At CinemaCon 2025, Samsung introduced new 'Onyx' cinema LED screens, up to 20 meters wide, enabling cinemas to showcase movies in 120fps HFR.
In 2017, Samsung installed the first cinema LED screens to replace projectors in South Korea and Europe.
These are true LED screens without LCD panels, composed of smaller LED modules. They are DCI-certified for cinematic use, supporting both SDR and – unlike projectors – HDR content.
Also read: Historic cinema in Paris ditches projectors
High Frame Rate at 4K 120Hz
Since they are built from modular LED panels, installation is flexible, according to Samsung. The latest Onyx generation is available in the following sizes for cinemas:
5 meters (16ft) – Ideal for boutique and smaller-format theaters (Pixel pitch: 1.25mm)
10 meters (33ft) – The industry standard for premium cinemas (Pixel pitch: 2.5mm)
14 meters (46ft) – A versatile format delivering an immersive, large-scale cinematic experience (Pixel pitch: 3.3mm)
20 meters (66ft) – A large-format solution for premium auditoriums (Pixel pitch: 5.0mm)
One of the new Samsung Onyx LED screens. Photo: Samsung
Beyond their deep blacks, high contrast, and vibrant, accurate colors, the new LED screens support frame rates up to 4K 120Hz, if it is also supported by the installed IMB in the cinema – the system responsible for video decoding and processing.
High frame rate attempts in cinema have been limited, with most implementations maxing out at 48 frames per second, such as Avatar: The Way of Water in 3D 48fps. The cast majority of movies are still captured and shown in 24fps.
Also read: Why 24fps is not enough for HDR movies
- "The cinema industry is shifting its focus towards delivering a more immersive and visually captivating experience," said Hoon Chung, EVP of Visual Display, Samsung Electronics. "With Onyx, Samsung delivers not only the highest-quality visuals but also the flexibility that allows theaters to redefine the movie-going experience and cater to evolving audience expectations."
Pixar approves
Samsung stated that the new generation delivers peak brightness of 300 nits and supports both scope (2.39:1) and flat (1.85:1) aspect ratios.
Pixar has already released multiple movies theatrically in HDR format, including Elemental and most recently Inside Out 2. Pixar's upcoming summer release, Elio, will also be shown in HDR on Samsung's LED screens.
- "At Pixar, we believe cinema can be a grand, shared experience — a place where stories feel larger than life and memories are made with friends. That’s why we’re driven to bring something truly new to the big screen with our pioneering HDR-1 theatrical releases," said Dominic Glynn, Senior Scientist, Pixar Animation Studios. "In rising to meet this ambition, the ONYX screen technology delivers astonishing brightness, clarity, and color — an image so clear and uniform it elevates every moment of the story. Even the casual moviegoer will feel the difference. It’s about creating that unforgettable ‘Wow!’ — the kind of experience that reminds us why cinema is, and always should be, special."
Pixar has yet to release any titles in high frame rate.
First next-gen screens this year
Samsung said the first LED screens from the latest generation will be installed in Fall 2025.
- "Looking ahead, Cannon Beach — a 37-acre mixed-use development blending lifestyle and adrenaline in Mesa, Ariz. — will be the first location in the United States to introduce the latest generation of Samsung Onyx in its seven-screen movie theater, LVL 11 Entertainment."
