Samsung Electronics has introduced two new display models, the HCU7030 and HCF8000. The two new models are tailored for the healthcare sector. These models aim to enhance user experiences with features such as integrated pillow speaker interfaces, 4K resolution, and HDR performance. They are also Web RTC ready, enabling swift video conferencing integration.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
The HCU7030 is designed for hospital environments, while the HCF8000 is suited for both healthcare and hotel settings. The displays are designed to prioritize patient comfort. The HCU7030 boasts a business management suite for easy device enrollment, and both models offer UL certification and three-pin plugs to uphold safety standards.
The HCU7030 series ranges from 43 to 75 inches, while the sleek 32” QLED HCF8000 fits well in hospitality settings. Both come with a Multi-Code Remote to minimize interference and Web RTC for virtual healthcare assistance.
Source: Samsung
LYNK Cloud, a comprehensive cloud solution, equips both models with customizable content, remote device management, and access to OTT entertainment. Managers can analyze user engagement and content viewership for an optimized guest experience.
Pricing & Availability
The HCU7030 launches in the U.S. on August 25, and the HCF8000 arrives in the U.S. and Europe in Q4 2023. No public pricing has been announced at this time.
Ultrawide monitors are amazing technologies. We love an ultrawide monitor because it eliminates the need for us to run two monitors at the same time. It is also sort of a more economical way of running multiple monitors in terms of space. Instead of having to fit two monitor stands, you only need one.
Ultrawide monitors are great for gaming too, in our opinions at least. You see more of the gaming world. You get more information from the environment around you. In games like Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, you get a little more immersion and situational awareness from an ultrawide view. When you go into racing games like Forza Horizon, or Assetto Corsa, or even Need for Speed titles for that matter, you get to go full immersive mode by putting yourself into the cockpit of the racing car and having all your information on one display. You only need to swivel your head to find information you need in your cockpit.
Imagine our excitement when Samsung first announced their Odyssey G9, a 49-inch gaming monitor that is a beast to work with. It packed dual 1440p displays to create a 32:9 aspect ratio that is quite unheard of. It also pushes the envelope of gaming with up to 240Hz in refresh rate, higher than any high-end monitor that boasts 1440p QHD in resolution.
Source: Samsung
Samsung has upped the ante when it comes to the ultimate gaming monitor though. They have introduced the behemoth that is the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. To be fair to the monitor too, the technologies fitted to it sounds more like a high-end television than a gaming monitor.
It did not lose any heft and size at 49-inch. It has not lost that ultrawide magic too at 32:9 aspect ratio on the display. At 1000R, the curvature is exactly the same as the older Odyssey G9 too. In fact, side-by-side, the Neo G9 and the original G9 looks practically the same.
Dig deeper though, and you find a world of difference in the Odyssey Neo G9 compared to the original Odyssey G9. You now find a Quantum Mini LED panel to push the same 5,120 by 1,440 pixels (Dual QHD) out of the ultrawide 49-inch display. That means more brilliant colours and brighter display.
Source: Samsung
You get 12-bit colour depth over the 8-bit on the original G9, far more colours also mean smoother colour gradients and better lighting control on the display itself leading to more realistic and accurate colour representation from the display. At 2,048 dimming zones compared to 10 in the previous generation G9 too, the Neo G9 ensures that there are no halos on your images sitting over dark backgrounds which adds to your immersion and image accuracy. At Quantum HDR 2000 with peak brightness of 2,000 nits and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, black and white on the display are as black and as white as they can get.
It is an impressive feat, fitting high-end television features to a gaming monitor. What is even more impressive is that the Odyssey Neo G9 is not just a regular high-end TV in a 49-inch ultrawide guise. It comes packing the latest HDMI 2.1 to take advantage of a higher data transfer bandwidth to fully take advantage of the 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time on the panel. It even has both NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro capabilities to ensure you get the best gaming experience on either platform.
To cap the whole thing off though, the rear of the monitor features a new infinity core lighting that features up to 52 colours with five lighting effects. It also comes with a new CoreSync feature that syncs the lighting system to your games to create a higher level of immersion in games. The only issue with that system is that you do want to be in a dark room and your monitor should be facing a wall to fully experience the capabilities of CoreSync.
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
Source: Samsung
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 with Quantum Mini LED will be available globally by the 9th of August 2021. Pre-order starts on the 29th of July 2021 and it will be priced at US$ 2,499.99 (MYR 10,575.26*). There are no colour options when it comes to the shell though, but if you place and use the Odyssey Neo G9 the right way, you will not be noticing the white coloured shell all that much anyway. More information on the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 with Quantum Mini LED can be found on their website.
*approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.23 on xe.com as of 27/07/2021
In 2014, a little-known upcoming brand from China took to Malaysia by storm. Xiaomi launched their flagship class Xiaomi Mi 3 at the time and started their sale campaign in Malaysia in a way familiar to Malaysians but has yet to become a norm. They sold their highly anticipated smartphone online and sold out in minutes.
The plucky little brand has grown from strength to strength in the years it has existed. It has grown from a little company that makes affordable premium smartphones to a company that builds an ecosystem of smart products for a modern home. They have grown from making tiny devices that you put in your pockets to making electric scooters even.
Last night sees another one of Xiaomi more premium products making it into the Malaysian home appliance market. It is a big one too. Xiaomi introduced the Mi TV P1 and Mi TV Q1 to Malaysians.
Mi TV P1
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
The Mi TV P1, while boasting up to 4K UHD in resolution, is listed under Xiaomi’s more accessible offering in high-resolution entertainment. Understandably then you get a Full HD 32-inch option for the Mi TV P1 series. All of them still come with Android TV as standard though.
Despite being the more accessible series in the Mi TV family, the 55-inch variant gets HDR10+ on top of its 4K UHD resolution for even better colour reproduction. The added dynamic range also adds a sense of realism on the picture itself. Dolby Vision on the 55-inch also helps with more immersion as you watch Dolby Vision certified movies from the likes of Netflix.
You only get 60Hz from the LED panel. With MEMC motion smoothing technology though you are like to get a tear-free, lag-free, and smooth picture experience. Thanks to Android TV as well, you not only get to enjoy services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Spotify, and Tidal. You get to work with Chromecast built directly into the TV. You get the benefit of Google Assistant too, with the embedded mic on the TV you might not even have to reach out to your remote control.
Mi TV Q1
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
If you are looking for something more premium without breaking your bank, Xiaomi has the Mi TV Q1. The Mi TV Q1, at 75-inch, not only allow you to have a true large-screen experience. It also boasts QLED panels, the same one you find on Samsung’s premium TV line-up.
The 4K QLED TV packs a lot of punch in terms of colours with 100% NTSC colour range at 1.07 billion colours on tap to give you the best image quality with the smoothest colour gradients possible. With 192 zones of full-array dynamic local dimming, colour bleeding and fringing is kept to a minimum, almost not existent with superb contrasts.
Of course, the 75-incher supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, it is a Samsung QLED panel after all. On top of that though the QLED TV boasts up to 120Hz and HDMI 2.1 with Auto Low Latency Mode. Those also means that the Mi TV Q1 is ready for the next-generation gaming consoles. If you really want, plug in a gaming PC and watch your fps go crazy too.
Great pictures have to be coupled with great audio to really immerse in. The Xiaomi Mi TV Q1’s stereo speakers pack a lot of punch at 30W. The stereo set-up is made up of two tweeters and four woofers for a balanced and clear audio reproduction. The speaker set-up also supports Dolby Audio and DTS-HD for the best audio experience in its class.
The Xiaomi MI TV Q1 comes with Android TV. That also means, like the Mi TV P1, the Mi TV Q1 works nicely with Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Tidal, and Spotify. There are dedicated Amazon Prime Video and Netflix buttons on the remote. But you can easily launch all these apps via voice command anyway.
Price and Availability
The Xiaomi Mi TV P1 (43-inch, 55-inch) will be available for pre-order from 6th June 2021 onward for MYR 1,499 onward. It will retail for MYR 1,799 onward after pre-order period. The 32-inch variant will be available for pre-order from 6th June 2021 as well at MYR 899 (retail MYR 999). The new TV will be available online via Shopee and Lazada, and offline via authorised retailers, Senheng, and official Mi Stores across Malaysia.
