LAS VEGAS – Samsung is betting its new QLED 4K smart TVs that utilize "metal quantum dot material," will give consumers pause when they’re in the market for an OLED TV from LG or Sony.
“2017 will mark a major paradigm shift in the visual display industry, ushering in the era of QLED,” said HyunSuk Kim, president of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “With the advent of QLED TV, we provide the most true-to-life picture on screen. We have been successful in solving for past inconsistencies in the viewing experience and consumer pain points while redefining the fundamental value of TV.”
Almost as impressive as the picture is that all QLED sets now come with a new Invisible Connection fiber optic cable, (it’s not really invisible but it’s incredibly thin) through which all peripheral devices can be gathered and connected to the TV. The TVs also feature a “No-gap wall-mount,” which makes it easy to affix the TV flush against the wall.
Samsung says it QLED TVs are also its smartest sets ever with the Smart Hub interface extended to smartphones through its new and improved ‘Smart View’ app, which now provides an overview of all available content on the app’s home screen. With the app viewers can now use their mobile device to select and start their favorite live TV programs and video-on-demand and receive alerts about show times and availability.
The sets also feature two new Smart TV services, including Sports which displays a customizable summary of a user’s favorite sports team and its recent and upcoming games, and Music which among other features can identify songs as they are being played live on a TV show.
Samsung claims its new quantum dots allow its QLED TV to display deep blacks and rich detail regardless of how light or dark the scene is, or whether the content is being played in a brightly lit or darkened room. The sets are reported to be able to generate peak luminance as high as 1,500 to 2,000 nits, with “no impact on its ability to deliver accurate and impeccable color.”
Samsung also announced a new addition to the Galaxy A series smartphones, the 5.2-inch Galaxy A5. It features 16MP front and rear cameras with Light+ Camera to ensure shots are clear and bright, even in low-light environments. A new floating camera button enables users to take selfies with one hand and the front flash ensures brightness, even when captured in dark settings.
Consumer electronics editor John Bugailiskis is in Las Vegas this week covering CES for Cartt.ca.
