Samsung QLED TVs Adopt OLED with Neo Mini-LED Precision Dimming

This story is part of THESE, where our editors will bring you the latest news and the hottest gadgets from fully virtual CES 2021.

Samsung, the world’s largest television company, follows a year of successful sales with the new 2021 models touting even better picture quality and more extras for people who spend more time at home. It’s massive, incredibly Expensive MicroLED TVs steal the headlines around CES but its range of QLED TVs include the company’s bread and butter.

This year, the best Samsung QLED models, including TVs with both 4K and 8K resolution, are called Neo QLED. The name is not necessarily a reference to Matrix 4, but includes many futuristic-sounding technologies, all intended to dethrone OLED TVs made by rivals like LG and Sony, which continue to beat QLED in my image quality tests.

At the heart of Neo QLED TVs is a new Mini LED based, complete local dimming Backlight network that increases brightness and provides more precise light control. Samsung has made its LEDs 40 times smaller than conventional LED units, allowing more to be packed into the TV, and even added a (wait) “quantum matrix” to help direct the LED light more precisely. The result, according to the company, is improved HDR reflections with minimal bloom (lens flare that bleeds from bright areas to dark areas) as well as better shadow detail.

Samsung has also improved its AI scaling this year to use multiple neural networks (down from just one in previous years) to improve picture quality on 4K and 8K models.

Neo QLED technology will appear in all Samsung 2021s 8K QLED models (the QN800A, QN850A and QN900A series), as well as two 4K QLED series (the QN85A and QN90A). As usual, pricing has not been announced, but if the Q85T is in the approximate same price as the 2020 Q80T, currently priced at $ 1,500 at the 65-inch size, it will be cheaper than OLED and squarely target mid-price TV buyers.

Beyond the picture, Samsung’s new QLED TVs offer a few other new features for 2021.

Rechargeable remote control with solar cell: In a nod to durability, Samsung’s new remote uses rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones, which Samsung says could save 20 million AAA batteries each year. In addition to a USB-C port, the clicker can be charged via a solar cell on the back, which even works with interior lighting.

Read more: Samsung TV remotes are solar powered for 2021 Neo QLED models

Ultra-wide game status and aspect ratio display: New Samsung TVs Continue to Support Next Generation Gaming Features PS5 and Xbox Series X, including 4K / 120 fps and VRR input, but new for this year, you can long-press the play / pause button on the remote to call up a special status screen, called Game Bar, which clearly shows which of these features are currently active. You can also play the game in 21: 9 or even 32: 9 aspect ratio, with black bars filling the rest of the 16: 9 screen on TVs.

Samsung Health with Camera Based Smart Trainer: Samsung’s health app debuted on its televisions in 2020 and this year it is expanding to offer guided personal training. Plug in an optional webcam (Samsung has a list of recommended cameras, all from Logitech) and the app will track your workouts and give you full coaching with celebrity personal trainers. Jillian Michaels is the first of six to offer workout content. The Smart Trainer feature is available on 2021 Q70A and higher TVs.

Read more: Samsung TVs make your workout easy with a smart, camera-based, AI-powered trainer

Google Duo video chat: Using an optional webcam again, the Duo app on Samsung TVs allows up to 12 other people to join the chat. And if you don’t have a camera plugged in, you can filter Duo mirror on your phone on the TV and use his camera. It’s not Google’s most popular meet software, but at least it’s big screen web chat.

Google Assistant, Alexa and Bixby integrated voice: Last year Samsung TVs also offered the three voice assistants available via the remote, which included both push-to-talk and hands-free access. As of 2021, the company’s remote controls are only push-to-talk and far-field hands-free microphones, which respond to wake-up words such as “Alexa” and “Hey, Google”, are built into the Q70A and the superior televisions. As always, you can turn off the mics completely.

Microsoft Cloud Services, Wireless Dex: Connect optional keyboard and mouse to create or edit Microsoft 365 documents, and even work on two simultaneously on the big screen. Samsung is also expanding its capabilities Dex , available on Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, to connect wirelessly.

Samsung 2021 TVs will start shipping later this year. The exact model names, series and prices haven’t been announced, and as usual we’ll have to wait for reviews to see how Neo QLED actually stands up to good ol ‘OLED.