The Xiaomi Mi TV Q1 will be available for pre-order from 6th June 2021 onward at MYR 7,999. The premium Mi TV will be available online via Lazada and offline via Senheng, authorised retailers and official Mi Stores across Malaysia. For a limited time and subject to stock availability, every purchase of the Xiaomi Mi TV Q1 will include Xiaomi’s exclusive gift pack worth MYR 1,765. The gift pack comprises the Mi Air Purifier Pro H, Mi Vacuum Cleaner Mini, Mi 360o Home Security Camera 2K, Mi Body Composition Scale 2, and Mi Wi-Fi Range Extender Pro. For more information on Xiaomi’s Mi TV P1 and Mi TV Q1, you can head out to Xiaomi’s website.
Samsung has, over the years, established itself as one of the leaders when it comes to display technology; not only in the homes but also in commercial settings. They have been pioneering new display technologies with Quantum Dot (QLED) and now they are pushing boundaries with new form factors, MICRO LED technology, and even projection.
MICRO LED Makes Its Way to Your Living Rooms
Samsung’s foray into MICRO LED started back in 2018 when they introduced “The Wall”. This year, the company is finally bringing their MICRO LED technology to homes. Their new MICRO LED equipped TVs will come in larger sizes starting from 76-inch all the way to 110-inch. The 110-inch and 99-inch sizes will see a global rollout starting at the end of March 2021 with an 88-inch model slated for fall 2021 and a 76-inch in the near future.
The new MICRO LED technology will enable users to get a deeper cinematic experience with deeper blacks, increased brightness and sharper image quality. The new inorganic LED technology prevents burn-in and is claimed to have an increased lifespan compared to QLED and OLED TVs.
Samsung’s new MICRO LED TVs will also be coming with 4Vue (Quad View) – a new way to experience content. The new 4Vue feature will allow users to maximize their visual real estate with up to four sources of content simultaneously. Yep – you’ll be able to watch four different content sources at the same time.
Neo QLED Becomes More Feature Packed
Building on the success of last year’s lineup of Neo QLED TVs, Samsung is making strides in addressing the evolving role that the TV is playing in a household. Of note was the increase in the number of TVs being used as a screen for fitness. Samsung’s Neo QLED TV lineup is getting a new improvement to the Samsung Health suite introduced last year. The new Smart Trainer in Samsung Health allows users to plug in a compatible webcam which will add an AI layer to help them up their fitness game. The new AI coach will send prompts to the user about their form and more while they exercise.
In addition to this, Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLED and QLED TVs also come with FreeSync Premium Pro certification. Thanks to their collaboration with AMD, the new generation of TVs will be able to hook up to PCs and consoles and take advantage of high dynamic range (HDR) for better colour saturation and reproduction for more realistic content. In addition, the new lineup gets a new Game Bar that allows users to monitor information while gaming. Users will also be able to use Samsung’s Super Ultrawide Gameview to access ultrawide aspect ratios previously available only on ultrawide monitors like Samsung’s Odyssey gaming monitors.
The new features come in addition to use of mini LED technology which is 1/40 the size of regular LEDs. The finer size allows for ultra-fine light control allowing the TVs to produce deeper blacks, brighter whites and finer control on an LED level. This paired with Samsung’s Neo Quantum Processor allows the TVs to upscale content and dynamically adjust to optimise content quality.
Samsung’s Neo QLED line up will come in 8K and 4K resolutions. The 8K models will be available in 65-, 75- and 85-inch models while their 4K line up will have a wider selection of sizes starting from 50-inch sizes.
Screens to Adapt to Any Lifestyle
Samsung has been on a recent bend of creating TVs that will accommodate any lifestyle. That’s not changing in 2021. With the introduction of The Frame, The Serif, The Sero and The Terrace over the years, Samsung has successfully created a new demand for adaptable TVs. This year, they are upping the ante with additional features and partnerships for The Frame and The Terrace while introducing a whole new experience with The Premiere.
