Samsung Electronics recently unveiled its 2021 portfolio of Neo QLED and Lifestyle TV displays during its first-ever virtual First Look event, ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021. The new line underscores Samsung’s commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and innovation with new advancements that help redefine the role of television in consumer homes.
“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.”
A sustainable and accessible future for all
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 programs:
- Reducing Carbon Footprint and Improving Energy Efficiency: Samsung will seek to systematically decrease its overall carbon footprint in TV manufacturing. The company will also seek to lower user power consumption and use more recycled materials across its entire TV line.
- Sustainable Packaging Design: Building on valuable consumer feedback, Samsung is expanding its award-winning ‘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 minimizing text and graphic imagery on the Eco-packaging, the oil-based ink from color printing that’s traditionally used on TV boxes is eliminated, helping to further reduce waste.
- Solar Cell Remote Control: In 2021, Samsung TVs will come with a solar-powered remote control that can be recharged by indoor light, outdoor light, or 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.2 To construct the remote, Samsung innovated a manufacturing process that upcycles plastics from recyclable bottles — including 24% recycled content.
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 comfortably enjoy their TV experience. The 2021 line adds new features such as Caption Moving, Sign Language Zoom, and Multi-Output Audio, giving those with difficulty of hearing, the deaf, people with low vision, and the blind, the ability to optimize their viewing to their needs and preferences. By 2022, Samsung is committing to expanding its Voice Guide feature — which provides audio guidance for the deaf and people afflicted with low vision. On top of this, Samsung will continue to develop new AI-based features to further enhance the accessibility of Samsung TVs in the years to come.
Neo QLED takes a quantum leap in TV display technology
Samsung is introducing a whole new display technology, Neo QLED, to its flagship 8K (QN900A) and 4K (QN90A) models. Samsung is taking QLED to the next level enabled by a new light source, Quantum Mini LED precisely controlled by Quantum Matrix Technology and Neo Quantum Processor, a powerful picture processor optimized for Neo QLED.
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 incredibly thin microlayers filled with many more LEDs. Quantum Matrix Technology enables ultra-fine and precise control of the densely packed LEDs, preventing blooming — and allowing viewers to enjoy content as it’s meant to be seen. Neo QLED increases the luminance scale to 12-bit with 4096 steps; this helps make dark areas darker and bright areas brighter, resulting in a more precise and immersive HDR experience. Neo QLED likewise benefits from Samsung’s proprietary, powerful Neo Quantum Processor with enhanced upscaling capabilities. By using up to 16 different neural network models, each trained in AI upscaling and deep learning technology, the Neo Quantum Processor can optimize picture quality to 4K and 8K picture output regardless of the input quality.
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 design and form factor. Neo QLED 8K’s attachable Slim One Connect box — an all-new cable management system that can be attached to the TV’s back — 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 the screen, and the SpaceFit Sound analyzes the installed TV’s physical environment and outputs immersive sound tailored specifically to the space.
The latest Samsung Neo QLED TVs will be reaching Philippine shores within this year. The SRPs will be announced upon their availability in the country.
Enhancing the award-winning lifestyle TV portfolio
Samsung is also making enhancements to its 2021 Lifestyle TV line with 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 stunning works of art, with over one million units sold.
The 2021 version builds on The Frame’s innovative legacy, offering a more customizable experience in a slimmer form. The Frame is about half thinner compared to previous iterations, mirroring the depth of a traditional picture frame. New attachable bezel options come in five color options and two different customizable styles — Modern and Beveled — to match the aesthetic of whatever room The Frame is in.
With a subscription to The Frame’s all-new Art Store, consumers will be able to enjoy 1,400+ carefully curated pieces. Samsung’s new AI-based auto-curation technology better analyzes individual consumer preferences to recommend artwork.
With near-endless options for customization, Samsung’s lifestyle TV portfolio including The Frame, The Serif, The Terrace, and The Premiere immediately upgrades the décor of any home.