Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today released findings from its annual TV Awareness Study, which reveals that TVs are now the entertainment hub of the home, driven by the increasing popularity of big screen TVs fast becoming the new normal, with quality and product specifications topping the list as the most important factors influencing TV purchases.

The study was conducted as part of Samsung’s efforts to better understand consumers in the region and their needs pertaining to TV Screen technologies. Over 1,920 consumers aged 25 to 64 across eight markets in the Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) region were surveyed in the third quarter of 2023^[1].

Yohan Zondak, Head of Visual Display for Samsung Southeast Asia & Oceania, said, “As we look towards the future of entertainment in the home, the findings from our latest annual TV Awareness Study reaffirms our views that consumers are passionate about the content that they want to view, and importantly, ensuring that they have a high-quality and premium viewing experience. As a pioneer and industry leader in the TV industry, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and to transform the way people consume content, as well as to provide our customers with the best TV experiences in the years to come.”

Big Screen TVs are the New Normal

Across the region, while consumers were generally satisfied with their TVs, large screens were more popular than ever with consumers, with 30% of consumers owning TVs of 53” sizes and above. In particular, big screen sizes such as 98” are becoming the new norm, as survey results show purchases of even larger TVs of 60” and above has grown more than 10% as compared to the previous year. At the same time, a whopping 55% of consumers surveyed indicated their intent to purchase bigger TVs^[2] in the future as compared to their current ones.

Product specifications such as sound quality and smart features played key roles in driving big screen TV purchases such as those from the Neo QLED 8K range. This shows that while consumers are not shying away from purchasing larger TVs as the centerpiece of their living rooms, screen sizes alone are not the sole driving factor in purchase decisions.

TVs are the Entertainment Hub of the Home

Across the SEAO region, 87% of consumers are proud owners of a Smart TV^[3], with growth in smart TV ownership observed from the year before.

It is no surprise that TVs are primarily being used as the main tool for consumers to enjoy a cinematic experience of their favorite content, powered by the latest features. The study found that consumers across SEAO find most value in new TVs that allow them to enjoy high quality content (72%), support all of the latest technology and features (71%), and provide them with the most cinematic and immersive experiences possible (69%).

The 2024 Neo QLED 8K is positioned to reinforce this trend, thanks to the introduction of a next-generation AI processor, the NQ8 AI Gen3, which enables unprecedented performance upgrades in a TV designed to be the ideal centerpiece of the discerning consumer.

A majority of SEAO consumers also use their TVs for activities other than watching entertainment (58%) such as gaming, playing exercise videos and even displaying paintings, images, and videos when the TV is on standby. In fact, 1 in 4 (24%) consumers use their TV for gaming, with 50% of them preferring to play their favorite games on a console. This has been a key focus for Samsung TVs in recent years, with numerous gaming features added such as a more immersive gaming bar, new mini-map auto detection that allows easier control of the mini map during gameplay, AI auto-setting to optimize the picture and sound quality to the type of game being played, and more.

Quality and Product Specifications Take Priority

Despite a challenging economic climate in 2023, the study found that picture and sound quality as well as durability (92%) still ranked ahead of the breadth of product specifications (80%) when it comes to factors influencing the final purchase decision, with price and value (39%) coming up a distant third.

Samsung’s premium yet durable QLED 4K TVs are designed with such purposes in mind. Taking consideration of consumer preference for quality and features, Samsung’s latest 2024 TVs and screens will also come with greater compatibility across various devices within the ecosystem, allowing a more integrated connection between TVs and smartphones or wearable devices for a greater level of customization, accessibility, and convenience. Features such as Mobile Smart Connect transforms your smartphone into a multi-functional remote for greater control over your screens, while the 360 Audio feature is now expanded to Samsung TVs and screens, letting users connect Samsung Galaxy Buds to TVs for more immersive audio. For more information on Samsung’s latest QLED, MICRO LED, OLED and Lifestyle display lineup, please visit here.

