- Samsung has unveiled its 2021 TV lineup, headlined by Mini-LED equipped Neo QLEDK 8K and 4K models.
- They can also use a camera for a Smart Trainer that analyzes your workouts, and Google Duo video chats.
- You’ll also see new Micro LED and much slimmer The Frame TVs.
It wouldn’t be CES without a flood of TVs, and Samsung is more than happy to help. The Korean tech giant has unveiled its 2021 TV lineup, and there are a string of upgrades highlighted by the Neo QLED displays in its 8K and 4K sets.
Samsung’s Neo QLED 8K (QN900A) and 4K (QN90A) sets use mini LEDs 1/40th the size of conventional technology to offer finer control over lighting. The 12-bit, 4,096-step luminance won’t compete with OLED’s “perfect� contrast ratios, but it should still produce brighter bright areas and darker darks than regular LCDs. That’s particularly important for HDR and dimly-lit movie scenes.
The Neo QLED 8K TV has other advantages you might expect in 2021, according to Samsung. It boasts a nearly bezel-free “Infinity One� design, object-tracking sound, and a cable management box you can attach to the back. The 4K variant has more conspicuous bezels and lacks the other perks.
Regardless of the TV, you can expect better 4K and 8K upscaling thanks to a new processor with 16 different AI processing models. Super UltraWide GameView allows aspect ratios up to 32:9, while Game Bar lets you quickly change settings mid-match. You’ll even get eco-friendly input — Samsung is giving all its 2021 TVs a solar-powered remote control that can charge from any light source, saving you from buying AAA batteries.
See also: The best 65-inch TVs
Some of the biggest changes may come through software. Samsung Health on the Neo QLED TVs now includes a Smart Trainer that uses a USB camera to study your movements and posture for home workouts in real time, helping you count reps, adjust your form, and even estimate calorie burn. You can use a camera for Google Duo video chats, too.
Other Samsung TV lines will get their own upgrades for 2021. As hinted earlier, the Micro LED line (not to be confused with mini LED) now comes in conventional TV designs that don’t require a special installation like The Wall. It’ll be available in 110-inch, 99-inch, and “smaller� sizes by the end of the year. Samsung’s designer The Frame sets, meanwhile, are now half as thick as before with attachable bezels and a new Art Store for backdrops.
Samsung hasn’t divulged pricing for its 2021 TVs, but you can expect the Neo QLED line to start shipping in the first quarter of the year. It’s safe to say most of these models are premium TVs, but they may be justifiable if you’re looking for an alternative to OLED (particularly for brightly-lit rooms) or prefer Samsung’s interface.