and Business TV units. The video wall and window display provide an exceptional customer experience, allowing customers to easily access the menu. Samsung’s showcase will also highlight screens for outdoor use, which can be utilized for curbside pickup and drive-thru restaurants. The Full Outdoor Signage ensures clear and bright messages, regardless of environmental conditions.

Samsung’s full line-up will be on display throughout the virtual showcase, and will be supported by customer success stories that prove the efficiency of its products and solutions. Visitors will hear internationally recognized QSRs and successful SMBs discuss topics including implementing Samsung’s portfolio, and how a seamless, efficient experience can be provided to customers.

To join the experience and learn more about what Samsung’s latest visual display solutions and innovations can do to enhance your business, please visit: https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/showcase/virtual-experience/samsung-vx-2021/qsr-smb.

(Clockwise from top left) A QSR drive-thru, displays for ordering and payment in a QSR, promotional displays in a QSR and a QSR patio area

(From left) Engineers Kwanyoung Kim and Seungsan Han, and designer Sungdo Son – members of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business, and the developers behind the company’s new solar cell-powered remote control and environmentally friendly TV packaging.

Did you know that out of the more than 50 million¹ tons of electronics that are thrown away each year, only a mere 17 percent is eventually recycled? Most of this ‘e-waste’ ends up polluting the environment by sitting in landfills or being incinerated. With annual e-waste expected to reach as much as 74 million tons by 2030, the global community has started taking steps to reduce consumption and minimize waste.

Driven by a desire to keep our planet clean for generations to come, Samsung Electronics regularly engages in eco-conscious efforts that are helping to establish a circular economy. The company is constantly exploring ways to reduce its products’ impact on the environment, including increasing products’ lifespans and spearheading efforts to recycle their resources.

In celebration of Earth Day 2021 (April 22), this special series will shine a light on Samsung initiatives that are paving the way for a circular economy. Our first article took a closer look at how the company’s recycling campaigns are giving old phones new life. Here, we’ll examine how Samsung’s Visual Display Business is making its TVs more sustainable by adopting eco-friendly packaging and solar-cell-powered remote controls.

Today, innovation no longer focuses solely on creating a more convenient and efficient future, but a sustainable one as well. As such, leaders in the fields of science and technology are devoting their utmost efforts to making their products eco-friendly without compromising on performance.

Samsung consistently pursues innovations that allow it to make its products more environmentally friendly. Recently, the company added an eco-friendly touch to one of consumers’ favorite appliances by developing a remote control that’s made using renewable plastic and powered by photovoltaic energy rather than disposable batteries, as well as TV packaging that can be reused as small furniture. Samsung Newsroom recently sat down with members of the team behind the innovations that are making Samsung TVs more sustainable.

A Solar Cell-Powered Remote Control That Charges Itself Using Photovoltaic Energy

Even if you have a nice, big, high-performance TV in your living room, you won’t be able to fully enjoy its countless channels and manage the volume and other features without a remote control. When exploring ways to make remote controls more eco-conscious, Samsung’s developers focused their attention on disposable batteries.

“Supposing that a typical TV is used for around seven years, changing the batteries in its remote just once a year would mean that 14 batteries would get used and thrown out,” said Kwanyoung Kim, an engineer. If we apply that number to Samsung Electronics’ expected annual global TV sales, it amounts to approximately 99 million discarded batteries. If we apply it to annual TV sales overall, it adds up to nearly 3.1 billion batteries.²

▲Over the course of a TV’s lifetime, a solar cell-powered remote control could effectively prevent up to 99 million AA batteries from being used and discarded.

Rather than using disposable batteries in the remote, the engineers decided to go with a self-charging battery instead. Many charging methods were considered, including one that harnessed the kinetic energy that’s created when the remote is shaken, and one that utilized the vibrational energy that’s created when the microphone picks up sounds. As Kim explained, at the end of the day, the optimal charging solution turned out to be a solar cell.

“Even when we aren’t watching our TV or using our remote, we usually have the lights on, except when we are sleeping. This makes light an easily accessible charging solution,” said Kim. “If we substituted disposable batteries with self-charging solar cell batteries like the one we’ve developed, it would amount to reducing up to around 6,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.”

How exactly does the remote control generate energy from the fluorescent lights in our living rooms? Put simply, its solar panel takes in photons from light, which react with the electrons in the solar cells to create electricity. The difference between outdoor panels and indoor panels is the spectrum of light being used. “You can’t get as much light indoors compared to sunlight,” added Kim, “so we decided to utilize solar cells that generate energy even in low-light indoor environments.”

Increasing Electricity Efficiency Makes Solar Cell-Powered Remote Controls Possible

Because the amount of electricity that could be created by converting light energy simply wasn’t enough, it would be impossible to generate enough energy for the remote control using solar cells alone. This led the engineers to create a low power remote control instead of searching for ways to increase energy production.

The engineers succeeded in increasing the remote control’s energy efficiency by reducing its power consumption by 86 percent.³ They did this by taking users’ TV watching patterns, the number of times they pressed their remote control’s buttons, and usage time into account. As Kim explained, the solar cells in the final product “can provide up to 70 percent of the power used by the remote control.”

Making the design of the typical TV remote control, which has remained unchanged until now, more sustainable was no simple task. The color of the solar panel was already determined, so it was difficult to apply various colors to the remote control’s design. One of the team’s key concerns was that the remote control’s panel would need to be raised up high in order to be charged via light. “The solar panel itself is gray, so if we used a color other than black for the battery, it wouldn’t go well with the overall product design,” said Kim. “We also needed the design to encourage consumers to do their part to help the environment.”

The remote control is so small that you could ask whether it even needs to be energy-saving. If you asked the developers, they would tell you that, because the final product is even more eco-conscious than they anticipated, its design was undoubtedly meaningful and their efforts were worthwhile. Their ultimate goal is to develop a solar cell-powered remote control that is capable of charging itself up to the full amount of energy that it needs.

“TV remote controls are frequently used products, and our aim is to create the kind of remote that offers users meaningful value, and can be a deciding factor when purchasing a TV,” said Kim.

Use of Recycled Plastic Materials Contributes to a Huge Reduction in CO2 Emissions

Solar panel technology isn’t the only thing that makes Samsung’s new remote control especially eco-friendly. Indeed, the plastic material used to create this roughly 40g device is comprised of 28 percent recycled plastic. Samsung has been utilizing recycled plastic in its products for a long time, and has received various certifications for its eco-friendliness. Now, the company has expanded its scope by applying recycled materials to accessories like remote controls as well.

Recycled plastic is enticing because it reuses resources, but not everything about it comes easily. For a start, unit prices go up during the manufacturing process. While Samsung’s VD business does utilize plastic waste that has been collected in Korea, the volume is so small that additional resources need to be imported from overseas. This process causes costs to go up by five percent at the least, and 10 percent at the most.

“The amount of plastics used by Samsung Electronics’ VD Business alone is 250,000 tons,” said Seungsan Han, an engineer and colleague of Kim’s. “Even substituting 10 to 30 percent of that with recycled plastics would require 30,000 to 70,000 tons.”

Despite those costs, Samsung is committed to increasing its usage of recycled materials based on their clear eco-conscious benefits. According to Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), a methodology for assessing environmental impact, products made using approximately 28 percent recycled plastics emit 31 percent less CO2 than products made from non-recycled plastics.⁴ In an effort to maximize its use of eco-friendly materials, Samsung also explores ways to utilize waste that has been thrown indiscriminately into the sea. “Twenty percent of the waste that gets thrown into the sea is made of Polyethylene terephthalate,” said Han. “The marine waste plastic obtained here is called OBP (Ocean Bound Plastic) material, which can be applied to the exteriors of electronics. Using OBP in this way helps discourage marine pollution while promoting efforts to protect the environment.”

