At its European Forum (Samsung Highlights CES Products in Monaco), Samsung showed off its newest LCD TVs, including the SUHD sets. These had some minor differences to the models shown at CES last month (Samsung Uses LED in Modular TV Concept).
The most significant change was made to the curved KS9500 SUHD TV. The US model has an edge-LED backlight; the first SUHD TV to do so. In Europe, Samsung has elected to use a direct-LED backlight for full-array local dimming. This does, of course, make the TV thicker.
Another change was made to the gamut coverage. We heard that the KS9500 covered 98% of DCI-P3 at CES. However, in Monaco Samsung said that coverage was slightly lower, at 96%. The TV has a Delta E of <1. It also features a ‘Moth Eye’ overlay to reduce reflections.
Samsung will release the KS9500 in 65″ and 78″ sizes. It is an UltraHD Premium-certified set. Another SUHD TV will be the 88″ KS9800, which is similar but uses a chassis design more similar to the 2015 models.
The KS9000 (49″, 55″, 65″ and 78″) will be Europe’s equivalent to the KS9500 in the USA – which just makes the direct-LED version that much more confusing! It is a curved, edge-lit set.
The first flat model in the SUHD range will be the KS8000 (49″, 55″, 65″ and 75″). It will feature a Moth Eye filter, quantum dot technology and UltraHD resolution.
Samsung’s 7 Series will feature SUHD models for the first time this year. The first will be the KS7500 curved TVs (43″, 49″, 55″ and 65″). It is similar to the KS8000, but lacks a twin tuner and ‘Supreme UHD Dimming’ and ‘Supreme Motion’ features. An identical flat model will be launched, known as the KS7000 (49″, 55″ and 65″).
All of the above TVs are UltraHD Premium-certified sets.
Analyst Comment
Sharp has previously used the moth eye filter concept and we were impressed with the performance. (BR)
