Samsung’s 2023 QD-OLED TVs will reach up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness

Samsung launched its QD-OLED TV lineup last year at CES promising higher brightness than other OLED TVs, particularly its arch-rival LG. However, it was only mildly brighter than LG OLEDs back then, and yesterday, LG unveiled its 2023 OLED TV lineup wi…

LG’s 2023 OLED TVs are up to 70 percent brighter

It’s no surprise that LG is refreshing its OLED TV lineup for 2023, but you might appreciate this year’s upgrade if your set lives in a well-lit room. LG’s new models include a per-pixel Brightness Booster Max feature that, on certain G3 series TVs (shown above), promises up to a 70 percent brighter picture. You might not spend as much time squinting during daytime viewing sessions.

The G3, C3 and 8K-capable Z3 all use a new a9 Gen 6 processor that offers AI upscaling, HDR tone mapping and object-based picture sharpening. The chip is similarly key to AI audio processing that delivers 9.1.2-channel surround sound from the built-in speakers. You’ll have an added incentive to upgrade your audio setup, though — LG is countering Samsung with a WOW Orchestra feature that uses the TV’s speakers to complement the output from the brand’s newer soundbars.

LG C3 OLED TV
LG

LG is also acknowledging that its interface may have been overwhelming for some. The 2023 OLED TVs come with a webOS 23 platform that requires much less scrolling, with just two pages of apps content. You’ll also see fewer categories, and “quick cards” help you dive into categories like music and sports. Personal profiles, customizable quick settings and AI-based search keyword recommendations tailor the experience to your tastes, while Matter support should help your set play well with compatible smart home devices.

The range will seem familiar in some ways, although there are a few other notable upgrades. The Z3 remains the flagship with 77- and 88-inch 8K screens, but the G3 is now a better fit for wall-mounting thanks to a zero-gap design. It’s available in sizes ranging from 55 inches to a huge 97 inches, although you’ll only see the 70 percent brightness hike on 55-, 65- and 77-inch variants. The sweet-spot C3 line (pictured at middle) runs between 42 inches and 83 inches, although you’ll have to ‘settle’ for the standard brightness booster.

Significantly, there’s no more A series. LG now considers the B3 series its entry-level OLED offering, and pitches it as ideal for gamers watching their money. You’ll have to make do with the lesser a7 Gen 6 chip and go without brightness boosting, but you will get 4K at 120Hz (useful with the latest consoles) and your choice of 55-, 65- and 77-inch panels.

As is often the case with LG introductions, you’ll have to wait for pricing and availability for the 2023 OLED TV selection. There’s no doubt the G3 is the star attraction, though. Outside of that model’s brightness boost and gapless mounting, these are largely iterative upgrades that will mostly prove appealing if you’re replacing an aging set.

Samsung’s new wall oven lets you livestream a video feed of what’s cooking

Samsung is refreshing its lineup of customizable Bespoke smart appliances with a wall oven, washer and dryer. The Bespoke AI Oven has a seven-inch screen and touch controls. The cooking methods include air sous vide, air frying and steam cooking. Perha…

Samsung’s latest gaming monitors include an 8K, 57-inch ultra-wide display

Samsung is pushing further into the realm of humongous monitors with the next-gen, 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9. Some may find this model a bit more palatable than the 55-inch Odyssey Ark Samsung released last year, as it’s an ultrawide with a ratio of 32:9 …

The Morning After: Is now the time to quit Twitter?

Welcome, reader, to 2023! While some of us are still musing on New Year’s resolutions (we have the tech to help you right here), will 2023 be the year you finally break up with Twitter? There’s never been a better time. All this Elon Musk-induced chaos has breathed new life into the numerous Twitter alternatives. Of all of them, Mastodon has probably benefited the most. The open-source service gained notoriety back in 2017 when some Twitter users were upset with changes the company had made to the functionality of @-replies. (Back then, that was a big deal.) Mastodon isn’t the only app to get a boost from the turmoil at Twitter, though. Other apps like CounterSocial, which has a Tweetdeck-like interface, and Tribel have also seen increased user numbers. There are some new upstarts, too. Post News, a new service from former Waze CEO Noam Bardin, has also tried to capitalize on Twitter’s current state.

Meanwhile, Twitter hasn’t been paying its office rent in San Francisco. According to Bloomberg, Twitter was told on December 16th that it would default on its lease for the 30th floor of the Hartford Building. So far, it’s failed to pay $136,250 in rent.

– Mat Smith

The Morning After isn’t just a newsletter – it’s also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.

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NASA’s Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft returns to Kennedy Space Center

The agency can now take apart the capsule.

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POOL New / reuters

After completing its 1.4 million mile trip to the Moon and back at the start of last month, NASA’s Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft has returned to the Kennedy Space Center. The homecoming occurred on December 30th. Artemis 1’s record-breaking journey began on November 16th, launching atop NASA’s next-generation Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket. NASA will now conduct an “extensive analysis” of the component and determine precisely how it fared during atmospheric reentry. The agency will also remove Moonikin Campos, the test dummy NASA sent aboard Orion to collect data on how travel to the Moon might affect humans.

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TikTok says it’s getting better at detecting ‘borderline’ content

The app previously added age restrictions to some “mature” content.

TikTok is launching a new version of its “borderline suggestive model,” which the company uses to automatically identify “sexually explicit, suggestive, or borderline content.” According to a TikTok spokesperson, the new model can better detect so-called “borderline content,” videos that don’t explicitly break the app’s rules but may not be suitable for younger users. Elsewhere, the app is also allowing creators to restrict their videos to adult viewers.

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Grubhub ordered to pay $3.5 million to settle lawsuit

The Attorney General’s office accused the company of using deceptive techniques.

Washington DC Attorney General Karl Racine has announced that his office has reached an agreement with Grubhub “for charging customers hidden fees and using deceptive marketing techniques.” The company was sued earlier this year, accused of charging hidden fees and misrepresenting Grubhub+ subscription’s offer of “unlimited free delivery” since customers still have to pay a service fee. The DC Attorney General’s office also accused the company of listing 1,000 restaurants in the area without their permission by using numbers that route to Grubhub workers or creating websites without the eateries’ consent. Under the settlement terms, Grubhub will pay affected customers in the DC area a total of $2.7 million.

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Samsung hires former Mercedes-Benz designer to lead its mobile design team

A different look to Galaxy phones?

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Engadget

Samsung’s mobile division has a new design chief. The company announced Hubert H. Lee would head up its mobile design team, the unit responsible for designing some of Samsung’s most important products, including its flagship Galaxy S series of phones. Lee joins the electronics giant after a stint as the chief design officer of Mercedes-Benz China.

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