Leader of the TV market, Samsung does not intend to let go. The Korean manufacturer has chosen to be present on all TV technologies that matter.
The ogre of the TV market is not yet satisfied. In 2023, Samsung should repeat the strategy inaugurated last year, which consists of being present on all screen technologies, including OLED. Indeed, if during CES 2022, the Korean had announced OLED without showing it, this is clearly not the case this year. The market leader is hitting hard with new models on the three most prominent display technologies. Here’s how Samsung’s TV range will look in 2023.
Neo QLED: why make it simple when you can…
Let’s start with Samsung’s historic display technology, QLED. Since last year, it has been cheerfully renamed Neo QLED. What’s new? Mini LED lighting technology. In 2023, again. The Neo QLED range will be available in 4K and 8K and will aim to reduce the gap with OLED.
To achieve this, Samsung is essentially relying on the new version of its processor, the Neo Quantum Processor 2023. This relies, as before, on deep learning and an in-house algorithm to improve image quality in real time. But while previous versions had 16 or 20 deep learning modules, this year’s Neo QLED range will be based on 64 modules capable of analyzing, each on a particular aspect, the incoming signal in order to adapt it in the best possible way. ways. At Samsung, this step is called Neural Analysis and even promises to improve a compressed image from a streaming site, for example.
The other notable processor improvement in Samsung’s QLEDs is the AI Real Depth Enhancer Pro algorithm. Behind this barbaric term hides a noble desire, that of improving image quality by playing on the contrast between objects in the foreground and in the background. New this year is that this function is particularly concentrated in the focal point area, where the viewer looks when the image is displayed. It is obviously the AI that makes it possible to determine this area of the screen. Finally, the 2023 Neo QLEDs also promise better light intensity control thanks to a technology called Shape Adaptive Light Control. These novelties, quite fine, will obviously require confirmation during our future tests.
Full on OLED
Last year, Samsung made an almost timid return to OLED, leaving its Display division to take care of the announcement and Sony to market the first QD OLED screen, the A95K. In 2023, none of that. Samsung does not intend to give flowers to its competitors and has decided to press very hard where it hurts, on the OLED.
This year, Samsung’s QD OLED range will be based on six TV models grouped around two references. Thus, the catalog will revolve around the SC90C and the SC95C, both available in three diagonal sizes. The other novelty is the arrival of a very large 77-inch panel, one of the few weak points of QD OLED last year. In terms of references, it will be necessary to take into account:
- Samsung QE55SC90C
- Samsung QE65SC90C
- Samsung QE77SC90C
- Samsung QE55SC95C
- Samsung QE65SC95C
- Samsung QE77SC95C
Of course, both series have a common technical basis, but a slightly different design. Above all, the S95C will be capable of much greater brightness. At Samsung, we are talking about the possibility of crossing 2,000 nits, which 01Lab will be happy to check. Finally, Samsung seems to have further improved the capabilities of its One Connect box, which makes it possible to deport the connection of the television to facilitate its wall hanging.
Micro-LED, Samsung is preparing the sequel
Every year since 2018, CES is an opportunity to see the progress made by Samsung on the Micro-LED. Since last year, it is no longer just a question of “The Wall”, the huge star image wall of the show, but of marketing this technology. Concretely, this has been reduced to a handful of units for professional purposes, but in 2023 the Korean manufacturer still intends to take a step further. Of course, there is no question of democratization yet, but the arrival of the Micro LED CX range has the advantage of making this technology more concrete… provided you have a salary as a professional football player.
The Micro LED 2023 range will add three diagonal sizes to the catalog, a 50 inch, a 63 inch and a “small” 140 inch. Yes, it is indeed a screen of more than 3.50 m. These three newcomers will be added to the four existing sizes (76, 89, 101 and 114 inches). This change in size is the most notable evolution of this range, the technology having changed little or not since last year.
A new, even more advanced game mode
In addition to its new range, Samsung has taken stock of the arrival of new features that users will be able to find in each of its televisions (with the possible exception of Micro-LED).
The most interesting of them is undoubtedly the arrival of a new version of the game mode. At Samsung, it is the Gaming Hub which this year inaugurates version 3.0 of the Game Bar, its interface. There are many new features with the arrival of a Super Ultrawide view mode and very special customization features such as a 16/9 format zoom. There is also talk of a Virtual Aim Point mode supposed to improve game performance on FPS. As for the features that have been popular with players so far, such as screen sharing with the possibility of displaying another source, they have all been renewed. In addition, the maximum refresh rate is 144 Hz and Samsung also highlights compatibility with FreeSync Premium Pro or Nvidia G-Sync. The Korean manufacturer does not forget the basics with an input lag announced at 5.8 ms in 4K/120 Hz and less than 5 s in 4K/144 Hz.
Other features to appear on the new range include ConnecTime, which allows you to switch a video call from the TV to another device, or 3D Map Review which makes the TV the control center for connected devices in the house. . Samsung’s new TV range should be on the market from the spring, the prices for each series should be known in the coming weeks.
For the rest, the announcement of this complete range has the merit of making Samsung’s strategy clear for the years to come. The sector leader intends to segment the market into three levels. It wants to maintain its LCD dominance with an upgraded NEO QLED. But he especially wants to overturn the table on the OLED and impose himself on this technology in the long term to better prepare for the arrival of the one that should succeed him and on which he is already archidominant… the Micro-LED.