^[1] The Samsung 2023 TV Awareness Survey was conducted from 31 August 2023 to 24 September 2023. It surveyed 1,920 respondents through a consumer panel, aged 25 to 64, who intend to buy a TV in the next six months, from the following 8 markets: Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

^[2] 55% of consumers intend to buy TVs of sizes 53” and above in 2023.

^[3] Smart TV is defined as a category of TVs that come with smart features such as built-in apps, web browser, mobile app control etc.

“We are focused on creating a seamless experience across all of our products, which allows consumers to effortlessly enjoy all their benefits. The 2022 Neo QLED 8K is designed to fulfill the needs and empower the passion of our consumers, and the innovations are sparked by their experiences,” said Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Samsung Electronics’ DX (Device eXperience) Division. “Neo QLED 8K also has the power to unlock new experiences as the most important device at the center of the home.”

Samsung’s 2022 portfolio was developed from the vision of ‘Screens Everywhere, Screens for All,’ with TVs at the center of users’ home and daily lives. In line with this vision, Samsung created devices that seamlessly connect to provide deep personalization and connectivity ensuring there is a screen fit for every occasion and lifestyle. Historically, TVs and screens have been mainly associated with the act of “watching,” but Neo QLED 8K aims to change this by expanding the user experience.

Neo QLED 8K: The Best Gets Better

The 2022 Neo QLED 8K has been upgraded to bring the large screen experience to another level. At the heart is the Neural Quantum Processor 8K. The latest processor has 20 independent neural AI networks, each analyzing the content’s characteristics and picture quality for optimal viewing, regardless of the source.

The Neural Quantum Processor 8K also powers a new technological innovation — Real Depth Enhancer. This scans the screen, and maximizes contrast with the background by enhancing the object while keeping the background unprocessed. It works similarly to the way human eyes perceive images in real life so the object on screen stands out against the background.

In fact, Samsung’s all new 2022 QLED received the world’s first ‘Pantone Validated’ certification in display from Pantone, the global authority on color and creator of the Pantone Matching System (PMS) — meaning the models authentically reproduce more than 2,000 colors as well as the newly added 110 skin tone shades found in Pantone’s guidelines. Additionally, these brilliant colors are comfortable to watch with the new EyeComfort Mode. The feature uses AI technology to automatically adjust the brightness and color temperature of the screen based on how light or dark the room is combined with the sunset/sunrise information to optimize the most comfortable viewing experience.

Immersive Dolby Atmos Sound With Smart Features

For true immersion, TVs and screens need powerful and nuanced sound to match the rich colors and sharp details. The Neural Quantum Processor 8K’s AI analyzes what is on screen in real-time so that the Adaptive Sound features can track and move between speakers to precisely match the movement on screen.

In QN900B, a flagship Neo QLED 8K model, all the sounds come from a 90W 6.2.4 channel audio system, featuring new top channel speakers and Dolby Atmos with Object Tracking Sound Pro. This technology has also been applied to voice recognition with Voice Tracking Sound, so that sound effects and voices truly follow the movement across the screen.

Samsung is also introducing Wireless Dolby Atmos to its Neo QLED 4K and 8K TVs — this means pristine audio quality without the clutter of HDMI cables. Wireless Dolby Atmos will also be applied to Samsung’s new 2022 Ultra Slim Soundbar, designed for an immersive audio experience from a more aesthetically at a minimal setup.

Experiencing Your Screen

To ensure the experience is as seamless as possible, the 2022 lineup is outfitted with new and smarter features and user interface, allowing Samsung TVs and screens to become the central hub to watch content, control devices, play games, work out and more.

• New Smart Hub: This year, Samsung also unveiled Smart Hub, its new user interface, powered by Tizen. The all-new Samsung Smart Hub brings every aspect of the smart experience into one easy-to-navigate home screen. The new tab classifies features, settings and content into three categories for a seamless user experience: Media, Gaming Hub and Ambient.

•     Media: The Media screen organizes users’ entertainment options — including video on demand, streaming and Samsung TV Plus¹ with 190+ free channels — and learns users’ preferences with machine learning to make smart recommendations across all platforms and services.

