Faced with a wave of jargon and overwhelming choice, many Brits are giving up on researching TVs altogether – even though it’s often a significant purchase and the entertainment hub for the home.

New research from Samsung reveals that more than half of UK shoppers (54%) spend less than two hours researching a new TV and 8% admit to doing no research at all.

Normally, clarity would prevail around a major purchase, especially when 62% of people expect their TV to last more than six years. But instead, many consumers are switching off early, overwhelmed by complex specs and unfamiliar terms.

Nearly half (46%) of UK shoppers say they’ve bought a TV without fully understanding what they were getting. Even the most familiar term, HDMI – a technology used for more than 20 years – is only understood by four in ten people, despite being simply a connectivity port rather than something that affects the screen quality itself.

Worryingly, only one in four (25%) felt confident in their final decision, and just 26% described the experience as exciting – suggesting that for many, TV shopping feels more stressful than satisfying.

Apathy, confusion and lack of confidence are fuelling ‘TV tech fatigue’ and having a real impact on decision-making. This often leads to purchase regret, with one in three (33%) have regretted choosing a cheaper or lesser-known brand, while 45% have had to replace their TV sooner than expected.

“Most people want to make the right choice. They’ll read a few reviews, compare models, maybe watch a video or two, but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed,” says Jeremy Demont, Director of TV/AV Product Management at Samsung UK. “For something as important and long-lasting as a TV, that should be enough. But the jargon gets in the way. TVs are central to how we relax and connect. Buying one shouldn’t feel like sitting an exam.”

These findings are revealed just before a major football weekend – a period often resulting in a surge in TV sales. It’s the perfect opportunity to emphasise the importance of ensuring that consumers fully understand the technology they’re investing in.

While picture quality and content have never been better, many consumers are struggling to keep up with TV technology. As the leading global TV manufacturer for the past 19 years^[1], Samsung is working to make it easier for people to understand the tech that shapes how we watch, share and connect.

Picture quality (47%) and screen type (30%) are seen as the most important factors when buying a TV but understanding of these is low. Only 33% of Brits know what 4K means, while just 18% re familiar with OLED and 14% with QLED – despite both of these being popular TV types.

Yet even with these knowledge gaps, few people seek support. Just 12% say they buy in-store so they can speak to a salesperson and only 17% believe that understanding TV terminology alone would give them more confidence.

The findings suggest that people want simpler, more intuitive ways to understand the features and how they benefit users, not just acronyms for technical terms.

“Consumers want a great viewing experience but often feel lost in a sea of acronyms,” says Jeremy. “We know the names can sound technical – QLED, OLED, HDR, 4K – but what matters most is how everything looks and performs on screen. That’s why we focus on delivering quality people can trust – and why we help shoppers cut through the complexity.

“Whether you understand the tech or not, you can trust that a Samsung TV will deliver long-lasting picture quality, intuitive design and the performance people return to us for. We are the global leader in TV for a reason, and we want to make it easier than ever to choose the right one.”

When it comes to choosing a TV, what makes the biggest difference day-to-day isn’t the jargon – it’s how the picture actually looks and performs. In fact, picture quality and screen type are the top priorities for shoppers. Samsung QLED TVs are independently certified as Real Quantum Dot Displays^[2], delivering consistently vibrant colour and brightness that lasts.

The research also reinforces the emotional and cultural role TV continues to play in people’s lives. Despite the rise of streaming, the moments that stay with us are still those we experienced live, together.

When asked to name their most memorable TV moments, Brits picked major national events over entertainment: Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral ranked number one, followed by Princess Diana’s funeral (#2) and the London 2012 Olympics (#3) – ahead of any drama or comedy series.

Other top choices included Live Aid (#4) and the 1969 moon landing as broadcast on the BBC (#5). Powerful reminders that TV continues to bring people together.

“These findings reflect that TVs are more than just screens. They’re the backdrop to family film nights, shared sporting highs and moments that bring friends and generations together,” says Jeremy. “From daily rituals to national milestones, the TV remains a central part of how we connect. However as the technology evolves, the way we explain it must evolve too.”

Samsung’s QLED and OLED TVs are built for long-term performance and trusted by millions worldwide, offering the colour and brightness quality consumers expect from a premium TV.

