Samsung Neo QLED and micro LED TV, LG OLED Evo and QNED mini LED TV, Sony Bravia XR TV with Google TV and 4K HDR Bravia Core streaming, Panasonic JZ2000E OLED TV, TCL OD Zero Mini LED TV and Hisense laser TV with 100″ (2.54m) acoustic screen: 2021 promises to be full of new TV products and ultra short throw projectors.
Discover the new 2021 4K HDR TV products presented at CES by the biggest manufacturers!
2021 Samsung TV news
Samsung Neo QLED and Samsung Micro LED technologies are the new innovations for Samsung in 2021.
Samsung Neo QLED 2021 TV
Samsung Neo QLED 2021 TVs are a promising update to the great Samsung QLED 2020 models. For these high-end LCD TVs, Samsung is launching a new backlighting system called Quantum Mini LED which is made up, as its name suggests, of a multitude of Mini-LEDs, 40 times smaller than conventional LEDs.
For image processing and very precise management of the backlighting, we find the Neo Quantum Processor developed by Samsung. It uses 16 different neural networks trained in AI-upscaling (upscaling via artificial intelligence) to offer optimized image quality in both Ultra High Definition 4K and 8K, whatever the source.
The Neo Quantum Processor now processes 12-bit grayscale with a light intensity scale offering 4096 brightness levels, which should significantly improve HDR rendering in both dark and bright areas of the picture. In addition, all Samsung Neo QLED TVs will be compatible with HDR10+ Adaptive technology to modulate HDR rendering according to the brightness of the room.
- See the article “Dolby Vision IQ & HDR10 + Adaptive: the best HDR image, both during the day and at night!”
Gamers have not been forgotten with the implementation of a menu dedicated to settings for video games (Game Bar) which is directly accessible to quickly adjust the parameters: changing the format (including 21:9 and 32:9), verification of the input lag, connecting headphones. The FreeSync Premium Pro technology ensures that gameplay is as smooth as possible.
Two flagship ranges will attempt to establish the Korean manufacturer’s supremacy in the hotly contested 4K TV market and the booming 8K TV market optimized for video games:
- Samsung Neo Qled QN95A 4K TVs
- Samsung Neo Qled QN900A 8K TVs
Samsung Micro LED 2021 TV
For home use, the Samsung The Wall picture wall presented at CES 2020 becomes the Samsung 2021 Micro LED 4K TVs, which will be available in 99” and 110” (2.5 and 2.8m) versions.
The price? €1000 per inch! Suffice to say that it is not for everyone…
Just like OLED technology, Micro LED technology does away with backlighting systems as each self-luminescent pixel consists of three micro-LEDs (one red, one green and one blue) which can be controlled individually. As a result, the image should be very bright with intense blacks.
Samsung The Frame 2021 TV
Specialist in Lifestyle TVs, the Korean manufacturer refreshes its range of Samsung The Frame TVs which are now much slimmer. Approximately twice as thin as the Samsung The Frame 2020 models, the Samsung The Frame 2021 TVs can be embellished with a frame available in five different colors and two customizable styles: modern and beveled. This means you will be able to match them with the decor of the room in which they will be installed.
2021 LG TV news
LG OLED Evo 2021 (brighter) & LG OLED 2021
A strong supporter of OLED TV technology for which it is the only manufacturer of TV displays, the Korean manufacturer renews its LG 2021 OLED TV range with a nice surprise: the LG OLED Evo.
Present on the LG OLED G1 Premium 4K TV range, the next-generation LG OLED Evo 2021 display offers a higher peak brightness which reaches 1000 nits, with standard OLED panels peaking at 750 nits. Such brightness should eliminate the sometimes too dark aspect of OLED TVs compared to LCD and QLED TVs.
The other 2021 LG OLED TVs will feature a “classic” OLED panel (750 nits), but will all support HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision IQ wide dynamic range images.
Concerning video processing, the Alpha processor is back in service in two new versions:
- The Alpha 9 Gen 4 processor with artificial intelligence will equip LG OLED Z1 8K TVs, LG OLED G1 4K TVs and LG OLED C1 4K TVs.
- The Alpha 7 Gen 4 processor will equip the LG OLED B1 and LG OLED A1 4K TVs.
