Tit-for-tat continues between Samsung, LG over TVs

By Kim Bo-eun

LG Electronics' QNED Mini LED TV unveiled earlier this week / Courtesy of LG Electronics

The feud between electronics giants Samsung and LG has escalated over the latter's branding of its next-generation TV.

LG recently unveiled its "QNED" Mini LED TV, to be launched at CES 2021 in January. This came as an unpleasant surprise to Samsung, which has been developing its next-generation TV display technology under the same name.

Samsung and LG are the top two players in the global market for TVs. The two have been competing with their respective flagship models ― Samsung's QLED made with LCD panels and LG's OLED.

Last year Samsung began developing QNED technology which applies fine quantum dot material to LEDs to enhance image quality. The company had intended on developing a new model incorporating QNED technology to succeed its QLED. QNED stands for quantum nano-emitting diode.

But LG recently applied for QNED trademark rights in Korea, the U.S., Europe and Australia, with Samsung following suit. The trademark rights of both companies are currently under review in the respective countries.

LG said its QNED TV integrates mini LED technology with quantum nanocell technology. LG's QNED technology ― quantum dot and nanocell ― is said to be different from Samsung's QNED quantum nano-emitting diode technology.

LG said its QNED TV's mini LED uses 10 to 15 times more LEDs for the backlight than Samsung's premium QLED lineup.

Samsung said it does not have any official comment on the issue.

But an industry source said, "LG has applied quantum dots to nanocells, which is entirely different from Samsung's QNED technology under development. This can create confusion for academics as well as consumers."

The source said it appears LG's bold step intends on creating a "next-generation image" for itself, given the long-standing gap with Samsung in the TV market. Samsung has led the global TV market for 15 consecutive years.

LG's new mini LED model drew attention because it was unveiled prior to its rival's. Samsung had planned to introduce its mini LED lineup at its Unpacked event early this year.

"The naming of QNED was not a sudden idea. It was part of our existing roadmap as the technology was developed, so we applied for trademarks in early 2020," LG Electronics' Head of Home Entertainment Marketing Communication Lee Jeong-seok said in an online briefing this week.

The LG official said there was no relationship to the technology Samsung is developing.

The latest developments are an extension of a feud over Samsung's QLED TV.

Samsung's QLED TV / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

LG filed a complaint over the model with the Fair Trade Commission in September last year, claiming false and exaggerated advertising was used for the QLED TV. LG claimed Samsung's QLED TV advertisements could be interpreted as TVs being equipped with self-emitting backlighting systems even though they were not.

Samsung fought back, stating LG's claims were groundless.

It is yet to be seen whether Samsung will take action against LG's QNED branding.

LG's strategy, meanwhile, is to position the QNED Mini LED TV on top of its LCD TV lineup to capture demand for reasonably priced premium LCD TVs. The QNED models are priced lower than OLED models.