Samsung Electronics has shaped the history of television, developing its technological innovations from Full HD to 8K and 4K, thanks to its strategic vision and tireless passion to bring new technologies to the market.
To learn more about what has been achieved so far in TV technology innovation, as well as the future of display technologies in the age of UHD screens, Samsung’s newsroom spoke to TV experts to delve deeper into these topics.
(Left to right) Sangmin Lee, Head of Image Quality Solutions Lab, Hyunchul Song of Product Development Group and Youngseok Han of Samsung Display Business H/W Platform Lab.
Pioneering the future of TVs through endless innovation
Nowadays picture quality has become one of the most important factors that consumers consider when choosing a TV. In 1977, Samsung successfully developed and produced a color television, the Color Economy TV, for the first time in Korea, ushering in the era of color television in the country. Samsung has earned the title of Korea’s Leading Color TV Manufacturer thanks to its enduring commitment to innovation. Furthermore, the company was never satisfied with the colossal success of its Econo TV black and white television model, which captured the lion’s share of the monthly TV market at the time.
Samsung’s first LED TV, launched in 2009, was considered a breakthrough in television technology.
The LCD TV was then developed and in 2009 Samsung introduced its breakthrough model, the Samsung LED LED TV. The LED television is the culmination of all the innovative technologies available at the time and, thanks to light-emitting diodes, offers exceptional picture quality. All components of the Samsung LED TV are brand new, and the number of patents acquired for this model has exceeded 3,000.
Samsung’s QLED TV was first shown at CES in 2017.
In 2017, Samsung presented the world’s first QLED television based on cadmium-free quantum dot technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This year, the company’s innovative TV took center stage thanks to its excellent picture quality and 100% color volume.[1]
A year later, the company released an 8K QLED model that integrated 8K resolution with Samsung’s proprietary quantum dot technology. It features direct full array technology and backlight technology, which can precisely control the lighting balance on each part of the screen image. In addition, the QLED TV also includes AI upscaling to 8K[2], an industry-first upscaling technology designed to intelligently upscale lower-quality video to vibrant 8K resolution. Samsung’s innovative QLED 8K technologies usher in the 8K era.
“In 2020, Samsung introduced the world’s first frameless TV, completely eliminating frames around the screen,” said Hyunchul Song of the product development group. “A year later, we reinforced our industry leadership with the presentation of our QLED Neo technology based on Quantum Mini LED displays. From Full HD to 8K, we have put tremendous effort into creating innovative products that offer diverse experiences based on consumer needs.”
Strive for exceptional image quality through extensive research into human behavior
Samsung remains committed to providing viewers with the best possible experience by delivering exceptional picture quality. But what does “good image quality” mean to someone working on its development?
“Picture quality is considered good when it gives the viewer a sense of reality, making them feel as if they are seeing the images directly on the screen,” said Youngseok Han, a developer with the Information and Communication Technologies Development Laboratory. “To ensure good image quality, display performance indicators such as high resolution, high luminance and excellent color expression are essential. Also important is the balance between the display’s other advanced technologies, including chip design, image quality algorithms, and sound. »
Han went on to explain the importance of balance to image quality. “The factors that affect image quality the most are the organization of the various relevant technologies. These include technologies that reduce distortion and noise in image transmission, those that reproduce colors accurately and richly, and create sharp contrasts for more vivid and clear images, and motion technologies that ensure the movement of objects on the screen is smooth. »
It would be impossible to achieve good image quality with just one technology, no matter how good. That’s why Samsung is committed to developing innovative technologies using all sorts of different approaches, without resting on its laurels as an industry leader. Recently launched on the QLED Neo 2023 TV, True Depth Enhancer is one of the new features designed to improve picture quality.
When the human eye focuses on an object, it draws attention to the object by maximizing sharpness, clarity, and texture while preserving the background. Developed based on understanding this human behavior, Samsung’s True Depth Enhancer technology uses AI to automatically separate an object from its background to create a greater sense of depth and truly bring images to life.
In addition, Neo Quantum Matrix Pro technology enhances the reproduction of fine details through precise control of Quantum Mini LED technology over a total of 13,684 levels. This meticulous adjustment adds dimension and realism to the images on screen.
“Our True Depth Enhancer technology is the result of an optimization of all relevant technologies that takes human psychology into account, rather than focusing solely on enhancing resolution,” Han said.
From 8K games to artworks on Samsung TVs in the age of 8K technology
Users are bombarded with new content these days. Tens of thousands of new media and content are released every day across all sorts of platforms, but does that also apply to content created in 8K?
“With the recent growth of 8K devices, including smartphones, anyone can create 8K content and display it in ultra-high definition,” said Sangmin Lee, head of Quality Solutions Lab. “High-performance graphics cards also enable users to play games in 8K, which means we are already living in the era of 8K UHD. »
Song also detailed the growth of 8K content in today’s AV market. “More and more 8K content is available on social media and artists are creating digital artworks in 8K,” he explained. “We’ve added the ‘YouTube Videos in 8K’ feature to the QLED Neo 2023 TV to allow users to browse 8K content available on YouTube and view digital artworks such as B. an image in NFT form.[3], at a glance. »
Samsung is also taking the lead in expanding the 8K content ecosystem by spearheading the 8K Association, a global non-profit organization established in 2019 with the aim of setting 8K standards and developing 8K content. In February 2023, the association will have 33 members, including Samsung, TV panel manufacturers, SoC chip manufacturers and leading content creators. Last year, Samsung released a teaser for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series in 8K, developed in collaboration with Amazon Prime Video, another member of the 8K coalition.
Fine-tuning the optimal image quality that takes the viewing experience to the next level
To find out more about industry leader Samsung’s next steps in picture quality in the age of 8K technology, Samsung Newsroom asked the three TV pros what their goals are.
“As a developer, I feel most fulfilled when viewers tell me that the images on screen look real to them,” Han said. My goal is to further improve our algorithms by optimizing a whole range of components in order to offer viewers a “lifelike” picture quality.
For Song, it is essential to create technologies that bring real added value to users. “While the development department strives to create the best picture quality through technological innovation, I’m more concerned with product optimization to bring quality experiences to as many viewers as possible,” said Mr. Song. “I will continue to think about other types of value that we can bring to our viewers.
After all, from Lee’s point of view, the goal is and always has been to offer user experiences that go beyond simply viewing content. “The most important value a display can offer is the presentation of images that seem more real than reality itself,” Lee explained. “Thanks to the best picture quality algorithms and sound performance, the optimal picture quality allows users to enjoy their favorite content without worrying about settings. Our ultimate goal is to deliver exceptional picture quality that allows users to fully enjoy their viewing experience beyond just watching content. »
Stay tuned to the Samsung press room for the second and final part of this series, which will explore the role of 8K TVs and the innovative technologies Samsung has developed to offer its customers the best possible viewing experience.
[1] 100% color volume according to DCI-P3 color space tested by the Association of German Electrical Engineers (VDE Germany).
[2] AI 8K upscaling improves content to near 8K picture quality. According to laboratory tests. Viewing experience may vary based on content type and format. AI upscaling to 8K may not apply to PC connections and certain game mode conditions.
[3] SAVAGE is a high quality NFT marketplace offering 4K/8K videos and photography. With over 50 titles to launch in March 2023, SAVAGE will expand throughout the year with over 250 new pieces from leading designers and brands.