Samsung’s new 83-inch TV is its first one with an OLED panel that’s in all probability made by LG

At first look, Samsung’s new 83-inch S90C OLED TV doesn’t look too completely different from the corporate’s current 2023 OLED TV vary. However keen-eyed observers at Forbes and HDTVTest have noticed that the $5,399.99 TV, which has the mannequin quantity 83S90C, seems to have a display screen measurement bigger than any of the QD-OLED panels produced by Samsung Show.

Which means we’re nearly actually trying on the first Samsung OLED TV to make use of a panel produced by the show division of its South Korean rival LG.

“There is no such thing as a doubt in any respect in my thoughts that this 83-inch Samsung OLED TV can be outfitted with a white OLED panel also referred to as WRGB OLED panel from LG Show,” HDTVTest’s supremely educated Vincent Teoh stated in a video final month after information of the TV leaked, and it seems like he was proper.

Samsung Electronics America residence leisure and show senior vp James Fishler confirmed the TV makes use of WOLED as a substitute of Samsung Show’s QD-OLED however didn’t specify the supply.

In a press release offered to The Verge, Fisher stated: “This 83S90C mannequin makes use of WOLED expertise and is powered by the proprietary Samsung Neural Quantum Processor present in the remainder of the Samsung OLED lineup to ship pure blacks, limitless distinction, and vibrant colours.” In response to a follow-up query asking if it got here from LG, Fisher stated, “as a world firm, Samsung works with many various corporations and it’s not our coverage to touch upon our provide chain.”

The TV has minimal bezels and a compact stand. Picture: Samsung

The TV’s announcement comes simply a few brief months after Reuters reported that the 2 corporations had signed a deal to provide tens of millions of panels over the subsequent few years in each 77-inch and 83-inch measurement variants. 

Principally, that is simply one other humorous instance of the mutually helpful relationships even supposedly fierce rivals within the tech house can have with each other. See additionally Samsung and Apple, who labored collectively to provide OLED shows for the iPhone at the same time as they have been combating it out over patents. If Samsung’s new 83-inch TV is certainly utilizing an LG Show panel, it’ll possible lead to Samsung utilizing two completely different sorts of OLED panels in its S90C lineup. The smaller TVs can have its QD-OLED panels, whereas this bigger TV may have a WOLED (or WRGB OLED) panel. 

It will be silly of me to say at this level whether or not that may result in any main image high quality variations within the lineup as a result of processing could be simply as vital as panel expertise in figuring out how good a TV’s image finally ends up being. However Rtings’ current comparability between Samsung and LG’s present top-of-the-line OLEDs means that WOLED can have a slight general brightness benefit, whereas QD-OLED can profit from brighter colours. Rtings ongoing TV burn-in take a look at additionally means that QD-OLEDs could be barely extra vulnerable to burn-in in excessive instances the place you’re continuously watching content material with static onscreen components, findings that LG has been desperate to capitalize on.

As soon as these new 83-inch Samsung OLED TVs begin discovering their method into prospects’ palms (which Samsung’s web site says ought to begin later this month), HDTVTest’s Teoh stories that it needs to be pretty easy to confirm what sort of OLED panel expertise they’re utilizing. Identification strategies embody taking a zoomed in {photograph} of the TV to have a look at its sub-pixel array, or else shining a light-weight on the TV when it’s turned off and seeking to see whether or not the display screen turns grey or stays black. Grey means it’s a QD-OLED, black means WOLED / WRGB OLED.

What’s the distinction between OLED and QD-OLED?

QD-OLED screens differ from the standard OLED panels that’ve lengthy been manufactured by LG Show in the best way they produce a picture. LG’s shows are thought of WRGB OLED as a result of they use blue and yellow OLED compound to generate white-ish mild pixels which might be handed by way of coloration filters to supply crimson, inexperienced, and blue sub-pixels. Newer OLED TVs even have a fourth unfiltered / white sub-pixel meant to boost brightness — particularly for HDR content material.

QD-OLED adjustments this up by emitting blue mild by way of quantum dots to transform a few of that blue into crimson and inexperienced with none want for the colour filter. (Blue is used as a result of it has the strongest mild vitality.) This results in better mild vitality effectivity; because you’re not dropping any mild to the colour filters, QD-OLED TVs ought to supply brightness good points in comparison with past-generation OLEDs.

A simplified breakdown of QD-OLED. Picture: Samsung Show

They need to additionally be capable to keep vivid quantum dot coloration replica even at peak brightness ranges, whereas WRGB OLED can generally exhibit some desaturation when pushed that far. In Sony’s case, the corporate is claiming that QD-OLED “boosts coloration brightness by as much as 200 p.c in comparison with typical TVs.” The already excellent viewing angles of OLED are claimed to be even higher on QD-OLED since there’s extra diffusion taking place with out the colour filter in the best way.

The potential of burn-in isn’t eradicated by QD-OLED, however the hope is that these panels may exhibit an extended general life span than current OLED TVs for the reason that pixels aren’t working as exhausting. Samsung Show is utilizing three layers of blue OLED materials for every pixel, and that would protect their longevity.

Except for its panel, Samsung’s 83-inch S90C has all of the bells and whistles you’d anticipate out of a Samsung OLED. It runs Samsung’s Tizen working system, incorporates a Neural Quantum Processor for upscaling content material to 4K, Dolby Atmos, HDMI 2.1, and help for 120Hz 4K content material. It options Samsung’s Gaming Hub with help for sport streaming companies like Xbox Cloud Gaming and comes with a SolarCell Distant that may cost “through synthetic or pure mild, in addition to RF waves.” Like Samsung’s different TVs, there’s no point out of help for Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR right here — as a substitute, you get HDR10 Plus.

“Giant display screen sizes are the quickest rising phase within the TV trade,” stated Fishler. “With this new 83-inch class OLED S90C 4K TV mannequin, we’re offering but an alternative choice for individuals to expertise the advantages of OLED TV from Samsung, on an excellent greater display screen.”

Replace July 14th, 2:31PM ET: Up to date with a press release from Samsung confirming the 83-inch S90C TV makes use of a WOLED panel.

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