Samsung Launches 2020 QLED Line of 4K and 8K TVs

Samsung today announced that the 2020 QLED 4K and 8K TVs it previewed at CES in January are now available for purchase or pre-order.

With prices starting at $3,500, 8K models are organized in three series offering four screen sizes: 65, 75, 82 (Q800T series), and 85 inches. 4K TVs fall into four series in screen sizes ranging from 43 to 85 inches at prices ranging from $530 to $2,900 (and higher for Q90T models).

All 2020 QLED models serve as a virtual hub, with Samsung’s SmartThings Dashboard available for controlling smart-home devices, and feature enhanced audio performance and voice control via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung’s Bixby platform in addition to providing access to a diverse mix of free streaming channels via the Samsung TV Plus platform. The Samsung Health app, which offers fitness tracking, is also integrated into the TVs.

Select 2020 QLED models include Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound (OTS) or OTS+ systems, which use additional speakers on the front, sides, and back of the TV to create a “three-dimensional soundscape that tracks the movement of objects on screen and adjusts audio to make it sound like the “action is happening all around you.”

Most 4K models (Q80T series and above) are designed to integrate the TV’s built-in speakers with Samsung’s Q series soundbars, a feature called Samsung Symphony.

The flagship model in Samsung’s 8K lineup, the Q950TS (top left in photo), boasts a super sleek design with a bezel that all but disappears. The TV itself is only 0.6 inches thick and has flat back so it can be mounted flush against the wall. Its “direct full array” layout includes a new feature Samsung calls local power distribution, which fine-tunes dimming zones to produce images as much as 20 percent brighter than its 2019 counterpart, and all incoming video is automatically upscaled to 8K resolution with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI). In particular, the addition of a neural network is said to restore fine details that would otherwise not be visible.

Samsung’s AI-based processing also uses built-in sensors to analyze images on the screen vis-à-vis ambient lighting to optimize picture quality and adjust volume based on the level of ambient noise in the room.

The 2020 lineup also introduces new gaming features, including Real Game Enhancer+, which provides variable refresh rates for smoother gaming; Adaptive Sound+, which enhances the directionality of gaming soundtracks for a more immersive experience; and Multi-View, a multitasking feature that allows viewers to display streaming content and access social media while playing games.

Samsung has also updated its Ambient Mode, now called Ambient Mode+, so viewers can use voice commands to change the mood of the room. Requesting a “calm atmosphere,” for example, will engage mellow music and display a relaxing backdrop on the screen.

For more information, visit samsung.com.

Related:

Samsung Expands 8K Lineup, Unveils Rotating 4K TV

Samsung’s Q950TS Series 8K TVs Ditch the Bezel

X