Samsung Electronics New Zealand announces its 2022 line-up of Neo QLED and Lifestyle TVs, revealing world-class advancements in picture and sound quality, more screen size options, customisable accessories and an upgraded Smart TV interface setting a new benchmark for Kiwi in-home entertainment.

Created to suit the evolving needs of how TVs are being used in New Zealand homes, Samsung Electronics New Zealand Head of TV and Audio, Ryan Jolly, says, “bigger and better screens, crisp sound and state-of-the-art picture quality remain of the highest priority for Kiwis as they look for premium at-home entertainment experiences. Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs bring exceptional levels of colour and brightness to the viewing experience, producing optimal and life-like picture, that can clearly be viewed in bright rooms.”

“The 2022 line-up of Neo QLED and Lifestyle TVs is more than just TVs, but a customisable and personalised screen that can be used to showcase and purchase art, experience content, work, play and connect with their favourite people. The innovations Samsung brings to its range in 2022 allows Kiwis to truly get the most out of their in-home entertainment.”

Thanks to the Neo Quantum Processor and the incredible picture technology and sound it delivers, the 2022 Neo QLED line up provides pristine images and immersive soundscapes that have never before been experienced.

This year’s Neo Quantum Processor introduces a new Shape Adaptive Light technology that leverages the Processor’s powerful AI algorithms to analyse lines, shapes and surfaces and control the shape of light from the advanced Quantum Mini LED backlight, maximising the brightness and accuracy of shapes on the screen. The result is outstanding image quality that puts HDR content on full display and unlocks the enhanced 14-bit HDR processing which quadruples Neo QLED’s greyscale levels compared to 2021 for the most accurate image ever produced on a Samsung TV.

Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED also features Real Depth Enhancer, a multi-intelligence picture quality algorithm that creates a great sense of realism by determining and processing an object on the screen against its background to create a sense of depth.

Additionally, Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED features the screen’s brightness and tone based on a built-in light sensor and sunset/sunrise information. As the ambient light changes, the screen will gradually reduce the amount of light and offer warmer tones, adjusting the blue light levels accordingly. This allows for a more comfortable viewing experience at night by reducing blue light.

Neo QLED’s sound features are getting a major upgrade as well. Building on OTS (Object Tracking Sound), which directs the sound to move across the room along with the object on-screen, 2022 Neo QLED will take their proprietary technology to another level with native Dolby Atmos support – the industry’s first TV to support Dolby Atmos with upwards and side firing speakers for three dimensional sound without the need for peripheral devices.

“Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLEDs will offer Dolby Atmos directly out of the box. We are proud to incorporate industry-leading audio technology for an impressive three-dimensional sound experience. With multi-channel speakers placed throughout the TV, Neo QLED delivers a dynamic sound experience that tracks the actions from all corners,” says Jolly.

With Samsung’s 2022 range of soundbars featuring a world-first Wireless True Dolby Atmos experience, the latest line-up soundbar models is the ultimate pair that delivers captivating sound quality for a truly immersive in-home entertainment experience.

Samsung’s 2022 Smart TVs come with a new Smart Hub that puts content curation and discovery front and centre with their viewing preferences. The new Smart Hub will guide users to their favourite content or help them discover something new without spending time searching. The Smart Hub’s sidebar also allows for a seamless transition between categories, Media and Ambient, letting users focus on various in-home activities.

• Enjoy all the leading apps: Samsung allows Kiwis to explore all the leading apps on their new Smart Hub, including international apps like Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV, Amazon Prime, as well as local favourites such as Neon, SparkSport, Sky Sport Now and all the catch-up TV apps.
• NFT Platform: Samsung has collaborated with the prominent NFT marketplace, Nifty Gateway, to bring the NFT experience to Samsung TV customers. The application features an intuitive, integrated platform for discovering, purchasing and trading digital artwork on Neo QLED and The Frame.
• Smart Calibration: This feature allows users to fine tune the settings for optimal picture quality. Basic mode features a quick and easy way of calibrating the screens within 30 seconds using a compatible smartphone camera, while Professional mode optimises the screens for pristine picture quality in about 10 minutes.

Samsung’s 2022 Lifestyle screens seamlessly blend design and technology for a unique and personalised experience. A new Anti-Glare Matte Display with anti-reflection and anti-fingerprint properties has been applied to The Frame, The Sero and The Serif, providing an exceptionally pleasant and comfortable viewing experiences. As a result, the new Anti-Glare Matte Display on Samsung’s 2022 Lifestyle screens received three verifications from UL.

• The Frame now offers an incredibly realistic art viewing experience thanks to the anti-glare, low-reflection panel technology featuring an embossed, Anti-Glare Matte Display. It also helps minimise fingerprints and smudges, allowing users to enjoy their favourite artwork in excellent condition. The Frame comes in sizes ranging from 32” to 85”.
• The Serif also comes with a matte finish body to blend seamlessly with the Anti-Glare Matte Display, elevating the iconic design to give a premium look and feel. With the addition of a 65” size option, The Serif is now offered in sizes ranging from 43” to 65”.
• The Sero offers an optimised watching experience with its new Matte Display in both vertical and horizontal modes and will now be available in both Blue and White coloured variants. The new vertical MultiView takes multitasking to the next level, allowing users to simultaneously view different content on the top and bottom of the screen, or search information online while watching.

“Most living spaces face the challenge of dealing with reflections and the ways it impacts people to view and enjoy visuals. With this in mind, Samsung has incorporated cutting-edge anti-glare and anti-reflection technology into the newest model of The Frame, The Serif and The Sero, providing a realistic experience for when utilising the TV in Art and Ambient Mode+.” concludes Jolly.

The 2022 Samsung TV models also come with expanded accessories to personalise the user experience. The Auto Rotating Wall Mount and Stand accessories allow compatible TVs to inherit the vertical viewing experience from The Sero, allowing users to enjoy mobile viewing by automatically rotating their screens all from the convenience of the remote control.

To complement the accessory, the 2022 products will support a vertical interface, including the Smart Hub, and offer a vertical Multi View feature. It will offer apps such as YouTube as well as mirroring and casting in vertical mode. Lastly, lifestyle features such as Ambient Mode+ and Art Mode are also available in vertical mode. The new rotation key on the remote control lets users easily rotate the screen with a click of a button.

Additionally, with magnetic bezel options for The Frame and new full motion slim-fit wall mounts for all TVs, there are endless possibilities of personalisation with Samsung’s 2022 screens.

The 2022 TV and accessories range is available from the beginning of May at retailers and online at samsung.com/nz/.

The post Samsung Unveils 2022 Neo QLED & Lifestyle TVs appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

When is a TV a work of Art? When it’s The Frame.

Yup, the always innovating Samsung have taken a 4K HDR wall mountable television and made it something of an art piece.

Samsung provided STG with a 55 inch model to take for a test drive.

Coming in two size varieties of 55 inch and 65 inch The Frame is designed to blend in with your home decor by way of being able to swap out the the TV’s border (frame) to the likes of a picture frame. There are a few colour options available, Charcoal Black comes with the TV but you can also get Walnut, Beige wood and White.

This means that you can place the unit on the wall next to a collection of your loved ones and cherished moments, without having the TV look obtrusive and make it blend in perfectly. A wall mount kit is included. If you want to be different or do not have the capability of wall mounting you can purchase an easel stand – which as you can imagine, makes The Frame really look like a highly values artwork.

When the TV is not in use you can have an Art Mode, where the environmental light adjusting TV will display a single or a succession of works of Art on the screen. Alternatively you can add your own digital memories and have these display instead. There is a motion sensor too, the TV will turn itself off if there is no activity in the room (when in Art Mode) and turn back on when someone enters the room.

The Frame comes with a small collection of builtin artworks (around three or four) with more downloadable.

As a TV however, it ticks all boxes and then some.

Being 4K HDR means that is simply superb for watching high resolution television channels, movies and of course game playing. To give the 4K HDR, (4K HDR Pro, 4K Color Drive Extreme) we tested a couple of Blurays, then moved on to Xbox One S and PlayStation 4 Pro. As you can imagine games looked visually astounding. Even though the Bluray films were meant to be 4K, they were a little pixelated in parts on the 3,840 x 2,160 -2160p vivid screen.

To retain it’s under-cover look, The Frame comes with a connector box and an almost invisible connector cable.

The TV itself does not have any HDMI, USB or similar connections actually on the device. There is only power and the connector cable socket at the rear of the set.

This is where the connector box comes in. This can be placed away from the The Frame, say, on a nearby book shelf or similar up to a whopping 49 feet away and it is here that you will find two USB 3.0 sockets, four HDMI, your standard aerial connector aswell as Satellite and Optical Audio outputs.

The remote is super simple to use. It is bluetooth connected and minimalistic – yet it has every function you need. On screen you will have your Channel Choices within the Smart TV menu’s such as Freeview, Neon, Lightbox, Netflix and more. The Samsung Hub also offers up differing Apps to enhance your viewing experience.

If you have a Samsung smartphone then the days of spending hours looking for the remote are over. Once you download the required App(s) and sync to your TV your smartphone becomes the remote. Smart.

For the 55 inch unit that we tested you are looking at around $4K (NZD). The 65 inch model comes in at around $6K (NZD).

The Frame is absolutely the invisible television that any discerning home (and those with the budget) shouldn’t pass up on.

The post Samsung’s ‘The Frame’ TV Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Samsung Electronics New Zealand invited STG to a lunch media briefing where they unveiled a new lifestyle TV, The Frame.

Awarded ‘Best of Innovation’ at CES 2017 in Las Vegas and recently showcased at the Louvre in Paris, The Frame introduces a completely new way to experience visual art and TV content through a framed television panel that hangs on a wall like artwork. “For New Zealanders, the TV is a central part of many homes – and it must match seamlessly with their lifestyle, tastes and existing home design,” said Jens Anders, Sales Director for Consumer Electronics Samsung NZ.

“Technology should enhance our daily lives, without being obtrusive. The beauty of The Frame is that it blends in to your existing interior décor when it isn’t being used like a conventional TV,” said Anders.

Utilising ‘Art Mode’, The Frame transforms when switched away from TV viewing into an art and design experience. Instead of fading to black like most TVs, the panel becomes a work of art, displaying content from a range of custom-designed digital art pieces or the user’s own content. When in ‘Art Mode’, The Frame has a brightness sensor that allows the content being displayed on-screen to adjust to the natural levels of light that are in the room, so it closely resembles a piece of framed artwork.

The Frame is also equipped with a Motion Sensor that is designed to automatically turn the screen off to save power when you leave the room, and turn back on when you return.
With three different frame options –White, Beige Wood, and Walnut – and numerous art layouts, The Frame can be customised to enhance the design and décor of almost any interior.
The Frame includes access to 100 pieces of art, curated from 37 international artists and designers. Each artwork has been commissioned by Samsung Electronics to feature on The Frame. Owners can choose art from a range of genres including landscape, architecture, wildlife, action, drawing and more.

The Frame can also showcase personal content, including photos, in a customisable layout, which can be controlled via an app on the owner’s mobile device.

Customisable accessory options such as interchangeable frames and the optional Studio Stand are also available separately to further enhance every room design preference.
The Frame is outfitted with Samsung’s new Clear Cable Connection and No Gap Wall Mount, which are designed to allow The Frame to be hung anywhere with ease, blending seamlessly into any living space without unsightly cables or wires. Users can also connect The Frame to compatible devices with the One Remote Control, including set-top boxes, game consoles, and UHD Blu-ray players.

To complete the intuitive experience on The Frame, Smart Hub offers quick and easy access to popular content streaming apps, such as Netflix, Stan and YouTube, from one place.
The Frame by Samsung will be available in two sizes from select retailers nationally, from July 2017, 55-inch which will retail at RRP $3,999 NZD and a 65-inch with the price tag of RRP $5,999 NZD.

There are also  Customisable Frames at $299 NZD for 55”, and $349 NZD for 65”. They come in White, Beige Wood and Walnut in both 55” and 65”. If you do not wish to wall mount The Frame, there is also an optional (separately purchased) Studio Stand which will set you back at $799.95 NZD.

Find Out More HERE.

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