10 things you need to know about Samsung’s 2018 QLED TVs

When you dedicate premium wall real estate to your telly, it’s only fair that it earns its spot – and Samsung is happy to comply. Its extensive – not to mention seductive – QLED lineup for this year showcases just about everything you’d want your telly to do, and then some. So, sit back and grab some popcorn: there are plenty of reasons you’ll want one.

1) They’re way smarter than your average Joe

Samsung’s SmartThings platform has been steadily evolving, promising to turn any home into an Internet-connected haven. Taking a dip into the brand’s smart ecosystem is easier than ever, with compatible devices seamlessly syncing and communicating with each other to save you the struggle of manually setting up multiple devices. The SmartThings smartphone app, for instance, skips the agony of remote control inputs to setup your new telly – provided they share the same WiFi connection.

2) They’re stealthier than a ninja

You might have splurged a stack of dough on the prettiest telly around, but cables snaking out of it will still make it a complete eyesore. Samsung spares you the embarrassment by outsourcing all connections to its well established One Connect Box. Better still, that box connects to the TV via a single Invisible Connection cable that’s a solid 15m in length. That gives you plenty of placement options for your TV and, more importantly, you’ll forget it has any cables at all.

3) They’ll bow to the sound of your voice

In order to let you talk to your devices, Samsung’s deeply integrating Bixby-powered commands in all of its devices. Grab the remote, hit a button and start shouting orders at your telly. It’ll take button mashing out of the equation for basic tasks so your digits stay nice and comfy throughout your next TV binge.

4) They’ll magically disappear from right in front of your eyes

Samsung’s 2018 QLED TVs can smarten up your sitting room with Ambient mode, turning that space into a virtual art gallery. You can pick between photos, patterns, and colours, or even match your wallpaper with a smartphone app. The TV then draws a virtual shadow around the edge of the screen, to make it look exactly like a photo frame. Want more useful info? It can display news, weather and the time, too. It uses 40% less juice than when you’re actually watching TV, so shouldn’t send your electricity bills skywards, either.

5) You won’t mistake them for a mirror

On-screen reflections aren’t just distracting. You could have the most brilliant display in the world but glare could rob it of contrast and other details. Samsung improves on its own anti-reflection filter with this year’s lineup and the results are easy to see, eliminating those pesky reflections for an even more immersive viewing experience.

6) They have the IQ to optimise any content using AI

Gone are those days when a dearth of content made anything better than Full HD a waste of your cash. Deep within those sleek exteriors, Samsung’s updated QLED lineup packs a Q Engine brain which does all the number crunching needed to make content of all kinds shine on the big screen. From upscaling to delivering HDR 10+ pictures, it’s got the chops to make those visuals pop.

7) They’re always up for a game

Switching between a variety content can also mean constantly needing to tweak settings for the best results. Right? Wrong. These QLEDs will automatically detect a plugged in console and immediately set things up for an immersive gaming session. Samsung claims its input lags leave the competition in its dust, too.

8) They’ll fit your walls like a glove

Picture frames on walls pack a pleasing aesthetic quality – and a large part of that is down to flush mounting. Samsung treats its QLEDs as nothing less than timeless works of art, which is why their frames get similar treatment. Compatible with the brand’s no-gap wall mount, these QLEDs successfully replicate the look of a picture frame on a wall, so it blends in with the decor rather than sticking out like a dodgy doodle.

9) They’re always looking for content you’ll love

You know how your favourite music streaming service always knows exactly what you’re looking for? Yeah, Samsung’s QLEDs tend to do that with video content via the built-in Universal Guide. Curating live channels and streaming content conveniently on your home screen, it’s constantly learning your viewing preferences so you spend less time browsing and more time watching.

10) They’ll dazzle you with their performance

Colour, contrast and detail have been ramped up to the signature Samsung levels that we’re all now quite familiar with by now. The biggest advantage of Samsung’s Q Picture tech is that it doesn’t let varying light conditions affect the end result. You’re still left with a wider colour gamut for more accuracy, deeper-than-space blacks and an overall picture that’s as vibrant as any we’ve ever seen. Quantum Dot tech performs in full form here and it’s quite a sight.