On Sunday night, Samsung hosted its traditional First Look event at CES 2024, unveiling a groundbreaking innovation—the world’s first transparent MicroLED display. While details regarding its cost and commercial availability are yet to be disclosed, Samsung took the opportunity to showcase its transparent MicroLED display alongside transparent OLED and transparent LCD models. This comparison aimed to underscore the distinct advantages of MicroLED technology. In contrast to its counterparts, the MicroLED panel not only exhibited significantly greater brightness but also boasted a completely frameless design and a more transparent glass panel, providing clearer visibility of objects positioned behind it. This unveiling marks a noteworthy leap forward in display technology, although specifics on consumer accessibility and pricing remain pending.
Describing the impact of Samsung’s transparent micro OLED displays in person is a challenging task, as the content appears almost like a hologram, suspended in mid-air. The demo unit, standing freely and measuring only about a centimeter in thickness, enhances the illusion of a floating screen. The use of micro LEDs with their high pixel density contributes to exceptionally sharp images. While Samsung has currently shared just one vertical video saturated with EDM, it provides a glimpse of the captivating visual experience we observed: [link to video]. This innovative display technology not only captures attention but also introduces a new dimension to content presentation with its ethereal, floating appearance.
According to a Samsung spokesperson, the higher brightness of transparent MicroLED displays compared to transparent OLED panels results in less susceptibility to ambient light.
However, the current downside lies in the pricing, with Samsung’s existing lineup of non-transparent MicroLED TVs costing $150,000 for a 110-inch model. This steep price point indicates that it may take a considerable amount of time before these advanced displays become more affordable for the general consumer.
Interestingly, Samsung’s rival, LG, has also unveiled a significant transparent display at CES this year. LG’s offering, the OLED T, is set to go on sale this year, making it more immediately accessible to consumers. The OLED T is touted as the first wireless transparent OLED TV, boasting 4K resolution and incorporating LG’s wireless transmission technology for both audio and video. Building on the success of its non-transparent M3 model from the previous CES, the OLED T also introduces a unique feature—a contrast screen that rolls down into a box at its base, adjustable with the press of a button. This competition between Samsung and LG in the transparent display arena signals an exciting evolution in television technology.
