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Quantum dot technology has redefined the display market, evolving over more than two decades of research and development. After several generations of improvements, it now stands among the most advanced display technologies available. Intrigued by the topic, I decided to take a deeper dive—and uncovered some fascinating insights.
One key takeaway is the significant role Samsung has played (and continues to play) in advancing quantum dot displays. Another is the ongoing debate over cadmium usage in these screens—why it was once common and why it’s now largely avoided. Let’s break it down.
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Quantum dots in displays: what are they and what’s their specialty?
Quantum dots (QDs) are microscopic semiconductor particles, typically ranging from 2 to 10 nanometers in size. Their key feature is their ability to emit light when exposed to an external energy source—either light or electricity. The color they produce depends on their size and material composition, making them particularly useful in various industries, including display manufacturing. Research into quantum dots gained momentum in 2001, and advancements in the field continue to this day.
Quantum dot (QD) technology offers several key advantages over traditional LED and OLED displays, helping to address their limitations.
One of the main benefits is the ability to control lighting at the pixel level, similar to OLED. However, unlike OLED, QD materials emit light in all directions, leading to improved brightness and color accuracy. So what does this mean in practice?
The first advantage is the ability to reproduce accurate, deep, and rich colors while maintaining color stability across different brightness levels. It also allows for a significantly wider color gamut compared to LED displays, though this is only achievable with a quantum dot density of at least 3000 ppm.
The second benefit is uniform brightness across the entire screen, eliminating uneven backlighting in areas where LEDs are positioned—a common drawback of LED displays due to the nature of the technology.
So, how do quantum dots differ from OLED? In two key ways: even lower power consumption and a longer lifespan without noticeable quality degradation—an issue that OLED displays tend to develop over time. In short, QD screens offer high-quality visuals with accurate color reproduction and strong contrast, avoid localized backlight inconsistencies, consume less power, and are generally more durable.
However, despite the wide availability of displays using this technology, it’s important to note that not all quantum dot screens are created equal. Why do I consider Samsung one of the key players in this field?
Cadmium? No, thank you.
It has been nearly 25 years since research on Quantum Dot technology began. In its early stages, fully unlocking the potential of quantum dots was only possible with the use of cadmium, as it allowed for more vivid and deeper colors. However, there was a major drawback—cadmium is toxic. As a heavy metal, it poses risks to both the environment and human health. For this reason, many countries have banned its use in electronics and other industries.
So, what did Samsung do at the time? They invested in the development of cadmium-free materials that could deliver excellent color reproduction while remaining safe for consumers and the environment. By 2014, they achieved this goal—a significant step toward ecological safety and a breakthrough that enabled large-scale production of quantum dot-based televisions. A year later, the first SUHD TVs hit the market, marking the beginning of a new era for modern large-screen displays. But did Samsung stop there? Not at all.
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Samsung’s achievements in Quantum Dot
The South Korean company has invested—and continues to invest—not only in safety and environmental sustainability but also in the ongoing advancement of quantum dot technology. This continuous development has allowed QD displays to become even more refined over time. From a technical standpoint, SUHD TVs were just the beginning. Samsung has since expanded its efforts, introducing new innovations that have solidified its position as a leader in the quantum dot TV market.
In 2017, Samsung introduced its new premium QLED TVs at CES, which immediately garnered attention. The company incorporated metal quantum dots into these models, allowing them to surpass OLED displays in brightness levels. Additionally, these new models were able to cover the DCI-P3 color gamut at 100%, becoming the first in the market to do so.
Two years later, Samsung introduced an upgrade by developing red-emitting elements and improving the light transmission efficiency in the blue channel by over 20% (blue being the most challenging of the traditional RGB trio). While progress has continued since, at the time, these were some of the most advanced solutions in the industry.
When Samsung unveiled its QD-OLED displays at CES 2022—an OLED panel using quantum dots—it caused a major stir, both at the exhibition and in the industry. The Best of Innovation award was well-deserved, as no one had previously achieved such a feat.
What I think about this
As a person interested in modern technologies and their evolution, I can say one thing: Samsung’s cadmium-free quantum dot solution is a really cool thing. Not only on paper, but also de facto:
- Firstly, colors look vivid, bright and as juicy as possible
- Secondly, as expected, the contrast is on top: black is really black, not “very dark gray”, as it happens in LED
- Thirdly, the refresh rate is cool even in very dynamic scenes
- And, of course, it’s nice to know that the technology not only delivers a high-quality picture, but also does not harm the environment.
If you’re looking for a television that delivers excellent color reproduction without compromising on quality, Samsung’s Quantum Dot displays are an option worth considering.
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