If you’re looking to purchase a TV and want support on picking the best kind for you, Samsung has put together a set of easy, intuitive questions to help:

For optimal sports viewing:

• I watch a lot of sport. What can you recommend that ensures whichever sport I’m watching stays clear without the ball blurring so I can stay as close to the action as possible?

For the best gaming experience:

• I love gaming on my TV so looking for low-latency and strong processing?
• I want to minimise the cables going into the TV for a ‘cleaner’ look, how can I do this?

For watching films:

• Which TVs give the most cinematic experience with rich, lifelike colours and deep contrast?
• What independent experts or organisations have verified the quality of the picture/experience?

To ensure you’re getting the best value for your budget:

• What TV options offer additional features or services and are they free?
• Will a slightly smaller sized TV be better for me in the long-run? (Will it last longer?)

For optimal viewing conditions:

• My room is quite bright. What can you recommend for maintaining picture quality to minimise reflections in these conditions?

For longevity, value and future-proofing:

• What’s the ultimate TV for future-proofed picture quality and does 8K really make a difference?
• Is it better to invest in a higher-quality TV now rather than upgrading sooner?

You can find out more about Samsung QLED TVs here: Latest Samsung QLED TV | All QLED TVs | Samsung UK and for OLED information please visit 4K & 8K OLED TVs | Find The Best OLED TV | Samsung UK.

[1]Omdia: https://news.samsung.com/uk/samsung-electronics-marks-19-consecutive-years-as-the-global-tv-market-leader

[2]Certified by TUV Rhineland: https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-qled-tvs-earn-real-quantum-dot-display-certification-from-tuv-rheinland

▲ Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV (QN85F)

Samsung Electronics today announced that its smart TVs and monitors will now support Netflix shows and movies in HDR10+^[1]. With HDR10+, viewers can enjoy richer contrast, deeper colours and stunning visual depth, making their favorite Netflix titles more immersive than ever.

“HDR10+ enhances the way we watch content, delivering deeper contrast and more vibrant colours for a truly cinematic experience,” said Taeyong Son, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to bring this technology to Netflix’s 300 million plus members and will continue collaborating with various partners to expand HDR10+ support across our product lineup and the broader streaming ecosystem.”

HDR10+ is a next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) technology pioneered by Samsung, designed to optimise picture quality scene by scene. By dynamically adjusting brightness and contrast levels, HDR10+ ensures that each frame is displayed with exceptional clarity and detail, staying true to the creator’s intent.

With this integration, viewers can experience enhanced realism and depth across a growing library of HDR10+ content, making every scene feel more lifelike. HDR10+ content on Netflix will be accessible on 2025 Samsung Neo QLED, OLED and Lifestyle TVs — as well as 2025 and 2024 monitor models — with support for additional models in the future.

This launch marks a significant step in expanding HDR10+ content, bringing enhanced picture quality to more viewers. In addition to Netflix, Samsung is actively working with a growing network of industry partners to further extend HDR10+ support. For more information on Samsung TV, please visit www.samsung.com.

[1]Samsung co-established HDR10+ Technologies LLC in 2018 to provide a royalty-free, open dynamic metadata standard in the industry.

London, UK – 20^th February 2023 – Samsung Electronics UK Ltd has announced the start of pre-orders of the Odyssey Neo G7, the first flat Mini-LED model. The new monitor delivers a large screen designed to give gamers a more comprehensive range of vision and details. The Odyssey Neo G7 is available to pre-order from 20^th February until the 5^th March 2023.

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 delivers exceptional lifelike picture quality, a customisable high-performance viewing environment, and personalised features to boost the gaming experience.

Its large 43” screen delivers 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160) for an advanced picture. The Odyssey Neo G7 is equipped with Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Technology, using Quantum Mini LEDs, which enable ultra-fine and precise control of the densely packed LEDs. As a result, users can see richer blacks, expansive colour, and more detail, even in shadowy gaming environments.

With the Samsung Game Bar^[1], users can personalise their performance and quickly view or change settings without needing to leave the game screen, avoiding missing out on the action. Users can change FPS (Frames Per Second), aspect ratio, high dynamic range (HDR) and variable refresh rate (VRR), or adjust settings such as screen ratio, response time and Game Picture mode.

