What is QLED? Samsung’s new TV tech to surpass them all

Samsung has unveiled a new line of TVs at CES 2017, deemed the QLED range. There are three models: the flagship Q9F (flat), Q8C (curved), and Q7 (available in both flat and curved options).

As Samsung typically unveils curved models, the Q9F flat device is a surprising move, but the company acknowledged that people prefer flat screens for the most part. The range will come in 55, 65, 75, and 88 inches.

QLED refers to Quantum Dot LEDs. While Quantum Dot technology itself is not new and Samsung and other companies have been using it for the last few years, the QLED series wraps Quantum Dots in a new metal alloy, leading to better brightness, color, and viewing angles.

The QLED range is expected to replace the existing SUHD models at the top, a difficult act to follow since the premium SUHD range has proven successful. However, the QLED series boasts various improvements.

The series is brighter, with the 69Q9F achieving peaks of 2,000 nits. Last year’s top SUHD model, the KS9500, only hit brightness peaks of 1,400 nits. Additionally, Samsung’s new QLED TVs can cover 100% of the DCI color gamut found in most 4K Blu-rays, which means more and better color for your buck.

QLED addresses the greatest weakness in LCD TVs: the backlighting system. Traditional LCD backlighting pixels light up from one direction, while Samsung’s QLED panels are structured to light up from multiple sides. The idea behind this is to increase the maximum viewing angles and allow users to move further away from dead center before color and contrast noticeably are affected.

We will have to wait and see if Samsung’s QLED lighting system is robust enough to compete with LG’s OLED TVs that have no backlighting issues at all.

While Samsung did not unveil the prices of its new QLED series, those interested can expect the new TVs to ship in March of 2017.

Source: Trusted Reviews