STACK #223 May 2023

TECH FEATURE

visit jbhifi.com.au/stack

Just when you thought 4K Smart TVs couldn’t get any smarter, another year brings new innovations and improvements to the technology that drives them. While TV tech continues to evolve at an exponential rate, 2023 won’t see any game changing advances, with manufacturers instead focusing on making what’s already great even better, like more personalised user experiences, brighter and more lifelike image quality, and smarter AI brains. Let’s take a look at some of the key upgrades that you’ll find in newTV tech for 2023. Words Scott Hocking WHAT’S NEW IN TV TECH FOR 2023

BETTER BRIGHTNESS Improved peak brightness for better overall

MORE CUSTOMISABLE OS Several brands have upgraded their TV operating systems to offer greater customisation options when it comes to content access and recommendations, along with wider app selection and working from

GAME CHANGERS 2023 will see a focus on improved console and PC gaming on smart TVs. Since 4K 120p gaming has become virtually the standard, there will be a greater rollout of 144Hz panels that boast a higher refresh rate for smoother, sharper and more realistic graphics during fast-moving gameplay. And you’ll see multiple HDMI 2.1 ports popping up on the new sets – the go-to connection for higher resolutions and frame rates.

performance in well-lit rooms – and dark ones – is

home options. These include personalised content curation for multiple users, so individual family members can access movies and TV shows that are tailored to their tastes.

a big feature of this year’s TV range from the major brands. Increased and more precise local dimming zones will see Mini LEDTVs delivering deeper blacks and higher brightness in dark rooms, and even OLEDTVs have received a brightness boost that will further benefit their already wide viewing angles. And Micro Lens Arrays – a layer of tiny lenses that augment light emission – are being introduced to OLED panels for an even brighter and energy efficient future.

DYK?

The “electric telescope” formed the basis of TV

technology. Developed in 1884 by German scientist Paul Gottleib Nipkow, it was capable of sending images of 18 lines of resolution over wires using a spinning metal disc.

PROCESSOR ANDAI ADVANCES One of the benefits of owning a 4K TV is its ability to upscale SD and Full HD content to 4K, so content from lesser sources doesn’t look inferior once you’ve been spoiled by – and become accustomed to – the Ultra HD experience. This year, 4K upscaling is set to look even better and more detailed for non 4K content, which is good news for streamers accessing HD movies and TV shows, as well as movie buffs with a big DVD/ Blu-ray collection. AI is also becoming more intelligent when it comes to creating authentic-looking real

MORE TV & SOUNDBAR SYNCHRONISATION Following in the footsteps of Samsung’s innovative Q-Symphony feature (introduced in

2020), which enables TV speakers and a soundbar’s output to work in unison to create a more powerful and enveloping overall soundscape, more big brands are adding seamless soundbar synchronisation this year.

Sony’s new Acoustic Centre Sync will pair a supported 2023 TV with a compatible Sony soundbar, and also features a central channel enhancer to maintain dialogue clarity. And LG’s newWOW Orchestra synchronises all the available audio channels from a 2023 TV and compatible soundbar.

world images, and 2023 will bring a refinement in image reproduction technology for HDR, resulting in more immersive viewing, plus improvements in tone mapping for better overall HDR optimisation.

20 MAY 2023

jbhifi.com.au