Samsung shows new UHD televisions with quantum dots
Samsung has shown new UHD televisions at CES in Las Vegas that use a backlight with quantum dots. As a result, the new uhd models have a higher maximum brightness and can display a wider color range.
The new models with quantum dots are called ‘suhd televisions’ by Samsung. Competitor Sony has been using a backlight with quantum dots for the Triluminos models for some time, and LG also uses this technique with some 2015 televisions. Samsung’s top model, the JS9500, has a curved screen and uses a direct LED backlight with local dimming. Samsung did not want to say how many individual zones the backlight has, but said it differs per screen size and that there are ‘hundreds’.
The slightly cheaper and also curved JS9000 model also uses quantum dots, but is equipped with an edge-lit panel. According to Samsung, nearly half of all UHD TVs sold by the company have a curved screen and the share of curved TVs is expected to continue to grow in 2015. The Korean manufacturer will also make a flat-model UHD TV, the JS8500, with quantum technology. dots and an edge-lit panel, but direct-LED with local dimming will only be available on the curved UHDTVs. The new models will be available from the second quarter.
Televisions with quantum dots use blue LEDs in the backlight, where red and green light are generated by converting part of the blue light using a quantum dot film. As a result, the backlight has a more favorable color spectrum, which means that color filters can be used that allow more light to pass through. This in turn has a favorable effect on the maximum brightness and the energy consumption of the televisions.
Samsung said that the suhd televisions are able to display the complete dci color range, which is used in all digital cinemas. Content that takes advantage of this wider color gamut is currently only available to movie theaters. However, Samsung said it is working hard on a way to make content with the wider dci color gamut available to consumers. It is not yet clear how and when this type of content will be available.
Samsung also announced that all 2015 models of its televisions will be equipped with the Tizen open source operating system, which will run on an undisclosed octacore soc with the more expensive models. Thanks to two new Evolution kits, one for HD and one for UHD models, some older models will be upgradeable to 2015 specs including the Tizen os.