Awarded 80 trophies across nine categories ranging from product to user experience (UX) design for TVs, home appliances, smartphones, and other devices

Samsung Electronics announced that it received a total of 80 awards at the International Forum (iF) Design Awards 2023, a prestigious German international design competition. Included among the honours was a Gold Award for Samsung’s Bespoke Infinite Line refrigerator and kitchen appliances.[1]

Founded in 1953 as Die Gute Industrieform e.V., the iF Design Award conducts comprehensive evaluations of factors including differentiation and impact across a total of nine categories: Product, Packaging, Communication, Professional Concept, Interior Architecture, Architecture, Service Design, User Experience (UX), and User Interface (UI).

“It is important to design meaningful experiences that integrate shifting customer values with innovative technologies,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Corporate Design Centre at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to contribute to our customers’ lives and our society with designs that cater to all needs.”

Gold Award Recognises Design That Offers Customised Experiences for Different Lifestyles

The Bespoke Infinite Line is a premium built-in look refrigerator that is available in a choice of fridge, freezer or wine cellar models and features a timelessly contemporary modular design that seamlessly blends into any interior[2]. With simple lines, high-quality natural materials and features that maximise convenience and streamline food storage, the Bespoke Infinite Line adds lasting value to consumers’ kitchens.

The refrigerator’s exterior is made from premium aluminium that is more dent- and scratch-resistant and allows marks and stains to be easily wiped away. The interior is bright and refined with its Black Metal Cooling and Tunnel Lighting — two features that epitomise the refrigerator’s elegant balance of form and function.

Total of 80 Awards, From Product to UX Design, Including TVs, Home Appliances and Smartphones

Samsung Electronics’ 80 wins across all design categories, including Product and UX, were the most of any nominee at this year’s awards.

In addition to the Bespoke Infinite Line’s Gold Award, Samsung received awards in the Product category for the Odyssey Ark, the 55-inch 1000R curved gaming screen; the Bespoke Jet, a cordless stick vacuum with an all-in-one Clean Station; and the Galaxy Z Flip4 Bespoke edition, a smartphone that offers an exclusive customisation experience by allowing users to design a device that is uniquely theirs.

Samsung’s accessibility-enhanced TV UX, which includes an avatar-based Sign Language Guide that provides explanations of TV menus in sign language, and Samsung Space Tycoon, a virtual space and management simulation game on the Roblox metaverse platform where users can create and play games and share experiences using Samsung products, were also recognised for design excellence.

[1] Availability may vary by region.

[2] The refrigerator is available globally, and availability of other products may vary by region.

 JOHANNESBURG, South Africa –  19 October 2022 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. recently unveiled its latest gaming screen lineup at Gamescom 2022 in Cologne, Germany, which included the groundbreaking Odyssey Ark and the Odyssey G70B and G65B. The Odyssey Ark, announced last month, is the 55-inch 1000R curved gaming screen, with a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time (GtG) and all new Cockpit Mode.

“As the world’s largest gaming event, Gamescom represents an opportunity for Samsung to showcase our latest gaming innovations that will deliver the incredible future of gaming to player communities around the world,” said Hyesung Ha, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “The awe-inspiring Odyssey Ark and super smart new G70B and G65B reinforce our expertise, while opening up a new world of possibilities through these gaming screens.”

Odyssey Ark: Ultimate Entertainment Screen with Superior Gaming Performance

The Odyssey Ark represents a new frontier in gaming with its exceptional picture quality and cinematic surround sound. The 55-inch 1000R curved screen provides an immersive view that wraps around the user’s peripheral vision, enhanced by Cockpit Mode which optimizes the screen environment with HAS (Height Adjustable Stand), tilt and pivot functionality. Quantum Matrix Technology powered by Quantum Mini LED enables ultra-fine and precise control of the densely packed LEDs with newly added 14-bit processing, enhanced by 16,384 black levels and a million-to-one static contrast ratio which showcases every detail in perfect clarity.

