Samsung South Africa is bringing two new TV technologies to South Africa in the next few months. First up is QD-OLED, followed by new MicroLED screens that will puncture and drain all but the most well-padded of wallets.
Both are a little late to the party but that doesn’t mean we weren’t expecting them to turn up. At the very least, an invitation has been open ever since both were announced.
QD-OLED – Quantumania
Samsung took the wraps off a new screen technology called QD-OLED at the end of 2021. A combination of its quantum dot technology and more traditional OLED, the company hoped to emphasise the best of both worlds while minimising the downsides. A brighter OLED screen or a standard LED with better black reproduction are the holy grail of TVs. QD-LED comes close.
But that was the tricky part. Samsung originally said that it wouldn’t bring the technology to our shores but that has changed. Come Q1 2023, it won’t just be Sony rocking Samsung’s QD-OLED tech. The Korean brand will wield it as well. As for pricing… that’s something that will turn up closer to the time.
MicroLED – Paying the price
Also on the cards are Samsung’s new MicroLED TVs. Chances are you’re familiar with the technology, even if you’re not wholly aware of it. The company’s technology has previously been used to create its monstrous, made-to-order, wall-sized television sets. Well, soon you’ll be able to buy one. Without shelling out for an engineer and a whole new building to put it in.
But that doesn’t mean any of these TVs will be cheap. Samsung was very upfront about the potential costs of these screens. Part of this is that the company will focus on sizes 101in and up for this country. There are five sizes — 76in, 89in, 101in, 114in, and 120in. In South Africa, all of the MicroLED sets will feature triple-digit sizes and much larger price tags.
Some users may find the price worth paying. Samsung says that its uber-premium sets won’t experience burn-in, will integrate speakers all round, and will also support multiview. This is where all four HDMI inputs can display on the screen at once. Try and imagine four gamers sharing a single screen for four different games. That… should be possible. But only later in 2023. As with QD-OLED, pricing and details will turn up a little later.