Television to take a quantum leap with Samsung and LG technology

IT’S goodbye to the idiot box. New TVs unveiled in Las Vegas will take a quantum leap into the future. And they’re not as dear as you’d expect.

TELEVISION is poised to make a literal quantum leap this year as two of the world’s leading TV makers introduce breakthrough screen technology that is significantly brighter, offers greater colours and more realistic images.

Both Samsung and LG unveiled new televisions using nanocrystal semiconductors, better known as quantum dot technology, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The new screens promise to deliver images “two and a half times brighter” that of conventional TVs, and with 64 times the “colour expression”.

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Plus, the new technology is expected to cost no more than current model televisions when it launches in Australia this April.

Samsung consumer electronics vice-president Phil Newton said the company’s SUHD television technology was “superior to OLED” screens and basic quantum dot technology, comparing it to buying an expanded pack of coloured pencils.

Like buying an expanded pack of coloured pencils ... The new Samsung TV adds a nanocrystal layer to an LED television.

The new TV technology works by adding a nanocrystal layer to an LED television. These semiconductors can produce different colours of light to deliver a wider colour gamut, more accurate colours, and brighter images.

They can also be used to produce large television screens, unlike OLED screens which have proven expensive and difficult to manufacture in big sizes.

Mr Newton said Samsung would launch three lines of SUHD televisions in Australia, ranging from 55 inches to 88 inches.

Despite advances in colour, contrast and brightness, Mr Newton said the price of the new TVs would be comparable to TVs available now.

“If you can afford to buy a 78-inch television now, you can afford to buy a 78-inch SUHD TV,” he said.

Samsung is not the only company at CES to show off the technology, however, with rival LG planning to show off a 65-inch quantum dot television at its stand when the show officially opens tomorrow.

TV wars ... LG is planning to show off a 65-inch quantum dot television at its stand when the CES officially opens tomorrow.

While the company cannot confirm whether its quantum dot model will be launched in Australia, LG Electronics TV senior vice-president In-kyu Lee said the technology brought “LED LCD TVs to the next level when it comes to picture quality”.

But the company is also throwing its weight behind the competing OLED, or organic light-emitting diode technology, revealing seven new OLED TVs at the show.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson travelled to CES as a guest of Samsung.