Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs come with futuristic sound technology

This story is part of CES, where our editors will present the latest news and the hottest gadgets from CES 2021 entirely virtual.

Samsung, the world’s largest TV company, is following a successful sales year with the new 2021 models that promote even better image quality and more extras for those who spend more time at home. It’s huge, incredibly Expensive microLED TVs steal the headlines around CES but your schedule QLED TVs make up the company’s bread and butter.

This year Samsung’s best 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 sound technologies, all designed to dethrone OLED TVs made by rivals like LG and Sony, which continues to beat the QLED on my tests image quality.

At the heart of Neo QLED TVs is a new Mini-LED Based, local browning of complete matrix backlight matrix that increases brightness and provides more precise light control. Samsung made its LEDs 40 times smaller than conventional LED units, allowing more to be placed on the TV, and even added a (wait …) “quantum matrix” to help direct LED light more accurately. The result, according to the company, is enhanced HDR highlights with minimal flowering (scattered lighting that bleeds from light to dark areas), as well as better shadow details.

Samsung also improved its AI upscaling this year to use several neural networks (as opposed to just one in previous years) to adjust image quality on 4K and 8K models.

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

In addition to the picture, Samsung’s new QLED TVs offer some other new features for 2021.

Rechargeable remote control with solar cell: In a nod to sustainability, Samsung’s new remote control uses rechargeable batteries instead of disposables, which, according to Samsung, can save 20 million AAA batteries each year. In addition to a USB-C port, the clicker can be charged via a solar cell at the rear, which works even with internal lighting.

Read More: Samsung TV remote controls are solar powered for the 2021 Neo QLED models

Display of game status and ultra-wide ratio: Samsung’s new TVs continue to support the next generation gaming capabilities of PS5 and Xbox Series X, Including 4K / 120 fps and VRR input, but new for this year, you can press and hold the play / pause button on the remote control to access a special status screen, called the Game Bar, which clearly indicates which of these features are currently active. You can also play in 21: 9 or even 32: 9 proportions, with black bars filling the rest of the TV’s 16: 9 screen.

Samsung health with camera-based Smart Trainer: Samsung health app debuted on their TVs in 2020 and this year it is expanding to offer targeted personal training. Connect an optional webcam (Samsung has a list of recommended cameras, all from Logitech) and the app will track your workouts and provide complete training with celebrity personal trainers. Jillian Michaels is the first of six to provide training content. The smart trainer feature is available on TVs 2021 Q70A and above.

Read More: Samsung TVs help you train with a smart camera-based and 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 chat. And if you don’t have a camera connected, you can select mirror your phone’s Duo on TV and use your camera. It is not Most Popular Google Meet software, but at least it’s a web chat on the big screen.

Google Assistant, Alexa and Bixby integrated voice: Last year, Samsung TVs also offered the three voice assistants available via the remote control, which included push-to-talk and hands-free access. In 2021, the company’s remote controls are remote field push-to-talk and hands-free microphones, which respond to words like “Alexa” and “Hey, Google”, integrated with the Q70A and superior TVs. As always, you can disable the microphones completely.

Microsoft cloud services, Dex wireless: Connect an 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 the capabilities of its Dex feature, available on Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, for wireless connection.

Samsung’s 2021 TVs will go on sale later this year. The exact names of models, series and prices have not been announced and, as usual, we will have to wait for comments to see how Neo QLED really resists good old OLED.