In addition, the monitor is equipped with Samsung’s Gaming Hub^[2], the all-in-one game streaming discovery platform. This allows instant access to games from partners such as Xbox and NVIDIA GeForce NOW, with no downloads or storage space requirements.

The Odyssey Neo G7 is available to purchase via Samsung.com from the 6^th March. Those eager to get their hands on the Odyssey Neo G7 can pre-order from 20^th February until 5^th March 2023.

For more information, please visit: www.samsung.com/uk/monitors

[1] Game Bar supports PC & console gaming but does not support the Samsung Gaming Hub.

[2] Samsung Gaming Hub is only available in select countries: Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, the U.S. and the U.K. In other European countries cloud games can be accessed through the Samsung Smart Hub. Service and content availability may vary by region and partners.

LONDON, England – July 16, 2018 – 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 afterglowꞌ^[1]. 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 grey 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^[2]

“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,”^[3] conclude the test experts.

Samsung’s QLED and Premium UHD TVs with Dynamic Crystal Colour deliver exceptional High Dynamic Range (HDR) without being susceptible to screen burn. Samsung are so confident in their screen technology that we can offer you a 10 year screen burn warranty.

[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.

[3] Warranty must be registered within 90 days of purchase, T&Cs apply

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today introduced the newest addition to its ISOCELL image sensor family, the 3-stack ISOCELL Fast 2L3. The 1.4-micrometer (μm) 12-megapixel (Mp) image sensor with integrated dynamic random access memory (DRAM) delivers fast data readout speeds to capture both rapid movements in super-slow motion and sharper still photographs with less noise and distortion.

“Samsung’s ISOCELL image sensors have made great leaps over the generations, with technologies such as ISOCELL for high color fidelity and Dual Pixel for ultra-fast autofocusing, bringing the smartphone camera ever closer to DSLR-grade photography,” said Ben K. Hur, vice president of System LSI marketing at Samsung Electronics. “With an added DRAM layer, Samsung’s new 3-stack ISOCELL Fast 2L3 will enable users to create more unique and mesmerizing content.”

Conventional image sensors are constructed with two silicon layers; a pixel array layer that converts light information into an electric signal, and an analog logic layer that processes the electric signal into digital code. The digital code is then sent via MIPI interface to the device’s mobile processor for further image tuning before being saved to the device’s DRAM. While all these steps are done instantaneously to implement features like zero-shutter lag, capturing smooth super-slow-motion video requires image readouts at a much higher rate.

Delivering an advanced solution, the Samsung ISOCELL Fast 2L3 is a high speed 3-stack CMOS image sensor designed with the company’s two-gigabit (Gb) LPDDR4 DRAM attached below the analog logic layer. With the integration, the image sensor can temporarily store a larger number of frames taken in high speed quickly onto the sensor’s DRAM layer before sending frames out to the mobile processor and then to the device’s DRAM. This not only allows the sensor to capture a full-frame snapshot at 1/120 of a second but also to record super-slow motion video at up to 960 frames per second (fps). With 960fps recording, which is 32 times the typical filming speed (30fps), recording moments such as a child hitting his or her first game-winning homerun, a baby taking his or her first step, or a friend doing a gazelle flip on a skateboard becomes much more dramatic.

In addition to super slow motion video, fast readout can hugely enhance the photography experience. Since the sensor captures an image at very high speeds, it significantly reduces the ‘jello-effect,’ or image distortion, when taking a picture of fast-moving objects, for example helicopter rotor blades. By storing multiple frames in the split of a second, the sensor can support 3-Dimensional Noise Reduction (3DNR) for clearer pictures when shooting in low-light, as well as real time high-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging, and detect even the slightest hint of movement for automatic instant slow-motion recording.

The image sensor is also equipped with Dual Pixel technology, which allows each and every one of the 12-million pixels of the image sensor to employ two photodiodes that respectively work as a phase detection auto-focus (PDAF) agent. With ultra-fast auto-focus in any lighting condition, it will be harder to miss capturing important moments before they pass by.

The Samsung ISOCELL Fast 2L3 is currently in mass production.

The royalty-free HDR10+ standard promotes vibrant and vivid visuals that bring us closer than ever to true-to-life images. Samsung’s recent announcement of partnerships with Panasonic and 20^th Century Fox will expand the platform’s ecosystem of compatible technologies, eventually making such immersive visuals standard fare.

