Samsung’s 2021 TVs Dramatically Have a Better Picture, Thanks to Mini LED

Samsung today announces its top level of 2021 8K and 4K HDR TVs. And like TCL and LG before, the company is moving to a more precise backlight system that uses Mini LED technology for better contrast and greater image quality than its previous local dimming systems, and Samsung’s premium QLED LCD TVs were already impressive.

The latest Mini LED progress is described as ‘Neo QLED’ and will be found in different levels in 2021. There are two 8K models: the QN900A (a successor to last year’s 8K QLED at the highest level with barely edge) and the QN800A. From there, three series of 4K TVs will get Mini LEDs: the QN95A, QN90A and QN85A.

(Note: all the photos in this story were arranged at a private information session in New York City by Samsung. There were strict measures for social distance and sanitation, and masks were worn by everyone on site.)

Samsung says that the LEDs in these TVs are up to 40 times smaller than those in traditional backlight sets, where you get a few dozen “zones” that illuminate and dim according to what is happening on the screen. Packing more LEDs in a smaller space results in a more precise backlight that should greatly reduce the bloom, which is the radiation effect you can sometimes see on bright objects on a dark background on LCD TVs than the blow light into another eclipse zone.

While LG has released some figures for its upcoming LCD TVs with Mini LEDs – ‘up to almost 30,000 small LEDs’ and ‘up to 2500 dimming zones’, Samsung is not so ahead about the exact number of LEDs and dimming zones it has not reached. Similar to recent years, these TVs retain the quantum-extended color range; after all, this is what the Q in QLED stands for.

Samsung’s 2021 QLED TVs are also aimed at making life easier for gamers who recently purchased an Xbox Series X / S or PlayStation 5. There is a new ‘game bar’ with quick access to settings such as refresh rate, aspect ratio, and so on. All the HDMI 2.1 features you’d be hoping for – 4K at 120Hz, variable refresh rate, automatic low latency mode and eARC – are supported, though you’ll drop the range of features at the bottom. And Samsung is bringing the ultra-comprehensive 21: 9 and 32: 9 ratios of its gaming monitors to the TV screen, giving you a more comprehensive overview of everything that’s happening.

Samsung is also putting more emphasis on its Samsung Health software on the big screen. These latest TVs can be connected to a camcorder for a new “Smart Trainer” feature that you follow through an interactive fitness class. Here’s what Samsung says about it:

The Smart Trainer displays an AI trainer on the left screen and an image of yourself on the right screen, so you can check your attitude, count your representatives and get real-time feedback on how you are doing – just as if you were in a personal workout class. The AI ​​coach even remembers how you want to exercise, from exercise type to intensity. Finally, get feedback on your calories burned and other statistics so you can keep up with your fitness journey. And with a new auto-sync feature that connects selected Samsung Smart TVs, Galaxy phones and Galaxy watches, you can select a workout on your phone and toss it to your TV, while your watch automatically tracks your progress – without having to watch a button to touch.

It’s clear to see what Samsung is trying to play against Apple Fitness Plus, Peloton and other services.

Prices for all the new TVs will be announced later when they start shipping in a few months, but it should now be fairly comparable to the 2019 TV series in Samsung’s store.

An even more framed The Frame

The only one of Samsung’s ‘lifestyle’ TVs to be updated for CES is The Frame. Samsung has reduced the thickness; it is now 24.9 mm thick, which according to the company “reflects the depth of a traditional picture frame.” The 43-inch model can now be turned into a portrait orientation, and Samsung says customers who subscribe to the Art Store – The Frame can be configured to display artwork when empty – will now get better AI recommendations.

Samsung also says “there are more choices than ever, from slim, neutral and minimalist to large, graceful and bold.” The edge of the Frame can be swapped in a way that, according to the company, in some cases “you can literally frame the Frame.” As for the TV itself, you get the same QLED 4K HDR photo as before.

More sizes of MicroLED

Last month, Samsung announced that it’s going to make a massive 110-inch TV that uses next-generation MicroLED technology previously available in the company’s modular (and just-for-the-dirty-rich) screen, known as The Wall. The company now says that 99-inch and 88-inch models will join the 110-inch, bringing MicroLED to a “traditional TV form factor” for the first time.

Instead of needing professional installation, just take it out of the box and mount it like any other TV. Aside from the OLED-like benefits of MicroLED – self-emitting LEDs for every pixel and no backlight needed – Samsung says with its Multi View feature, you can watch four content sources simultaneously on one of these sets.

The thing is, all these TVs will be stupid for a long time to come. The Neo QLED TVs are therefore what the vast majority of consumers will see in 2021.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge