QD-OLED absent from Samsung's CES TV lineup

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Sat, September 30, 2023 | 17:44

Companies

QD-OLED absent from Samsung's CES TV lineup

Posted : 2022-01-03 16:45

Updated : 2022-01-04 08:58

Samsung Electronics' "The Frame" TV, newly features a matte display to prevent screen glare. The appliance can display art when not functioning as a regular TV. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

By Kim Bo-eun

Logo for Consumer Electronics Show / Courtesy of Consumer Technology Association

Samsung's highly anticipated OLED TV is absent from the tech giant's introduction of its newest TV models to be featured at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that will kick off Wednesday in Las Vegas.

The world's largest TV maker, in place of the quantum-dot organic light-emitting diode (QD-OLED) TV, provided a lineup of upgraded versions of its existing Micro LED, Neo QLED and Lifestyle TVs on Monday. The new models have been upgraded to improve picture quality, sound technology and smart features, Samsung said.

Samsung is now offering its MicroLED TV in larger sizes of 89-, 101- and 110-inch sizes. The MicroLED display has microscopic LEDs forming individual pixel elements, offering greater contrast, response times and energy efficiency compared to LCD technology. Samsung said its latest MicroLED TV applies 20-bit micro contrast processing to offer an improved viewing experience by minutely adjusting brightness and color.

An image of Samsung Electronics' Neo QLED TV / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

This year's Neo QLED increases the brightness level from 12- to 14-bit gradation for greater light control. It incorporates shape adaptive light technology to enhance brightness and accuracy, as well as a multi-intelligence picture quality algorithm that amplifies the sense of depth.

"With our new lineup of products, we are providing customers an entirely immersive video and audio experience that is customizable to their needs," said Executive Vice President Simon Sung, head of the Sales & Marketing Team of Samsung's Visual Display Business. "Whether you are a movie buff, TV lover, gamer or even an art enthusiast, Samsung has leading-edge offerings that can enhance any room."

Yet Samsung has been investing into the QD-OLED as its next-generation display. QD-OLED is a hybrid technology that combines quantum dots and OLEDs, which the company says enables brighter and broader color expression.

Samsung's display affiliate pledged in October 2019 to invest 13 trillion won into the new panels by 2025. Samsung Display began producing the panels in December.

A new TV incorporating QD-OLEDs had been expected to be launched at CES 2022, but it appears Samsung has decided to focus on existing models as its display affiliate currently falls short of the capability to mass-produce the panels.

The QD-OLED TV had been garnering attention, because it would be the company's first TV incorporating an OLED panel, after Samsung referred to these as "inferior" and stated therefore it would not use them in its TVs. LG currently dominates the market for large-size OLEDs, given it is the only manufacturer capable of mass-producing the panels for TVs.

LG Electronics will introduce its 2022 OLED TV lineup on Tuesday.

LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan speaks in a video introducing LG's latest products for CES 2022. Courtesy of LG Electronics

LG to expand ecosystem to mobility sector

LG Electronics' main feature at CES 2022 will be the LG Omnipod, which is a model for a space inside a self-driving car based on artificial intelligence.

The newest addition will be introduced Wednesday 1 a.m. via the "LG World Premiere," a video unveiling LG's latest products and services at CES 2022.

LG Omnipod can be used as an office, as well as a place to work out, camp out or watch movies, LG said. The company describes LG Omnipod as an "on-the-road extension of one's personal living space."

An image of LG Omnipod, which the company describes as an "on-the-road extension of one's personal living space." Courtesy of LG Electronics

The latest addition illustrates the expansion of LG's ThinQ ecosystem, which has focused on home appliances, into the mobility sector.

LG will also introduce its "guidebot," "servebot" and delivery robot as well as a robot incorporating 5G and artificial intelligence.

Among its home appliances to be introduced are the LG StanbyME, a wireless TV on wheels, as well as the LG PuriCare AeroTower which serves simultaneously as an air purifier, fan and heater, and the LG tiiun indoor gardening appliance that enables consumers to grow healthy greens all year round.

"We will expand the LG ThinQ ecosystem to the mobility sector, to offer a differentiated customer experience by tearing down the boundaries of spaces so that the experience at home can be taken into a car as well," LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan said.

bkim@koreatimes.co.kr