The Frame is getting a refresh from the design up. This year’s The Frame comes in slimmer at 24.9mm with more options for customizations. The most notable being the introduction of My Shelf which allows users to create visually stunning areas around The Frame. The new accessory is compatible with the 55-, 65- and 75- inch versions. In line with the Frame’s original introduction, Samsung is partnering with NAVA contemporary and Etsy to bring even more stunning pieces of art to the screen. Storage on the Frame has also been increased from 500MB to 6GB in the 2021 The Frame.
The Premiere is Samsung’s first triple laser projector. It comes with 4K resolution and even built-in sound. Designed with minimalism in mind, The Premiere packs a stereo sound system with a built-in subwoofer in a sleek body. Those looking to get The Premiere need not fret for space as it only requires 5-inches from the intended projection surface.
The Terrace is also getting a slight bump in specifications. Introduced for the outdoors, the new version is coming with more features for the outdoors. This year’s model will come with Sun Protection which will allow it to last in the outdoors particularly in sunny conditions. Of course, the Terrace will still retain its IP55 dust and water resistance rating.
In addition to the TVs, Samsung also introduces a new Odyssey G9 gaming monitor which comes with Quantum MiniLED technology. The 1000R curvature allows users to get a more immersive experience from their gaming content with optimisations and features meant for gamers. Samsung is also bringing its Smart Monitor line up to the forefront. The new monitor brings all the features of a smart TV to a monitor and even includes DeX.
A Complete Experience
Samsung’s experience wouldn’t be complete without a matching sound system. Together with their new displays, the company announced the availability of a new Q series lineup. This year’s lineup comes fully equipped with Q Symphony technology which they introduced last year. This technology allows the soundbar and the TV’s built-in sound system to work together in unison for a unique, immersive sound system. This year’s iteration of Q Symphony comes with an additional feature that allows the soundbar to dynamically measure and adapt to the room it’s in.
The company’s flagship Q950A is the first 11.1.4 channel soundbar which creates an even more immersive sound experience. It comes with Bass Boost for added oomph and Tap Sound to allow you to seamlessly connect to the soundbar from your mobile device.
All the announced products will be available soon across the globe with some countries already rolling out the product.
In the new era, every consumer has different needs and requirements toward television and LG Electronics (LG) has unveiled its first QNED Mini LED Television (TV). Nam Ho-jun, senior vice president of R&D at LG’s Home Entertainment Company said that the newest models of television, the QNED series, are premium level home entertainment options for the consumers. Of course, the new TV also allows consumer to improve the LCD TV space in their house.
LG Electronics claims that the new QNED Mini LED TV is the premium tier of the LCD TV line-up. It also represents a great leap forward in LCD TV picture quality. The QNED Mini LED TV is built-in with the a new panel structure that merges quantum dot and NanoCell technologies with Mini LED light source which produces a better picture performance and even wider color gamut and even better contrasts. The advanced panel is able to provide a vivid viewing experience for the user in the LCD space.
The new panel construction is supposed to produce incredible looking color thanks to the advance LED backlighting that provides better contrast and deeper black. Also, the new QNED Mini LED TV packs up to 30000 tiny LEDs, 2500 separate control zone, and advanced local dimming technology that able to enhance contrast, shadow detail, and incredible peak brightness.
The QNED Mini LED TV also boasts a contrast ratio of 1000000:1 display. The also boast excellent HDR image quality thanks to the never seen before contrast and deep blacks. Moreover, QNED Mini LED TV is equipped with a 120 Hz refresh rate for some next generation console readiness. Without a doubt, the new QNED Mini LED TV is the new flagship TV from LG.
Price and availability
LG is launching 10 new 4K and 8K TVs through 2021. The largest size of TV that will be available for 2021 from LG goes up to 86-inch currently. Consumers may explore the LG’s top-of-the-line 86-inch 8K television during the CES 2021, LG virtual exhibition booth, starting January 11. For more information, you can look at LG’s CES 2021 announcement.