•    Gaming Hub: Gaming Hub is a new game streaming discovery platform that bridges hardware and software to provide a seamless player experience. No downloads required, no storage needed. Samsung also announced partnerships with leading game streaming services — NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Stadia and Utomik, with more to come — to bring their libraries of games to the Gaming Hub. The new platform will be available later this year on select 2022 Samsung Smart TV models.²

•     Ambient: The Ambient screen enhances the home’s aesthetic, whether that means synchronizing the screen’s display with its surrounding décor or making a bold statement with eye-catching art.

•   Gaming Experience: In addition to the all-new Gaming Hub, the 2022 lineup comes with specifications and features that are made for the ultimate gaming experience. They include four HDMI 2.1 supporting ports³, Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro 4K 144Hz gaming, Super Ultrawide GameView and Game Bar, making gaming more efficient and accessible for a fast-paced and streamlined experience. With these incredible picture quality and settings improvements, games will be more realistic and thrilling than ever. Samsung is also introducing an exclusive TV lineup for gaming in 43 and 50 inches in the near future.

• Samsung Health: Samsung Health offers not only a wide variety of workout and wellness classes, but also ways to track your progress and routines. Users can easily track their fitness journey and activities on their TV and seamlessly sync with other devices such as Galaxy Watch4 series to track progress in real-time on the screen.

• SmartThings: A critical component of the connected experience is Samsung’s SmartThings. With SmartThings, the screen becomes the central hub to conveniently control other home devices at a single point. This feature, included in Samsung TVs, takes advantage of the large screen to help users discover, view and control devices at-a-glance.

• NFT Platform: Finally, new in 2022 is Samsung’s NFT Platform, partnering with the industry leader, Nifty Gateway. Ambient mode will offer consumers a one-stop NFT platform to explore and display NFT digital arts on 2022 Neo QLED and QLEDs, a new way to collect and present art works⁴.

Sustainability at the Core With ‘Going Green’

Samsung is always thinking about how the manufacturing process and the use of products impact the Earth’s environment, looking for ways to reduce its footprint and build a better future for the planet.

• Eco-Packaging: Samsung is improving its eco-conscious packaging with 90% less ink while also removing the staples during production. Both improvements reduce waste and make it easier for recycling centers to process.

• SolarCell Remote: The SolarCell remote also received an upgrade for 2022. It is 88% more efficient than the previous 2020 models. They are now completely battery-free and can now be charged through 2.4GHz radio frequency harvesting — drawing power from spare energy emitted by Wi-Fi routers.

• Recycled Materials: Samsung’s 2022 TVs, monitors, digital signage and remote controls use recycled resin. Notably, high-resolution monitors use recycled resin from ocean-bound plastic recovered in coastal areas that would otherwise have become marine hazardous waste.

• The Carbon Trust Certification: Samsung’s Neo QLED 8K/4K has achieved the ‘Reducing CO2’ label from the Carbon Trust, demonstrating that the carbon footprint for the Neo QLED lineup is being reduced year over year.

Making It Personal With Accessories

Each consumer has their unique taste and needs when it comes to TVs, which is why Samsung created new accessories for its 2022 TVs that facilitate entirely new TV experiences.

• Slim Fit Wall Mount: For those who want to wall mount their screen, the Slim Fit Wall Mount allows the TV to lie flush against the wall while offering swivel up, down and sideways for the perfect angle no matter where the viewer is seated.

• Studio Stand: In case the TV stand is preferred, the Studio Stand offers a unique and elegant way to display the Neo QLED 8K in an artistic fashion.

• Auto Rotation: The new accessory extends the rotating capabilities of The Sero to the Neo QLED 8K. Auto Rotation brings mobile experiences to the big screen, portrait art to the full screen, and MultiView experiences to new layouts. It can be used as a stand or wall mount so that whatever is on, the whole screen is filled to optimize the viewing experience.

To pre-order or for more information on Samsung’s TV products, please visit www.samsung.com

1 Service availability may vary by region.

2 Availability of Gaming Hub may vary by region.

3 Specification of ports may vary by product.

4 Detailed features or user interface may vary by model and region.