Samsung Electronics has unveiled its 2021 portfolio of Neo QLED, MICRO LED and Lifestyle TV displays during its first-ever virtual First Look event ahead of CES 2021. The new line underscores Samsung’s commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and innovation with new advancements that redefine the role of television in the home.
“During the past year, we have witnessed the pivotal role technology played in helping us carry on with our lives and stay connected with each other,” said JH Han, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics.
“Our commitment to an inclusive and sustainable future goes hand-in-hand with our relentless pursuit for innovation to meet consumers’ ever-changing needs – from reducing the carbon footprint of our products, to providing a suite of accessibility features, to offering an unparalleled viewing experience that fits each user’s lifestyle.”
Over the next few years, Samsung will embark on a journey of Going Green in aligning TV business operations through the following long-term sustainability programmes:
Reducing carbon footprint
Samsung will seek to systematically decrease its overall carbon footprint in TV manufacturing. The company will also seek to lower power consumption and use more recycled materials across its entire TV line.
Sustainable packaging
Building on consumer feedback, Samsung is expanding its Eco-packaging design to all 2021 Lifestyle TVs and most of the 2021 Neo QLED line. This sustainable solution can upcycle up to 200,000 tons of corrugated boxes each year*. By minimising text and graphics on the packaging, the oil-based ink from colour printing that’s traditionally used on TV boxes is eliminated, helping to further reduce waste.
Solar-powered remote controls
In 2021, Samsung TVs will come with a solar-powered remote control that can be recharged by indoor light, outdoor light or via USB, a first-of-its-kind innovation for the brand. This will help prevent waste from a projected 99 million AAA batteries over seven years**. To construct the remote, Samsung innovated manufacturing process that upcycles plastics from recyclable bottles – including 24% recycled content*.
"We hope that by taking these steps, we will inspire others in the tv industry to follow," said Han.
Accessibility
Samsung’s 2021 accessibility features – now available on all 2021 QLED and Neo QLED models – bring the latest advances in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to help more people enjoy their TV experience. The 2021 line adds new features such as Caption Moving, Sign Language Zoom and Multi-Output Audio, giving the hard-of-hearing, the deaf, people with low vision, and the blind the ability to optimise their viewing to their needs and preferences.
In Sign Language Zoom, the sign language window can be enlarged up to 200% so that viewers can see facial expressions and the gestures more clearly. Caption Moving moves the captions away from text on the video, instead of overlaying them. Colours have been altered so those with colour deficiency can discern more colours, while higher contrasting colours on menus help those with low vision to navigate. Actors' gestures and expressions are now described as well, and the remote control now verbalises the function of each button pressed.
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| Source: Samsung. Neo QLED display technology offers enhanced display quality. |
By 2022, Samsung is committing to expand its Voice Guide, a feature which provides audio guidance for the deaf and people with low vision. A sign language avatar will offer more help, while automatic closed captioning will automatically convert audio into text. Supporting sign language as a way to control screens is also on the books. The company also said it will continue to develop new AI-based features to enhance the accessibility of Samsung TVs in the future.
Samsung also introduced a new display technology, Neo QLED, to its flagship 8K (QN900A) and 4K (QN90A) models. Neo QLED takes QLED to the next level. At its heart is the Quantum Mini LED, which is controlled by Quantum Matrix Technology and the proprietary Neo Quantum Processor.
Samsung designed the Quantum Mini LED to be 1/40 the height of a conventional LED. Instead of using a lens to disperse light, and a package to fix the LED in place, the Quantum Mini LED has very thin micro layers that are filled with many more LEDs than conventionally possible. Quantum Matrix Technology enables ultra-fine and precise control of the densely-packed LEDs, preventing problems like blooming, when an image appears to have a halo around it.
Neo QLED further increases the luminance scale to 12-bit with 4,096 steps; this helps make dark areas darker and bright areas brighter, resulting in a more precise and immersive HDR experience. Lower-resolution picture quality can be upscaled to up to 8K with the help of up to 16 different neural network models, each specialised in a different type of content.
Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLED 8K features a new Infinity One Design—a nearly bezel-less screen providing an even more immersive viewing experience in a sleek form factor. Neo QLED 8K’s attachable Slim One Connect box—an all-new cable management system that can be attached to the back of the TV—allows for an easier install and cleaner aesthetic.