The television isn’t just a screen to consume content anymore. Over the years, the screen has become more of a multi-dimensional surface which isn’t just about multimedia. Some use it to keep in touch, some use it to escape the world while others use it as a statement piece in their homes. So what happens when a company invests more time and effort into making a screen that doesn’t only serve it’s interactive purposes but also helps users create that statement piece to pull a room together? Well, in short: you have the Samsung Serif.
The Serif joins a line up of Smart TVs that occupy a unique niche they’ve come to call “Lifestyle TVs”. This line up with initially started with Samsung’s The Frame TVs is now populated by The Serif, The Sero and The Frame – each built with a unique feature to set them apart.
So, how does The Serif set itself apart? Is it worth an investment? Should you even care about it? Those are some of the questions we’re looking at with the in-depth review of The Serif.
Design
When it comes to design, The Serif is bound to turn heads. Samsung worked with renown design brothers, Ronan and Ewan Bouroullec. The Bouroullec brothers brought a fresh, innovative take on the TV and how it can be used in any room as a statement piece. It takes the drab, reflective rectangle and breathes new life with a unique, head turning design.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Samsung Serif, is its side profile, which, like its name suggests highlights the features of the “I” in serif. The curved top and bottom portions of the TV not only act as design accents but also provide some functionality – as a sturdy base in the case of the bottom, and as a surface for your trinkets in the case of the top. In addition, the design accents actually provide some relief from glare resulting from light sources in the room.
That said, the Serif is designed to stand out. Its unique “I” design is complemented with a heavy, and I mean HEAVY, base. This allows you to stand it anywhere – a feature we delve into further later in the review. It goes without saying that the overall design language of the Serif will make it stand out no matter which room it is in. We got to review a white coloured Serif – the only colour available in Malaysia at the moment and it was the first thing that caught your eye as soon as you walked into the room. The TV is available in Black and Red in other countries.
The unique, understated design of the Serif creates a sense of drama which is apt for an entertainment surface. However, it is also designed in a way that you’re not hard pressed to place the TV against a wall. It has a cohesive design which leaves no port exposed thanks to a panel on the back which ensures that there are no exposed surfaces which are jarring to the eye.
Features
Stand anywhere & hide cables away
As mentioned earlier, the design of the Serif allows you to stand it anywhere. The bottom surface of TV is weighted with a heavy, thick metal base to provide stability. In fact, the TV is stable enough that even a sudden, hard jerk to the TV won’t send it toppling over. It’s thanks to this stability and weight that the Serif is able to be placed on any surface independently.
However, if you don’t want to place it on a table or mantle, you can also stand the TV independently. The Serif also comes with stilt legs which can be screwed into the base. This allows you to stand it independently.
In addition to being able to stand alone, the Serif also comes with a built-in cable management system. This starts with the back of the Serif where a backplate made of plastic and covered in fabric hides the HDMI, USB, Antenna port and more. These cables are then channelled through a hole in either end of the Serif. Through this hole, the cables are run along the nearest stilt leg with a plastic clip; keeping the mangle of cables clean and managed.
While convenient, Samsung’s approach to cabling and wire management in the Serif seems counter intuitive and dated. In fact, it is contrary to the approach Samsung has been pushing in its own QLED flagships with the single cable and connectivity box. The biggest gripe we had with the design of the cable management is the fact that the design tucks away the ports of the Serif, making them inaccessible – particularly the USB port which you are likely to use most often for pictures and other multimedia. To access this port, you need to pry open the back panel and replace it. Not too tedious but if you place it against a wall, this would mean that you have to move the whole TV to access the ports.
NFC tap to Play (Music) & Dynamic Wallpaper
One of the features that we ended up using most when reviewing the Serif was the Tap to Play feature. This NFC powered feature allows you to simply tap your NFC enabled device to connect wirelessly to the TV and play music from any of your installed apps. We mention music specifically cause it’s the only media you can use the feature with. You can’t play videos or project pictures using the Tap to Play function. That said, the Tap to Play function is also able to wake the TV. All you have to do is place your smartphone or tablet on the top of the Serif at a specific position. This is subtly marked for easy identification by an NFC logo.