More Interest in Eco-Friendliness Widens the Range of Recycled Materials

Samsung has long practiced eco-conscious business management, and has been developing eco-conscious products and technologies for several years. As a result, the company is now capable of producing high-quality products using recycled materials, while keeping unit prices at manageable levels.

▲ Samsung’s eco-friendly solar cell-powered remote control.

Samsung currently utilizes recycled plastics when producing many products, including not just its new, solar cell-powered remote control, but other remote controls as well. Eco-conscious materials are used in the company’s monitors, signage stands, and back covers, too. “In the future, the use of recycled materials will be expanded to include more Samsung TV products,” said Han. “With 2030 being the year when we hope to reach our ultimate achievement, we will keep increasing our use of recycled plastics each year.”

Eco-Packaging: What Would Be Trash Becomes Small Furniture

Increasing products’ efficiency and using recycled materials are clear ways to become more eco-conscious. Now, efforts are being made to address the eco-friendliness of products’ packaging, which would usually be thrown away. Allowing consumers to use their TV’s packaging to make small furniture, the eco-packaging that Samsung introduced in 2020 is a perfect example of this point.

The TVs’ eco-packaging first began as a project of C-Lab, Samsung’s in-house startup incubation program. The C-Lab developers were wondering how best to recycle TVs’ packaging when they noticed that Serif TV users were placing their set-top box, small furniture, and electric devices under their TV as if it were a cabinet. This led them to the idea to use TVs’ strong cardboard packaging to make small, long-lasting furniture, which became the foundation for a new type of ‘eco-packaging.’

Eco-packaging’s manufacturing process is mostly the same as that of other packaging, but also includes the application of a dotted pattern that helps users assemble the packaging into furniture. Although adding the dotted patterns sounds easy and could be achieved by simply printing graphics, the task presented some difficulties as well. The thicknesses and specifications of the cardboard boxes varied slightly by country, which entailed continuous communication with various parties. “Although we faced many difficulties when making the eco-packaging, we managed to do a great job thanks to the efforts of many people, including the Graphics Team,” said Sungdo Son, a Samsung Electronics designer.

Easy to Make, Beautiful to Behold

Simple steps for assembling the furniture can be found on the website embedded in the QR code printed on the side of the eco-packaging. “The website, which was recently updated, not only offers instructions on how to make furniture, but also provides an overall introduction to eco-packaging with relevant videos,” said Son. “We’ve arranged the website based on difficulty, so users can choose the type of furniture they’d like to make depending on their skill level.”

The cardboard furniture displayed on the website are all items that were chosen by designers who actually tried making them themselves. “When we focused on aesthetics, it became difficult to make the furniture, and the designs often didn’t end up being very useful,” said Son. “On the other hand, when the furniture was too easy to make, it didn’t look so great. We also got rid of any furniture designs that could potentially create safety issues.”

Samsung’s safety- and environmentally conscious eco-packaging has gone beyond lifestyle TVs and is now being applied across the company’s entire 2021 TV lineup. The employees involved in developing the eco-packaging hope that it will eventually reach much more consumers, and will help encourage them to contribute to environmental conservation in any way they can. “Samsung is known for producing technologically advanced products, but I want others to know that Samsung also believes that little things like these matter, and we are working on them as well,” said Son.

¹ According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020 by Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), the amount of electronic waste in 2019 was 53.6 million metric tons (Mt).

² 2020 global annual TV sales figures are based on findings from market research firm OMDIA.

³ Compared to remote controls of Samsung Electronics’ 2020 TV models.

⁴ Emissions of general plastics: 2.15 kg CO2/kg; emissions of recycled plastics: 1.47 kg CO2/kg; a reduction in CO2 emissions of 31 percent (based on a Lotte Chemical LCA evaluation)