Last year, Samsung managed to significantly improve its QLED TV range. From the viewing angles to the backlight, the qualitative leap has been enormous compared to the 2018 models. Those arriving in the coming months, which we have previewed, show a change of pace especially in the 8K televisions, protagonists of the most important upgrades.
It looks like that in 2020 Samsung wants to focus even more on 8K for the high end of the market, although several technical details are missing to understand the real strategy chosen for this year, which will be revealed in the coming weeks. In the meantime, let's take a first look at the models arriving in the coming months, starting right from the top of the 8K range.
In the sign of 8K
At the recent CES in Las Vegas Samsung had already unveiled the televisions arriving in 2020, but now we know more details about the new line-up. At the top we find the Q950TS, with 8K resolution, the first TV with a 99% front viewing surface. The edges are so thin that they are invisible, but the thickness of just 15 cm is also surprising. A figure that compared to the OLED world is not incredible, but we are talking about an LCD TV with Full LED backlight, technology that requires space to be used. We do not know how many zones can be managed by Local Dimming, Samsung has not communicated this data and may never do so, but we can confirm that, at least from the demo images that we saw during the event, the quality of the backlight is at least equal to that seen last year, already very high.
The credit also goes to the management algorithms of local dimming, under the control of Quantum 8K image processor, also responsible for the upscaling of the contents, which is fundamental for a TV of this type since most of the contents are still at decidedly lower resolutions.
The screen is equipped with an anti-glare filter and is certified HDR 4000 in the 75 and 85 inch cuts, while the 65 model has an HDR 3000 certification. These are peak brightness that are unrivaled in the TV world, which Samsung manages to manage through HDR profiles that push a lot on this aspect. Also this year the reference standard for HDR is HDR10 +, no Dolby Vision.
Despite the reduced thickness, eight cases are installed inside the Q950TS, positioned in strategic areas of the body, at the base of the operation of the Object Tracking Sound + technology. In the demos shown during the event this proved to be able to place the sounds in space in a very likely way, based on what happens on the screen, both laterally and vertically.
The first feedback is very positive, but better to wait for a test in a less controlled environment, and with random contents, to understand the real potential of this technology. As in the top of the range last year it is present the One Connect Box, which contains all the connections, connected to the TV through a thin transparent cable.
The entry level 8K model is the Q800T, which will arrive in the 55, 65, 82 and 98 inch cuts. In this case borderless design is lost, while maintaining very thin edges, and the peak brightness drops, with the HDR 2000 certification. The Full LED backlight remains but it is plausible that the controllable areas decrease. The One Connect Box is also missing.
On the price front, we have no official confirmation but it seems that the Q950TS should start from 5999 euros for the 65 inches, then rising to 7999 euros for the 75 and 11999 euros for the 85. The Q800T instead starts from 2999 euros for the 55 inches, then rising to 3999 euros for the 65, 5499 euros for the 75 and 6999 euros for the 82 inches.
Also arriving on model Q900T, which maintains the specifications of the top of the range but loses the One Connect Box and has a slightly higher thickness.
All 8K models support a 120 Hz refresh rate, at maximum resolution, however, this drops to 60 Hz. We don't know yet what kind of support will there be for HDMI 2.1. Recall that there are no televisions, at least for now, able to manage all the functions of the new standard, each manufacturer can integrate the ones he prefers according to the model. In the case of the 8K range, the presence of VRR and Auto Low Latency Mode seems certain, which automatically activates the game mode by connecting a console.
The 4K range
The top of the 4K range for 2020 is the Samsung Q95T, which will arrive in the 55, 65, 75 and 85 inch variants. This model is HDR 2000 certified and houses a Quantum 4K image processor, derived directly from the 8K range. The backlight is of the Full LED type, also in this case the number of zones is not known but they could be lower than those of the Q950TS, instead the One Connect Box is present for a more comfortable management of cables and connections. The Q90T instead has a lower peak brightness, certified HDR 1500, and does not have the external box for connections. Prices, also in this case not yet officially confirmed, should start from 2299 euros for the 55-inch, up to 2999 euros for the 65 and 4499 euros for the 75-inch.
The Q80T is the latest in the range to have Full LED backlighting, but with fewer zones than the Q95T-Q90T, while maintaining the HDR 1500 certification and the Quantum 4K image processor.
The prices, always indicative, start from about 1300 euros for the 55 inches, but there will also be cuts of 65, 75 and 85 inches. From Q70 onwards the backlight is Dual LED type, a technology presented at the last CES in Las Vegas that allows you to vary the color temperature on colder or warmer tones based on the content, to optimize image quality.
Again the choice is wide, with cuts of 55, 65, 75 and 85 inches, unfortunately we have no information on prices. All the models listed so far support a refresh rate from 100 to 120 Hz, more details will come in the coming weeks. At the base of the QLED range we find the Q60T, with 60 Hz panel and cuts from 43 to 85 inches.
On the software front, both the 8K and 4K variants use the Tizen operating system, compatible with voice assistants Bixby, Alexa and Google Assistant. The announcement, made during the event, of the arrival of the Disney + application in Italy on March 24, simultaneously with the debut of the service, was important. Good news for Samsung 4K TV owners: all models, QLED and not, from 2016 onwards will receive the update to see the new streaming service.
The Serif, The Frame e The Sero
Samsung also intends to focus heavily on its "special" TV lines, created with a particular eye for design and social networks. In the range The Frame 2020 the 32-inch model makes its debut, with dimensions that can reach 75 inches and Dual LED backlight technology. THE The Serif 2020 instead I gain the new Cloud White color and they will be available in 43, 49 and 55 inch cuts.
Very particular the The Sero, an adjustable television designed for viewing videos in vertical format.
Once the smartphone is connected, just turn it vertically to see the TV adapt to the format. In this case we are faced with a single 43-inch variant, with QLED technology and 4K resolution, with a price should start at around € 1500.