The Odyssey Ark is the ultimate entertainment screen, made possible by Samsung’s proprietary Matte Display and Sound Dome Technology. With both anti-glare and anti-reflection protection, users can watch, work and play without distractions, while surrounding themselves with cinematic sound delivered through four speakers at each corner and two central woofers – resulting in a 60W 2.2.2 channel with the lowest 45Hz notes of any gaming screen or gaming soundbar.

The Odyssey Ark is equipped with all the necessary features to deliver the best gaming, entertainment and lifestyle experiences. Plus, a simple Wi-Fi connection enables a full smart TV experience. Furthermore, Odyssey Ark is equipped with Ark Dial, a solar-powered controller which is exclusive to the Ark screen, allowing the quick and easy control of settings such as Flex Move Screen, Multi View, Quick Settings and Game Bar[1]. In addition to being equipped with a solar panel, the Ark Dial can also be charged by a USB Type-C connection.

Odyssey G70B & G65B: Smart Services and Even Slicker Gameplay

Newly unveiled at Gamescom 2022 are the Odyssey G70B and G65B gaming monitors. These are the first models in the Odyssey lineup which have Samsung’s Smart Platform embedded.

Both the G70B and G65B provide smart functionality, including the option to create a home office environment even without a PC. The monitors conveniently connect with various IT devices and services all from one screen for an ultra-efficient working environment. Users can wirelessly connect to a Windows or Mac PC, use Samsung DeX, mirror a smartphone screen onto the monitor using Apple AirPlay 2 as well as access Microsoft 365 cloud services. Users can also watch the latest shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime and other leading OTT (over-the-top) service providers³.

In addition to the IoT functionality also available on the Odyssey Ark, the G70B and G65B are equipped with a high-sensitivity Far Field Voice microphone, allowing users to control the device with voice assistants such as Bixby and Amazon Alexa. The Always On Voice[2] function allows users to interact with Bixby even when the monitor is turned off, while displaying conversation related information on the monitor’s screen.

The G70B is available in 28- and 32-inch sizes, offering a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time (GtG). These capabilities are packaged up in a UHD resolution, flat IPS display that is enhanced by NVIDIA’s G-SYNC Compatible and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for smooth gameplay.

The G65B is offered in 27- and 32-inch size option and is equipped with a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time (GtG). The QHD, 1000R curved display comes with FreeSync Premium Pro for a flawless gaming experience that will give any player a competitive edge.

Samsung’s Odyssey Ark is now available for preorder globally, however stock in South Africa will only be available in November 2022. The G70B and G65B will also be available towards the end of the year but will only be brought into South Africa on request.

To experience and learn more about Samsung’s latest gaming display innovations, please visit the Comic Con event at the end of September. For additional information on Samsung’s Odyssey gaming lineup, please visit https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/gaming-monitor/odyssey-ark.

You can also visit the Samsung Odyssey Twitch channel to explore the gaming of tomorrow: https://www.twitch.tv/samsungodyssey.

[1] Game Bar is supported for PC & console gaming.

[2] Availability of voice assistant services may vary by region

[3] Subscriptions may be required.

Samsung supports bid of Busan expo 2030

South Africa, Johannesburg – 27 January, 2022 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled its vision for the future, “Together for tomorrow,” during a pre-show keynote event at CES 2022. Keynote speaker Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of DX (Device eXperience) Division at Samsung, highlighted the company’s efforts to usher in a new age of togetherness, with customisable experiences that reflect consumers’ evolving lifestyles, and innovations that mark progress for both society and the planet.

The company’s “Together for tomorrow” vision is one that empowers everyone to create positive change and drives collaborations that address some of the planet’s most pressing challenges. The keynote illustrated how Samsung plans to make its vision a reality by introducing a range of sustainability initiatives, purposeful partnerships, and customisable and connected technologies.

“I’m excited for you to be a part of our vision to see how innovation can create positive change, [and] to join us and work together for tomorrow,” said Han. ”These developments will make sustainability part of your product experience, enabling you to live a more sustainable life.”

