Rethinking The Home Theatre

Will Samsung's new slate of bigger Neo QLED TVs redefine how we consume content at home?

- SUFFIAN HAKIM

IF THERE’S ANYTHING that my numerous subscriptions to streaming services have taught me, it’s that the telecommunication medium matters. With streaming, cinema-worthy films transition to the small screen much faster than ever before, and the difference in picture and sound quality can sometimes be jarring.

My subscription to Disney+ alone proves this. Marvel blockbusters, with a Thor-ful lot of intricate computer effects and high fidelity, surround-sound action set pieces, look, sound and feel different when enjoyed in the cinema as compared to your average home TV set – or worse, on a mobile device.

Streaming has forced us to rethink our home entertainment systems. We want our favourite theatrical blockbusters to be presented to us at home in a manner that is as true to their creators’ vision as possible.

This rethink becomes more urgent in the age of the Internet of Things, and with aesthetics and personalisation becoming a big part of how we engage with electronics. It is not just a rethinking the type of electronics we use, but also in terms of how smart and interconnected they can be.

In recent years, Samsung has introduced exciting new ways to factor electronics into interior design and living. The Frame, for example, sparked a rethink in electronics – they can blend in organically with the rest of the furniture, and do not have to be separate from the overall look and aesthetics of your home.