Samsung will launch a 110-inch microLED TV in the first quarter of 2021. A new production method will make it possible to produce smaller displays in the future, the company said.

Smaller microLED TVs in the future
At CES 2018, Samsung unveiled ‘The Wall’, its module-based TV based on a new microLED display technology. At CES 2020, the company announced that it intended to launch the first ‘home ready’ microLED TVs in 2020. Those plans were slightly delayed and Samsung now says that it will launch the first such microLED TV in the first quarter of 2021.

It is a 110-inch microLED TV that has been prefabricated, meaning that it is no longer module-bound. Samsung says that it is “delivering the MicroLED experience in a traditional TV form for the first time”. The company also said that its new mass production method will make possible smaller microLED TVs in the future, but without providing a timeline.



- "Previously, mass-producing a MicroLED screen as small as 110’’ for simple home installation wasn’t possible. But Samsung innovated to make it a reality by developing cutting-edge surface mount technology — along with a new production process derived from its semiconductor business — making MicroLED technology easier to manufacture, deliver, and install. These same innovations will allow Samsung to produce even smaller MicroLED models in the future, so even more consumers can enjoy the breathtaking MicroLED experience," the company said.

Like OLED, microLED is self-emissive. It means that each pixel is its own light source so it can control brightness and color on the pixel-level for more accurate and better picture quality, especially in HDR. There is no need for a backlight module like the company's “QLED” LCD TVs. Samsung's microLED does not rely on color filters either. The 110-inch TV has 4K resolution, 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, and is powered by a new ‘Micro AI Processor’.
 


- "As consumers rely on their televisions for more functions than ever, we are incredibly excited to bring the 110” MicroLED to the commercial market," said Jonghee Han, President of Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics. "Samsung MicroLED is going to redefine what premium at-home experiences mean for consumers around the world."
 
The company added that its microLED technology has “a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours, or over a decade”. The small light emitting diodes are, unlike OLEDs, made from inorganic materials. The screen has a 99.99% screen-to-body ratio and is virtually borderless. A multi-view feature lets the viewer watch up to four sources of content at the same time - each in 55 inches. There is an embedded 5.1 sound system too.



Samsung has been teasing microLED TVs for years but it remains a technology for the rich and famous. The module-based approach was not fit for typical living rooms but there is hope that the new fabrication method can move things in the right direction.

Still, the company declined to provide pricing details. Expect it to be wildly expensive. And a 110-inch model is not exactly what Samsung promised for 2020 either. At CES 2020, it announced that it would launch 75, 88, 93, 110, and 150-inch (8K resolution) microLED TVs in 2020.

Samsung is not the only company exploring the new display technology. Apple, LG, Sony and others are also developing microLED technology for use in displays.

Samsung said that it 110-inch microLED TV will be available globally in the first quarter of 2021.