Building a Sustainable Future

At its core, Samsung’s vision for the future is built on what the company calls “everyday sustainability.” It is a concept that inspires Samsung to put sustainability at the heart of everything it does. The company has been realising its vision by adopting new, low-impact product manufacturing practices, footprint-reducing packaging and a more sustainable customer experience, and by responsibly disposing of products at the end of their lifecycles.

Samsung’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions throughout the production cycle have also earned recognition from the Carbon Trust, the world’s leading authority on carbon footprint. Last year, the company’s Carbon Trust-certified memory chips helped reduce carbon emissions by nearly 700,000 tons.

Samsung’s efforts in this area extend well beyond semiconductors and include expanding the use of recycled materials. To introduce everyday sustainability to more products, Samsung’s Visual Display Business plans to use 30 times more recycled plastics than it did in 2021. The company also revealed plans to expand its use of recycled materials to include all mobile products and home appliances over the next three years.

In 2021, all of Samsung’s TV boxes included recycled materials. For this year, the company revealed that it will be expanding the use of recycled materials to include the boxes’ interior packaging as well. Now, recycled materials will be incorporated into Styrofoam, box holders and plastic bags. The company also announced the global expansion of its award-winning Eco-Packaging program. The expansion of the program, which transforms cardboard boxes into cat houses, side tables, and other useful furniture items, will include packaging for home appliances such as vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, air purifiers and more.

Samsung is also building sustainability into the ways that customers experience its products. Such experiences will be integral to empowering people to reduce their carbon footprint and make positive changes together for a better tomorrow. As an example, the company introduced notable enhancements to its first-of-its-kind SolarCell Remote, which eliminates battery waste with a built-in solar panel that can be charged during both day and night.

The enhanced SolarCell Remote gets electricity from radio frequencies in devices like Wi-Fi routers[1]. What’s more, it will be included in more Samsung products – like new Samsung TVs and home appliances – with the goal of eliminating more than 200 million batteries from landfills[2].

In addition, by 2025, Samsung plans to make all of its TVs and phone chargers operate on near zero standby power, so that the products will consume almost no energy when not being used.

E-waste is another big challenge for the electronics industry, which is why Samsung has collected more than five million tons of e-waste since 2009. For mobile products, last year, Samsung launched Galaxy for the Planet, a sustainability platform that was created to bring about tangible climate action and minimise devices’ environmental footprints throughout their lifecycles.

“These are important steps,” said Han, “but we cannot achieve our goals alone. We believe open innovation and collaboration are keys to fighting climate change and protecting our environment.” With this in mind, Samsung announced that its eco-conscious technologies like the SolarCell Remote will be made open source, so that others can utilise them for their new devices too.

Samsung’s decision to make such technologies openly available reflects a commitment to innovation – and to everyday sustainability – that transcends industries. The collaboration with Patagonia that Samsung announced at the keynote demonstrates the type of innovation that can result when companies – even those from entirely different industries – come together to address environmental issues. The innovative solution that the companies are designing will help fight plastic pollution by enabling Samsung washing machines to minimise microplastics from entering waterways through laundry cycles.

“This is a serious problem, and not one we can solve on our own,” said Vincent Stanley, Director of Philosophy at Patagonia. Commending the hard work and dedication of Samsung engineers, Stanley described the working relationship as “a perfect example of the kind of collaboration we all need to help turn the tide of climate change and restore nature to health.”

“We are thrilled about this collaboration, but our work won’t stop there,” added Han. “We will continue to explore new partnerships and collaborations, aiming to address the challenges facing our planet.”

Empowering Users with Customized Experiences

In addition to describing steps it is taking to advance everyday sustainability, Samsung outlined various ways it is advancing technology to cater to consumers’ diverse needs. Understanding that each person is unique and wants to customise their devices to suit their lifestyle, Samsung strives to find ways to help people redefine their relationships with everyday technologies. This people-first approach to innovation is a key pillar of the company’s “Together for tomorrow” vision.