In addition to this, the Serif comes with Dynamic Wallpapers which allow the screen to show you useful information when you’re not using it for entertainment. The default wallpaper comes with the date, weather, and clock. The dynamic wallpaper is also a key component of the Tap to Play function. It pulls up a wallpaper which response to the beats of the song you’re listening to. It also changes the visual ambience based on the genre you’re listening to.
Samsung’s Tizen OS, BixbY & SmartThings
Samsung’s continues to use its Tizen OS on the Serif. That said, they have optimised it to be less intrusive and more functional than ever. Of course, these improvements came with their flagship QLED TVs. However, it’s nice to see that even models like the Serif are getting the same software.
Tizen OS is lightweight and responsive on the Serif. It actually makes setting up the TV pretty easy with your smartphone through the SmartThings app. Simply connecting the TV on the SmartThings app and setting up the TV from your phone removes most of the tedious setup such as setting up WiFi. The SmartThings platform allows you to import your settings from your smartphone to the TV directly without needing to type your passwords on screen.
After setup, the SmartThings App also allows you to use an on-screen remote control on your smartphone to control the Serif. This control extends to Samsung’s own smart assistant, Bixby. While you need to hold down the voice control button when you use the remote control. If you’re on a Samsung device, a simple “Hey Bixby” allows you to get the Serif to launch your favourite apps or shows on screen.
The Serif also supports Apple AirPlay 2, so if you’re on a Apple device, you’ll be able to connect and access your content just as easily. Perhaps where Tizen OS shows Samsung’s focus on software compatibility is when it comes to Screen mirroring. It goes without saying that Samsung’s own devices are smooth as butter. However, when it comes to other brands such as Apple and the dreaded wireless mirroring on Windows, the Samsung Serif has been one of the most reliable and stable we’ve reviewed to date.
Picture & Sound Quality
The Serif comes with a 4K UHD QLED panel – one of Samsung’s forte’s when it comes to displays. It remains the same with the Serif. The panel that Samsung is using for the new lifestyle TV is bright, saturated and has good contrast. Blacks are deep and whites are bright but not jarring. That said, the panel did have a slightly darker tint compared to other QLED TVs we’ve seen before.
Just like in its flagship QLED TV line up, the Serif also comes with software enhancements for its picture quality. It has a smoothing feature which is supposedly able to make motion less jerky and fluid. This feature was pretty effective on animation content. When we watched show like Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away or Netflix’s Dragon Prince, motion was more fluid, and the viewing experience was more enjoyable. However, when it came to acted content such as The Resident or even The Hamilton Musical, movements were fluid but there was a significant amount of ghosting happening. Actors’ looked like they had their spirits leaving their bodies while they were moving. Of course, this is easily remedied by simply turning the functions off.
One of the best features on the Serif is Samsung’s intelligent mode for picture and sound. This function learns your viewing behaviours and adjusts the settings according to your preferences. In our review case, we were turning the brightness down in dark situations to reduce eye strain. Once the preferred brightness level was set, the Serif intelligently returned to it every time the sensors detected a drop in ambient light. It also helped compensate for levels between the default and preferred setups. The Serif does also come with an ambient sensor which helps with the intelligent setting.
When it comes to audio, the Serif has one of the better speaker setups built in. Unlike some other TVs, this TV has proper speakers built in. The speakers are clear and crisp for dialogue and have good frequency range. It was able to reproduce a good amount of low frequencies and high ones. This led to a rather enjoyable sound experience on its own. In fact, during our review period, the volume rarely went above 20.
A Functional, Well Designed, Functional Statement Piece for Any Room
The Samsung Serif is one of the more unique Smart TVs out there. It’s design allows you to accent any room with a statement piece which will undoubtedly become the focal point of the room. That said, the design of the Serif also allows it to seamlessly blend into room – if the design requires it. However, the smart TV’s design isn’t without its flaws particularly when it comes to port accessibility. Keeping them under a panel is aesthetically pleasing but when it comes to utilising them it becomes tedious. This is particularly true when it comes to the USB port.