A transparent LG OLED TV at the foot of the bed!
On the sidelines of its new 2021 LG OLED TV catalog, LG unveiled a 55”(139cm) OLED TV with a transparent screen integrated at the foot of the bed! This is more a demonstration of its expertise than a future reference for the manufacturer’s catalog, but it confirms the current trend that OLED TV manufacturers have of exploring all the possibilities offered by OLED technology.
LG QNED Mini LED 2021
Because LG emphasizes its OLED TVs, we tend to forget that the Korean company is also one of the most innovative LED LCD TV manufacturers. It has proved this again this year with its new range of LG QNED MiniLED TVs that combine Quantum Dot and NanoCell technologies in a single device with zone backlighting made up of thousands of mini LEDs. LG QNED 2021 TVs promise more accurate colors, better contrast and deeper blacks to magnify the display of HDR content.
Magic remote, webOS 6.0
Other LG 2021 news includes the release of a new LG Magic Remote, the design of which was unchanged for many years. The new version now includes direct access keys to Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and LG Channels as well as two keys for Google Assistant and Alexa. An NFC chip is also integrated into this new remote control to simplify the sharing of content from a smartphone on the TV.
The interface of LG 2021 TVs is also getting a facelift with the webOS 6.0 system, which features a more advanced and richer home screen that gives pride of place to recommendations. LG webOS 6.0 also improves interactions with Alexa and Google Assistant.
Game Optimizer, Stadia Cloud Gaming
Regarding video games, LG now offers a menu with all the TV options dedicated to gaming on its OLED TVs. Called Game Optimizer, it reduces blue light, limits input lag, optimizes sound for games (AI Game Sound) and even activates the VRR and FreeSync Premium functions. You can even choose between different preset modes depending on the type of game (FPG, RPS, RTS).
Finally, the Korean manufacturer surprised the market by announcing the integration of the Google Stadia cloud gaming service in LG 2021 TVs from the second half of the year.
LG 2021 TVs will provide support for 4K definition games with 5.1 surround sound for gamers subscribed to Stadia Pro. With this partnership, LG hits hard by allowing owners of an LG 2021 TV to play popular games like Cyberpunk 2077, NBA 2K21, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion instantly, without a console or a PC and without any downloads. All they need to do is buy a Stadia controller.
2021 Sony TV news
Sony Cognitive Processor XR
This is THE big Sony TV innovation for 2021: the Sony Cognitive Processor XR processor pushes artificial intelligence image and sound analysis even further. While traditional AI video processors analyze color, contrast and detail individually, the Sony XR processor can analyze all of these simultaneously in a more global approach, just like the human brain.
Result: Sony Bravia XR TVs should be able to display extremely realistic images. We can not wait to see it!
Sony Bravia XR TVs also support HDMI 2.1 gaming in 4K 120 fps, ALLM, VRR and eARC.
Google TV
More news: the Japanese manufacturer is the first to natively integrate the Google TV operating system in its Sony 2021 TVs. Google TV is actually the new version of Android TV which adopts a home page that is now more content-focused with recommendations and highlights based on the user’s tastes and viewing history.
Bravia Core Streaming
Lastly, in 2021 Sony will launch its own VOD/SVOD streaming platform called Bravia Core that is accessible free of charge on all Sony Bravia XR televisions. Hundreds of new movies and classics from Sony Picture studios available to enjoy in 4K HDR. Sony has announced a maximum speed of 80MB/s to enjoy superb lossless 4K HDR image quality with support for the IMAX Enhanced standard. Provided you have a suitable Internet connection…
2021 Panasonic TV news
Panasonic JZ2000E OLED TV
Panasonic has mainly communicated about its range of Panasonic JZ2000E OLED TVs, which follows the great Panasonic HZ2000E series. Available in 55” and 65” versions, the flagship of the Japanese manufacturer is equipped with a very bright Professional Edition OLED display (1000 nits) and incorporates the exclusive HCX Pro AI Processor with artificial intelligence. It is HDR10+ Adaptive and Dolby Vision IQ compatible.
Like all other TV manufacturers, Panasonic is kind to gamers and offers 4K 120Hz and eARC compatible HDMI 2.1 with ALLM and VRR support. The manufacturer announces an input lag lowered to 14.4ms on this Panasonic JZ2000E range.