The platforms and screens that Samsung unveiled at the event reflect the ‘Screens Everywhere, Screens for All’ era that Han alluded to at CES 2020. The Freestyle is a lightweight and portable screen that gives you a cinema-quality experience no matter where you are. Featuring AI-enabled sound, built-in streaming apps and a host of useful Smart TV accessibility features, The Freestyle can be set up virtually anywhere and projects up to 100 inches.

The Samsung Gaming Hub, meanwhile, offers an all-in-one platform for discovering and playing cloud and console games, and is set to launch on the company’s 2022 Smart TVs and monitors. Lastly, The Odyssey Ark is a 55-inch, flexible and curved gaming screen that takes immersion to the next level with a multi-view experience that allows users to play games, video chat with friends, and watch gaming videos at the same time.

To introduce more tailored product experiences to consumers’ homes, Samsung announced the rollout of even more customisation options for its Bespoke lineup of home appliances. This includes new Bespoke options for Samsung’s Family Hub and French 3-Door and 4-Door refrigerators, alongside dishwashers, ranges, and over-the-range microwaves. Samsung is also introducing new products like the Bespoke Jet vacuum and Bespoke Washer and Dryer, expanding the lineup to every room in the home to offer consumers more ways to customise their space to suit their style and needs.

Samsung is constantly exploring ways to harness customisation to help users get more out of their devices. The #YouMake Project represents the culmination of those efforts empowering consumers to choose and customise products based on what matters most to them, so they can enjoy a more personalised experience across their devices. Announced at the keynote, the initiative expands Samsung’s Bespoke vision beyond home appliances and brings it to life in the company’s smartphones and large-screen devices.

Ushering in an Era of Seamless Connectivity

Building a better future together for tomorrow requires more than building customisation and sustainability into the core of Samsung’s products—it also requires seamless connectivity. During the keynote, Samsung demonstrated its commitment to ushering in an era of truly seamless connected experiences by highlighting its collaborations with partners as well as its next-gen products.

Unveiled for the first time at CES, the all-new Samsung Home Hub takes connected home experiences to the next level with a SmartThings service that integrates with AI-connected appliances to simplify home management. Samsung Home Hub combines six SmartThings services into one convenient device that gives users complete control over their smart home and makes it easier to manage household chores.

To enable different types of smart devices to work better with each other, Samsung announced plans to make SmartThings Hub a built-in feature of its 2022 TVs, Smart Monitors and Family Hub refrigerators. Doing so will help make connected living experiences more accessible and seamless for everyone.

Pointing to the need to offer consumers the best smart home experience regardless of brand, Samsung also announced its role as a founding member of the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA), which brings together various smart home appliance manufacturers. The organisation aims to foster greater interoperability between devices across brands to give consumers more choice, and to enhance the security and safety of products and services.

“As a global coalition of smart home appliance manufacturers, HCA members share a belief that connected ecosystems and digital technology will allow us to further develop product experiences that are elegant, hyper-personalised, and truly smart for our consumers,” said Katherine Shin, Vice President of Customer Experience at Trane Technologies. “The HCA invites any global manufacturers with a similar vision for efficiency, interoperability and innovation to come and build with us.”

Samsung’s keynote underlined a deep commitment to corporate social responsibility that continues to characterise its approach to innovation. That commitment is not only realised in the company’s technologies, but also in its dedication towards programs that empower the next generation to bring about the changes they want to see in the world. By nurturing young people’s development and building skills for the workplaces of tomorrow, programs like Solve for Tomorrow and Samsung Innovation Campus are turning dreams into action.

“Today, I’m honored to share that Samsung’s programs to empower the next generation have now reached more than 21 million people since 2012,” said Han. “This is the better tomorrow we all seek: enabling people to reach beyond their dreams, a planet protected so others can experience its wonders, [and] innovation as the spark for change.”

For more information, including images and videos of the products Samsung is announcing at CES 2022, please visit news.samsung.com/za/ces-2022.

^{[1] For radio frequency harvesting, a physical proximity of SolarCell Remote to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi router is required.
[2] Estimate is based on expected sales volume and average usage period of related products.}