New Samsung TVs with quantum OLED panels could launch in early 2022

Quantum dot OLED screens are imminent, say industry insiders

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Samsung’s QD-OLEDTVs are finally coming into focus – with industry insiders confirming that the hybrid televisions are set to launch in 2022, meaning they’ll be included in next year’snew Samsung TVrange.

The hybrid screens are set to combine the picture advantages ofOLEDpanels (deep blacks, infinite contrast, flexible panels) and Samsung’sQLEDor quantum dot filters (used to enhance color and contrast) – hopefully offering something that transcends both technologies.

They’ve been rumored for a long while, but recent reports ofQD-OLED prototypesandlarge financial commitments from Samsunghave all pointed to a 2022 launch window, and this latest report confirms that.

Coming back for CES 2022

The announcement comes not from Samsung itself, butKorea Economic Daily, which has a longstanding reputation for credible industry leaks. It reports that, “according to industry sources […] the South Korean tech giant is developing 55-inch and 65-inch quantom dot organic light emitting diode (QD–OLED) TVs for market launch in the first half of 2022,” with 70-inch models coming later in the year.

The article also states that the upcomingCES 2022expo will likely see the QD-OLED TVs unveiled for the first time. CES is held every January in Las Vegas, and is usually a hotbed for brand new TV showcases.

One source tells the outlet that “Samsung is strengthening its premium strategy. Next year, it plans to unveil new QLED and QD-OLED TVs in the quantum dot category as well asMicro LED TVs in various sizes.”

Analysis: Where do QD-OLED TVs fit into Samsung’s strategy?

Perhaps what’s most interesting about this report is its predictions of where these QD-OLED TVs will sit in Samsung’s annual TV range.

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The report states that these hybrid screens “will be placed between its top-premium segment of Micro LED TVs and its flagship QLED lines” – suggesting that they could even sit above theMini LEDand8K TVsthat currently sit at the high-end of Samsung’s TV range.

If these sets are even more expensive than the 2021QN900Aflagship, which starts at $4,999 / £5,999 / AU$7,579 for a 65-inch model, they’ll likely make little traction in today’s TV market – acting largely as a symbolic gesture of what Samsung is technically capable of, and which very few will be able to afford to bring into their homes.

However, the integration of QD-OLED screens may shake things up a little. We could see Samsung reduce the number ofQLED and Neo QLEDscreens in its 2022 range, simplifying their offering in order to make room for these higher-end sets. We could also see them occupy a similar price point to current8KTVs, positioning them as equal alternatives rather than competitors with a clear winner.

Where QD-OLED TVs sit in Samsung’s range, and how well they fare in today’s market, will come down to the same thing – the price. If they’re too costly, they’ll remain what they are today: full of potential, but with little consequence to the everyday buyer who can’t get their hands on them.

ViaOLED–info

Henry is a freelance technology journalist, and former News & Features Editor for TechRadar, where he specialized in home entertainment gadgets such as TVs, projectors, soundbars, and smart speakers. Other bylines include Edge, T3, iMore, GamesRadar, NBC News, Healthline, and The Times.