That said, it does provide a unique overall package complete with good speakers, great picture quality and a bevvy of features. This creates a unique, compelling proposition looking for a smart TV that can double as a statement piece in any room. However, being slightly higher on the price side of things at MYR6,499, the Serif makes a tough proposition for those of us not looking for a design-centric TV. In fact, put side by side with Samsung’s flagship line up at the same price point it can seem a little anaemic and gimmicky when it comes to features. That said, the minimalist and functional design does win it some brownie points. Overall, it’s got us on the fence. It would be amazing if Samsung’s next Serif brings even more technical features to make it a more complete and compelling offering at its price point.
In a time when values have changed and our tastes have changed, the way we decorate and design our homes and rooms has also changed. Gone are the days when we design rooms around large pieces of electronics, instead, we are now able to fit our electronics seamlessly into our rooms without needing to compromise. Noticing this trend in how we are designing our spaces, Samsung has introduced a line up of what they call “lifestyle TVs” which are intended to be more than just screens for entertainment.
The new The Serif, The Frame and The Sero QLED TVs are designed to be artistic accents in your rooms instead of cornerstone displays. These TVs aren’t just designed to be screens, they are meant to be functional additions to your room with a focus on the aesthetics and bring the added advantage of a screen that you can consume your media on. The Sero even adapts to your content going from portrait to landscape to fit your content.
Samsung’s The Frame
Having a large, blank, black screen in the middle of your living room is just a big no, no. Samsung’s “The Frame” turns the blank, black surface we’re used to into centerpieces of any given room. The new edition of The Frame comes with Samsung’s QLED 4K technology which includes Samsung’s 4K Quantum processor which intelligently upscales the content your viewing to take advantage of all the pixels of the 4K screen.
However, that’s not the je nais se quois that sets The Frame apart from other TVs. Samsung’s The Frame is designed to look like a frame containing a masterpiece; allowing it become the centerpiece on your art wall when you’re not watching that new episode of “The Witcher” on Netflix. The bold design is also personalisable with different designs for the bezels that allow you to customize the TV to fit your design style. Samsung has also built in a special gallery called “The Art Store” which allows you to get digital copies of masterpieces stored in museums for a monthly fee. However, if you’re not one to splurge, the Art Store also houses a selection of regularly updated free artwork.
The Frame is also designed with a zero gap design allowing it to lay flush against the wall. Unruly cables are also not a problem as it also uses the same invisible cable design from Samsung’s flagship 8K QLED TVs. This allows you to connect all your inputs to a single hub which can be placed further away from the TV leaving your display and wall blemish free.
Samsung’s The Serif
For The Serif , Samsung partnered up with the Bourellec Brothers to create a screen experience that is both chic and distinctive. The Serif will undoubtedly catch anyone’s eyes in any room it’s placed in. Looking at the overall design of the QLED TV, the inspiration for the name should be as bright as day. However, it’s unique design isn’t just its namesake; The Serif‘s design allows the screen to sit independently without the need to hide any cables. If you need a stand for the uniquely designed screen, it also comes with removable legs.
The Serif comes with Samsung’s 4K QLED panels and is available in 43-, 55- and 75-inch in white or black internationally. It also has the company’s 4K Quantum processor which allows you to get the most out of the pixels on your screen even from lower resolution content. It also comes with built-in stereo speakers for immersive sound and a removable back panel and built-in cable management for a seamless facade. The Serif is also able to take advantage of Ambient mode to blend seamlessly into its settings while display pertinent information such as the time and weather in an elegant way befitting the screen. It is also able to take advantage of “tap and connect” which will allow your phone to connect without the hassle of manually plugging in the connection via the settings. However, this only works with Bluetooth Audio on The Serif.
Samsung’s The Sero
The Sero is one of the most unique lifestyle TV offerings that Samsung has in its arsenal right now. The new approach to a TV allows the screen to seamlessly adapt to your content. It has a rotating 43-inch screen which is able to change from portrait to landscape according to the orientation of the content you’re looking at. If you’re on Instagram or TikTok, the screen will be in portrait mode, switch to Netflix and it’ll go into landscape. In apps like YouTube, the screen is able to adapt seamlessly between orientations according to the screen. If you’re minimised, it’ll stay in portrait mode and it’ll kick into landscape when you go full screen. The rotation is made possible thanks to Samsung’s new rotating hinge which allows it to rotate unrestricted.