But how exactly does HDR10+ establish this new standard, and what will the technology’s advancement mean for content creators, device manufacturers, and the future of home entertainment? To answer those questions, let’s take a closer look at how Samsung optimised the platform to offer consumers a more advanced viewing experience.

HDR10+: The Next Step in HDR Technologies

It wasn’t too long ago that HDR represented the pinnacle of picture quality. HDR provided greater depth, brightness and colour accuracy – whiter whites, blacker blacks, and a wider colour gamut – than standard dynamic range (SDR) displays. Innovations such as Samsung’s Quantum dot technology further advanced picture quality by introducing more accurate colour expression and higher brightness levels.

Since its introduction, the second major advancement in HDR technologies, HDR10, has been the standard throughout the industry. The technology is widely used and certified by the UHD Alliance – an association of Hollywood movie studios, content distributors, tech companies and device manufacturers that was formed to strengthen and grow the UHD ecosystem.

HDR10+, the latest and most advanced HDR technology, builds upon the strengths of previous HDR platforms to further enhance the viewing experience. HDR10+ better channels content’s intrinsic dynamic range (the ratio of light and darkness) to produce truer images that appear brighter and more colourful – and therefore more detailed and realistic than with conventional HDR on a wider array of displays. Whereas previous HDR10 iterations utilised static tone mapping, wherein colour enhancement is uniform from scene to depicted scene, HDR10+ employs dynamic tone mapping to maximize each scene individually. The results are visuals that feature optimal colours, contrast and brightness, and create a viewing experience that allows you to see a show or film precisely as its producers intended.

Raising the Bar for UHD with an Open HDR10+ Ecosystem

Samsung’s decision to introduce HDR10+ as an open-source, royalty-free platform, which anyone may utilize to create compatible devices and content, underlines a larger commitment to raising the bar for UHD video.

The fact that HDR10+ is open and royalty-free makes the technology an attractive option for a variety of partners – from movie studios and filmmakers, to TV and device manufacturers – and will ultimately hasten its adoption as the new standard with which to create innovative digital devices and dynamic content.

In addition to incorporating support for HDR10+ in its complete range of 2017 UHD TVs, including its new QLED TV line, Samsung is also actively working with some of the world’s leading producers of premium content to make HDR10+ the filmmaking standard.

This past April, Amazon became Samsung’s first official HDR10+ content partner. Soon, the company will offer viewers around the world gripping HDR10+ content available to stream through its widely popular Prime Video service. Also, on September 1, the first day of IFA 2017, Samsung will host the QLED & HDR10+ Summit at Berlin’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where the company will lay out its plans to advance HDR10+ adoption throughout Europe.

By making HDR10+ technology widely available, and forging partnerships that will lead to more visually captivating content, Samsung hopes to make immersive, true-to-life home entertainment the new normal for consumers around the world.

Consumers can enjoy their favourite UHD and HDR movies through a UHD channel directly on their Samsung Smart TVs. VOD movies provided by TV PLUS are broken down into three categories: New Releases, Family and UHD. New Releases include titles that have been released within the past six to eight weeks, while the Family category includes newly released family-friendly titles as well as best-selling movies. The UHD category features movies that were recently released in UHD. Each category is refreshed weekly with new and top selling content.

Thanks to a premium partnership with Rakuten TV, TV PLUS offers a wide range of options for movie enthusiasts and families to enjoy. Current UHD movies available via TV PLUS include titles such as “Passengers,” “Moneyball,” “Hotel Transylvania” and many more.

“Our goal at Samsung is to create innovative and valuable technology that makes our consumers’ lives easier and more enjoyable when it comes to watching their favorite content,” said Heeman Lee, Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With the European expansion of TV PLUS, we are thrilled to provide additional consumers access to new movies in UHD and HDR quality.”

Samsung TV PLUS delivers a user-friendly experience that allows users to easily access contents featuring scrolling channels menu so that the consumers do not have to struggle to search desired contents in each application. This familiar process makes the user experience simple and easy, so that retrieving UHD and HDR content is more enjoyable than ever before.

TV PLUS was first launched in 2015 in South Korea and continues to grow across its available markets including North America and Southeast Asia. In January 2017, TV PLUS was also made available with multiple channels in Germany.