The 2021 Neo QLED 8K also packs in several premium, room-filling audio features; Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Pro’s dynamic sound corresponds to the movement of objects on screen, and SpaceFit Sound analyses the installed TV’s physical environment before it outputs immersive sound tailored specifically for the space.
Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLED 8K and 4K models further offer smart features that expand the role of the TV for fitness, entertainment and the home office applications:
Samsung Health seamlessly transforms the home into a personal gym, and the new Smart Trainer feature tracks and analyses posture in real time, just like a personal trainer. During and post-workout, Smart Trainer provides feedback on form, helps users count reps, and estimates calories burned. With video and interactive training via Bixby-enabled voice control, Samsung Health Smart Trainer elevates and personalises the home workout experience.
With new exclusive features, Samsung is delivering the ultimate TV gaming experience. Super Ultrawide GameView gives gamers the option to play not only at the wide 21:9 aspect ratio, but even at the ultrawide 32:9 ratio, so they don’t miss a moment of the action. A Game Bar lets players quickly monitor and adjust critical aspects of play—including switching aspect ratios, checking input lag, or connecting a headset. Finally, FreeSync Premium Pro minimises stuttering for smoother gameplay.
With Google Duo, consumers can use their phone to initiate a high-quality, high-speed video call that up to 32 people can join—no matter which operating system they’re using. With the Google Duo app, users can make video calls directly through an optional USB-connected smart camera which can a person's movements and automatically zoom in or out so that the person is always the right size, and in focus.
PC on TV on Samsung devices allows consumers to connect a PC to the TV, enabling the TV screen to be used with a connected mouse, keyboard, and PC. Consumers can also directly access Microsoft Office 365 through the TV’s web browser. Simply install the Easy Connection app on the computer and log into a Samsung Account—the TV will automatically connect to the PC, making working from the living room seamless.
Samsung TV Plus will offer free channels, movies and TV shows, and also allow viewers to continue where they left off.
In 2021, the promise of Micro LED has arrived as well. With the new MICRO LED line, Samsung has made Micro LED available in a traditional TV form factor for the first time—offering consumers a new level of visual experience on an ultra-large, next-generation screen.
Available in 110", 99", and smaller sizes by the end of the year, this family uses micrometre-sized LED lights to eliminate the backlight and colour filters used in conventional displays. The technology relies on non-organic LEDs, which are more durable than organic LEDs. MICRO LED is self-illuminating, producing lifelike colours and brightness through 24 million individually-controlled LEDs. Its Monolith Design delivers an over 99% screen-to-body ratio.
Samsung has also innovated on its smart TV features to take advantage of the new MICRO LED line’s massive screen. For example, consumers can use the 4Vue (Quad View) feature to watch up to four different content sources simultaneously on the same screen. Viewers can connect multiple external devices to keep up with multiple playoff games at once, or stream a walkthrough while playing a video game, for example.
The new MICRO LED’s dynamic, multidimensional audio experience complements its visuals. With Majestic Sound, it delivers 5.1 channel sound with no external speakers—transforming any room into a home theatre.
Samsung’s customisable lifestyle TV portfolio including The Frame, The Serif, The Sero, The Terrace and The Premiere can immediately upgrade the décor of any home. The 2021 lifestyle TV line features new design and form factors to reflect the changing interests and tastes of consumers.
Since launching in 2017, The Frame has redefined the television, transforming displays into works of art. Over 1 million units have been sold. The 2021 version offers a more customisable experience in a slimmer form. The Frame is about half as thin*** compared to previous iterations, mirroring the depth of a traditional picture frame. New attachable bezel options come in five colour options and two very different customisable styles—Modern and Beveled—to match the aesthetic of its location.
With a subscription to The Frame’s all-new Art Store, consumers will be able to enjoy 1,400+ curated pieces. Samsung’s new AI-based auto-curation technology better analyses individual consumer preferences to recommend artwork.
“The technology is complicated but the goal is simple – we do it for you,” summarised Han.
Explore:
Watch The First Look 2021, the video introduction to Samsung's 2021 TVs.
*Based on internal research.
**Based on internal research. Results may vary upon usage circumstances. The average life of a TV is estimated to be seven years.
***Forty-six percent slimmer than the previous models.
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