The Sero comes equipped with its own easel stand which also has detachable wheels for added portability. In addition to portability, The Sero is the only TV in Samsung’s line up which comes with a built-in 4.1 channel speaker system that is integrated into the easel stand. It also comes with Tap to Connect which is compatible with any Samsung smartphone. A simple tap on the top or right border of the TV will trigger quick connect which allows you to connect to your phone for wireless screen sharing and audio connectivity with the TV.
Pricing & Availability
Samsung’s lifestyle TVs are rolling out to selected markets worldwide. In Malaysia the pricing is as below:
Samsung’s QLED TV line up has been one of the first that have been pushing 8K and large form factor TVs. Last year, we saw the company push boundaries with a flagship series which capped at a whopping 98-inches. That said, Samsung’s line up isn’t just about size, they tend to also push the boundaries when it comes to technology. With the 2019 QLED TV line up, the company introduced a whole slew of features to help make content more immersive and also stand out. This year’s line up is no different.
Spearheaded by the new Q950TS, the new line up of Samsung QLED 8K TVs continue to bring more enhanced technologies. These technologies are focused at providing better picture quality, more immersive sound and a better, more well-rounded experience when it comes to content consumption.
Smarter AI Upscaling Augmented by Deep Learning
Samsung’s introduction of AI upscaling started with its 2019 line up of 8K UHD QLED TVs. The line up was the first to boast a dedicated Quantum processor to help with upscaling to help address the content gap. This year, Samsung ups the ante with an improved AI upscaling. While still backed by a Quantum Processor, the 2020 Samsung QLED 8K TVs will have better upscaling capabilities thanks to machine learning and deep learning algorithms.
The new machine learning and deep learning algorithms are supported by a new neural processing component in the Quantum processors. It is thanks to this neural processing that Samsung’s Quantum Processor is able to upscale content with machine learning and deep learning. The new two pronged approach to upscaling allows better, more natural upscaled content for the large factor QLED TVs.
The first prong of the two prong approach is Samsung’s Machine Learning Super Resolution. This upscaling technology focuses on upscaling content based on identified objects. The company has specified in an online briefing that the upscaling done by this technology preserves the characteristics and details of the objects or subjects of the scene or picture.
To ensure the natural detail of the shot is better preserved during upscaling, Samsung has introduced what they call Deep Learning Super Resolution. It enhances the details and fills in the pixel gaps when the image or video is upscaled. Accessing a neural network, the algorithm intelligently restores details which are lost during the upscaling process. It does this by upscaling the image pixel by pixel. Samsung’s engineers have assured us that the algorithm doesn’t introduce artificial details.
These AI technologies augment the enhancements Samsung has introduced physically in their displays. The new QLED displays come with Array Elite. This new technology allows finer control of the pixels which make up the TV. It allows finer contrast control and better power efficiency as pixels individually powered.
More Immersive Sound with Object Based Surround Sound
Samsung’s new line up of QLED 8K TVs also bring a refreshed approach to sound. In the past, sound seemed to be in the background when it came to TV development. However, Samsung is taking a more holistic approach with their 2020 QLED TVs.
It starts with a redesign of the integrated speakers. Samsung’s new line up comes with six speakers. It has two front firing speakers on the top corners of the screen. It’s placed behind the high resolution QLED panels. More significantly, Samsung has moved the tweeters to the side of the TV. In addition, Samsung is also using wider left and right channels for more complete sound experience.
The redesigned sound system has allowed Samsung to introduce a new, enhanced feature called Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+). This allows regular consumers, like you and I, to experience sound the way it was designed. OTS+ essentially allows sound to be tied to an object instead of the channels available. This approach allows sound to move as an object moved on and off screen. Dolby refers to this as “audio objects” and is an essential part of its Dolby Atmos certification.
These new technologies enhance old features that came with the 2019 line up as well as enable new ones. The 2020 QLED TVs from Samsung could be one of the most exciting tech that come from the company. This is thanks to the company’s focus on enhancing and augmenting the user experience in its line up with meaningful new features. The new line up is set for its debut soon in Malaysia and has already been introduced in select counties around the world.
