During CES 2025, Samsung decided to surprise everyone and showcased a television that at first glance looks like a step into the future. A prototype of a 98-inch LCD TV with RGB microLED backlighting appeared on stage. What does it actually mean? Let's try to explain it in simple words.
What is hybrid microLED?
Let's start with the basics. MicroLED is a technology that has promised to revolutionize the world of displays for years. In a true microLED, each diode operates as a separate pixel, emitting light and colors independently. This means perfect black, infinite contrast, and great brightness.
However, what Samsung showcased at CES is not this "true" microLED. It is still a LCD TV, but with enhanced backlighting made of RGB microLED diodes. In other words, instead of standard miniLED or classic blue diodes with quantum dots, red, green, and blue microLEDs are used as the light source.
The new RGB microLED backlighting offers several significant advantages over traditional LCD:
More LEDs – Samsung has increased their number by at least three times compared to miniLED. More LEDs means more dimming zones, better contrast, and less halo effect around bright objects on a dark background.
Higher brightness – Thanks to microLED, the TV can achieve higher levels of luminance, which is crucial for HDR effects.
Better colors – RGB microLED consists of LEDs in three primary colors (red, green, blue). This allows for more natural and saturated colors compared to traditional backlighting based on blue LEDs.
What is the difference from OLED and full microLED?
It is still LCD, which means that light from the backlight passes through a layer of liquid crystals that modulate colors. Limitations? LCD still does not achieve perfect black like OLED or full microLED. In certain scenes, slight glows (halo effect) may be visible, especially around bright objects on a dark background.
Why does Samsung call it microLED?
Samsung employed a marketing tactic by using the term "RGB microLED." And although this is true microLED in terms of backlighting, it should not be confused with microLED televisions, which consist of diodes functioning as standalone pixels. It is rather a hybrid – something between traditional LCD and micro-emissive technology.
QN1000F Prototype – what do we know?
The showcased model is a 98-inch 8K screen that may be Samsung's flagship television for 2025. It will be positioned above the QN900F and QN990F lines and may possibly be named QN1000F. The television has the potential to become one of the most advanced LCDs on the market, but the price – as befits a flagship model – will certainly be high.
Is this the future of LCD televisions?
Samsung is trying to squeeze the maximum out of LCD technology before it gives way to OLED and full microLED in the premium segment. RGB microLED backlighting is an interesting step forward, especially for large screens like 98 inches. Will this be enough to convince users to stick with LCD in the age of OLED? Time will tell.
Source: https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1736390247
