Samsung’s Neo QLED televisions with 8K and 4K UHD panels are poised to hit store shelves this year. We’ve also got the chance to observe them in action. Its technological foundation is the same as that of the 2021 models, but that does not mean that it lacks additional features; it does, and they are significant.
The improvements that seem most relevant to us from a strictly technical standpoint are those that intervene in the performance of the mini-LED backlight. This technology was already available in the most advanced 8K and 4K UHD models last year, but this year, as we’ll discover in this article, Samsung engineers have made numerous significant advancements that promise to increase the overall picture quality of Neo QLED TVs in 2022.
The extent of the news, however, is not confined to the hardware of these televisions; the operating system has also been improved to better our experience. Furthermore, the 144 Hz is now available in a larger selection of sizes this year. In fact, here’s a sneak peek at what we’ll see later: One of the televisions with a 144 Hz panel appears to be a compelling alternative to large-format gaming monitors.
Mini-LED technology has matured, and Neo QLED 8K (2022) is the result.
We’ve compiled the most important features of the 2022 Neo QLED televisions with a VA 8K LCD panel in the specifications table that follows these lines. As you can see, the most significant variations between them are in the performance of the mini-LED backlight, which includes maximum brightness delivery capacity and contrast ratio; sound characteristics; and, finally, connectivity.
Of course, because these are the three most modern televisions on the market this year, they share many similarities, with the exception of the VA LCD matrix with 8K resolution that beats within. Your image processor is identical; all three have a second-generation mini-LED diode matrix and provide complete HDMI 2.1 connectivity on the four available inputs.
The fact that 2.1 is now available on all HDMI connectors, not just one or two (we’ll see later that Neo QLED 4K UHD TVs have four HDMI 2.1 ports) is fantastic news for users. LG was the first to add this feature to all the HDMI connectors on its high-end televisions, so it’s only fair that we give it credit for being the first.
I had the opportunity to chat with several Samsung engineers during the introduction of these televisions, and they confirmed that the 2nd generation mini-LED matrix that they use incorporates more efficient diodes that are meant to reduce light dispersion. This feature is designed to optimise light control so that it only affects the region of the panel where it is needed.
These televisions’ 2nd generation mini-LED matrix incorporates more efficient diodes that are designed to reduce light dispersion.
Furthermore, because these mini-LED diodes reduce residual light emission, this technology could theoretically allow these TVs to provide deeper blacks than last year’s models. Although I haven’t been able to confirm this, it seems reasonable to assume that Samsung engineers have improved the algorithm that controls local backlight dimming. If we have the chance to thoroughly examine one of these televisions, we will be able to determine if this is true.
The aesthetic commitment of these televisions, on the other hand, is practically the same as last year’s models. Their frames are so small that they are nearly undetectable from a distance; the central base is stylish; and, finally, the One Connect module is thin enough that we may attach it straight to the back of the base if we don’t want it to take up space on the surface where we’ve placed the television. In addition, like in previous generation models, a single wire is enough to carry power, video, and audio from this module to the television.
Samsung has redesigned Tizen OS, the Linux-based operating system that has been featured in all of its televisions for several generations. We weren’t able to evaluate it thoroughly in this initial meeting, but we did look into one of its most interesting features: it now allows us to access the content we’re replicating on any platform without having to launch its app. Using the Tizen OS interface directly To make this feasible, Samsung has added a new content line that collects everything we’re playing, even if it’s from multiple platforms.
Even at 43 inches, Neo QLED 4K (2022): 144 Hz is already available.
There’s more to life than 8K resolution. Samsung is dedicated to this technology, but it also offers 4K UHD televisions with a variety of intriguing features. The table below these lines aids us in determining the differences between the three most advanced Neo QLED models with a 4K UHD matrix: the QN95B, QN90B, and QN85B.
The most important differences to consider are its maximum brightness delivery capability and the precision with which the algorithm responsible for backlight local dimming operates. However, the image processor in the QN95B model is slightly more powerful than those in the other two models, and there are also significant differences in sound performance and connectivity, as shown in the table.
The amount of time we’ve had to observe these televisions in action hasn’t been long enough for us to get a clear judgement on their overall image quality, but it has been long enough to establish that Samsung’s advancements in mini-LED backlighting are noticeable.
The enhancements Samsung has made to the mini-LED backlight are noticeable.
The blacks are shockingly deep, but what I enjoyed the most was that it gave me the impression that the LED diodes could switch faster than those in last year’s televisions at this first encounter.
Of course, the credit for this could go to the backlight management algorithm rather than the diodes themselves. When we have the opportunity to thoroughly examine one of these televisions in our own facilities, we will confirm it.