Concerning sound, two lateral speakers are now added to the integrated Dolby Atmos audio system to further expand the soundstage.
2021 TCL TV news
TCL OD Zero Mini-LED
For its second generation of Mini-LED backlit LCD TVs after the very successful TCL 65X10, the TCL TV manufacturer has hit hard. TCL engineers have succeeded in further reducing the size of the mini-LEDs, which now measure only 0.15mm in diameter! This miniaturization allows the manufacturer to multiply their number and reduce to zero the distance separating the mini-LEDs from the LCD panel.
Compared to conventional LCD LED TVs on which the backlighting system is placed 1 or 2cm behind the LCD panel, the thickness of the TCL OD Zero Mini-LED television is greatly reduced, resembling that of OLED TVs. The brightness is also higher and the zone backlighting is much more precise, with optimized black depth. HDR images are richer, more readable and better contrasted.
Also using Quantum Dot technology ( QLED TV), TCL OD Zero Mini-LED TVs are positioned in direct competition with Samsung Neo QLED technology.
TCL mini-LED backlight technology will also be present on the TCL 4K Mini LED TV ranges with QLED.
Google TV
Like the Sony Bravia XR TV ranges, 2021 TCL TVs will adopt the Google TV operating system, with better emphasis on content according to users’ tastes and habits.
2021 Hisense TV news
Determined to make a name for itself on the international market, the Chinese manufacturer Hisense, well known for its Laser TVs, stood out during CES 2021 by pulling out all the stops: mini LED QLED LCD TV, 1000-nit OLED TV, QLED TV and of course laser TVs (ultra short throw projectors delivered with an ALR technical screen) including a model with an acoustic screen!
Hisense 75U9GQ QLED Mini-LED TV
Quantum Dot and mini LED backlighting for this Hisense 75” TV that is compatible with HDMI 2.1 and 4K 120Hz with VRR and ALLM technologies. The HDR10+ and Dolby Vision IQ formats are also included, as well as the FilmMaker picture mode. The 3.1.2 channel audio section is Dolby Atmos compatible.
Hisense A9G OLED TV
Hisense A9G OLED TVs (55” and 65”) adopt a 1000-nit OLED display and are 4K 120Hz compatible in HDMI 2.1. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision are supported, as well as Dolby Atmos via the 2.1.2 channel soundbar.
Hisense Sonic Screen
This is one of the biggest Hisense Laser TV innovations for 2021: the Hisense 88L5VG and its Sonic Screen consists of an ultra short throw projector and an 88” (224cm) screen with a integrated audio system. The latter is similar to Sony Acoustic Surface technology, except that the entire surface behind the Hisense screen is covered with thousands of exciters. They produce micro vibrations to make the screen fabric vibrate like the membrane of a driver. The multiplicity of these exciters makes it possible to locate the sound precisely on the screen so that it is in perfect coherence with the displayed image.
Hisense 100L9 Trichroma laser TV (RGB)
Another new 2021 Hisense Laser TV is the Hisense 100L9 that comes with a 100” (2.54m) screen. It uses three laser diodes (RGB) and a DLP 4K chip (by wobulation) to display HDR images with a maximum brightness of 2800 lumens. Dolby Atmos is supported by the audio system built into the projector.
To conclude
As you can see, the year 2021 will be rich in TV news. Display technologies are undergoing a revolution with Micro LED TVs, backlighting is improving with the rise of mini-LEDs, OLED is getting brighter and video processing is even more efficient. Ultra short throw projection is not left out with the 2021 Hisense laser TVs, including the astonishing Hisense 88L5VG and its very large acoustic screen measuring 2.24cm across.
Operating systems are also evolving with more emphasis on streaming content and an even more intuitive and complete interface, inspired by those of Netflix, Plex and Kodi.
Also designed for gaming, 2021 TVs all switch to HDMI 2.1, are 4K 120 Hz compatible and offer the VRR and ALLM functions essential for gamers. Gaming TV menus can also be accessed more quickly to optimize settings on the fly.
The manufacturers of 2021 TVs want to offer us optimal visual comfort, but also optimal user comfort to navigate ideally between traditional television, streaming services, social networks and video games.
